Daniel Holgado takes Jerez Race 2 Rookies Cup thriller
The dramatic Jerez round of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup ended with a fabulous victory for Spanish 16-year-old Daniel Holgado. He fought off all-comers at the final corner to cross the line first but several of them had long lap penalties and ultimately second went to Diogo Moreira ahead of Alex Millan.
Points leader David Alonso was one of those with the penalty and that dropped him to 8th and cost him enough points to give Holgado the Cup lead by 4.
It had been a stunning KTM RC 250 R battle from the start and again a lead group of 10 traded places at every turn. Holgado did most of the leading just as he did on Saturday only to lose out on the last lap. This time he managed to break away slightly in the second half of the race chased by Brazilian 17-year-old Moreira. But in giving chase Moreira had exceeded track limits too many times.
Moreira took his long lap penalty with 6 laps to go but incredibly fought back and made a lunge for the lead on the final lap. That didn’t work but he was in the lead group at the line and took second when 15-year-old Colombian Alonso and Saturday’s winner 14-year-old Spaniard David Muñoz failed to take their late penalties and were given 3 second penalties post race.
Holgado triumphs
“This race was incredible for me. Difficult but I am happy for me and my team. Today the difference was the last corner, yesterday it was very difficult for me but today, much better.”
“The bike was great today, we made a very good set-up and it was fun to ride. The track conditions were difficult with the temperature but I could manage the situation, I enjoyed the race and am ready for the next in Mugello. I believe that I can win there again.”
Diogo Moreira went for the win
“The race was very good, I enjoyed it a lot. When I saw I had a long lap penalty I knew I had to do it as soon as possible. After I did it I knew I had to get with the group again for the last laps.”
“On the last lap I tried to win the race but I didn’t, that’s racing and I’m happy.”
“Jerez is my favourite circuit, from FP1 I was fast and I enjoyed it from the start. All weekend I tried to make my laps alone so that I would have the best chance to win the race and I tried to escape the group but I am still happy with the weekend.“
“Mugello I have never ridden before, I need to try and win the race.”
Alex Millan on track
“It was a very hard race, faster than Portimão, it was hard to stay on the track and not do some track limits because all the riders were fighting and very fast. In the final laps I told myself to be as controlled as possible, I saw my long lap penalty and did it as fast as possible and be ready for what would happen in the last corner.”
“We did good work in practice for the bike set-up, I like the track and I am always fast here,” stated the 16-year-old Spaniard.
“Mugello will be a new track for me but we are fighting for the podium in the first races and it will be new for most of the Rookies so I hope I will be fighting at the front there as well.”
Matteo Bertelle misses the podium
“The race was difficult,” explained the 17-year-old Italian after taking a fine 4th. “The pace was strong but I am happy with the feeling for the bike, thanks to my mechanic Frederico for doing such a great job. It was a difficult race because the pace was so strong and the tyre was finished in the last laps.”
“Jerez is one of my favourite tracks, I am happy, I was just one position off the podium, because Millan got inside me at the last corner.”
“Today I made a much better start, yesterday was terrible, we had the restart and the clutch wasn’t good. Today was much better, I was concentrated and it went well.
“I have more power for Mugello, I want to improve my position on the grid and also in the race.”
Zaccone in the zone: Italian takes impressive first MotoE™ victory in Jerez
Aegerter and Torres complete the podium as Granado slides out the lead in a drama-filled first race of the 2021 FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup
Alessandro Zaccone (61) leads Dominique Aegerter (77) and Jordi Torres (40) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Sunday, 02 May 2021
Alessandro Zaccone (Octo Pramac MotoE) has had some pretty solid speed in preseason testing and throughout the first FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup race weekend of the season, but the Italian really pulled it out the hat on race day. Moving up to fight at the front early on, a crash out the lead for Eric Granado (One Energy Racing) saw the Italian take over and he kept cool, calm, collected, and, even more importantly, FAST on his way to his first ever MotoE™ win. The riders he held off were 2020 challenger Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP) and reigning Cup winner Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40) as both put in showcases in pace and consistency to take second and third, respectively.
Tech3 E-Racing’s Lukas Tulovic took the holeshot from the middle of the front row as the lights went out for the first time in 2021, the German rolling around the outside of poleman Granado, but his lead didn’t last for long as the Brazilian steamed back through on the run down to Turn 6. Meanwhile, both Corentin Perolari (Tech E-Racing) and Kevin Zannoni (LCR E-Team) were caught in a tangle through Turn 5, bringing an early end to their afternoons.
Back nearer the front, Tulovic was starting to get bullied as Zaccone and Aegerter also found a way through in the final sector as the first lap was ticked off. Some drama came not long after for the number 3, however, as he came together with Openbank Aspar Team’s Fermin Aldeguer at Turn 6 and both went down, the Saturday star and speedy rookie ending the day with real disappointment.
Meanwhile, Granado was starting to pull clear thanks to the fastest lap of the race, and although Zaccone was digging in and trying to stay with him, there was daylight appearing between the two. Then, with five laps remaining, disaster struck for the Brazilian. Victory was surely his for the taking but a mistake at Turn 6 cost him dearly as he crashed out of the lead, at least remounting but riding round to grab the last few points.
Zaccone was looking pretty collected as he took over at the front, but soon enough Aegerter closed in on the Italian’s rear wheel and began applying some serious pressure. He threw the kitchen sink at it, but the Pramac man stood firm throughout the closing stages and that was all she wrote. From a broken leg at the start of last season to a victory at the start of this, Zaccone crossed the line to announce some big progress in 2021 as he settles in with Octo Pramac MotoE.
Aegerter took second after warning late on from a bit of a moment, and he was pleased to have started the season with a podium, as was last year’s World Cup winner as Torres began his defence with a solid third place. From both, consistency was a calling card once again.
Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse’s Mattia Casadei clinched fourth as he comes back from injury that saw him miss the first preseason test, and LCR E-Team’s Miquel Pons took the final spot inside the top five after another good performance from the impressive rookie. One of the rides of the day came courtesy of 2019 World Cup winner Matteo Ferrari (Indonesian E-Racing Gresini MotoE) too, who managed to move through from the back of the grid to take sixth and recover some ground after his track limits infraction in E-Pole.
Hikari Okubo (Avant Ajo MotoE) was seventh, ahead of Andrea Mantovani (Indonesian E-Racing Gresini MotoE), Maria Herrera (Openbank Aspar Team) and Yonny Hernandez (Octo Pramac MotoE) rounding out the top ten in the first race of the year. Granado eventually took 13th.
And so the sun sets on Spain and, MotoE™, like the rest of the paddock, now saddles up and heads for Le Mans. Last year conditions were mixed and the round had the title on the line, so what will 2021 bring as the track hosts Round 2? Find out in two weeks!
Alessandro Zaccone: “It’s an unbelievable result, I knew we were fast and could fight for the podium, but to win was just a thought. To be here is fantastic, I did half the race in front after Granado’s crash. And it was just five laps but it felt like it never ended! I’m very happy, and I have to thank my team for believing in me. After a difficult year last year with the injury and everything, to start from here is great, I think we’ll enjoy this season! ”
More, from a press release issued by Energica:
ZACCONE TAKES MAIDEN MOTOE WIN IN DRAMATIC OPENING RACE AT JEREZ
The opening race of 2021 FIM Enel MotoE World Cup at ‘Circuito de Jerez Angel Nieto’ produced another exciting and drama-filled show for the fans of the all-electric one-make series powered by Energica. The eight-lap encounter was won by Italy’s Alessandro Zaccone, who stepped atop the podium for the first time after showing a great mix of raw speed and focus up to the chequered flag. This is the first win for both the Rimini-born rider and the OCTO Pramac MotoE team, who selected him after his rookie MotoE season last year.
2020 title contender Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt IntactGP) secured a well deserved second place ahead of the reigning World Cup Champion, Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40=, with the Swiss rider looking at times able to take a shot at the lead in the second half of the race. The Spaniard, on the other hand, proved to be the most consistent rider in the MotoE field, a skill that was key last year in his successful quest for the title.
There was plenty of drama to take into account to get the perfect picture of how this race unfolded. Yesterday’s E-Pole top-three all went down at some point in the race: pole sitter Eric Granado (One Energy Racing) crashed out of the lead while trying to pull away from the chasing pack, while Lukas Tulovic (Tech 3 E-Racing) and Fermin Aldeguer (OpenBank Aspar Team) had a coming together triggered by the German rider making an overly ambitious overtaking manoeuvre. Unlike the other two, Granado was able to get back on his bike, crossing the line in 13th.
Fourth place went to Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadracorse) ahead of rookie Miquel Pons (LCR E-Team), 2019 title winner Matteo Ferrari (Indonesian E-Racing Gresini MotoE) and another debutant, Hikari Okubo (Avant Ajo Motorsport).
Xavier Cardelus (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) and Corentin Perolari (Tech 3 E-Racing) were two others who did not make it to the finish line.
Energica and MotoE will return to action in a fortnight’s time at Le Mans, France.
ABOUT ENERGICA MOTOR COMPANY S.p.A
Energica Motor Company is the first Italian manufacturer of high-performing electric motorcycle and is the single manufacturer chosen by Dorna for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup. Energica Motorcycles are on sale worldwide.
Sweet emotion: Miller silences the doubters with a masterclass at Jerez
A first win in red, a first since 2016 and Ducati’s first 1-2 in three years? The Spanish GP had thrills, spills and a few surprises
Jack Miller (43) takes the checkered flag at Jerez. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Sunday, 02 May 2021
There are few sweeter feelings for a rider than standing on the top step of the MotoGP™ podium, but doing it for the first time in five years and the first time as a factory Ducati rider adds something special. Add in two muted races, a little dash of drama, surgery and then a crash last time out on the run up to the Gran Premio Red Bull de España and Jack Miller’s (Ducati Lenovo Team) emotion in parc ferme is even easier to understand. It was a masterclass to boot as the Australian got the holeshot, fought it out at the top, reeled in early leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and then kept it pinned, coming home to lead the first Ducati 1-2 since 2018 as teammate Francesco Bagnaia showed more speed for second. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) went one better than Portugal to complete the podium, keeping that momentum just as hoped and taking top Independent Team rider honours. Quartararo eventually finished just inside the points.
Starting from the outside of the front row, Miller grabbed the holeshot as poleman Quartararo lost out slightly. The Frenchman was swamped into the first corner and found himself down in fourth, just ahead of Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Aleix Espargaro, who had a strong start to find himself in fifth. Down the back straight for the first time it had settled into Miller leading the way, from Morbidelli and Bagnaia that way round early doors.
Francesco Bagnaia (63) held off Franco Morbidelli to get second place. Photo courtesy Dorna.
There was quick drama a little further back for a couple of riders. LCR Castrol Honda’s Alex Marquez crashed out on the opening lap and he was later joined in the gravel by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder, who crashed out at the start of Lap 2.
At the front though, Bagnaia and Quartararo began to duel for third. First, the Frenchman moved up the inside in the opening sector before the Bologna bullet of Bagnaia motored back past down to Turn 6. Then, for a second time, Quartararo got in front of Bagnaia, this time at the final corner. Going defensive into the first corner to make sure it stayed like that, the job appeared done.
On Lap 3 we had faller three of the Spanish GP as Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) made it a fortnight to forget with a second consecutive crash, wide at Turn 6 and the front-end then washing away to end his Jerez hopes and loe his chance to unleash what looked like some impressive pace.
Meanwhile, Quartararo dived up the inside of former teammate Morbidelli for second as his charge back to the front continued, with Aleix Espargaro finding a way through on Bagnaia for fourth at the same time.
El Diablo’s plan was coming together. He hit the front soon after with an inch-perfect move on Miller into the final corner, and alarm bells were surely ringing for Morbidelli in third as the factory Yamaha man put the hammer down immediately and stretched out four tenths over the Australian in the space of a lap. A new lap record around the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto a lap later and Round 4 of the MotoGP™ World Championship was following the 22-year-old’s script to a tee. So far…
Franco Morbidelli (21) finished third while Fabio Quartararo (20) dropped backward throughout the race. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Miller has admitted in recent weeks that he’s been in the trenches following a disappointing start to the year, but he was certainly gritting his teeth and digging in. Quartararo was only able to go a tenth quicker than the Ducati man and the gap was at three quarters of a second with seven laps completed. As the Frenchman edged his lead out to over a second for the first time, Aleix Espargaro slipped a place back to fifth after falling into the crosshairs of Bagnaia’s Ducati down the back straight too. But as one Ducati rider moved forward, another crashed out: rookie Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) hit the deck at Turn 2 – his first DNF of the year, although he continues leading the Rookie of the Year standings.
Bagnaia, meanwhile, had seen off the close attention of Aprilia’s Espargaro and had attached himself on to the rear wheel of Morbidelli. His first look up the inside came down the hill into Turn 6, but no way through. The pair of VR46 Academy partners continued to look inseparable in the fight for the final podium place, before Bagnaia finally got his own way at the final corner. He capitalised on a mistake from the Petronas man perfectly, moving through.
Suddenly at the front, it wasn’t the plain sailing we’ve become accustomed to for Quartararo once he’s out in the lead. The Frenchman’s advantage was cut from nearly two seconds down to nothing in the space of just one lap and it was well and truly game on for Spanish GP glory, with ten laps remaining. Incredibly, Miller then took the lead down the start-finish straight to start Lap 16 of 25, with Quartararo’s progress halted and the Frenchman seemingly fading. In the space of half a lap, the Australian was half a second clear and it only grew.
As Miller got to 1.5 clear, Quartararo behind was nearly a second slower than Bagnaia and Morbidelli and his hopes of a podium finish had evaporated. He was a sitting duck as both the Ducati and Yamaha men scythed through and they were queuing up behind the World Championship leader soon. With seven laps to go Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), reigning Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Aleix Espargaro all pushed their way past to demote him down to seventh, but the Aprilia ended up a slight loser in that fight too as he lost out to both Nakagami and Mir in the shuffle.
Five laps of a remarkable race remained and Quartararo soon pushed outside of the top ten by Pol Espargaro; a statement that was unthinkable just ten minutes earlier. A couple more laps ticked by and it seemed there could be drama brewing at the front too. Miller’s lead was cut down to just a second by teammate Bagnaia as some tension suddenly appeared for the Aussie. Could the Thriller hold on for a first Ducati victory? They were a nervy final few laps but the number 43 kept his cool and, for the first time since the 2016 Dutch TT, took victory ina MotoGP™ race – Ducati’s first in Jerez for 15 years.
Bagnaia put in another top performance to come across the line in second too, making it a first 1-2 for Ducati in just under three years and the first they’ve ever had at Jerez. There was huge delight for Morbidelli in third as well and the Italian thumped his chest with joy and declared it “as good as a victory” in Parc Ferme. There was yet more Jerez delight for Takaaki Nakagami as the LCR Honda Idemitsu man matched his career-best MotoGP™ result with fourth place too, the Japanese rider seeing off a late charge from Mir, who was forced to settle for fifth.
Aprilia finished the closest they have ever been to a MotoGP™ race winner, 5.164 seconds adrift of Miller, but in sixth so Aleix Espargaro still wanted more, such is their step forward so far in 2021. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Maverick Viñales clinched seventh place, ahead of Pramac Racing’s Johann Zarco in eighth.
Repsol Honda completed the top ten as Marc Marquez bounced back from his Warm Up crash – and Saturday crash – to take a commendable ninth place as he returns from injury. The final place inside the top ten went to the eight-time World Champion’s teammate Pol Espargaro, ahead of Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and HRC wildcard Stefan Bradl.
Quartararo eventually limped home in thirteenth and, as a result, surrendered the lead of the MotoGP™ World Championship. The Frenchman was in visible pain on the cool down lap and seemingly suffered with his arm. So, as we head to Le Mans for Round 5, Bagnaia leads the premier class title chase for the first time in his career but has just a two point lead over what will be a fired-up Frenchman on home soil next time out. Danilo Petrucci (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) and teammate Iker Lecuona completed the points.
So that’s it from the Spanish GP and a day Jack Miller will remember forever. Tune in for more from the classic Le Mans circuit in just two weeks’ time, and get ready for another shuffle as MotoGP™ continues to deliver in one of the greatest eras ever. Can Quartararo bounce back or is the French town to be painted red?
Jack Miller: “I just tried to do what I could, I did a lot of laps all weekend by myself and I knew I had reasonable pace and when Fabio came past I thought ok I’ve got a bit better pace. I dropped down into the 37s for a few laps there with him but I wasn’t able to maintain that, but neither was he. I didn’t expect him to drop back to me but he did. I was just able to.. I knew I had a bit of a gap behind me and if I could get past Fabio, I could see he was struggling. Get past him, get my head down, make no mistakes and just try to punch out the laps. Those last seven or eight laps were the longest of my career. I mean, it’s just indescribable what I’m feeling right now, it’s a flood of emotions: happy, sad, everything. I wish my parents were here to celebrate it with me but they’re back at home, I know they’ll be celebrating. I want to thank everyone for all their support, I’ll try do it again soon.”
Di Giannantonio disappears for dominant first Moto2™ win
The Italian put in a stunner at Jerez as Bezzecchi bests some key rivals for second and Lowes gets back on the box in third
Fabio Di Giannantonio (21). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) has come close before, but the Italian is finally an intermediate class race winner after a Moto2™ masterclass at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España. Getting a near perfect start from the front row, the Italian then pulled away for glory and left his rivals battling for best of the rest. Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) won that fight as the Italian took his first rostrum of the season in second, with Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) taking a solid third to get back on the box.
Di Giannantonio took the holeshot from the middle of the front row of the grid, squeezing ahead of poleman Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) on the brakes. Bezzecchi held third place on the first lap but then very nearly found himself in the Turn 6 gravel trap when he got it out of shape under braking, the Italian somehow missing Gardner’s rear wheel but running well wide to allow both Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) through.
It didn’t take long for remarkable rookie Raul Fernandez to move into the podium places too with a smooth move on the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team’s Fernandez into Turn 1. The number 25 then quickly closed on to the rear wheel of teammate Gardner, before disaster struck behind for Augusto Fernandez he crashed out at Turn 6. He was joined there by Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) as the front of the Italian’s Kalex washed way in a very similar crash.
At the front, Diggia’s lead had stretched out to 1.5 seconds as he laid down both searing pace and consistency, so attention switched to the fight for second and third, with Gardner having managed to get his nose in front of Raul Fernandez. Behind the pair of Ajo riders, Lowes was pushed back to fifth as Bezzecchi came steamrolling through. The Brit got himself back in front of the Italian but, into Turn 1, the Sky Racing Team VR46 man pulled off a carbon copy move to take fourth once more.
Raul Fernandez then pulled off a brave overtake on teammate Gardner to retake second, all the while Di Giannantonio was streaking further clear; 3 seconds his lead with 15 laps of Jerez left. It went from bad to worse for polesitter Gardner as Bezzecchi pounced on the Australian’s apparent struggles, nudging him down a further place to fourth. The Italian was on a charge as he looked to make amends after his early error running wide.
A mistake then came from Raul Fernandez as a serious bobble at the final corner forced him off line and gave a chance that Bezzecchi wasn’t going to turn down. The Italian moved through to second and got his head down in the closing stages as Gardner and Lowes started piling the pressure on Raul Fernandez in the fight for the final place on the podium. Only a handful of laps were left, and both Di Giannantonio and Bezzechi seemed comfortably clear in first and second.
A mistake from Gardner into Turn 6, whilst trying to find a way through on teammate Fernandez, then saw Lowes slice through and into fourth. Onto the penultimate lap and the fight for third was really heating up. Lowes elbowed Fernandez out of the way into Turn 2 as the number 25 started dropping back, sending the Spaniard wide and allowing Gardner to pounce too. The Australian was trying to apply some pressure to Lowes too but the Brit’s late-race pace was untouchable and third was his.
Di Giannantonio pulled a huge stand-up wheelie over the line to celebrate a maiden Moto2™ victory in style, with Bezzecchi and Lowes joining him on the Jerez podium. Gardner took fourth ahead of Fernandez in fifth, with the title standings taking a significant shuffle as a result. Heading to Le Mans in a fortnight, it’s still Gardner that leads the way but Lowes now sits only three points adrift, with Fernandez a further three back in third.
Petronas Sprinta Racing’s Xavi Vierge was pushed all the way by Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) for sixth place, with the Spaniard holding on by just over a tenth of a second to the best the Japanese rider to ten valuable points. Italtrans Racing Team’s Joe Roberts took the chequered flag in eighth, ahead of Inde Aspar Team’s Aron Canet in ninth. The fight for the final place inside the top ten was settled on the final lap when Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) crashed out whilst trying to find a way through on Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP), meaning the German took tenth.
Marcos Ramirez (American Racing), Jorge Navarro (Lightech Speed Up), Stefano Manzi (Flexbox HP40), Lorenzo Baldassarri (MV Agusta Forward Racing) and Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) completed the points. Albert Arenas (Inde Aspar Team), Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP40) and Simone Corse (MV Agusta Forward Racing) all crashed out.
That’s a wrap on the Spanish GP. Next stop Le Mans in two weeks, with the Championship remaining close as ever ahead of another classic venue.
Fabio Di Giannantonio: “I feel amazing, honestly it feels amazing to come back to first spot and take my first victory in moto2, I sweated a lot to get this victory in the last two years and now it came… wow. Amazing! The race was amazing and I made a fantastic start which I didn’t expect because always at the start I’m not so good, but I made a fantastic start and when I was there I just said, ‘ok do your rhythm and lines, enjoy the bike… 41.5/6 was coming quite easily so in the end just an amazing result, what can I say, just a big smile.!”
Acosta plays another ace to make more history in Jerez
The rookie sensation extends his lead with another milestone win as huge final corner drama shakes up the podium
Pedro Acosta (37) taking the victory in Moto3. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is no stranger to making some history in 2021, but the rookie sensation has done it again in the Gran Premio Red Bull de España, fighting through to the front and escaping some final corner drama for his third win in a row. He’s the youngest rider ever to do that, and he’s also the first rider ever to take four podiums on his first four Grand Prix appearances. Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) took second as the veteran got his gloves off at the front, with Jeremy Alcoba (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) overcoming two Long Lap penalties to complete the podium.
As the lights went out it was Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) who took the holeshot from pole, the Japanese rider leading the freight train away shadowed by Andera Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Gabriel Rodrigo (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3). Rodrigo hit quick for second though, before the Argentinean duelled for the lead and took it after a few exchanges.
Drama then hit for John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) as the Scotsman crashed out, and more drama wasn’t long coming. After a shuffle just behind saw Rodrigo pull out a small gap, disaster struck as the pack started to close back in. A crash at Turn 7 saw the early leader out the running, with Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) taking over at the front as he and teammate Ayumu Sasaki made early gains.
By 17 to go, two key contenders were out, those with penalties had started taking their Long Laps, and Acosta was on a charge. Up into second behind the fellow KTM of Öncü, the Championship leader had made short work of his P13 starting position to slot into the front four, and he soon hit the front for the first time not long after.
The freight train was 14 riders at the front as the classic Moto3™ melee began in earnest, but in another blink of an eye a second group managed to tag on to make it 19 riders fighting for 15 points-scoring positions once again. The next man out of that train was sadly polesitter Suzuki though, with the Japanese rider crashing and able to rejoin but then heading into pitlane.
Meanwhile, at the front it was a story of three KTMs and things were getting spicy between Öncü, Acosta and his teammate Jaume Masia. Fenati made for close company in fourth, with Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing), Sasaki and Migno the last in a now-breakaway group of seven fighting for the win. That spice, however, made life and pace harder work at the front and soon enough the concertina drew the pack back together. There remained, however, a distinctly orange flavour to the gaggle at the front…
At the exit of Turn 6 on the penultimate lap, there was a heart in mouth moment for Acosta as he had a big moment, leaving Öncü duelling Masia for the lead and a gap back to Fenati and Acosta. After the final corner and the slipstream down the straight, however, the two leaders were back pegged to Acosta and Fenati… and in that order.
Heading into Turn 6 for the last time, there were no repeats of his moment a lap earlier for Acosta. As Öncü defended too hard from Masia, a tiny gap opened on the inside and Acosta needed no invitation. Slamming into the lead it was the number 37 on the verge of history once again, but there was more drama coming at the final corner.
Öncü, after losing the lead earlier, was looking ready to make a lunge and the Turk went for it up the inside, then losing the front and sliding out with a domino disaster: Masia was first collected before Binder also got swiped, with all three down into the run off and Acosta left with a clear run to the line. In the right place at the right time, the Spaniard had closed the door to perfection for his third win in three races.
Fenati avoided the skittle to come through for second, with Alcoba gaining from the crash ahead to convert a difficult race into an impressive ride back through to the podium. Fourth went to Migno as he retained his impressive 2021 consistency, with Sasaki in fifth after another good turn of speed from the Japanese rider fighting at the front.
Carlos Tatay (Reale Avintia Moto3) took sixth ahead of an impressive seventh for Jason Dupasquier (CarXpert PrüstelGP), with Niccolo Antonelli (Reale Avintia Moto3), Xavier Artigas (Leopard Racing) and Ryusei Yamanaka (CarXpert PrüstelGP) completing the top ten and the front group. Izan Guevara (Solunion GASGAS Aspar Team), Filip Salač (Rivacold Snipers Team), Sergio Garcia (Solunion GASGAS Aspar Team) and Yuki Kunii (Honda Team Asia) completed the points.
That’s it from Jerez and another stunner from the man of the moment. What awaits in Le Mans? We’ll find out soon enough with just one weekend off before the French Grand Prix.
Pedro Acosta: “Normally here I have some problems to get the pace for my racing style but the team worked so hard because in Warm Up we were changing the setting a bit to be competitive in the race. Öncü and Romano were in another world, they were so strong, but in the end I knew what the strategy for the last lap was: trying to cross the finish line first. And we’re here again!”
More, from a press release issued by Italtrans Racing:
Top ten for Joe Roberts at Jerez de la Frontera.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta finishes close to the points.
Uncolored race for Italtrans Racing Team at Jerez de la Frontera, that hosted the fourth round of the 2021 MotoGP World Championship.
After finishing close to the podium in the Portuguese Grand Prix, unfortunately this weekend Joe Roberts won’t be able to realize the good intentions. Starting from the third row of the grid with the 8th best time in qualifying, the American rider set a constant pace throughout the race without gaining positions, struggling with the tires. After 23 laps Roberts was 8th at the chequered flag.
Race close to the points for Lorenzo Dalla Porta. He has recovered positions starting 23rd, but in the last laps lost confidence with the front and could not keep up with the pace of the front group, finishing 16th.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta (19). Photo courtesy Italtrans Racing.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta
16°
“Tough race in which I struggled to pick up the pace and more speed. I started from the back and the group in front of me was far away: I managed to recover some positions, but I did not catch it. Towards the end I struggled with the front tire and this didn’t allow me to push harder. It was the best I could do. Now let’s focus on Le Mans with the aim of doing more”.
Joe Roberts (16). Photo courtesy Italtrans Racing.
Joe Roberts
8°
“I’m a bit disappointed with the race. We had the potential for done more, but for some reasons from the first lap I struggled to find the right feeling with the rear and I struggled all the race. Anyway, the 8th final position is good as we got some points for the championship. Let’s go to Le Mans which is one of my favourite circuits”.
Giovanni Sandi, Technical Director:
“Dull race from which we gain experience. We know that we were not perfect, but today it was important to take the result home. That are races. Joe had a constant pace but had never been efficient, while Lorenzo gained some positions. Let’s put this weekend away and look forward to next one”.
More, from a press release issued by American Racing Team:
Marcos Ramirez earns season-best Moto2 finish at home race in Jerez
American Racing teammate Cameron Beaubier suffers last-lap heartbreak
CADIZ, Spain (May 2, 2021) — American Racing’s Marcos Ramirez delivered an inspirational points-paying performance on Sunday at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, which hosted Round 4 of the FIM Moto2 World Championship, the Grand Prix of Spain.
The 23-year-old Spaniard missed the first two rounds of the season in Qatar with a painful shoulder injury. Two weeks later in Portugal, he bravely finished 15th, earning his first championship point of the season.
After that race, Ramirez elected to have surgery on his right arm to reduce the effects of compartment syndrome.
“Together with the small discomforts in my shoulder,” he said, “it did not allow me to be 100%. I really want to fight.”
Teammate Cameron Beaubier faced his own challenges this weekend, including getting to know his new crew chief, Grand Prix veteran Stuart Shenton.
“This weekend started off rough,” said the 28-year-old Californian, who qualified 16th, two places behind Ramirez.
Marcos Ramirez (42) leading teammate Cameron Beaubier (6) at Jerez. Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
On Sunday, Ramirez leapt straight into the top 10 on the opening lap.
“Marcos had the best start since joining the team—really aggressive,” said American Racing Race Director John Hopkins. “He got loads of positions right at the beginning, so that was a huge step forward for him.”
Lapping consistently in the low-to-mid 1:42s, Ramirez spent most of the race in either 10th or 11th, where he finished.
“After the surgery,” said Ramirez, “I think this is a good result.”
Cameron Beaubier (6) leading Jorge Navarro (9) at Jerez. Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
Beaubier passed Ramirez near the end of the race to take over 11th. The 28-year-old American made a mistake on his Triumph-powered Kalex and fell on the last lap.
“I was trying to line up a pass for the top 10,” said Beaubier. “I am pretty bummed, but I am glad I got another race distance under my belt.”
Hopkins is pleased with Beaubier’s progress this season.
“Cameron is looking a lot more comfortable,” he said. “He finally feels like the bike is his own. Coming from Superbike, he had to make so many changes—riding style, bike settings, everything.”
Gresini Moto2’s Fabio Di Giannantonio won the 23-lap race. KTM Ago rider Remy Gardner leads the title chase. After four rounds, Beaubier is 14th in the championship points standings. Ramirez is 19th.
Round 5 of the FIM Moto2 World Championship, the French Grand Prix at the Le Mans Bugatti Grand Prix race circuit, is May 14-16.
“Marcos and Cameron are looking really strong,” said Hopkins. “I think both of them can be in the top 10 at Le Mans.”
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.
Kelly, Gilbert, Scott, And De Keyrel Win Openers At Road Atlanta
Sean Dylan Kelly Takes Supersport Victory In Opening Round
BRASELTON, GA (May 1, 2021) – ECSTAR Suzuki’s Sean Dylan Kelly drew first blood in the 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship with his victory over rival Richie Escalante in the season-opener at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, but in the other support classes it was mostly new blood taking advantage of the class champions exiting stage left.
Sean Dylan Kelly (40) and Richie Escalante (1) during MotoAmerica Supersport Race One at Road Atlanta. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica
Supersport: Here We Go Again
The tight battles at the front of the Supersport field that were an every-race occurrence last year between 2021 Champion Escalante and title runner-up Kelly picked up right where they left off in Supersport race one at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Kelly, who started from the pole aboard his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki, got the holeshot twice in the red-flagged race and held off all but one of Escalante’s attempts to take the lead. The HONOS Kawasaki rider, who ended up having to race his 2020 HONOS Kawasaki after crashing his 2021 green machine in final qualifying, couldn’t match Kelly’s pace. Kelly showed that 2021 may flip the script as his margin over Escalante at the checkers was more than 2.6 seconds. Cycle Gear Racing Yamaha’s Nolan Lamkin survived the attrition that led to the red flag and successfully reached the podium for his best-ever result in Supersport competition.
“I’m really happy with how this weekend is going so far,” Kelly said. “This is exactly what I came for. I prepared a lot this off-season – not only me, but also my team. We worked really hard together after a tough 2020 season. I learned a lot last year. I knew this year what I was coming into and I came prepared. I’m really happy with this. We’ve been working really hard since yesterday. We got the pole this morning. I really do think this race was if not the best, one of the best of my career just because of the pace I had. I’m sometimes not known for being able to go by myself and making fast laps with a really good pace like Richie. That was his strongest point last year. That’s exactly what I worked for this off-season. This is what we worked for all weekend, just to be able to pull really, really fast, consistent laps all week through the whole race, and that’s exactly what I did. I think three laps to go I set one of my fastest ever laps at this racetrack. Really proud of the work from my team. Really proud of believing in me and trying to make steps forward. It wasn’t only me; it was the package. I feel like the package we have this year is definitely better, and that’s the most important part. It’s a team effort at the end of the day. Really happy with the race. Definitely a hard battle at the beginning. I think we still have some work to do for tomorrow, some things that I saw compared to Richie (Escalante) and some things that I just felt throughout the race. Really happy with the feeling, happy with the start. This is only the start of the year, so looking forward to continuing and doing a good job.”
Michael Gilbert (55) leads Ashton Yates (22) and Travis Wyman (10) during Stock 1000 Race One at Road Atlanta. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Stock 1000: Gilbert Gets It Done
In Saturday’s Stock 1000 race, long-time literbike road racer Michael Gilbert got the victory aboard his brand-new Kawasaki ZX-10R, and he prevailed over hard-charging Jones Honda rider Ashton Yates, who was also aboard a brand-new bike – the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP. Both riders battled hard in the 13-lap event, as did third-place finisher Travis Wyman, who raced his trusty BMW S 1000 RR to a coveted spot on the podium.
“It has been a long time since we got a win and honestly, there was a point in December or January where we weren’t really sure we were going to be racing,” Gilbert said. “We got a few really key sponsors – Chuckwalla Valley Raceway back in Southern California being one of them, giving us an amazing place to train during the winter with JP43 Training. All the work that we do through the winter and then Octane Lenny came on board right at the last minute and really kind of sealed the deal to put us back in the MotoAmerica paddock and give us a strong package to work with. I’ve got to give it up to my guys, including Jason Aguilar. It’s a bummer to see him not on a Superbike. I know he was trying to put a program together, but I’m so, so happy that I snagged him to work for me this weekend. It’s been really fun just to have a good friend in the pits and someone who is really, really smart. Josh Merrill, as well. My dad back home, Graves Motorsports. Everyone that has just put an amazing motorcycle under me. To get back to it, it has been a long time. I could get used to this. I like hearing you say my name. So, we’re going to keep working hard and try and do it again tomorrow.”
Kaleb De Keyrel (51). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Twins Cup: De Keyrel And Aprilia Win
Coming into the Twins Cup season, the big question was, how would the brand-new Aprilia RS 660 fare in MotoAmerica’s rough-and-tumble “tuner class.” Very well, thank you very much. In Twins Cup race one, the new, twin-cylinder middleweight sportbike swept the podium with Robem Engineering’s Kaleb De Keyrel taking the victory over Righteous Racing’s Jody Barry – who has returned to the MotoAmerica Series after a few years away – and Hayden Schultz, who is one of De Keyrel’s teammates.
“It was super fun,” De Keyrel said about the race. “Really good battle for quite a ways through. Overall, I can’t complain. Showing up here never riding the bike before and being right on pace pretty much right off the bat just really proved to myself that I did my homework in the off-season. I did a ton of training at the go-kart track and been riding motocross a ton, making sure that I’m physically fit and ready. I knew we were going to kind of be a little bit under-prepared as far as getting testing in on the bike because we didn’t have enough time. The Aprilia came out so late in the year that we didn’t have a whole lot of time. Really, we’re just lucky to be here. I wouldn’t be here without Matt (Spicer) and Gene (Burcham) and all of (Robem Engineering) putting in so many hours on the bike and working through everything, turning it into a race bike. Just to even be here was a huge feat in itself. I just wanted to leave here with solid points. Obviously, I was involved in the championship hunt last year and I ended up losing, so I’m hungry to prove that I can be a frontrunner and win races. That’s what we did today. Just did the best we could, like we always do. It was a lot of fun.”
Tyler Scott (70) leads Ben Gloddy (72), Cody Wyman (34) and the rest of the Junior Cup field at Road Atlanta. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup: Scott Takes Debut Win
The final race of the day on Saturday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta was in SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup, and a brand-new rider in MotoAmerica emerged with the victory in the red-flagged-and-restarted event. Tyler Scott raced his KTM to the win by just .271 of a second over Landers Racing Kawasaki’s Ben Gloddy. Veloce Racing Kawasaki’s David Kohlstaedt finished third, which was the first MotoAmerica podium of his career.
“I got the start both times and I passed (polesitter) Gus (Rodio) on the first lap,” Scott said. “From there on I’m like, ‘I’m going to try to pull away.’ Every few laps coming out of turn seven, I would look back and there was always someone there. So, I knew I had to keep pushing and keep being consistent, otherwise they were going to overtake me. In the end, the last lap was a little stressful because I knew if Ben passed me anywhere past the halfway point in the lap, I was probably going to end up second. But I kept pushing and I got the win.”
More, from a press release issued by Team Hammer:
SEAN DYLAN KELLY OPENS 2021 WITH A WIN IN ATLANTA
Sean Dylan Kelly (40). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Team Hammer.
Team Hammer, racing as M4 ECSTAR Suzuki, came away victorious in its season-opening salvo at Road Atlanta, scoring a win, a runner-up, and four top-fives on the first race day of the 2021 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship.
The win came courtesy of M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Sean Dylan Kelly, who picked right up where he left off in 2020. The MotoAmerica Supersport title hopeful was in full haymaker mode in the race’s opening stages, starting from pole and trading the lead back and forth in a heated dogfight.
‘SDK’ then exploited a minor mistake on his rival’s part to open a small gap around half-distance and never provided him an opportunity to make up for it. Kelly fully broke the pursuit with a series of scorching late laps aboard his Suzuki GSX-R600, winning the race by 2.618 seconds.
“I think it was one of the best races of my career,” said Kelly. “I’m really pleased with how strong we have started the year. I’m happy with our package of the bike, the crew, and how I am riding and this is the beginning to our season we were hoping for. I’ve been focusing on being smart and being good at the end of the races, so I am really proud of this one. We need to keep our feet on the ground and keep improving but this was a good one today.”
Kelly was joined in the top five by team newcomer and fellow teenager Sam Lochoff. In his MotoAmerica Supersport debut, the South African fought his way up to third position after starting on the fourth row. From there, Lochoff engaged in a three-way battle for the podium to the checkered flag, ultimately earning an impressive fifth.
MotoAmerica Superbike teammates Bobby Fong and Cameron Petersen got M4 ECSTAR Suzuki off to a similarly strong start in the premier class. The GSX-R1000R-armed Fong clawed his way up from outside the top five to finish as the dramatic contest’s runner-up, with Petersen coming home two positions further down the order in fourth.
“We’re still getting the bike dialed in, but it was a good race out there,” Fong said. “We had some good race pace there at the end. We just had to settle for second today, but I’m looking for more tomorrow. I can’t give it up enough to my M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team; they’ve been busting their butts all weekend.”
Meanwhile, Wyatt Farris rounded out the day for M4 ECSTAR Suzuki with a 13th-place ride in the Stock 1000 opener. He said, “We’ve been a bit behind it this weekend. I got hurt right before the test in Texas and didn’t really get to do too many laps. And sometimes you have little gremlins that like to show their face on race weekends. We’ve been fighting through that, but I’ve really got to give it up to my guys. These guys haven’t stopped, sun up to sundown, trying to get me sorted. I’m not where I want to be. I expect more from myself and us as a program, so we’ll just keep our heads down and keep working.”
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki will be back in action on Sunday at Road America for another full slate of racing.
About Team Hammer
The 2021 season marks Team Hammer’s 41st consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 109 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 293 times and have won nine AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport.) The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
Daniel Holgado takes Jerez Race 2 Rookies Cup thriller
The dramatic Jerez round of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup ended with a fabulous victory for Spanish 16-year-old Daniel Holgado. He fought off all-comers at the final corner to cross the line first but several of them had long lap penalties and ultimately second went to Diogo Moreira ahead of Alex Millan.
Points leader David Alonso was one of those with the penalty and that dropped him to 8th and cost him enough points to give Holgado the Cup lead by 4.
It had been a stunning KTM RC 250 R battle from the start and again a lead group of 10 traded places at every turn. Holgado did most of the leading just as he did on Saturday only to lose out on the last lap. This time he managed to break away slightly in the second half of the race chased by Brazilian 17-year-old Moreira. But in giving chase Moreira had exceeded track limits too many times.
Moreira took his long lap penalty with 6 laps to go but incredibly fought back and made a lunge for the lead on the final lap. That didn’t work but he was in the lead group at the line and took second when 15-year-old Colombian Alonso and Saturday’s winner 14-year-old Spaniard David Muñoz failed to take their late penalties and were given 3 second penalties post race.
Holgado triumphs
“This race was incredible for me. Difficult but I am happy for me and my team. Today the difference was the last corner, yesterday it was very difficult for me but today, much better.”
“The bike was great today, we made a very good set-up and it was fun to ride. The track conditions were difficult with the temperature but I could manage the situation, I enjoyed the race and am ready for the next in Mugello. I believe that I can win there again.”
Diogo Moreira went for the win
“The race was very good, I enjoyed it a lot. When I saw I had a long lap penalty I knew I had to do it as soon as possible. After I did it I knew I had to get with the group again for the last laps.”
“On the last lap I tried to win the race but I didn’t, that’s racing and I’m happy.”
“Jerez is my favourite circuit, from FP1 I was fast and I enjoyed it from the start. All weekend I tried to make my laps alone so that I would have the best chance to win the race and I tried to escape the group but I am still happy with the weekend.“
“Mugello I have never ridden before, I need to try and win the race.”
Alex Millan on track
“It was a very hard race, faster than Portimão, it was hard to stay on the track and not do some track limits because all the riders were fighting and very fast. In the final laps I told myself to be as controlled as possible, I saw my long lap penalty and did it as fast as possible and be ready for what would happen in the last corner.”
“We did good work in practice for the bike set-up, I like the track and I am always fast here,” stated the 16-year-old Spaniard.
“Mugello will be a new track for me but we are fighting for the podium in the first races and it will be new for most of the Rookies so I hope I will be fighting at the front there as well.”
Matteo Bertelle misses the podium
“The race was difficult,” explained the 17-year-old Italian after taking a fine 4th. “The pace was strong but I am happy with the feeling for the bike, thanks to my mechanic Frederico for doing such a great job. It was a difficult race because the pace was so strong and the tyre was finished in the last laps.”
“Jerez is one of my favourite tracks, I am happy, I was just one position off the podium, because Millan got inside me at the last corner.”
“Today I made a much better start, yesterday was terrible, we had the restart and the clutch wasn’t good. Today was much better, I was concentrated and it went well.
“I have more power for Mugello, I want to improve my position on the grid and also in the race.”
Zaccone in the zone: Italian takes impressive first MotoE™ victory in Jerez
Aegerter and Torres complete the podium as Granado slides out the lead in a drama-filled first race of the 2021 FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup
Alessandro Zaccone (61) leads Dominique Aegerter (77) and Jordi Torres (40) at Jerez. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Sunday, 02 May 2021
Alessandro Zaccone (Octo Pramac MotoE) has had some pretty solid speed in preseason testing and throughout the first FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup race weekend of the season, but the Italian really pulled it out the hat on race day. Moving up to fight at the front early on, a crash out the lead for Eric Granado (One Energy Racing) saw the Italian take over and he kept cool, calm, collected, and, even more importantly, FAST on his way to his first ever MotoE™ win. The riders he held off were 2020 challenger Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP) and reigning Cup winner Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40) as both put in showcases in pace and consistency to take second and third, respectively.
Tech3 E-Racing’s Lukas Tulovic took the holeshot from the middle of the front row as the lights went out for the first time in 2021, the German rolling around the outside of poleman Granado, but his lead didn’t last for long as the Brazilian steamed back through on the run down to Turn 6. Meanwhile, both Corentin Perolari (Tech E-Racing) and Kevin Zannoni (LCR E-Team) were caught in a tangle through Turn 5, bringing an early end to their afternoons.
Back nearer the front, Tulovic was starting to get bullied as Zaccone and Aegerter also found a way through in the final sector as the first lap was ticked off. Some drama came not long after for the number 3, however, as he came together with Openbank Aspar Team’s Fermin Aldeguer at Turn 6 and both went down, the Saturday star and speedy rookie ending the day with real disappointment.
Meanwhile, Granado was starting to pull clear thanks to the fastest lap of the race, and although Zaccone was digging in and trying to stay with him, there was daylight appearing between the two. Then, with five laps remaining, disaster struck for the Brazilian. Victory was surely his for the taking but a mistake at Turn 6 cost him dearly as he crashed out of the lead, at least remounting but riding round to grab the last few points.
Zaccone was looking pretty collected as he took over at the front, but soon enough Aegerter closed in on the Italian’s rear wheel and began applying some serious pressure. He threw the kitchen sink at it, but the Pramac man stood firm throughout the closing stages and that was all she wrote. From a broken leg at the start of last season to a victory at the start of this, Zaccone crossed the line to announce some big progress in 2021 as he settles in with Octo Pramac MotoE.
Aegerter took second after warning late on from a bit of a moment, and he was pleased to have started the season with a podium, as was last year’s World Cup winner as Torres began his defence with a solid third place. From both, consistency was a calling card once again.
Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse’s Mattia Casadei clinched fourth as he comes back from injury that saw him miss the first preseason test, and LCR E-Team’s Miquel Pons took the final spot inside the top five after another good performance from the impressive rookie. One of the rides of the day came courtesy of 2019 World Cup winner Matteo Ferrari (Indonesian E-Racing Gresini MotoE) too, who managed to move through from the back of the grid to take sixth and recover some ground after his track limits infraction in E-Pole.
Hikari Okubo (Avant Ajo MotoE) was seventh, ahead of Andrea Mantovani (Indonesian E-Racing Gresini MotoE), Maria Herrera (Openbank Aspar Team) and Yonny Hernandez (Octo Pramac MotoE) rounding out the top ten in the first race of the year. Granado eventually took 13th.
And so the sun sets on Spain and, MotoE™, like the rest of the paddock, now saddles up and heads for Le Mans. Last year conditions were mixed and the round had the title on the line, so what will 2021 bring as the track hosts Round 2? Find out in two weeks!
Alessandro Zaccone: “It’s an unbelievable result, I knew we were fast and could fight for the podium, but to win was just a thought. To be here is fantastic, I did half the race in front after Granado’s crash. And it was just five laps but it felt like it never ended! I’m very happy, and I have to thank my team for believing in me. After a difficult year last year with the injury and everything, to start from here is great, I think we’ll enjoy this season! ”
More, from a press release issued by Energica:
ZACCONE TAKES MAIDEN MOTOE WIN IN DRAMATIC OPENING RACE AT JEREZ
The opening race of 2021 FIM Enel MotoE World Cup at ‘Circuito de Jerez Angel Nieto’ produced another exciting and drama-filled show for the fans of the all-electric one-make series powered by Energica. The eight-lap encounter was won by Italy’s Alessandro Zaccone, who stepped atop the podium for the first time after showing a great mix of raw speed and focus up to the chequered flag. This is the first win for both the Rimini-born rider and the OCTO Pramac MotoE team, who selected him after his rookie MotoE season last year.
2020 title contender Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt IntactGP) secured a well deserved second place ahead of the reigning World Cup Champion, Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40=, with the Swiss rider looking at times able to take a shot at the lead in the second half of the race. The Spaniard, on the other hand, proved to be the most consistent rider in the MotoE field, a skill that was key last year in his successful quest for the title.
There was plenty of drama to take into account to get the perfect picture of how this race unfolded. Yesterday’s E-Pole top-three all went down at some point in the race: pole sitter Eric Granado (One Energy Racing) crashed out of the lead while trying to pull away from the chasing pack, while Lukas Tulovic (Tech 3 E-Racing) and Fermin Aldeguer (OpenBank Aspar Team) had a coming together triggered by the German rider making an overly ambitious overtaking manoeuvre. Unlike the other two, Granado was able to get back on his bike, crossing the line in 13th.
Fourth place went to Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadracorse) ahead of rookie Miquel Pons (LCR E-Team), 2019 title winner Matteo Ferrari (Indonesian E-Racing Gresini MotoE) and another debutant, Hikari Okubo (Avant Ajo Motorsport).
Xavier Cardelus (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) and Corentin Perolari (Tech 3 E-Racing) were two others who did not make it to the finish line.
Energica and MotoE will return to action in a fortnight’s time at Le Mans, France.
ABOUT ENERGICA MOTOR COMPANY S.p.A
Energica Motor Company is the first Italian manufacturer of high-performing electric motorcycle and is the single manufacturer chosen by Dorna for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup. Energica Motorcycles are on sale worldwide.
Sweet emotion: Miller silences the doubters with a masterclass at Jerez
A first win in red, a first since 2016 and Ducati’s first 1-2 in three years? The Spanish GP had thrills, spills and a few surprises
Jack Miller (43) takes the checkered flag at Jerez. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Sunday, 02 May 2021
There are few sweeter feelings for a rider than standing on the top step of the MotoGP™ podium, but doing it for the first time in five years and the first time as a factory Ducati rider adds something special. Add in two muted races, a little dash of drama, surgery and then a crash last time out on the run up to the Gran Premio Red Bull de España and Jack Miller’s (Ducati Lenovo Team) emotion in parc ferme is even easier to understand. It was a masterclass to boot as the Australian got the holeshot, fought it out at the top, reeled in early leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and then kept it pinned, coming home to lead the first Ducati 1-2 since 2018 as teammate Francesco Bagnaia showed more speed for second. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) went one better than Portugal to complete the podium, keeping that momentum just as hoped and taking top Independent Team rider honours. Quartararo eventually finished just inside the points.
Starting from the outside of the front row, Miller grabbed the holeshot as poleman Quartararo lost out slightly. The Frenchman was swamped into the first corner and found himself down in fourth, just ahead of Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Aleix Espargaro, who had a strong start to find himself in fifth. Down the back straight for the first time it had settled into Miller leading the way, from Morbidelli and Bagnaia that way round early doors.
Francesco Bagnaia (63) held off Franco Morbidelli to get second place. Photo courtesy Dorna.
There was quick drama a little further back for a couple of riders. LCR Castrol Honda’s Alex Marquez crashed out on the opening lap and he was later joined in the gravel by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder, who crashed out at the start of Lap 2.
At the front though, Bagnaia and Quartararo began to duel for third. First, the Frenchman moved up the inside in the opening sector before the Bologna bullet of Bagnaia motored back past down to Turn 6. Then, for a second time, Quartararo got in front of Bagnaia, this time at the final corner. Going defensive into the first corner to make sure it stayed like that, the job appeared done.
On Lap 3 we had faller three of the Spanish GP as Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) made it a fortnight to forget with a second consecutive crash, wide at Turn 6 and the front-end then washing away to end his Jerez hopes and loe his chance to unleash what looked like some impressive pace.
Meanwhile, Quartararo dived up the inside of former teammate Morbidelli for second as his charge back to the front continued, with Aleix Espargaro finding a way through on Bagnaia for fourth at the same time.
El Diablo’s plan was coming together. He hit the front soon after with an inch-perfect move on Miller into the final corner, and alarm bells were surely ringing for Morbidelli in third as the factory Yamaha man put the hammer down immediately and stretched out four tenths over the Australian in the space of a lap. A new lap record around the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto a lap later and Round 4 of the MotoGP™ World Championship was following the 22-year-old’s script to a tee. So far…
Franco Morbidelli (21) finished third while Fabio Quartararo (20) dropped backward throughout the race. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Miller has admitted in recent weeks that he’s been in the trenches following a disappointing start to the year, but he was certainly gritting his teeth and digging in. Quartararo was only able to go a tenth quicker than the Ducati man and the gap was at three quarters of a second with seven laps completed. As the Frenchman edged his lead out to over a second for the first time, Aleix Espargaro slipped a place back to fifth after falling into the crosshairs of Bagnaia’s Ducati down the back straight too. But as one Ducati rider moved forward, another crashed out: rookie Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) hit the deck at Turn 2 – his first DNF of the year, although he continues leading the Rookie of the Year standings.
Bagnaia, meanwhile, had seen off the close attention of Aprilia’s Espargaro and had attached himself on to the rear wheel of Morbidelli. His first look up the inside came down the hill into Turn 6, but no way through. The pair of VR46 Academy partners continued to look inseparable in the fight for the final podium place, before Bagnaia finally got his own way at the final corner. He capitalised on a mistake from the Petronas man perfectly, moving through.
Suddenly at the front, it wasn’t the plain sailing we’ve become accustomed to for Quartararo once he’s out in the lead. The Frenchman’s advantage was cut from nearly two seconds down to nothing in the space of just one lap and it was well and truly game on for Spanish GP glory, with ten laps remaining. Incredibly, Miller then took the lead down the start-finish straight to start Lap 16 of 25, with Quartararo’s progress halted and the Frenchman seemingly fading. In the space of half a lap, the Australian was half a second clear and it only grew.
As Miller got to 1.5 clear, Quartararo behind was nearly a second slower than Bagnaia and Morbidelli and his hopes of a podium finish had evaporated. He was a sitting duck as both the Ducati and Yamaha men scythed through and they were queuing up behind the World Championship leader soon. With seven laps to go Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), reigning Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Aleix Espargaro all pushed their way past to demote him down to seventh, but the Aprilia ended up a slight loser in that fight too as he lost out to both Nakagami and Mir in the shuffle.
Five laps of a remarkable race remained and Quartararo soon pushed outside of the top ten by Pol Espargaro; a statement that was unthinkable just ten minutes earlier. A couple more laps ticked by and it seemed there could be drama brewing at the front too. Miller’s lead was cut down to just a second by teammate Bagnaia as some tension suddenly appeared for the Aussie. Could the Thriller hold on for a first Ducati victory? They were a nervy final few laps but the number 43 kept his cool and, for the first time since the 2016 Dutch TT, took victory ina MotoGP™ race – Ducati’s first in Jerez for 15 years.
Bagnaia put in another top performance to come across the line in second too, making it a first 1-2 for Ducati in just under three years and the first they’ve ever had at Jerez. There was huge delight for Morbidelli in third as well and the Italian thumped his chest with joy and declared it “as good as a victory” in Parc Ferme. There was yet more Jerez delight for Takaaki Nakagami as the LCR Honda Idemitsu man matched his career-best MotoGP™ result with fourth place too, the Japanese rider seeing off a late charge from Mir, who was forced to settle for fifth.
Aprilia finished the closest they have ever been to a MotoGP™ race winner, 5.164 seconds adrift of Miller, but in sixth so Aleix Espargaro still wanted more, such is their step forward so far in 2021. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Maverick Viñales clinched seventh place, ahead of Pramac Racing’s Johann Zarco in eighth.
Repsol Honda completed the top ten as Marc Marquez bounced back from his Warm Up crash – and Saturday crash – to take a commendable ninth place as he returns from injury. The final place inside the top ten went to the eight-time World Champion’s teammate Pol Espargaro, ahead of Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and HRC wildcard Stefan Bradl.
Quartararo eventually limped home in thirteenth and, as a result, surrendered the lead of the MotoGP™ World Championship. The Frenchman was in visible pain on the cool down lap and seemingly suffered with his arm. So, as we head to Le Mans for Round 5, Bagnaia leads the premier class title chase for the first time in his career but has just a two point lead over what will be a fired-up Frenchman on home soil next time out. Danilo Petrucci (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) and teammate Iker Lecuona completed the points.
So that’s it from the Spanish GP and a day Jack Miller will remember forever. Tune in for more from the classic Le Mans circuit in just two weeks’ time, and get ready for another shuffle as MotoGP™ continues to deliver in one of the greatest eras ever. Can Quartararo bounce back or is the French town to be painted red?
Jack Miller: “I just tried to do what I could, I did a lot of laps all weekend by myself and I knew I had reasonable pace and when Fabio came past I thought ok I’ve got a bit better pace. I dropped down into the 37s for a few laps there with him but I wasn’t able to maintain that, but neither was he. I didn’t expect him to drop back to me but he did. I was just able to.. I knew I had a bit of a gap behind me and if I could get past Fabio, I could see he was struggling. Get past him, get my head down, make no mistakes and just try to punch out the laps. Those last seven or eight laps were the longest of my career. I mean, it’s just indescribable what I’m feeling right now, it’s a flood of emotions: happy, sad, everything. I wish my parents were here to celebrate it with me but they’re back at home, I know they’ll be celebrating. I want to thank everyone for all their support, I’ll try do it again soon.”
Di Giannantonio disappears for dominant first Moto2™ win
The Italian put in a stunner at Jerez as Bezzecchi bests some key rivals for second and Lowes gets back on the box in third
Fabio Di Giannantonio (21). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) has come close before, but the Italian is finally an intermediate class race winner after a Moto2™ masterclass at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España. Getting a near perfect start from the front row, the Italian then pulled away for glory and left his rivals battling for best of the rest. Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) won that fight as the Italian took his first rostrum of the season in second, with Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) taking a solid third to get back on the box.
Di Giannantonio took the holeshot from the middle of the front row of the grid, squeezing ahead of poleman Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) on the brakes. Bezzecchi held third place on the first lap but then very nearly found himself in the Turn 6 gravel trap when he got it out of shape under braking, the Italian somehow missing Gardner’s rear wheel but running well wide to allow both Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) through.
It didn’t take long for remarkable rookie Raul Fernandez to move into the podium places too with a smooth move on the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team’s Fernandez into Turn 1. The number 25 then quickly closed on to the rear wheel of teammate Gardner, before disaster struck behind for Augusto Fernandez he crashed out at Turn 6. He was joined there by Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) as the front of the Italian’s Kalex washed way in a very similar crash.
At the front, Diggia’s lead had stretched out to 1.5 seconds as he laid down both searing pace and consistency, so attention switched to the fight for second and third, with Gardner having managed to get his nose in front of Raul Fernandez. Behind the pair of Ajo riders, Lowes was pushed back to fifth as Bezzecchi came steamrolling through. The Brit got himself back in front of the Italian but, into Turn 1, the Sky Racing Team VR46 man pulled off a carbon copy move to take fourth once more.
Raul Fernandez then pulled off a brave overtake on teammate Gardner to retake second, all the while Di Giannantonio was streaking further clear; 3 seconds his lead with 15 laps of Jerez left. It went from bad to worse for polesitter Gardner as Bezzecchi pounced on the Australian’s apparent struggles, nudging him down a further place to fourth. The Italian was on a charge as he looked to make amends after his early error running wide.
A mistake then came from Raul Fernandez as a serious bobble at the final corner forced him off line and gave a chance that Bezzecchi wasn’t going to turn down. The Italian moved through to second and got his head down in the closing stages as Gardner and Lowes started piling the pressure on Raul Fernandez in the fight for the final place on the podium. Only a handful of laps were left, and both Di Giannantonio and Bezzechi seemed comfortably clear in first and second.
A mistake from Gardner into Turn 6, whilst trying to find a way through on teammate Fernandez, then saw Lowes slice through and into fourth. Onto the penultimate lap and the fight for third was really heating up. Lowes elbowed Fernandez out of the way into Turn 2 as the number 25 started dropping back, sending the Spaniard wide and allowing Gardner to pounce too. The Australian was trying to apply some pressure to Lowes too but the Brit’s late-race pace was untouchable and third was his.
Di Giannantonio pulled a huge stand-up wheelie over the line to celebrate a maiden Moto2™ victory in style, with Bezzecchi and Lowes joining him on the Jerez podium. Gardner took fourth ahead of Fernandez in fifth, with the title standings taking a significant shuffle as a result. Heading to Le Mans in a fortnight, it’s still Gardner that leads the way but Lowes now sits only three points adrift, with Fernandez a further three back in third.
Petronas Sprinta Racing’s Xavi Vierge was pushed all the way by Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) for sixth place, with the Spaniard holding on by just over a tenth of a second to the best the Japanese rider to ten valuable points. Italtrans Racing Team’s Joe Roberts took the chequered flag in eighth, ahead of Inde Aspar Team’s Aron Canet in ninth. The fight for the final place inside the top ten was settled on the final lap when Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) crashed out whilst trying to find a way through on Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP), meaning the German took tenth.
Marcos Ramirez (American Racing), Jorge Navarro (Lightech Speed Up), Stefano Manzi (Flexbox HP40), Lorenzo Baldassarri (MV Agusta Forward Racing) and Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) completed the points. Albert Arenas (Inde Aspar Team), Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP40) and Simone Corse (MV Agusta Forward Racing) all crashed out.
That’s a wrap on the Spanish GP. Next stop Le Mans in two weeks, with the Championship remaining close as ever ahead of another classic venue.
Fabio Di Giannantonio: “I feel amazing, honestly it feels amazing to come back to first spot and take my first victory in moto2, I sweated a lot to get this victory in the last two years and now it came… wow. Amazing! The race was amazing and I made a fantastic start which I didn’t expect because always at the start I’m not so good, but I made a fantastic start and when I was there I just said, ‘ok do your rhythm and lines, enjoy the bike… 41.5/6 was coming quite easily so in the end just an amazing result, what can I say, just a big smile.!”
Acosta plays another ace to make more history in Jerez
The rookie sensation extends his lead with another milestone win as huge final corner drama shakes up the podium
Pedro Acosta (37) taking the victory in Moto3. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is no stranger to making some history in 2021, but the rookie sensation has done it again in the Gran Premio Red Bull de España, fighting through to the front and escaping some final corner drama for his third win in a row. He’s the youngest rider ever to do that, and he’s also the first rider ever to take four podiums on his first four Grand Prix appearances. Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) took second as the veteran got his gloves off at the front, with Jeremy Alcoba (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) overcoming two Long Lap penalties to complete the podium.
As the lights went out it was Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) who took the holeshot from pole, the Japanese rider leading the freight train away shadowed by Andera Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Gabriel Rodrigo (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3). Rodrigo hit quick for second though, before the Argentinean duelled for the lead and took it after a few exchanges.
Drama then hit for John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) as the Scotsman crashed out, and more drama wasn’t long coming. After a shuffle just behind saw Rodrigo pull out a small gap, disaster struck as the pack started to close back in. A crash at Turn 7 saw the early leader out the running, with Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) taking over at the front as he and teammate Ayumu Sasaki made early gains.
By 17 to go, two key contenders were out, those with penalties had started taking their Long Laps, and Acosta was on a charge. Up into second behind the fellow KTM of Öncü, the Championship leader had made short work of his P13 starting position to slot into the front four, and he soon hit the front for the first time not long after.
The freight train was 14 riders at the front as the classic Moto3™ melee began in earnest, but in another blink of an eye a second group managed to tag on to make it 19 riders fighting for 15 points-scoring positions once again. The next man out of that train was sadly polesitter Suzuki though, with the Japanese rider crashing and able to rejoin but then heading into pitlane.
Meanwhile, at the front it was a story of three KTMs and things were getting spicy between Öncü, Acosta and his teammate Jaume Masia. Fenati made for close company in fourth, with Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing), Sasaki and Migno the last in a now-breakaway group of seven fighting for the win. That spice, however, made life and pace harder work at the front and soon enough the concertina drew the pack back together. There remained, however, a distinctly orange flavour to the gaggle at the front…
At the exit of Turn 6 on the penultimate lap, there was a heart in mouth moment for Acosta as he had a big moment, leaving Öncü duelling Masia for the lead and a gap back to Fenati and Acosta. After the final corner and the slipstream down the straight, however, the two leaders were back pegged to Acosta and Fenati… and in that order.
Heading into Turn 6 for the last time, there were no repeats of his moment a lap earlier for Acosta. As Öncü defended too hard from Masia, a tiny gap opened on the inside and Acosta needed no invitation. Slamming into the lead it was the number 37 on the verge of history once again, but there was more drama coming at the final corner.
Öncü, after losing the lead earlier, was looking ready to make a lunge and the Turk went for it up the inside, then losing the front and sliding out with a domino disaster: Masia was first collected before Binder also got swiped, with all three down into the run off and Acosta left with a clear run to the line. In the right place at the right time, the Spaniard had closed the door to perfection for his third win in three races.
Fenati avoided the skittle to come through for second, with Alcoba gaining from the crash ahead to convert a difficult race into an impressive ride back through to the podium. Fourth went to Migno as he retained his impressive 2021 consistency, with Sasaki in fifth after another good turn of speed from the Japanese rider fighting at the front.
Carlos Tatay (Reale Avintia Moto3) took sixth ahead of an impressive seventh for Jason Dupasquier (CarXpert PrüstelGP), with Niccolo Antonelli (Reale Avintia Moto3), Xavier Artigas (Leopard Racing) and Ryusei Yamanaka (CarXpert PrüstelGP) completing the top ten and the front group. Izan Guevara (Solunion GASGAS Aspar Team), Filip Salač (Rivacold Snipers Team), Sergio Garcia (Solunion GASGAS Aspar Team) and Yuki Kunii (Honda Team Asia) completed the points.
That’s it from Jerez and another stunner from the man of the moment. What awaits in Le Mans? We’ll find out soon enough with just one weekend off before the French Grand Prix.
Pedro Acosta: “Normally here I have some problems to get the pace for my racing style but the team worked so hard because in Warm Up we were changing the setting a bit to be competitive in the race. Öncü and Romano were in another world, they were so strong, but in the end I knew what the strategy for the last lap was: trying to cross the finish line first. And we’re here again!”
More, from a press release issued by Italtrans Racing:
Top ten for Joe Roberts at Jerez de la Frontera.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta finishes close to the points.
Uncolored race for Italtrans Racing Team at Jerez de la Frontera, that hosted the fourth round of the 2021 MotoGP World Championship.
After finishing close to the podium in the Portuguese Grand Prix, unfortunately this weekend Joe Roberts won’t be able to realize the good intentions. Starting from the third row of the grid with the 8th best time in qualifying, the American rider set a constant pace throughout the race without gaining positions, struggling with the tires. After 23 laps Roberts was 8th at the chequered flag.
Race close to the points for Lorenzo Dalla Porta. He has recovered positions starting 23rd, but in the last laps lost confidence with the front and could not keep up with the pace of the front group, finishing 16th.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta (19). Photo courtesy Italtrans Racing.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta
16°
“Tough race in which I struggled to pick up the pace and more speed. I started from the back and the group in front of me was far away: I managed to recover some positions, but I did not catch it. Towards the end I struggled with the front tire and this didn’t allow me to push harder. It was the best I could do. Now let’s focus on Le Mans with the aim of doing more”.
Joe Roberts (16). Photo courtesy Italtrans Racing.
Joe Roberts
8°
“I’m a bit disappointed with the race. We had the potential for done more, but for some reasons from the first lap I struggled to find the right feeling with the rear and I struggled all the race. Anyway, the 8th final position is good as we got some points for the championship. Let’s go to Le Mans which is one of my favourite circuits”.
Giovanni Sandi, Technical Director:
“Dull race from which we gain experience. We know that we were not perfect, but today it was important to take the result home. That are races. Joe had a constant pace but had never been efficient, while Lorenzo gained some positions. Let’s put this weekend away and look forward to next one”.
More, from a press release issued by American Racing Team:
Marcos Ramirez earns season-best Moto2 finish at home race in Jerez
American Racing teammate Cameron Beaubier suffers last-lap heartbreak
CADIZ, Spain (May 2, 2021) — American Racing’s Marcos Ramirez delivered an inspirational points-paying performance on Sunday at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, which hosted Round 4 of the FIM Moto2 World Championship, the Grand Prix of Spain.
The 23-year-old Spaniard missed the first two rounds of the season in Qatar with a painful shoulder injury. Two weeks later in Portugal, he bravely finished 15th, earning his first championship point of the season.
After that race, Ramirez elected to have surgery on his right arm to reduce the effects of compartment syndrome.
“Together with the small discomforts in my shoulder,” he said, “it did not allow me to be 100%. I really want to fight.”
Teammate Cameron Beaubier faced his own challenges this weekend, including getting to know his new crew chief, Grand Prix veteran Stuart Shenton.
“This weekend started off rough,” said the 28-year-old Californian, who qualified 16th, two places behind Ramirez.
Marcos Ramirez (42) leading teammate Cameron Beaubier (6) at Jerez. Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
On Sunday, Ramirez leapt straight into the top 10 on the opening lap.
“Marcos had the best start since joining the team—really aggressive,” said American Racing Race Director John Hopkins. “He got loads of positions right at the beginning, so that was a huge step forward for him.”
Lapping consistently in the low-to-mid 1:42s, Ramirez spent most of the race in either 10th or 11th, where he finished.
“After the surgery,” said Ramirez, “I think this is a good result.”
Cameron Beaubier (6) leading Jorge Navarro (9) at Jerez. Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
Beaubier passed Ramirez near the end of the race to take over 11th. The 28-year-old American made a mistake on his Triumph-powered Kalex and fell on the last lap.
“I was trying to line up a pass for the top 10,” said Beaubier. “I am pretty bummed, but I am glad I got another race distance under my belt.”
Hopkins is pleased with Beaubier’s progress this season.
“Cameron is looking a lot more comfortable,” he said. “He finally feels like the bike is his own. Coming from Superbike, he had to make so many changes—riding style, bike settings, everything.”
Gresini Moto2’s Fabio Di Giannantonio won the 23-lap race. KTM Ago rider Remy Gardner leads the title chase. After four rounds, Beaubier is 14th in the championship points standings. Ramirez is 19th.
Round 5 of the FIM Moto2 World Championship, the French Grand Prix at the Le Mans Bugatti Grand Prix race circuit, is May 14-16.
“Marcos and Cameron are looking really strong,” said Hopkins. “I think both of them can be in the top 10 at Le Mans.”
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.
Kelly, Gilbert, Scott, And De Keyrel Win Openers At Road Atlanta
Sean Dylan Kelly Takes Supersport Victory In Opening Round
BRASELTON, GA (May 1, 2021) – ECSTAR Suzuki’s Sean Dylan Kelly drew first blood in the 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship with his victory over rival Richie Escalante in the season-opener at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, but in the other support classes it was mostly new blood taking advantage of the class champions exiting stage left.
Sean Dylan Kelly (40) and Richie Escalante (1) during MotoAmerica Supersport Race One at Road Atlanta. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica
Supersport: Here We Go Again
The tight battles at the front of the Supersport field that were an every-race occurrence last year between 2021 Champion Escalante and title runner-up Kelly picked up right where they left off in Supersport race one at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Kelly, who started from the pole aboard his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki, got the holeshot twice in the red-flagged race and held off all but one of Escalante’s attempts to take the lead. The HONOS Kawasaki rider, who ended up having to race his 2020 HONOS Kawasaki after crashing his 2021 green machine in final qualifying, couldn’t match Kelly’s pace. Kelly showed that 2021 may flip the script as his margin over Escalante at the checkers was more than 2.6 seconds. Cycle Gear Racing Yamaha’s Nolan Lamkin survived the attrition that led to the red flag and successfully reached the podium for his best-ever result in Supersport competition.
“I’m really happy with how this weekend is going so far,” Kelly said. “This is exactly what I came for. I prepared a lot this off-season – not only me, but also my team. We worked really hard together after a tough 2020 season. I learned a lot last year. I knew this year what I was coming into and I came prepared. I’m really happy with this. We’ve been working really hard since yesterday. We got the pole this morning. I really do think this race was if not the best, one of the best of my career just because of the pace I had. I’m sometimes not known for being able to go by myself and making fast laps with a really good pace like Richie. That was his strongest point last year. That’s exactly what I worked for this off-season. This is what we worked for all weekend, just to be able to pull really, really fast, consistent laps all week through the whole race, and that’s exactly what I did. I think three laps to go I set one of my fastest ever laps at this racetrack. Really proud of the work from my team. Really proud of believing in me and trying to make steps forward. It wasn’t only me; it was the package. I feel like the package we have this year is definitely better, and that’s the most important part. It’s a team effort at the end of the day. Really happy with the race. Definitely a hard battle at the beginning. I think we still have some work to do for tomorrow, some things that I saw compared to Richie (Escalante) and some things that I just felt throughout the race. Really happy with the feeling, happy with the start. This is only the start of the year, so looking forward to continuing and doing a good job.”
Michael Gilbert (55) leads Ashton Yates (22) and Travis Wyman (10) during Stock 1000 Race One at Road Atlanta. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Stock 1000: Gilbert Gets It Done
In Saturday’s Stock 1000 race, long-time literbike road racer Michael Gilbert got the victory aboard his brand-new Kawasaki ZX-10R, and he prevailed over hard-charging Jones Honda rider Ashton Yates, who was also aboard a brand-new bike – the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP. Both riders battled hard in the 13-lap event, as did third-place finisher Travis Wyman, who raced his trusty BMW S 1000 RR to a coveted spot on the podium.
“It has been a long time since we got a win and honestly, there was a point in December or January where we weren’t really sure we were going to be racing,” Gilbert said. “We got a few really key sponsors – Chuckwalla Valley Raceway back in Southern California being one of them, giving us an amazing place to train during the winter with JP43 Training. All the work that we do through the winter and then Octane Lenny came on board right at the last minute and really kind of sealed the deal to put us back in the MotoAmerica paddock and give us a strong package to work with. I’ve got to give it up to my guys, including Jason Aguilar. It’s a bummer to see him not on a Superbike. I know he was trying to put a program together, but I’m so, so happy that I snagged him to work for me this weekend. It’s been really fun just to have a good friend in the pits and someone who is really, really smart. Josh Merrill, as well. My dad back home, Graves Motorsports. Everyone that has just put an amazing motorcycle under me. To get back to it, it has been a long time. I could get used to this. I like hearing you say my name. So, we’re going to keep working hard and try and do it again tomorrow.”
Kaleb De Keyrel (51). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Twins Cup: De Keyrel And Aprilia Win
Coming into the Twins Cup season, the big question was, how would the brand-new Aprilia RS 660 fare in MotoAmerica’s rough-and-tumble “tuner class.” Very well, thank you very much. In Twins Cup race one, the new, twin-cylinder middleweight sportbike swept the podium with Robem Engineering’s Kaleb De Keyrel taking the victory over Righteous Racing’s Jody Barry – who has returned to the MotoAmerica Series after a few years away – and Hayden Schultz, who is one of De Keyrel’s teammates.
“It was super fun,” De Keyrel said about the race. “Really good battle for quite a ways through. Overall, I can’t complain. Showing up here never riding the bike before and being right on pace pretty much right off the bat just really proved to myself that I did my homework in the off-season. I did a ton of training at the go-kart track and been riding motocross a ton, making sure that I’m physically fit and ready. I knew we were going to kind of be a little bit under-prepared as far as getting testing in on the bike because we didn’t have enough time. The Aprilia came out so late in the year that we didn’t have a whole lot of time. Really, we’re just lucky to be here. I wouldn’t be here without Matt (Spicer) and Gene (Burcham) and all of (Robem Engineering) putting in so many hours on the bike and working through everything, turning it into a race bike. Just to even be here was a huge feat in itself. I just wanted to leave here with solid points. Obviously, I was involved in the championship hunt last year and I ended up losing, so I’m hungry to prove that I can be a frontrunner and win races. That’s what we did today. Just did the best we could, like we always do. It was a lot of fun.”
Tyler Scott (70) leads Ben Gloddy (72), Cody Wyman (34) and the rest of the Junior Cup field at Road Atlanta. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup: Scott Takes Debut Win
The final race of the day on Saturday at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta was in SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup, and a brand-new rider in MotoAmerica emerged with the victory in the red-flagged-and-restarted event. Tyler Scott raced his KTM to the win by just .271 of a second over Landers Racing Kawasaki’s Ben Gloddy. Veloce Racing Kawasaki’s David Kohlstaedt finished third, which was the first MotoAmerica podium of his career.
“I got the start both times and I passed (polesitter) Gus (Rodio) on the first lap,” Scott said. “From there on I’m like, ‘I’m going to try to pull away.’ Every few laps coming out of turn seven, I would look back and there was always someone there. So, I knew I had to keep pushing and keep being consistent, otherwise they were going to overtake me. In the end, the last lap was a little stressful because I knew if Ben passed me anywhere past the halfway point in the lap, I was probably going to end up second. But I kept pushing and I got the win.”
More, from a press release issued by Team Hammer:
SEAN DYLAN KELLY OPENS 2021 WITH A WIN IN ATLANTA
Sean Dylan Kelly (40). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Team Hammer.
Team Hammer, racing as M4 ECSTAR Suzuki, came away victorious in its season-opening salvo at Road Atlanta, scoring a win, a runner-up, and four top-fives on the first race day of the 2021 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship.
The win came courtesy of M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Sean Dylan Kelly, who picked right up where he left off in 2020. The MotoAmerica Supersport title hopeful was in full haymaker mode in the race’s opening stages, starting from pole and trading the lead back and forth in a heated dogfight.
‘SDK’ then exploited a minor mistake on his rival’s part to open a small gap around half-distance and never provided him an opportunity to make up for it. Kelly fully broke the pursuit with a series of scorching late laps aboard his Suzuki GSX-R600, winning the race by 2.618 seconds.
“I think it was one of the best races of my career,” said Kelly. “I’m really pleased with how strong we have started the year. I’m happy with our package of the bike, the crew, and how I am riding and this is the beginning to our season we were hoping for. I’ve been focusing on being smart and being good at the end of the races, so I am really proud of this one. We need to keep our feet on the ground and keep improving but this was a good one today.”
Kelly was joined in the top five by team newcomer and fellow teenager Sam Lochoff. In his MotoAmerica Supersport debut, the South African fought his way up to third position after starting on the fourth row. From there, Lochoff engaged in a three-way battle for the podium to the checkered flag, ultimately earning an impressive fifth.
MotoAmerica Superbike teammates Bobby Fong and Cameron Petersen got M4 ECSTAR Suzuki off to a similarly strong start in the premier class. The GSX-R1000R-armed Fong clawed his way up from outside the top five to finish as the dramatic contest’s runner-up, with Petersen coming home two positions further down the order in fourth.
“We’re still getting the bike dialed in, but it was a good race out there,” Fong said. “We had some good race pace there at the end. We just had to settle for second today, but I’m looking for more tomorrow. I can’t give it up enough to my M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team; they’ve been busting their butts all weekend.”
Meanwhile, Wyatt Farris rounded out the day for M4 ECSTAR Suzuki with a 13th-place ride in the Stock 1000 opener. He said, “We’ve been a bit behind it this weekend. I got hurt right before the test in Texas and didn’t really get to do too many laps. And sometimes you have little gremlins that like to show their face on race weekends. We’ve been fighting through that, but I’ve really got to give it up to my guys. These guys haven’t stopped, sun up to sundown, trying to get me sorted. I’m not where I want to be. I expect more from myself and us as a program, so we’ll just keep our heads down and keep working.”
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki will be back in action on Sunday at Road America for another full slate of racing.
About Team Hammer
The 2021 season marks Team Hammer’s 41st consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 109 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 293 times and have won nine AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport.) The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
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Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
June 7, 2026
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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,
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
