French Superbike: Debise Sweeps Again, At Nogaro

David Swarts

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May 11, 2022

French Superbike: Debise Sweeps Again, At Nogaro

FSBK-FE FRENCH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP: A MEMORABLE SECOND STAGE IN NOGARO

On this first weekend of May, the FFM and ASMoto Armagnac Bigorre hosted the second round of the French Superbike FSBK-FE championship on the Paul Armagnac circuit in Nogaro. The reunion with the public of the south-west was a success since 13,220 enthusiasts gathered to watch spectacular races between the best French speed drivers, including local Valentin Debise who distinguished himself through new exploits.

SUPERBIKE

RACE 1: GINES – DEBISE, THE DUEL CONTINUES

First twists from the reconnaissance lap, victims of mechanical problems, Gregory LEBLANC (Ducati TWR – Pirelli), 4th, and Tom BERCOT (Honda CBO – Michelin), 8th, returned to the pits before the start of the race.

Mathieu GINES (Yamaha Tech Solutions – Pirelli) sets the tone and completes the first lap in a leading position ahead of Valentin DEBISE (Yamaha – Michelin) who remains in his wake. Respectively 3rd and 6th on the starting grid, Martin RENAUDIN (Yamaha Moto&GP Addict – Pirelli) and Kenny FORAY (BMW Tecmas – Michelin) are fighting for 3rd position.

Lap after lap, the 4 leading drivers remained extremely close. While GINES, DEBISE and FORAY go blow for blow, RENAUDIN waits behind the quartet. For his part, Alan TECHER (Honda CBO – Michelin) is in 5th place with a big second ahead of Axel MAURIN (Yamaha – Pirelli), 6th, and himself under the threat of Valentin SUCHET (Suzuki Junior Team LMS – Pirelli), 7th.

Before the halfway point, the red flag was raised by race management following a fall by Kévin JAECK (Yamaha – Michelin) in the peloton.

The race was restarted for 7 laps and GINES took control ahead of his rival DEBISE while FORAY remained in ambush behind the two Yamahas. In 4th place, RENAUDIN manages to distance himself from the Honda n°5 of Alan TECHER, still in 5th position ahead of David MUSCAT (Ducati TWR – Michelin), who is becoming more and more pressing in 6th place.

In the final loop, DEBISE, back in the lead, resists the ultra late braking of GINES at the end of the aviation straight. He thus secures a third victory in as many races. The rider of the Yamaha n°41 once again came up against second place but demonstrated a level of performance that was increasingly close to that of the winner. See you in Race 2 for revenge!

Starting 6th, FORAY did a great job by getting on the podium at the expense of RENAUDIN who nevertheless signed a very good 4th place synonymous with victory in the Challenger category. TECHER, 5th, redoubled his efforts and resisted the last attack of the emblematic local driver, MUSCAT who widened his trajectory and fell back in the classification to 9th place.

Axel MAURIN (Yamaha CMS – Pirelli), therefore moved up to 6th, after having made the effort to contain the Ducati n°26 of Guillaume ANTIGA (Ducati – Pirelli) which took 8th place overall for the two parts of the race. The Challenger Valentin SUCHET, meanwhile, is 7th and takes the second step of the podium in his category, completed by the Luxembourger Chris LEESCH (Honda – Dunlop) who closes the top 10 scratch.

RACE 2: FOURTH VICTORY FOR DEBISE

After an exciting race 1, Kenny FORAY set off on pole position in front of the Gers public gathered in the stands of the Circuit Paul Armagnac in Nogaro.

After 1 lap, Valentin DEBISE (Yamaha – Michelin) already positions his R1 in the lead ahead of that of Mathieu GINES (Yamaha Tech Solutions – Pirelli). At the same time, Kenny FORAY is well placed in 3rd place under the pressure of Martin RENAUDIN who even manages to overtake him at the end of the 2nd lap. Good start to the race by Alan TECHER who places his Honda n°5 in 5th place while Gregory LEBLANC (Ducati TWR – Pirelli) makes a mistake and crashes. A weekend to forget for the multiple winner of the 24h Motos.

The situation is stable after 5 laps, the leading riders stand in less than 2 seconds. The chasing trio made up of Axel MAURIN (Yamaha CMS – Pirelli), David MUSCAT (Ducati – Michelin) and Valentin SUCHET (Suzuki Junior Team LMS – Pirelli) is more than 5 seconds behind the leader.

Some changes to note in the top 5 in the middle of the race but DEBISE is still in front despite the attacks of the resident of the Yamaha Tech Solutions team. At a higher pace than GINES, FORAY put the brakes on RENAUDIN for the benefit of 3rd place, the Challenger took its wheel. For his part, TECHER takes the hit in 5th place.

At the end of the race, Valentin DEBISE was the only driver to run in 1’28, a statistic allowing him to take off to validate a fourth victory this season, thus consolidating his status as leader of the Championship. On the last lap, FORAY raised his level of play and surprised GINES by taking the advantage under braking at the first corner of the track. FORAY then signs his best result of 2022 ahead of his former teammate GINES, 3rd. Another 4th place for RENAUDIN who finishes ahead of TECHER, 5th. A magnificent weekend for the young man from Sarthe who will still have to wait for a first podium in the queen category.

The fight for 6th place benefits MAURIN, an extremely consistent driver who is ahead of SUCHET, 7th , and MUSCAT , 8th. After starting from 14th place, Tom BERCOT (Honda CBO – Michelin) made a good comeback to 9th place, finishing 3rd in the Challenger category behind Martin RENAUDIN and Valentin SUCHET. The 17-year-old driver will probably be able to aspire to better when he has success on his side.

SUPERBIKE PROVISIONAL SITUATION:

1 – DEBISE – 101 points

2 – GINES – 77 points

3 – FORAY – 70 points

4 – TECHER – 46 points

5 – RENAUDIN – 43 points

SUPERSPORT 600

RACE 1: DEBISE AHEAD OF ITS YOUNG RIVALS

Excellent start from Valentin DEBISE (Yamaha – Michelin) who takes the lead and seems to be able to widen the gap in front of Loïc ARBEL (Yamaha – Pirelli) immediately attacked by Johan GIMBERT (Yamaha – Pirelli).

Despite the impression left in the first two laps, the Albigensian leader was joined by the young guard of the Supersport 600, namely Loïc ARBEL, Johan GIMBERT and Mathieu GREGORIO (Yamaha – Michelin) author of a good start from the second row. The surprising GIMBERT even manages to take the lead ahead of DEBISE for two laps.

Halfway through the race, the successive attacks that ARBEL and GIMBERT made mutually benefited DEBISE who escaped and gradually consolidated his lead. In ambush in 4th row, GREGORIO made the effort to stay in contact with the Yamahas n°85 and n°77. Behind these 4 men, the public witnessed a great battle for 5th place between 3 experienced riders: Matthieu LUSSIANA (Yamaha – Dunlop), Cédric TANGRE (Yamaha – Pirelli) and Enzo DE LA VEGA (Yamaha – Pirelli).

With 6 laps to go, the differences are made, DEBISE is still a solid leader while ARBEL increases the pace to second place while GREGORIO integrates the top 3 at the expense of GIMBERT whose tires seem to pay for an aggressive start to the race.

Challenged by the youngsters in the first rounds, DEBISE knew how to keep calm to win for the third time in as many races. When overtaking the laggards GREGORIO takes the advantage in front of ARBEL who is trying to take back his property.

But GREGORIO resists and takes a fine 2nd place ahead of the Doubiste who completes the podium. For his part, GIMBERT shows his good progress and retains 4th place.

In the fight to enter the top 5, LUSSIANA does not tremble and is ahead of DE LA VEGA, 6th, and TANGRE, 7th. Vincent FALCONE (Yamaha – Pirelli) finishes in 8th place in the scratch and therefore accompanies Mathieu GREGORIO and Johan GIMBERT on the box for the Challenger category.

RACE 2: UNSTOPPABLE DEBISE

From the left of the 1st row of the starting grid, Valentin DEBISE (Yamaha – Pirelli) makes the holeshot and immediately takes control of the leading group ahead of poleman Mathieu GREGORIO (Yamaha – Michelin) followed by Loïc ARBEL (Yamaha – Pirelli ) and Johan GIMBERT (Yamaha-Pirelli).

After 3 laps, within the leading car the order did not change, but behind, Enzo DE LA VEGA (Yamaha – Pirelli), 5th, made a mistake and crashed. The quartet then broke away from the chasing group led by Matthieu LUSSIANA (Yamaha – Dunlop), now 5th and threatened by his pursuer Cédric TANGRE (Yamaha – Pirelli).

Halfway through the race, DEBISE is in the lead, still followed by GREGORIO, ARBEL and GIMBERT, in that order, the gap between the 4 riders widens little by little. Only ARBEL remains in contact with GREGORIO and seems to be waiting for an opening.

2 laps from the finish, DEBISE drives the point home and secures victory while ARBEL seems to want to attempt an attack on GREGORIO for the benefit of 2nd place. However, a crash involving LUSSIANA forced the race management to put an end to the proceedings with a red flag and the classification therefore remained unchanged: DEBISE won ahead of GREGORIO, 2nd, ARBEL, 3rd, and GIMBERT, 4th, exactly as in race 1. .

Cédric TANGRE seizes the opportunity to enter the top 5 ahead of Challenger Kilian AEBI (Yamaha – Dunlop) who signs a superb result placing him on the third step of the Challenger podium alongside GREGORIO and GIMBERT.

SUPERSPORT 600 PROVISIONAL SITUATION:

1 – DEBISE – 101 points

2 – GREGORIO – 75 points

3 – ARBEL – 68 points

4 – TANGRE – 44 points

5 – GIMBERT – 42 points

GRAND PRIZE OBJECTIVE

PRE-MOTO 3

RACE 1: UNTOUCHABLE ROSTAGNI

Like what he had achieved at Le Mans in race 1, Matthias ROSTAGNI (Béon) imposed his pace from the first laps and none of his opponents was able to take his wheel. Quentin GODEFROY (KTM), Swan EMPRIN (Béon) and Célestin MASY (Béon) still start the fight for the other two steps of the podium.

Halfway through the race, ROSTAGNI already seems to have definitively ruled out the competition since GODEFROY, isolated in second place, is more than 10 seconds behind the leader. The best battle therefore opposes MASY and EMPRIN who exchange positions lap after lap to try to integrate the top 3.

Despite a more than comfortable lead, ROSTAGNI did not relax his effort and won by a wide margin in front of GODEFROY, 2nd. The fine operation of the last lap is to be credited to EMPRIN who put the brakes on MASY and got on the gearbox.

RACE 2: LOGICAL CONTINUATION FOR ROSTAGNI

Mathias ROSTAGNI (Béon) takes the lead and already enjoys a good lead after one lap. Swan EMPRIN (Béon) is in 2nd place but knows he is threatened by Célestin MASY (Béon) not far behind him in 3rd position .

Halfway through the race ROSTAGNI is a solid leader far ahead of MASY who finally steals 2nd place from EMPRIN. It was then the turn of Quentin GODEFROY (KTM) to take the lead on Swan EMPRIN who fell back to 4th place.

At the finish, the positions remain unchanged in the top 4, ROSTAGNI wins by far for the third time this season ahead of MASY, 2 nd , GODEFROY, 3 rd , and EMPRIN is at the foot of the podium.

PRE-MOTO 3 PROVISIONAL SITUATION:

1 – ROSTRAGNI – 79 points

2 – MASY – 69 points

3 – GODEFROY – 56 points

4 – BISSANE – 49 points

5 – EMPRIN – 46 points

NSF-250

RACE 1: BERCOT DETHRONES CAILLET

Jules BERCOT (Honda) started with a bang and took control at the end of the 1st lap ahead of Benjamin CAILLET (Honda). The leader of the Championship, CAILLET does not leave the opportunity to BERCOT to escape and maintains the pressure. Lorenzo GUYAU (Honda) is 3rd , behind the two leaders.

BERCOT leaves no space for CAILLET, but the 8th lap is fruitful for the latter who takes the lead in NSF 250.

A few laps from the finish, BERCOT regained the advantage over CAILLET thanks to a good braking maneuver on the aviation straight. The gap is still just as slim in the last corners… At the checkered flag BERCOT, 13 years old and the youngest driver in the category, emerges victorious from this magnificent duel against CAILLET, 2nd. Solid race by another 13-year-old driver, Lorenzo GUYAU, who completed the podium ahead of Eliott KASSIGIAN (Honda NSF), 4th.

RACE 2: CAILLET IS ALREADY BACK TO VICTORY

Perfect start to the race for Jules BERCOT (Honda NSF) in the lead at the exit of the 1st corner ahead of Benjamin CAILLET (Honda NSF), who immediately takes his wheel. We find Lorenzo GUYAU (Honda NSF), 3 rd , behind the two leaders.

Halfway through the race, the two leading drivers were still engaged in a merciless duel while GUYAU was left behind in 3rd place .

Thanks to the reacceleration of his machine, the championship leader CAILLET takes a decisive advantage at the checkered flag and therefore his revenge in front of BERCOT. Lorenzo GUYAU completes the podium more than 14 seconds behind the other two and Eliott KASSIGIAN (Honda NSF) finishes 4th just as he did in race 1.

NSF 250 PROVISIONAL STATUS:

1 – CAILLET – 98 points

2 – BERCOT – 82 points

3 – GUYAU – 61 points

4 – BOSSON – 47 points

5 – KASSIGIAN – 43 points

SUPERSPORT 300

RACE 1: FIRST VICTORY FOR JOULIN

Author of the best take-off from pole position, Dorian JOULIN (Yamaha – Pirelli) keeps the lead ahead of Loris CHAIDRON (Yamaha – Pirelli), Evann PLAINDOUX (Yamaha – Pirelli), Oreste BAZE (Yamaha – Pirelli) and the Championship leader Enzo DAHMANI (Yamaha – Pirelli) which joined the leading group despite a difficult start.

While BAZE loses pace and sees himself outdistanced by the leading men, halfway through the race, we find CHAIDRON, DAHMANI, JOULIN and PLAINDOUX who hold on to the first 4 positions in one second, the attacks multiply.

On the last lap, PLAINDOUX made a mistake in the winding part and saw his three rivals slip away towards the podium.

At the checkered flag, JOULIN takes a first victory after a perfect race ahead of CHAIDRON, 2nd, and DAHMANI, 3rd. Almost 2 seconds behind the winner, PLAINDOUX ranks 4th and will be revengeful in race 2.

Another 5th place for David DA COSTA (Yamaha – Pirelli) who had to struggle against the best female representative Lucie BOUDESSEUL (Kawasaki – Pirelli), 6th at the finish. Note, despite a battle with the leaders at the start of the race, BAZE only finished 9th.

RACE 2: DA COSTA WINNER OF A CRAZY RACE

The best start was signed by Dorian JOULIN (Yamaha – Pirelli) who widened the gap in front of Lucie BOUDESSEUL (Kawasaki – Pirelli), 2nd. Enzo DAHMANI (Yamaha – Pirelli) immediately rises to his level. From 4th to 7th place, Loris CHAIDRON (Yamaha – Pirelli), Evann PLAINDOUX (Yamaha – Pirelli), David DA COSTA (Yamaha – Pirelli) and Louca FRIEH (Yamaha – Pirelli) are in ambush behind the trio.

The debates are extremely lively between the 7 leading drivers who regroup after 3 laps. JOULIN, DAHMANI and PLAINDOUX successively occupy the leading position until BOUDESSEUL surprises all these boys and takes the lead with great authority.

In the second part of the race, the public cheers BOUDESSEUL who amazes by resisting the attacks of JOULIN, PLAINDOUX, DAHMANI and even DA COSTA who attack him one by one.

On the penultimate lap, DA COSTA and PLAINDOUX finally manage to get the upper hand over the rider of Kawasaki n°3, the young Portuguese takes the lead. At this moment BOUDESSEUL is therefore 3rd ahead of JOULIN, 4th, followed in this order by DAHMANI, FRIEH and CHAIDRON.

At the finish, DA COSTA was the happiest, taking his first victory in the Supersport 300 ahead of PLAINDOUX, 2nd. The joy of the winner contrasts with the disappointment of BOUDESSEUL who had 3rd place stolen by JOULIN on the checkered flag after having been the great architect of this magnificent race. DAHMANI retains 5th position, his worst result of the season, ahead of FRIEH, 6th, and CHAIDRON, 7th.

SUPERSPORT 300 PROVISIONAL SITUATION:

1 – DAHMANI – 79 points

2 – JOULIN – 62 points

3 – DA COSTA – 61 points

4 – FRIEH – 59 points

5 – PLAINDOUX – 49 points

SIDECAR

RACE 2: THE BAIL/LEVEAU WINS UNDER DELICATE CONDITIONS

Following a heavy downpour at the very end of the event, LE BAIL / LEVEAU set off in peak position on a “WET” track. PERILLAT / KOTCHAN is struggling to get into the rhythm given the conditions and is already more than 10 seconds behind the leader after two laps, an impressive gap so early in the race which shows the quality of piloting of crew no. 99.

In the aftermath, BERTHET / VASSEUR put on a show by taking second place at the expense of PERILLAT / KOTCHAN now 3 rd . Just before halfway, the latter are also taken over by BARBIER / RIGONDEAU who joins the virtual podium.

At the end of the 10 laps of the race, LE BAIL / LEVEAU won easily for the second time of the weekend. BERTHET / VASSEUR and BARBIER / RIGONDEAU complete the podium in that order. In 4th place the public found BOUCHER / BOUCHER, who kept their initial position, while PERILLAT / KOTACHAN slipped to 7th place .

In F2 it is therefore, PALACOEUR / CESCUTTI 5 th scratch which imposes itself far ahead of MOREL / CARRE, 9 th and QUILBAULT / PESENTI, 10 th who complete the category podium.

NSF 250 PROVISIONAL STATUS:

1 – PERILLAT / KOTCHAN – 67 points

2 – LE BAIL / LEVEAU – 57 points

3 – REEVES / ROUSSEAU – 51 points

4 – BARBER / RIGONDEAU – 48 points

5 – BUTCHER / BUTCHER – 43 points

FOLLOW THE 2022 FRENCH FE-SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP

Fsbk.fr, the website dedicated to the French Superbike Championship always offers to follow live the news of the weekend, detailed information, photos, results, videos…

For this 2022 season, the FFM will broadcast a video of the best moments of the day each event night on the official FSBK-FE Facebook page and the fsbk.fr website.

Other meetings will punctuate the weekend through a device specifically focused on social networks via Facebook: fsbk , Youtube: ffmfsbk and Instagram: fsbk

CALENDAR 2022

May 27 – 29 – Lédenon (30) – MC Lédenon

June 17 – 19 – Circuit Pau Arnos (64) – MC Pau Arnos

July 01 – 03 – Magny-Cours (58) – MC Nevers and Nièvre

August 19 – 21 – Circuit Carole (93) – MC Motors Events

September 23 – 25 – Circuit Paul Ricard (30) – Circuit Paul Ricard MC

Race 1
Race 2
SBK points
SS Race 1
SS Race 2
SS Points

MotoGP: Espargaro, Vinales Say Aprilia’s Potential Is Higher

David Swarts

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May 11, 2022

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MotoGP: Espargaro, Vinales Say Aprilia’s Potential Is Higher

FRENCH GP IN LE MANS

ALEIX: “THE RS-GP CAN IMPROVE MORE, WE NEED TO KEEP WORKING CALMLY”

MAVERICK: “THE BIKE AND I ALREADY HAVE STRONG POINTS, THE SPEED WILL COME WITH THE FEELING”

There are some particularly iconic races on the MotoGP calendar, both because of the history of the track where they are held and because of the competitiveness they manage to generate. The GP of France is undoubtedly in the forefront where this is concerned. Located just a few kilometres from the town of Le Mans and part of the longer Circuit de la Sarthe, the Bugatti GP Circuit has always been a special destination for World Championship GP Motorcycle Racing. Thousands of enthusiasts cover the lawns and grandstands throughout the weekend, giving the 4,200 metres of French asphalt an even more spectacular effect.

Aprilia will be tackling the French weekend fortified by the extraordinary form that Aleix Espargaró has been demonstrating, perfectly interpreting the 2022 RS-GP and fresh from two consecutive podium finishes in Portimão and Jerez. Last year, only a problem in the rain-soaked race deprived him of a good result, a statistic that the Spanish rider is intent on rectifying.

Maverick Viñales is continuing his quest to adapt, whereas his good race performance and pace are beyond dispute. Squeezing the most out of the technical package on his flying lap in qualifying is still complicated for him, which is the aspect Maverick and his team are focusing their efforts on.

ALEIX ESPARGARÓ

“We are coming from some good tests in Jerez where we found a few interesting solutions for improving our performance on the starting grid. It’s important for us to continue improving. The RS-GP is definitely at an outstanding level but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t margin for growth. Especially in the early stages of the race which are then conditioning the end result more and more. We’re headed to France calm and aware. We’re working well.”

MAVERICK VIÑALES

“Our quest to adapt continues. We’ll probably be able to draw some advantages from some solutions we tested in Jerez on Monday but it will be especially important to move forward step by step. I’m able to be fast in the race – extremely fast in some situations – but clearly my feeling with the RS-GP is still keeping me from expressing my best performance. This becomes particularly clear on Saturday in qualifying when everything has to be perfect. It’s a process we’re working on. Both the bike and I have strong points, we just have to find the best way to exploit them.”

Midwest Motorcycle Mechanic School Graduates First Class

David Swarts

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May 11, 2022

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Midwest Motorcycle Mechanic School Graduates First Class

MIDWEST MOTORCYCLE MECHANIC SCHOOL ANNOUNCES FIRST GRADUATING CLASS

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – Midwest Motorcycle Mechanic School honors their first graduating class!

The School has honored their first graduating class of eight motorcycle technicians. The graduates successfully completed 360 hours of hands-on training and classroom sessions to become wrench-ready for this exciting new step into their technician careers. The class boasts an 87.5% technician placement rate into full-time roles in surrounding dealerships.

When asked why graduate Amber wanted to fulfill her dreams of being a motorcycle technician, she noted “After my dad surprised me with my first bike, I fell in love with riding. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. When I picked up a wrench, it just felt right.”

“The chemistry of the students with the instructors in this course was truly inspirational,” said Doug Jackson, Woodstock Harley-Davidson/KTM/Triumph General Manager, and Midwest Motorcycle Mechanic School Leader. “The students have all improved greatly in proficiency and have vastly increased their knowledge of the motorcycle service industry. The difference in the student’s skills prior to this course versus today is nothing less than sensational.”

Midwest Motorcycle Mechanic School is now enrolling students for their next class in Woodstock, IL slated to start in Fall 2022. For more information on the Midwest Motorcycle Mechanic School enrollment, please visit www.mchenry.edu/motorcycletech.

Need financial support for your training? Please visit www.mchenry.edu/ncscholarships.

For more information on Windy City Motorcycle Company and the dealerships within the group, please visit www.windycitymc.com.

About Windy City Motorcycle Company:

Windy City Motorcycle Company commenced business in 2000 and today is among the largest motorcycle distributors in the U.S. representing five premium OEM brands and operating out of 15 locations in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. It is listed among Crain’s Chicago Business’ largest privately held businesses in Chicago employing approximately 350 people, teaching about 2,000 students annually to ride motorcycles, and delivering over 6,000 motorcycles per year into the market.

AHRMA: Classic MotoFest Triple Crown Coming To Heartland Park

David Swarts

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May 10, 2022

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AHRMA: Classic MotoFest Triple Crown Coming To Heartland Park

AHRMA ANNOUNCES AHRMA CLASSIC MOTOFEST™ TRIPLE CROWN

Racers who go fast on pavement and off-road will be honored during the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) Classic MotoFest™ in the Heartland.

The multi-discipline event will be held at Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka, Kansas, May 26-29, 2022.

Our MotoFest in the Heartland is a celebration of vintage motorcycle on and off-road competition which includes all the racing disciplines that AHRMA has to offer together at one venue. In addition to the diverse forms of competition, swap meet, bike show and music, AHRMA is proud to announce the AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ Triple Crown in The Heartland.

Not only does AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ in the Heartland feature road racing, motocross, cross-country, trials, and flat track it will also host AHRMA’s second annual classic drag racing exhibition which makes it the perfect event to award AHRMA’s first ever Triple Crown Champion.

Devised in the spirit of awarding a title like the illustrious Grand National Champion, The AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ Triple Crown Championship will be presented to the racer that competes and acquires the most points across three of the racing disciplines offered by AHRMA at Heartland Motorsports Park.

To be eligible to contend for the Triple Crown at Heartland Park, a racer must compete in three different racing disciplines at the Classic MotoFest. It is mandatory for a participant to enter the Road Racing and/or Flat Track event on Saturday and round out their total entries to three by choosing from off-road events offered on Friday and Saturday including Trials, Cross Country and Motocross. There is no year-restriction on the bike; however, only results from AHRMA legal classes will be awarded points.

As many of our members like to road race and go bar to bar off-road and vice versa, The AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ at Heartland Motorsports Park is a rare chance to compete on and off-road at a national event over the same weekend with bragging rights and a one-of-a-kind Triple Crown Champion Trophy offered up by Toad Town Racing.

Be sure to make room in your van or trailer for more bikes and sign up at www.ahrma.org/schedules-results!

About AHRMA

The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association is a member-owned nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the sport of historic motorcycle racing. Since 1989, AHRMA has provided an appropriate environment to showcase vintage and alternative modern racing motorcycles in the disciplines of road racing, motocross, dirt track, trials, and cross country. With more than 3,300 members, AHRMA is the largest vintage racing group in North America and is one of the world’s leading vintage motorcycle organizations.

MotoAmerica: Barnes Joining King Of The Baggers At Road America

David Swarts

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May 10, 2022

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MotoAmerica: Barnes Joining King Of The Baggers At Road America

Hoban Brothers Racing, Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley-Davidson, and Michael Barnes Join Forces To Compete In the 2022 MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers Series and Select Bagger Racing League Series Races

May 2022 – Daytona Harley-Davidson / Hoban Brothers Racing presented by Man-O-War Motor Products with Rider, Michael Barnes, will compete in the 2022 MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers series and select Bagger Racing League Series Races.

“We are super excited to be partnering with Hoban Brothers Racing, John Dahmer and Michael Barnes in order to race our Bruce Rossmeyer Harley-Davidson Bagger again this season. We have some great memories with Michael Barnes when he rode for the Rossmeyer/Richie Morris Racing team in the AMA Daytona SportBike series in 2009 and are happy that Michael will be piloting our home-grown Harley-Davidson Bagger for four races in the [MotoAmerica] series and one race in the BRL. We are also super-stoked to have the support of Harley-Davidson Motor Company as we strive to keep the Harley-Davidson brand on top where it belongs,” said Shelly Rossmeyer Pepe, General Manager of Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley-Davidson.

“It is truly amazing to be working with Shelly and Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley-Davidson, Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Michael Barnes as it was imperative that we all worked together to make this opportunity happen, especially after Hoban Brothers and Rossmeyer Racing were not able to start the race at Daytona this March. We are also pleased to have Michael on board and look forward to the team and Michael working together to achieve the goals we set last year. Michael is a proven winner as he won the inaugural Bagger Racing League Premier Bagger class at Utah Motorsports Campus and was a podium finisher in the MotoAmerica Mission King Of The Baggers race at Laguna Seca in 2021. Barnes has a pro racing career that spans 33 years with seven national wins and 48 podium finishes. He won the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 series championship in 2012, and he won the Daytona 200 in 2016 becoming the oldest rider (at 47) ever to win that race. We are lucky to have all of our sponsors back this year. Jimmy Light from HPi and Tom Reiser from TMan Performance were a large part of our success, along with our guys from Darkhorse Crankworks from last year, to have their support in race engine development again this year is huge for our team,” says John Dahmer, Manager of the Hoban Brothers Racing.

Michael Barnes. Photo courtesy Hoban Brothers Racing.

“I’m really excited to have signed a deal with Hoban Brothers Racing and Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley-Davidson. Huge thanks to Shelly Rossmeyer for teaming up with us for 2022. I’m eager to throw a leg over our Harley-Davidson Road Glide and get our season started. John Dahmer of Hoban Brothers Racing has really been working his tail off to get our team back on track and I can’t thank him enough. I’m looking forward to competing in the remainder of the MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers and selected BRL races. A personal thank you for my apparel sponsors’ continued support: Moto-Liberty, RS Taichi, 6D Helmets and Sidi boots,” says veteran rider Michael Barnes.

Daytona Harley-Davidson/Hoban Brothers Racing presented by Man-O-War Motor Products
plans to kick off its campaign June 3-5, 2022 at Road America – Hoban Brothers’ home track – in the MotoAmerica “King Of The Baggers” series where they qualified 3rd in 2021; followed by three more MotoAmerica races – July 8-10, 2022, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca; July 29-31, 2022, Brainard Int’l Raceway; and, Sept 9-11, 2022, New Jersey Motorsports Park – culminating with the Bagger Racing League race October 14-16, 2022 at Daytona International Speedway.

NATC: Di Mario, Shedden Split Wins At High Plains Raceway (Updated)

David Swarts

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May 10, 2022

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NATC: Di Mario, Shedden Split Wins At High Plains Raceway (Updated)

NATC Race 1 - Results
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2022 Championship Standings-2

North West 200: Brookes Tops Opening Superbike Qualifying Session

David Swarts

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May 10, 2022

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North West 200: Brookes Tops Opening Superbike Qualifying Session

Editorial Note: Below the press release you will find PDFs of Tuesday’s provisional qualifying results from the North West 200. Each class has its own PDF of results, including many pages of detailed timing information. Use the scroll and zoom tools in the bottom left corner of the PDF viewers to better see all of the results. American Patricia Fernandez was 45th, 48th, and 55th in the Supersport, Superstock, and Superbike qualifying sessions, respectively.

JOSH BROOKES TOPS SUPERBIKE QUALIFYING TIMES IN OPENING ACTION OF 2022 fonaCAB AND NICHOLL OILS NORTH WEST 200

Josh Brookes topped the Superbike time sheets on the PBM Ducati during the opening practice session for the 2022 fonaCAB and Nicholl Oils North West 200 on a day of sunshine and showers.

The Australian BSB racer, who last raced at the event in 2014, completed a sighting lap of the 8.9 mile circuit, in the opening Newcomer’s practice.

“As soon as we went out in the practice proper for the Superbikes I could ride my own way, get a feeling for the bike and lean it over in the turns,” Brookes explained. “Luckily the sun was out and we had the track completely dry so once I got into my own rhythm the track just came back to me.”

Michael Dunlop, who had originally been scheduled to ride for Paul Bird’s Ducati squad before the Ballymoney man ditched the deal several weeks ago, was second-fastest just 0.173 seconds slower on his first outing on the Hawk Racing Suzuki he had taken delivery of the previous evening.

“We still have a lot of work to do for Thursday but we are here,” Dunlop said. “We are happy enough to be P2 on a new bike.”

Hawk Racing boss, Steve Hicken, added, “Michael seemed happy with the bike and we have some changes to make now.”

Davey Todd was third fastest on the Milenco Padgetts Honda.

“I was really surprised to be up there,” the Saltburn on Sea rider said. “The bike was overgeared and I was barely using sixth gear, so to be just 0.8 seconds off pole when I wasn’t pushing and was just getting used to the track, is good.”

The north coast event’s most successful rider, Alastair Seeley, posted fourth-quickest time on his new IFS Yamaha R1. Phil Marron, the Co. Antrim man who is Toprak Razgatlıoğlu’s Yamaha crew chief in WSBK, was in the Seeley garage offering technical advice to the IFS squad.

Seeley’s Carrickfergus neighbour, Glenn Irwin, suffered a tough day at the office with machine problems on his Honda Racing Fireblade hampering his return to action at Portrush. After finishing fifth fastest in the Superbike session, the BSB star failed to qualify for the Superstock race after struggling with more technical issues.

Michael Dunlop topped the Superstock qualifying on his MD Racing Honda which was run on drying roads after a heavy shower doused the Triangle circuit. The outright lap record holder was 1.7 seconds faster than Michael Rutter on the Bathams Racing BMW.

“There were a lot of wet patches,” 50 year old Rutter said. “I got held up a bit on the last lap but the bike feels good and it is fast. I just need to do more laps so that I can get up to speed and have the trust to outbrake people at these high speeds.”

Richard Cooper was third-quickest on his Buildbase Suzuki.

“The track was drier towards the end but I was still cautious in parts and was trying to pick my lines,” he said. “I managed to sort out my braking markers which I never got to grips with when I was here in 2019 so that is something to build on for the rest of the week.”

Dominic Herbertson, a Tandragee 100 winner two weeks ago, was fourth-fastest on his GB Racing BMW ahead of fifth-fastest, Ian Hutchinson, on the Milwaukee Synetiq BMW.

Lee Johnston’s recent sparkling run of form on his Ashcourt Racing R6 Yamaha in the British Supersport championship continued as he was fastest Supersport rider on the opening day of action.

“It’s nice not to be behind Jack Kennedy for once,” Johnston joked, referring to his British championship rival. “We are using different tyres on the bike here and it feels different. The conditions weren’t perfect and there was a lot of gravel at Juniper.”

Michael Dunlop was over a second slower on his MD Racing Yamaha with Dean Harrison third fastest on the Dao Racing Kawasaki, the highlight of a testing day for the reigning Senior TT champion who was hampered by a gearing issue in the Superbike session and the wrong tyre choice in the Stocker qualifying.

Richard Cooper claimed quickest time in the Supertwins class on the Ryan Farquhar-built JMC Roofing Kawasaki as French rider, Pierre Yves Bian, separated the Englishman from Jeremy McWilliams on the IFS Paton.

“The road was wet from Metropole to York, but from York to Metropole it was bone dry,” Cooper explained after a torrential shower delayed the start of the Twin’s session.

“I was a little bit surprised to be second fastest amongst the best level of road racing in the world,” Bian, a former Manx Grand Prix winner who is competing in his first Supertwins race, said.

McWilliams admitted he struggled in his first ride at the North West on wet roads.

“I am surprised to be so near the front because I thought I would be 10th or 12th,” the 58-year-old said.

Earlier in the day the former Grand Prix rider had posted an impressive seventh-quickest time on the Burrows Engineering/RK Racing Yamaha in the Supersport class, lapping faster than leading 600cc riders like Conor Cummins, Ian Hutchinson and James Hillier.

“A bike is a bike,” the Newtownabbey man said. “I’m pleased to be in the mix on a bike that I’ve only set eyes on, but I wouldn’t take too much from it as everyone was feeling their way.”

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New LiveWire S2 Del Mar Billed As Electric Urban Street Tracker (Update)

David Swarts

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May 10, 2022

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New LiveWire S2 Del Mar Billed As Electric Urban Street Tracker (Update)

Update: The 100 Del Mar Launch Edition models sold out within 18 minutes.

LIVEWIRE REVEALS S2 DEL MAR ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE

Reservations Open for 100 Del Mar Launch Edition Models Expected to Begin Deliveries in Spring 2023

MILWAUKEE, WI (May 10, 2022) – LiveWire™ is set to bring advanced design, technical innovation, and engineering expertise to urban riding and beyond, with the all-electric S2 Del Mar™ motorcycle, the first LiveWire model to feature the new S2 ARROW architecture.

The first 100 units will be built to order and serialized as Del Mar Launch Edition models, which can be reserved now at livewire.com for expected delivery in the spring of 2023.

The 100 Del Mar Launch Edition models will feature an exclusive finish and wheel design and an MSRP of $17,699.

The production S2 Del Mar will deliver immediately after the launch edition, with a target MSRP of $15,000 USD.

The S2 Del Mar features a targeted output of 80 horsepower (59.6 kW), and less than 440 pounds of weight, delivering projected 0-to-60 mph times of 3.5 seconds or less.

Del Mar range in city riding is targeted to be 100 miles.*

Another view of a LiveWire S2 Del Mar. Photo courtesy Harley-Davidson.

“The S2 Del Mar model represents the next step in the evolution of the LiveWire brand,” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO of Harley-Davidson. “The ARROW architecture underpinning the Del Mar, developed in-house at LiveWire Labs, demonstrates our ambition to lead in the EV space and establish LiveWire as the most desirable electric motorcycle brand in the world.”

Advanced LiveWire ARROW Architecture

LiveWire’s scalable ARROW architecture with proprietary battery, motor, charging, and control systems debuts on the Del Mar model and was designed at LiveWire Labs in Mountain View, California. The ARROW architecture is intended to be modular and serves as the central component of the motorcycle chassis.

Del Mar is designed to offer its rider thrilling performance with a targeted output of 80 horsepower (59.6 kW), delivering projected 0-to-60 mph times of 3.5 seconds. City range is expected to be 100 miles.* The Del Mar model weight target is 440 pounds or less.

An Urban Street Tracker

Del Mar presents a street-tracker stance on 19-inch front and rear wheels equipped with custom developed LiveWire Dunlop DT1 tires equally capable on paved and dirt surfaces. The slim seat tops a short tail section. A tracker-style handlebar fronted by a thin flyscreen places the rider in an upright position for a comfortable and controlled riding experience.

Launch Edition Model

Only 100 examples of the Del Mar Launch Edition models will be made, featuring an exclusive finish and wheel design. The graphics and paint – in a choice of Jasper Gray or Comet Indigo – are applied by hand using a process that takes 5 days to complete. The design employs an opposing-fade, representing and celebrating both the exciting and soulful experiences of riding LiveWire electric motorcycles. The intricate pattern of the 19-inch PCB cast-aluminum wheels evokes the dense patterning and framework found on printed circuit boards. The vaulted and tapered spoke design promotes lateral stiffness for enhanced handling performance, while also pushing the boundaries of casting technology.

The Del Mar Launch Edition model debuts with an MSRP of $17,699, while the production version is expected to launch with a target MSRP of $15,000 USD. Delivery of the Launch Edition and production versions of S2 Del Mar model are set for the spring of 2023. All LiveWire S2 Del Mar motorcycles will be assembled at Harley-Davidson Vehicle Operations in York, PA.

To learn more about the LiveWire S2 Del Mar Launch Edition motorcycle visit: livewire.com/delmar.

*Range estimates are based on expected performance on a fully-charged battery and are derived from SAE J2982 Riding Range Test Procedure data on a sample motorcycle under ideal laboratory conditions. Your actual range will vary depending on your personal riding habits, road and driving conditions, ambient weather, vehicle condition and maintenance, tire pressure, vehicle configuration (parts and accessories), and vehicle loading (cargo, rider and passenger weight).

MotoGP: Marc Marquez States His Goals For Le Mans

David Swarts

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May 10, 2022

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MotoGP: Marc Marquez States His Goals For Le Mans

Repsol Honda Team land in Le Mans

From the Iberian Peninsula, the Repsol Honda Team head in-land for round seven of the 2022 season with Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro targeting further improvements.

The 2022 MotoGP World Championship season is now well and truly underway as the Grand Prix paddock arrives at the Le Mans circuit in France. Consistently on the calendar since 2000, the French track enjoys an enthusiastic crowd and often produces surprising races with unpredictable weather. For this year’s French Grand Prix, the forecast is looking decidedly more consistent with sun and clear skies currently on the horizon.

Marc Marquez arrives in Le Mans still full of fire after a fighting fourth in the Spanish Grand Prix. Battling hard with Aleix Espargaro and Jack Miller, the eight-time World Champion amazed fans around the world as he made another of his trademark saves during the race. More important than his performance in the race was the test on Monday where Marquez and his team were able to explore several setting and parameters for the new Repsol Honda Team RC213V. With this extra information, Marquez will be hoping to fight at the front of the race once again and potentially add to his three French GP wins and four total podiums in the premier class.

There was no one who put in more work than Pol Espargaro on the Monday Test in Jerez, the #44 completing the most laps of any rider. Espargaro is aiming to put this knowledge to work immediately at the French GP, a race where he has classically enjoyed success. Having only missed the top ten twice in France in the premier class and claiming a podium in the rain-soaked 2020 race, Espargaro’s history speed and the new RC213V have the potential to once again run at the front. The generally cooler conditions of Le Mans should also help Espargaro to show his and the bike’s full potential.

With 44 points, Marc Marquez holds ninth in the MotoGP World Championship and nine points further behind is Pol Espargaro with 35 points.

The Repsol Honda Team’s most recent podium at the French GP came in 2020 when Alex Marquez raced to second in the wet.

Marc Marquez

“Overall the Jerez weekend was good when we also include the test because we were able to learn a good amount. Now we arrive in France to see what’s possible. The important thing is to keep building, keep improving and keep closing the distance to the front. In Jerez we made progress and now we must keep on going, especially after the test it’s important to see how everything is. I have had some good races in Le Mans and some more challenging races there, it can depend a lot on the conditions but they’re looking good for this weekend.“

Pol Espargaro

“Last year I think Le Mans was one of the first weekends where we could really start to show our potential. I know how myself and the bike have improved since then so I am looking forward to going back and putting into action what we found during the test. I’ve had some good races in Le Mans, the cooler conditions and the high levels of grip suit my riding style a lot. MotoGP is very close at the moment so we can’t rely on the past, no matter what we need to work well from the start of the weekend – qualify well and fight hard during the race.”

MotoGP: World Championship Heading To Le Mans

David Swarts

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May 10, 2022

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MotoGP: World Championship Heading To Le Mans

Tour de force: Quartararo & Zarco head the charge in Sarthe

The home heroes head the ranks as MotoGP™ returns to historic Le Mans

It’s what we’d been waiting for since the start of the season and at Jerez, it was finally delivered: a showdown between the top two in the 2021 Championship and the duo tipped to fight it out again for the crown this season. And in the end, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) couldn’t quite find an answer for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), with the Italian back to his serene best and back on the top step for the first time this season. Now it’s home turf for the reigning Champion as we head for the SHARK Grand Prix de France though, so will we get a repeat or can the rest close that fairly sizeable gap behind the duel last time out?

Last year, the weather made it a different challenge and the challenge was met by Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) as he made it back-to-back wins in a flag-to-flag spectacular. The year before a Ducati was also victorious, in the full wet, as Danilo Petrucci took to the top step. A Ducati – or more than one – was on the front row each time too, with the Borgo Panigale factory showing all-weather pace at the venue and that a threat in itself… but we’ve never seen Bagnaia on full song – the form he found from the latter half of 2021 – take on Le Mans, so that may well be a hand Ducati have not yet been able to play at the track.

Home hero Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) will also be pushing to the maximum, having been on pole and the podium at the venue but never the top step. That’s true of more than just Le Mans as he searches for that elusive first premier class win, but on home turf he’s come close and this year the Frenchman will be one to watch again. An inconsistent start to the year could mean his mentality goes either way: there’s a little less to lose so it’s full gas, or there’s an even bigger incentive to settle for a safer points haul. We’re about to find out which he’ll choose…

Teammate Jorge Martin, meanwhile, needs some points. When the number 89 has put it together he’s been fighting at the front, but he’ll want a finish this weekend as he fights to recover in the standings from some DNFs. Bagnaia and Martin started the season with some similar hurdles – not least that incident in Qatar – but the number 63 is already into the top five overall on his recovery mission. Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), in the battle of the sophomores, will also want to bounce back, although the Italian remains third in the Championship as it stands. Can he pull something out the locker in Sarthe?

Quartararo, however, will be the star of the show. The Frenchman’s stated 2022 mentality is to fight for fifth, seventh or 14th like it’s for the win, and he’s more than bearing that out on track as he proves a lonely Yamaha at times in the upper echelons – and he’s now extended that hard-fought Championship lead. He’s been the fastest rider at Le Mans with some impressive – and popular – pole positions already, and he’s finished on the podium, even in that flag-to-flag. But the best laid plans of El Diablo have not been simply podium pace. Until the weather has intervened, they’ve been an assault on the win… so will 2022 be his year?

Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) and Andrea Dovizioso (WithU Yamaha RNF Racing) continue to struggle to cut that gap to Quartararo, the former with similar experience on the Yamaha and the latter trying to leverage his experience elsewhere to push himself forward. Can they start to build back up in France?

For Aprilia, meanwhile, every weekend is a positive one for Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), it seems. The podiums keep on coming and those concessions are now a thing of the past, with the project reaching full circle as the Noale factory join their competitors. Will that have an effect? If it does it will be a while in showing, and in the meantime the grid have a very fast, very consistent pairing of Aleix Espargaro on the RS-GP to contend with. He’ll be aiming for the podium once again, and teammate Maverick Viñales will be aiming to move forward again too. The starts are one key focus for the factory, can they take a step forward there after the test in Jerez?

Since that test in Jerez, Suzuki have been in the headlines off track, but on track the Hamamatsu factory team will retain that singular focus of taking to the podium and top step. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) had a dip in form in Jerez and a run off put paid to the kind of recovery we saw at COTA, but the number 42 remains fourth in the Championship and equal on points with Bastianini just ahead of him. We’ve seen some fearsome wet weather speed from Rins at Le Mans, can he bring that come rain or shine, and all the way to the finish line? For teammate Joan Mir, meanwhile, that bad luck in Portugal became a solid but not podium-threatening ride in Jerez, and the 2020 Champion will want more. Qualifying also remains a more difficult task for both Rins and Mir, so Saturday will once again be a key focus.

As 2022 goes on, so does Honda’s push with the new RC213V. The all-new bike started life on the podium and it’s since been a tougher season, but taking a fresh philosophy to race-day ready – and MotoGP™ race-day ready – is no mean feat, and it’s a long term commitment. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was back to his old tricks in a couple of ways at Jerez too; first in being the lead Honda by some margin and second, fighting for the podium with his elbows out and down in a spectacular and classic save. The number 93 said just before Jerez that it’s about making the package all work together – including the rider – and Sunday seemed to say a step had been made. As with nearly every venue, Marquez is no stranger to the top step at Le Mans either.

Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) arrives a little off fully fit after hurting his knee ligaments in testing, Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) wants to make s big step forward and Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) – who’s had some serious form at Le Mans including that wet-weather rookie podium – will want more Portugal form than Jerez. What can they do , and has Marc Marquez made a break from his fellow Honda riders with the new machine?

Finally, Jerez was a tougher one for KTM. After the Algarve was a solid ride and result for Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) but a first crash out in nearly a year for teammate Brad Binder, the South African turned the tables again in Spain but neither were in the postcode they’ll want. After having won multiple races in the wet and dry, with both riders, KTM won’t settle for being denied the podium fight. A new, eyebrow-raising exhaust was spotted at the Jerez test as the most outward sign of their push to regain ground, although the factory also reported they’d be trying something that would be a little harder to see. Can they make another step forward in getting that consistent form in France?

The SHARK Grand Prix de France will be a headline-maker for more than just Quartararo and Zarco, although the crowd is pretty much guaranteed to be partisan. Can Bagnaia, MIller, Marquez or more spoil the party? We’ll find out at 14:00 (GMT +2) on Sunday, so make sure to tune in!

MotoGP™ CHAMPIONSHIP: TOP 5

1 Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) – Yamaha – 89

2 Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) – Aprilia – 82

3 Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) – Ducati – 69

4 Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) – Suzuki – 69

5 Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – Ducati – 56

Moto2 racers Ai Ogura (79), Aron Canet (behind Ogura), and Tony Arbolino (behind Canet). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Moto2™: the chase is on at Le Mans

With three of Vietti’s key rivals locking out the podium in Spain, it’s very much game on in the intermediate class

The drama in Portugal seemed to send a shockwave through the Moto2™ World Championship, but Jerez saw the situation change again and not in favour of points leader Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team). The Italian came home sixth and didn’t get in the podium fight, with that instead proving a three-way battle between Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), Aron Canet (Flexbox HP 40) and Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) – aka the three riders closest behind Vietti in the title fight. Will they make up more ground at Le Mans?

Ogura will arrive confident from his first Moto2™ win, and his first win in any class. It’s been a consistent and impressive journey for the Japanese rider in the World Championship, having fought for the title in Moto3™ and taken a podium as a rookie already in Moto2™, but that tick in the box was missing, presumed soon. Now it’s a done deal, and his pace was also a warning shot as he moves into second overall and now just 19 points off Vietti. Arbolino was also an impressive sophomore performer in third, hammering home his 2022 form and still only a point behind Ogura, so can they keep that rolling at Le Mans? Past form seems to matter little to both, with 2022 a whole new ball game, but Arbolino was nearly on the podium there last year.

Canet, meanwhile, was a headline unto himself. After that radius and finger fracture suffered in Portugal, the Pons rider didn’t know if he’d be able to take part in the weekend, but in the end came home second and gained a good chunk of ground on Vietti. The pain barrier was real but the Spaniard rode through it, and now there’s a little more time to have recovered ahead of Le Mans. Consistent speed is what he lacked before in Moto2™, now he has it in spades… so surely the Spaniard sees France as just another chance to fight for that podium and cut that gap – and another chance to push for that maiden Moto2™ win.

There are plenty more fast faces suffering a mix of bad luck and trouble in 2022 who may be able to get in the mix though: Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Jake Dixon (Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team), Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) names but a few. Can they home back in on that podium?

The gap after Portugal seemed like a mountain for the competition, but in just one race there was a reminder how quickly it can disappear with a sixth place vs a podium packed with key rivals. Vietti will want to hit back and he’ll have chance on Sunday at 12:20 (GMT + 2), so tune in for Moto2™ at the SHARK Grand Prix de France!

Moto2™ CHAMPIONSHIP: TOP 5

1 Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) – Kalex – 100

2 Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) – Kalex – 81

3 Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) – Kalex – 70

4 Aron Canet (Flexbox HP 40) – Kalex – 69

5 Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) – Kalex – 57

Izan Guevara (28) and Sergio Garcia (11) leading some other Moto3 riders. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Moto3™: will it be full GASGAS in France?

After a grandstand finish and a 1-2 on home turf for the Aspar Team, Le Mans awaits – with another final corner that tempts a showdown

Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) pulled a genius rabbit out the hat to take his first win of the year in Jerez, heading round the outside of the final corner to outfox the rest. In doing so he underlined his impressive form in the World Championship – and in 2022 so far – and brought himself a few points closer to the top. But the top remains in the hands of more veteran teammate Sergio Garcia, with the Spaniard playing arguably the right cards in Jerez but coming up just short – nevertheless extending his lead over closest rival Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing). Next up it’s Le Mans, and the final corner at the French venue offers another opportunity for those whose ambition is matched by their talent. So does anyone have an answer for the duo this time out?

Last season the weather put paid to a more usual Moto3™ showdown, and that will once again be a key consideration as Le Mans can be one more prone to rain. Even then though, Garcia won it and by more than a couple of seconds, so there’s no salvation coming from the weather for those looking to cut the gap. Foggia, with a more difficult record in the wet, will be one hoping it’s dry, and the Italian’s record at the venue doesn’t pencil it in as a key target for a place to make up ground either – so it could be damage limitation.

Guevara’s track record, meanwhile, doesn’t seem to have mattered much so far this season as he’s been fast everywhere, although Jerez is a track where the number 28 has more experience. Tracks like Le Mans are a good place to prove the step forward. For Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who’s now on quite a podium run, it’s another chance to prove his consistency too, with the veteran having taken a rostrum at Jerez for the first time to secure another top finish. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3), meanwhile, will likely be tired of taking fourth and fifth – and the Turk can usually be relied on to try that move. Now he needs to make it stick, and on the team’s home turf.

Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) is another to watch after the Japanese rider turned a back of the grid penalty into a sixth place finish, with super speed once again. His teammate – and former Le Mans winner – John McPhee is hoping to be back on track too, and the Scotsman was already feeling ready to give it a shot in Portugal. He’s the only rider in the field to have won at the track from pole.

Rookies Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) will be aiming high too after two more solid finishes, and home hero Lorenzo Fellon (SIC58 Squadra Corse) is hoping to be back. He missed the Spanish GP after a shoulder dislocation on Friday.

It’s now 21 points of advantage for Garcia at the top, and that’s only to Foggia. The Italian, and Honda, will be hoping to find something more for the French GP to stop that growing – especially after rookie Scott Ogden (VisionTrack Racing Team) was the lead Japanese machine home last time out. Find out what they have in the locker when the lights go out at the French GP at 11:00 (GMT +2) for Moto3™.

Moto3™ CHAMPIONSHIP: TOP 5

1 Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) – GASGAS – 103

2 Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) – Honda – 82

3 Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) – GASGAS – 73

4 Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – KTM – 70

5 Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) – KTM – 63

French Superbike: Debise Sweeps Again, At Nogaro

May 11, 2022

Valentin Debise (153). Photo courtesy Valentin Debise.