Adrian Fernandez was quickest during Moto3 World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Le Mans Bugatti Circuit, in France. Riding his Leopard Racing Honda on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard covered the 2.6-mile (4.19 km) road course in 1:40.882, topping the field of 26 riders.
Ryusei Yamanaka was the best of the rest with a 1:41.000 on his FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI and his teammate Angel Piqueras was third with a lap time of 1:41.243.
Road racing made its return to Utah last weekend in a big way! The highly anticipated 2025 season opener for the Utah Sport Bike Association took place May 3-4 at the world class Burt Brothers Motorpark (formerly known as Utah Motorsports Campus). The USBA raised the bar this season providing a race program that adds even more excitement and value for their racers by introducing Qualifying for all classes and Saturday’s premier event, the Endurance Race. Add this to the coveted Burt Brothers “King of the Mountain” race and a refined sprint race schedule and these are race weekends you won’t want to miss.
There was a buzz around the paddock Saturday morning beyond that of race engines warming up. Who was going to set the fastest laps for their respective classes and start from pole position in their races? Racers didn’t have to wait long to find out as the track went hot at 8:00 a.m. and the fast-qualifying laps started coming in! When KOM racers went out for their first qualifying session things picked up right where they left off as reigning #1 plate holder Anthony Norton and previous club champion Brian Childree topped the charts. In the second qualifying session, Norton bested his previous time and ripped off a 1:33.7 lap, solidifying p1, followed local legend Shane Turpin making his return to the grid who went 1:36.7 seating him 3rd behind Childree’s 1:36.5 in 2nd. The fastest Novice qualifier was new racer Alex Cantrell with a respectable 1:40.5 which was just the beginning of an epic weekend for him.
With the grids set, time to go racing!
The first “lights out” of the season was the Precision Fab Machinery Middleweight SBK Novice race! Racers were fighting for PFab purse money paid in both Saturday’s and Sunday’s races for the class. Fastest novice qualifier, Alex Cantrell went straight to work with the holeshot and put his head down for 7 laps to take the victory and a paycheck but the battle raged for the final podium spots where Landon Mattson lead Dakota Burford across the line for 2nd and 3rd both earning their piece of the purse money. Alex went on to win 8 novice races on the weekend and plans to join the expert ranks for Round 2 in just 3 weeks.
The action continued as Saturday sprint races rolled on with intense battles and non-stop racing action leading into the day’s Main Event, the return of Endurance racing to USBA.
Teams and solo riders took to the grid with a mix of strategies and bikes to start the race. Starting 1-2 for the race were heavy hitters Anthony “Lugnut” Norton aboard the Precision Fab Kawasaki ZX-10R and Shane “Tornado” Turpin piloting his Paradigm Racing Yamaha R6. The two rubbed elbows off the grid and leaning into Turn 1 where Norton secured the holeshot, but Turpin latched on, and they rode Dunlop to Dunlop for 4 laps. On lap 5, Turn 5, Turpin took a hard tumble from P2, bringing out a red-flag stop, and riders returned to hot pit. Unfortunately, Shane was unable to remount for the restart due to injuries sustained; we all wish him a speedy recovery and hope he returns to the grid soon. On the restart, Norton once again nailed the light and led for a 30-minute stint before handing the bike over to teammate Kohl Burmester, who rode the Racers Edge Dunlop-shod Kawaski for the remainder of the race and straight to victory lane! The top ironman solo rider, was Mark Taylor on his ultra lightweight entry; he finished just two laps down to the top overall finishers. Endurance racing is back!
On Sunday morning, sprint racing action continued. Norton showed some serious pace in the morning’s Open Superstock race, looking prepared to defend his KOM streak when the premier race was to take place just after lunch. With the threat of wet weather coming, all eyes were on the sky! Just 30 minutes before last call for the Burt Brothers King of the Mountain race, the skies opened up and down came the rain. Race Direction rightfully declared it a “wet race” and racers scrambled to mount their rain or DOT tires to then take their grid positions. Revs up, lights out, and Lou Saccoccio led the KOM racers into Turn 1 on the damp track, but Norton leaped into the lead through Turn 3. Brian Naylor aboard his ZX-6R found his way to P2 on Lap 1 with Lou in tow and a hard-charging Alex Zinaich lurking behind! On Lap 2, Zinaich exchanged places with Lou for 3rd and then on Lap 3 Alex overtook Naylor for 2nd. On the same lap Lou found his way past Naylor for 3rd and the top 3 were Norton, Zinaich, Saccoccio, with Brian Naylor 4th representing the top Middleweight rider in the running order. In tricky conditions with a drying track, Norton seemed to be managing his lead while Zinaich put in consistent laps attempting to close the gap but as the laps wound down and the checkered flag waved it was Norton taking 1st with Zinaich 2nd, and Lou Saccoccio bringing his R1 home in 3rd, all three claiming their piece of the hefty Burt Brothers Tire & Service Purse Money.
This was Alex Zinaich’s first KOM podium and when asked about his race he said “With the race declared wet, at first call I chose to run an old Q3+ and Q4 that I had. Turned out I pulled a ‘Jack Miller’ and got the tire choice right. By Lap 2 the track had dried out a bit and I watched everyone boil their rains off. I’m happy to get on the box this weekend. I would like to thank my fiancé Aubrey Credaroli and The Jojo for their relentless pit crew support. Also, thanks to Young Powersports of Centerville, Bison Track and azridingacademy.”
After a long weekend of racing, reigning club champion Norton was all smiles and when asked about his weekend he had this to say: “What a Blast. Awesome to have the entire Precision Fab Machinery team here supporting me and the USBA. The Endurance race was a blast, and their support made it even more fun. Thanks to my friend and teammate Kohl for riding his butt off to help us secure the win! Damon, with Legal Ride, came out to race and support me as well. Great to have him out and his help wrenching to get the bike ready for the weird conditions of KOM. So great having these people all in my corner. Great job by the club and Race Direction creating an exciting and safe weekend for us racers! Also, I want to wish a speedy recovery to Shane (Turpin), it’s an honor to share the racetrack with The Tornado and I hope to battle again soon.”
Round 1 is in the books and that was just a taste of the excitement this season has in store. We are just three short weeks away from Round 2 which will be held on the West course at Burt Brothers Motorpark, and we can’t wait! Join us for endurance and sign up early to save on your entry fees. The USBA would like to thank title sponsor Utah Motorcycle Law for all they do to help the show continue to grow here in Utah and of course we couldn’t do it without all our class sponsors, fans, and of course the race warriors on track! We will see you all May 25-26 for Round 2! Visit Utahsba.com for more details.
USBA 2025 Round 1 Results RRW
KTM Red Bull’s Pedro Acosta has been cleared to take part in this weekend’s Michelin Grand Prix of France. Acosta underwent surgery after the Jerez round for chronic compartment syndrome on his right forearm.
However, IDEMITSU Honda LCR rider Somkiat Chantra, who also had surgery for arm pump on April 30, will not be on the track at Le Mans. Dr. Xavier Mir, who did the procedure, recommended more time off before returning to racing, and the team agreed.
“The team fully supports Somkiat’s recovery process and looks forward to welcoming him back on track soon,” LCR Honda said.
Lewis Earns Podium; Collins Achieves Season-Best Top 10; Nassaney Fights Through Injury; Williams Shows Determination Despite Crash.
(Braselton, GA) — The latest round of the 2025 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship took place at Road Atlanta, and Altus Motorsports continued to build momentum with standout performances from its four-rider lineup. With changing weather conditions and a deep field, the team showed both speed and resilience.
Supersport – Continued Progress Across the Board
After qualifying 5th in Q2, Jake Lewis backed up his speed with two solid results in the races on his Yamaha YZF-R9. He led almost the entirety of Race 1 in mixed conditions but had to settle for 2nd. He followed it with 6th in Race 2, keeping himself well inside the top 10 in the championship standings
Jake Lewis: “It stings a bit to lead the entire race and lose a win on the last lap but I’m still really happy with that ride. We have made really good progress with the R9 since Barber and will hopefully be fighting for these podiums the rest of the season. I have to give a huge thank you to the whole Altus Motorsports Team for busting their butts for me. My Crew Chief, Jeremy McWilliams; my mechanic, Will; LJ; and Murph on the electronics.”
Torin Collins had his strongest weekend yet, qualifying 10th and finishing 13th in Race 1, before a season-best 8th in Race 2 on his Suzuki GSX-R750.
Torin Collins: “Great confidence booster in Atlanta. The bike and team were dialed in, and we found a solid direction in setup—it showed on track. A strong P10 in qualifying set the tone for the weekend. Race 1 was tricky with the 50/50 conditions, but I managed to bring it home with more points on the board. Race 2 was the highlight—rode hard and aggressive, battled throughout, and came away with a solid P8 and my first top 10 of the season. Even with a nagging thumb injury, my pace was right there with the front group, which is a great sign of what’s to come. We’re building momentum.”
Owen Williams qualified lower than he wanted in 17th aboard his Suzuki GSX-R750. After a great start in Race 1, he worked his way up to 10th, right behind teammate Jaret Nassaney, by lap 3. Unfortunately, Jaret crashed and Owen ran off track after taking avoiding action and was pushed to the back, but he fought his way back to 23rd. Attempting to move up quickly into Turn 1 in Race 2, he was a bit overaggressive and crashed out.
Owen Williams: “Atlanta was a roller coaster of conditions and unexpected challenges. However, I’m leaving the weekend feeling confident and ready to bring the fight for the top ten for round 3 at my favorite track in Wisconsin.”
Jaret Nassaney had perhaps the most turbulent weekend of all. After losing a chain in Practice 1 that destroyed his swingarm and motor, the team rebuilt his YZF-R9 in time for Q1. He qualified 13th. He had an amazing start in Race 1 and, despite the challenging mixed conditions, he moved up to 9th place. He felt good and was pushing hard, confident in his top-5 pace. Unfortunately, he lost the rear on the exit of turn 1 and crashed out of the race. He took the Sunday start a bit battered and bruised, but toughed it out to finish in 14th.
Jaret Nassaney: “Yeah, a bit of a roller coaster weekend! Race 1 was wet but drying—I got an amazing start and was up to 9th by the first lap. I felt like I had the pace for the top 5, but the rear snapped coming out of Turn 1 and launched me off. Beat up my hand and elbow pretty good. Race 2, I was more beat up than I realized. My shoulder and elbow were hurting, plus I had some brake fade, but salvaged a few points in 14th. Not the weekend I was hoping for, but I’ll keep working and come back stronger.”
The Altus Motorsports squad showed fight, pace, and continued improvement at Road Atlanta. With confidence growing and Road America next on the calendar, the team is aiming to convert lessons learned into podium performances.
“The entire team is really starting to gel,” said George Nassaney, Team Owner. “It feels like a family which is the vibe we have always strived for at Altus. Despite the crashes, I am extremely proud of how all of our riders are doing and the way our crew is stepping up to support them. I am really looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Altus Motorsports team is supported by our great family of sponsors: Altus Motorsports, WPS, Firepower, Yamaha Motorsports, Buy A Jet From Steve Main, Barnett, HotBodies Racing, M4 Exhausts, Vortex EK, Motion Pro, SBS Brakes, BrakeTech USA, Inc., GP Racing, K-Tech, Maxima Racing Oils, Attack Racing, Team Hammer, RS Taichi, Arai, Core Moto, Pro Bolt, Chicken Hawk Tire Warmers, Law Tigers Oklahoma, and Altus Factory Racing.
Road Atlanta, GA — PS Squared Racing made an inspiring and determined debut in the MotoAmerica Stock 1000 class this past weekend at Road Atlanta, fielding talented rider Cory Ventura on the Aprilia RSV4 1100. Backed by Crew Chief Brandon Cole of Powersport Supply and Lead Mechanic William Luce, the team faced and overcame adversity in what proved to be a memorable first outing.
Following a promising first qualifying session that showcased Ventura’s pace and the competitiveness of the RSV4 1100, the team encountered a mechanical issue heading into the drying second qualifying session. The issue ultimately led to a crash that caused significant damage to the motorcycle, rendering it unrepairable, missing Saturday’s opening race.
Undeterred, the PS Squared crew sprang into action. Working tirelessly through the night, Cole and Luce converted a demo bike—acquired from Aprilia and ridden on the street earlier that same day—into a fully prepared race machine. The effort not only demonstrated the exceptional versatility and capability of the Aprilia RSV4 1100 but also underscored its remarkable closeness to competition-spec motorcycles straight from the showroom floor.
Under clear skies Sunday morning, Ventura took to the track for warm-up, familiarizing himself with the hastily prepped machine. By race time, he confidently lined up on the grid for Race 2—an achievement that brought immense satisfaction to the entire team. A strong start saw Ventura quickly settle into a rhythm, clocking lap times several seconds faster than his qualifying efforts. His pace would have placed him in contention for a top-10 finish, affirming both the potential of the bike and the capabilities of the team. Unfortunately a minor mechanical gremlin led to his premature retirement from the race.
Reflecting on the weekend, Ventura remarked, “Now we have something to work with.”
PS Squared Racing would like to extend its sincere gratitude to Robem Engineering, without whom none of this would have been possible. The team also wishes to thank its supporters and partners whose backing made this effort a reality: Piaggio Group North America / Aprilia, Imperial Sportbikes, Infinity Fall Protection, and our technical partners Thermosman / Öhlins Suspension, Dunlop Tires, SC Project Exhaust / Motovation, Blud Lubricants, and Vesrah Brakes.
With valuable experience gained and momentum building, PS Squared is excited to continue developing the impressive Aprilia RSV4 1100 as they set their sights on the next round at Road America. The team is eager to carry forward the progress made at Road Atlanta and continue showcasing their determination and skill throughout the MotoAmerica season.
Rossi Attila Moore, the Hungarian-American talent from the Révész Racing Next Generation Riders Team, representing Team MMR, competed on May 4 in Estoril, Portugal, to kick off his campaign in the FIM JuniorGP Moto2 category.
The first two days of the race weekend—Thursday and Friday—were spent on free practice sessions. The weather was unpredictable, and on Saturday morning, the track was completely wet for practice. Due to less-than–ideal bike settings, Rossi crashed twice, significantly reducing his track time. However, for Q1, the team made completely new adjustments, including a revised gear ratio, which had already shown promise during start simulations.
Despite minor bruises and pain from the morning crashes, Rossi gave it his all and finished the first qualifying session in 5th place—just 0.078-second behind 4th place but losing the chance to advance to Q2. As a result, he started Sunday’s race from 19th on the grid.
By the time the first race in the morning gridded up, around 80% of the track had dried. While no rain fell, the surface hadn’t fully dried yet. A slick tire would have been the logical choice, but Rossi’s lead engineer decided otherwise, opting for wet tires — a decision that unfortunately didn’t pay off. One of the biggest losses of the race was Eric Fernandez, who was leading but crashed on the penultimate lap. Rossi fought hard for a points-scoring position, but due to the poor tire choice and bike performance, he finished 17th. The race was won by Spain’s Unai Orradre, ahead of Francesco Mongiardo and fellow Italian Alberto Surra.
In the afternoon’s second race, Rossi had a great start, and the bike responded better on the racing lines. He continuously overtook his rivals and eventually finished in 13th place, earning 3 valuable championship points.
There’s a lot of work ahead before the next race. The team knows there were mistakes with the bike settings and understands what needs to be done to ensure that by June 1 in Jerez, the camera will be focused on bike number 92 for the entire race.
FIM Mini Cup USA/MotoAmerica Mini Cup Qualifier
Round Two, May 3-4
Apex Motorsports Park, Perris, California
GP 190 (All Ohvale)
1. Anthony Lupo, Jr.
2. Kensei Matsudaira
3. Ulises Weyrauch
4. Seth Kemnitz
5. Williams Dalu
6. Parker Busse
7. Blake Sorrentino
GP 160 (All Ohvale)
1. Jase Dill
2. Zaal Farhand
3. Maverick Johnson
4. Gabriel Datis
5. Artur Pinol-Castellanos
6. Lambert Su
7. Kendall Leonard
8. Sierra Boll
9. Chase Jazikoff
10. Mason McIntire
GP 110 (All Ohvale)
1. Zaal Farhand
2. Lambert Su
3. Chase Jazikoff
Stock 110
1. Luke Shen (Honda)
Stock 50
1. Marcus Su (Honda)
2. Kyle Kang (Honda)
3. Camdyn Dill (Honda)
4. Cooper Jazikoff (Honda)
5. Rylee Raines (Honda)
6. Carter Blackner (Honda)
7. Thiago Pascual (Yamaha)
8. Ethan Banks (Honda)
Le Mans has hosted a Grand Prix on 37 previous occasions, including the Grand Prix “Vitesse du Mans” in 1991, which is the only year that two GPs have been held in France in the same year. Le Mans hosted its first GP in 1969, when the 500cc race was won by Giacomo Agostini, who lapped all the other riders in the race on his MV Agusta. 2019 was the 50th anniversary of the first GP in Le Mans and 2025 is the 60-year anniversary of Le Mans “Bugatti” circuit. It’s over a quarter of a century that Le Mans has hosted consecutive motorcycle Grands Prix, starting in 2000.
In addition to Le Mans, there have been seven other circuits that have hosted the French GP: Paul Ricard (13 times), ClermontFerrand (10), Nogaro (2), Reims (2), Rouen (2), Albi (1), Magny-Cours (1). Five French riders have won Grands Prix at Le Mans: Jean Auréal (125cc – 1969), Guy Bertin (125cc – 1979), Patrick Fernandez (350cc – 1979), Mike Di Meglio (125cc – 2008) and Louis Rossi (Moto3™ – 2012).
The best MotoGP result for a French rider at Le Mans is Johann Zarco who took second place in 2017 and 2021, and Raymond Roche’s second place in 1985. The other premier class podiums for French riders at Le Mans are: Zarco (P3 in 2023), Fabio Quartararo (P3 in 2021) and Christian Sarron (P3 in 1987). Of the 23 MotoGP™ races held at Le Mans in the modern era, 11 have either started in wet conditions or rain has started to fall during the race.
The years that the MotoGP™ race has been run under full dry conditions at Le Mans are 2004, 2010, 2011, 2014-2019 and from 2022 to 2024.
MOTOGP™ WINNERS AT LE MANS ON THE GRID
Marc Marquez 3 (2014, 2018, 2019)
Jorge Martin 1 (2024)
Maverick Viñales 1 (2017)
Jack Miller 1 (2021)
Enea Bastianini 1 (2022)
Marco Bezzecchi 1 (2023).
SPRINT WINNERS AT LE MANS
Jorge Martin 2 (2023, 2024)
FACTORIES AT LE MANS: BEST RESULTS
Honda’s last MotoGP win at Le Mans was Marc Marquez in 2019 from pole, which was Honda’s 300th win in the class. Marquez also won at the track in 2014 and in 2018. Yamaha’s last MotoGP at Le Mans was Viñales in 2017 from pole. Yamaha have had 10 wins at the track, including three consecutive wins with Jorge Lorenzo (2015 & 2016) and Maverick Viñales (2017), the latter of which marked the 500th win for a Yamaha rider in Grand Prix racing. Ducati have taken five premier class wins at the track, all in the last five years with five different riders: Danilo Petrucci (2020), Jack Miller (2021), Enea Bastianini (2022), Marco Bezzecchi (2023) and Jorge Martin (2024). Francesco Bagnaia qualified on pole in 2022 and 2023 and Martin in 2024, which are the only pole positions for Ducati in the class at this track. Martin won the two Sprints held at the track so far. Aleix Espargaro’s P3 in 2022 is Aprilia’s best MotoGP result in Le Mans. Pol Espargaro finished P3 at Le Mans in 2020, which is KTM’s best MotoGP result at the track.
EXTRA FACTS AND STATS 10 current riders have MotoGP podiums here: M. Marquez (5), Zarco (3), Viñales (2), Miller (2), Martin (2), Alex Marquez (1), Quartararo (1), Bastianini (1), Bezzecchi (1), Bagnaia (1). 6 have taken pole: M. Marquez (4), Quartararo (2), Bagnaia (2), Viñales (1), Zarco (1), Martin (1). 4 riders have scored points in all five of the MotoGP™ races so far this season: Francesco Bagnaia, Alex Marquez, Fabio Quartararo and Luca Marini. And four have scored points in all five Tissot Sprints: Marc Marquez, Alex Marquez, Morbidelli and Bagnaia. It means only A. Marquez and Bagnaia have scored points in both the five GP races and Sprints.
WHAT HAPPENS IF…
1954 Both Johann Zarco and Fabio Quartararo will be aiming to become the first French rider to take a MotoGP win on home soil since Pierre Monneret in Reims back in 1954. Jacques Collot finished P3 in that race, which was the first time two French riders shared a MotoGP podium.
115 If Marc Marquez finishes in the top three, it will be his 115th MotoGP podium, moving above MotoGP Legend Jorge Lorenzo in second on the list of riders with the most podiums.
86 If a Ducati qualifies in the top three, it will be the 86th consecutive GP that a Ducati rider starts on the front row, a run that stretches back to Valencia 2020.
72 Ducati are on a streak of 71 podiums in a row. Another will extend their own record to 72. The last manufacturer with more than 72 podiums in a row is Honda with 83 from the FIM GP 1993 to the Imola GP 1999.
23 A Ducati win would be their 23rd in a row, setting a record of the most MotoGP wins in a row.
20 Rookie Fermin Aldeguer will be 20 years and 36 days old on Sunday and can become the youngest MotoGP™ winner ahead of Marc Marquez (20 years and 63 days old in Austin, 2013).
7 If a rider other than M. Marquez (2019), Petrucci (2020), Miller (2021), Bastianini (2022), Bezzecchi (2023) and Martin (2024) wins the MotoGP™ race, they will be the seventh different winner in seven MotoGP races at Le Mans.
6 There are now six riders on the grid who could take their maiden MotoGP win this weekend: Raul Fernandez, Luca Marini, Pedro Acosta and rookies Ai Ogura, Somkiat Chantra and Fermin Aldeguer.
1 Aprilia and KTM riders could give their factory a maiden premier class win at Le Mans.
KTM factory MotoGP rider Pedro Acosta has been cleared to travel from Barcelona to Le Mans for the Michelin Grand Prix of France this weekend.
Acosta underwent surgery after the MotoGP race at Jerez on his right forearm to relieve chronic compartment syndrome, also known as arm pump. His medical checkup today was described as positive by the team, allowing him to travel. He will receive a final check by MotoGP medical staff on Thursday to formally clear him to compete in this weekend’s on-track activities.
Veterans Waters and Allerton share ASBK victories at Queensland Raceway.
Ducati pair Josh Waters and Glenn Allerton emerged with the major spoils in a day of contrasts at round three of the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) at Queensland Raceway on May 4.
Waters (McMartin Racing) easily prevailed in SW-Motech Superbike race one to make it six wins on the spin before afternoon rain opened the door for Allerton (Superbike Advocates Racing) to greet the chequered flag in the premier category for the first time in nine years.
Waters (1-3) was the overall winner at Queensland Raceway, extending his lead in the eight-round championship to 32pts over Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team).
Allerton (4-1) was second overall in round three from Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha, 3-2), who shared the same scoreline as Jones (2-4) after the latter was also awarded a bonus point for pole position.
Wet or dry, Waters continues to rack up big points as he shoots for a fifth Superbike title.
“The McMartin Racing Team continues to provide me with a fantastic motorcycle, and I’m just so happy with how this round has gone at a circuit I hadn’t won at before,” Waters said.
“The races were obviously very different, and in race two the track was quite sketchy after the rain – but obviously the same for everyone.
“My bike just kept spinning off the line, but I managed to work myself into a great battle with Mike.”
SW-Motech Superbike race one
The Waters juggernaut continued in the SW-Motech Superbike opener as he defeated Jones by just under a second to bring up his 39th victory in the class – in the process slaying his Queensland Raceway demons where he hadn’t won in 22 previous races.
The duo sparred for the first five laps before Waters went up a gear and broke the lap record – which now stands at 1m7.265s – to build a race-defining lead.
Jones and West were also unchallenged in second and third for the balance of the 16-lapper, while Allerton literally came from the clouds – last position on the grid after electrical issues in qualifying – to finish fourth from Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati) and Max Stauffer (Yamaha Racing Team). As it turned out, there would be more heroics from Allerton just a few hours later…
Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Yamaha) and Cameron Dunker (MotoGO Yamaha) completed the top eight.
SW-Motech Superbike race two
A magnificent victory for Allerton – his first success in the premier category since 2016, his eighth at Queensland Raceway and the 27th in an illustrious career.
The race started innocuously enough on a dry track with Jones, Waters and West in close company, but everyone knew rain was coming – and that it did around a third into the race.
It was red-flagged and, after changes to suspension, engine mapping and tyres, it was restarted as a shortened eight-lapper.
Allerton was immediately on the front foot, blasting straight into the lead and holding it until the end.
It looked like West was capable of making a move, but it didn’t materialise and the gap between the two was just over four seconds at the end.
“I had a great flow with the bike in race one, and I knew if a red flag came in race two I’d be in the mix,” said Allerton.
“I’m just so happy to be back on the top step after such a long time.”
Meanwhile, Waters and Jones traded before Waters got the upperhand for the last spot on the podium.
Jonathan Nahlous (Omega Racing Team Yamaha) was fifth – recovering after a near highside – ahead of Stauffer, Pearson and Ty Lynch (Unitek Racing Yamaha).
Waters is now on 169pts from Jones (137), West (123), Allerton (99) and Nahlous (99).
Round four will be held at Morgan Park Raceway (Qld) from June 13-16.
ASBK round three: Supersport, Supersport 300 and R3 Cup reviews
Round three of the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) at Queensland Raceway on May 2-4 had it all: intrigue, tension, twists and turns and stunning performances from seasoned veterans to gifted teens.
Ducati duo Josh Waters and Glenn Allerton were the race winners in a fascinating SW-Motech Superbike shootout, so now let’s breakdown what transpired in the Kawasaki Supersport, Race and Road Supersport 300 and ShopYamaha R3 classes.
Kawasaki Supersport
Plenty of smiles in the Kawasaki Supersport paddock after two of the category’s more popular statesmen – Tom Bramich and Olly Simpson – won a race each around the 3.126km layout.
The victories also snapped the all-conquering Stop and Seal Yamaha team’s five-race winning streak, although Jack Mahaffy did extend his lead in the championship standings with teammate Archie McDonald competing overseas.
Bramich’s victory on his Yamaha in race one was his third in Supersport, and his first since the final ASBK round at The Bend in 2023.
He held his nerve despite intense pressure from fellow Victorian Mahaffy, who was riding with an injury after a crash in the Asia Road Race Championship round in Thailand the week before. Jesus Torres Cabrera (Yamaha) was an excellent third, fighting his way back through the pack after being run wide on lap one.
“It’s great to be back up here: it’s been far too long,” said Bramich. “It’s been a tough start to the year, but my team never gives up and we continue to make progress.”
Hayden Nelson (BCperformance Kawasaki), Cameron Swain (Stop and Seal Yamaha) and Marcus Hamod (Honda) were the next riders home, while a jump-start penalty followed by an off-track excursion amounted to a disappointing race for polesitter Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha), who finished 10th.
Simpson (BCperformance Kawasaki) also ran off the circuit and finished ninth, but the South Aussie’s redemption came in race two after a stirring battle with Bramich, Mahaffy and Farnsworth – which also included feisty Spaniard Torres Cabrera before he lost the front end at turn four.
Just 0.398sec separated the leading quartet at the end, with Bramich second from Mahaffy, Farnsworth, Nelson and Swain.
It was not only BCperformance’s first win in Supersport, but also the first time a Kawasaki had tasted success in the class since way back in 2018.
After three of seven rounds, Mahaffy is now on 148pts from Simpson (121), McDonald (109), Bramich (102), Nelson (98) and Hamod (91).
Race and Road Supersport 300
As tradition dictates, the Race and Road Supersport 300 class produced plenty of drama and excitement – and some of the ‘dive bombs’ under heavy braking were not only spectacular, but sometimes a little ambitious!
Champions Ride Days teammates Jake Paige (1-1-17) and Riley Nauta (10-3-2) made it a 1-2 overall in Supersport 300, ahead of fellow Kawasaki rider Tyler King (8-4-4).
Scott Nicolson (Kawasaki) was the other race winner at Queensland Raceway, while Oscar Lewis(Motoschool Racing Yamaha) also finished on the podium.
Race two was a battle of attrition after Nicholson retired with a bike issue, while there were crashes for polesitter Hudson Thompson (Yamaha) and Valentino Knezovic (Yamaha) and the Simpsons – Mitch and Jordy – ran off the track in unison.
Lewis was second from Nauta, King, Nikolas Lazos (Yamaha) and Tara Morrison (Kawasaki).
After two red flags, a three-lap dash in the final battle saw Nicholson get the chocolates ahead of Nauta and Thompson.
The second red flag was flown after Lewis tapped the rear of Paige, with both riders going down at turn four. Paige made the restart from pitlane, and collected vital championship points.
Nicholson leads the championship on 158pts from Morrison (144), Jordy Simpson (134), Thompson (133) and Paige (130).
ShopYamaha R3 Cup
Only a couple of small rain bands swept across Queensland Raceway across the weekend, and the ShopYamaha R3 Cup riders bore the brunt of them.
On a damp track in races one and three, Mitch Simpson and Hudson Thompson were the dominant riders, with the former eking out the slightest of victories on both occasions.
In race two, 14-year-old Victorian Nikolas Lazos scored his maiden win in the class after a seven-rider drag to the finish line.
Thompson’s three second places saw him take the round honours from Mitch Simpson, Jordy Simpson and Oscar Lewis, while Mitch Simpson (103pts) leads the title from Jordy Simpson (88), Lazos (73), Lewis (73) and William Hunt (66).
More from a press release issued by Oceania Junior Cup.
Lewis and Williams push each other to the limit at Queensland Raceway.
It was yet another steep learning curve for Australia’s next wave of circuit racing stars at round two of the 2025 BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup (OJC) at Queensland Raceway from May 2-4.
Just as it had done at the season opener in March, one of the races was held on a wet track to place an extra premium on throttle control, race craft and strategy for the OJC riders.
Two riders enterprising in all conditions were Connor Lewis and Chaz Williams, with the duo flashing over the finish line in all three six-lap races barely inches apart.
Lewis won the first two before Williams turned the tables in the finale, while the third places were shared by Jai Strugnell, Hunter Charlett and Xavier Curmi.
For the round results from Queensland Raceway, click here.
In the wet opening race, Curmi was one of four riders to crash at turn two on lap one, which brought out the red flag followed by a full restart. Callum Campbell was the only one of the fallers to line up for the second attempt.
In the OJC standings, which have official Australian Junior Road Race Championship status, Williams’ lead was trimmed to 10pts (115 to 105) by Lewis in round two. Charlett (84pts) is in third from Rossi McAdam (77) and Strugnell (68).
For the current OJC standings after two of six rounds, click here.
The winner of the 2025 OJC will receive a fully supported ride in the 2026 Yamaha R3 BLU CRU Asia-Pacific Championship.
Round three of the OJC will be held at Morgan Park Raceway in Warwick from June 13-15, again alongside the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul.
Adrian Fernandez was quickest during Moto3 World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Le Mans Bugatti Circuit, in France. Riding his Leopard Racing Honda on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard covered the 2.6-mile (4.19 km) road course in 1:40.882, topping the field of 26 riders.
Ryusei Yamanaka was the best of the rest with a 1:41.000 on his FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI and his teammate Angel Piqueras was third with a lap time of 1:41.243.
Road racing made its return to Utah last weekend in a big way! The highly anticipated 2025 season opener for the Utah Sport Bike Association took place May 3-4 at the world class Burt Brothers Motorpark (formerly known as Utah Motorsports Campus). The USBA raised the bar this season providing a race program that adds even more excitement and value for their racers by introducing Qualifying for all classes and Saturday’s premier event, the Endurance Race. Add this to the coveted Burt Brothers “King of the Mountain” race and a refined sprint race schedule and these are race weekends you won’t want to miss.
There was a buzz around the paddock Saturday morning beyond that of race engines warming up. Who was going to set the fastest laps for their respective classes and start from pole position in their races? Racers didn’t have to wait long to find out as the track went hot at 8:00 a.m. and the fast-qualifying laps started coming in! When KOM racers went out for their first qualifying session things picked up right where they left off as reigning #1 plate holder Anthony Norton and previous club champion Brian Childree topped the charts. In the second qualifying session, Norton bested his previous time and ripped off a 1:33.7 lap, solidifying p1, followed local legend Shane Turpin making his return to the grid who went 1:36.7 seating him 3rd behind Childree’s 1:36.5 in 2nd. The fastest Novice qualifier was new racer Alex Cantrell with a respectable 1:40.5 which was just the beginning of an epic weekend for him.
With the grids set, time to go racing!
The first “lights out” of the season was the Precision Fab Machinery Middleweight SBK Novice race! Racers were fighting for PFab purse money paid in both Saturday’s and Sunday’s races for the class. Fastest novice qualifier, Alex Cantrell went straight to work with the holeshot and put his head down for 7 laps to take the victory and a paycheck but the battle raged for the final podium spots where Landon Mattson lead Dakota Burford across the line for 2nd and 3rd both earning their piece of the purse money. Alex went on to win 8 novice races on the weekend and plans to join the expert ranks for Round 2 in just 3 weeks.
The action continued as Saturday sprint races rolled on with intense battles and non-stop racing action leading into the day’s Main Event, the return of Endurance racing to USBA.
Teams and solo riders took to the grid with a mix of strategies and bikes to start the race. Starting 1-2 for the race were heavy hitters Anthony “Lugnut” Norton aboard the Precision Fab Kawasaki ZX-10R and Shane “Tornado” Turpin piloting his Paradigm Racing Yamaha R6. The two rubbed elbows off the grid and leaning into Turn 1 where Norton secured the holeshot, but Turpin latched on, and they rode Dunlop to Dunlop for 4 laps. On lap 5, Turn 5, Turpin took a hard tumble from P2, bringing out a red-flag stop, and riders returned to hot pit. Unfortunately, Shane was unable to remount for the restart due to injuries sustained; we all wish him a speedy recovery and hope he returns to the grid soon. On the restart, Norton once again nailed the light and led for a 30-minute stint before handing the bike over to teammate Kohl Burmester, who rode the Racers Edge Dunlop-shod Kawaski for the remainder of the race and straight to victory lane! The top ironman solo rider, was Mark Taylor on his ultra lightweight entry; he finished just two laps down to the top overall finishers. Endurance racing is back!
On Sunday morning, sprint racing action continued. Norton showed some serious pace in the morning’s Open Superstock race, looking prepared to defend his KOM streak when the premier race was to take place just after lunch. With the threat of wet weather coming, all eyes were on the sky! Just 30 minutes before last call for the Burt Brothers King of the Mountain race, the skies opened up and down came the rain. Race Direction rightfully declared it a “wet race” and racers scrambled to mount their rain or DOT tires to then take their grid positions. Revs up, lights out, and Lou Saccoccio led the KOM racers into Turn 1 on the damp track, but Norton leaped into the lead through Turn 3. Brian Naylor aboard his ZX-6R found his way to P2 on Lap 1 with Lou in tow and a hard-charging Alex Zinaich lurking behind! On Lap 2, Zinaich exchanged places with Lou for 3rd and then on Lap 3 Alex overtook Naylor for 2nd. On the same lap Lou found his way past Naylor for 3rd and the top 3 were Norton, Zinaich, Saccoccio, with Brian Naylor 4th representing the top Middleweight rider in the running order. In tricky conditions with a drying track, Norton seemed to be managing his lead while Zinaich put in consistent laps attempting to close the gap but as the laps wound down and the checkered flag waved it was Norton taking 1st with Zinaich 2nd, and Lou Saccoccio bringing his R1 home in 3rd, all three claiming their piece of the hefty Burt Brothers Tire & Service Purse Money.
This was Alex Zinaich’s first KOM podium and when asked about his race he said “With the race declared wet, at first call I chose to run an old Q3+ and Q4 that I had. Turned out I pulled a ‘Jack Miller’ and got the tire choice right. By Lap 2 the track had dried out a bit and I watched everyone boil their rains off. I’m happy to get on the box this weekend. I would like to thank my fiancé Aubrey Credaroli and The Jojo for their relentless pit crew support. Also, thanks to Young Powersports of Centerville, Bison Track and azridingacademy.”
After a long weekend of racing, reigning club champion Norton was all smiles and when asked about his weekend he had this to say: “What a Blast. Awesome to have the entire Precision Fab Machinery team here supporting me and the USBA. The Endurance race was a blast, and their support made it even more fun. Thanks to my friend and teammate Kohl for riding his butt off to help us secure the win! Damon, with Legal Ride, came out to race and support me as well. Great to have him out and his help wrenching to get the bike ready for the weird conditions of KOM. So great having these people all in my corner. Great job by the club and Race Direction creating an exciting and safe weekend for us racers! Also, I want to wish a speedy recovery to Shane (Turpin), it’s an honor to share the racetrack with The Tornado and I hope to battle again soon.”
Round 1 is in the books and that was just a taste of the excitement this season has in store. We are just three short weeks away from Round 2 which will be held on the West course at Burt Brothers Motorpark, and we can’t wait! Join us for endurance and sign up early to save on your entry fees. The USBA would like to thank title sponsor Utah Motorcycle Law for all they do to help the show continue to grow here in Utah and of course we couldn’t do it without all our class sponsors, fans, and of course the race warriors on track! We will see you all May 25-26 for Round 2! Visit Utahsba.com for more details.
USBA 2025 Round 1 Results RRW
KTM Red Bull’s Pedro Acosta has been cleared to take part in this weekend’s Michelin Grand Prix of France. Acosta underwent surgery after the Jerez round for chronic compartment syndrome on his right forearm.
However, IDEMITSU Honda LCR rider Somkiat Chantra, who also had surgery for arm pump on April 30, will not be on the track at Le Mans. Dr. Xavier Mir, who did the procedure, recommended more time off before returning to racing, and the team agreed.
“The team fully supports Somkiat’s recovery process and looks forward to welcoming him back on track soon,” LCR Honda said.
Lewis Earns Podium; Collins Achieves Season-Best Top 10; Nassaney Fights Through Injury; Williams Shows Determination Despite Crash.
(Braselton, GA) — The latest round of the 2025 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship took place at Road Atlanta, and Altus Motorsports continued to build momentum with standout performances from its four-rider lineup. With changing weather conditions and a deep field, the team showed both speed and resilience.
Supersport – Continued Progress Across the Board
After qualifying 5th in Q2, Jake Lewis backed up his speed with two solid results in the races on his Yamaha YZF-R9. He led almost the entirety of Race 1 in mixed conditions but had to settle for 2nd. He followed it with 6th in Race 2, keeping himself well inside the top 10 in the championship standings
Jake Lewis: “It stings a bit to lead the entire race and lose a win on the last lap but I’m still really happy with that ride. We have made really good progress with the R9 since Barber and will hopefully be fighting for these podiums the rest of the season. I have to give a huge thank you to the whole Altus Motorsports Team for busting their butts for me. My Crew Chief, Jeremy McWilliams; my mechanic, Will; LJ; and Murph on the electronics.”
Torin Collins had his strongest weekend yet, qualifying 10th and finishing 13th in Race 1, before a season-best 8th in Race 2 on his Suzuki GSX-R750.
Torin Collins: “Great confidence booster in Atlanta. The bike and team were dialed in, and we found a solid direction in setup—it showed on track. A strong P10 in qualifying set the tone for the weekend. Race 1 was tricky with the 50/50 conditions, but I managed to bring it home with more points on the board. Race 2 was the highlight—rode hard and aggressive, battled throughout, and came away with a solid P8 and my first top 10 of the season. Even with a nagging thumb injury, my pace was right there with the front group, which is a great sign of what’s to come. We’re building momentum.”
Owen Williams qualified lower than he wanted in 17th aboard his Suzuki GSX-R750. After a great start in Race 1, he worked his way up to 10th, right behind teammate Jaret Nassaney, by lap 3. Unfortunately, Jaret crashed and Owen ran off track after taking avoiding action and was pushed to the back, but he fought his way back to 23rd. Attempting to move up quickly into Turn 1 in Race 2, he was a bit overaggressive and crashed out.
Owen Williams: “Atlanta was a roller coaster of conditions and unexpected challenges. However, I’m leaving the weekend feeling confident and ready to bring the fight for the top ten for round 3 at my favorite track in Wisconsin.”
Jaret Nassaney had perhaps the most turbulent weekend of all. After losing a chain in Practice 1 that destroyed his swingarm and motor, the team rebuilt his YZF-R9 in time for Q1. He qualified 13th. He had an amazing start in Race 1 and, despite the challenging mixed conditions, he moved up to 9th place. He felt good and was pushing hard, confident in his top-5 pace. Unfortunately, he lost the rear on the exit of turn 1 and crashed out of the race. He took the Sunday start a bit battered and bruised, but toughed it out to finish in 14th.
Jaret Nassaney: “Yeah, a bit of a roller coaster weekend! Race 1 was wet but drying—I got an amazing start and was up to 9th by the first lap. I felt like I had the pace for the top 5, but the rear snapped coming out of Turn 1 and launched me off. Beat up my hand and elbow pretty good. Race 2, I was more beat up than I realized. My shoulder and elbow were hurting, plus I had some brake fade, but salvaged a few points in 14th. Not the weekend I was hoping for, but I’ll keep working and come back stronger.”
The Altus Motorsports squad showed fight, pace, and continued improvement at Road Atlanta. With confidence growing and Road America next on the calendar, the team is aiming to convert lessons learned into podium performances.
“The entire team is really starting to gel,” said George Nassaney, Team Owner. “It feels like a family which is the vibe we have always strived for at Altus. Despite the crashes, I am extremely proud of how all of our riders are doing and the way our crew is stepping up to support them. I am really looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Altus Motorsports team is supported by our great family of sponsors: Altus Motorsports, WPS, Firepower, Yamaha Motorsports, Buy A Jet From Steve Main, Barnett, HotBodies Racing, M4 Exhausts, Vortex EK, Motion Pro, SBS Brakes, BrakeTech USA, Inc., GP Racing, K-Tech, Maxima Racing Oils, Attack Racing, Team Hammer, RS Taichi, Arai, Core Moto, Pro Bolt, Chicken Hawk Tire Warmers, Law Tigers Oklahoma, and Altus Factory Racing.
Road Atlanta, GA — PS Squared Racing made an inspiring and determined debut in the MotoAmerica Stock 1000 class this past weekend at Road Atlanta, fielding talented rider Cory Ventura on the Aprilia RSV4 1100. Backed by Crew Chief Brandon Cole of Powersport Supply and Lead Mechanic William Luce, the team faced and overcame adversity in what proved to be a memorable first outing.
Following a promising first qualifying session that showcased Ventura’s pace and the competitiveness of the RSV4 1100, the team encountered a mechanical issue heading into the drying second qualifying session. The issue ultimately led to a crash that caused significant damage to the motorcycle, rendering it unrepairable, missing Saturday’s opening race.
Undeterred, the PS Squared crew sprang into action. Working tirelessly through the night, Cole and Luce converted a demo bike—acquired from Aprilia and ridden on the street earlier that same day—into a fully prepared race machine. The effort not only demonstrated the exceptional versatility and capability of the Aprilia RSV4 1100 but also underscored its remarkable closeness to competition-spec motorcycles straight from the showroom floor.
Under clear skies Sunday morning, Ventura took to the track for warm-up, familiarizing himself with the hastily prepped machine. By race time, he confidently lined up on the grid for Race 2—an achievement that brought immense satisfaction to the entire team. A strong start saw Ventura quickly settle into a rhythm, clocking lap times several seconds faster than his qualifying efforts. His pace would have placed him in contention for a top-10 finish, affirming both the potential of the bike and the capabilities of the team. Unfortunately a minor mechanical gremlin led to his premature retirement from the race.
Reflecting on the weekend, Ventura remarked, “Now we have something to work with.”
PS Squared Racing would like to extend its sincere gratitude to Robem Engineering, without whom none of this would have been possible. The team also wishes to thank its supporters and partners whose backing made this effort a reality: Piaggio Group North America / Aprilia, Imperial Sportbikes, Infinity Fall Protection, and our technical partners Thermosman / Öhlins Suspension, Dunlop Tires, SC Project Exhaust / Motovation, Blud Lubricants, and Vesrah Brakes.
With valuable experience gained and momentum building, PS Squared is excited to continue developing the impressive Aprilia RSV4 1100 as they set their sights on the next round at Road America. The team is eager to carry forward the progress made at Road Atlanta and continue showcasing their determination and skill throughout the MotoAmerica season.
Rossi Attila Moore, the Hungarian-American talent from the Révész Racing Next Generation Riders Team, representing Team MMR, competed on May 4 in Estoril, Portugal, to kick off his campaign in the FIM JuniorGP Moto2 category.
The first two days of the race weekend—Thursday and Friday—were spent on free practice sessions. The weather was unpredictable, and on Saturday morning, the track was completely wet for practice. Due to less-than–ideal bike settings, Rossi crashed twice, significantly reducing his track time. However, for Q1, the team made completely new adjustments, including a revised gear ratio, which had already shown promise during start simulations.
Despite minor bruises and pain from the morning crashes, Rossi gave it his all and finished the first qualifying session in 5th place—just 0.078-second behind 4th place but losing the chance to advance to Q2. As a result, he started Sunday’s race from 19th on the grid.
By the time the first race in the morning gridded up, around 80% of the track had dried. While no rain fell, the surface hadn’t fully dried yet. A slick tire would have been the logical choice, but Rossi’s lead engineer decided otherwise, opting for wet tires — a decision that unfortunately didn’t pay off. One of the biggest losses of the race was Eric Fernandez, who was leading but crashed on the penultimate lap. Rossi fought hard for a points-scoring position, but due to the poor tire choice and bike performance, he finished 17th. The race was won by Spain’s Unai Orradre, ahead of Francesco Mongiardo and fellow Italian Alberto Surra.
In the afternoon’s second race, Rossi had a great start, and the bike responded better on the racing lines. He continuously overtook his rivals and eventually finished in 13th place, earning 3 valuable championship points.
There’s a lot of work ahead before the next race. The team knows there were mistakes with the bike settings and understands what needs to be done to ensure that by June 1 in Jerez, the camera will be focused on bike number 92 for the entire race.
FIM Mini Cup USA/MotoAmerica Mini Cup Qualifier
Round Two, May 3-4
Apex Motorsports Park, Perris, California
GP 190 (All Ohvale)
1. Anthony Lupo, Jr.
2. Kensei Matsudaira
3. Ulises Weyrauch
4. Seth Kemnitz
5. Williams Dalu
6. Parker Busse
7. Blake Sorrentino
GP 160 (All Ohvale)
1. Jase Dill
2. Zaal Farhand
3. Maverick Johnson
4. Gabriel Datis
5. Artur Pinol-Castellanos
6. Lambert Su
7. Kendall Leonard
8. Sierra Boll
9. Chase Jazikoff
10. Mason McIntire
GP 110 (All Ohvale)
1. Zaal Farhand
2. Lambert Su
3. Chase Jazikoff
Stock 110
1. Luke Shen (Honda)
Stock 50
1. Marcus Su (Honda)
2. Kyle Kang (Honda)
3. Camdyn Dill (Honda)
4. Cooper Jazikoff (Honda)
5. Rylee Raines (Honda)
6. Carter Blackner (Honda)
7. Thiago Pascual (Yamaha)
8. Ethan Banks (Honda)
Le Mans has hosted a Grand Prix on 37 previous occasions, including the Grand Prix “Vitesse du Mans” in 1991, which is the only year that two GPs have been held in France in the same year. Le Mans hosted its first GP in 1969, when the 500cc race was won by Giacomo Agostini, who lapped all the other riders in the race on his MV Agusta. 2019 was the 50th anniversary of the first GP in Le Mans and 2025 is the 60-year anniversary of Le Mans “Bugatti” circuit. It’s over a quarter of a century that Le Mans has hosted consecutive motorcycle Grands Prix, starting in 2000.
In addition to Le Mans, there have been seven other circuits that have hosted the French GP: Paul Ricard (13 times), ClermontFerrand (10), Nogaro (2), Reims (2), Rouen (2), Albi (1), Magny-Cours (1). Five French riders have won Grands Prix at Le Mans: Jean Auréal (125cc – 1969), Guy Bertin (125cc – 1979), Patrick Fernandez (350cc – 1979), Mike Di Meglio (125cc – 2008) and Louis Rossi (Moto3™ – 2012).
The best MotoGP result for a French rider at Le Mans is Johann Zarco who took second place in 2017 and 2021, and Raymond Roche’s second place in 1985. The other premier class podiums for French riders at Le Mans are: Zarco (P3 in 2023), Fabio Quartararo (P3 in 2021) and Christian Sarron (P3 in 1987). Of the 23 MotoGP™ races held at Le Mans in the modern era, 11 have either started in wet conditions or rain has started to fall during the race.
The years that the MotoGP™ race has been run under full dry conditions at Le Mans are 2004, 2010, 2011, 2014-2019 and from 2022 to 2024.
MOTOGP™ WINNERS AT LE MANS ON THE GRID
Marc Marquez 3 (2014, 2018, 2019)
Jorge Martin 1 (2024)
Maverick Viñales 1 (2017)
Jack Miller 1 (2021)
Enea Bastianini 1 (2022)
Marco Bezzecchi 1 (2023).
SPRINT WINNERS AT LE MANS
Jorge Martin 2 (2023, 2024)
FACTORIES AT LE MANS: BEST RESULTS
Honda’s last MotoGP win at Le Mans was Marc Marquez in 2019 from pole, which was Honda’s 300th win in the class. Marquez also won at the track in 2014 and in 2018. Yamaha’s last MotoGP at Le Mans was Viñales in 2017 from pole. Yamaha have had 10 wins at the track, including three consecutive wins with Jorge Lorenzo (2015 & 2016) and Maverick Viñales (2017), the latter of which marked the 500th win for a Yamaha rider in Grand Prix racing. Ducati have taken five premier class wins at the track, all in the last five years with five different riders: Danilo Petrucci (2020), Jack Miller (2021), Enea Bastianini (2022), Marco Bezzecchi (2023) and Jorge Martin (2024). Francesco Bagnaia qualified on pole in 2022 and 2023 and Martin in 2024, which are the only pole positions for Ducati in the class at this track. Martin won the two Sprints held at the track so far. Aleix Espargaro’s P3 in 2022 is Aprilia’s best MotoGP result in Le Mans. Pol Espargaro finished P3 at Le Mans in 2020, which is KTM’s best MotoGP result at the track.
EXTRA FACTS AND STATS 10 current riders have MotoGP podiums here: M. Marquez (5), Zarco (3), Viñales (2), Miller (2), Martin (2), Alex Marquez (1), Quartararo (1), Bastianini (1), Bezzecchi (1), Bagnaia (1). 6 have taken pole: M. Marquez (4), Quartararo (2), Bagnaia (2), Viñales (1), Zarco (1), Martin (1). 4 riders have scored points in all five of the MotoGP™ races so far this season: Francesco Bagnaia, Alex Marquez, Fabio Quartararo and Luca Marini. And four have scored points in all five Tissot Sprints: Marc Marquez, Alex Marquez, Morbidelli and Bagnaia. It means only A. Marquez and Bagnaia have scored points in both the five GP races and Sprints.
WHAT HAPPENS IF…
1954 Both Johann Zarco and Fabio Quartararo will be aiming to become the first French rider to take a MotoGP win on home soil since Pierre Monneret in Reims back in 1954. Jacques Collot finished P3 in that race, which was the first time two French riders shared a MotoGP podium.
115 If Marc Marquez finishes in the top three, it will be his 115th MotoGP podium, moving above MotoGP Legend Jorge Lorenzo in second on the list of riders with the most podiums.
86 If a Ducati qualifies in the top three, it will be the 86th consecutive GP that a Ducati rider starts on the front row, a run that stretches back to Valencia 2020.
72 Ducati are on a streak of 71 podiums in a row. Another will extend their own record to 72. The last manufacturer with more than 72 podiums in a row is Honda with 83 from the FIM GP 1993 to the Imola GP 1999.
23 A Ducati win would be their 23rd in a row, setting a record of the most MotoGP wins in a row.
20 Rookie Fermin Aldeguer will be 20 years and 36 days old on Sunday and can become the youngest MotoGP™ winner ahead of Marc Marquez (20 years and 63 days old in Austin, 2013).
7 If a rider other than M. Marquez (2019), Petrucci (2020), Miller (2021), Bastianini (2022), Bezzecchi (2023) and Martin (2024) wins the MotoGP™ race, they will be the seventh different winner in seven MotoGP races at Le Mans.
6 There are now six riders on the grid who could take their maiden MotoGP win this weekend: Raul Fernandez, Luca Marini, Pedro Acosta and rookies Ai Ogura, Somkiat Chantra and Fermin Aldeguer.
1 Aprilia and KTM riders could give their factory a maiden premier class win at Le Mans.
KTM factory MotoGP rider Pedro Acosta has been cleared to travel from Barcelona to Le Mans for the Michelin Grand Prix of France this weekend.
Acosta underwent surgery after the MotoGP race at Jerez on his right forearm to relieve chronic compartment syndrome, also known as arm pump. His medical checkup today was described as positive by the team, allowing him to travel. He will receive a final check by MotoGP medical staff on Thursday to formally clear him to compete in this weekend’s on-track activities.
Veterans Waters and Allerton share ASBK victories at Queensland Raceway.
Ducati pair Josh Waters and Glenn Allerton emerged with the major spoils in a day of contrasts at round three of the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) at Queensland Raceway on May 4.
Waters (McMartin Racing) easily prevailed in SW-Motech Superbike race one to make it six wins on the spin before afternoon rain opened the door for Allerton (Superbike Advocates Racing) to greet the chequered flag in the premier category for the first time in nine years.
Waters (1-3) was the overall winner at Queensland Raceway, extending his lead in the eight-round championship to 32pts over Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team).
Allerton (4-1) was second overall in round three from Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha, 3-2), who shared the same scoreline as Jones (2-4) after the latter was also awarded a bonus point for pole position.
Wet or dry, Waters continues to rack up big points as he shoots for a fifth Superbike title.
“The McMartin Racing Team continues to provide me with a fantastic motorcycle, and I’m just so happy with how this round has gone at a circuit I hadn’t won at before,” Waters said.
“The races were obviously very different, and in race two the track was quite sketchy after the rain – but obviously the same for everyone.
“My bike just kept spinning off the line, but I managed to work myself into a great battle with Mike.”
SW-Motech Superbike race one
The Waters juggernaut continued in the SW-Motech Superbike opener as he defeated Jones by just under a second to bring up his 39th victory in the class – in the process slaying his Queensland Raceway demons where he hadn’t won in 22 previous races.
The duo sparred for the first five laps before Waters went up a gear and broke the lap record – which now stands at 1m7.265s – to build a race-defining lead.
Jones and West were also unchallenged in second and third for the balance of the 16-lapper, while Allerton literally came from the clouds – last position on the grid after electrical issues in qualifying – to finish fourth from Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati) and Max Stauffer (Yamaha Racing Team). As it turned out, there would be more heroics from Allerton just a few hours later…
Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Yamaha) and Cameron Dunker (MotoGO Yamaha) completed the top eight.
SW-Motech Superbike race two
A magnificent victory for Allerton – his first success in the premier category since 2016, his eighth at Queensland Raceway and the 27th in an illustrious career.
The race started innocuously enough on a dry track with Jones, Waters and West in close company, but everyone knew rain was coming – and that it did around a third into the race.
It was red-flagged and, after changes to suspension, engine mapping and tyres, it was restarted as a shortened eight-lapper.
Allerton was immediately on the front foot, blasting straight into the lead and holding it until the end.
It looked like West was capable of making a move, but it didn’t materialise and the gap between the two was just over four seconds at the end.
“I had a great flow with the bike in race one, and I knew if a red flag came in race two I’d be in the mix,” said Allerton.
“I’m just so happy to be back on the top step after such a long time.”
Meanwhile, Waters and Jones traded before Waters got the upperhand for the last spot on the podium.
Jonathan Nahlous (Omega Racing Team Yamaha) was fifth – recovering after a near highside – ahead of Stauffer, Pearson and Ty Lynch (Unitek Racing Yamaha).
Waters is now on 169pts from Jones (137), West (123), Allerton (99) and Nahlous (99).
Round four will be held at Morgan Park Raceway (Qld) from June 13-16.
ASBK round three: Supersport, Supersport 300 and R3 Cup reviews
Round three of the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) at Queensland Raceway on May 2-4 had it all: intrigue, tension, twists and turns and stunning performances from seasoned veterans to gifted teens.
Ducati duo Josh Waters and Glenn Allerton were the race winners in a fascinating SW-Motech Superbike shootout, so now let’s breakdown what transpired in the Kawasaki Supersport, Race and Road Supersport 300 and ShopYamaha R3 classes.
Kawasaki Supersport
Plenty of smiles in the Kawasaki Supersport paddock after two of the category’s more popular statesmen – Tom Bramich and Olly Simpson – won a race each around the 3.126km layout.
The victories also snapped the all-conquering Stop and Seal Yamaha team’s five-race winning streak, although Jack Mahaffy did extend his lead in the championship standings with teammate Archie McDonald competing overseas.
Bramich’s victory on his Yamaha in race one was his third in Supersport, and his first since the final ASBK round at The Bend in 2023.
He held his nerve despite intense pressure from fellow Victorian Mahaffy, who was riding with an injury after a crash in the Asia Road Race Championship round in Thailand the week before. Jesus Torres Cabrera (Yamaha) was an excellent third, fighting his way back through the pack after being run wide on lap one.
“It’s great to be back up here: it’s been far too long,” said Bramich. “It’s been a tough start to the year, but my team never gives up and we continue to make progress.”
Hayden Nelson (BCperformance Kawasaki), Cameron Swain (Stop and Seal Yamaha) and Marcus Hamod (Honda) were the next riders home, while a jump-start penalty followed by an off-track excursion amounted to a disappointing race for polesitter Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha), who finished 10th.
Simpson (BCperformance Kawasaki) also ran off the circuit and finished ninth, but the South Aussie’s redemption came in race two after a stirring battle with Bramich, Mahaffy and Farnsworth – which also included feisty Spaniard Torres Cabrera before he lost the front end at turn four.
Just 0.398sec separated the leading quartet at the end, with Bramich second from Mahaffy, Farnsworth, Nelson and Swain.
It was not only BCperformance’s first win in Supersport, but also the first time a Kawasaki had tasted success in the class since way back in 2018.
After three of seven rounds, Mahaffy is now on 148pts from Simpson (121), McDonald (109), Bramich (102), Nelson (98) and Hamod (91).
Race and Road Supersport 300
As tradition dictates, the Race and Road Supersport 300 class produced plenty of drama and excitement – and some of the ‘dive bombs’ under heavy braking were not only spectacular, but sometimes a little ambitious!
Champions Ride Days teammates Jake Paige (1-1-17) and Riley Nauta (10-3-2) made it a 1-2 overall in Supersport 300, ahead of fellow Kawasaki rider Tyler King (8-4-4).
Scott Nicolson (Kawasaki) was the other race winner at Queensland Raceway, while Oscar Lewis(Motoschool Racing Yamaha) also finished on the podium.
Race two was a battle of attrition after Nicholson retired with a bike issue, while there were crashes for polesitter Hudson Thompson (Yamaha) and Valentino Knezovic (Yamaha) and the Simpsons – Mitch and Jordy – ran off the track in unison.
Lewis was second from Nauta, King, Nikolas Lazos (Yamaha) and Tara Morrison (Kawasaki).
After two red flags, a three-lap dash in the final battle saw Nicholson get the chocolates ahead of Nauta and Thompson.
The second red flag was flown after Lewis tapped the rear of Paige, with both riders going down at turn four. Paige made the restart from pitlane, and collected vital championship points.
Nicholson leads the championship on 158pts from Morrison (144), Jordy Simpson (134), Thompson (133) and Paige (130).
ShopYamaha R3 Cup
Only a couple of small rain bands swept across Queensland Raceway across the weekend, and the ShopYamaha R3 Cup riders bore the brunt of them.
On a damp track in races one and three, Mitch Simpson and Hudson Thompson were the dominant riders, with the former eking out the slightest of victories on both occasions.
In race two, 14-year-old Victorian Nikolas Lazos scored his maiden win in the class after a seven-rider drag to the finish line.
Thompson’s three second places saw him take the round honours from Mitch Simpson, Jordy Simpson and Oscar Lewis, while Mitch Simpson (103pts) leads the title from Jordy Simpson (88), Lazos (73), Lewis (73) and William Hunt (66).
More from a press release issued by Oceania Junior Cup.
Lewis and Williams push each other to the limit at Queensland Raceway.
It was yet another steep learning curve for Australia’s next wave of circuit racing stars at round two of the 2025 BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup (OJC) at Queensland Raceway from May 2-4.
Just as it had done at the season opener in March, one of the races was held on a wet track to place an extra premium on throttle control, race craft and strategy for the OJC riders.
Two riders enterprising in all conditions were Connor Lewis and Chaz Williams, with the duo flashing over the finish line in all three six-lap races barely inches apart.
Lewis won the first two before Williams turned the tables in the finale, while the third places were shared by Jai Strugnell, Hunter Charlett and Xavier Curmi.
For the round results from Queensland Raceway, click here.
In the wet opening race, Curmi was one of four riders to crash at turn two on lap one, which brought out the red flag followed by a full restart. Callum Campbell was the only one of the fallers to line up for the second attempt.
In the OJC standings, which have official Australian Junior Road Race Championship status, Williams’ lead was trimmed to 10pts (115 to 105) by Lewis in round two. Charlett (84pts) is in third from Rossi McAdam (77) and Strugnell (68).
For the current OJC standings after two of six rounds, click here.
The winner of the 2025 OJC will receive a fully supported ride in the 2026 Yamaha R3 BLU CRU Asia-Pacific Championship.
Round three of the OJC will be held at Morgan Park Raceway in Warwick from June 13-15, again alongside the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul.
