Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed North America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 25th consecutive year of showcasing what is actually an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica/AMA Pro races and Championships, including nine MotoAmerica/AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (10 times);
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2021 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
Rossi Moor, after winning the 2020 MotoAmerica Mini Cup 190 Championship. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Rossi Moor
Age: 13.
Current home: Budapest, Hungary (originally from Portland, Oregon).
Current tuners/mechanic: Snipers Mugen Race Junior Team.
Primary race series: Northern Talent Cup.
Top sponsors: Snipers Mugen Race Junior Team, AGV, Dainese.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2020 season, won MotoAmerica Mini Cup 190 Championship, won FIM Ohvale 190 Mini Road Racing Championship; 2019 season, placed 2nd in CIV (Italian) Ohvale GP-0 190 National Championship, won MotoAmerica Ohvale Talent Cup at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, won Ohvale GP-0 190 races in Hungarian National Championship, earned pole position and led a race at Ohvale World Championship, finished 25th in European Talent Cup race at Jerez (was youngest participant).
2021 racing goal: Win Northern Talent Cup Championship.
Racing career goal: Win MotoGP World Championship.
David Alonso heads Rookies Cup after 2 from 2 in Portimão
David Alonso snatched the double on the line of Race 2 at Portimão after a nine man Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup classic battle. Daniel Holgado, the 15-year-old Spaniard led out of the last corner but the 14-year-old Colombian was perfectly positioned and stole the win out of the slipstream with Àlex Millan, the 16-year-old Spaniard, on their tail in third.
Alonso did most of the leading after taking over from pole man Diogo Moreira after the 16-year-old Brazilian again made a great start and headed the KTM RC 250 R horde on lap one.
Unlike Race 1, Alonso could not break away but looked cool in front while the pack on his heels fought it out with typical Rookies intensity. David Muñoz just missed the podium with 4th ahead of Matteo Bertelle and Ivan Ortolá. Marcos Uriarte was challenging for the podium, slid off on the last lap but remounted to take 9th
Alonso wins the other way
“It was in incredible, I made a very good race. It was different from yesterday because yesterday I won alone and today I won in a fight to the line. That is very positive for me, to win in these two ways.”
“I made a good start, even better than yesterday. Then the same strategy, I tried to make my pace and go alone but the other riders improved, they were stronger than yesterday and I couldn’t get away.”
“I was still pushing the group because I felt strong and I waited for the last laps. Then in the last five laps I tried to push a little bit more but it was impossible so I maintained there. In the last two laps I tried to be in a good position for the last lap.”
“I could do it because on the last lap I was second and that was perfect. I tried to hold second through the lap and at the last corner I prepared and I passed Holgado.”
“I am super super happy because I learned from last year how to manage the last laps, where to overtake and I felt strong with the bike also, it is an amazing feeling. Now we have to keep working hard in Jerez.”
Holgado a great second
“An incredible race for me today. I did a good job yesterday and Friday and today the bike was good, I am happy for it. Yesterday in the last laps I didn’t have such a good feeling with the bike and the other riders were very fast but today I am happy with the race and the second place.”
Millan moves up to the podium
“It was a very fast race, a very difficult race. In the middle of the race the lead group broke away and I was fighting with the other riders, I pushed, push push and in the last two laps I got up to second and third and I finished third. I want to thank my helper and my mechanics, I am very happy and in Jerez we will fight for more.”
“The conditions were more or less the same as yesterday but with less wind. It was a very fast race, we had a hard fight at the front, we were pushing so much and it was difficult to overtake.”
David Muñoz wants more next time
“It was a good but very difficult race. Everyone is very aggressive but that is normal. Fourth position is good but I want more in Jerez.”
Earlier in the day ex Rookies Pedro Acosta and Raul Fernandez won the Moto3 and Moto2 GPs and Acosta is now the clear leader in the Moto3 World Championship after a 2nd and 2 wins from the first 3 races. Ex Rookies pack the first 5 places in the Moto3 points table.
KTM CONSOLIDATE PIVOTAL SAFETY AGREEMENT WITH MEDIKA AND JFJ CONSULTING AT MOTOGP™ GRANDE PREMIO 888 DE PORTUGAL
News – April 18th 2021
KTM have aligned with Portuguese prominent healthcare solutions company, Medika MCN Tecnologia Medicinal S.A. and its Austrian-based partner, JFJ Consulting GmbH, for the provision of 10,000 KTM customized FFP2 facemasks and a collaboration to offer the entire KTM AG workforce with best possible protection against COVID-19. The arrangement has been forged to provide the safest working conditions for the company principally based in Mattighofen, Austria.
The KTM AG was responsible for more than 326,000 motorcycles and e-bike sales in 2020; an increase from the figures posted in 2019 during what was a fraught first year adjusting to the limitations of the pandemic. The company was able to supersede expectations thanks to swift and effective business practices to accommodate the restrictions imposed by Covid-19, while ensuring the health and safety standards for the four-thousand strong workforce in Austria remained the highest priority.
KTM AG established a Coronavirus testing center at their factory facility and the unit is now also being used by the residents of Mattighofen and the surrounding areas. KTM, Husqvarna Motorcycles and GASGAS staff could count on periodic and diligent testing on-site and particularly before essential national and international travel.
The global appeal and the work carried out by employees of key brands KTM, Husqvarna Motorcycles and GASGAS means reassuring sanitary protection such as facemasks and vaccination is a valuable extra boost for both business and day-to-day activities.
Medika MCN Tecnologia Medicinal S.A. is devoted to flexible, forward-thinking and reliable healthcare solutions, often tailored to the exact needs of institution and with a customer-orientated philosophy. They carry out specialized projects of engineering and hospital management with equipment, technology and software of reputed international brands among other services. Together with its authorized Austrian partner, JFJ Consulting GmbH, MEDIKA S.A. is faithfully supporting KTM AG and other state institutions’ health interests in this pandemic situation.
Viktor Sigl, CFO (KTM AG Member of the Board): “KTM are aware of the responsibility towards our employees. With over 4,500 people, over 3,800 in Austria, we are a globally acting company and with the measures taken since the beginning of this pandemic we can look back on a challenging yet very successful financial year. The biggest challenge was – and still is – to minimize the risks arising from the Covid-19 pandemic for employees and at the same time to safeguard production capacities. We want to continue this success story by providing the best possible safety structure to our employees. Therefore we thank MEDIKA S.A. for their support in this way.”
Nuno Andrade, Administrator (MEDIKA MCN TECNOLOGIA MEDICINAL S.A): “We are very proud to support KTM AG with our high quality medical products in these difficult times. The Covid-19 pandemic crisis is challenging for all of us, however, the joint effort of KTM, JFJ Consulting GmbH and MEDIKA are helping to make the KTM work areas as safe as possible. The next step of our cooperation is trying to provide a Covid-19 vaccine to KTM.”
Featured In the April 2021 issue of Roadracing World:
Reigning MotoGP World Champion Joan Mir came into 2021 bursting for a fight with Marc Marquez, the man whose crown he stole. Last season Mir came out of nowhere to win racing’s biggest prize while his fellow Spaniard languished at home, nursing a broken arm.
When Mir wrapped up the 2020 World Championship some people said his success was of little value because Marquez hadn’t been around to defend the title he had won six times in the previous seven years. This is nonsense—there’s rarely been a Grand Prix season in which at least one of the title contenders hasn’t got hurt, because that’s what happens in motorcycle racing…
—MotoGP Analysis: Was It A Mir-Age? By Mat Oxley
Joan Mir shocked the racing world last year when he won the MotoGP title in only his second attempt. But he did so in the absence of MotoGP king Marc Marquez, so was his 2020 success a mirage, or can he win again in 2021? Read the insights of MotoGP Editor Mat Oxley on the upcoming Battle Royale—they’re in the latest issue of Roadracing World!
Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology is THE definitive source for motorcycle racing, riding, and tech information.
Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine is available in print and digital formats. SUBSCRIBE NOW . Or call (909) 654-4779, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. Read the April 2021 issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technologywith your online subscription. Log in HERE
Available at Cycle Gear and other motorcycle retailers.
Visit www.roadracingworld.com daily for breaking news and events.
Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/roadracingworld
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com @roadracingworld
Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com @roadracing_world
Last year he dominated in Moto3™ on the Algarve. This year, the rookie took to the top step in Moto2™ for the very first time – as Lowes crashes out
Raul Fernandez (25). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) just loves the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. After dominating at the track last season to sign off from Moto3™ with a win, the Spaniard returned in Moto2™ with a podium already under his belt and it seemed somewhat like fate. Fighting his way through a few big rivals, the Spaniard crossed the line a second and a half clear for his first intermediate class win, underlining his impressive form so far and moving up to second in the Championship. Aron Canet (Solunion Aspar Team) took his first Moto2™ podium in second after an impressive ride, with Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) charging past Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) late on to complete the podium. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) crashed out at Turn 1, leaving his key rivals with an open goal…
Lowes was the first big headline, that sending shockwaves through the race. Late on the brakes into Turn 1 after a tough start, the Brit was careering straight towards Gardner’s rear wheel and was forced to pick it up and run wide, the rear end then kicking him off. Rider ok, but some big drama to start the Moto2™ race.
At the front, Gardner led on Lap 1 but Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) was the man on the move in the opening exchanges and blasted past on the home straight. Roberts had made a good start from P8 to battle Gardner for P2 as the latter got out of shape coming out of Turn 1. Bezzecchi was able to pull out a healthy one second lead at the front but Canet was making moves and soon, the lead was cut to nothing as Gardner and the five other chasers reeled in the Italian.
Yet more drama unfolded just behind as we saw a huge crash involving Yari Montella (Lightech Speed Up) and Stefano Manzi (Flexbox HP40) at the final corner, both bikes catching fire in the gravel trap. Montella, who highsided, was taken to the medical centre for a check-up and later declared fit. And more: at Turn 5, the two Idemitsu Honda Team Asia riders were down as Ai Ogura made contact with American Racing’s Cameron Beaubier. Ogura got out of shape and couldn’t help but crash into Somkiat Chantra, an unfortunate racing incident between the two teammates.
Lap 11 saw Canet take the lead, but Roberts then pounced at Turn 1 as Canet and Bezzecchi went wide. Bezzecchi slipped to P4 as Gardner also passed the Italian, but one of the pre-race favourites then made a couple of mistakes in the soaring Portuguese heat. That saw the Aussie lose valuable ground as Canet and Roberts made a breakaway, but the Spaniard and American scrapped it out for a few laps and Canet also got a track limits warning. Enter Raul Fernandez. The rookie was lapping far superior to his rivals and he soon picked off both Roberts and Canet to take the lead with four to go, late race pace searing him through.
The rookie pulled 0.7s clear in three laps, setting another fastest lap of the race on Lap 21 of 23, a 1:42.86, and his teammate Gardner was finding some late pace too in P4, the Australian reeling in Roberts and Canet. Three personal best laps from Gardner was mega stuff but nothing was going to stop Raul Fernandez, on the final lap his lead was up to 1.2 seconds and it seemed the job was done as attentions turned to the three-way scrap for P2 and P3.
Roberts lunged up the inside of Canet at Turn 11, but Canet then dived back at Turn 13, but both ran slightly wide to give Gardner an invitation. Roberts switched to the inside for Turn 14 but the narrow line he took saw him open a small gap for the Aussie to squeeze into, an that he did – making some contact but getting through, Roberts staying on but watching th podium fade away.
Up the road though, Raul Fernandez had rounded the final corner to win his first Moto2™ race, with Canet cementing his first intermediate class podium with a hard-earned P2, escaping the discussion on whether rubbing is racing raging just behind him. Gardner’s third, however, sees him head to Jerez as Championship leader for the first time.
Roberts was unlucky to lose out on a podium in Portimão but it was nevertheless a great ride from the American. Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) backs up his Doha P6 with P5 as the Spaniard continues to find form in 2021, and Bezzecchi was eventually forced to settle for P6 having led in the early laps. Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) was a second behind Bezzecchi in a solid P7, with Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP40) earning his first points of the season in P8. Beaubier is a top 10 Moto2™ finisher after a brilliant ride to P9 on his first visit to the Algarve International Circuit, and Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) completed the top 10.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2), Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans Racing Team), Albert Arenas (Solunion Aspar Team), Lorenzo Baldassarri (MV Agusta Forward Racing) and Marcos Ramirez (American Racing) were the remaining point scorers.
Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) crashed at Turn 8 unhurt, with Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) taking out compatriot Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) at Turn 1.
As we leave the Algarve, the Moto2™ Championship is shaken up after another stunner. Heading to Jerez, three points split Gardner, Raul Fernandez and Lowes – so it’s game on in the Moto2™ title race!
Raul Fernandez: “Unbelievable. I want to say thanks to my team, they brought me the best bike of the weekend for the race. Yesterday I had bad luck in qualifying with the yellow flag, but this morning in warm up I said ‘eh, I have an incredible bike for the end of the race’. I had this problem in Qatar at the end of the race, I didn’t have too much tyre. It was incredible with my team and my family, it’s incredible. I don’t have words, I want to say thanks. We will see in the next race, this is one of my best tracks and we will see in Jerez.”
More, from a press release issued by KTM Factory Racing:
BACK-TO-BACK MOTO3™ VICTORIES FOR CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER ACOSTA AS FERNANDEZ WINS MOTO2™
Raul Fernandez on the Moto2 podium in Portugal. Photo by Polarity Photo, courtesy KTM.
2021 KTM GP Academy, Round 03 of 19, Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (POR) – Race
Red Bull KTM Ajo locked out both categories for the KTM GP Academy at the Grande Premio 888 de Portugal and the third round of the 2021 world championship. Pedro Acosta won in Moto3 and Raul Fernandez in Moto2™ for the first chapter of the MotoGP™ season on European soil.
Moto3
Red Bull KTM Ajo entered the Grand Prix at the spectacular and technical Autódromo Internacional do Algarve as undefeated in 2021 Moto3 thanks to the opening round victories by Jaume Masia and Pedro Acosta In Qatar. The two Spaniards were in the hunt for the top lap-times during Free Practice and Qualification that hinted at their competitiveness for the race on Sunday morning.
It was actually Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Deniz Öncü who was highest placed on the grid as the Turk lined up in 7th place but a Q2 penalty meant a pitlane start and he recovered to earn the last GP point. Acosta and Masia were joined by Ayumu Sasaki in the intense position-swapping gaggle of ten riders. Acosta was roaming at the front of the field but Masia was in close proximity until a mistake by the Spaniard entering Turn 5 on the last lap. Masia was able to remount to score 9th. Acosta snatched the lead with three corners to go and pushed the KTM RC4 to extremes of traction and power on the last Turn 15 to celebrate the win by less than a tenth of a second. The 16-year-old is the youngest rider in GP history to start his career with three podium appearances.
In total five KTM RC4s occupied spaces in the top ten. Acosta leads the championship standings by 31 points from Masia.
Pedro Acosta: “An amazing race after a difficult weekend that started in wet conditions. My team did amazing job. My race strategy was to have fun for 25 minutes and then take the trophy. It is fantastic to be here again.”
Moto2
Remy Gardner made another strong statement for the Red Bull KTM Ajo team on Saturday by missing out on Pole Position by just two-hundredths of a second. The Australian lined-up in 2nd place on the grid and just eight slots ahead of rookie teammate Raul Fernandez. In the 23 laps of the Moto2 affair both were part of an unusually close and unpredictable contest.
It was Fernandez, who had won the Moto3 Grand Prix in Portimao the previous November, who excelled and found a new streak of pace in the closing laps. He pulled clear of the tussle for the podium, of which Gardner was charging. The Australian passed the flag in 3rd place less than two seconds behind his teammate. Gardner now leads the Moto2 championship by 4 points from Fernandez.
Raul Fernandez: “Unbelievable! Thanks to the team for giving me best bike of the weekend. I had bad luck with the yellow flags in qualifying but I knew I had great bike for whole race. In Qatar I didn’t have too much tire left but we managed it better today. Overall this victory is incredible, and at one of my favorite tracks! We will see now for Jerez.”
Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup
On Saturday David Alonso was a clear victor in the first date of the 2021 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. The teenager aced the race on Saturday afternoon for what is the fifteenth season of the exciting seven-round feeder series, showcasing the best young talent primed for the step to Grand Prix. On Sunday and the second outing at Portimao it was Alonso again who took the checkered flag after a thrilling last corner decider. The Red Bull MotoGP Rookies will resume at round four of MotoGP.
The Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto will stage the Gran Premio Red Bull de España in two weeks time. Free Practice will get underway on April 30th with the races set for Sunday May 2nd.
More, from a press release issued by Italtrans Racing:
Italtrans Racing Team amazing in Portugal. Fantastic fourth for Joe Roberts, Lorenzo Dalla Porta with well-deserved points
Thrilling third round of the MotoGP World Championship at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, in Portugal.
On the track where only a few months ago Italtrans Racing Team became Moto2 World Champion with Enea Bastianini, the team was once again ruler with its riders.
After ruling all the free practice sessions and finishing 8th in qualifying, Joe Roberts started from the third row of the grid and immediately pushed riding an aggressive race. Immediately fighting for the top three and leader from lap 11 to 17 after an amazing overtake on Bezzecchi and Canet, the American rider then battled for the top three with Canet and Garder, who in the last lap took the podium away after a contact. The final fourth position leaves a bittersweet taste, with the awareness of being among the ruler of this season.
Great performance also for Lorenzo Dalla Porta, author of a comeback race. Starting from the 7th row of the grid with the 21st best time set in Q1, the Tuscan rider rises through the ranks, taking a good pace and recovering positions. He finished 12th, close to the top ten: another race in the points with the aim of continuing to work to make further progress.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta on the grid in Portugal. Photo courtesy Italtrans Racing Team.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta
12°
“I’m quite happy because I had a good race today close to the top ten: I made a good comeback and I didn’t give up, but I know we can do more. It’s important to work better from Friday and improve in qualifying, so we can start better on the grid and fight for the top five. Let’s treasure this good result. Now I have to be more confident and aware of my potential, because we can make good results. Thanks to the whole team for the support”.
American Joe Roberts (16) leading the Moto2 race in Portugal. Photo courtesy Italtrans Racing Team.
Joe Roberts
4°
“I’m very happy with today. A little disappointed to not get on the podium as we had the chance, especially on the last lap, but some contact in the second last corner prevented us from doing it. Anyway, it has been a super positive race, the most laps I’ve led in a Grand Prix. We must continue to work in this way, step by step. The potential is super high and I can’t wait for the next race”.
Giovanni Sandi, Technical Director
“I’m very happy because we had a good race today and the team worked well. Joe was great, taking the lead for a few laps. This is a turning point for him: from today he will certainly be more aware of his abilities and of being able to fight for the podium, which was within reach today. I’m also satisfied with Lorenzo’s performance. He had a good race, setting great lap times, similar to the top riders. He has to believe in himself, because he has all the right skills to aim high”.
More, from a press release issued by American Racing Team:
Cameron Beaubier scores top 10 finish at Portuguese Grand Prix
Marcos Ramirez returns from injury, earns championship point
Cameron Beaubier (6) in action in Portugal. Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
PORTIMAO, Portugal (April 18, 2021) — Cameron Beaubier and Marcos Ramirez outperformed expectations in the Grand Prix of Portugal, delivering season-best performances for the American Racing Team at the third round of the FIM Moto2 World Championship.
Beaubier and Ramirez qualified 13th and 17th, in the middle of the 10-row starting grid, at the 15-turn, 2.85-mile Autódromo Internacional do Algarve. Team owner Eitan Butbul predicted a tough race for both riders.
By the fourth lap, Beaubier had worked his way to eighth. When two riders crashed in front of him, the 28-year-old Californian was relegated to 11th. Undeterred, he put on a charge to finish ninth, taking seven championship points.
MotoAmerica Supersport racer Sean Dylan Kelly traveled to Portugal as a possible stand in for Ramirez, who missed the first two rounds of the season with a shoulder injury. The 23-year-old Spaniard, however, determinedly participated in every session.
More than a quarter of the field didn’t complete all 23 laps, including prerace championship points leader Sam Lowes. Taking advantage of the attrition, Ramirez was 15th, earning one point. Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Raul Fernandez won the race, which was run in hot, dry conditions.
“I am pleased with the results today,” said Butbul. “Our goal was to be in the top 10, and Cameron managed to finish ninth.
“I also am very happy with Marcos’ finish. He suffered pain in his arm after five laps and struggled to the end of the race, but he managed a respectable 15th.”
Marcos Ramirez (42) at speed in Portugal. Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
After three of the 19 scheduled rounds, Beaubier is 12th in the championship points standings. Ramirez is 24th.
Round 4 of the FIM Moto2 World Championship, the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, is April 30-May 2.
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.
Wayne Maxwell and Troy Herfoss have each taken a race victory in the Alpinestars Superbike class at Round 3 of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, at Wakefield Park today.
In the opening race, Maxwell and Herfoss ran nose-to-tail in the top two positions, gradually extending their lead over third-placed Mike Jones. However, the race was cut short after 13 laps when a nasty crash for Brendan McIntyre at turn one necessitated a red flag stoppage.
Maxwell and Herfoss were both left disappointed by the race’s premature conclusion.
“It’s not ideal, obviously with people crashing and yellow flags makes its difficult,” Maxwell said.
“But it was another great battle between Troy and I on different bikes, with different tyre brands.”
“I was disappointed by the fact we had to stop racing, when for us the race hadn’t essentially started yet,” Herfoss said.
“I could tell Wayne was in a groove there and I felt like it could have been anyone’s race. We were going really fast at the start, which was a bit scary.”
In Race 2, Mike Jones led initially, but was soon overtaken by Maxwell into the final corner. Herfoss slipped back to third off the line and spent the first two thirds of the race behind Jones, before finally passing the DesmoSport Ducati rider on the exit of turn two.
With just a handful of laps remaining, the stage was set for an epic chase between the long-time rivals. Herfoss was able to close down the margin and launched a successful attack on Maxwell at turn eight on the final lap, much to the delight of the Goulburn crowd.
With Maxwell having announced his retirement at the end of the 2021 season, Herfoss basked in the thrill of their final on-track battle at the Wakefield Park circuit.
“I always believed that in a fight to the end I could win it, but there were a few laps there, after I passed Mike, where I was struggling with grip and thought I would have to settle for second,” Herfoss said.
“I was really strong over the top of the track, Wayne was really strong in the last section. When I passed him, I was right on the inside line because he was so strong into the last turn.
“It’s a bit sad to think it’s our last battle around Wakefield – I want to say a big congratulations to Wayne because since 2014, we’ve gone toe-to-toe around here.”
Jones was again third in Race 2 ahead of Cru Halliday and Glenn Allerton.
The Superbikes next head to Hidden Valley, Darwin, for Round 4 on 18-20 June alongside the Repco Supercars Championship.
Quartararo conquers Portimão as Bagnaia vs Mir decides the podium
The Frenchman’s roll rolls on at the rollercoaster as Bagnaia carves his way through – and Mir takes his first podium of the season
Sunday, 18 April 2021
As weekends go, they don’t get much better than that for Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). The Frenchman converted pole position into victory at the Grande Prémio 888 de Portugal as the MotoGP™ race saw some big names crash out, but the Frenchman remained cool and calm at the front despite intense pressure from Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar). It wasn’t to be for the number 42 though as he crashed out, with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) then carving his way through to second and just holding off third placed Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar). The returning Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) battled through the pain to finish P7 after a few feisty exchanges.
The initial getaway from polesitter Quartararo was about as good as it gets, but in the second phase of the start, Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) and Rins got the better of the Yamaha man and it was the Suzuki who actually grabbed the holeshot. Zarco hit back to take over as the early race leader though, and Marc Marquez made a searing start to move up and battle Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) for P3. Mir made a typically great start and was up into the top five, and it was Mir vs Marquez again on the opening lap. Before long, the reigning World Champion shoved his GSX-RR up the inside of the Repsol Honda at Turn 11 for P3.
Zarco led the opening lap and at Turn 3, Marc Marquez and Mir came close again – too close. The eight-time World Champion tagged the back of Mir, who luckily stayed on, but it allowed Quartararo to squirm back through to fourth past Marquez. Miller and then Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) also passed Marquez as the number 93 to P7, with Rins showing a wheel to Zarco at Turn 13 nearer the front.
Lap 3 saw Quartararo make a clean move up the inside of Mir at Turn 1 for P3, the Frenchman making swift progress after getting a bit beaten up at the start. A Turn 13 move on Zarco stuck at the third time of asking a lap later. By Lap 5, Rins was now the race leader, but Zarco blasted back through on the straight. Then, suddenly, the sound of a bike hitting the deck was heard and as the cameras panned out, we saw Miller down at Turn 3 at the beginning of Lap 6. The Australian’s Portuguese GP was over after just over four laps, a disaster for the factory Ducati man. On the same lap, Miguel Oliveira’s (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) hopes of another dream home round rostrum were also over as the Portuguese star was down at Turn 14. He remounted but it was game over for Oliveira.
Meanwhile, Quartararo had followed Rins through on Zarco and the Yamaha man now had his radar firmly set on P1. Just like he had on the other Suzuki of Mir, Quartararo dived up the inside down the hill into Turn 1 and El Diablo was now at the head of the race. This was now where Quartararo and Rins started to display some superiority and a handful of laps later, third place Mir was one and a half seconds down on the leading duo, with Lap 14 seeing Quartararo set a 1:39.680 – the fastest lap. However, Rins was matching the Yamaha every step of the way for now, and the duo exchanged fastest laps on numerous occasions. Some colossal drama was about to unfold, however,
First, we saw Rins crash at Turn 5 on Lap 19 of 25. The downhill, tricky left-hander caught out the Spaniard who was right behind Quartararo, and it was race over for the number 42. That gave Quartararo a 4.2 second lead over Zarco, with Bagnaia grabbing P3 off Mir at Turn 5. Then, a lap later at Turn 11, the former World Championship leader was down. Zarco’s front washed away the top of the hill and the Frenchman slid out of contention, just after Bagnaia had picked him off at Turn 5.
And so, barring a disaster, victory was Quartararo’s. The podium battle, however, was still well on. Bagnaia was holding P2 and looking good, with Mir having Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) in his mirrors heading into the final exchanges. With two to go, the trio were locked together but Pecco wasn’t buckling, and fifth place Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was less than a second away from Morbidelli’s rear wheel to boot. Mir was pressuring Bagnaia but the Italian was holding firm, and on the last lap, the Suzuki rider looked tempted…
Five seconds down the road, Quartararo cruised over the line to pick up his second win of 2021. A commanding victory for factory Yamaha’s new recruit, and one that sees him take a 15-point lead into Jerez – a circuit he was quite successful at last season. That makes it three from three for Yamaha for the first time since 2010, too. Behind that, Bagnaia was just able to keep it pinned to the line to complete an awesome recovery from P11 to P2 after some qualifying heartbreak, and he’s up to P2 in the standings with his first podium of the year. Mir couldn’t get past the Ducati but he held off the Yamaha of Morbidelli by 0.179s to earn his first podium of 2021, an important result from the World Champion and another rostrum after starting from outside the top two rows. More of his podiums come from further down the grid than not, somehow.
It was a return to form for fourth place Morbidelli as the Italian got back in the podium hunt throughout to hopefully banish his Losail woes. Binder’s P5 proves once again the South African is a Sunday rider through and through, and that’s a morale-boosting result for KTM and Binder ahead of Jerez – where the then-rookie had some serious speed last year. Aleix Espargaro earns Aprilia an equal-best MotoGP™ result in P6, yet another great ride from the Spaniard, who was 4.3 seconds ahead of the next man on track…
That man is Marc Marquez. The eight-time World Champion completed his first race since the 2019 Valencia GP finale, and emotions were shown by the Spaniard when he arrived back in his box. And in his debrief.
Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) bagged his first top 10 of the year in P8, with reigning Moto2™ World Champion Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) picking up his second top 10 MotoGP™ result in P9. It was another brilliant ride from ‘The Beast’, and what an absolutely superb effort from 10th place Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) too. The battered and bruised Japanese rider has been in considerable pain all weekend since his huge Friday Turn 1 crash, but a P10 sums up just how tough – physically and mentally – MotoGP™ riders are.
Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) didn’t recover from a horror start, and in the end benefited from a few crashes to pick up P11.Luca Marini (Sky VR46 Avintia) slipped to P12 from a P8 start but it was nevertheless a very promising weekend for the Italian, and a job well done after some awesome speed in practice. Injured Danilo Petrucci (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing), Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and Iker Lecuona (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) completed the points, and Oliveira was the final finisher in P16 after his crash.
Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) crashed at Turn 11, rider ok, with Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) pulling into pitlane in the early stages with a technical issue.
And on we go. Quartararo marches on in the 2021 title race and two wins from three is the Frenchman’s tally heading to Jerez. A weekend off is followed by the Spanish GP at the end of April/start of May, and already the title race is twisting and turning. After all, this is MotoGP™… so make sure to come back for more!
Fabio Quartararo: “Good to feel back! I feel full of confidence. Bringing that confidence from Qatar. Now we know what we need work to go fast. I only need to feel the front and I go fast and just focus on my riding. Woah, what a pace, I didn’t expect it, I was less than half a second from my qualifying lap on the pace. It was amazing, also the pressure of Rins in the back, I wanted to make a gap. He made a mistake and then… I was riding well; I was riding easy and still making a gap to Pecco.
“We did an amazing job, we were P1 all day yesterday, P1 today, thanks to the team. Important points, and now we go to one of my favourite tracks in Jerez. I can’t wait to be there, thanks to my family for watching. It will be a great celebration for my birthday in two days. “
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed North America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 25th consecutive year of showcasing what is actually an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica/AMA Pro races and Championships, including nine MotoAmerica/AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (10 times);
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2021 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
David Alonso blitzes opening Rookies Cup round in Portimão
David Alonso brilliantly broke free of an intense lead battle to dominate the opening round of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in Portimão. The chasing pack of six blasted across the line together with pole man Diogo Moreira getting the verdict over Marcos Uriarte and Daniel Holgado.
A week ahead of his 15th birthday, Colombian Alonso had qualified fifth and while 16-year-old Brazil Moreira made a perfect getaway to lead he was hounded into the first corner. Alonso grabbed the lead going onto lap 2 chased by 15-year-old Spaniard David Muñoz.
Iván Ortolá and Àlex Millan completed the lead group of six with Uriarte working hard to catch them after a poor start. Alonso made the convincing break at half distance and the pack slowed each other with desperate infighting all the way to the finish.
Alonso was perfect
“An incredible win because before the race I tried to make this plan to escape from the group and run alone all race and finally I could do it,” explained Alonso who had a single victory from his debut season last year in Aragón. “I think I rode well and I also had a lot of fun. At the beginning we had some fights, I did well in the fight so tomorrow if we have to fight again we are strong.”
“I made a good start and tried to take first as soon as possible, I couldn’t get away so I had to try again and then I could make it.”
“The bike was very good, only for tomorrow, depending on the wind we might change the gearing but the setting of the bike is perfect I really liked it. Today there was a lot of wind but I ran near the wall on the straight where there was less wind.”
Moreira with a great ride from pole
“I feel very good, it is my first race in the Red Bull Rookies Cup and my first podium,” enthused Moreira. “I am very happy for this and say thanks to my team and my family. I thought I could win and for sure tomorrow I will try again.
“It was difficult because the wind was very strong and we had very hard battles with the other riders.”
Uriarte not thrilled with 3rd
“I started badly and I had to push to the limit to close the gap with the lead group. When I arrived I had destroyed the tyre. But I am happy because I managed very well the last laps and got third position. It’s good for the championship.”
“The next race I can win but I need to improve my start. I raced with a different transmission (gearing) a little bit longer and for the start the first is a little bit long and a lot of riders overtook me. Depending on the wind for tomorrow, we might change. The wind was against me today so the bike didn’t get all the speed.”
Holgado fought all the way
“I am happy, I did a good race and I had made a good job yesterday with the set-up of the bike. I am glad for that and tomorrow I have another opportunity. Tomorrow I will try to race with David (Alonso) and go with him.”
Broadcast
This weekend’s Rookies Cup races can be seen live on www.redbull.tv and on TV stations around the world.
Race 2 is on Sunday at 16:00, the show starts 10 minutes before the race.
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed North America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 25th consecutive year of showcasing what is actually an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica/AMA Pro races and Championships, including nine MotoAmerica/AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (10 times);
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2021 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
Rossi Moor, after winning the 2020 MotoAmerica Mini Cup 190 Championship. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Rossi Moor
Age: 13.
Current home: Budapest, Hungary (originally from Portland, Oregon).
Current tuners/mechanic: Snipers Mugen Race Junior Team.
Primary race series: Northern Talent Cup.
Top sponsors: Snipers Mugen Race Junior Team, AGV, Dainese.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2020 season, won MotoAmerica Mini Cup 190 Championship, won FIM Ohvale 190 Mini Road Racing Championship; 2019 season, placed 2nd in CIV (Italian) Ohvale GP-0 190 National Championship, won MotoAmerica Ohvale Talent Cup at Pittsburgh International Race Complex, won Ohvale GP-0 190 races in Hungarian National Championship, earned pole position and led a race at Ohvale World Championship, finished 25th in European Talent Cup race at Jerez (was youngest participant).
2021 racing goal: Win Northern Talent Cup Championship.
Racing career goal: Win MotoGP World Championship.
David Alonso heads Rookies Cup after 2 from 2 in Portimão
David Alonso snatched the double on the line of Race 2 at Portimão after a nine man Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup classic battle. Daniel Holgado, the 15-year-old Spaniard led out of the last corner but the 14-year-old Colombian was perfectly positioned and stole the win out of the slipstream with Àlex Millan, the 16-year-old Spaniard, on their tail in third.
Alonso did most of the leading after taking over from pole man Diogo Moreira after the 16-year-old Brazilian again made a great start and headed the KTM RC 250 R horde on lap one.
Unlike Race 1, Alonso could not break away but looked cool in front while the pack on his heels fought it out with typical Rookies intensity. David Muñoz just missed the podium with 4th ahead of Matteo Bertelle and Ivan Ortolá. Marcos Uriarte was challenging for the podium, slid off on the last lap but remounted to take 9th
Alonso wins the other way
“It was in incredible, I made a very good race. It was different from yesterday because yesterday I won alone and today I won in a fight to the line. That is very positive for me, to win in these two ways.”
“I made a good start, even better than yesterday. Then the same strategy, I tried to make my pace and go alone but the other riders improved, they were stronger than yesterday and I couldn’t get away.”
“I was still pushing the group because I felt strong and I waited for the last laps. Then in the last five laps I tried to push a little bit more but it was impossible so I maintained there. In the last two laps I tried to be in a good position for the last lap.”
“I could do it because on the last lap I was second and that was perfect. I tried to hold second through the lap and at the last corner I prepared and I passed Holgado.”
“I am super super happy because I learned from last year how to manage the last laps, where to overtake and I felt strong with the bike also, it is an amazing feeling. Now we have to keep working hard in Jerez.”
Holgado a great second
“An incredible race for me today. I did a good job yesterday and Friday and today the bike was good, I am happy for it. Yesterday in the last laps I didn’t have such a good feeling with the bike and the other riders were very fast but today I am happy with the race and the second place.”
Millan moves up to the podium
“It was a very fast race, a very difficult race. In the middle of the race the lead group broke away and I was fighting with the other riders, I pushed, push push and in the last two laps I got up to second and third and I finished third. I want to thank my helper and my mechanics, I am very happy and in Jerez we will fight for more.”
“The conditions were more or less the same as yesterday but with less wind. It was a very fast race, we had a hard fight at the front, we were pushing so much and it was difficult to overtake.”
David Muñoz wants more next time
“It was a good but very difficult race. Everyone is very aggressive but that is normal. Fourth position is good but I want more in Jerez.”
Earlier in the day ex Rookies Pedro Acosta and Raul Fernandez won the Moto3 and Moto2 GPs and Acosta is now the clear leader in the Moto3 World Championship after a 2nd and 2 wins from the first 3 races. Ex Rookies pack the first 5 places in the Moto3 points table.
(From left) KTM Motorsports Director Pit Beirer, MotoGP racer Miguel Oliveira, Nuno Andrade (Medika S.A.), and Josef Joachimbauer (JFJ Consulting GmbH). Photo courtesy KTM.
KTM CONSOLIDATE PIVOTAL SAFETY AGREEMENT WITH MEDIKA AND JFJ CONSULTING AT MOTOGP™ GRANDE PREMIO 888 DE PORTUGAL
News – April 18th 2021
KTM have aligned with Portuguese prominent healthcare solutions company, Medika MCN Tecnologia Medicinal S.A. and its Austrian-based partner, JFJ Consulting GmbH, for the provision of 10,000 KTM customized FFP2 facemasks and a collaboration to offer the entire KTM AG workforce with best possible protection against COVID-19. The arrangement has been forged to provide the safest working conditions for the company principally based in Mattighofen, Austria.
The KTM AG was responsible for more than 326,000 motorcycles and e-bike sales in 2020; an increase from the figures posted in 2019 during what was a fraught first year adjusting to the limitations of the pandemic. The company was able to supersede expectations thanks to swift and effective business practices to accommodate the restrictions imposed by Covid-19, while ensuring the health and safety standards for the four-thousand strong workforce in Austria remained the highest priority.
KTM AG established a Coronavirus testing center at their factory facility and the unit is now also being used by the residents of Mattighofen and the surrounding areas. KTM, Husqvarna Motorcycles and GASGAS staff could count on periodic and diligent testing on-site and particularly before essential national and international travel.
The global appeal and the work carried out by employees of key brands KTM, Husqvarna Motorcycles and GASGAS means reassuring sanitary protection such as facemasks and vaccination is a valuable extra boost for both business and day-to-day activities.
Medika MCN Tecnologia Medicinal S.A. is devoted to flexible, forward-thinking and reliable healthcare solutions, often tailored to the exact needs of institution and with a customer-orientated philosophy. They carry out specialized projects of engineering and hospital management with equipment, technology and software of reputed international brands among other services. Together with its authorized Austrian partner, JFJ Consulting GmbH, MEDIKA S.A. is faithfully supporting KTM AG and other state institutions’ health interests in this pandemic situation.
Viktor Sigl, CFO (KTM AG Member of the Board): “KTM are aware of the responsibility towards our employees. With over 4,500 people, over 3,800 in Austria, we are a globally acting company and with the measures taken since the beginning of this pandemic we can look back on a challenging yet very successful financial year. The biggest challenge was – and still is – to minimize the risks arising from the Covid-19 pandemic for employees and at the same time to safeguard production capacities. We want to continue this success story by providing the best possible safety structure to our employees. Therefore we thank MEDIKA S.A. for their support in this way.”
Nuno Andrade, Administrator (MEDIKA MCN TECNOLOGIA MEDICINAL S.A): “We are very proud to support KTM AG with our high quality medical products in these difficult times. The Covid-19 pandemic crisis is challenging for all of us, however, the joint effort of KTM, JFJ Consulting GmbH and MEDIKA are helping to make the KTM work areas as safe as possible. The next step of our cooperation is trying to provide a Covid-19 vaccine to KTM.”
Joan Mir celebrates a podium finish at Misano, 2020. Photo courtesy Suzuki.
Featured In the April 2021 issue of Roadracing World:
Reigning MotoGP World Champion Joan Mir came into 2021 bursting for a fight with Marc Marquez, the man whose crown he stole. Last season Mir came out of nowhere to win racing’s biggest prize while his fellow Spaniard languished at home, nursing a broken arm.
When Mir wrapped up the 2020 World Championship some people said his success was of little value because Marquez hadn’t been around to defend the title he had won six times in the previous seven years. This is nonsense—there’s rarely been a Grand Prix season in which at least one of the title contenders hasn’t got hurt, because that’s what happens in motorcycle racing…
—MotoGP Analysis: Was It A Mir-Age? By Mat Oxley
Joan Mir shocked the racing world last year when he won the MotoGP title in only his second attempt. But he did so in the absence of MotoGP king Marc Marquez, so was his 2020 success a mirage, or can he win again in 2021? Read the insights of MotoGP Editor Mat Oxley on the upcoming Battle Royale—they’re in the latest issue of Roadracing World!
Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology is THE definitive source for motorcycle racing, riding, and tech information.
Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine is available in print and digital formats. SUBSCRIBE NOW . Or call (909) 654-4779, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. Read the April 2021 issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technologywith your online subscription. Log in HERE
Available at Cycle Gear and other motorcycle retailers.
Visit www.roadracingworld.com daily for breaking news and events.
Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/roadracingworld
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com @roadracingworld
Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com @roadracing_world
Last year he dominated in Moto3™ on the Algarve. This year, the rookie took to the top step in Moto2™ for the very first time – as Lowes crashes out
Raul Fernandez (25). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) just loves the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. After dominating at the track last season to sign off from Moto3™ with a win, the Spaniard returned in Moto2™ with a podium already under his belt and it seemed somewhat like fate. Fighting his way through a few big rivals, the Spaniard crossed the line a second and a half clear for his first intermediate class win, underlining his impressive form so far and moving up to second in the Championship. Aron Canet (Solunion Aspar Team) took his first Moto2™ podium in second after an impressive ride, with Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) charging past Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) late on to complete the podium. Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) crashed out at Turn 1, leaving his key rivals with an open goal…
Lowes was the first big headline, that sending shockwaves through the race. Late on the brakes into Turn 1 after a tough start, the Brit was careering straight towards Gardner’s rear wheel and was forced to pick it up and run wide, the rear end then kicking him off. Rider ok, but some big drama to start the Moto2™ race.
At the front, Gardner led on Lap 1 but Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) was the man on the move in the opening exchanges and blasted past on the home straight. Roberts had made a good start from P8 to battle Gardner for P2 as the latter got out of shape coming out of Turn 1. Bezzecchi was able to pull out a healthy one second lead at the front but Canet was making moves and soon, the lead was cut to nothing as Gardner and the five other chasers reeled in the Italian.
Yet more drama unfolded just behind as we saw a huge crash involving Yari Montella (Lightech Speed Up) and Stefano Manzi (Flexbox HP40) at the final corner, both bikes catching fire in the gravel trap. Montella, who highsided, was taken to the medical centre for a check-up and later declared fit. And more: at Turn 5, the two Idemitsu Honda Team Asia riders were down as Ai Ogura made contact with American Racing’s Cameron Beaubier. Ogura got out of shape and couldn’t help but crash into Somkiat Chantra, an unfortunate racing incident between the two teammates.
Lap 11 saw Canet take the lead, but Roberts then pounced at Turn 1 as Canet and Bezzecchi went wide. Bezzecchi slipped to P4 as Gardner also passed the Italian, but one of the pre-race favourites then made a couple of mistakes in the soaring Portuguese heat. That saw the Aussie lose valuable ground as Canet and Roberts made a breakaway, but the Spaniard and American scrapped it out for a few laps and Canet also got a track limits warning. Enter Raul Fernandez. The rookie was lapping far superior to his rivals and he soon picked off both Roberts and Canet to take the lead with four to go, late race pace searing him through.
The rookie pulled 0.7s clear in three laps, setting another fastest lap of the race on Lap 21 of 23, a 1:42.86, and his teammate Gardner was finding some late pace too in P4, the Australian reeling in Roberts and Canet. Three personal best laps from Gardner was mega stuff but nothing was going to stop Raul Fernandez, on the final lap his lead was up to 1.2 seconds and it seemed the job was done as attentions turned to the three-way scrap for P2 and P3.
Roberts lunged up the inside of Canet at Turn 11, but Canet then dived back at Turn 13, but both ran slightly wide to give Gardner an invitation. Roberts switched to the inside for Turn 14 but the narrow line he took saw him open a small gap for the Aussie to squeeze into, an that he did – making some contact but getting through, Roberts staying on but watching th podium fade away.
Up the road though, Raul Fernandez had rounded the final corner to win his first Moto2™ race, with Canet cementing his first intermediate class podium with a hard-earned P2, escaping the discussion on whether rubbing is racing raging just behind him. Gardner’s third, however, sees him head to Jerez as Championship leader for the first time.
Roberts was unlucky to lose out on a podium in Portimão but it was nevertheless a great ride from the American. Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) backs up his Doha P6 with P5 as the Spaniard continues to find form in 2021, and Bezzecchi was eventually forced to settle for P6 having led in the early laps. Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) was a second behind Bezzecchi in a solid P7, with Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP40) earning his first points of the season in P8. Beaubier is a top 10 Moto2™ finisher after a brilliant ride to P9 on his first visit to the Algarve International Circuit, and Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) completed the top 10.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2), Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans Racing Team), Albert Arenas (Solunion Aspar Team), Lorenzo Baldassarri (MV Agusta Forward Racing) and Marcos Ramirez (American Racing) were the remaining point scorers.
Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) crashed at Turn 8 unhurt, with Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) taking out compatriot Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) at Turn 1.
As we leave the Algarve, the Moto2™ Championship is shaken up after another stunner. Heading to Jerez, three points split Gardner, Raul Fernandez and Lowes – so it’s game on in the Moto2™ title race!
Raul Fernandez: “Unbelievable. I want to say thanks to my team, they brought me the best bike of the weekend for the race. Yesterday I had bad luck in qualifying with the yellow flag, but this morning in warm up I said ‘eh, I have an incredible bike for the end of the race’. I had this problem in Qatar at the end of the race, I didn’t have too much tyre. It was incredible with my team and my family, it’s incredible. I don’t have words, I want to say thanks. We will see in the next race, this is one of my best tracks and we will see in Jerez.”
More, from a press release issued by KTM Factory Racing:
BACK-TO-BACK MOTO3™ VICTORIES FOR CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER ACOSTA AS FERNANDEZ WINS MOTO2™
Raul Fernandez on the Moto2 podium in Portugal. Photo by Polarity Photo, courtesy KTM.
2021 KTM GP Academy, Round 03 of 19, Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (POR) – Race
Red Bull KTM Ajo locked out both categories for the KTM GP Academy at the Grande Premio 888 de Portugal and the third round of the 2021 world championship. Pedro Acosta won in Moto3 and Raul Fernandez in Moto2™ for the first chapter of the MotoGP™ season on European soil.
Moto3
Red Bull KTM Ajo entered the Grand Prix at the spectacular and technical Autódromo Internacional do Algarve as undefeated in 2021 Moto3 thanks to the opening round victories by Jaume Masia and Pedro Acosta In Qatar. The two Spaniards were in the hunt for the top lap-times during Free Practice and Qualification that hinted at their competitiveness for the race on Sunday morning.
It was actually Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Deniz Öncü who was highest placed on the grid as the Turk lined up in 7th place but a Q2 penalty meant a pitlane start and he recovered to earn the last GP point. Acosta and Masia were joined by Ayumu Sasaki in the intense position-swapping gaggle of ten riders. Acosta was roaming at the front of the field but Masia was in close proximity until a mistake by the Spaniard entering Turn 5 on the last lap. Masia was able to remount to score 9th. Acosta snatched the lead with three corners to go and pushed the KTM RC4 to extremes of traction and power on the last Turn 15 to celebrate the win by less than a tenth of a second. The 16-year-old is the youngest rider in GP history to start his career with three podium appearances.
In total five KTM RC4s occupied spaces in the top ten. Acosta leads the championship standings by 31 points from Masia.
Pedro Acosta: “An amazing race after a difficult weekend that started in wet conditions. My team did amazing job. My race strategy was to have fun for 25 minutes and then take the trophy. It is fantastic to be here again.”
Moto2
Remy Gardner made another strong statement for the Red Bull KTM Ajo team on Saturday by missing out on Pole Position by just two-hundredths of a second. The Australian lined-up in 2nd place on the grid and just eight slots ahead of rookie teammate Raul Fernandez. In the 23 laps of the Moto2 affair both were part of an unusually close and unpredictable contest.
It was Fernandez, who had won the Moto3 Grand Prix in Portimao the previous November, who excelled and found a new streak of pace in the closing laps. He pulled clear of the tussle for the podium, of which Gardner was charging. The Australian passed the flag in 3rd place less than two seconds behind his teammate. Gardner now leads the Moto2 championship by 4 points from Fernandez.
Raul Fernandez: “Unbelievable! Thanks to the team for giving me best bike of the weekend. I had bad luck with the yellow flags in qualifying but I knew I had great bike for whole race. In Qatar I didn’t have too much tire left but we managed it better today. Overall this victory is incredible, and at one of my favorite tracks! We will see now for Jerez.”
Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup
On Saturday David Alonso was a clear victor in the first date of the 2021 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. The teenager aced the race on Saturday afternoon for what is the fifteenth season of the exciting seven-round feeder series, showcasing the best young talent primed for the step to Grand Prix. On Sunday and the second outing at Portimao it was Alonso again who took the checkered flag after a thrilling last corner decider. The Red Bull MotoGP Rookies will resume at round four of MotoGP.
The Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto will stage the Gran Premio Red Bull de España in two weeks time. Free Practice will get underway on April 30th with the races set for Sunday May 2nd.
More, from a press release issued by Italtrans Racing:
Italtrans Racing Team amazing in Portugal. Fantastic fourth for Joe Roberts, Lorenzo Dalla Porta with well-deserved points
Thrilling third round of the MotoGP World Championship at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, in Portugal.
On the track where only a few months ago Italtrans Racing Team became Moto2 World Champion with Enea Bastianini, the team was once again ruler with its riders.
After ruling all the free practice sessions and finishing 8th in qualifying, Joe Roberts started from the third row of the grid and immediately pushed riding an aggressive race. Immediately fighting for the top three and leader from lap 11 to 17 after an amazing overtake on Bezzecchi and Canet, the American rider then battled for the top three with Canet and Garder, who in the last lap took the podium away after a contact. The final fourth position leaves a bittersweet taste, with the awareness of being among the ruler of this season.
Great performance also for Lorenzo Dalla Porta, author of a comeback race. Starting from the 7th row of the grid with the 21st best time set in Q1, the Tuscan rider rises through the ranks, taking a good pace and recovering positions. He finished 12th, close to the top ten: another race in the points with the aim of continuing to work to make further progress.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta on the grid in Portugal. Photo courtesy Italtrans Racing Team.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta
12°
“I’m quite happy because I had a good race today close to the top ten: I made a good comeback and I didn’t give up, but I know we can do more. It’s important to work better from Friday and improve in qualifying, so we can start better on the grid and fight for the top five. Let’s treasure this good result. Now I have to be more confident and aware of my potential, because we can make good results. Thanks to the whole team for the support”.
American Joe Roberts (16) leading the Moto2 race in Portugal. Photo courtesy Italtrans Racing Team.
Joe Roberts
4°
“I’m very happy with today. A little disappointed to not get on the podium as we had the chance, especially on the last lap, but some contact in the second last corner prevented us from doing it. Anyway, it has been a super positive race, the most laps I’ve led in a Grand Prix. We must continue to work in this way, step by step. The potential is super high and I can’t wait for the next race”.
Giovanni Sandi, Technical Director
“I’m very happy because we had a good race today and the team worked well. Joe was great, taking the lead for a few laps. This is a turning point for him: from today he will certainly be more aware of his abilities and of being able to fight for the podium, which was within reach today. I’m also satisfied with Lorenzo’s performance. He had a good race, setting great lap times, similar to the top riders. He has to believe in himself, because he has all the right skills to aim high”.
More, from a press release issued by American Racing Team:
Cameron Beaubier scores top 10 finish at Portuguese Grand Prix
Marcos Ramirez returns from injury, earns championship point
Cameron Beaubier (6) in action in Portugal. Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
PORTIMAO, Portugal (April 18, 2021) — Cameron Beaubier and Marcos Ramirez outperformed expectations in the Grand Prix of Portugal, delivering season-best performances for the American Racing Team at the third round of the FIM Moto2 World Championship.
Beaubier and Ramirez qualified 13th and 17th, in the middle of the 10-row starting grid, at the 15-turn, 2.85-mile Autódromo Internacional do Algarve. Team owner Eitan Butbul predicted a tough race for both riders.
By the fourth lap, Beaubier had worked his way to eighth. When two riders crashed in front of him, the 28-year-old Californian was relegated to 11th. Undeterred, he put on a charge to finish ninth, taking seven championship points.
MotoAmerica Supersport racer Sean Dylan Kelly traveled to Portugal as a possible stand in for Ramirez, who missed the first two rounds of the season with a shoulder injury. The 23-year-old Spaniard, however, determinedly participated in every session.
More than a quarter of the field didn’t complete all 23 laps, including prerace championship points leader Sam Lowes. Taking advantage of the attrition, Ramirez was 15th, earning one point. Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Raul Fernandez won the race, which was run in hot, dry conditions.
“I am pleased with the results today,” said Butbul. “Our goal was to be in the top 10, and Cameron managed to finish ninth.
“I also am very happy with Marcos’ finish. He suffered pain in his arm after five laps and struggled to the end of the race, but he managed a respectable 15th.”
Marcos Ramirez (42) at speed in Portugal. Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
After three of the 19 scheduled rounds, Beaubier is 12th in the championship points standings. Ramirez is 24th.
Round 4 of the FIM Moto2 World Championship, the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, is April 30-May 2.
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.
Wayne Maxwell (1) leads Troy Herfoss (17) and Mike Jones (46) at Wakefield Park. Photo by Optikal Photography, courtesy ASBK.
Maxwell, Herfoss Share Wakefield Park Spoils
Wayne Maxwell and Troy Herfoss have each taken a race victory in the Alpinestars Superbike class at Round 3 of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, at Wakefield Park today.
In the opening race, Maxwell and Herfoss ran nose-to-tail in the top two positions, gradually extending their lead over third-placed Mike Jones. However, the race was cut short after 13 laps when a nasty crash for Brendan McIntyre at turn one necessitated a red flag stoppage.
Maxwell and Herfoss were both left disappointed by the race’s premature conclusion.
“It’s not ideal, obviously with people crashing and yellow flags makes its difficult,” Maxwell said.
“But it was another great battle between Troy and I on different bikes, with different tyre brands.”
“I was disappointed by the fact we had to stop racing, when for us the race hadn’t essentially started yet,” Herfoss said.
“I could tell Wayne was in a groove there and I felt like it could have been anyone’s race. We were going really fast at the start, which was a bit scary.”
In Race 2, Mike Jones led initially, but was soon overtaken by Maxwell into the final corner. Herfoss slipped back to third off the line and spent the first two thirds of the race behind Jones, before finally passing the DesmoSport Ducati rider on the exit of turn two.
With just a handful of laps remaining, the stage was set for an epic chase between the long-time rivals. Herfoss was able to close down the margin and launched a successful attack on Maxwell at turn eight on the final lap, much to the delight of the Goulburn crowd.
With Maxwell having announced his retirement at the end of the 2021 season, Herfoss basked in the thrill of their final on-track battle at the Wakefield Park circuit.
“I always believed that in a fight to the end I could win it, but there were a few laps there, after I passed Mike, where I was struggling with grip and thought I would have to settle for second,” Herfoss said.
“I was really strong over the top of the track, Wayne was really strong in the last section. When I passed him, I was right on the inside line because he was so strong into the last turn.
“It’s a bit sad to think it’s our last battle around Wakefield – I want to say a big congratulations to Wayne because since 2014, we’ve gone toe-to-toe around here.”
Jones was again third in Race 2 ahead of Cru Halliday and Glenn Allerton.
The Superbikes next head to Hidden Valley, Darwin, for Round 4 on 18-20 June alongside the Repco Supercars Championship.
Quartararo conquers Portimão as Bagnaia vs Mir decides the podium
The Frenchman’s roll rolls on at the rollercoaster as Bagnaia carves his way through – and Mir takes his first podium of the season
Sunday, 18 April 2021
As weekends go, they don’t get much better than that for Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). The Frenchman converted pole position into victory at the Grande Prémio 888 de Portugal as the MotoGP™ race saw some big names crash out, but the Frenchman remained cool and calm at the front despite intense pressure from Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar). It wasn’t to be for the number 42 though as he crashed out, with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) then carving his way through to second and just holding off third placed Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar). The returning Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) battled through the pain to finish P7 after a few feisty exchanges.
The initial getaway from polesitter Quartararo was about as good as it gets, but in the second phase of the start, Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) and Rins got the better of the Yamaha man and it was the Suzuki who actually grabbed the holeshot. Zarco hit back to take over as the early race leader though, and Marc Marquez made a searing start to move up and battle Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) for P3. Mir made a typically great start and was up into the top five, and it was Mir vs Marquez again on the opening lap. Before long, the reigning World Champion shoved his GSX-RR up the inside of the Repsol Honda at Turn 11 for P3.
Zarco led the opening lap and at Turn 3, Marc Marquez and Mir came close again – too close. The eight-time World Champion tagged the back of Mir, who luckily stayed on, but it allowed Quartararo to squirm back through to fourth past Marquez. Miller and then Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) also passed Marquez as the number 93 to P7, with Rins showing a wheel to Zarco at Turn 13 nearer the front.
Lap 3 saw Quartararo make a clean move up the inside of Mir at Turn 1 for P3, the Frenchman making swift progress after getting a bit beaten up at the start. A Turn 13 move on Zarco stuck at the third time of asking a lap later. By Lap 5, Rins was now the race leader, but Zarco blasted back through on the straight. Then, suddenly, the sound of a bike hitting the deck was heard and as the cameras panned out, we saw Miller down at Turn 3 at the beginning of Lap 6. The Australian’s Portuguese GP was over after just over four laps, a disaster for the factory Ducati man. On the same lap, Miguel Oliveira’s (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) hopes of another dream home round rostrum were also over as the Portuguese star was down at Turn 14. He remounted but it was game over for Oliveira.
Meanwhile, Quartararo had followed Rins through on Zarco and the Yamaha man now had his radar firmly set on P1. Just like he had on the other Suzuki of Mir, Quartararo dived up the inside down the hill into Turn 1 and El Diablo was now at the head of the race. This was now where Quartararo and Rins started to display some superiority and a handful of laps later, third place Mir was one and a half seconds down on the leading duo, with Lap 14 seeing Quartararo set a 1:39.680 – the fastest lap. However, Rins was matching the Yamaha every step of the way for now, and the duo exchanged fastest laps on numerous occasions. Some colossal drama was about to unfold, however,
First, we saw Rins crash at Turn 5 on Lap 19 of 25. The downhill, tricky left-hander caught out the Spaniard who was right behind Quartararo, and it was race over for the number 42. That gave Quartararo a 4.2 second lead over Zarco, with Bagnaia grabbing P3 off Mir at Turn 5. Then, a lap later at Turn 11, the former World Championship leader was down. Zarco’s front washed away the top of the hill and the Frenchman slid out of contention, just after Bagnaia had picked him off at Turn 5.
And so, barring a disaster, victory was Quartararo’s. The podium battle, however, was still well on. Bagnaia was holding P2 and looking good, with Mir having Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) in his mirrors heading into the final exchanges. With two to go, the trio were locked together but Pecco wasn’t buckling, and fifth place Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was less than a second away from Morbidelli’s rear wheel to boot. Mir was pressuring Bagnaia but the Italian was holding firm, and on the last lap, the Suzuki rider looked tempted…
Five seconds down the road, Quartararo cruised over the line to pick up his second win of 2021. A commanding victory for factory Yamaha’s new recruit, and one that sees him take a 15-point lead into Jerez – a circuit he was quite successful at last season. That makes it three from three for Yamaha for the first time since 2010, too. Behind that, Bagnaia was just able to keep it pinned to the line to complete an awesome recovery from P11 to P2 after some qualifying heartbreak, and he’s up to P2 in the standings with his first podium of the year. Mir couldn’t get past the Ducati but he held off the Yamaha of Morbidelli by 0.179s to earn his first podium of 2021, an important result from the World Champion and another rostrum after starting from outside the top two rows. More of his podiums come from further down the grid than not, somehow.
It was a return to form for fourth place Morbidelli as the Italian got back in the podium hunt throughout to hopefully banish his Losail woes. Binder’s P5 proves once again the South African is a Sunday rider through and through, and that’s a morale-boosting result for KTM and Binder ahead of Jerez – where the then-rookie had some serious speed last year. Aleix Espargaro earns Aprilia an equal-best MotoGP™ result in P6, yet another great ride from the Spaniard, who was 4.3 seconds ahead of the next man on track…
That man is Marc Marquez. The eight-time World Champion completed his first race since the 2019 Valencia GP finale, and emotions were shown by the Spaniard when he arrived back in his box. And in his debrief.
Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) bagged his first top 10 of the year in P8, with reigning Moto2™ World Champion Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) picking up his second top 10 MotoGP™ result in P9. It was another brilliant ride from ‘The Beast’, and what an absolutely superb effort from 10th place Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) too. The battered and bruised Japanese rider has been in considerable pain all weekend since his huge Friday Turn 1 crash, but a P10 sums up just how tough – physically and mentally – MotoGP™ riders are.
Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) didn’t recover from a horror start, and in the end benefited from a few crashes to pick up P11.Luca Marini (Sky VR46 Avintia) slipped to P12 from a P8 start but it was nevertheless a very promising weekend for the Italian, and a job well done after some awesome speed in practice. Injured Danilo Petrucci (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing), Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and Iker Lecuona (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) completed the points, and Oliveira was the final finisher in P16 after his crash.
Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) crashed at Turn 11, rider ok, with Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) pulling into pitlane in the early stages with a technical issue.
And on we go. Quartararo marches on in the 2021 title race and two wins from three is the Frenchman’s tally heading to Jerez. A weekend off is followed by the Spanish GP at the end of April/start of May, and already the title race is twisting and turning. After all, this is MotoGP™… so make sure to come back for more!
Fabio Quartararo: “Good to feel back! I feel full of confidence. Bringing that confidence from Qatar. Now we know what we need work to go fast. I only need to feel the front and I go fast and just focus on my riding. Woah, what a pace, I didn’t expect it, I was less than half a second from my qualifying lap on the pace. It was amazing, also the pressure of Rins in the back, I wanted to make a gap. He made a mistake and then… I was riding well; I was riding easy and still making a gap to Pecco.
“We did an amazing job, we were P1 all day yesterday, P1 today, thanks to the team. Important points, and now we go to one of my favourite tracks in Jerez. I can’t wait to be there, thanks to my family for watching. It will be a great celebration for my birthday in two days. “
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed North America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 25th consecutive year of showcasing what is actually an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica/AMA Pro races and Championships, including nine MotoAmerica/AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
The Daytona 200 (10 times);
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2021 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
David Alonso blitzes opening Rookies Cup round in Portimão
David Alonso brilliantly broke free of an intense lead battle to dominate the opening round of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in Portimão. The chasing pack of six blasted across the line together with pole man Diogo Moreira getting the verdict over Marcos Uriarte and Daniel Holgado.
A week ahead of his 15th birthday, Colombian Alonso had qualified fifth and while 16-year-old Brazil Moreira made a perfect getaway to lead he was hounded into the first corner. Alonso grabbed the lead going onto lap 2 chased by 15-year-old Spaniard David Muñoz.
Iván Ortolá and Àlex Millan completed the lead group of six with Uriarte working hard to catch them after a poor start. Alonso made the convincing break at half distance and the pack slowed each other with desperate infighting all the way to the finish.
Alonso was perfect
“An incredible win because before the race I tried to make this plan to escape from the group and run alone all race and finally I could do it,” explained Alonso who had a single victory from his debut season last year in Aragón. “I think I rode well and I also had a lot of fun. At the beginning we had some fights, I did well in the fight so tomorrow if we have to fight again we are strong.”
“I made a good start and tried to take first as soon as possible, I couldn’t get away so I had to try again and then I could make it.”
“The bike was very good, only for tomorrow, depending on the wind we might change the gearing but the setting of the bike is perfect I really liked it. Today there was a lot of wind but I ran near the wall on the straight where there was less wind.”
Moreira with a great ride from pole
“I feel very good, it is my first race in the Red Bull Rookies Cup and my first podium,” enthused Moreira. “I am very happy for this and say thanks to my team and my family. I thought I could win and for sure tomorrow I will try again.
“It was difficult because the wind was very strong and we had very hard battles with the other riders.”
Uriarte not thrilled with 3rd
“I started badly and I had to push to the limit to close the gap with the lead group. When I arrived I had destroyed the tyre. But I am happy because I managed very well the last laps and got third position. It’s good for the championship.”
“The next race I can win but I need to improve my start. I raced with a different transmission (gearing) a little bit longer and for the start the first is a little bit long and a lot of riders overtook me. Depending on the wind for tomorrow, we might change. The wind was against me today so the bike didn’t get all the speed.”
Holgado fought all the way
“I am happy, I did a good race and I had made a good job yesterday with the set-up of the bike. I am glad for that and tomorrow I have another opportunity. Tomorrow I will try to race with David (Alonso) and go with him.”
Broadcast
This weekend’s Rookies Cup races can be seen live on www.redbull.tv and on TV stations around the world.
Race 2 is on Sunday at 16:00, the show starts 10 minutes before the race.
A “press release” is promotional text issued by a rider, team, company or organization to inform
the public about an event, product, or service from the issuer’s own point of view, and if deemed
to have news value, may be placed on roadracingworld.com as a service to our readers.
A press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers. When a post is labeled with the words “press release”, it means that Roadracingworld.com is not responsible for its content and that Roadracingworld.com makes no guarantee that it is accurate. Not all press releases are posted and Roadracingworld.com may reject press releases if the content is too heavy on commercial promotion with little or no news value or if the press release contains obvious errors.
Accessibility
Accessibility modes
Epilepsy Safe Mode
Dampens color and removes blinks
This mode 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
Improves website's visuals
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
Helps to focus on specific content
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
Reduces distractions and improve focus
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
Allows using the site with your screen-reader
This mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Online Dictionary
Readable Experience
Content Scaling
Default
Text Magnifier
Readable Font
Dyslexia Friendly
Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Font Sizing
Default
Line Height
Default
Letter Spacing
Default
Left Aligned
Center Aligned
Right Aligned
Visually Pleasing Experience
Dark Contrast
Light Contrast
Monochrome
High Contrast
High Saturation
Low Saturation
Adjust Text Colors
Adjust Title Colors
Adjust Background Colors
Easy Orientation
Mute Sounds
Hide Images
Hide Emoji
Reading Guide
Stop Animations
Reading Mask
Highlight Hover
Highlight Focus
Big Dark Cursor
Big Light Cursor
Cognitive Reading
Virtual Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Voice Navigation
Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
November 11, 2026
Compliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience,
regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible
to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific
disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML,
adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive
a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements,
alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
