Bagnaia is BACK! Pecco holds off Quartararo as the duo break clear in Jerez
Three tenths decide the duel as the 2021 title rivals go toe-to-toe in a tour de force in Andalucia
Francesco Bagnaia (63) held off Fabio Quartararo (20) to win the MotoGP race at Jerez. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Sunday, 01 May 2022
It’s the showdown that had been building all weekend: Ducati Lenovo Team’s Francesco Bagnaia vs Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™’s Fabio Quartararo. The duel that captivated the Championship fight in 2021, and the duel that we were waiting to spark again in 2022. After a weekend of speed from both at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España, Jerez was the place as the pair were in a class of their own to pull out ten seconds on the rest. In the end, Bagnaia held on for an emotional first win of the year, with Quartararo forced to settle for second but taking an outright points lead in the World Championship, only 0.285 off the win.
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) broke clear of Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and Jack Miller (Ducato Lenovo Team) in the final laps to take third, and in doing so brings to an end Aprilia’s MotoGP™ concessions after six years.
As the lights went out, the roars went up as the thousands of trackside fans celebrated their return to the grandstands after three years away. It was the poleman Bagnaia who launched himself into the lead too, with Quartararo settling into second behind. Ducati Lenovo Team’s Jack Miller was third on the opening lap, ahead of LCR Honda Idemitsu’s Takaaki Nakagami, and Aleix Espargaro and Marc Marquez were literally elbow-to-elbow off the line – with the Aprilia diving under the eight-time World Champion into the opening corner only to run wide and allow the Honda back through into fifth.
Marquez was aggressive later on the opening lap as he fired up the inside of Nakagami to claim fourth, and Aleix Espargaro also squeezed through. Seconds later Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin then crashed out for the fourth time in six races and, on his 200th Grand Prix appearance, HRC’s Stefan Bradl also hit the deck at the final corner.
Meanwhile at the front, only a handful of laps had been completed but the leading duo were already flexing their pace, edging further and further clear of Miller. By Lap 5 it was 1.5 seconds and thr gap just continued to grow. The Australian instead had to focus on hanging onto the final podium place, with both Marquez and Espargaro applying increasing amounts of pressure on the factory Ducati rider.
Darryn Binder (WithU RNF Yamaha) then crashed out at Turn 2, before a big moment in the World Championship fight: after a sluggish start, Alex Rins’ day got worse when the Team Suzuki Ecstar rider straight-lined his GSX-RR through the Turn 11 gravel trap after a big moment on the front end, and then Pramac Racing’s difficult day continued when Johann Zarco crashed out at Turn 5.
By half distance, Bagnaia had eked out an eight-tenth advantage and the Italian would maintain that gap up until the final three laps of the race. But then, a frisson of Jaws music: Quartararo sliced the lead in half and was starting to close in. Could Quartararo steal Jerez victory away from Bagnaia late on? The pair were pushing to the absolute limit, by then a mind-boggling 11 seconds clear of the rest.
They started the final lap with Bagnaia holding an advantage of just half a second. It would require something special from the reigning World Champion on the final lap, but as they came through the fourth and final sector Quartararo was closing and closing, just a quarter of a second away. But Bagnaia stood firm, withstanding the almighty pressure to take a vital victory in Jerez; a first for the Italian since the season-closing race in Valencia last year and a second for the Bologna factory in Andalucia in as many years. Quartararo’s third podium visit of the season saw him stretch out his Championship leader from nothing to eight points, however, with those 20 for second place proving very valuable.
Much like the duel for victory, the scrap for third took its time to come to life but when it did, it was a thriller. There were five laps left when Marquez made an inch-perfect move up the inside of Miller at Turn 5, and Espargaro behind knew he had to respond or risk seeing the Respol Honda clear off into the distance. And the Aprilia rider had an answer on the same lap as he braked hard and late into the final corner, heading through.
Marquez, meanwhile, was wide into the final corner and the front-end of his RC213V folded. But it wasn’t a crash, it was a number 93 classic: in true Marc Marquez style, he picked it up off of his elbow and continued on. Espargaro and Miller both swooped through to demote the eight-time World Champion to fifth though, and from there the Aprilia checked out, quickly pulling half a second out of Miller. But Marquez wasn’t done, risking it all on the final lap to take fourth thanks to a dive up the inside of Miller at Turn 8 in spectacular style.
Ahead of them, though, Espargaro was coming across the line to take a pivotal podium for the Noale factory. Not only does the Spaniard sit second in the standings, the rider eight points adrift of Quartararo, but Aprilia officially lost their MotoGP™ concession status after six long years. Behind Marquez and Miller in fourth and fifth was Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Joan Mir in P6, the 2020 Champion coming into late contention but not quite able to find a move on the those ahead.
Nakagami eventually came across the line in seventh, four seconds clear of Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing) in a slightly muted eighth. The erstwhile Championship leader picked off rookie Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing), but the latter matched his best MotoGP™ result despite that in ninth. The final place inside the top ten went the way of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder.
Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team), Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol), Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) completed the points.
And so we head for Le Mans with a little chance to recharge, and Quartararo out in front in the Championship. He doesn’t arrive from the top step, however, so can the Frenchman fight back on home turf? We’ll find out in two weeks – join us for the SHARK Grand Prix de France!
MotoGP™ PODIUM
1 Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – Ducati – 41’00.554
Francesco Bagnaia: “It’s a beautiful day. We struggled a lot at the start of the season, during the tests, and we never stopped working. I had the luck to race in Portimao. Even with the pain, I was able to fight to have the same feeling again as last year, and finally this weekend everything went well. I’m so happy. I’m so happy we are back at our potential, or more. Because, last year in this track, we were struggling more compared to Fabio – Fabio was unbeatable – and today, we have done an incredible job. So, I want to say thanks to all the people who have helped me this week with my shoulder problems, and I just want to enjoy today, and give a huge hug to my family at home, to my girlfriend that is at home with my little dog. I’m so happy.”
Ai Ogura (79) led the Moto2 race at Jerez from start to finish. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Glory for Ogura as he takes maiden Grand Prix win at Jerez
The Japanese rider was the class of the field on Sunday, with Canet proving the toughest to take second place and Arbolino bouncing back for another podium
One day after taking his first Moto2™ pole position, Idemitsu Honda Team Asia’s Ai Ogura became a Grand Prix winner in some style with a brilliant ride at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España. The Japanese rider led all 23 laps around the Circuit de Jerez-Angel Nieto to finally, despite having a multitude of podiums and having fought for the Moto3™ crown, take to the top step. His wasn’t the only performance deserving of high praise. Aron Canet (Flexbox HP 40) had broken his left radius and a finger on his right hand just a week ago in Portugal, but clenched his teeth to finish second, ahead of Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team).
Ogura got the holeshot from pole, while Canet climbed from fourth on the grid to second place when he went around the outside at the first corner. Fermin Aldeguer (Lightech Speed Up) emerged third, ahead of Arbolino, Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), and Championship leader Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team). Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) dropped back a handful of positions after he made contact with Chantra as field poured into the first corner.
Arbolino got past Aldeguer when they arrived at Pedrosa Corner for the first time, and the Spanish teenager soon found himself on something of a slippery dip down the order while Lowes began his fightback from deep in the top 10. Arbolino gained another place when he wrested second position from Canet as they ran through the stadium section on Lap 3, and when Lowes caught up to Chantra, who was still sitting just behind them, it became a five-way fight for the lead.
Even just by starting the race, Canet had showed his incredible determination, and he was not about to roll over in his bid for victory. Just after two unsuccessful attempts to reclaim second from Arbolino, he made a third stick at Turn 9 on Lap 6. Right behind them, Lowes pulled off the same move on Chantra to elevate himself to fourth position.
It wasn’t long, however, until a lead group of five became a lead group of three. Lowes was first to drop out of contention, sliding out on Lap 7 as he ran through Turn 8. One lap later, at the next corner on the race track, Chantra was out when he too folded the front end.
Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) then inherited fourth, having not long overtaken Vietti, and Aldeguer was back up to sixth. Then, on Lap 9, Jake Dixon (Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team) tried to pass Aldeguer at the Lorenzo Corner (Turn 13), but became the next out of contention as he slid out and collected the number 54.
Less than one second still covered the top three of Ogura, Canet and Arbolino at the end of Lap 13, which marked 10 to go, but on Lap 17 Canet had a big moment at Pedrosa Corner, allowing Ogura to skip several tenths of a second clear. With that, was the Japanese rider seriously started to pull away from the two rivals who had stuck with him for most of the race so far. Ogura’s margin was over a full second on Lap 18, and 2.7 seconds by the time he started the final lap.
When he took the chequered flag, the 21-year-old not only had his first victory in any Grand Prix class, but he also became the fifth brand-new Moto2™ winner of 2022. Canet finished 2.5s behind but held on through the pain barrier, and Arbolino was just over a second further back as he completed the podium with more consistent pace.
Fernandez finished fourth, and Marcel Schrötter took fifth after an entertaining battle with Vietti, which was settled when the German squeezed through a small gap at the Pedrosa Corner on Lap 18. Seventh went to Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team), ahead of Portugal winner Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team), Albert Arenas (Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team), and Jorge Navarro (Flexbox HP 40).
Alessandro Zaccone (Gresini Racing Moto2™) finished 11th for his best Moto2™ result yet by some margin, ahead of Jeremy Alcoba (Liqui Moly Intact GP) and Stefano Manzi (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team), the latter the injury replacement for Keminth Kubo. The other two riders to score points were Barry Baltus (RW Racing GP) in 14th and Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans Racing team) in 15th.
Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) finished 20th after an early crash while running in the top 10, and Aldeguer eventually retired after his incident with Dixon.
Another weekend and another new winner in Moto2™… it doesn’t get much more intriguing than that. Meanwhile in the World Championship, Vietti is now on exactly 100 points, but his lead over Ogura has been cut to 19. Can Moto2™’s newest race winner make further inroads next time, will the VR46 rider hit back, or will we get another new face on the top step? Find out at the SHARK Grand Prix de France in two weeks.
Moto2™ PODIUM
1 Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) – Kalex – 39’16.357
2 Aron Canet (Flexbox HP 40) – Kalex – +2.509
3 Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) – Kalex – +3.669
Ai Ogura: “This time, I am 120% happy! The race was perfect, I started first and finished first, and nobody was in front of me. I knew there were some riders close behind me, but I was quite strong in the end so it was a perfect race. I’m really happy and a big thanks to the team.”
Izan Guevara (28) leads a group of riders during the Moto3 race at Jerez. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Poetry in motion: Guevara sweeps to first win of the year in style
The number 28 leads a GASGAS 1-2 on race day, going round the outside of the final corner
Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) took his first win of the season in almost unbelievable style at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España, the number 28 pulling off a stunner round the outside of the final corner to just pip teammate and Championship leader Sergio Garcia to the line. Garcia took the traditional route and dived down the inside to secure second, with Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) doing the same on Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM TEch3) to make it three podiums in a row for the COTA winner – and his first visit to the rostrum at Jerez.
Garcia got the launch from the front row, taking the holeshot ahead of Guevara as Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) moved up into third. The two GASGAS riders were off like a shot making a gap though, with Foggia then getting swallowed up in the early stages and Masia and Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) on the chase behind the leading duo.
It soon became a leading quartet, and with nearly 1.8 seconds over the chasing Öncü and Xavier Artigas (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP). But bit by bit they reeled the lead in, and they brought company in the form of Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse), having taken his Long Lap for causing a crash in Warm Up, as well as Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) – the latter despite having started from the back and having served a Long Lap, given for riding slow on the line in FP3.
Rossi faded from the group and then crashed out, rider ok, and Holgado also found himself left behind, but a leading group of six pushed on: Öncü, Masia, Guevara, Garcia, Sasaki and Artigas. Moreira, after exceeding track limits, was dropped out the group by a Long Lap Penalty.
Into the final couple of laps, Öncü led Masia led Garcia, with Guevara in fourth and Sasaki and Artigas holding station. The first move came from Guevara, but by Pedrosa corner it was all change: Masia attacked Öncü, Garcia hit back against Guevara and Artigas passed Sasaki. Öncü took back the lead a couple of apexes later, and everything was going down to that final, classic Jorge Lorenzo corner.
Garcia headed down the inside and dispatched Masia and Öncü, and on any other Sunday that would have been another impressive victory from the Championship leader. But not today, with Guevara swooping round the outside of the entire shuffle to make a little last corner poetry. Right round the outside and first to the flag, it’s a first win of the year in what is fast becoming a GASGAS Aspar calling card in 2022: style.
Masia just nabbed third from Öncü, with Artigas completing the top five another tenth back. Sasaki took sixth, but from the back and after a Long Lap, it was another impressive Sunday from the number 71.
Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power) won an all-Japanese duel against Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) for P7, with Holgado beating Moreira to ninth. There was a small gap back to Matteo Bertelle (QJMotor Avintia Racing Team) vs Scott Ogden (VisionTrack Racing Team) in P11 and P12, with Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team), Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team) completing the points.
Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) crashed out, and Joel Kelso (CIP Green Power) retired after getting caught up in the Warm Up incident instigated by Rossi, the Australian fit to try but pulling in.
After another poetic final corner from the GASGAS team, it’s time for Garcia to lead the pack to Le Mans… and Guevara now third and a little closer. After a tougher weekend for Foggia it’s now a 21-point deficit at the top, so it’s could be time for the gloves to come off. Tune in for the SHARK Grand Prix de France in two weeks!
Izan Guevara: “I’m really happy, an incredible weekend. I’m really happy for my win, my first win this year, my second in the World Championship. I’m really happy for my race, for my pace. It was an incredible race and an incredible last corner, to overtake two riders. I’m really happy. Thanks to my team for the work this weekend, thanks to my family, to my sponsors, and I’m really happy.”
The following track days, riding schools, and racing events are scheduled by organizations based in the United States and Canada during May 2022.
Motorcycle track days, riding schools, and races are posted under the Event Calendar tab on the home page of this website, or you can access the Event Calendar for May 2022 directly by clicking HERE.
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5/1 Florida Trackdays, Palm Beach International Raceway, Jupiter, FL
5/1 John Long’s Longevity Racing School, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead, FL
5/1 N2 Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park (Lightning), Millville, NJ
5/1 XCEL Trackdays Track Days, Arizona Motorsports Park, Litchfield Park, AZ
5/1 ZARS Advanced Riding School, Dakota County Technical College, Rosemount, MN
5/1-2 Optimum Performance Rider Training Track Days, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA
5/2 N2 Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park (Thunderbolt), Millville, NJ
5/2 TrackDaz Track Days, Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow, CA
5/2-3 California Superbike School, VIRginia International Raceway, Alton, VA
5/3 Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club School & Track Days (Canada), Mission Raceway Park, Mission, BC
5/4 Motovid.com All Levels Motorcycle Track Days, Blackhawk Farms Raceway, S. Beloit, IL
5/4 Pineview Run Two Wheel Wednesday Track Days, Pineview Run Auto & Country Club, LaFayette, NY
5/4 Road America Motorplex Open Track Days, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI
5/4 Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club Track Days (Canada), Mission Raceway Park, Mission, BC
5/4-5 California Superbike School, VIRginia International Raceway, Alton, VA
5/4-5 Yamaha Champions Riding School, Inde Motorsports Ranch, Willcox, AZ
5/5-7 The Riders Club Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park (Thunderbolt), Millville, NJ
5/6 Apex Track Days, Utah Motorsports Campus (East), Grantsville, UT
5/6 Optimum Performance Rider Training Track Days, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA
5/6 Rich Oliver’s Mystery School (Dirt Track School), Prather, CA (Private Training Day)
5/6 Sportbike Track Time Track Days, Grattan Raceway, Belding, MI
5/27 The Riders Club Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park (Thunderbolt), Millville, NJ
5/27 Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club School & Track Days (Canada), Mission Raceway Park, Mission, BC
5/27 Z² Track Days, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA
5/27-29 AHRMA American Historic Racing Series (Vintage), Classic MotoFest in the Heartland, Heartland Motorsports Park, Topeka, KS
5/27-29 CMRA Series, Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Hallett, OK
5/27-29 (Pirelli) WERA National Challenge Co-Sanctioned by AMA and WERA Sportsman Series Atlantic Coastal/Mid-Central/Southeast Regions, WERA Cycle Jam, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA
5/27-29 SOAR Series (Canada), Grand Bend Motorplex (Technical), Grand Bend, ON
5/27-29 VRRA Series (Vintage Canada), Shannonville Motorsport Park, Shannonville, ON
5/27-30 Sportbike Track Time Track Days, Autobahn Country Club, Joliet, IL
5/28 Pro 6 Cycle Inc. Track Days (Canada), Calabogie Motorsports Park, Calabogie, ON
5/28 Progressive American Flat Track (AFT) (Dirt Track), Red Mile I, The Red Mile, Lexington, KY
5/28 SoCal Supermoto School, Adams Motorsport Park, Riverside, CA
5/28 UtahSBA Series, Utah Motorsports Campus (East), Grantsville, UT
5/28-29 ARL Series (Canada), Atlantic Motorsport Park, Mill Village, NS
5/28-29 Fastrack Riders Academy & Apex Club Track Days & School, Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, CA
5/28-29 Motorheads Track Attacks Track Days (Canada), Stratotech Park Int’l Raceway, Ft. Saskatchewan, AB
5/28-29 Ohio Mini Roadrace League (Minis), G&J Kartway, Camden, OH
5/28-29 Racers Edge Private Coaching Days, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, Desert Center, CA
5/28-29 RideSmart Motorcycle School, Circuit of The Americas, Austin, TX
5/28-29 Roger Lyle’s Motorcycle Xcitement Track Days and Road Racing School, Summit Point Motorsports Park (Main), Summit Point, WV
5/28-29 Ruts to Racelines Track Days, NCBIKE, Garysburg, NC
5/28-29 WMRC Series (Canada), Mission Raceway Park, Mission, BC
5/28-29 Yamaha Champions Riding School, High Plains Raceway, Deer Trail, CO
5/28-30 AMA Sanctioned ASRA Championship Series Presented by Pirelli Tire and CCS Atlantic/Mid-Atlantic Roadracing Championship Series, Summit Point Motorsports Park (Main), Summit Point, WV
5/28-30 Sportbike Track Time Track Days, Talladega Gran Prix Raceway, Munford, AL
5/28-30 Tony’s Track Days, Palmer Motorsports Park, Palmer, MA
5/28-30 Track Time Track Days With Ken Hill, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA
5/29 Pro 6 GP Series (Canada), Calabogie Motorsports Park, Calabogie, ON
5/29 Progressive American Flat Track (AFT) (Dirt Track), Red Mile II, The Red Mile, Lexington, KY
5/29-30 JP43 Training School, Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow, CA
5/29-30 Let’s Ride Track Days, Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow, CA
5/29-30 N2 Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park (Lightning), Millville, NJ
5/30 Pro 6 Cycle Inc. Track Days (Canada), Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Bowmanville, ON
5/30-31 ZARS Advanced Riding Schools & Track Days, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI
5/31-6/1 California Superbike School, Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL
Editorial Note: Americans Julian Correa and Eli Banish were 10th and 27th, respectively, in British Talent Cup combined practice times Saturday at Oulton Park.
Ray leads the way to top SUPERPICKS Free Practice with fastest ever lap of Oulton Park
Bradley Ray heads into tomorrow’s opening race at the second round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park as the rider to beat after topping the SUPERPICKS Free Practice times with the fastest ever lap of the Cheshire circuit.
The Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha rider’s lap from the morning session was not beaten in the afternoon as conditions changed, with his time of 1m:33.736s, 0.22s under the previous best lap set by Jake Dixon during qualifying in 2018.
Lee Jackson set the second fastest time with his best lap posted in the early stages of the second session. The FS-3 Racing Kawasaki rider also dipped under the lap record to move ahead of Peter Hickman on the FHO Racing BMW who completed the top three.
Tommy Bridewell, a winner at the circuit last season, was fourth fastest for the Oxford Products Racing Ducati team, narrowly ahead of Jason O’Halloran on the McAMS Yamaha. His teammate and reigning champion Tarran Mackenzie remains sidelined through injury, he underwent an assessment with the BSB Chief Medical Officer Dr Heike Romer this morning and was declared unfit to participate this weekend.
Rory Skinner was sixth fastest on the second FS-3 Racing Kawasaki, the Scot holding a 0.002s advantage over championship leader Glenn Irwin at the end of the opening day’s action at Oulton Park.
Christian Iddon led the Buildbase Suzuki charge in eighth place, just ahead of 2018 champion Leon Haslam on the VisionTrack Kawasaki.
Danny Buchan (SYNETIQ BMW), Ryan Vickers (FHO Racing BMW with Attis Sports) and Kyle Ryde (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) completed the SUPERPICKS 12, who will progress directly into tomorrow’s Q2 stage of Qualifying ahead of the opening race of the weekend.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, SUPERPICKS 12 Free Practice result:
Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) 1m:22.736s
Lee Jackson (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) +0.169s
Peter Hickman (FHO Racing) +0.592s
Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +0.616s
Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +0.666s
Rory Skinner (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) +0.794s
Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +0.796s
Christian Iddon (Buildbase Suzuki) +0.977s
Leon Haslam (VisionTrack Kawasaki) +1.179s
Danny Buchan (SYNETIQ BMW) +1.231s
Ryan Vickers (FHO Racing BMW with Attis Sports) +1.249s
Kyle Ryde (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) +1.320s
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Bradley Ray – Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha
“It has been a good day to be fair! I was quite surprised with the fastest lap to be honest. Obviously, we did the fastest lap in testing last week, but we didn’t really expect to be straight out on the money breaking the lap record in FP1, but I felt really good.
“We tried a few things in FP2 with the bike, but we didn’t really do any sort of time attack or anything like that as the weather was a bit iffy, but all in all I am very happy.
“I think we’ve got a good base for the bike now and we can work with that going into tomorrow’s free practice, qualifying and race.”
Brandon Paasch officially becomes part of Triumph’s Avenue of Legends
Brandon Paasch was honored with a commemorative plaque on Triumph’s Avenue of Legends at its global HQ and Factory Visitor Experience, Hinckley, UK, to celebrate his fantastic Daytona 200 win
On 12th March 2022 Brandon Paasch made Triumph history by taking an outstanding win at the Daytona 200 on board the Street Triple 765 RS for the TOBC Triumph racing team. The incredible race culminated in a thrilling victory as he drafted the competition out of the very last corner to win by just .007 seconds.
This victory represented the first Daytona 200 win for the Street Triple 765, and once again proved the performance and reliability credentials of Triumph’s class leading sports performance middleweight, which combined with Brandon’s outstanding skills, contributed to writing another chapter of Triumph’s iconic Daytona racing history.
This milestone is now immortalized on Triumph’s Avenue of Legends, which can be walked by every visitor to the Triumph Factory Visitor Experience.
Brandon Paasch – 2022 Daytona 200 Winner: “I am super pumped to have won the Daytona 200 for a second time, back-to-back. It’s very special for me as it’s a very short list of legendary riders who have accomplished that. Now I am aiming to become the only rider to do it three times in a row. I am very thankful to Triumph for accepting me into their Avenue of Legends. I can’t thank them enough for everything they have done for me these past two years, and I hope to have a long lasting relationship with the Triumph brand.”
Steve Sargent – Triumph Chief Product Officer: “The Avenue of Legends is a mark of respect to those inspirational people who have pushed the boundaries to help make Triumph the brand it is today, and we are delighted to welcome Brandon Paasch to that exclusive group. With his sensational win at the Daytona 200, the race after which the Triumph Daytona can trace its roots back to 1966, sealing a last corner victory by just 0.007 seconds truly earns him the Legend title”
The five-time World Champion is inducted into the Hall of Fame in Jerez
Saturday, 30 April 2022
Five-time World Champion Jorge Lorenzo is now a MotoGP™ Legend! The Spaniard was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto – where the final corner also bears his name – in a special ceremony on Saturday, honouring a long and successful career.
Lorenzo made his 125cc World Championship debut at Jerez in 2002, and from there the rise began. For 2005 he moved into the 250cc class and then won his first World Championships with back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007, taking more than half the victories on offer across the two seasons. He moved up to MotoGP™ for 2008, partnering Valentino Rossi at Yamaha, and took his first MotoGP™ victory only third time out.
In 2009, he was runner up and the season also staged one of the races of the century as Rossi vs Lorenzo at the Catalan Grand Prix became one of the most memorable duels in MotoGP™. In 2010, however, Lorenzo’s time had come and it was a near-perfect season as he was crowned MotoGP™ World Champion for the first time. 2011 went to key rival Casey Stoner before 2012 saw Lorenzo take the crown once more. 2013 and 2014 went to new rival Marc Marquez, before Lorenzo was crowned Champion again in 2015 after another Rossi vs Lorenzo showdown.
2016 was a final year with Yamaha before moving to Ducati for 2017, and after a first season with a few podiums, Lorenzo took three sublime victories for the Borgo Panigale factory in 2018. The season was then curtailed by injury and he switched to Repsol Honda for 2019. After a tougher year and more injury struggles, the five-time World Champion hung up his leathers at the end of the season.
Over an incredible career, Lorenzo won 68 races and stood on the podium an incredible 152 times. He won two 250cc World Championships and was crowned MotoGP™ World Champion three times, as well as winning premier class races with two factories. Now, he is officially a MotoGP™ Legend!
Lorenzo joins a long list of greats that have been made MotoGP™ Legends that includes Valentino Rossi, Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan, Geoff Duke, Wayne Gardner, Mike Hailwood, Daijiro Kato, Eddie Lawson, Anton Mang, Angel Nieto, Wayne Rainey, Phil Read, Jim Redman, Kenny Roberts, Kenny Roberts Jr, Jarno Saarinen, Kevin Schwantz, Barry Sheene, Marco Simoncelli, Freddie Spencer, Casey Stoner, John Surtees, Carlo Ubbiali, Alex Crivillé, Franco Uncini, Marco Lucchinelli, Randy Mamola, Kork Ballington, Dani Pedrosa, Stefan Dörflinger, Jorge ‘Aspar’ Martinez, and the late Nicky Hayden.
Jorge Lorenzo: “I arrived here 20 years ago at this track to make my debut and I was still 14 on Friday. So, I went to watch at a few corners with a scooter and I saw the likes of Cecchinello, Ueda, Vincent, Pedrosa, Poggiali all riding. For me, they were heroes. And I saw them riding so aggressively and so fast, that I was wondering if someday I could arrive at that level.
“Now, I’m given the honour of becoming a MotoGP Legend from Dorna, from Carmelo, that have always treated me so well, and this means even more than the Championships I won. Because all of the MotoGP Legends are great Champions, but not all Champions can be named as Legends, so I’m very proud to be part of this amazing group, these names. I’m so lucky, so grateful to have the life I have thanks to MotoGP.”
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports: “Jorge has been something special for MotoGP. In my opinion, Jorge, first of all, is a fantastic person. He’s very emotional, he’s a friend, he’s a person who tried to do the maximum every time he did something, and he’s an incredible rider. For us, Jorge has been, in this generation, very, very special, who has allowed us to grow as we are growing. It’s a special moment for MotoGP and personally for me to say thanks to Jorge and to induct the 33rd Legend of MotoGP. He’s part of the most important riders in the history of MotoGP and I’m very proud to give him this award. Thank you, Jorge.”
Granado battles through to beat Aegerter and Ferrari to first win of the season
The FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup is go, and it’s a familiar name on the top step in Race 1 at Jerez
Eric Granado (51) leads Matteo Ferrari (11) during MotoE Race One at Jerez. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Saturday, 30 April 2022
Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) is the first electric winner of the season! The Brazilian took victory in the first race of the 2022 FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España, slicing his way through to beat second place Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) by 0.6s, with third and the final place on the podium going to Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE™) after a little drama in Race 1.
That was a clash between polesitter Miquel Pons (LCR E-Team) and Mattia Casadei (Pons Racing 40), with the two making contact at Turn 13, the latter crashing out. Pons was given a Long Lap penalty for the incident, which subsequently became a time penalty as the number 71 ran out of time to take it – keeping him off the podium.
Hector Garzo (Tech 3 E-Racing) and Casadei were the early battle for the lead, but by the halfway mark of the eight-lap race, a leading quintet formed at the front. Granado made his way through and took the lead for the first time at Turn 13 on Lap 6, making a pass stick on Casadei. Pons, meanwhile, had pounced on Garzo and then saw a gap appear underneath Casadei as Granado made his move ahead. The number 71 tagged Casadei and the Italian went down, rider ok but the incident shuffling the pack too.
Granado was clear of the drama in the lead, but behind Pons emerged second, Aegerter third, and Ferrari was up to fourth ahead of reigning Cup winner Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40). Garzo dropped to sixth after avoiding the stricken Casadei at the final corner.
Pons’ Long Lap Penalty for ‘irresponsible riding’ was then announced during the final lap, but neither he nor Aegerter had chance to act on that before the chequered flag. The Swiss rider instead pulled off a move at Turn 9, set up as he swarmed round the outside of Pons through Turn 8.
Keeping it pinned, Granado took the chequered flag 0.696 seconds ahead of Aegerter for his sixth race win in the World Cup, with Pons crossing the line in third. The penalty saw him demoted to eighth once a three seconds had been added for not taking the Long Lap, giving Ferrari that first podium of the season as the Italian was just behind over the line after a solid start to 2022.
Garzo took fourth and Torres completed the top five to kickstart his title defence, with Hikari Okubo (Avant Ajo MotoE™) and rookie Alex Escrig (Tech3 E-Racing) next up. The aforementioned Pons was classified P8, and rounding out the top 10 for the first time in 2022 were Marc Alcoba (Openbank Aspar Team) and Lukas Tulovic (WithU GRT RNF MotoE™ Team) – the German doing a good job standing in for the injured Bradley Smith despite no testing.
That’s it for Race 1 as Granado hits the competition for six… what have the field got in return on Sunday? Race 2 gets underway at 15:30 local time (GMT+2), so tune in to find out!
MotoE™ PODIUM
1 Eric Granado – LCR E-Team – Energica – 14’36.998
Eric Granado: “Well, I’m very happy. First of all, I want to say thank you so much to the LCR E-Team for trusting me with the job. To be with them this year is amazing and I’m very happy with the job we are doing. The bike has been perfect all weekend and I’m feeling very confident. After the start, I was a little bit behind the lead group, I had a moment there with Ferrari and I lost some time, and I said to myself, ‘No, stay calm, don’t make any mistakes.’ I tried to concentrate on catching them, and finally got there. In the end, I had a little bit more, especially in the last two sectors, and I could do the overtakes and finally win, so this is amazing. I’m so happy to start the season like this. I will be very focused on continuing in this way during the whole season, to have a beautiful end of the season for me.”
Bagnaia is BACK! Pecco holds off Quartararo as the duo break clear in Jerez
Three tenths decide the duel as the 2021 title rivals go toe-to-toe in a tour de force in Andalucia
Francesco Bagnaia (63) held off Fabio Quartararo (20) to win the MotoGP race at Jerez. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Sunday, 01 May 2022
It’s the showdown that had been building all weekend: Ducati Lenovo Team’s Francesco Bagnaia vs Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™’s Fabio Quartararo. The duel that captivated the Championship fight in 2021, and the duel that we were waiting to spark again in 2022. After a weekend of speed from both at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España, Jerez was the place as the pair were in a class of their own to pull out ten seconds on the rest. In the end, Bagnaia held on for an emotional first win of the year, with Quartararo forced to settle for second but taking an outright points lead in the World Championship, only 0.285 off the win.
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) broke clear of Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and Jack Miller (Ducato Lenovo Team) in the final laps to take third, and in doing so brings to an end Aprilia’s MotoGP™ concessions after six years.
As the lights went out, the roars went up as the thousands of trackside fans celebrated their return to the grandstands after three years away. It was the poleman Bagnaia who launched himself into the lead too, with Quartararo settling into second behind. Ducati Lenovo Team’s Jack Miller was third on the opening lap, ahead of LCR Honda Idemitsu’s Takaaki Nakagami, and Aleix Espargaro and Marc Marquez were literally elbow-to-elbow off the line – with the Aprilia diving under the eight-time World Champion into the opening corner only to run wide and allow the Honda back through into fifth.
Marquez was aggressive later on the opening lap as he fired up the inside of Nakagami to claim fourth, and Aleix Espargaro also squeezed through. Seconds later Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin then crashed out for the fourth time in six races and, on his 200th Grand Prix appearance, HRC’s Stefan Bradl also hit the deck at the final corner.
Meanwhile at the front, only a handful of laps had been completed but the leading duo were already flexing their pace, edging further and further clear of Miller. By Lap 5 it was 1.5 seconds and thr gap just continued to grow. The Australian instead had to focus on hanging onto the final podium place, with both Marquez and Espargaro applying increasing amounts of pressure on the factory Ducati rider.
Darryn Binder (WithU RNF Yamaha) then crashed out at Turn 2, before a big moment in the World Championship fight: after a sluggish start, Alex Rins’ day got worse when the Team Suzuki Ecstar rider straight-lined his GSX-RR through the Turn 11 gravel trap after a big moment on the front end, and then Pramac Racing’s difficult day continued when Johann Zarco crashed out at Turn 5.
By half distance, Bagnaia had eked out an eight-tenth advantage and the Italian would maintain that gap up until the final three laps of the race. But then, a frisson of Jaws music: Quartararo sliced the lead in half and was starting to close in. Could Quartararo steal Jerez victory away from Bagnaia late on? The pair were pushing to the absolute limit, by then a mind-boggling 11 seconds clear of the rest.
They started the final lap with Bagnaia holding an advantage of just half a second. It would require something special from the reigning World Champion on the final lap, but as they came through the fourth and final sector Quartararo was closing and closing, just a quarter of a second away. But Bagnaia stood firm, withstanding the almighty pressure to take a vital victory in Jerez; a first for the Italian since the season-closing race in Valencia last year and a second for the Bologna factory in Andalucia in as many years. Quartararo’s third podium visit of the season saw him stretch out his Championship leader from nothing to eight points, however, with those 20 for second place proving very valuable.
Much like the duel for victory, the scrap for third took its time to come to life but when it did, it was a thriller. There were five laps left when Marquez made an inch-perfect move up the inside of Miller at Turn 5, and Espargaro behind knew he had to respond or risk seeing the Respol Honda clear off into the distance. And the Aprilia rider had an answer on the same lap as he braked hard and late into the final corner, heading through.
Marquez, meanwhile, was wide into the final corner and the front-end of his RC213V folded. But it wasn’t a crash, it was a number 93 classic: in true Marc Marquez style, he picked it up off of his elbow and continued on. Espargaro and Miller both swooped through to demote the eight-time World Champion to fifth though, and from there the Aprilia checked out, quickly pulling half a second out of Miller. But Marquez wasn’t done, risking it all on the final lap to take fourth thanks to a dive up the inside of Miller at Turn 8 in spectacular style.
Ahead of them, though, Espargaro was coming across the line to take a pivotal podium for the Noale factory. Not only does the Spaniard sit second in the standings, the rider eight points adrift of Quartararo, but Aprilia officially lost their MotoGP™ concession status after six long years. Behind Marquez and Miller in fourth and fifth was Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Joan Mir in P6, the 2020 Champion coming into late contention but not quite able to find a move on the those ahead.
Nakagami eventually came across the line in seventh, four seconds clear of Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing) in a slightly muted eighth. The erstwhile Championship leader picked off rookie Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing), but the latter matched his best MotoGP™ result despite that in ninth. The final place inside the top ten went the way of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder.
Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team), Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol), Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) completed the points.
And so we head for Le Mans with a little chance to recharge, and Quartararo out in front in the Championship. He doesn’t arrive from the top step, however, so can the Frenchman fight back on home turf? We’ll find out in two weeks – join us for the SHARK Grand Prix de France!
MotoGP™ PODIUM
1 Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – Ducati – 41’00.554
Francesco Bagnaia: “It’s a beautiful day. We struggled a lot at the start of the season, during the tests, and we never stopped working. I had the luck to race in Portimao. Even with the pain, I was able to fight to have the same feeling again as last year, and finally this weekend everything went well. I’m so happy. I’m so happy we are back at our potential, or more. Because, last year in this track, we were struggling more compared to Fabio – Fabio was unbeatable – and today, we have done an incredible job. So, I want to say thanks to all the people who have helped me this week with my shoulder problems, and I just want to enjoy today, and give a huge hug to my family at home, to my girlfriend that is at home with my little dog. I’m so happy.”
Ai Ogura (79) led the Moto2 race at Jerez from start to finish. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Glory for Ogura as he takes maiden Grand Prix win at Jerez
The Japanese rider was the class of the field on Sunday, with Canet proving the toughest to take second place and Arbolino bouncing back for another podium
One day after taking his first Moto2™ pole position, Idemitsu Honda Team Asia’s Ai Ogura became a Grand Prix winner in some style with a brilliant ride at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España. The Japanese rider led all 23 laps around the Circuit de Jerez-Angel Nieto to finally, despite having a multitude of podiums and having fought for the Moto3™ crown, take to the top step. His wasn’t the only performance deserving of high praise. Aron Canet (Flexbox HP 40) had broken his left radius and a finger on his right hand just a week ago in Portugal, but clenched his teeth to finish second, ahead of Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team).
Ogura got the holeshot from pole, while Canet climbed from fourth on the grid to second place when he went around the outside at the first corner. Fermin Aldeguer (Lightech Speed Up) emerged third, ahead of Arbolino, Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), and Championship leader Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team). Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) dropped back a handful of positions after he made contact with Chantra as field poured into the first corner.
Arbolino got past Aldeguer when they arrived at Pedrosa Corner for the first time, and the Spanish teenager soon found himself on something of a slippery dip down the order while Lowes began his fightback from deep in the top 10. Arbolino gained another place when he wrested second position from Canet as they ran through the stadium section on Lap 3, and when Lowes caught up to Chantra, who was still sitting just behind them, it became a five-way fight for the lead.
Even just by starting the race, Canet had showed his incredible determination, and he was not about to roll over in his bid for victory. Just after two unsuccessful attempts to reclaim second from Arbolino, he made a third stick at Turn 9 on Lap 6. Right behind them, Lowes pulled off the same move on Chantra to elevate himself to fourth position.
It wasn’t long, however, until a lead group of five became a lead group of three. Lowes was first to drop out of contention, sliding out on Lap 7 as he ran through Turn 8. One lap later, at the next corner on the race track, Chantra was out when he too folded the front end.
Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) then inherited fourth, having not long overtaken Vietti, and Aldeguer was back up to sixth. Then, on Lap 9, Jake Dixon (Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team) tried to pass Aldeguer at the Lorenzo Corner (Turn 13), but became the next out of contention as he slid out and collected the number 54.
Less than one second still covered the top three of Ogura, Canet and Arbolino at the end of Lap 13, which marked 10 to go, but on Lap 17 Canet had a big moment at Pedrosa Corner, allowing Ogura to skip several tenths of a second clear. With that, was the Japanese rider seriously started to pull away from the two rivals who had stuck with him for most of the race so far. Ogura’s margin was over a full second on Lap 18, and 2.7 seconds by the time he started the final lap.
When he took the chequered flag, the 21-year-old not only had his first victory in any Grand Prix class, but he also became the fifth brand-new Moto2™ winner of 2022. Canet finished 2.5s behind but held on through the pain barrier, and Arbolino was just over a second further back as he completed the podium with more consistent pace.
Fernandez finished fourth, and Marcel Schrötter took fifth after an entertaining battle with Vietti, which was settled when the German squeezed through a small gap at the Pedrosa Corner on Lap 18. Seventh went to Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team), ahead of Portugal winner Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team), Albert Arenas (Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team), and Jorge Navarro (Flexbox HP 40).
Alessandro Zaccone (Gresini Racing Moto2™) finished 11th for his best Moto2™ result yet by some margin, ahead of Jeremy Alcoba (Liqui Moly Intact GP) and Stefano Manzi (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team), the latter the injury replacement for Keminth Kubo. The other two riders to score points were Barry Baltus (RW Racing GP) in 14th and Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans Racing team) in 15th.
Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) finished 20th after an early crash while running in the top 10, and Aldeguer eventually retired after his incident with Dixon.
Another weekend and another new winner in Moto2™… it doesn’t get much more intriguing than that. Meanwhile in the World Championship, Vietti is now on exactly 100 points, but his lead over Ogura has been cut to 19. Can Moto2™’s newest race winner make further inroads next time, will the VR46 rider hit back, or will we get another new face on the top step? Find out at the SHARK Grand Prix de France in two weeks.
Moto2™ PODIUM
1 Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) – Kalex – 39’16.357
2 Aron Canet (Flexbox HP 40) – Kalex – +2.509
3 Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) – Kalex – +3.669
Ai Ogura: “This time, I am 120% happy! The race was perfect, I started first and finished first, and nobody was in front of me. I knew there were some riders close behind me, but I was quite strong in the end so it was a perfect race. I’m really happy and a big thanks to the team.”
Izan Guevara (28) leads a group of riders during the Moto3 race at Jerez. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Poetry in motion: Guevara sweeps to first win of the year in style
The number 28 leads a GASGAS 1-2 on race day, going round the outside of the final corner
Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) took his first win of the season in almost unbelievable style at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España, the number 28 pulling off a stunner round the outside of the final corner to just pip teammate and Championship leader Sergio Garcia to the line. Garcia took the traditional route and dived down the inside to secure second, with Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) doing the same on Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM TEch3) to make it three podiums in a row for the COTA winner – and his first visit to the rostrum at Jerez.
Garcia got the launch from the front row, taking the holeshot ahead of Guevara as Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) moved up into third. The two GASGAS riders were off like a shot making a gap though, with Foggia then getting swallowed up in the early stages and Masia and Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) on the chase behind the leading duo.
It soon became a leading quartet, and with nearly 1.8 seconds over the chasing Öncü and Xavier Artigas (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP). But bit by bit they reeled the lead in, and they brought company in the form of Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse), having taken his Long Lap for causing a crash in Warm Up, as well as Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) – the latter despite having started from the back and having served a Long Lap, given for riding slow on the line in FP3.
Rossi faded from the group and then crashed out, rider ok, and Holgado also found himself left behind, but a leading group of six pushed on: Öncü, Masia, Guevara, Garcia, Sasaki and Artigas. Moreira, after exceeding track limits, was dropped out the group by a Long Lap Penalty.
Into the final couple of laps, Öncü led Masia led Garcia, with Guevara in fourth and Sasaki and Artigas holding station. The first move came from Guevara, but by Pedrosa corner it was all change: Masia attacked Öncü, Garcia hit back against Guevara and Artigas passed Sasaki. Öncü took back the lead a couple of apexes later, and everything was going down to that final, classic Jorge Lorenzo corner.
Garcia headed down the inside and dispatched Masia and Öncü, and on any other Sunday that would have been another impressive victory from the Championship leader. But not today, with Guevara swooping round the outside of the entire shuffle to make a little last corner poetry. Right round the outside and first to the flag, it’s a first win of the year in what is fast becoming a GASGAS Aspar calling card in 2022: style.
Masia just nabbed third from Öncü, with Artigas completing the top five another tenth back. Sasaki took sixth, but from the back and after a Long Lap, it was another impressive Sunday from the number 71.
Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power) won an all-Japanese duel against Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) for P7, with Holgado beating Moreira to ninth. There was a small gap back to Matteo Bertelle (QJMotor Avintia Racing Team) vs Scott Ogden (VisionTrack Racing Team) in P11 and P12, with Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team), Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team) completing the points.
Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) crashed out, and Joel Kelso (CIP Green Power) retired after getting caught up in the Warm Up incident instigated by Rossi, the Australian fit to try but pulling in.
After another poetic final corner from the GASGAS team, it’s time for Garcia to lead the pack to Le Mans… and Guevara now third and a little closer. After a tougher weekend for Foggia it’s now a 21-point deficit at the top, so it’s could be time for the gloves to come off. Tune in for the SHARK Grand Prix de France in two weeks!
Izan Guevara: “I’m really happy, an incredible weekend. I’m really happy for my win, my first win this year, my second in the World Championship. I’m really happy for my race, for my pace. It was an incredible race and an incredible last corner, to overtake two riders. I’m really happy. Thanks to my team for the work this weekend, thanks to my family, to my sponsors, and I’m really happy.”
VIRginia International Raceway. Photo courtesy of VIR.
The following track days, riding schools, and racing events are scheduled by organizations based in the United States and Canada during May 2022.
Motorcycle track days, riding schools, and races are posted under the Event Calendar tab on the home page of this website, or you can access the Event Calendar for May 2022 directly by clicking HERE.
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5/1 Florida Trackdays, Palm Beach International Raceway, Jupiter, FL
5/1 John Long’s Longevity Racing School, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead, FL
5/1 N2 Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park (Lightning), Millville, NJ
5/1 XCEL Trackdays Track Days, Arizona Motorsports Park, Litchfield Park, AZ
5/1 ZARS Advanced Riding School, Dakota County Technical College, Rosemount, MN
5/1-2 Optimum Performance Rider Training Track Days, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA
5/2 N2 Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park (Thunderbolt), Millville, NJ
5/2 TrackDaz Track Days, Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow, CA
5/2-3 California Superbike School, VIRginia International Raceway, Alton, VA
5/3 Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club School & Track Days (Canada), Mission Raceway Park, Mission, BC
5/4 Motovid.com All Levels Motorcycle Track Days, Blackhawk Farms Raceway, S. Beloit, IL
5/4 Pineview Run Two Wheel Wednesday Track Days, Pineview Run Auto & Country Club, LaFayette, NY
5/4 Road America Motorplex Open Track Days, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI
5/4 Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club Track Days (Canada), Mission Raceway Park, Mission, BC
5/4-5 California Superbike School, VIRginia International Raceway, Alton, VA
5/4-5 Yamaha Champions Riding School, Inde Motorsports Ranch, Willcox, AZ
5/5-7 The Riders Club Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park (Thunderbolt), Millville, NJ
5/6 Apex Track Days, Utah Motorsports Campus (East), Grantsville, UT
5/6 Optimum Performance Rider Training Track Days, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA
5/6 Rich Oliver’s Mystery School (Dirt Track School), Prather, CA (Private Training Day)
5/6 Sportbike Track Time Track Days, Grattan Raceway, Belding, MI
5/27 The Riders Club Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park (Thunderbolt), Millville, NJ
5/27 Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club School & Track Days (Canada), Mission Raceway Park, Mission, BC
5/27 Z² Track Days, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA
5/27-29 AHRMA American Historic Racing Series (Vintage), Classic MotoFest in the Heartland, Heartland Motorsports Park, Topeka, KS
5/27-29 CMRA Series, Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Hallett, OK
5/27-29 (Pirelli) WERA National Challenge Co-Sanctioned by AMA and WERA Sportsman Series Atlantic Coastal/Mid-Central/Southeast Regions, WERA Cycle Jam, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA
5/27-29 SOAR Series (Canada), Grand Bend Motorplex (Technical), Grand Bend, ON
5/27-29 VRRA Series (Vintage Canada), Shannonville Motorsport Park, Shannonville, ON
5/27-30 Sportbike Track Time Track Days, Autobahn Country Club, Joliet, IL
5/28 Pro 6 Cycle Inc. Track Days (Canada), Calabogie Motorsports Park, Calabogie, ON
5/28 Progressive American Flat Track (AFT) (Dirt Track), Red Mile I, The Red Mile, Lexington, KY
5/28 SoCal Supermoto School, Adams Motorsport Park, Riverside, CA
5/28 UtahSBA Series, Utah Motorsports Campus (East), Grantsville, UT
5/28-29 ARL Series (Canada), Atlantic Motorsport Park, Mill Village, NS
5/28-29 Fastrack Riders Academy & Apex Club Track Days & School, Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, CA
5/28-29 Motorheads Track Attacks Track Days (Canada), Stratotech Park Int’l Raceway, Ft. Saskatchewan, AB
5/28-29 Ohio Mini Roadrace League (Minis), G&J Kartway, Camden, OH
5/28-29 Racers Edge Private Coaching Days, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway, Desert Center, CA
5/28-29 RideSmart Motorcycle School, Circuit of The Americas, Austin, TX
5/28-29 Roger Lyle’s Motorcycle Xcitement Track Days and Road Racing School, Summit Point Motorsports Park (Main), Summit Point, WV
5/28-29 Ruts to Racelines Track Days, NCBIKE, Garysburg, NC
5/28-29 WMRC Series (Canada), Mission Raceway Park, Mission, BC
5/28-29 Yamaha Champions Riding School, High Plains Raceway, Deer Trail, CO
5/28-30 AMA Sanctioned ASRA Championship Series Presented by Pirelli Tire and CCS Atlantic/Mid-Atlantic Roadracing Championship Series, Summit Point Motorsports Park (Main), Summit Point, WV
5/28-30 Sportbike Track Time Track Days, Talladega Gran Prix Raceway, Munford, AL
5/28-30 Tony’s Track Days, Palmer Motorsports Park, Palmer, MA
5/28-30 Track Time Track Days With Ken Hill, Ridge Motorsports Park, Shelton, WA
5/29 Pro 6 GP Series (Canada), Calabogie Motorsports Park, Calabogie, ON
5/29 Progressive American Flat Track (AFT) (Dirt Track), Red Mile II, The Red Mile, Lexington, KY
5/29-30 JP43 Training School, Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow, CA
5/29-30 Let’s Ride Track Days, Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow, CA
5/29-30 N2 Track Days, New Jersey Motorsports Park (Lightning), Millville, NJ
5/30 Pro 6 Cycle Inc. Track Days (Canada), Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Bowmanville, ON
5/30-31 ZARS Advanced Riding Schools & Track Days, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI
5/31-6/1 California Superbike School, Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL
Bradley Ray (28) in action at Oulton Park. Photo courtesy MSVR.
Editorial Note: Americans Julian Correa and Eli Banish were 10th and 27th, respectively, in British Talent Cup combined practice times Saturday at Oulton Park.
Ray leads the way to top SUPERPICKS Free Practice with fastest ever lap of Oulton Park
Bradley Ray heads into tomorrow’s opening race at the second round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park as the rider to beat after topping the SUPERPICKS Free Practice times with the fastest ever lap of the Cheshire circuit.
The Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha rider’s lap from the morning session was not beaten in the afternoon as conditions changed, with his time of 1m:33.736s, 0.22s under the previous best lap set by Jake Dixon during qualifying in 2018.
Lee Jackson set the second fastest time with his best lap posted in the early stages of the second session. The FS-3 Racing Kawasaki rider also dipped under the lap record to move ahead of Peter Hickman on the FHO Racing BMW who completed the top three.
Tommy Bridewell, a winner at the circuit last season, was fourth fastest for the Oxford Products Racing Ducati team, narrowly ahead of Jason O’Halloran on the McAMS Yamaha. His teammate and reigning champion Tarran Mackenzie remains sidelined through injury, he underwent an assessment with the BSB Chief Medical Officer Dr Heike Romer this morning and was declared unfit to participate this weekend.
Rory Skinner was sixth fastest on the second FS-3 Racing Kawasaki, the Scot holding a 0.002s advantage over championship leader Glenn Irwin at the end of the opening day’s action at Oulton Park.
Christian Iddon led the Buildbase Suzuki charge in eighth place, just ahead of 2018 champion Leon Haslam on the VisionTrack Kawasaki.
Danny Buchan (SYNETIQ BMW), Ryan Vickers (FHO Racing BMW with Attis Sports) and Kyle Ryde (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) completed the SUPERPICKS 12, who will progress directly into tomorrow’s Q2 stage of Qualifying ahead of the opening race of the weekend.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, SUPERPICKS 12 Free Practice result:
Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) 1m:22.736s
Lee Jackson (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) +0.169s
Peter Hickman (FHO Racing) +0.592s
Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +0.616s
Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +0.666s
Rory Skinner (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) +0.794s
Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +0.796s
Christian Iddon (Buildbase Suzuki) +0.977s
Leon Haslam (VisionTrack Kawasaki) +1.179s
Danny Buchan (SYNETIQ BMW) +1.231s
Ryan Vickers (FHO Racing BMW with Attis Sports) +1.249s
Kyle Ryde (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) +1.320s
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Bradley Ray – Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha
“It has been a good day to be fair! I was quite surprised with the fastest lap to be honest. Obviously, we did the fastest lap in testing last week, but we didn’t really expect to be straight out on the money breaking the lap record in FP1, but I felt really good.
“We tried a few things in FP2 with the bike, but we didn’t really do any sort of time attack or anything like that as the weather was a bit iffy, but all in all I am very happy.
“I think we’ve got a good base for the bike now and we can work with that going into tomorrow’s free practice, qualifying and race.”
Brandon Paasch (left) with Triumph Chief Product Officer Steve Sargent (right) at Triumph headquarters in England. Photo courtesy Triumph.
Brandon Paasch officially becomes part of Triumph’s Avenue of Legends
Brandon Paasch was honored with a commemorative plaque on Triumph’s Avenue of Legends at its global HQ and Factory Visitor Experience, Hinckley, UK, to celebrate his fantastic Daytona 200 win
On 12th March 2022 Brandon Paasch made Triumph history by taking an outstanding win at the Daytona 200 on board the Street Triple 765 RS for the TOBC Triumph racing team. The incredible race culminated in a thrilling victory as he drafted the competition out of the very last corner to win by just .007 seconds.
This victory represented the first Daytona 200 win for the Street Triple 765, and once again proved the performance and reliability credentials of Triumph’s class leading sports performance middleweight, which combined with Brandon’s outstanding skills, contributed to writing another chapter of Triumph’s iconic Daytona racing history.
This milestone is now immortalized on Triumph’s Avenue of Legends, which can be walked by every visitor to the Triumph Factory Visitor Experience.
Brandon Paasch – 2022 Daytona 200 Winner: “I am super pumped to have won the Daytona 200 for a second time, back-to-back. It’s very special for me as it’s a very short list of legendary riders who have accomplished that. Now I am aiming to become the only rider to do it three times in a row. I am very thankful to Triumph for accepting me into their Avenue of Legends. I can’t thank them enough for everything they have done for me these past two years, and I hope to have a long lasting relationship with the Triumph brand.”
Steve Sargent – Triumph Chief Product Officer: “The Avenue of Legends is a mark of respect to those inspirational people who have pushed the boundaries to help make Triumph the brand it is today, and we are delighted to welcome Brandon Paasch to that exclusive group. With his sensational win at the Daytona 200, the race after which the Triumph Daytona can trace its roots back to 1966, sealing a last corner victory by just 0.007 seconds truly earns him the Legend title”
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta (left) with Jorge Lorenzo (right) during Lorenzo's induction into the MotoGP Legends at Jerez. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Jorge Lorenzo named MotoGP™ Legend
The five-time World Champion is inducted into the Hall of Fame in Jerez
Saturday, 30 April 2022
Five-time World Champion Jorge Lorenzo is now a MotoGP™ Legend! The Spaniard was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto – where the final corner also bears his name – in a special ceremony on Saturday, honouring a long and successful career.
Lorenzo made his 125cc World Championship debut at Jerez in 2002, and from there the rise began. For 2005 he moved into the 250cc class and then won his first World Championships with back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007, taking more than half the victories on offer across the two seasons. He moved up to MotoGP™ for 2008, partnering Valentino Rossi at Yamaha, and took his first MotoGP™ victory only third time out.
In 2009, he was runner up and the season also staged one of the races of the century as Rossi vs Lorenzo at the Catalan Grand Prix became one of the most memorable duels in MotoGP™. In 2010, however, Lorenzo’s time had come and it was a near-perfect season as he was crowned MotoGP™ World Champion for the first time. 2011 went to key rival Casey Stoner before 2012 saw Lorenzo take the crown once more. 2013 and 2014 went to new rival Marc Marquez, before Lorenzo was crowned Champion again in 2015 after another Rossi vs Lorenzo showdown.
2016 was a final year with Yamaha before moving to Ducati for 2017, and after a first season with a few podiums, Lorenzo took three sublime victories for the Borgo Panigale factory in 2018. The season was then curtailed by injury and he switched to Repsol Honda for 2019. After a tougher year and more injury struggles, the five-time World Champion hung up his leathers at the end of the season.
Over an incredible career, Lorenzo won 68 races and stood on the podium an incredible 152 times. He won two 250cc World Championships and was crowned MotoGP™ World Champion three times, as well as winning premier class races with two factories. Now, he is officially a MotoGP™ Legend!
Lorenzo joins a long list of greats that have been made MotoGP™ Legends that includes Valentino Rossi, Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan, Geoff Duke, Wayne Gardner, Mike Hailwood, Daijiro Kato, Eddie Lawson, Anton Mang, Angel Nieto, Wayne Rainey, Phil Read, Jim Redman, Kenny Roberts, Kenny Roberts Jr, Jarno Saarinen, Kevin Schwantz, Barry Sheene, Marco Simoncelli, Freddie Spencer, Casey Stoner, John Surtees, Carlo Ubbiali, Alex Crivillé, Franco Uncini, Marco Lucchinelli, Randy Mamola, Kork Ballington, Dani Pedrosa, Stefan Dörflinger, Jorge ‘Aspar’ Martinez, and the late Nicky Hayden.
Jorge Lorenzo: “I arrived here 20 years ago at this track to make my debut and I was still 14 on Friday. So, I went to watch at a few corners with a scooter and I saw the likes of Cecchinello, Ueda, Vincent, Pedrosa, Poggiali all riding. For me, they were heroes. And I saw them riding so aggressively and so fast, that I was wondering if someday I could arrive at that level.
“Now, I’m given the honour of becoming a MotoGP Legend from Dorna, from Carmelo, that have always treated me so well, and this means even more than the Championships I won. Because all of the MotoGP Legends are great Champions, but not all Champions can be named as Legends, so I’m very proud to be part of this amazing group, these names. I’m so lucky, so grateful to have the life I have thanks to MotoGP.”
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports: “Jorge has been something special for MotoGP. In my opinion, Jorge, first of all, is a fantastic person. He’s very emotional, he’s a friend, he’s a person who tried to do the maximum every time he did something, and he’s an incredible rider. For us, Jorge has been, in this generation, very, very special, who has allowed us to grow as we are growing. It’s a special moment for MotoGP and personally for me to say thanks to Jorge and to induct the 33rd Legend of MotoGP. He’s part of the most important riders in the history of MotoGP and I’m very proud to give him this award. Thank you, Jorge.”
Granado battles through to beat Aegerter and Ferrari to first win of the season
The FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup is go, and it’s a familiar name on the top step in Race 1 at Jerez
Eric Granado (51) leads Matteo Ferrari (11) during MotoE Race One at Jerez. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Saturday, 30 April 2022
Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) is the first electric winner of the season! The Brazilian took victory in the first race of the 2022 FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España, slicing his way through to beat second place Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) by 0.6s, with third and the final place on the podium going to Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE™) after a little drama in Race 1.
That was a clash between polesitter Miquel Pons (LCR E-Team) and Mattia Casadei (Pons Racing 40), with the two making contact at Turn 13, the latter crashing out. Pons was given a Long Lap penalty for the incident, which subsequently became a time penalty as the number 71 ran out of time to take it – keeping him off the podium.
Hector Garzo (Tech 3 E-Racing) and Casadei were the early battle for the lead, but by the halfway mark of the eight-lap race, a leading quintet formed at the front. Granado made his way through and took the lead for the first time at Turn 13 on Lap 6, making a pass stick on Casadei. Pons, meanwhile, had pounced on Garzo and then saw a gap appear underneath Casadei as Granado made his move ahead. The number 71 tagged Casadei and the Italian went down, rider ok but the incident shuffling the pack too.
Granado was clear of the drama in the lead, but behind Pons emerged second, Aegerter third, and Ferrari was up to fourth ahead of reigning Cup winner Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40). Garzo dropped to sixth after avoiding the stricken Casadei at the final corner.
Pons’ Long Lap Penalty for ‘irresponsible riding’ was then announced during the final lap, but neither he nor Aegerter had chance to act on that before the chequered flag. The Swiss rider instead pulled off a move at Turn 9, set up as he swarmed round the outside of Pons through Turn 8.
Keeping it pinned, Granado took the chequered flag 0.696 seconds ahead of Aegerter for his sixth race win in the World Cup, with Pons crossing the line in third. The penalty saw him demoted to eighth once a three seconds had been added for not taking the Long Lap, giving Ferrari that first podium of the season as the Italian was just behind over the line after a solid start to 2022.
Garzo took fourth and Torres completed the top five to kickstart his title defence, with Hikari Okubo (Avant Ajo MotoE™) and rookie Alex Escrig (Tech3 E-Racing) next up. The aforementioned Pons was classified P8, and rounding out the top 10 for the first time in 2022 were Marc Alcoba (Openbank Aspar Team) and Lukas Tulovic (WithU GRT RNF MotoE™ Team) – the German doing a good job standing in for the injured Bradley Smith despite no testing.
That’s it for Race 1 as Granado hits the competition for six… what have the field got in return on Sunday? Race 2 gets underway at 15:30 local time (GMT+2), so tune in to find out!
MotoE™ PODIUM
1 Eric Granado – LCR E-Team – Energica – 14’36.998
Eric Granado: “Well, I’m very happy. First of all, I want to say thank you so much to the LCR E-Team for trusting me with the job. To be with them this year is amazing and I’m very happy with the job we are doing. The bike has been perfect all weekend and I’m feeling very confident. After the start, I was a little bit behind the lead group, I had a moment there with Ferrari and I lost some time, and I said to myself, ‘No, stay calm, don’t make any mistakes.’ I tried to concentrate on catching them, and finally got there. In the end, I had a little bit more, especially in the last two sectors, and I could do the overtakes and finally win, so this is amazing. I’m so happy to start the season like this. I will be very focused on continuing in this way during the whole season, to have a beautiful end of the season for me.”
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