Michelin® Grand Prix of Styria added to the calendar, 2021 Grand Prix of Finland cancelled
Friday, 14 May 2021
The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports announce the cancellation of the 2021 Grand Prix of Finland. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, as well as resulting travel complications to Finland, have obliged the cancellation of the event.
However, Dorna Sports is happy to announce an extended five-year agreement with the Grand Prix of Finland, assuring the stunning new KymiRing a place on the calendar until at least 2026.
In addition, the FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports are thrilled to announce the Michelin® Grand Prix of Styria will be added to the 2021 calendar. The event will take place at the Red Bull Ring from the 6th to the 8th of August, the weekend preceding the Austrian Grand Prix.
The Styrian Grand Prix was first celebrated in 2020, with a history-making premier class race cementing its place in the history books alongside the Austrian Grand Prix.
In more good news for fans, in agreement with local authorities and whilst adhering to all required health protocols, both the Styrian and Austrian Grands Prix expect to welcome a limited number of spectators back through the doors this season to enjoy the best of MotoGP™️ at one of the most beautiful tracks in the world: the Red Bull Ring.
More, from a press release issued by Red Bull:
No Grand Prix of Finland in 2021 but a Grand Prix of Styria
The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports have announced the cancellation of the 2021 Grand Prix of Finland and the addition of the Michelin Grand Prix of Styria.
This will be held at the Red Bull Ring from the 6th to the 8th of August, the weekend preceding the Austrian Grand Prix.
Therefore the fifth round of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup will now be held as part of this Grand Prix. Round six remains a feature of the Austrian Grand Prix and the season ends in Motorland Aragon as originally scheduled.
Flying Frenchmen: Zarco and Quartararo reign Day 1 at Le Mans
It’s a home hero 1-2 as Viñales pips Pol Espargaro to third by just 0.001 at the SHARK Grand Prix de France
Johann Zarco. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Friday, 14 May 2021
After Day 1 at Le Mans, it’s the home heroes on top! Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) topped the SHARK Grand Prix de France timesheets on Friday with some close company from compatriot Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), and the two Frenchmen were split by just 0.095. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) made it two Iwata marque machines in the top three, 0.389 back, with Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) denied the honour by just 0.001.
FP1 started wet but ended dry, ish, at least for Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team). The Aussie put in slicks and pulled out a whopping 1.481 seconds on the rest of the field by the flag, with Zarco leading the resistance in second ahead of reigning MotoGP™ World Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar). Mir was the first to stop in the damp session, however, as he suffered a technical problem at Turn 8. Two more riders crashed towards the end, first Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) and then Viñales, riders ok.
Fabio Quartararo (20). Photo courtesy Dorna.
By FP2, a few hours of mostly dry skies and no real extra rain saw the track start out dry and remain so. With the forecast looking decidedly damp for Saturday morning, it was even more important to get a provisional place in Q2 on Friday and predictably, that created a flurry of afternoon action as everyone rushed to set a lap and then better it.
Home hero Quartararo was untouchable in the opening stages, however. Everyone was slamming in lap after lap on soft or medium rears but after 15 minutes, Quartararo’s 1:32.120 was 0.591s better than second place Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu). The notorious Turn 3 caught out Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and World Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) in the first 15 minutes too, both riders ok, before Espargaro – on his second bike – then slid into the gravel at Turn 3 again.
Maverick Vinales (12). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), ninth in the early stages, then had an off-track excursion at Turn 8. It was clear the riders were pushing as Turn 3 then saw Quartararo slide into the gravel too, rider also ok, before Jack Miller – just after going P6 – tucked the front of his GP21 at Turn 7 as well.
With just over 10 minutes to go, Quartararo was still leading the way by over half a second from Nakagami, with Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins in P3. Viñales made a move though, the Spaniard up to P2 and cutting his teammate’s advantage to 0.428s. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) then shot into P3, before Pol Espargaro took over in second to slash Quartararo’s lead to just 0.017s. Miller wasn’t fazed by his crash and got back nearer the front into fourth, and as Turn 3 claimed its latest victim in Rins – rider ok – Marc Marquez improved to move from outside the top 10 into sixth. That shoved Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) outside the provisional Q2 places, soon to be confirmed alongside Joan Mir as the reigning Champion crashed at Turn 8 whilst in P12, his FP2 efforts over.
Meanwhile Quartararo rode on at the top, bouncing back quickly to set the first 1:31 of the weekend and lay down the gauntlet. Would he be beaten? Zarco soon made it a French 1-2 as he homed in and cut the gap, before the number 5 then pounced past Quartararo by just 0.095s to take over at the top and seal the deal.
That makes it a dream start to the weekend for French fans as Zarco leads Quartararo, with Viñales bagging a healthy P3 on Day 1. Pol Espargaro had a great afternoon at the office to pick up fourth and only a thousandth off the top three, with Franco Morbidelli completing the top five as the Petronas Yamaha SRT man continues to pull it out the bag.
Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the quickest KTM on Day 1, the Portuguese rider impressing once again to take sixth after a solid day’s work. Miller salvaged an important P7 after his tumble, just ahead of Marc Marquez in eighth.
Ninth position, meanwhile, sees the return of nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) to the Friday top ten. Just 0.037 off Marquez, the Doctor currently stands to move through and will be joined by the man in tenth: Nakagami.
So who’s missing? More key names than can make it through should FP3 turn wet. Championship leader Bagnaia is down in P12, just behind Rins and just ahead of Mir. There are only two more places available in Q2, so there will likely be a few prayers from that trio hoping it doesn’t rain on Saturday morning.
Day 1 belongs to the home heroes, but what will Day 2 bring? The ever-important FP3 stint will come your way at 09:55 local time (GMT+2), before qualifying begins from 14:10.
WERA AT ROEBLING ROAD WITH N2 PRACTICE, N2 WERA ENDURANCE ROUND #2 AND WERA SPORTSMAN RACE SUNDAY!
We looked at the gas shortage and saw that it is not as bad as some would like you to think and so May 14/15/16 at Roebling Road Raceway is a go! The weekend starts on Friday with a track day/practice presented by N2.
Saturday will host Round #2 of the N2/WERA Endurance Series resented by Dunlop with a 2-hour Ultralightweight race in the morning and then the 4-hour Big Bike Endurance race from 1-5pm! The grids for these events have seen a huge growth thanks to the sponsors involved, who have helped make purses generous and prizes for Champions available.
Sunday will host the WERA Sportsman Series with the feature class C Superstock Expert and Novice Classes sponsored by Pit Bull. The weather is looking gorgeous and the competition should be awesome.
WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was founded in 1973 and remains the foremost place to develop talent in the sport of motorcycle roadracing. The legacy of Pro Riders on a National and World level is legendary. All events are run by WERA Motorcycle Roadracing with a co-sanction by the AMA and they go coast to coast offering entry level racing with the WERA Sportsman Series as well as a Pro-Am Series which is the Pirelli/WERA National Challenge Series. WERA also offers Vintage Racing and hosts the Concours de ’Competition and Concours d’ Elegance in July at Barber Motorsports Park. Endurance Racing is also on the menu with our partner N2 and runs a 4-5 events a year with a Big Bike Endurance and an Ultralightweight Endurance. WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was voted the 2017 AMA Track Organizer of the year.
For more information on WERA Motorcycle Roadracing please check out our web site at wera.com.
“I’ve got a score to settle with Le Mans”: riders ready to saddle up in Sarthe
Bagnaia, Quartararo, Zarco, Miller, Morbidelli and Nakagami gear up for a mixed weekend at Le Mans
Thursday, 13 May 2021
It’s that time of week again: pre-event Press Conference time! Ahead of the SHARK Grand Prix de France, new Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) was joined by home heroes Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing), as well as Jerez winner Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team), Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) to look back at Jerez and forward to what could be a mixed weekend of weather at Le Mans…
Here are some key quotes:
Francesco Bagnaia (right). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Francesco Bagnaia: “I’m the leader for just 10 days so I don’t know. It’s good, it’s nice but we have only done four races so it’s too soon to think about it. We just thinking race by race, this is a track that I like. I did three podiums here, one in Moto3 and a victory and second in Moto2 and it’s a track that suits our bike very well. I’m prepared to ride here but we need to see the weather forecast, because it looks like it will be rain and in the wet I’ve done just six races, I think, in all categories in MotoGP, so let’s wait. Last year I struggled in the second part of the race, after 12/13 laps because at the start I started well but I was behind, then I recovered positions to 8th, 9th and then they came back. In the wet our bike is very strong, but it’s not easy with these tyres because they give you a lot of grip and it’s not easy to manage.
“I think that all three of us Ducati riders will be hoping that in every track it will be good. It’s difficult to predict a race in the wet, we have to wait until Sunday to see if we can be as competitive as Jerez. But I think our bike can be very suited to all the tracks, now we can ride it in a different way and different styles and it works very well, so I think we can be very strong this year.”
Fabio Quartararo with a bandage on his right forearm following recent arm pump surgery. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Fabio Quartararo: “It was pretty frustrating during the race and you have the pace to do it, but you don’t have the power. Every single lap you have more difficulties to brake until the moment you just have normal power. There was still more than 10 laps remaining. The first moment was losing the opportunity to win, but then it was just trying to finish the race in the points. So it was the right time to have a second surgery on the arm. I’m feeling great, the scar is stretching a little bit. I can’t wait for tomorrow to ride. I’m feeling great and I don’t think there will be any issues while riding.
“I’m really looking forward to testing the bike in the wet. Last year was a little bit strange because the really wet conditions, we only really had it on the Sunday, also FP1, but yeah. I’m feeling great in the dry conditions in every single track so I’m excited to test it in the wet, I hope it’s working as, you know, two years ago I was always feeling really good with the bike. I think this feeling is going to be well, a great opportunity to ride in the wet, not just in one session but for all the weekend. And yeah, just want to take as much experience as I can and to do my best.”
Johann Zarco. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Johann Zarco: “In Jerez I got a few points, and it was good enough for me, but with the high potential of the Ducati, and the victory of Jack, the second place of Pecco in Jerez, the leadership of Pecco, it really gives high motivation also to do a great result here in France. As Pecco says the tracks fit the bike well here, or better than Jerez. In Jerez, the pace was interesting of the Ducati, so I’m pretty happy to have this package with me. We don’t have the fans, we are used to almost, and it’s on some side sad, because less funny things around the track but to stay focused and almost get the weekend as a normal weekend, that’s pretty good so for the work and for the target to be on podium, it can help.
“I think it would be nice to share a podium if we have the possibility, all three together. Anyway from the beginning of the season we could see that we could be at the top of the race, but the beginning was I could stay in front and then it was Pecco and Jack, and we still did not share it all together and that would be just awesome for Ducati and good for us also because as we can see we have, I think good spirit together, and this gives good motivation so just cross fingers to get it.”
Jack Miller. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Jack Miller: “It’s a whole mix of everything you know, relief, but also it makes you more eager for the next one. At the end of the day, bike racers we’re always looking for what’s next and what we can try to do more, you know, we always want more so for sure just looking at coming here and trying to do a strong weekend like we did in Spain. I mean it’s been a pretty calm week to be honest, I’ve just stuck to what we’ve been doing the last few and just been training and doing what I can. Thankfully there was some decent weather in Spain and Andorra over the week and I was able to get out on the bicycle but doesn’t look like we will have much of that this weekend! I think we’re prepared for all conditions that are coming this weekend. I’ve been known to be pretty good in the wet so if that comes it comes, I feel like I’ve got a score to settle with Le Mans, you know after last year.
“You know I have a kind of love-hate relationship with France, with Le Mans especially. I’ve had a win here in Moto3™, but I nearly died here at Turn 1, and then last year I did feel like I died as well, when the bike cut out with like seven to go! I think we’ve got a good package as the boys said, we’ve all been there or thereabout, I think whether it comes in Le Mans, I think it would be better in Mugello, but I think we have a good chance of locking out the podium!”
Morbidelli spoke next, first on his emotional reaction to his podium in Jerez.
Franco Morbidelli. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Franco Morbidelli: “First of all because it’s a MotoGP podium. And then because of what we’re going through. That podium had a different taste for sure, it felt great. I burst after the chequered flag, I think it’s because of a really big emotion gathering, and after a good result everything comes out.
“My expectations were already reassessed from Qatar 1 and 2. I immediately realised that I needed to step it up again if I wanted to remain in a similar position to last year. That’s what I’m trying to do and that’s what we did in Portimao and Jerez. So I hope to keep on doing that and keep on working at the best with my crew, to enjoy racing, be the best I can and try to improve whenever I can.”
Takaaki Nakagami. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Takaaki Nakagami: “From the Qatar test, we were not with the best performance and we struggled in Qatar, Race 1 and Race 2, and also in Portimão, the big crash on Friday and you know, we couldn’t find the solution. On Sunday in Portimão, from the last position, we were able to finish in top ten. This is a really important result for us, and after that, I started to think about, you know, I can find a solution for not the best of the best, but you know maybe we can fight for the top five or top six again. Then in Jerez, from Friday, we found the pace and had a good race so I’m pretty happy you know, to get really close to the podium, you know, P4 which is a really great result for us and I’m looking forward to this weekend too.”
This is also the first time in some time there have been five riders giving feedback to HRC…
“You know one more rider will be good, you know, there will be more data and good to help develop the bike easily, more comments and, you know, for HRC, I think also for us, for the riders, it is really good to understand you know, not lose the way. We try to pick up positive comments for all of the riders and you know it helps a lot to develop, and now looks like we found a way and pretty comfortable on the new bikes.”
That’s a wrap on Thursday, tune in for Free Practice and qualifying before the lights go out for the race at 14:00 (GMT +2).
Geoff Cesmat has helped build some of the most potent racebikes to hit the circuits of the U.S.
During his five decades involved in motorcycle road racing, Cesmat (who is now semi-retired) has served as engine builder and crew chief for many teams, like Erion Racing and Graves Motorsports Yamaha, and worked with many riders, including: Tommy Aquino, JB Beach, Ben Bostrom, Jason DiSalvo, Garrett Gerloff, Chris Fillmore, Jamie Hacking, Roger Hayden, Tommy Hayden, and Clinton Seller, to name a few.
During those years, however, Cesmat never got a chance to ride one of the big-bore racebikes he often tuned. And anyway, he was more interested in combining street comfort with track performance.
So, Cesmat, age 66, has blended those elements into his personal street ride, a slick, potent, naked and upright 2006 Yamaha YZF-R1. It was been a long ride to get the project to where it is, but Cesmat — an accomplished racer himself since the 1970s and a current competitor with MRA in Colorado — says the result is well worth the effort.
Geoff Cesmat (left) with rider Clinton Seller during the 2010 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Championship. Photo by Quentin Wilson.
“I kind of have had this idea of doing a bike like this for a while. For me, this goes back to the Colorado road racing scene. For many of those years, one of the big things there was racing small bikes, converted dirt bikes, single-cylinder, enduro four-strokes,” he says. “Easy to ride, handled good, comfortable, something you could deal with. For the last 12 or 13 years, I’ve been riding Supermoto bikes. And I just ride them on the pavement, races, track days. I really enjoy that. You’re not sore after riding all day.
“Then a few years ago, I picked up a KTM, a 690 Duke. I’ve done a track day or two on that, and it was just perfect–-except when you’re racing with guys on 600s and big bikes. You get to the straight, and they’re just like, see ya! OK, well, this is a problem. The R1 project is basically to have a bike that works, feels and handles like that 690, but with proper horsepower.”
Someone else at the Graves shop had a stock, low-miles 2006 R1 for sale. Cesmat bought it, stripped off the bodywork and started to build his dream bike.
A unique flyscreen, side-mounted steering damper and lots and lots of carbon-fiber and composite protectors mark this as Cesmat’s personal project. Photo by Michael Gougis.
An over-the-counter Öhlins shock went onto the rear to match the Öhlins forks. Braking rotors and Performance Friction pads were mated to Goodridge twin brake lines to eliminate the junction box for the stock 1-into-2 lines. An aftermarket upper triple clamp with mounts for a tubular handlebar went on, as did a tubular handlebar.
Öhlins forks, Braking rotors and carbon-fiber fork protectors. OZ Racing wheels carry Dunlop Sportmax Q4 track day radials. Photo by Michael Gougis.
An eBay dirt bike headlight went on the front; an eBay Saddlemen seat went on the back, as did a home-built fender eliminator and LED strips for turn signals. The engine was left stock with the exception of some ECU tweaking and carbon fiber inlets sourced from a Ducati Streetfighter 848 and modified to fit. Cesmat said he remembered–and loved–the intake sound of the old Yamaha five-valve sportbikes, and wanted to emulate that.
A Termignoni titanium replica of the YZR-M1 MotoGP racebike of the time went on, in part because Cesmat “wanted to get that butt heater situation out from under the seat, clean that area up,” he says.
An Öhlins shock manages rear-wheel movement. The stock engine is surprisingly potent in a bike stripped down to its essentials for comfort and weight reduction. Photo by Michael Gougis.
To say Cesmat is happy with the bike would be an understatement.
“I always liked the look of the bike, liked the look of the engine, the way the frame looked. But I had never ridden a modern sportbike,” he says. “And now that I have, I have a lot of respect-–more than I did at the time–for the guys racing those. Even on the street, you get it up to 9,000 rpm and you can barely hang on. I can’t imagine what it’s like at 14,000 rpm…
“The power feeling, the way it runs. I get on it and I think, oh yeah, this thing pulls! It’s such a nice feel, so smooth, cruising down the road. It’s pretty neat. Like any modern big-bore bike, you wind it up in any gear and you’re doing 100 mph…”
The Red Bull Ring, in Austria. Photo courtesy Michelin.
Michelin® Grand Prix of Styria added to the calendar, 2021 Grand Prix of Finland cancelled
Friday, 14 May 2021
The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports announce the cancellation of the 2021 Grand Prix of Finland. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, as well as resulting travel complications to Finland, have obliged the cancellation of the event.
However, Dorna Sports is happy to announce an extended five-year agreement with the Grand Prix of Finland, assuring the stunning new KymiRing a place on the calendar until at least 2026.
In addition, the FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports are thrilled to announce the Michelin® Grand Prix of Styria will be added to the 2021 calendar. The event will take place at the Red Bull Ring from the 6th to the 8th of August, the weekend preceding the Austrian Grand Prix.
The Styrian Grand Prix was first celebrated in 2020, with a history-making premier class race cementing its place in the history books alongside the Austrian Grand Prix.
In more good news for fans, in agreement with local authorities and whilst adhering to all required health protocols, both the Styrian and Austrian Grands Prix expect to welcome a limited number of spectators back through the doors this season to enjoy the best of MotoGP™️ at one of the most beautiful tracks in the world: the Red Bull Ring.
More, from a press release issued by Red Bull:
No Grand Prix of Finland in 2021 but a Grand Prix of Styria
The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports have announced the cancellation of the 2021 Grand Prix of Finland and the addition of the Michelin Grand Prix of Styria.
This will be held at the Red Bull Ring from the 6th to the 8th of August, the weekend preceding the Austrian Grand Prix.
Therefore the fifth round of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup will now be held as part of this Grand Prix. Round six remains a feature of the Austrian Grand Prix and the season ends in Motorland Aragon as originally scheduled.
Flying Frenchmen: Zarco and Quartararo reign Day 1 at Le Mans
It’s a home hero 1-2 as Viñales pips Pol Espargaro to third by just 0.001 at the SHARK Grand Prix de France
Johann Zarco. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Friday, 14 May 2021
After Day 1 at Le Mans, it’s the home heroes on top! Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) topped the SHARK Grand Prix de France timesheets on Friday with some close company from compatriot Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), and the two Frenchmen were split by just 0.095. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) made it two Iwata marque machines in the top three, 0.389 back, with Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) denied the honour by just 0.001.
FP1 started wet but ended dry, ish, at least for Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team). The Aussie put in slicks and pulled out a whopping 1.481 seconds on the rest of the field by the flag, with Zarco leading the resistance in second ahead of reigning MotoGP™ World Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar). Mir was the first to stop in the damp session, however, as he suffered a technical problem at Turn 8. Two more riders crashed towards the end, first Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) and then Viñales, riders ok.
Fabio Quartararo (20). Photo courtesy Dorna.
By FP2, a few hours of mostly dry skies and no real extra rain saw the track start out dry and remain so. With the forecast looking decidedly damp for Saturday morning, it was even more important to get a provisional place in Q2 on Friday and predictably, that created a flurry of afternoon action as everyone rushed to set a lap and then better it.
Home hero Quartararo was untouchable in the opening stages, however. Everyone was slamming in lap after lap on soft or medium rears but after 15 minutes, Quartararo’s 1:32.120 was 0.591s better than second place Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu). The notorious Turn 3 caught out Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and World Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) in the first 15 minutes too, both riders ok, before Espargaro – on his second bike – then slid into the gravel at Turn 3 again.
Maverick Vinales (12). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), ninth in the early stages, then had an off-track excursion at Turn 8. It was clear the riders were pushing as Turn 3 then saw Quartararo slide into the gravel too, rider also ok, before Jack Miller – just after going P6 – tucked the front of his GP21 at Turn 7 as well.
With just over 10 minutes to go, Quartararo was still leading the way by over half a second from Nakagami, with Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins in P3. Viñales made a move though, the Spaniard up to P2 and cutting his teammate’s advantage to 0.428s. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) then shot into P3, before Pol Espargaro took over in second to slash Quartararo’s lead to just 0.017s. Miller wasn’t fazed by his crash and got back nearer the front into fourth, and as Turn 3 claimed its latest victim in Rins – rider ok – Marc Marquez improved to move from outside the top 10 into sixth. That shoved Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) outside the provisional Q2 places, soon to be confirmed alongside Joan Mir as the reigning Champion crashed at Turn 8 whilst in P12, his FP2 efforts over.
Meanwhile Quartararo rode on at the top, bouncing back quickly to set the first 1:31 of the weekend and lay down the gauntlet. Would he be beaten? Zarco soon made it a French 1-2 as he homed in and cut the gap, before the number 5 then pounced past Quartararo by just 0.095s to take over at the top and seal the deal.
That makes it a dream start to the weekend for French fans as Zarco leads Quartararo, with Viñales bagging a healthy P3 on Day 1. Pol Espargaro had a great afternoon at the office to pick up fourth and only a thousandth off the top three, with Franco Morbidelli completing the top five as the Petronas Yamaha SRT man continues to pull it out the bag.
Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the quickest KTM on Day 1, the Portuguese rider impressing once again to take sixth after a solid day’s work. Miller salvaged an important P7 after his tumble, just ahead of Marc Marquez in eighth.
Ninth position, meanwhile, sees the return of nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) to the Friday top ten. Just 0.037 off Marquez, the Doctor currently stands to move through and will be joined by the man in tenth: Nakagami.
So who’s missing? More key names than can make it through should FP3 turn wet. Championship leader Bagnaia is down in P12, just behind Rins and just ahead of Mir. There are only two more places available in Q2, so there will likely be a few prayers from that trio hoping it doesn’t rain on Saturday morning.
Day 1 belongs to the home heroes, but what will Day 2 bring? The ever-important FP3 stint will come your way at 09:55 local time (GMT+2), before qualifying begins from 14:10.
Motorcycles at speed at Roebling Road Raceway, near Savannah, Georgia. Photo courtesy Roebling Road Raceway.
WERA AT ROEBLING ROAD WITH N2 PRACTICE, N2 WERA ENDURANCE ROUND #2 AND WERA SPORTSMAN RACE SUNDAY!
We looked at the gas shortage and saw that it is not as bad as some would like you to think and so May 14/15/16 at Roebling Road Raceway is a go! The weekend starts on Friday with a track day/practice presented by N2.
Saturday will host Round #2 of the N2/WERA Endurance Series resented by Dunlop with a 2-hour Ultralightweight race in the morning and then the 4-hour Big Bike Endurance race from 1-5pm! The grids for these events have seen a huge growth thanks to the sponsors involved, who have helped make purses generous and prizes for Champions available.
Sunday will host the WERA Sportsman Series with the feature class C Superstock Expert and Novice Classes sponsored by Pit Bull. The weather is looking gorgeous and the competition should be awesome.
WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was founded in 1973 and remains the foremost place to develop talent in the sport of motorcycle roadracing. The legacy of Pro Riders on a National and World level is legendary. All events are run by WERA Motorcycle Roadracing with a co-sanction by the AMA and they go coast to coast offering entry level racing with the WERA Sportsman Series as well as a Pro-Am Series which is the Pirelli/WERA National Challenge Series. WERA also offers Vintage Racing and hosts the Concours de ’Competition and Concours d’ Elegance in July at Barber Motorsports Park. Endurance Racing is also on the menu with our partner N2 and runs a 4-5 events a year with a Big Bike Endurance and an Ultralightweight Endurance. WERA Motorcycle Roadracing was voted the 2017 AMA Track Organizer of the year.
For more information on WERA Motorcycle Roadracing please check out our web site at wera.com.
MotoGP World Championship stars and Northern Talent Cup competitors (from left) Fabio Quartararo, Franco Morbidelli, Hungarian-American Rossi Moor, Francesco Bagnaia, Belgian Lorenz Luciano, Jack Miller, Johann Zarco, and Czech Jakub Gurecky at the pre-event press conference at Le Mans. Photo courtesy Dorna.
“I’ve got a score to settle with Le Mans”: riders ready to saddle up in Sarthe
Bagnaia, Quartararo, Zarco, Miller, Morbidelli and Nakagami gear up for a mixed weekend at Le Mans
Thursday, 13 May 2021
It’s that time of week again: pre-event Press Conference time! Ahead of the SHARK Grand Prix de France, new Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) was joined by home heroes Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing), as well as Jerez winner Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team), Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) to look back at Jerez and forward to what could be a mixed weekend of weather at Le Mans…
Here are some key quotes:
Francesco Bagnaia (right). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Francesco Bagnaia: “I’m the leader for just 10 days so I don’t know. It’s good, it’s nice but we have only done four races so it’s too soon to think about it. We just thinking race by race, this is a track that I like. I did three podiums here, one in Moto3 and a victory and second in Moto2 and it’s a track that suits our bike very well. I’m prepared to ride here but we need to see the weather forecast, because it looks like it will be rain and in the wet I’ve done just six races, I think, in all categories in MotoGP, so let’s wait. Last year I struggled in the second part of the race, after 12/13 laps because at the start I started well but I was behind, then I recovered positions to 8th, 9th and then they came back. In the wet our bike is very strong, but it’s not easy with these tyres because they give you a lot of grip and it’s not easy to manage.
“I think that all three of us Ducati riders will be hoping that in every track it will be good. It’s difficult to predict a race in the wet, we have to wait until Sunday to see if we can be as competitive as Jerez. But I think our bike can be very suited to all the tracks, now we can ride it in a different way and different styles and it works very well, so I think we can be very strong this year.”
Fabio Quartararo with a bandage on his right forearm following recent arm pump surgery. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Fabio Quartararo: “It was pretty frustrating during the race and you have the pace to do it, but you don’t have the power. Every single lap you have more difficulties to brake until the moment you just have normal power. There was still more than 10 laps remaining. The first moment was losing the opportunity to win, but then it was just trying to finish the race in the points. So it was the right time to have a second surgery on the arm. I’m feeling great, the scar is stretching a little bit. I can’t wait for tomorrow to ride. I’m feeling great and I don’t think there will be any issues while riding.
“I’m really looking forward to testing the bike in the wet. Last year was a little bit strange because the really wet conditions, we only really had it on the Sunday, also FP1, but yeah. I’m feeling great in the dry conditions in every single track so I’m excited to test it in the wet, I hope it’s working as, you know, two years ago I was always feeling really good with the bike. I think this feeling is going to be well, a great opportunity to ride in the wet, not just in one session but for all the weekend. And yeah, just want to take as much experience as I can and to do my best.”
Johann Zarco. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Johann Zarco: “In Jerez I got a few points, and it was good enough for me, but with the high potential of the Ducati, and the victory of Jack, the second place of Pecco in Jerez, the leadership of Pecco, it really gives high motivation also to do a great result here in France. As Pecco says the tracks fit the bike well here, or better than Jerez. In Jerez, the pace was interesting of the Ducati, so I’m pretty happy to have this package with me. We don’t have the fans, we are used to almost, and it’s on some side sad, because less funny things around the track but to stay focused and almost get the weekend as a normal weekend, that’s pretty good so for the work and for the target to be on podium, it can help.
“I think it would be nice to share a podium if we have the possibility, all three together. Anyway from the beginning of the season we could see that we could be at the top of the race, but the beginning was I could stay in front and then it was Pecco and Jack, and we still did not share it all together and that would be just awesome for Ducati and good for us also because as we can see we have, I think good spirit together, and this gives good motivation so just cross fingers to get it.”
Jack Miller. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Jack Miller: “It’s a whole mix of everything you know, relief, but also it makes you more eager for the next one. At the end of the day, bike racers we’re always looking for what’s next and what we can try to do more, you know, we always want more so for sure just looking at coming here and trying to do a strong weekend like we did in Spain. I mean it’s been a pretty calm week to be honest, I’ve just stuck to what we’ve been doing the last few and just been training and doing what I can. Thankfully there was some decent weather in Spain and Andorra over the week and I was able to get out on the bicycle but doesn’t look like we will have much of that this weekend! I think we’re prepared for all conditions that are coming this weekend. I’ve been known to be pretty good in the wet so if that comes it comes, I feel like I’ve got a score to settle with Le Mans, you know after last year.
“You know I have a kind of love-hate relationship with France, with Le Mans especially. I’ve had a win here in Moto3™, but I nearly died here at Turn 1, and then last year I did feel like I died as well, when the bike cut out with like seven to go! I think we’ve got a good package as the boys said, we’ve all been there or thereabout, I think whether it comes in Le Mans, I think it would be better in Mugello, but I think we have a good chance of locking out the podium!”
Morbidelli spoke next, first on his emotional reaction to his podium in Jerez.
Franco Morbidelli. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Franco Morbidelli: “First of all because it’s a MotoGP podium. And then because of what we’re going through. That podium had a different taste for sure, it felt great. I burst after the chequered flag, I think it’s because of a really big emotion gathering, and after a good result everything comes out.
“My expectations were already reassessed from Qatar 1 and 2. I immediately realised that I needed to step it up again if I wanted to remain in a similar position to last year. That’s what I’m trying to do and that’s what we did in Portimao and Jerez. So I hope to keep on doing that and keep on working at the best with my crew, to enjoy racing, be the best I can and try to improve whenever I can.”
Takaaki Nakagami. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Takaaki Nakagami: “From the Qatar test, we were not with the best performance and we struggled in Qatar, Race 1 and Race 2, and also in Portimão, the big crash on Friday and you know, we couldn’t find the solution. On Sunday in Portimão, from the last position, we were able to finish in top ten. This is a really important result for us, and after that, I started to think about, you know, I can find a solution for not the best of the best, but you know maybe we can fight for the top five or top six again. Then in Jerez, from Friday, we found the pace and had a good race so I’m pretty happy you know, to get really close to the podium, you know, P4 which is a really great result for us and I’m looking forward to this weekend too.”
This is also the first time in some time there have been five riders giving feedback to HRC…
“You know one more rider will be good, you know, there will be more data and good to help develop the bike easily, more comments and, you know, for HRC, I think also for us, for the riders, it is really good to understand you know, not lose the way. We try to pick up positive comments for all of the riders and you know it helps a lot to develop, and now looks like we found a way and pretty comfortable on the new bikes.”
That’s a wrap on Thursday, tune in for Free Practice and qualifying before the lights go out for the race at 14:00 (GMT +2).
With the full fairing removed, the Termignoni exhaust is the dominant visual feature of Geoff Cesmat's 2006 Yamaha YZF-R1 streetfighter. Photo by Michael Gougis.
“Oh Yeah, This Thing Pulls!”
By Michael Gougis
Geoff Cesmat has helped build some of the most potent racebikes to hit the circuits of the U.S.
During his five decades involved in motorcycle road racing, Cesmat (who is now semi-retired) has served as engine builder and crew chief for many teams, like Erion Racing and Graves Motorsports Yamaha, and worked with many riders, including: Tommy Aquino, JB Beach, Ben Bostrom, Jason DiSalvo, Garrett Gerloff, Chris Fillmore, Jamie Hacking, Roger Hayden, Tommy Hayden, and Clinton Seller, to name a few.
During those years, however, Cesmat never got a chance to ride one of the big-bore racebikes he often tuned. And anyway, he was more interested in combining street comfort with track performance.
So, Cesmat, age 66, has blended those elements into his personal street ride, a slick, potent, naked and upright 2006 Yamaha YZF-R1. It was been a long ride to get the project to where it is, but Cesmat — an accomplished racer himself since the 1970s and a current competitor with MRA in Colorado — says the result is well worth the effort.
Geoff Cesmat (left) with rider Clinton Seller during the 2010 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Championship. Photo by Quentin Wilson.
“I kind of have had this idea of doing a bike like this for a while. For me, this goes back to the Colorado road racing scene. For many of those years, one of the big things there was racing small bikes, converted dirt bikes, single-cylinder, enduro four-strokes,” he says. “Easy to ride, handled good, comfortable, something you could deal with. For the last 12 or 13 years, I’ve been riding Supermoto bikes. And I just ride them on the pavement, races, track days. I really enjoy that. You’re not sore after riding all day.
“Then a few years ago, I picked up a KTM, a 690 Duke. I’ve done a track day or two on that, and it was just perfect–-except when you’re racing with guys on 600s and big bikes. You get to the straight, and they’re just like, see ya! OK, well, this is a problem. The R1 project is basically to have a bike that works, feels and handles like that 690, but with proper horsepower.”
Someone else at the Graves shop had a stock, low-miles 2006 R1 for sale. Cesmat bought it, stripped off the bodywork and started to build his dream bike.
A unique flyscreen, side-mounted steering damper and lots and lots of carbon-fiber and composite protectors mark this as Cesmat’s personal project. Photo by Michael Gougis.
An over-the-counter Öhlins shock went onto the rear to match the Öhlins forks. Braking rotors and Performance Friction pads were mated to Goodridge twin brake lines to eliminate the junction box for the stock 1-into-2 lines. An aftermarket upper triple clamp with mounts for a tubular handlebar went on, as did a tubular handlebar.
Öhlins forks, Braking rotors and carbon-fiber fork protectors. OZ Racing wheels carry Dunlop Sportmax Q4 track day radials. Photo by Michael Gougis.
An eBay dirt bike headlight went on the front; an eBay Saddlemen seat went on the back, as did a home-built fender eliminator and LED strips for turn signals. The engine was left stock with the exception of some ECU tweaking and carbon fiber inlets sourced from a Ducati Streetfighter 848 and modified to fit. Cesmat said he remembered–and loved–the intake sound of the old Yamaha five-valve sportbikes, and wanted to emulate that.
A Termignoni titanium replica of the YZR-M1 MotoGP racebike of the time went on, in part because Cesmat “wanted to get that butt heater situation out from under the seat, clean that area up,” he says.
An Öhlins shock manages rear-wheel movement. The stock engine is surprisingly potent in a bike stripped down to its essentials for comfort and weight reduction. Photo by Michael Gougis.
To say Cesmat is happy with the bike would be an understatement.
“I always liked the look of the bike, liked the look of the engine, the way the frame looked. But I had never ridden a modern sportbike,” he says. “And now that I have, I have a lot of respect-–more than I did at the time–for the guys racing those. Even on the street, you get it up to 9,000 rpm and you can barely hang on. I can’t imagine what it’s like at 14,000 rpm…
“The power feeling, the way it runs. I get on it and I think, oh yeah, this thing pulls! It’s such a nice feel, so smooth, cruising down the road. It’s pretty neat. Like any modern big-bore bike, you wind it up in any gear and you’re doing 100 mph…”
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