BINDER INKS NEW MOTOGP™ DEAL UNTIL 2024 TO TAKE KTM ALLIANCE UP TO TEN YEARS
2021 MotoGP news
KTM’s first ever MotoGP race winner, Brad Binder, will remain part of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team for the next three years and will celebrate ten Grand Prix seasons in ‘orange’ by the end of the 2024 MotoGP campaign.
The 25-year-old South African progressed through the KTM GP Academy structure. He competed in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, earned Moto3™ world championship success as well as 15 Grand Prix wins in both the Moto3 and Moto2™ categories with the Red Bull KTM Ajo squad, and then seized the factory’s maiden victory in the premier class during his debut term on the KTM RC16 during 2020, where he also achieved the status of ‘Rookie of the Year’.
Binder posted a new milestone at the Gran Premio D’Italia last weekend by equaling the highest top speed in the history of the sport at 362.4 kmph during FP3 at Mugello.
The new contract brings extra continuity and strength to the KTM MotoGP program, and Binder’s fighting spirit symbolises the way the manufacturer brings themselves to the track ‘Ready to Race’.
Brad Binder: “I’m super, super happy to have signed again for three more seasons with KTM and it will take us up to ten years. It’s incredible to have been with this manufacturer for such a long time now and we’ve always had a good relationship. I’m extremely happy in KTM colors so it’s extra satisfying to have a long contract signed-up. It’s cool to have that belief and support from a company. It’s an honor. From here on we can focus on building ourselves towards the front. We are not terribly far away, and it would be really nice to do something great together. It’s exciting to see what these next years will bring.”
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director: “This was a very easy contract for us to do because we love Brad as a racer and what he brings to the team, the factory and the MotoGP class. He was also very enthusiastic to make a big commitment to us and that says a lot for our progression and our potential in this championship. Sometimes you find a racer and a mentality that really fits with your own philosophy and the fact that Brad has come all the way to the top with us in a ten year period is a very special story. We’re really proud to continue racing with him and to keep setting new targets together.”
Mike Leitner, Red Bull KTM Race Manager: “As Team Manager I’m happy that Brad has placed his trust in us for another three years. He’s a very strong rider with a strong crew and a strong factory behind him. We will push together to achieve our mutual dreams and targets. It’s great we have this partnership up to ’24.”
Fans can continue to enjoy content from the world’s fastest motorcycle racing Championship as a new agreement is signed
Dorna Sports and MotoGP™ will continue in partnership with Facebook in 2021, with a new one-year deal extending an exclusive collaboration that began last season. Original MotoGP™ content therefore continues to be available on Facebook Watch, available worldwide, giving fans of the sport another way to enjoy top quality MotoGP™ content.
The videos on Facebook Watch, between three and seven minutes in length, are produced by MotoGP™ with riders and teams from across all three classes. From special interviews to behind-the-scenes content, compilations, highlights and incredible archive footage from three decades of competition, fans can continue to enjoy hundreds of videos on Facebook Watch thanks to this contract extension.
Facebook is a key platform for MotoGP™’s global fanbase, with nearly 14 million fans already following the sport on the site. It was also the sport’s strongest social media platform in terms of videos generated and minutes watched in 2020. With this contract extension, MotoGP™ continues creating a breadth of high-quality content in order to continue growing its fan base both on the platform and around the world, targeting new audiences as well as giving existing fans even more access to the sport they love.
Jerry Newman, Director of Sports Partnerships – EMEA at Facebook: “Fans on Facebook are seeking out MotoGP content and connecting with one another to extend their love of the sport beyond the track. In continuing this partnership, we’re looking forward to seeing even more exclusive interviews, highlights and behind-the-scenes clips being made available to this community, as we deepen the social interaction between riders, teams and fans in innovative new ways.”
Manel Arroyo, Chief Commercial Officer at Dorna Sports: “We are very happy to continue this important partnership with Facebook, which was a global first in motorsport when it began last year. MotoGP is committed to connecting to and engaging with our fans and giving them new ways to enjoy and interact with our content, making Facebook a perfect partner for our sport. It’s also a fantastic way to connect with new audiences, showing them the best of MotoGP with exclusive, showstopping content.”
Riders and teams are also able to crosspost – increasing reach throughout the paddock and fanbase – and some clips are also available on Instagram, ensuring the biggest audience for this innovative new wealth of digital content as MotoGP™ continues in its position as a world leader in motorsport social media.
MotoGP™ and MotoE™ weekend for Michelin in Catalunya
Following yet another record-breaking race weekend, the Michelin team will be heading straight from Italy to Spain as the MotoGP™ paddock relocates to Montmeló near Barcelona for the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, the seventh round of the 2021 season. In addition, the FIM Enel MotoE™ riders and teams will also join them for the third round of their series.
With the Catalunya race taking place during the weekend immediately following the Mugello race, the Michelin Motorsport team will not only face the logistical challenge of getting trucks from Italy to Spain but they will also have to stop in Clermont-Ferrand to collect the tire allocation for the Spanish race.
Featuring a highly abrasive surface with fast and sweeping corners, a 1,047m straight and elevation changes throughout its 4,627m (2.894 miles) length, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was built in 1991, reconfigured and resurfaced in 2018, with some changes made in 2020 to improve safety at Turn 10. It’s a track that is a favourite amongst riders and fans, and often serves up exciting racing along with a fantastic atmosphere, which could be the case this year with limited numbers of spectators being allowed in.
The Michelin tyre allocation has been selected to handle the demands of the circuit and the usual warm weather conditions expected at this time of year. As always, the data from previous races and tests proved invaluable when choosing the optimum compounds for the range of MICHELIN Power Slick tyres. Front and rear slicks will be in the usual Soft, Medium and Hard compounds, the Soft front will be symmetric, whilst the front Medium and Hard options and all the rears will be asymmetric, with a harder right-hand-side to manage the eight turns which go in that direction, compared to only six that go left.
Although unlikely, rain showers can still make an appearance at this time of year, so if wet weather does arrive a range of MICHELIN Power Rain tyres will be available in Soft and Medium symmetric fronts, along with Soft and Medium asymmetric rears, again with a harder right shoulder.
For MotoE, Michelin will have the usual allocation of Slick and Rain tyres, with the MICHELIN Power Slick range now manufactured using a higher percentage of sustainable and recycled materials, which is firmly in-line with the Michelin Group’s ‘All Sustainable’ strategy. To highlight and illustrate this advance in sustainability with the tyres, Michelin will have the world premiere of its interactive demonstration module in the MotoE paddock throughout the weekend.
Speaking about the Catalunya race, Piero Taramasso, Michelin Two-Wheel Motorsport Manager, said: “We know the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit very well from our past visits for testing and races, so I am sure that in addition to offering consistency and high levels of grip, our 2021 allocation will produce some fast lap-times and exciting racing in both the MotoGP and MotoE races. However, from a logistical perspective this is a challenging race due to the fact that our team will initially need to drive the 875 kilometres from Mugello to our base in Clermont-Ferrand immediately after the race to load up the trucks with the Catalunya allocation, before continuing their journey 600 kilometres south to Barcelona.”
The track action will get underway on Friday with FP1 and 2, followed two more practice sessions ahead of Qualifying on Saturday afternoon. The lights will go out for the start of the 24-lap race on Sunday at 13:00 local time. For the MotoE riders, their 8-lap race will start at 16:00 local-time.
Michelin, the leading mobility company, is dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility, sustainably; designing and distributing the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its clients’ needs; providing digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences; and developing high-technology materials that serve a variety of industries. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 170 countries, has 123,600 employees and operates 71 tire production facilities which together produced around 170 million tires in 2020. (www.michelin.com)
Featured In the May 2021 issue of Roadracing World:
MotoGP is closer than ever and passing is more difficult than ever, so race weekends have never been more complicated for riders and engineers.
Not so long ago Friday and Saturday of a MotoGP race weekend were all about working on race pace. Obviously race pace is still the big deal, but the racing is now so close that if you qualify or start badly you end up deep in the pack at the first corner, and may never be able to catch up to the lead group.
Qualifying is now so important that the process starts before qualifying…
—MotoGP Analysis: Racers Under Pressure, by MotoGP Editor Mat Oxley.
Most MotoGP races are now often won by a few meters, so it’s never been more important to qualify and start well. Riders tell you that a qualifying lap is like losing one of their lives! This is how they do it, MotoGP Editor Mat Oxley reveals in the latest issue of Roadracing World!
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More, from a press release issued by Dorna WorldSBK Press Office:
Rea fights back for Race 2 victory as Redding crashes from second in Estoril thriller
Sensational Race 2 at Estoril with drama throughout as Rea avoids chaos around him to take his 103rd WorldSBK victory
Scott Redding (45) leads the start of World Superbike Race Two at Estoril. Photo courtesy Dorna.
The final race of the Gaerne Estoril Round was full of drama, excitement and tension as Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) claimed his second victory of the weekend after rival Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) crashed out from second place.
The race started with Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) being given a double Long Lap Penalty for a jump start, while Redding was able to get the leap on the rest of the field on the run into Turn 1, while reigning Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) lost ground when Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) forced the British rider wide at Turn 4.
It enabled Rinaldi to move into second place, behind teammate Redding, and the young Italian had a look at his teammate into Turn 1, he backed out of the move. It meant he lost time to American Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) before the American lost control of his Yamaha YZF R1 at Turn 6 and made contact with the Italian; forcing both to retire from the race on the second lap.
With Razgatlioglu’s penalties served, it enabled Rea to close in on Redding as the 21-lap race reached the halfway stage with the duo racing on different tyres; Rea once again on the SC0 and Redding attempting to complete the race on the SCX tyre as he did on Saturday when he claimed victory in Race 1.
On lap 14, Rea tried to make his first move at Turn 1 but, despite the advantage of the slipstream, with Redding just holding on. Rea got briefly ahead at Turn 1 before Redding used the cut back move to stay ahead. Redding then ran wide at Turn 3, allowing Rea to get back ahead, before Redding lost the front of his Ducati Panigale V4 R at Turn 4, forcing the British rider to tumble down the order.
Redding’s crash allowed Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven) to close in on long-term rival Rea in the closing stages of the race although Rea was able to hold on to claim his second victory of the Estoril Round and fourth of 2021, with Davies on the rostrum for the first time in 2021. Razgatlioglu recovered from his double Long Lap Penalty to claim his third podium of the weekend.
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) came home in fourth place in Race 2 as his strong start of the season continued, finishing 1.6 seconds clear of Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) in fifth; the Italian picking up his best result in WorldSBK so far in his debut season. Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed sixth place on his BMW; three of the four BMW M 1000 RR bikes finished inside the top ten. Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) battled through from 18th on the grid again to claim seventh place, ahead of Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK).
Eugene Laverty (RC Squadra Corse) was ninth with his second top ten finish of the weekend and the third BMW rider in the top ten. 2014 Moto2™ World Champion Tito Rabat (Barni Racing Team) claimed his second top ten finish of the weekend with tenth while Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) equaled his best finish of the 2021 season with 11th.
Team HRC’s Leon Haslam came home in 12th place on his Honda machine, finishing just ahead of Kohta Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team).
Redding finished the race in 14th place at the line, but was given a six-second penalty, the equivalent of two Long Lap Penalties, for a jump start in Race 2, meaning he was classified in 16th place behind Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) and Isaac Viñales (Orelac Racing VerdNatura). Christophe Ponsson (Alstare Yamaha) and Loris Cresson (TPR Team Pedercini Racing) completed the race of classification with 17 and 18th.
Apart from Gerloff and Rinaldi from their Lap 2 crash, there was only one more retirement from the race with Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Action) retiring in the early stages of the race with a technical issue with his BMW M 1000 RR. Samuele Cavalieri (TPR Team Pedercini Racing) retired on lap 17 of the 21-lap race.
P1 Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)
“It’s a really difficult track. We just need to look at where we were last year and where the other Kawasakis have been. I can’t credit my team enough. Every decision we’ve made this weekend has been the right one, in a positive way, because on Friday we were really struggling. Struggling to make the rhythm, struggling to make the pace but if you said this on Friday, I would’ve snapped your hand off! Super happy. Of course, I was riding with Jason on my mind in the last few laps of the race because motorsport can be so beautiful but so tough as well. Still, sending lots of strength to his family, his team and all his friends.”
P2 Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven)
“That was a hard-fought podium, especially because we had an awful Saturday yesterday with everything that happened. We’ve kept plugging away, we worked really hard last night, we tried to pull some more info out of the data and tried to put together a better package this morning. I want to say a huge thank you to the GoEleven guys because they’ve been grafting really hard all winter and here, we are, second round and on the podium. Obviously, very happy to be there and I think today, these results are almost irrelevant with the tragedy that’s happened at Mugello, so my thoughts go out to Jason Dupasquier and his family”
P3 Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK)
“I’m really surprised today because first I jumped the start, and I’m really sorry for my team because then I got two Long Lap Penalties. I tried in the whole session afterwards but, although I’m on the podium, I’m not happy because I’m also surprised. We took good points for the Championship.”
Quartararo takes emotional win at Mugello and extends his lead
KTM and Suzuki complete the podium after a close race to lock out the top five on a difficult day in Italy
MotoGP race winner Fabio Quartararo (center), runner-up Miguel Oliveira (left), and third-place finisher Joan Mir (right) on the podium holding a Swiss flag in honor of fallen Moto3 racer Jason Dupasquier. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Sunday, 30 May 2021
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo claimed a commanding and emotional victory at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, extending his Championship lead to 24 points. A minute of silence was held on the grid in memory of Moto3™ rider Jason Dupasquier, and Quartararo dedicated his victory to the Swiss rider.
Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and reigning World Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) completed the Mugello podium as Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) crashed out on Lap 2.
Quartararo’s new front start device worked well off the line as the polesitter managed to keep Bagnaia at bay until the braking zone, when the Italian dived up the inside to lead. Pecco then led the way as the riders settled into the race, but the Ducati rider then tucked the front at Turn 9 on Lap 2. Quartararo was handed the lead, but he wasn’t able to escape quickly as compatriot Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) duelled the Yamaha.
Eventually, Quartararo broke the slipstream heading onto Lap 5 after making good progress on the twisty part of the circuit, and from there, the Yamaha was able to edge clear of Zarco in second place. By Lap 11 Quartararo’s lead was up to 2.7s and comfortably lapping in the 1:47s, the Yamaha rider was in a league of his own at Mugello and took a third win of the season by 2.5s.
After battling with Quartararo in the early laps, Zarco was forced to focus on keeping Oliveira behind him thereafter. The two Team Suzuki Ecstar riders – Mir and Alex Rins – had trouble making passes stick on Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) too just behind, Ducati power enabling the Australian to overtake Mir and Rins on the straight. Eventually though, the Suzukis got through and both got into the podium fight.
With eight laps remaining, Oliveira moved past Zarco for the first time at Turn 11 to take P2. Exactly the same manoeuvre was produced by Mir a lap later as the reigning World Champion picked up P3, and he crucially also held Zarco at bay into Turn 1. Rins then pounced with six laps to go as Zarco was shuffled back to P5, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Miller and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) close behind.
With five to go, Rins then crashed out at the final corner from fourth place, a fourth DNF in a row for the Spaniard. Oliveira was able to just fend off Mir, although it was close and initially track limits came into play – but both had exceeded them every-so-slightly. Zarco missed out by just under a second in fourth, although he latter does move up to P2 in the standings though, 24 points behind Quartararo.
Binder gave KTM a double top five at the Italian GP and claims his equal best finish of the season despite never having raced in the premier class at Mugello before, and Miller comes home P6. Aleix Espargaro impressed again to pick up a P7, with Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) taking the chequered flag in P8 after his difficult qualifying in P13. 2019 Mugello winner Danilo Petrucci (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) was ninth to earn his second top 10 in a row, with Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) completing the top 10 on home soil.
Iker Lecuona (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing), Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team), Michele Pirro (Pramac Racing), Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) and Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) were the final points scorers.
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) crashed at Turn 3 on Lap 2 unhurt, but forced Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) into the gravel, the Italian rejoining down the order. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) also crashed out of the race late on at Turn 13. Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) crashed on the way to the grid after hitting the rear of Zarco’s bike, riders ok.
The riders took the Swiss flag onto the podium in memory of Dupasquier as MotoGP™ sends our deepest condolences to all those he leaves behind.
MotoGP™ will be back on track at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya next weekend.
Featured In the May 2021 issue of Roadracing World:
“Complacency is the enemy of competition. Although we won the opening N2/WERA National Endurance Series round at Summit Point with a commanding lead, our post-mortem on both lap times and pit strategy revealed areas where we could improve the most. Unfortunately, that required making a new gas tank.
“Anthony Consorte had made the first one so Tim Gooding took the bullet on making the second one. That involved casting a new receiver for the dual dry breaks in his back yard (almost causing the great Washington, DC fire of 2020!) and hand-hammering aluminum sheet over a hickory stump we cut out of the ground at our favorite hare scramble area…”
—Racing In The Time Of Covid, Part 2, by Sam Q. Fleming
Racing is the pursuit of never-ending improvement, and Army of Darkness leaves no stone unturned in chasing better results, even if that means potentially burning down a city and investigating the mystical properties of Bold New Graphics. Read about the team’s 2020 racing season—it’s in the latest issue of Roadracing World!
Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology is THE definitive source for motorcycle racing, riding, and tech information.
Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine is available in print and digital formats. SUBSCRIBE NOW . Or call (909) 654-4779, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. Read the May 2021 issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technologywith your online subscription. Log in HERE
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Gardner beats Fernandez on the last lap for first win of 2021
The Red Bull KTM Ajo riders duel for victory as Lowes crashes out and Bezzecchi completes the podium
Remy Gardner (87) beat teammate Raul Fernandez (25) to the line by a fraction of a second to win the Moto2 race at Mugello. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) took his first win of 2021 in the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, crossing the line millimetres ahead of teammate Raul Fernandez after passing the rookie earlier on the last lap. It’s the second closest finish in Moto2™ history. Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) completed the podium after Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) was demoted a position for exceeding track limits on the final lap in their fight, and Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) crashed out from second.
The two Red Bull KTM Ajo riders were 1-2 from the off as Fernandez took the holeshot and Gardner moved up into second, and Lowes dropping a few places. Fernandez then began to get his head down and slowly streak clear of Gardner, with Lowes clawing his way back up to the back wheel of the Australian. The trio had stretched clear of the chasing pack, and the Brit passed Gardner for P2 on Lap 10 after a quality exchange between the two.
Fernandez’s lead was up to 1.9s at one point, but Lowes and Gardner reeled the rookie in, with the number 22 getting to within 0.8s. Then a costly crash at Turn 8 ended Lowes’ race with six laps to go. Gardner kept homing in though and with three laps remaining, it was clear the Australian would be able to create a chance against his teammate. On the last lap, Gardner struck at Turn 10 and fended off Fernandez on the drag to the line to win his first race of 2021, extending his lead to six points ahead of Round 7.
Bezzecchi’s podium is his third in a row, and one that keeps him P3 in the title race. Roberts was disappointed with P4 after crossing the line third, but it was a great ride from the American. Marcel Schrötter’s (Liqui Moly Intact GP) fifth place is his best finish of the year, rookies Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), Tony Arbolino (Liqui Moly Intact GP) and Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) – from 26th on the grid – claim impressive results in P6, P7 and P8 respectively.
Hafizh Syahrin (NTS RW Racing GP) took P9 in the Malaysian’s best result of the season and NTS’ second best result ever, and Stefano Manzi (Flexbox HP40) rounded out the top 10. Aron Canet (Kipin Energy Aspar Team) only just held off incredible debutant Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors Speed Up) as they took P11 and P12, with Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP40), Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) completing the points.
The Moto2™ riders will be back in action next weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
More, from a press release issued by Italtrans Racing:
Joe Roberts is third at Mugello but is demoted one position.
Unlucky Italian Grand Prix for Lorenzo Dalla Porta.
A bittersweet Italian Grand Prix for Italtrans Racing Team, but also a tragic Sunday for the whole MotoGP family following the passing of Moto3 rider Jason Dupasquier.
The sixth round of the MotoGP World Championship at Mugello ended with the amazing third position for Joe Roberts. Starting 10th on the grid the American rider managed to recover quickly and set a good pace that allowed him to finish in the top three. Unfortunately, a few moments after the chequered flag he was demoted one position for exceeding track limits in the last lap. The fourth final position is the awareness of the great potential shown together with the whole team.
Unlucky home GP for Lorenzo Dalla Porta. Yesterday he set his best qualifying in Moto2 with the 11th position and today the Tuscan rider could have fought in the top ten, but he crashed in the first lap.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta (19). Photo courtesy Italtrans Racing.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta
nc
“I’m really sorry about today. I was sure I could have a good race. There were all the markings to do well and fight in the top ten, but I crashed. Now let’s think about Barcelona with the knowledge that we can fight for the top positions”.
Joe Roberts (16) leading Marco Bezzecchi (72) at Mugello. Photo courtesy Italtrans Racing.
Joe Roberts
4°
“We got the podium, but I touched the green and the race direction demoted me one position. Let’s take the positive things: we had a strong race after a difficult crash on Friday. This is a tough day for MotoGP because of Jason’s passing: my heart and thoughts are with his family and friends”.
Giovanni Sandi, Technical Director
“It was a real shame about today. Joe had a great race: he started well and made a good comeback, then he was demoted one position on the last lap for exceeding track limits. I’m very sorry for Lorenzo too. Today he could have shown his potential and had a high-level race. I hope we will be luckier in Barcelona”.
More, from a press release issued by American Racing Team:
Determined Cameron Beaubier delivers career-best Moto2 finish in Italy
Disappointment for American Racing teammate Marcos Ramirez at Mugello
SCARPERIA, Italy (May 30, 2021) — Cameron Beaubier continues to forge a path to the front in his FIM Moto2 World Championship debut season. On Sunday at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, the 28-year-old Californian worked his way from the ninth row of the starting grid to a career-best eighth at the checkers.
Cameron Beaubier (6) leads a group of riders at Mugello. Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
Beaubier’s American Racing teammate, Marcos Ramirez, likewise was poised for a top 10 finish at the sixth round of the championship in the picturesque Italian countryside, but the 23-year-old Spaniard crashed, unhurt, in the closing laps.
Downfield after three 40-minute practices at the 15-turn, 3.26-mile track, Ramirez and Beaubier were consigned to Qualifying 1 on Saturday. Light rain fell early in the 15-minute session, but, like the rest of the field, both riders stayed out on Dunlop slicks.
Marcos Ramirez (42). Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
Ramirez’s third lap, a 1:52.006, was third quickest, and the second-year intermediate-class rider advanced to Q2 with three others. The best lap that Beaubier managed in the tricky conditions was a 1:53.008, 12th overall.
Conditions worsened in Q2, with moisture beginning to dampen the track. Ramirez ran as high as fourth, but he slipped to 16th at the end of the 15-minute session.
For the race, ambient temperature was 69 degrees Fahrenheit, with the sun-warmed track surface two degrees into triple digits. Ramirez and Beaubier started well from 14th and 25th on the grid, bolting into 11th and 18th after the first of 21 laps.
Ramirez moved into the top 10 by Lap 6 and eighth on Lap 16. Beaubier, who last raced at Mugello in 2009 on a 125cc two-stroke, advanced one and sometimes two places each lap. Engaged in a seven-rider battle, the five-time MotoAmerica Superbike champion drafted ex-MotoGP racer Hafizh Syahrin at the finish for eighth.
KTM Ajo rider Raul Fernandez earned his second consecutive pole position. Fernandez’s teammate, Remy Gardner, narrowly won the race ahead of Fernandez and continues to lead the championship points standings.
“That was a tough but positive weekend for Cam,” said American Racing Team Race Director John Hopkins. “Hard work and determination from him and his team definitely paid off. Marcos has been starting to show his true talent and potential. He seemed to have a top eight finish in the bag, but sadly crashed with a few laps to go. Even though it was a bittersweet end to the weekend, we are confident that we will see both riders finishing within the top 10 in the near future.”
Before the start of the MotoGP race, the paddock observed a minute of silence in memory of Jason Dupasquier. The 19-year-old Swiss rider died from injuries sustained in an accident during Moto3 qualifying.
After six rounds, Beaubier is 14th in the championship standings. Ramirez is 20th. Round 7 of the FIM Moto2 World Championship, the Grand Prix of Catalunya, is June 4-6 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
About the American Racing Team
The American Racing Team is owned by Avner Kass and Eitan Butbul and competes in the FIM MotoGP World Championship. Based in California, the team fields two riders in the Moto2 class: American Cameron Beaubier (No. 6) and Spaniard Marcos Ramirez (No. 42). American Racing has grown under Butbul’s guidance and is a respected member of the MotoGP paddock.
Brad Binder (33). Photo by Polarity Photo, courtesy KTM.
BINDER INKS NEW MOTOGP™ DEAL UNTIL 2024 TO TAKE KTM ALLIANCE UP TO TEN YEARS
2021 MotoGP news
KTM’s first ever MotoGP race winner, Brad Binder, will remain part of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team for the next three years and will celebrate ten Grand Prix seasons in ‘orange’ by the end of the 2024 MotoGP campaign.
The 25-year-old South African progressed through the KTM GP Academy structure. He competed in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, earned Moto3™ world championship success as well as 15 Grand Prix wins in both the Moto3 and Moto2™ categories with the Red Bull KTM Ajo squad, and then seized the factory’s maiden victory in the premier class during his debut term on the KTM RC16 during 2020, where he also achieved the status of ‘Rookie of the Year’.
Binder posted a new milestone at the Gran Premio D’Italia last weekend by equaling the highest top speed in the history of the sport at 362.4 kmph during FP3 at Mugello.
The new contract brings extra continuity and strength to the KTM MotoGP program, and Binder’s fighting spirit symbolises the way the manufacturer brings themselves to the track ‘Ready to Race’.
Brad Binder: “I’m super, super happy to have signed again for three more seasons with KTM and it will take us up to ten years. It’s incredible to have been with this manufacturer for such a long time now and we’ve always had a good relationship. I’m extremely happy in KTM colors so it’s extra satisfying to have a long contract signed-up. It’s cool to have that belief and support from a company. It’s an honor. From here on we can focus on building ourselves towards the front. We are not terribly far away, and it would be really nice to do something great together. It’s exciting to see what these next years will bring.”
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director: “This was a very easy contract for us to do because we love Brad as a racer and what he brings to the team, the factory and the MotoGP class. He was also very enthusiastic to make a big commitment to us and that says a lot for our progression and our potential in this championship. Sometimes you find a racer and a mentality that really fits with your own philosophy and the fact that Brad has come all the way to the top with us in a ten year period is a very special story. We’re really proud to continue racing with him and to keep setting new targets together.”
Mike Leitner, Red Bull KTM Race Manager: “As Team Manager I’m happy that Brad has placed his trust in us for another three years. He’s a very strong rider with a strong crew and a strong factory behind him. We will push together to achieve our mutual dreams and targets. It’s great we have this partnership up to ’24.”
The start of the MotoGP race at Le Mans in 2020. Photo courtesy Michelin.
Fans can continue to enjoy content from the world’s fastest motorcycle racing Championship as a new agreement is signed
Dorna Sports and MotoGP™ will continue in partnership with Facebook in 2021, with a new one-year deal extending an exclusive collaboration that began last season. Original MotoGP™ content therefore continues to be available on Facebook Watch, available worldwide, giving fans of the sport another way to enjoy top quality MotoGP™ content.
The videos on Facebook Watch, between three and seven minutes in length, are produced by MotoGP™ with riders and teams from across all three classes. From special interviews to behind-the-scenes content, compilations, highlights and incredible archive footage from three decades of competition, fans can continue to enjoy hundreds of videos on Facebook Watch thanks to this contract extension.
Facebook is a key platform for MotoGP™’s global fanbase, with nearly 14 million fans already following the sport on the site. It was also the sport’s strongest social media platform in terms of videos generated and minutes watched in 2020. With this contract extension, MotoGP™ continues creating a breadth of high-quality content in order to continue growing its fan base both on the platform and around the world, targeting new audiences as well as giving existing fans even more access to the sport they love.
Jerry Newman, Director of Sports Partnerships – EMEA at Facebook: “Fans on Facebook are seeking out MotoGP content and connecting with one another to extend their love of the sport beyond the track. In continuing this partnership, we’re looking forward to seeing even more exclusive interviews, highlights and behind-the-scenes clips being made available to this community, as we deepen the social interaction between riders, teams and fans in innovative new ways.”
Manel Arroyo, Chief Commercial Officer at Dorna Sports: “We are very happy to continue this important partnership with Facebook, which was a global first in motorsport when it began last year. MotoGP is committed to connecting to and engaging with our fans and giving them new ways to enjoy and interact with our content, making Facebook a perfect partner for our sport. It’s also a fantastic way to connect with new audiences, showing them the best of MotoGP with exclusive, showstopping content.”
Riders and teams are also able to crosspost – increasing reach throughout the paddock and fanbase – and some clips are also available on Instagram, ensuring the biggest audience for this innovative new wealth of digital content as MotoGP™ continues in its position as a world leader in motorsport social media.
MotoGP™ and MotoE™ weekend for Michelin in Catalunya
Following yet another record-breaking race weekend, the Michelin team will be heading straight from Italy to Spain as the MotoGP™ paddock relocates to Montmeló near Barcelona for the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, the seventh round of the 2021 season. In addition, the FIM Enel MotoE™ riders and teams will also join them for the third round of their series.
With the Catalunya race taking place during the weekend immediately following the Mugello race, the Michelin Motorsport team will not only face the logistical challenge of getting trucks from Italy to Spain but they will also have to stop in Clermont-Ferrand to collect the tire allocation for the Spanish race.
Featuring a highly abrasive surface with fast and sweeping corners, a 1,047m straight and elevation changes throughout its 4,627m (2.894 miles) length, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was built in 1991, reconfigured and resurfaced in 2018, with some changes made in 2020 to improve safety at Turn 10. It’s a track that is a favourite amongst riders and fans, and often serves up exciting racing along with a fantastic atmosphere, which could be the case this year with limited numbers of spectators being allowed in.
The Michelin tyre allocation has been selected to handle the demands of the circuit and the usual warm weather conditions expected at this time of year. As always, the data from previous races and tests proved invaluable when choosing the optimum compounds for the range of MICHELIN Power Slick tyres. Front and rear slicks will be in the usual Soft, Medium and Hard compounds, the Soft front will be symmetric, whilst the front Medium and Hard options and all the rears will be asymmetric, with a harder right-hand-side to manage the eight turns which go in that direction, compared to only six that go left.
Although unlikely, rain showers can still make an appearance at this time of year, so if wet weather does arrive a range of MICHELIN Power Rain tyres will be available in Soft and Medium symmetric fronts, along with Soft and Medium asymmetric rears, again with a harder right shoulder.
For MotoE, Michelin will have the usual allocation of Slick and Rain tyres, with the MICHELIN Power Slick range now manufactured using a higher percentage of sustainable and recycled materials, which is firmly in-line with the Michelin Group’s ‘All Sustainable’ strategy. To highlight and illustrate this advance in sustainability with the tyres, Michelin will have the world premiere of its interactive demonstration module in the MotoE paddock throughout the weekend.
Speaking about the Catalunya race, Piero Taramasso, Michelin Two-Wheel Motorsport Manager, said: “We know the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit very well from our past visits for testing and races, so I am sure that in addition to offering consistency and high levels of grip, our 2021 allocation will produce some fast lap-times and exciting racing in both the MotoGP and MotoE races. However, from a logistical perspective this is a challenging race due to the fact that our team will initially need to drive the 875 kilometres from Mugello to our base in Clermont-Ferrand immediately after the race to load up the trucks with the Catalunya allocation, before continuing their journey 600 kilometres south to Barcelona.”
The track action will get underway on Friday with FP1 and 2, followed two more practice sessions ahead of Qualifying on Saturday afternoon. The lights will go out for the start of the 24-lap race on Sunday at 13:00 local time. For the MotoE riders, their 8-lap race will start at 16:00 local-time.
Michelin, the leading mobility company, is dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility, sustainably; designing and distributing the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its clients’ needs; providing digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences; and developing high-technology materials that serve a variety of industries. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 170 countries, has 123,600 employees and operates 71 tire production facilities which together produced around 170 million tires in 2020. (www.michelin.com)
Second-quickest qualifier Johann Zarco (5) chases pole-sitter Jorge Martin (already out of the frame) and leads Alex Rins (42), Francesco Bagnaia, Jack Miller, Joan Mir (36) Aleix Espargaró (41), Fabio Quartararo (20), and Maverick Viñales (12) early in the Moto-GP race during Qatar weekend #2. Photo by DPPI Media.
Featured In the May 2021 issue of Roadracing World:
MotoGP is closer than ever and passing is more difficult than ever, so race weekends have never been more complicated for riders and engineers.
Not so long ago Friday and Saturday of a MotoGP race weekend were all about working on race pace. Obviously race pace is still the big deal, but the racing is now so close that if you qualify or start badly you end up deep in the pack at the first corner, and may never be able to catch up to the lead group.
Qualifying is now so important that the process starts before qualifying…
—MotoGP Analysis: Racers Under Pressure, by MotoGP Editor Mat Oxley.
Most MotoGP races are now often won by a few meters, so it’s never been more important to qualify and start well. Riders tell you that a qualifying lap is like losing one of their lives! This is how they do it, MotoGP Editor Mat Oxley reveals in the latest issue of Roadracing World!
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More, from a press release issued by Dorna WorldSBK Press Office:
Rea fights back for Race 2 victory as Redding crashes from second in Estoril thriller
Sensational Race 2 at Estoril with drama throughout as Rea avoids chaos around him to take his 103rd WorldSBK victory
Scott Redding (45) leads the start of World Superbike Race Two at Estoril. Photo courtesy Dorna.
The final race of the Gaerne Estoril Round was full of drama, excitement and tension as Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) claimed his second victory of the weekend after rival Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) crashed out from second place.
The race started with Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) being given a double Long Lap Penalty for a jump start, while Redding was able to get the leap on the rest of the field on the run into Turn 1, while reigning Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) lost ground when Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) forced the British rider wide at Turn 4.
It enabled Rinaldi to move into second place, behind teammate Redding, and the young Italian had a look at his teammate into Turn 1, he backed out of the move. It meant he lost time to American Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) before the American lost control of his Yamaha YZF R1 at Turn 6 and made contact with the Italian; forcing both to retire from the race on the second lap.
With Razgatlioglu’s penalties served, it enabled Rea to close in on Redding as the 21-lap race reached the halfway stage with the duo racing on different tyres; Rea once again on the SC0 and Redding attempting to complete the race on the SCX tyre as he did on Saturday when he claimed victory in Race 1.
On lap 14, Rea tried to make his first move at Turn 1 but, despite the advantage of the slipstream, with Redding just holding on. Rea got briefly ahead at Turn 1 before Redding used the cut back move to stay ahead. Redding then ran wide at Turn 3, allowing Rea to get back ahead, before Redding lost the front of his Ducati Panigale V4 R at Turn 4, forcing the British rider to tumble down the order.
Redding’s crash allowed Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven) to close in on long-term rival Rea in the closing stages of the race although Rea was able to hold on to claim his second victory of the Estoril Round and fourth of 2021, with Davies on the rostrum for the first time in 2021. Razgatlioglu recovered from his double Long Lap Penalty to claim his third podium of the weekend.
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) came home in fourth place in Race 2 as his strong start of the season continued, finishing 1.6 seconds clear of Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) in fifth; the Italian picking up his best result in WorldSBK so far in his debut season. Michael van der Mark (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed sixth place on his BMW; three of the four BMW M 1000 RR bikes finished inside the top ten. Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) battled through from 18th on the grid again to claim seventh place, ahead of Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK).
Eugene Laverty (RC Squadra Corse) was ninth with his second top ten finish of the weekend and the third BMW rider in the top ten. 2014 Moto2™ World Champion Tito Rabat (Barni Racing Team) claimed his second top ten finish of the weekend with tenth while Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) equaled his best finish of the 2021 season with 11th.
Team HRC’s Leon Haslam came home in 12th place on his Honda machine, finishing just ahead of Kohta Nozane (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team).
Redding finished the race in 14th place at the line, but was given a six-second penalty, the equivalent of two Long Lap Penalties, for a jump start in Race 2, meaning he was classified in 16th place behind Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) and Isaac Viñales (Orelac Racing VerdNatura). Christophe Ponsson (Alstare Yamaha) and Loris Cresson (TPR Team Pedercini Racing) completed the race of classification with 17 and 18th.
Apart from Gerloff and Rinaldi from their Lap 2 crash, there was only one more retirement from the race with Jonas Folger (Bonovo MGM Action) retiring in the early stages of the race with a technical issue with his BMW M 1000 RR. Samuele Cavalieri (TPR Team Pedercini Racing) retired on lap 17 of the 21-lap race.
P1 Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)
“It’s a really difficult track. We just need to look at where we were last year and where the other Kawasakis have been. I can’t credit my team enough. Every decision we’ve made this weekend has been the right one, in a positive way, because on Friday we were really struggling. Struggling to make the rhythm, struggling to make the pace but if you said this on Friday, I would’ve snapped your hand off! Super happy. Of course, I was riding with Jason on my mind in the last few laps of the race because motorsport can be so beautiful but so tough as well. Still, sending lots of strength to his family, his team and all his friends.”
P2 Chaz Davies (Team GoEleven)
“That was a hard-fought podium, especially because we had an awful Saturday yesterday with everything that happened. We’ve kept plugging away, we worked really hard last night, we tried to pull some more info out of the data and tried to put together a better package this morning. I want to say a huge thank you to the GoEleven guys because they’ve been grafting really hard all winter and here, we are, second round and on the podium. Obviously, very happy to be there and I think today, these results are almost irrelevant with the tragedy that’s happened at Mugello, so my thoughts go out to Jason Dupasquier and his family”
P3 Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK)
“I’m really surprised today because first I jumped the start, and I’m really sorry for my team because then I got two Long Lap Penalties. I tried in the whole session afterwards but, although I’m on the podium, I’m not happy because I’m also surprised. We took good points for the Championship.”
Quartararo takes emotional win at Mugello and extends his lead
KTM and Suzuki complete the podium after a close race to lock out the top five on a difficult day in Italy
MotoGP race winner Fabio Quartararo (center), runner-up Miguel Oliveira (left), and third-place finisher Joan Mir (right) on the podium holding a Swiss flag in honor of fallen Moto3 racer Jason Dupasquier. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Sunday, 30 May 2021
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo claimed a commanding and emotional victory at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, extending his Championship lead to 24 points. A minute of silence was held on the grid in memory of Moto3™ rider Jason Dupasquier, and Quartararo dedicated his victory to the Swiss rider.
Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and reigning World Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) completed the Mugello podium as Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) crashed out on Lap 2.
Quartararo’s new front start device worked well off the line as the polesitter managed to keep Bagnaia at bay until the braking zone, when the Italian dived up the inside to lead. Pecco then led the way as the riders settled into the race, but the Ducati rider then tucked the front at Turn 9 on Lap 2. Quartararo was handed the lead, but he wasn’t able to escape quickly as compatriot Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) duelled the Yamaha.
Eventually, Quartararo broke the slipstream heading onto Lap 5 after making good progress on the twisty part of the circuit, and from there, the Yamaha was able to edge clear of Zarco in second place. By Lap 11 Quartararo’s lead was up to 2.7s and comfortably lapping in the 1:47s, the Yamaha rider was in a league of his own at Mugello and took a third win of the season by 2.5s.
After battling with Quartararo in the early laps, Zarco was forced to focus on keeping Oliveira behind him thereafter. The two Team Suzuki Ecstar riders – Mir and Alex Rins – had trouble making passes stick on Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) too just behind, Ducati power enabling the Australian to overtake Mir and Rins on the straight. Eventually though, the Suzukis got through and both got into the podium fight.
With eight laps remaining, Oliveira moved past Zarco for the first time at Turn 11 to take P2. Exactly the same manoeuvre was produced by Mir a lap later as the reigning World Champion picked up P3, and he crucially also held Zarco at bay into Turn 1. Rins then pounced with six laps to go as Zarco was shuffled back to P5, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Miller and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) close behind.
With five to go, Rins then crashed out at the final corner from fourth place, a fourth DNF in a row for the Spaniard. Oliveira was able to just fend off Mir, although it was close and initially track limits came into play – but both had exceeded them every-so-slightly. Zarco missed out by just under a second in fourth, although he latter does move up to P2 in the standings though, 24 points behind Quartararo.
Binder gave KTM a double top five at the Italian GP and claims his equal best finish of the season despite never having raced in the premier class at Mugello before, and Miller comes home P6. Aleix Espargaro impressed again to pick up a P7, with Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) taking the chequered flag in P8 after his difficult qualifying in P13. 2019 Mugello winner Danilo Petrucci (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) was ninth to earn his second top 10 in a row, with Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) completing the top 10 on home soil.
Iker Lecuona (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing), Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team), Michele Pirro (Pramac Racing), Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) and Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) were the final points scorers.
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) crashed at Turn 3 on Lap 2 unhurt, but forced Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) into the gravel, the Italian rejoining down the order. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) also crashed out of the race late on at Turn 13. Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) crashed on the way to the grid after hitting the rear of Zarco’s bike, riders ok.
The riders took the Swiss flag onto the podium in memory of Dupasquier as MotoGP™ sends our deepest condolences to all those he leaves behind.
MotoGP™ will be back on track at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya next weekend.
Masked Up: Tim Gooding deploys the pit-board update for Jake Lewis at Roebling Road. Photo by AOD.
Featured In the May 2021 issue of Roadracing World:
“Complacency is the enemy of competition. Although we won the opening N2/WERA National Endurance Series round at Summit Point with a commanding lead, our post-mortem on both lap times and pit strategy revealed areas where we could improve the most. Unfortunately, that required making a new gas tank.
“Anthony Consorte had made the first one so Tim Gooding took the bullet on making the second one. That involved casting a new receiver for the dual dry breaks in his back yard (almost causing the great Washington, DC fire of 2020!) and hand-hammering aluminum sheet over a hickory stump we cut out of the ground at our favorite hare scramble area…”
—Racing In The Time Of Covid, Part 2, by Sam Q. Fleming
Racing is the pursuit of never-ending improvement, and Army of Darkness leaves no stone unturned in chasing better results, even if that means potentially burning down a city and investigating the mystical properties of Bold New Graphics. Read about the team’s 2020 racing season—it’s in the latest issue of Roadracing World!
Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology is THE definitive source for motorcycle racing, riding, and tech information.
Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine is available in print and digital formats. SUBSCRIBE NOW . Or call (909) 654-4779, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. Read the May 2021 issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technologywith your online subscription. Log in HERE
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Gardner beats Fernandez on the last lap for first win of 2021
The Red Bull KTM Ajo riders duel for victory as Lowes crashes out and Bezzecchi completes the podium
Remy Gardner (87) beat teammate Raul Fernandez (25) to the line by a fraction of a second to win the Moto2 race at Mugello. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) took his first win of 2021 in the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, crossing the line millimetres ahead of teammate Raul Fernandez after passing the rookie earlier on the last lap. It’s the second closest finish in Moto2™ history. Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) completed the podium after Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) was demoted a position for exceeding track limits on the final lap in their fight, and Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) crashed out from second.
The two Red Bull KTM Ajo riders were 1-2 from the off as Fernandez took the holeshot and Gardner moved up into second, and Lowes dropping a few places. Fernandez then began to get his head down and slowly streak clear of Gardner, with Lowes clawing his way back up to the back wheel of the Australian. The trio had stretched clear of the chasing pack, and the Brit passed Gardner for P2 on Lap 10 after a quality exchange between the two.
Fernandez’s lead was up to 1.9s at one point, but Lowes and Gardner reeled the rookie in, with the number 22 getting to within 0.8s. Then a costly crash at Turn 8 ended Lowes’ race with six laps to go. Gardner kept homing in though and with three laps remaining, it was clear the Australian would be able to create a chance against his teammate. On the last lap, Gardner struck at Turn 10 and fended off Fernandez on the drag to the line to win his first race of 2021, extending his lead to six points ahead of Round 7.
Bezzecchi’s podium is his third in a row, and one that keeps him P3 in the title race. Roberts was disappointed with P4 after crossing the line third, but it was a great ride from the American. Marcel Schrötter’s (Liqui Moly Intact GP) fifth place is his best finish of the year, rookies Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), Tony Arbolino (Liqui Moly Intact GP) and Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) – from 26th on the grid – claim impressive results in P6, P7 and P8 respectively.
Hafizh Syahrin (NTS RW Racing GP) took P9 in the Malaysian’s best result of the season and NTS’ second best result ever, and Stefano Manzi (Flexbox HP40) rounded out the top 10. Aron Canet (Kipin Energy Aspar Team) only just held off incredible debutant Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors Speed Up) as they took P11 and P12, with Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP40), Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) completing the points.
The Moto2™ riders will be back in action next weekend at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
More, from a press release issued by Italtrans Racing:
Joe Roberts is third at Mugello but is demoted one position.
Unlucky Italian Grand Prix for Lorenzo Dalla Porta.
A bittersweet Italian Grand Prix for Italtrans Racing Team, but also a tragic Sunday for the whole MotoGP family following the passing of Moto3 rider Jason Dupasquier.
The sixth round of the MotoGP World Championship at Mugello ended with the amazing third position for Joe Roberts. Starting 10th on the grid the American rider managed to recover quickly and set a good pace that allowed him to finish in the top three. Unfortunately, a few moments after the chequered flag he was demoted one position for exceeding track limits in the last lap. The fourth final position is the awareness of the great potential shown together with the whole team.
Unlucky home GP for Lorenzo Dalla Porta. Yesterday he set his best qualifying in Moto2 with the 11th position and today the Tuscan rider could have fought in the top ten, but he crashed in the first lap.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta (19). Photo courtesy Italtrans Racing.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta
nc
“I’m really sorry about today. I was sure I could have a good race. There were all the markings to do well and fight in the top ten, but I crashed. Now let’s think about Barcelona with the knowledge that we can fight for the top positions”.
Joe Roberts (16) leading Marco Bezzecchi (72) at Mugello. Photo courtesy Italtrans Racing.
Joe Roberts
4°
“We got the podium, but I touched the green and the race direction demoted me one position. Let’s take the positive things: we had a strong race after a difficult crash on Friday. This is a tough day for MotoGP because of Jason’s passing: my heart and thoughts are with his family and friends”.
Giovanni Sandi, Technical Director
“It was a real shame about today. Joe had a great race: he started well and made a good comeback, then he was demoted one position on the last lap for exceeding track limits. I’m very sorry for Lorenzo too. Today he could have shown his potential and had a high-level race. I hope we will be luckier in Barcelona”.
More, from a press release issued by American Racing Team:
Determined Cameron Beaubier delivers career-best Moto2 finish in Italy
Disappointment for American Racing teammate Marcos Ramirez at Mugello
SCARPERIA, Italy (May 30, 2021) — Cameron Beaubier continues to forge a path to the front in his FIM Moto2 World Championship debut season. On Sunday at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, the 28-year-old Californian worked his way from the ninth row of the starting grid to a career-best eighth at the checkers.
Cameron Beaubier (6) leads a group of riders at Mugello. Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
Beaubier’s American Racing teammate, Marcos Ramirez, likewise was poised for a top 10 finish at the sixth round of the championship in the picturesque Italian countryside, but the 23-year-old Spaniard crashed, unhurt, in the closing laps.
Downfield after three 40-minute practices at the 15-turn, 3.26-mile track, Ramirez and Beaubier were consigned to Qualifying 1 on Saturday. Light rain fell early in the 15-minute session, but, like the rest of the field, both riders stayed out on Dunlop slicks.
Marcos Ramirez (42). Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
Ramirez’s third lap, a 1:52.006, was third quickest, and the second-year intermediate-class rider advanced to Q2 with three others. The best lap that Beaubier managed in the tricky conditions was a 1:53.008, 12th overall.
Conditions worsened in Q2, with moisture beginning to dampen the track. Ramirez ran as high as fourth, but he slipped to 16th at the end of the 15-minute session.
For the race, ambient temperature was 69 degrees Fahrenheit, with the sun-warmed track surface two degrees into triple digits. Ramirez and Beaubier started well from 14th and 25th on the grid, bolting into 11th and 18th after the first of 21 laps.
Ramirez moved into the top 10 by Lap 6 and eighth on Lap 16. Beaubier, who last raced at Mugello in 2009 on a 125cc two-stroke, advanced one and sometimes two places each lap. Engaged in a seven-rider battle, the five-time MotoAmerica Superbike champion drafted ex-MotoGP racer Hafizh Syahrin at the finish for eighth.
KTM Ajo rider Raul Fernandez earned his second consecutive pole position. Fernandez’s teammate, Remy Gardner, narrowly won the race ahead of Fernandez and continues to lead the championship points standings.
“That was a tough but positive weekend for Cam,” said American Racing Team Race Director John Hopkins. “Hard work and determination from him and his team definitely paid off. Marcos has been starting to show his true talent and potential. He seemed to have a top eight finish in the bag, but sadly crashed with a few laps to go. Even though it was a bittersweet end to the weekend, we are confident that we will see both riders finishing within the top 10 in the near future.”
Before the start of the MotoGP race, the paddock observed a minute of silence in memory of Jason Dupasquier. The 19-year-old Swiss rider died from injuries sustained in an accident during Moto3 qualifying.
After six rounds, Beaubier is 14th in the championship standings. Ramirez is 20th. Round 7 of the FIM Moto2 World Championship, the Grand Prix of Catalunya, is June 4-6 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
About the American Racing Team
The American Racing Team is owned by Avner Kass and Eitan Butbul and competes in the FIM MotoGP World Championship. Based in California, the team fields two riders in the Moto2 class: American Cameron Beaubier (No. 6) and Spaniard Marcos Ramirez (No. 42). American Racing has grown under Butbul’s guidance and is a respected member of the MotoGP paddock.
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Blindness Mode
Allows using the site with your screen-reader
This mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Online Dictionary
Readable Experience
Content Scaling
Default
Text Magnifier
Readable Font
Dyslexia Friendly
Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Font Sizing
Default
Line Height
Default
Letter Spacing
Default
Left Aligned
Center Aligned
Right Aligned
Visually Pleasing Experience
Dark Contrast
Light Contrast
Monochrome
High Contrast
High Saturation
Low Saturation
Adjust Text Colors
Adjust Title Colors
Adjust Background Colors
Easy Orientation
Mute Sounds
Hide Images
Hide Emoji
Reading Guide
Stop Animations
Reading Mask
Highlight Hover
Highlight Focus
Big Dark Cursor
Big Light Cursor
Cognitive Reading
Virtual Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Voice Navigation
Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
May 14, 2026
Compliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience,
regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible
to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific
disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML,
adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive
a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements,
alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
