Provisional Mission Production Twins Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. James Rispoli (KTM), 19 laps
2. Jesse Janisch (Har), -01.365 seconds
3. Cory Texter (Yam), -11.858
4. Ben Lowe (Yam), -11.980
5. Nick Armstrong (Yam), -13.905
6. Ryan Varnes (KTM), -13.962
7. Michael Rush (Har), -14.045
8. Cody Johncox (Yam), -19.679
9. Cameron Smith (Yam), -19.733
10. Jeremiah Duffy (Kaw), -35.613
11. Kasey Sciscoe (Har), -35.739
12. Jordan Harris (Kaw), -37.586
13. Billy Ross (Har), -37.676
14. Shelby Miller (Kaw), -1 lap, -03.890
15. Brandon Newman (Kaw), -1 lap, -26.078
16. Johnny Lewis (Roy), -12 laps, -*0.**0
17. Cole Zabala (Yam), -19 laps
Provisional Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Morgen Mischler (Hon), 18 laps
2. Kody Kopp (KTM), -00.053 seconds
3. Trent Lowe (Hon), -00.131
4. Max Whale (KTM), -00.196
5. Dalton Gauthier (Hon), -00.231
6. Trevor Brunner (Yam), -00.420
7. Hunter Bauer (KTM), -04.949
8. Kevin Stollings (Hon), -10.538
9. Gage Smith (Hon), -10.555
10. James Ott (KTM), -10.563
11. Michael Inderbitzin (Hon), -10.579
12. Ferran Cardus (Hon), -11.103
13. Jared Lowe (Hon), -20.901
14. Aidan RoosEvans (Hon), -20.978
15. Tyler Raggio (Hon), -2 laps
16. Chad Cose (Hon), -6 laps
17. Travis Petton (KTM), -10 laps
Provisional Mission SuperTwins Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Dallas Daniels (Yam), 25 laps
2. Jared Mees (Ind), -00.008 seconds
3. James Rispoli (PT) (KTM), -00.282
4. Brandon Robinson (Ind), -01.597
5. Ben Lowe (PT) (Yam), -03.821
6. Jarod Vanderkooi (Ind), -03.916
7. Briar Bauman (Ind), -04.768
8. Davis Fisher (Ind), -06.565
9. Jesse Janisch (PT) (Har), -10.460
10. Robert Pearson (Ind), -16.123
11. Shayna Texter-Bauman (Ind), -27.174
12. Bronson Bauman (Har), -10 laps
13. Brandon Price (Kaw), -12 laps
14. JD Beach (Yam), -19 laps
More, from a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:
Night of Firsts as Daniels Wins Red Mile I By 0.008 Seconds
Dallas Daniels (32) and Jared Mees (1) race for the lead in the Mission SuperTwins main event at Red Mile I in Kentucky. Photo courtesy AMA Pro Racing.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 29, 2022) – It was a night of firsts as Progressive American Flat Track enjoyed an epic evening of racing at the Mission Red Mile I presented by Indian Motorcycle of Lexington in Lexington, Kentucky.
Following 14 minutes and two laps of nail-biting action in front of the massive Red Mile crowd, Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle rookie Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) officially added his name to the exclusive list of premier-class Main Event winners.
But prior to Daniels’ exhilaration, it was heartbreak for teammate JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT). Beach had established himself the rider to beat in the lead-up to the Main, but he was unlucky to be forced out by mechanical issues a couple minutes into the race.
That left reigning champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750), Daniels, and Mission Production Twins Challenge entrant James Rispoli (No. 43 Wally Brown Racing/Haversack KTM 890 Duke) to battle it out in the lead pack.
The trend of heartbreak continued a couple of minutes later when the machine of Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) dumped oil on the circuit while running fourth, forcing a red flag stoppage near half-distance.
The race resumed with Mees, Daniels, and Rispoli sitting 1-2-3, and Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) joining the lead group in fourth. While Rispoli took a peak on a few occasions, it was Mees and Daniels who traded back first and second for the remainder of the contest.
Mees lined up Daniels and made what he hoped would be the race’s decisive maneuver entering Turn 3 for the final time. He pulled it off perfectly and seemed destined to keep his perfect Red Mile streak intact, right up until the final moment when Daniels blasted by at the stripe to steal away the win by 0.008 seconds.
The victory was not only Daniels’ first in the premier class, it was also Yamaha’s first on a Mile going all the way back to Kenny Roberts’ legendary victory aboard the TZ750 at the 1975 Indy Mile. Daniels also became the first rookie to win in the premier class since Mikey Rush won at Daytona in 2007 and the first rookie to win on a Mile since Scott Parker did so at Indy in 1979.
“I can’t believe I won a Grand National,” Daniels said. “I’ve been dreaming of this my whole life. It’s been a long road for me and the team. Those guys have worked their butts off. It’s been a long road since they started, and I know this is so rewarding for them.
“Taking my dad on that victory lap… I’ve been talking about that since I was like eight years old. We did it… It’s awesome!”
Rispoli held on for third to become the first Mission Production Twins Challenge rider to land on the Mission SuperTwins podium and add to what was already an incredible debut for the WBR KTM.
Robinson came home fourth, followed by another Mission Production Twins Challenge pilot in Ben Lowe (No. 25 Mission Foods/Roof Systems Yamaha MT-07) to complete the top five.
Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) was sixth, followed by an uncharacteristically quiet Briar Bauman (No. 3 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750). Davis Fisher (No. 67 Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), Jesse Janisch (No. 33 Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson XG750R), and Robert Pearson (No. 27 Rackley Racing/John Franklin Indian FTR750) rounded out the top ten.
Mission Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines
If anyone forgot just how dominant James Rispoli (No. 43 Wally Brown Racing/Haversack KTM 890 Duke) was at times when he won the 2020 Mission Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines championship, he provided a most compelling reminder on Saturday night.
Rispoli made his return to the class at the Red Mile to debut the WBR KTM 890 Duke and did so in style. He not only made the bike a winner, he did so in runaway fashion, leading from start to finish.
The only rider who even managed to keep him honest was Jesse Janisch (No. 33 Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson XG750R). Janisch clung on behind him just outside the draft, but he never managed to present a realistic challenge to Rispoli’s position at the front.
After claiming the win, Rispoli said, “The Wally Brown Racing team has a wealth of experience. They’re smart guys. We took the common sense route and they built a phenomenal package. KTM built a great platform, but these guys found a way to get that horsepower to the ground. I’m so pumped. I’m stoked to return to Mission Production Twins, and to win? I’m stoked.”
While Rispoli may have had a drama-free run to victory, the battle for the final spot on the podium was most entertaining. A tight five-rider pack made up of the returning Michael Rush (No. 15 Hellipower Racing/Las Vegas Harley-Davidson XG750R), Ryan Varnes (No. 68 Schaeffer’s Motorsports/Rausch Fuel & Oil KTM 890 Duke), Ben Lowe (No. 25 Mission Foods/Roof Systems Yamaha MT-07), Cory Texter (No. 1 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing Yamaha MT-07), and Nick Armstrong (No. 60 Competitive Racing Frames/Lessley Brothers Yamaha MT-07).
Among a great deal of shuffling, points leader Armstrong systematically made his way from seventh to third, but went off the groove and dropped right back to seventh, erasing all his hard work.
Defending champion Texter did what he does and emerged late as he and Lowe scrapped for third over the final two laps. Ultimately, Texter took the position by 0.122 to further a three-race podium streak. However, he’s still three points back of Armstrong in the championship chase after Armstrong clawed his way back up to fifth at the flag.
Varnes finished sixth with Rush taking seventh, a welcome result in his return ride after suffering a serious leg injury in last year’s finale.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
Combining the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER class and a big Mile racetrack is typically the recipe for an ultra-tight pack war. Saturday’s showdown was no exception.
As many as eight riders were in with a shot for victory deep into the race before a couple of them went off the groove, leaving a six-rider shootout on the race’s final lap.
The on-form Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Progressive Insurance CRF450R) did his best to control the chaotic affair from the front and it paid off with a 0.053 seconds margin of victory.
While Mischler regularly traded the lead with teammate Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 American Honda/Progressive Insurance CRF450R) for much of the contest, the final sprint came down to him, title rival Kody Kopp (No. 12 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-FFE), and Trent Lowe (No. 48 Mission Foods/Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda CRF450R).
Mischler opened the final lap in the lead and made the most of his Honda’s horsepower to just fend off his challengers.
The win was Mischler’s first ever on a Mile as he continues to increasingly prove himself a well-rounded title contender. He said, “The puzzle pieces are fitting, and I see us just getting better with everything the team has been putting into it. For me, it’s just a matter of me doing my job.”
Despite just missing out on the win, Kopp continues to lead the championship on the strength of an early season that has seen him finish no worse than second.
Kopp’s teammate Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-FFE), finished off the podium for the first time this season with a fourth-place effort. Gauthier, who is dealing with a partially torn ACL and MCL finished fifth, while Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) finished sixth, just 0.420 seconds off the win, despite being forced to start from the back of the pack after using a provisional start to earn a spot in the Main.
The Mission Red Mile I will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, June 5, at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT, including exclusive features, cutting-edge aerial drone and onboard footage, and expert commentary.
Next Up:
Progressive AFT will be back on track at the Red Mile today to conclude the Mission Red Mile doubleheader. Gates will open for fans at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT ahead of the evening’s Main Event program. Secure your tickets now at https://store.americanflattrack.com/ebooking/ticket/view/id/3723/.
You can catch the livestream of all the weekend’s racing activities on FansChoice.tv. FansChoice.tv provides free-to-view livestreaming of Practice and Qualifying. FansChoice.tv subscribers will then be able to watch the drama unfold from Opening Ceremonies through the Semis, Main Events, and podium celebrations. FansChoice.tv offers two subscription options, granting unlimited access to premium AFT content. Monthly subscriptions start at just $7.99, while a six-month subscription is available for $44.99.
To score the latest gear for the Progressive American Flat Track fan, visit our official merchandise store at https://store.americanflattrack.com.
How to Watch:
FOX Sports and FansChoice.tv are the official homes for coverage of Progressive American Flat Track. For the 2022 season, all races will premiere in one-hour telecasts on FS1 during highly desirable weekend time slots. The complete schedule can be viewed at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports. FansChoice.tv provides livestreaming coverage of every Progressive AFT round can watch livestreaming coverage of every Progressive AFT round at http://www.FansChoice.tv.
Quiles was all class in wet Mugello Rookies Race 1
Max Quiles showed himself the master of the most treacherous conditions to take a superb wet Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Race 1 victory in Mugello. The 14-year-old Spaniard kept his head while those around, and mostly in front of him, were losing theirs. Second was 21-year-old Thai Tatchakorn Buasri with Finnish 14-year-old Rico Salmela holding off Spanish 15-year-old Angel Piqueras for 3rd.
It was a contest of attrition with Gabin Planques, Casey O’Gorman and Cormac Buchanan all leading but falling.
Quiles no rain specialist
“I come from Murcia and there it never rains, it’s always hot,” he laughed. “It rained at the test in Portimão and I remembered some things from that. So actually I was quite comfortable in the wet. In the last few laps I slowed so that I would not crash or anything like that and I am really happy to win.”
“I wanted to win and I was pushing to win. When I was catching the leaders I was really determined and if they had not crashed I would have tried anyway. I knew that I could catch them, at least I was going to try.”
“Tomorrow it can be wet or dry I don’t care, my objective is to be quick whatever the conditions.”
Buasri has prepared for this
“Yes I am so happy with that, great to get on the podium this year. I have a lot of experience in the rain, we have plenty of it at home. I use it to train, I train on slicks in the wet to get the feeling of the bike sliding so I am used to it.”
“When Max got ahead I managed to get in front again but I could feel the bike sliding and realised it was on the limit. My set-up didn’t seem to be quite working as well as his in the conditions so I realised I should not take the risk of trying to race him. I told myself to calm down and I settled for 2nd.”
“For Race 2 I hope for a dry race, I will enjoy it.”
Salmela had it sorted, ending with the fastest lap
“The race was pretty good, at the beginning I didn’t want to make any mistakes so I just tried to relax and not crash. Later, towards the end of the race I started pushing and catching up positions.”
“It was unlucky that Eddie crashed on the last lap and I got P3 but I was going so fast the last laps, catching so much. I am so happy with the podium, I want to thank everyone who supports me. For tomorrow I don’t mind so much if it rains but I like more the dry, it is more comfortable.”
O‘Shea came from the back
“Before the start of the race my clutch cable broke and the mechanics did a great job of getting the spare bike ready for me so I could start but I had to go off the back of the grid and on a bike that I didn’t know,” explained the 15-year-old Briton.
“The first few laps were tricky but I started to work my way through the pack and I had a very good feeling and I got into P3 and held it there with a big big gap behind me.”
“Going onto the last lap I came out of the final corner and felt that the rear tyre was so strange, I went on the kerb and the rear was moving a lot. Into turn 1 and the rear tyre was still feeling strange, Went into Turn 2 and had such a strange crash, off the gas. It turned out that I had a puncture, nothing I could do about that. Just thanks to the team for getting me out there after the clutch problem.”
Points leader Rueda took 5 for 11th
“The conditions were very very difficult and it was hard to get a good feeling from the bike. It was important to get some points. I hope for a dry race and I will push for a lot more,” promised the 16-year-old Spaniard.
Buchanan takes the positive from leading for 3 laps
“Very disappointed, this was a great opportunity for me. I saw the gap come down a little bit and I tried to push a little more but not too much, I just went into the corner the same as usual and tucked the front,” admitted the 15-year-old Kiwi. “Devastated but we showed the potential and tomorrow we’ll try again.”
O’Gorman led 2 laps and did nothing wrong
“It’s a big shame I felt good on the bike, I was not pushing too hard, it felt really good, I looked at the temperature and it was way down to what it should be because of the rain and then as I got on the throttle, it stuttered a bit and the back end came round and I couldn’t save it,” explained the 14-year-old Irishman.
Broadcast
This weekend’s Rookies Cup races can be seen live on www.redbull.tv and on TV stations around the world.
Race 2 is on Sunday at 16:30 CEST, the show starts 10 minutes before the race.
A new 190cc category will be added from next season
Saturday, 28 May 2022
The FIM MiniGP World Series is growing in 2023! Alongside the 160cc class, a new 190cc category will join the series next season – creating the perfect next step on the Road to MotoGP™ and ensuring young riders do not need to move onto larger machinery and Grand Prix circuits in order to keep progressing in their motorcycle racing careers.
The 2023 FIM MiniGP World Series and new category was presented at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley at Mugello on Saturday, with FIM President Jorge Viegas, Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, Ohvale’s Head of Communication and Marketing Marica Barbiero and Pirelli Head of Motorsport BU Moto Giorgio Barbier in attendance to talk about the new project.
The 190cc FIM MiniGP World Series will race on karting tracks, in line with the 160cc competitions, with the following age limits applied to each category:
160cc (10-inch wheels) – 10-14 years
190cc (12-inch wheels) – 12-16 years
With some riders having shone in the 160cc category in the FIM MiniGP World Series but not yet having reached the age to compete at the next level in Road to MotoGP™ programmes, the new 190cc category provides an opportunity for young competitors to keep learning, racing and improving in the safest place possible as they continue their careers on smaller machinery and karting circuits.
Only those who already have a MiniGP Series in 2022 can add the 190cc category to their competitions for 2023, and via application only. New countries or regions looking to join the FIM MiniGP World Series for 2023 will be accepted for 160cc class only.
Both the 160cc & 190cc categories will attend the FIM MiniGP World Final in 2023, seeing the blue riband event grow once again.
The 2022 edition – featuring the top two riders in each of the 16 series this year – will take place on the 2nd and the 3rd of November at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, before the new era of 160cc and 190cc competition begins next season.
FIM President Jorge Viegas: “This is a move that we had to take, as you know we’ve increased ages in all classes for circuit racing and we think we had a gap for young riders, so this new class of 190cc fits perfectly for the riders who want to continue their careers. Seeing the success of MiniGP this year, I think it’s the best decision to make to make this extra class.”
Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta: “This is a very important step for us, we’re learning every year. MiniGP started last year with the 160cc class, it was very good and now together with the FIM, Ohvale and Pirelli we decided to give riders another opportunity to arrive to the next step, with a difference in the ages of who can participate in 160cc and 190cc Series. It is clear that from next year the new class, only for people who have already got a 160cc Series, to try and create the next step for those who are already riding, so they can arrive as safely as possible to the pinnacle of motorcycle racing. It’s something important for us and we’ve been talking to the FIM for many years, and when we had the possibility to create the FIM MiniGP World Series last year, it was an incredible success culminating in the final in Valencia.
“We must especially thank the FIM and also the federations who already organise these competitions and offer the chance to set up a new class. I think it’s very welcome and we appreciate Ohvale’s skill in creating these fantastic bikes and Pirelli, who provide great quality tyres. It’s the right way to ride from when you’re young to JunioGP and then to Moto3.”
Ohvale’s Head of Communication and Marketing, Marica Barbiero: “We’re very excited and very proud to increase the range of motorcycle involved in the FIM MiniGP World Series. It’s been very important to us and we’ve been working on this project for many years. To see the trust the FIM and Dorna put in this project, together with all the federations, makes us very satisfied with the project.
“We’re proud to have almost all countries already involved in the 160cc competition interested in 190cc too, preparing riders for the next steps on the Road to MotoGP.”
Pirelli Head of Motorsport BU Moto Giorgio Barbier: “We’re all interested in the youngest generations, and we have to take care of them. So, these kids could be fast and Champions in future but we have to show them the way. I think people like me, and experts like the others on stage, need to show the way to these guys and help them to do it. From a tyre point of view, it’s easy for us to try and give them quality tyres for conditions all over the world.”
Some late shuffles and even later drama see the Swiss rider head Ferrari and Granado on Saturday
Dominique Aegerter (77) leads the field during MotoE Race One at Mugello. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Saturday, 28 May 2022
The FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup produced a thriller in its first race at Mugello, with Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) taking victory despite starting the final lap in fifth. Home fans watching on at Mugello also had reason to cheer with Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE™) finishing second and fellow Italian Andrea Mantovani (WithU GRT RNF MotoE™ Team) pinching third at the chequered flag. However, more late drama hit as Mantovani was then disqualified for low tyre pressures, promoting Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) to the podium. There is a single tyre pressure monitoring system in MotoE™.
The intrigue began before the race had even started, with riders arriving on the grid on wet tyres before changing to slicks as the rain at Mugello abated. When the lights went out, Kevin Zannoni (Ongetta Sic58 Squadracorse) got the jump from the middle of the front row and led the field up the hill to San Donato, with Ferrari emerging second from the opening corners and pole-sitter Aegerter third.
Ferrari then went underneath Zannoni as they ran through the Arrabbiata corners, as Aegerter and Niccolo Canepa (WithU GRT RNF MotoE™ Team) duelled over third. When they arrived at Scarperia, Aegerter headed down the inside of both Ferrari and Zannoni to take the lead, while a bit of bodywork was sent flying due to some contact behind between Granado and Canepa.
For his trouble, Aegerter was swamped as his rivals slipstreamed him as they ran back up the main straight to start Lap 2, but he reclaimed first on the brakes at San Donato. Granado was slicing his way through the pack too, and he would hit the front when he went underneath the Swiss rider as they turned into Materassi, just down the hill.
It looked like they might form something of a breakaway, but their battle for position mean that Ferrari was back in touch as Aegerter hit back for the lead on Lap 3 at Scarperia. Marc Alcoba (Openbank Aspar Team) emerged as a contender for victory and, astonishingly, he made it a four-wide run up the hill towards San Donato at the start of Lap 4 too. Ferrari emerged in front after all that, from Granado and Alcoba, with Aegerter dropping from first to fourth in a matter of corners.
Despite looking to have made an on-the-run adjustment to his brake lever, and then ceding fourth position to Mantovani, Aegerter refused to give in. He made a big lunge under brakes at San Donato on the fifth and final lap of the race and that put him all the way back into the race lead, with Ferrari in second.
On the drag to the finish line, Aegerter beat Ferrari to another MotoE™ victory by only 0.033 seconds, with Mantovani, who is only riding this weekend as an injury replacement for Bradley Smith, slipstreaming Granado for third as they reached the finish line, the gap between them just 0.007 seconds. But with his DSQ after the fact, it’s the Brazilian who takes 16 points.
A final-lap pass helped Mattia Casadei (Pons Racing 40) to fifth, now fourth, and consigned Alcoba to P5 but the latter was still only 0.983 seconds from the win.
Canepa was next up ahead of Miquel Pons (LCR E-Team), and Zannoni is classified ninth after losing touch with the leading group on Lap 2. Hector Garzo (Tech3 E-Racing) rounded out the top 10 on track, now P9.
Another race win means the Swiss rider has increased his lead atop the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup standings, to 17 points over Granado after the Brazilian takes third. What awaits on Sunday? Race 2 kicks off at 15:30 (GMT +2) so tune in to find out!
Dominique Aegerter: “It’s fantastic to win again. I think I now have seven wins in a row nearly – five in Supersport, two in MotoE – so it’s amazing. But, it was not an easy one. We went out, two laps with a rain tyre because it was dropping a lot, then on the grid, five minutes before [race start], everybody says, ‘Okay, we go to slicks.’ Okay, we go to slicks, but we had new tyres and we didn’t know exactly how wet the track was. There was a big slipstream battle on the long straight, so I could attack in the last lap, I was only fifth, but I kept my line and 25 points in the pocket. I’m very happy for me, for the team, for all the Italian fans and also the Swiss fans who stayed here until the evening. It will be a small celebration tonight and keep concentration for tomorrow. I can hope we can have a six-lap dry race tomorrow and I hope we can show again, let’s say, a little bit of a crazy race to give you some heartbeat also on the television!”
The ‘Doctor’ was in the house for a special ceremony at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley
Saturday, 28 May 2022
There is only one number 46! On Saturday at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, MotoGP™ Legend Valentino Rossi returned to the emblematic Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello as the number 46 was retired from use in the MotoGP™ class.
On the grid before qualifying began, the ceremony saw FIM President Jorge Viegas and Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta present the ‘Doctor’ with a special trophy of the number he rode to unprecedented levels of recognition, creating a global sporting icon in the process.
Rossi took nine World Championships, 115 wins and 235 podiums across all classes as he played a key role in redefining the sport for millions of fans around the world, with the number 46 coming to signify one thing and one thing only: Valentino Rossi. Retiring from MotoGP™ at the end of 2021, the ‘Doctor’ is now joined by his racing number as a spectator of the world’s fastest motorcycle racing Championship.
QUOTES
Valentino Rossi: “It is a mixture of feelings, from one side, it is very sad that I’ve finished, I’ve stopped, and also the 46 it is retired from MotoGP. On the other side, it is a great feeling because it was a long story and an unforgettable career full of great moments, so I am very proud of this. Today it was good, here in Mugello, because it is always a special place, it is always the home of the Italian GP, our home GP, and it is also good because I have always raced with the 46 from the first year. 46 for me means a lot, because it was the number of Graziano, of my father, when he finished second in the 250cc Championship. I am very happy because it is a sign, it is not just a number.
“Italy is always in the top in MotoGP, specially at this moment because also the bikes, Aprilia and Ducati are very strong, and we have a lot of Italian riders, we have Bastianini, that won a lot of races, but also, we have a lot of riders from our academy, Pecco is very strong, but this weekend also Luca and Bezz are fast, we have also Morbidelli, we have also young Italian riders that are very strong so I think that I can be quiet for the future.
“For sure I miss it, because it has been my life for 26 years, to follow the championship around the world, but it is good. I am happy, I do not miss it a lot because it was also very long, very stressful, so now I am a bit more relaxed and I think that it was the right time!”
Marc Marquez to undergo further surgery on right humerus
Marc Marquez will undergo a fourth surgery on his right humerus, heading to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The Repsol Honda Team rider has suffered major limitations in recent months that have prevented him from performing at the highest level. As a result, he has elected to undergo surgery 18 months after his last operation.
Marquez, having not felt significant improvements in recent months and consulting with other specialists, together with his medical team have considered the option of a new operation. The six-time MotoGP World Champion will travel to the United States on Tuesday, May 31 for surgery, under the direction of Dr. Joaquin Sánchez Sotelo. Once the post-operative period has been completed, he will return to Spain to begin his recovery. Doctors will then assess Marquez’s condition and his recovery period.
Marc Marquez
“Unfortunately, I have to take a break from the 2022 season that will keep me away from competition for a while. After all these months of intense work with my new medical team in Madrid, my physical condition has improved and I have reduced the discomfort in my right arm to be able to compete at the Grands Prix, but I still have significant limitations in my humerus that does not allow me to ride the bike properly and achieve the goals I have always set for myself.”
“It is for this reason, that together with my medical team, Dr. Samuel Antuña and Dr. Angel Cotorro, and after consulting with specialists from the Mayo Clinic, that I have made the decision to carry out a new operation with the aim of improving my position on the bike that will allow me to ride without the current limitations. Personally, I have the maximum motivation and enthusiasm to continue working and to make the effort to return to compete at the highest level.”
“I want to thank all the support that my family has always shown me, those trusted people around me, the Repsol Honda Team, my entire medical team and especially all the fans who are always there with me in the good and bad times.”
Dr. Sanchez Sotelo
Medical Doctor
“Given the lack of sufficient clinical improvement with the rehabilitation treatment, and advised by his medical team, Marc Marquez will undergo a new surgical intervention at the Mayo Clinic in the US, to improve the discomfort in his right arm derived from the loss of mobility in the arm.”
“The surgery will consist of the extraction of the osteosynthesis material from his shoulder associated with a humeral osteotomy to increase the external rotation movement of the arm and maintain shoulder stability.”
Rookies rule! Di Giannanontio and Bezzecchi head the grid after a thriller at Mugello
The two rookies front a Ducati top five lock out, with Quartararo leading the resistance in sixth
Saturday, 28 May 2022
How’s that for a Saturday shake up? Gresini Racing MotoGP™ rider Fabio Di Giannantonio has the first premier class pole position of his career after a dream Q2 session for the rookie home heroes in the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley. Di Giannantonio set a 1:46.156 with the chequered flag out to head up a front row comprised of three Italians from two Italian teams, riding Ducati’s Bologna bullets. Fellow rookie Marco Bezzecchi was second-fastest and his fellow Mooney VR46 Racing Team rider, Luca Marini, took third after rain came, faded and then left plenty up for grabs on full slicks in Q2.
With Di Giannantonio heading Bezzecchi, it’s the first time since Qatar 2008 with Jorge Lorenzo and James Toseland that two rookies start 1-2.
Q2
Di Giannantonio came through Q1, when the arrival of light rain spiced up proceedings, but it was clear by the end of that session that slick Michelin tyres had to be the choice for Q2 despite the persistent threat of rain. That meant the battle for pole would be less about strategy and more about a straight fight to set the quickest pace in the hills of Tuscany…
After a red flag interruption for a Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) crash, rider ok, Di Giannantonio then kicked things off with a 1:49.124 before moving the marker to a 1:47.163 and then a 1:46.607 on his following laps. The Gresini rider continued to prove the pacesetter until Prima Pramac’s Johann Zarco put in a 1:46.875, but that time would not stack up as the pace continued to hot up.
Bezzecchi got in a 1:46.616, then Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) a 1:46.471 and Di Giannantonio a 1:46.410 just before the chequered flag, but Zarco wasn’t done yet. The Frenchman clocked a 1:46.383 to go to provisional pole, before it looked like being a VR46 one-two when Bezzecchi set a 1:46.244 and team-mate Luca Marini moved his time to a 1:46.327. The dream scenario did not quite come to pass for the VR46 squad though as Di Giannantonio subsequently found even more time to take it back.
Zarco qualified fourth, one spot ahead of Bagnaia, which means the best of the non-Bologna rest was Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™’s Fabio Quartararo, the World Championship leader taking sixth to lead the resistance.
The Grid
Behind the five Ducatis and a Yamaha, Aprilia Racing’s Aleix Espargaro claimed seventh, although he looked far from pleased.
Joining him on Row 3 will be Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) and Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team), while Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) rounds out the top 10 on another Ducati. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) qualified 11th-fastest but is set to start 14th as a result of a grid penalty for being slow on the line and disturbing another rider in FP3.
Early, Q2 was red flagged barely more than a minute in as a result of a big crash for Marc Marquez at Turn 2, rider ok but RC213V decidedly not. The machine caught fire and fluid spilt onto the track, necessitating a stoppage so the surface could be cleaned up.
He would later get back out on his second bike and set a personal-best lap time of 1:47.468, but will start 11th due to Martin’s penalty. Ducati Lenovo Team’s Jack Miller similarly moves up to 12th on the grid, the Aussie missing out on advancing from Q1.
That’s quite a grid for the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, and a MotoGP™ race that promises much. Join us at 14:00 (GMT +2) for another showdown in the stunning hills of Tuscany, with lots of the line on race day.
Fabio Di Giannantonio: “Well, if I could wish for a perfect Saturday, I think it’s this. What a feeling, that’s amazing; my first MotoGP™ pole, here in Mugello with a Ducati, with all the tifosi – unbelievable. It’s unbelievable also because I thought I could be really fast in the dry, and then the conditions became tricky, so I said, ‘Now it’s difficult, it’s tricky, so let’s see.’ But I was just fully committed, fully head down, fully focused, and we did an incredible lap. It’s something unbelievable here, so super, super happy.”
Marc Marquez to undergo further surgery
The Repsol Honda Team rider will compete in Italy before surgery next week
It was announced in a Press Conference on Saturday afternoon at Mugello that eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) is to undergo further surgery. The number 93 will compete at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley before travelling to the US for the operation.
Canet edges out Acosta for Moto2™ pole
The Flexbox HP 40 rider heads the grid as the hunt for his maiden Moto2™ win continues
Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) grabbed the Moto2™ pole position at the at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley after setting a 1:51.121 in Q2. Canet was just over a tenth of a second quicker than fellow Spaniard Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) around the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, with Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) also earning a spot on the front row as the Brit bounces back from being declared unfit to race in France.
Q2
Acosta had achieved his first intermediate class pole a fortnight ago at the French Grand Prix, and the rookie was looking good for two in a row when he set a 1:51.265 and then a 1:51.246 on consecutive laps. However, Canet, who is still not at full fitness after the multi-rider crash three rounds ago, had other ideas and it is he who will start from first on Sunday afternoon, for the second time in four rounds, and just 0.158 seconds covers the top three after Lowes managed to put in a 1:51.279.
While pole gives Canet the best possible chance of chipping away at his 19-point deficit to World Championship leader Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), the Italian is far from out of the hunt for victory at his home event. Vietti qualified fourth with a 1:51.381, while wildcard Mattia Pasini (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) was one of the remarkable stories of Q2. He came through Q1, topping that session, and is now set to line up in fifth on the grid having ridden a Kalex motorcycle which he owns to a 1:51.465. Also on Row 2 will be Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), starting sixth.
The Grid
Behind the packed first two rows, Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) heads up another on the third, from Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team). Arbolino had a crash late in FP3 which locked him into Q1, but the man who is fourth in the World Championship boosted his hopes of a solid points haul by making his way out of that first stanza of qualifying.
Row 4 will be Barry Baltus (RW Racing GP), Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans Racing Team), and Jorge Navarro (Flexbox HP40). A winner at the French GP last time out, Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) will have to make a charge from 14th on the grid if he is to go back-to-back. Indonesian GP winner Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) starts even further back, in 24th, after missing out on passage to Q2 by more than half a second.
That’s an interesting line up for race day, and with plenty on the line on home turf it should be another stunner in Moto2™. Tune in when the lights go out at 12:20 (GMT+2)!
Aron Canet: “Well, I’m very happy to be back here again. Another pole position in this category, it’s amazing for me. But, the more important thing is tomorrow’s race. My pace during the weekend has been really, really good and we need to improve something on the bike but I’m ready to fight for the victory. We’ll see how the hand is, that’s more important for me. It’s not so painful at the moment because this is a flowing track. But, I’m very, very happy. Thank you to my team and to all the people who support me!”
Öncü plays his cards to perfection for pole
The number 53 takes pole ahead of Holgado and Foggia as Mugello gets set for a Moto3™ showdown
Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Deniz Öncü has claimed Moto3™ pole position at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, with Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) not quite able to carry his dominance of Free Practice forward. However, Foggia still had a big say in how qualifying played out at Mugello, as it was the Italian who provided the decisive tow to Öncü. Foggia still made the front row, but will start to the outside of the pole-sitting Turk, with rookie Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) impressing in the middle of the front row.
Q2
There are perhaps few circuits on the calendar where a tow is more important than Mugello, particularly in the lightweight class, and that was how John McPhee (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) put himself in top spot in the early stages of Q2 with a 1:57.299. Foggia, on the other hand, was having to punch his own hole in the air, although he managed to go second-fastest in the last few minutes with a 1:57.367.
Then, next time through, Foggia did manage to get the better of the Scotsman as he clocked a 1:57.168. Unfortunately for ‘The Rocket’, he had Öncü close behind him and the Turkish rider used the tow to set an even faster lap. With the chequered flag out, Foggia improved to a 1:57.094 but that was not good enough to knock the Tech3 rider off pole position, nor was it good enough to hold onto second spot as Holgado came through in a bunch of bikes to achieve a 1:56.908.
The Grid
Behind Öncü, Holgado and Foggia, Moto3™ World Championship leader Sergio Garcia qualified fourth, one position ahead of fellow Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team rider Izan Guevara. They will be joined on Row 2 by McPhee, courtesy of his first flying lap, with Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) heading up Row 3, ahead of Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Q1 graduate Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI).
Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who is tied for second in the World Championship with Foggia, will be looking to make up ground from 10th on the grid, with Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) and Lorenzo Fellon (Sic58 Squadra Corse) also on Row 4. Fellon was another of the riders to come from Q1, making the top four in that session thanks to a triple tow with the chequered flag out.
What will race day bring? We’ll find out from 11:00 (GMT +2) as the lights go out for Moto3™.
Deniz Öncü: “The lap was quite good, and when I saw the lap time – a 6.8 – it was my best lap time of the weekend, so I said, ‘Okay, for sure this is enough to be in the top two rows.’ After the chequered flag, I saw I was pole. I am happy because pole position is nice, to start the race from top, and I’m happy. For sure, tomorrow will be a big group race for me. It’s a disadvantage for me that I am tall and my weight compared to others is more, so I’m losing on the straights, as we see on the sectors. But, my strategy, I’ll be there, just waiting for the last laps, and I still don’t have a victory, so I will play all my cards to do this.”
Provisional Mission Production Twins Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. James Rispoli (KTM), 19 laps
2. Jesse Janisch (Har), -01.365 seconds
3. Cory Texter (Yam), -11.858
4. Ben Lowe (Yam), -11.980
5. Nick Armstrong (Yam), -13.905
6. Ryan Varnes (KTM), -13.962
7. Michael Rush (Har), -14.045
8. Cody Johncox (Yam), -19.679
9. Cameron Smith (Yam), -19.733
10. Jeremiah Duffy (Kaw), -35.613
11. Kasey Sciscoe (Har), -35.739
12. Jordan Harris (Kaw), -37.586
13. Billy Ross (Har), -37.676
14. Shelby Miller (Kaw), -1 lap, -03.890
15. Brandon Newman (Kaw), -1 lap, -26.078
16. Johnny Lewis (Roy), -12 laps, -*0.**0
17. Cole Zabala (Yam), -19 laps
Provisional Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Morgen Mischler (Hon), 18 laps
2. Kody Kopp (KTM), -00.053 seconds
3. Trent Lowe (Hon), -00.131
4. Max Whale (KTM), -00.196
5. Dalton Gauthier (Hon), -00.231
6. Trevor Brunner (Yam), -00.420
7. Hunter Bauer (KTM), -04.949
8. Kevin Stollings (Hon), -10.538
9. Gage Smith (Hon), -10.555
10. James Ott (KTM), -10.563
11. Michael Inderbitzin (Hon), -10.579
12. Ferran Cardus (Hon), -11.103
13. Jared Lowe (Hon), -20.901
14. Aidan RoosEvans (Hon), -20.978
15. Tyler Raggio (Hon), -2 laps
16. Chad Cose (Hon), -6 laps
17. Travis Petton (KTM), -10 laps
Provisional Mission SuperTwins Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):
1. Dallas Daniels (Yam), 25 laps
2. Jared Mees (Ind), -00.008 seconds
3. James Rispoli (PT) (KTM), -00.282
4. Brandon Robinson (Ind), -01.597
5. Ben Lowe (PT) (Yam), -03.821
6. Jarod Vanderkooi (Ind), -03.916
7. Briar Bauman (Ind), -04.768
8. Davis Fisher (Ind), -06.565
9. Jesse Janisch (PT) (Har), -10.460
10. Robert Pearson (Ind), -16.123
11. Shayna Texter-Bauman (Ind), -27.174
12. Bronson Bauman (Har), -10 laps
13. Brandon Price (Kaw), -12 laps
14. JD Beach (Yam), -19 laps
More, from a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:
Night of Firsts as Daniels Wins Red Mile I By 0.008 Seconds
Dallas Daniels (32) and Jared Mees (1) race for the lead in the Mission SuperTwins main event at Red Mile I in Kentucky. Photo courtesy AMA Pro Racing.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 29, 2022) – It was a night of firsts as Progressive American Flat Track enjoyed an epic evening of racing at the Mission Red Mile I presented by Indian Motorcycle of Lexington in Lexington, Kentucky.
Following 14 minutes and two laps of nail-biting action in front of the massive Red Mile crowd, Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle rookie Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) officially added his name to the exclusive list of premier-class Main Event winners.
But prior to Daniels’ exhilaration, it was heartbreak for teammate JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT). Beach had established himself the rider to beat in the lead-up to the Main, but he was unlucky to be forced out by mechanical issues a couple minutes into the race.
That left reigning champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750), Daniels, and Mission Production Twins Challenge entrant James Rispoli (No. 43 Wally Brown Racing/Haversack KTM 890 Duke) to battle it out in the lead pack.
The trend of heartbreak continued a couple of minutes later when the machine of Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) dumped oil on the circuit while running fourth, forcing a red flag stoppage near half-distance.
The race resumed with Mees, Daniels, and Rispoli sitting 1-2-3, and Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) joining the lead group in fourth. While Rispoli took a peak on a few occasions, it was Mees and Daniels who traded back first and second for the remainder of the contest.
Mees lined up Daniels and made what he hoped would be the race’s decisive maneuver entering Turn 3 for the final time. He pulled it off perfectly and seemed destined to keep his perfect Red Mile streak intact, right up until the final moment when Daniels blasted by at the stripe to steal away the win by 0.008 seconds.
The victory was not only Daniels’ first in the premier class, it was also Yamaha’s first on a Mile going all the way back to Kenny Roberts’ legendary victory aboard the TZ750 at the 1975 Indy Mile. Daniels also became the first rookie to win in the premier class since Mikey Rush won at Daytona in 2007 and the first rookie to win on a Mile since Scott Parker did so at Indy in 1979.
“I can’t believe I won a Grand National,” Daniels said. “I’ve been dreaming of this my whole life. It’s been a long road for me and the team. Those guys have worked their butts off. It’s been a long road since they started, and I know this is so rewarding for them.
“Taking my dad on that victory lap… I’ve been talking about that since I was like eight years old. We did it… It’s awesome!”
Rispoli held on for third to become the first Mission Production Twins Challenge rider to land on the Mission SuperTwins podium and add to what was already an incredible debut for the WBR KTM.
Robinson came home fourth, followed by another Mission Production Twins Challenge pilot in Ben Lowe (No. 25 Mission Foods/Roof Systems Yamaha MT-07) to complete the top five.
Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) was sixth, followed by an uncharacteristically quiet Briar Bauman (No. 3 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750). Davis Fisher (No. 67 Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), Jesse Janisch (No. 33 Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson XG750R), and Robert Pearson (No. 27 Rackley Racing/John Franklin Indian FTR750) rounded out the top ten.
Mission Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines
If anyone forgot just how dominant James Rispoli (No. 43 Wally Brown Racing/Haversack KTM 890 Duke) was at times when he won the 2020 Mission Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines championship, he provided a most compelling reminder on Saturday night.
Rispoli made his return to the class at the Red Mile to debut the WBR KTM 890 Duke and did so in style. He not only made the bike a winner, he did so in runaway fashion, leading from start to finish.
The only rider who even managed to keep him honest was Jesse Janisch (No. 33 Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson XG750R). Janisch clung on behind him just outside the draft, but he never managed to present a realistic challenge to Rispoli’s position at the front.
After claiming the win, Rispoli said, “The Wally Brown Racing team has a wealth of experience. They’re smart guys. We took the common sense route and they built a phenomenal package. KTM built a great platform, but these guys found a way to get that horsepower to the ground. I’m so pumped. I’m stoked to return to Mission Production Twins, and to win? I’m stoked.”
While Rispoli may have had a drama-free run to victory, the battle for the final spot on the podium was most entertaining. A tight five-rider pack made up of the returning Michael Rush (No. 15 Hellipower Racing/Las Vegas Harley-Davidson XG750R), Ryan Varnes (No. 68 Schaeffer’s Motorsports/Rausch Fuel & Oil KTM 890 Duke), Ben Lowe (No. 25 Mission Foods/Roof Systems Yamaha MT-07), Cory Texter (No. 1 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing Yamaha MT-07), and Nick Armstrong (No. 60 Competitive Racing Frames/Lessley Brothers Yamaha MT-07).
Among a great deal of shuffling, points leader Armstrong systematically made his way from seventh to third, but went off the groove and dropped right back to seventh, erasing all his hard work.
Defending champion Texter did what he does and emerged late as he and Lowe scrapped for third over the final two laps. Ultimately, Texter took the position by 0.122 to further a three-race podium streak. However, he’s still three points back of Armstrong in the championship chase after Armstrong clawed his way back up to fifth at the flag.
Varnes finished sixth with Rush taking seventh, a welcome result in his return ride after suffering a serious leg injury in last year’s finale.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
Combining the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER class and a big Mile racetrack is typically the recipe for an ultra-tight pack war. Saturday’s showdown was no exception.
As many as eight riders were in with a shot for victory deep into the race before a couple of them went off the groove, leaving a six-rider shootout on the race’s final lap.
The on-form Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Progressive Insurance CRF450R) did his best to control the chaotic affair from the front and it paid off with a 0.053 seconds margin of victory.
While Mischler regularly traded the lead with teammate Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 American Honda/Progressive Insurance CRF450R) for much of the contest, the final sprint came down to him, title rival Kody Kopp (No. 12 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-FFE), and Trent Lowe (No. 48 Mission Foods/Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda CRF450R).
Mischler opened the final lap in the lead and made the most of his Honda’s horsepower to just fend off his challengers.
The win was Mischler’s first ever on a Mile as he continues to increasingly prove himself a well-rounded title contender. He said, “The puzzle pieces are fitting, and I see us just getting better with everything the team has been putting into it. For me, it’s just a matter of me doing my job.”
Despite just missing out on the win, Kopp continues to lead the championship on the strength of an early season that has seen him finish no worse than second.
Kopp’s teammate Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-FFE), finished off the podium for the first time this season with a fourth-place effort. Gauthier, who is dealing with a partially torn ACL and MCL finished fifth, while Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) finished sixth, just 0.420 seconds off the win, despite being forced to start from the back of the pack after using a provisional start to earn a spot in the Main.
The Mission Red Mile I will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, June 5, at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT, including exclusive features, cutting-edge aerial drone and onboard footage, and expert commentary.
Next Up:
Progressive AFT will be back on track at the Red Mile today to conclude the Mission Red Mile doubleheader. Gates will open for fans at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT ahead of the evening’s Main Event program. Secure your tickets now at https://store.americanflattrack.com/ebooking/ticket/view/id/3723/.
You can catch the livestream of all the weekend’s racing activities on FansChoice.tv. FansChoice.tv provides free-to-view livestreaming of Practice and Qualifying. FansChoice.tv subscribers will then be able to watch the drama unfold from Opening Ceremonies through the Semis, Main Events, and podium celebrations. FansChoice.tv offers two subscription options, granting unlimited access to premium AFT content. Monthly subscriptions start at just $7.99, while a six-month subscription is available for $44.99.
To score the latest gear for the Progressive American Flat Track fan, visit our official merchandise store at https://store.americanflattrack.com.
How to Watch:
FOX Sports and FansChoice.tv are the official homes for coverage of Progressive American Flat Track. For the 2022 season, all races will premiere in one-hour telecasts on FS1 during highly desirable weekend time slots. The complete schedule can be viewed at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports. FansChoice.tv provides livestreaming coverage of every Progressive AFT round can watch livestreaming coverage of every Progressive AFT round at http://www.FansChoice.tv.
Quiles was all class in wet Mugello Rookies Race 1
Max Quiles showed himself the master of the most treacherous conditions to take a superb wet Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Race 1 victory in Mugello. The 14-year-old Spaniard kept his head while those around, and mostly in front of him, were losing theirs. Second was 21-year-old Thai Tatchakorn Buasri with Finnish 14-year-old Rico Salmela holding off Spanish 15-year-old Angel Piqueras for 3rd.
It was a contest of attrition with Gabin Planques, Casey O’Gorman and Cormac Buchanan all leading but falling.
Quiles no rain specialist
“I come from Murcia and there it never rains, it’s always hot,” he laughed. “It rained at the test in Portimão and I remembered some things from that. So actually I was quite comfortable in the wet. In the last few laps I slowed so that I would not crash or anything like that and I am really happy to win.”
“I wanted to win and I was pushing to win. When I was catching the leaders I was really determined and if they had not crashed I would have tried anyway. I knew that I could catch them, at least I was going to try.”
“Tomorrow it can be wet or dry I don’t care, my objective is to be quick whatever the conditions.”
Buasri has prepared for this
“Yes I am so happy with that, great to get on the podium this year. I have a lot of experience in the rain, we have plenty of it at home. I use it to train, I train on slicks in the wet to get the feeling of the bike sliding so I am used to it.”
“When Max got ahead I managed to get in front again but I could feel the bike sliding and realised it was on the limit. My set-up didn’t seem to be quite working as well as his in the conditions so I realised I should not take the risk of trying to race him. I told myself to calm down and I settled for 2nd.”
“For Race 2 I hope for a dry race, I will enjoy it.”
Salmela had it sorted, ending with the fastest lap
“The race was pretty good, at the beginning I didn’t want to make any mistakes so I just tried to relax and not crash. Later, towards the end of the race I started pushing and catching up positions.”
“It was unlucky that Eddie crashed on the last lap and I got P3 but I was going so fast the last laps, catching so much. I am so happy with the podium, I want to thank everyone who supports me. For tomorrow I don’t mind so much if it rains but I like more the dry, it is more comfortable.”
O‘Shea came from the back
“Before the start of the race my clutch cable broke and the mechanics did a great job of getting the spare bike ready for me so I could start but I had to go off the back of the grid and on a bike that I didn’t know,” explained the 15-year-old Briton.
“The first few laps were tricky but I started to work my way through the pack and I had a very good feeling and I got into P3 and held it there with a big big gap behind me.”
“Going onto the last lap I came out of the final corner and felt that the rear tyre was so strange, I went on the kerb and the rear was moving a lot. Into turn 1 and the rear tyre was still feeling strange, Went into Turn 2 and had such a strange crash, off the gas. It turned out that I had a puncture, nothing I could do about that. Just thanks to the team for getting me out there after the clutch problem.”
Points leader Rueda took 5 for 11th
“The conditions were very very difficult and it was hard to get a good feeling from the bike. It was important to get some points. I hope for a dry race and I will push for a lot more,” promised the 16-year-old Spaniard.
Buchanan takes the positive from leading for 3 laps
“Very disappointed, this was a great opportunity for me. I saw the gap come down a little bit and I tried to push a little more but not too much, I just went into the corner the same as usual and tucked the front,” admitted the 15-year-old Kiwi. “Devastated but we showed the potential and tomorrow we’ll try again.”
O’Gorman led 2 laps and did nothing wrong
“It’s a big shame I felt good on the bike, I was not pushing too hard, it felt really good, I looked at the temperature and it was way down to what it should be because of the rain and then as I got on the throttle, it stuttered a bit and the back end came round and I couldn’t save it,” explained the 14-year-old Irishman.
Broadcast
This weekend’s Rookies Cup races can be seen live on www.redbull.tv and on TV stations around the world.
Race 2 is on Sunday at 16:30 CEST, the show starts 10 minutes before the race.
(From left) Pirelli Head of Motorsport BU Moto Giorgio Barbier, FIM President Jorge Viegas, Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, and Ohvale’s Head of Communication and Marketing Marica Barbiero with Ohvale mini road race motorcycles at a press conference at Mugello. Photo courtesy Dorna.
2023 FIM MiniGP World Series presented at Mugello
A new 190cc category will be added from next season
Saturday, 28 May 2022
The FIM MiniGP World Series is growing in 2023! Alongside the 160cc class, a new 190cc category will join the series next season – creating the perfect next step on the Road to MotoGP™ and ensuring young riders do not need to move onto larger machinery and Grand Prix circuits in order to keep progressing in their motorcycle racing careers.
The 2023 FIM MiniGP World Series and new category was presented at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley at Mugello on Saturday, with FIM President Jorge Viegas, Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, Ohvale’s Head of Communication and Marketing Marica Barbiero and Pirelli Head of Motorsport BU Moto Giorgio Barbier in attendance to talk about the new project.
The 190cc FIM MiniGP World Series will race on karting tracks, in line with the 160cc competitions, with the following age limits applied to each category:
160cc (10-inch wheels) – 10-14 years
190cc (12-inch wheels) – 12-16 years
With some riders having shone in the 160cc category in the FIM MiniGP World Series but not yet having reached the age to compete at the next level in Road to MotoGP™ programmes, the new 190cc category provides an opportunity for young competitors to keep learning, racing and improving in the safest place possible as they continue their careers on smaller machinery and karting circuits.
Only those who already have a MiniGP Series in 2022 can add the 190cc category to their competitions for 2023, and via application only. New countries or regions looking to join the FIM MiniGP World Series for 2023 will be accepted for 160cc class only.
Both the 160cc & 190cc categories will attend the FIM MiniGP World Final in 2023, seeing the blue riband event grow once again.
The 2022 edition – featuring the top two riders in each of the 16 series this year – will take place on the 2nd and the 3rd of November at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, before the new era of 160cc and 190cc competition begins next season.
FIM President Jorge Viegas: “This is a move that we had to take, as you know we’ve increased ages in all classes for circuit racing and we think we had a gap for young riders, so this new class of 190cc fits perfectly for the riders who want to continue their careers. Seeing the success of MiniGP this year, I think it’s the best decision to make to make this extra class.”
Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta: “This is a very important step for us, we’re learning every year. MiniGP started last year with the 160cc class, it was very good and now together with the FIM, Ohvale and Pirelli we decided to give riders another opportunity to arrive to the next step, with a difference in the ages of who can participate in 160cc and 190cc Series. It is clear that from next year the new class, only for people who have already got a 160cc Series, to try and create the next step for those who are already riding, so they can arrive as safely as possible to the pinnacle of motorcycle racing. It’s something important for us and we’ve been talking to the FIM for many years, and when we had the possibility to create the FIM MiniGP World Series last year, it was an incredible success culminating in the final in Valencia.
“We must especially thank the FIM and also the federations who already organise these competitions and offer the chance to set up a new class. I think it’s very welcome and we appreciate Ohvale’s skill in creating these fantastic bikes and Pirelli, who provide great quality tyres. It’s the right way to ride from when you’re young to JunioGP and then to Moto3.”
Ohvale’s Head of Communication and Marketing, Marica Barbiero: “We’re very excited and very proud to increase the range of motorcycle involved in the FIM MiniGP World Series. It’s been very important to us and we’ve been working on this project for many years. To see the trust the FIM and Dorna put in this project, together with all the federations, makes us very satisfied with the project.
“We’re proud to have almost all countries already involved in the 160cc competition interested in 190cc too, preparing riders for the next steps on the Road to MotoGP.”
Pirelli Head of Motorsport BU Moto Giorgio Barbier: “We’re all interested in the youngest generations, and we have to take care of them. So, these kids could be fast and Champions in future but we have to show them the way. I think people like me, and experts like the others on stage, need to show the way to these guys and help them to do it. From a tyre point of view, it’s easy for us to try and give them quality tyres for conditions all over the world.”
Some late shuffles and even later drama see the Swiss rider head Ferrari and Granado on Saturday
Dominique Aegerter (77) leads the field during MotoE Race One at Mugello. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Saturday, 28 May 2022
The FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup produced a thriller in its first race at Mugello, with Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) taking victory despite starting the final lap in fifth. Home fans watching on at Mugello also had reason to cheer with Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE™) finishing second and fellow Italian Andrea Mantovani (WithU GRT RNF MotoE™ Team) pinching third at the chequered flag. However, more late drama hit as Mantovani was then disqualified for low tyre pressures, promoting Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) to the podium. There is a single tyre pressure monitoring system in MotoE™.
The intrigue began before the race had even started, with riders arriving on the grid on wet tyres before changing to slicks as the rain at Mugello abated. When the lights went out, Kevin Zannoni (Ongetta Sic58 Squadracorse) got the jump from the middle of the front row and led the field up the hill to San Donato, with Ferrari emerging second from the opening corners and pole-sitter Aegerter third.
Ferrari then went underneath Zannoni as they ran through the Arrabbiata corners, as Aegerter and Niccolo Canepa (WithU GRT RNF MotoE™ Team) duelled over third. When they arrived at Scarperia, Aegerter headed down the inside of both Ferrari and Zannoni to take the lead, while a bit of bodywork was sent flying due to some contact behind between Granado and Canepa.
For his trouble, Aegerter was swamped as his rivals slipstreamed him as they ran back up the main straight to start Lap 2, but he reclaimed first on the brakes at San Donato. Granado was slicing his way through the pack too, and he would hit the front when he went underneath the Swiss rider as they turned into Materassi, just down the hill.
It looked like they might form something of a breakaway, but their battle for position mean that Ferrari was back in touch as Aegerter hit back for the lead on Lap 3 at Scarperia. Marc Alcoba (Openbank Aspar Team) emerged as a contender for victory and, astonishingly, he made it a four-wide run up the hill towards San Donato at the start of Lap 4 too. Ferrari emerged in front after all that, from Granado and Alcoba, with Aegerter dropping from first to fourth in a matter of corners.
Despite looking to have made an on-the-run adjustment to his brake lever, and then ceding fourth position to Mantovani, Aegerter refused to give in. He made a big lunge under brakes at San Donato on the fifth and final lap of the race and that put him all the way back into the race lead, with Ferrari in second.
On the drag to the finish line, Aegerter beat Ferrari to another MotoE™ victory by only 0.033 seconds, with Mantovani, who is only riding this weekend as an injury replacement for Bradley Smith, slipstreaming Granado for third as they reached the finish line, the gap between them just 0.007 seconds. But with his DSQ after the fact, it’s the Brazilian who takes 16 points.
A final-lap pass helped Mattia Casadei (Pons Racing 40) to fifth, now fourth, and consigned Alcoba to P5 but the latter was still only 0.983 seconds from the win.
Canepa was next up ahead of Miquel Pons (LCR E-Team), and Zannoni is classified ninth after losing touch with the leading group on Lap 2. Hector Garzo (Tech3 E-Racing) rounded out the top 10 on track, now P9.
Another race win means the Swiss rider has increased his lead atop the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup standings, to 17 points over Granado after the Brazilian takes third. What awaits on Sunday? Race 2 kicks off at 15:30 (GMT +2) so tune in to find out!
Dominique Aegerter: “It’s fantastic to win again. I think I now have seven wins in a row nearly – five in Supersport, two in MotoE – so it’s amazing. But, it was not an easy one. We went out, two laps with a rain tyre because it was dropping a lot, then on the grid, five minutes before [race start], everybody says, ‘Okay, we go to slicks.’ Okay, we go to slicks, but we had new tyres and we didn’t know exactly how wet the track was. There was a big slipstream battle on the long straight, so I could attack in the last lap, I was only fifth, but I kept my line and 25 points in the pocket. I’m very happy for me, for the team, for all the Italian fans and also the Swiss fans who stayed here until the evening. It will be a small celebration tonight and keep concentration for tomorrow. I can hope we can have a six-lap dry race tomorrow and I hope we can show again, let’s say, a little bit of a crazy race to give you some heartbeat also on the television!”
Valentino Rossi with a trophy symbolizing the retirement of his number 46 from use in MotoGP competition. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Number 46 retired from MotoGP™ at Mugello
The ‘Doctor’ was in the house for a special ceremony at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley
Saturday, 28 May 2022
There is only one number 46! On Saturday at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, MotoGP™ Legend Valentino Rossi returned to the emblematic Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello as the number 46 was retired from use in the MotoGP™ class.
On the grid before qualifying began, the ceremony saw FIM President Jorge Viegas and Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta present the ‘Doctor’ with a special trophy of the number he rode to unprecedented levels of recognition, creating a global sporting icon in the process.
Rossi took nine World Championships, 115 wins and 235 podiums across all classes as he played a key role in redefining the sport for millions of fans around the world, with the number 46 coming to signify one thing and one thing only: Valentino Rossi. Retiring from MotoGP™ at the end of 2021, the ‘Doctor’ is now joined by his racing number as a spectator of the world’s fastest motorcycle racing Championship.
QUOTES
Valentino Rossi: “It is a mixture of feelings, from one side, it is very sad that I’ve finished, I’ve stopped, and also the 46 it is retired from MotoGP. On the other side, it is a great feeling because it was a long story and an unforgettable career full of great moments, so I am very proud of this. Today it was good, here in Mugello, because it is always a special place, it is always the home of the Italian GP, our home GP, and it is also good because I have always raced with the 46 from the first year. 46 for me means a lot, because it was the number of Graziano, of my father, when he finished second in the 250cc Championship. I am very happy because it is a sign, it is not just a number.
“Italy is always in the top in MotoGP, specially at this moment because also the bikes, Aprilia and Ducati are very strong, and we have a lot of Italian riders, we have Bastianini, that won a lot of races, but also, we have a lot of riders from our academy, Pecco is very strong, but this weekend also Luca and Bezz are fast, we have also Morbidelli, we have also young Italian riders that are very strong so I think that I can be quiet for the future.
“For sure I miss it, because it has been my life for 26 years, to follow the championship around the world, but it is good. I am happy, I do not miss it a lot because it was also very long, very stressful, so now I am a bit more relaxed and I think that it was the right time!”
Marc Marquez (93), as seen earlier this season at Mugello. Photo courtesy Repsol Honda.
Marc Marquez to undergo further surgery on right humerus
Marc Marquez will undergo a fourth surgery on his right humerus, heading to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The Repsol Honda Team rider has suffered major limitations in recent months that have prevented him from performing at the highest level. As a result, he has elected to undergo surgery 18 months after his last operation.
Marquez, having not felt significant improvements in recent months and consulting with other specialists, together with his medical team have considered the option of a new operation. The six-time MotoGP World Champion will travel to the United States on Tuesday, May 31 for surgery, under the direction of Dr. Joaquin Sánchez Sotelo. Once the post-operative period has been completed, he will return to Spain to begin his recovery. Doctors will then assess Marquez’s condition and his recovery period.
Marc Marquez
“Unfortunately, I have to take a break from the 2022 season that will keep me away from competition for a while. After all these months of intense work with my new medical team in Madrid, my physical condition has improved and I have reduced the discomfort in my right arm to be able to compete at the Grands Prix, but I still have significant limitations in my humerus that does not allow me to ride the bike properly and achieve the goals I have always set for myself.”
“It is for this reason, that together with my medical team, Dr. Samuel Antuña and Dr. Angel Cotorro, and after consulting with specialists from the Mayo Clinic, that I have made the decision to carry out a new operation with the aim of improving my position on the bike that will allow me to ride without the current limitations. Personally, I have the maximum motivation and enthusiasm to continue working and to make the effort to return to compete at the highest level.”
“I want to thank all the support that my family has always shown me, those trusted people around me, the Repsol Honda Team, my entire medical team and especially all the fans who are always there with me in the good and bad times.”
Dr. Sanchez Sotelo
Medical Doctor
“Given the lack of sufficient clinical improvement with the rehabilitation treatment, and advised by his medical team, Marc Marquez will undergo a new surgical intervention at the Mayo Clinic in the US, to improve the discomfort in his right arm derived from the loss of mobility in the arm.”
“The surgery will consist of the extraction of the osteosynthesis material from his shoulder associated with a humeral osteotomy to increase the external rotation movement of the arm and maintain shoulder stability.”
Rookies rule! Di Giannanontio and Bezzecchi head the grid after a thriller at Mugello
The two rookies front a Ducati top five lock out, with Quartararo leading the resistance in sixth
Saturday, 28 May 2022
How’s that for a Saturday shake up? Gresini Racing MotoGP™ rider Fabio Di Giannantonio has the first premier class pole position of his career after a dream Q2 session for the rookie home heroes in the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley. Di Giannantonio set a 1:46.156 with the chequered flag out to head up a front row comprised of three Italians from two Italian teams, riding Ducati’s Bologna bullets. Fellow rookie Marco Bezzecchi was second-fastest and his fellow Mooney VR46 Racing Team rider, Luca Marini, took third after rain came, faded and then left plenty up for grabs on full slicks in Q2.
With Di Giannantonio heading Bezzecchi, it’s the first time since Qatar 2008 with Jorge Lorenzo and James Toseland that two rookies start 1-2.
Q2
Di Giannantonio came through Q1, when the arrival of light rain spiced up proceedings, but it was clear by the end of that session that slick Michelin tyres had to be the choice for Q2 despite the persistent threat of rain. That meant the battle for pole would be less about strategy and more about a straight fight to set the quickest pace in the hills of Tuscany…
After a red flag interruption for a Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) crash, rider ok, Di Giannantonio then kicked things off with a 1:49.124 before moving the marker to a 1:47.163 and then a 1:46.607 on his following laps. The Gresini rider continued to prove the pacesetter until Prima Pramac’s Johann Zarco put in a 1:46.875, but that time would not stack up as the pace continued to hot up.
Bezzecchi got in a 1:46.616, then Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) a 1:46.471 and Di Giannantonio a 1:46.410 just before the chequered flag, but Zarco wasn’t done yet. The Frenchman clocked a 1:46.383 to go to provisional pole, before it looked like being a VR46 one-two when Bezzecchi set a 1:46.244 and team-mate Luca Marini moved his time to a 1:46.327. The dream scenario did not quite come to pass for the VR46 squad though as Di Giannantonio subsequently found even more time to take it back.
Zarco qualified fourth, one spot ahead of Bagnaia, which means the best of the non-Bologna rest was Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™’s Fabio Quartararo, the World Championship leader taking sixth to lead the resistance.
The Grid
Behind the five Ducatis and a Yamaha, Aprilia Racing’s Aleix Espargaro claimed seventh, although he looked far from pleased.
Joining him on Row 3 will be Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) and Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team), while Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) rounds out the top 10 on another Ducati. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) qualified 11th-fastest but is set to start 14th as a result of a grid penalty for being slow on the line and disturbing another rider in FP3.
Early, Q2 was red flagged barely more than a minute in as a result of a big crash for Marc Marquez at Turn 2, rider ok but RC213V decidedly not. The machine caught fire and fluid spilt onto the track, necessitating a stoppage so the surface could be cleaned up.
He would later get back out on his second bike and set a personal-best lap time of 1:47.468, but will start 11th due to Martin’s penalty. Ducati Lenovo Team’s Jack Miller similarly moves up to 12th on the grid, the Aussie missing out on advancing from Q1.
That’s quite a grid for the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, and a MotoGP™ race that promises much. Join us at 14:00 (GMT +2) for another showdown in the stunning hills of Tuscany, with lots of the line on race day.
Fabio Di Giannantonio: “Well, if I could wish for a perfect Saturday, I think it’s this. What a feeling, that’s amazing; my first MotoGP™ pole, here in Mugello with a Ducati, with all the tifosi – unbelievable. It’s unbelievable also because I thought I could be really fast in the dry, and then the conditions became tricky, so I said, ‘Now it’s difficult, it’s tricky, so let’s see.’ But I was just fully committed, fully head down, fully focused, and we did an incredible lap. It’s something unbelievable here, so super, super happy.”
Marc Marquez to undergo further surgery
The Repsol Honda Team rider will compete in Italy before surgery next week
It was announced in a Press Conference on Saturday afternoon at Mugello that eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) is to undergo further surgery. The number 93 will compete at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley before travelling to the US for the operation.
Canet edges out Acosta for Moto2™ pole
The Flexbox HP 40 rider heads the grid as the hunt for his maiden Moto2™ win continues
Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) grabbed the Moto2™ pole position at the at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley after setting a 1:51.121 in Q2. Canet was just over a tenth of a second quicker than fellow Spaniard Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) around the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, with Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) also earning a spot on the front row as the Brit bounces back from being declared unfit to race in France.
Q2
Acosta had achieved his first intermediate class pole a fortnight ago at the French Grand Prix, and the rookie was looking good for two in a row when he set a 1:51.265 and then a 1:51.246 on consecutive laps. However, Canet, who is still not at full fitness after the multi-rider crash three rounds ago, had other ideas and it is he who will start from first on Sunday afternoon, for the second time in four rounds, and just 0.158 seconds covers the top three after Lowes managed to put in a 1:51.279.
While pole gives Canet the best possible chance of chipping away at his 19-point deficit to World Championship leader Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), the Italian is far from out of the hunt for victory at his home event. Vietti qualified fourth with a 1:51.381, while wildcard Mattia Pasini (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) was one of the remarkable stories of Q2. He came through Q1, topping that session, and is now set to line up in fifth on the grid having ridden a Kalex motorcycle which he owns to a 1:51.465. Also on Row 2 will be Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), starting sixth.
The Grid
Behind the packed first two rows, Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) heads up another on the third, from Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team). Arbolino had a crash late in FP3 which locked him into Q1, but the man who is fourth in the World Championship boosted his hopes of a solid points haul by making his way out of that first stanza of qualifying.
Row 4 will be Barry Baltus (RW Racing GP), Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans Racing Team), and Jorge Navarro (Flexbox HP40). A winner at the French GP last time out, Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) will have to make a charge from 14th on the grid if he is to go back-to-back. Indonesian GP winner Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) starts even further back, in 24th, after missing out on passage to Q2 by more than half a second.
That’s an interesting line up for race day, and with plenty on the line on home turf it should be another stunner in Moto2™. Tune in when the lights go out at 12:20 (GMT+2)!
Aron Canet: “Well, I’m very happy to be back here again. Another pole position in this category, it’s amazing for me. But, the more important thing is tomorrow’s race. My pace during the weekend has been really, really good and we need to improve something on the bike but I’m ready to fight for the victory. We’ll see how the hand is, that’s more important for me. It’s not so painful at the moment because this is a flowing track. But, I’m very, very happy. Thank you to my team and to all the people who support me!”
Öncü plays his cards to perfection for pole
The number 53 takes pole ahead of Holgado and Foggia as Mugello gets set for a Moto3™ showdown
Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Deniz Öncü has claimed Moto3™ pole position at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, with Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) not quite able to carry his dominance of Free Practice forward. However, Foggia still had a big say in how qualifying played out at Mugello, as it was the Italian who provided the decisive tow to Öncü. Foggia still made the front row, but will start to the outside of the pole-sitting Turk, with rookie Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) impressing in the middle of the front row.
Q2
There are perhaps few circuits on the calendar where a tow is more important than Mugello, particularly in the lightweight class, and that was how John McPhee (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) put himself in top spot in the early stages of Q2 with a 1:57.299. Foggia, on the other hand, was having to punch his own hole in the air, although he managed to go second-fastest in the last few minutes with a 1:57.367.
Then, next time through, Foggia did manage to get the better of the Scotsman as he clocked a 1:57.168. Unfortunately for ‘The Rocket’, he had Öncü close behind him and the Turkish rider used the tow to set an even faster lap. With the chequered flag out, Foggia improved to a 1:57.094 but that was not good enough to knock the Tech3 rider off pole position, nor was it good enough to hold onto second spot as Holgado came through in a bunch of bikes to achieve a 1:56.908.
The Grid
Behind Öncü, Holgado and Foggia, Moto3™ World Championship leader Sergio Garcia qualified fourth, one position ahead of fellow Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team rider Izan Guevara. They will be joined on Row 2 by McPhee, courtesy of his first flying lap, with Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) heading up Row 3, ahead of Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Q1 graduate Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI).
Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who is tied for second in the World Championship with Foggia, will be looking to make up ground from 10th on the grid, with Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) and Lorenzo Fellon (Sic58 Squadra Corse) also on Row 4. Fellon was another of the riders to come from Q1, making the top four in that session thanks to a triple tow with the chequered flag out.
What will race day bring? We’ll find out from 11:00 (GMT +2) as the lights go out for Moto3™.
Deniz Öncü: “The lap was quite good, and when I saw the lap time – a 6.8 – it was my best lap time of the weekend, so I said, ‘Okay, for sure this is enough to be in the top two rows.’ After the chequered flag, I saw I was pole. I am happy because pole position is nice, to start the race from top, and I’m happy. For sure, tomorrow will be a big group race for me. It’s a disadvantage for me that I am tall and my weight compared to others is more, so I’m losing on the straights, as we see on the sectors. But, my strategy, I’ll be there, just waiting for the last laps, and I still don’t have a victory, so I will play all my cards to do this.”
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Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
