Yamaha Racing Team Announces Three-Bike 2021 Campaign
The Yamaha Racing Team has today announced a three-bike assault on the 2021 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul.
Former World Supersport/Superbike and MotoGP competitor Broc Parkes will join the team, alongside existing riders Cru Halliday and Aiden Wagner.
Parkes is looking forward to returning to a Yamaha machine, which he rode in the World Supersport Championship from 2005-08, as well as rekindling his relationship with the Australian Yamaha Racing Team.
“I’d like to thank the Yamaha Racing Team for welcoming me back to the family,” Parkes said.
“I’ve been with Yamaha for more than half of my career and had a lot of good times and memories.
“Now I’m living full-time in Australia, I’m looking forward to racing in the Australian Superbike Championship – it’s come a long way in the last few years.
“I have a lot of experience with the Yamaha R1, so hopefully I can bring that to the team and we can be at the front, fighting for the championship.”
Yamaha Motor Australia general manager Andrew Eldridge said the team is excited to expand for the 2021 season.
“In a time where we’ve had a mixed 2020, it’s exciting to expand for 2021 and we’re sure it will add a new dimension to the grid.
“Broc comes to us with a good pedigree in racing, more recently in the Asian Cup, and we’ve been able to assist Yamaha Motor Company who have a lot of faith in Broc and his abilities.”
Tulovic and Perolari form Tech3 E-Racing spearhead in 2021
With the third season of the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup approaching very fast, Tech3 E-Racing is proud to announce that Lukas Tulovic and Corentin Perolari will build the line-up for 2021.
The 20-year old Tulovic is no stranger to the MotoE Championship, as he did his first year in the category in 2020, showing some decent pace and a steep learning curve with two front row starts, a strong fourth and sixth position in the race. Unfortunately, his progress was stopped by a crash in the fourth race of the season, yet, the talented German still managed to finish in 11th place of the overall championship standings, narrowly missing out on the top 10.
Perolari will be a rookie in the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup. Coming from the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, he became Spanish Champion in the Open600 class in 2016 before moving to the European Moto2 Championship in 2017. Since 2019 the French rider competed permanently in the World Supersport Championship. Hence the 22-year old is eager to start a new challenge in 2021, joining the Tech3 E-Racing Team.
Lukas Tulovic
“I’m super happy and excited to have the chance to compete again for Tech3 E-Racing in the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup in 2021 again. I’m very grateful for the opportunity and thanks to Hervé Poncharal for making this possible. We had some quite impressive E-Pole records in 2020 and also some good races, especially the first event in Jerez. The speed was there all season long, yet unfortunately in the second race of Misano I had this big crash, which kind of ruined the rest of my season. The final three races in Misano and Le Mans were just damage limitation and I tried to score as many points as possible in order to keep a decent position in the championship for me and the team. This we want to do better in 2021, of course get first podiums, be further in front and challenge for the title. We already started quite well this season, but now it’s time to do it even better.”
Corentin Perolari
“I’m really proud to join the Tech3 E-Racing Team in 2021. It’s a great crew, the results speak for themselves, so I hope to add something to the positive list of the team. The FIM Enel MotoE World Cup itself is a brand-new adventure for me, a category, that certainly has an amazing future. With regards to riding, my objective for my first year in this class is to learn and get up to speed as quick as possible in order to find my way towards the front end of the championship as soon as I can.”
Hervé Poncharal
Team Manager
“Finally, we can announce our 2021 MotoE line-up. I’m very proud to have the possibility to do another year with Lukas, who did his first season in MotoE last year and impressed quite a few observers. Unfortunately, he got injured for the last two rounds, therefore his final ranking is not what I believe is his real level, but clearly, 2021 we will see him with a year of experience under his belt, he knows how to master the Energica machine, he knows that Qualifying is the key moment of weekend, but also the first two laps are essential and we know the points we have to work on together. I’m quite sure he will make a big step and be fighting for podiums all through the season. On the other side it is with great joy that we will start working with Corentin Perolari, who is a young French rider, who raced the last two years in World Supersport. We could see that in MotoE like in any other class young riders are clearly the future and I believe Corentin will bring in his youth, his energy, and his dedication to his first MotoE season in order to progress as a rider. He is very proud to be in the MotoGP paddock and the MotoE is a young category with a great future ahead and I believe having young and fast riders will help the sport and e-racing itself to become even more exciting. 2021 will be year third year for the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup and year after year, it’s becoming a more essential class of the MotoGP World Championship. I’m convinced that the MotoE races will deliver an amazing show yet again in 2021.”
MV AGUSTA’S SUPERVELOCE ALPINE LIMITED EDITION SOLD-OUT HOURS AFTER LIVE STREAMING PRESENTATION
Varese, December 15, 2020 – MV Agusta repeats the success of the Superveloce 75 Anniversario with its new, limited edition Superveloce Alpine. Only hours after its official launch through a spectacular live streaming presentation hosted in its Varese historic factory, all 110 units of the new Superveloce have been sold out. Inspired by motorsport legend Alpine’s A110, the Superveloce Alpine is a celebration of both brand’s passion for design, beautiful engineering and racing.
The novelty in the Superveloce Alpine, in its stunning electric blue livery, goes well beyond the amazing design makeover, as many of the most important characterising elements are not visible to the naked eye. There’s the innovative choice and use of materials, the richest and most sophisticated electronics ever, full connectivity through the MV Ride App, GPS tracking, the luxury of the detailing and a host of dedicated accessories.
”This exceptional collaboration with Alpine is part of our vision” commented Timur Sardarov, CEO MV Agusta Motor S.p.A.: ”The development and the launching of new models is an important element of the industrial plan we presented two years ago. The Superveloce Alpine is the latest successful example of this policy, and proof that our efforts are paying off. I am delighted with yet another instant success, especially since we can share it with our partners in this project: Alpine, a brand and a company with whom we have so much in common. The Superveloce Alpine certainly benefited from the synergies between our two teams that naturally occurred during this project.”
American Motorcyclist Association awards sanction to INIT ESPORTS for AMA eSports National Championship
INIT ESPORTS will organize, promote AMA-sanctioned two-wheel eSports competition
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association and INIT ESPORTS announce the formation of the AMA eSports National Championship, an AMA-sanctioned national championship that INIT ESPORTS will organize and promote under a multi-year agreement as an AMA-chartered promoter.
The AMA-sanctioned esports calendar will include two-wheel video game competitions of varying size and scope, culminating in an annual national championship that will award AMA National No. 1 plates to class champions as early as 2021. The AMA and INIT ESPORTS will announce schedule and registration information as it becomes available.
“Esports events require a technical infrastructure, rules packages and competitor engagement that make them as distinctive as any traditional racing discipline, and as such, area expertise is necessary,” said AMA Chief Operating Officer James Holter. “INIT ESPORTS is the right partner to bring that expertise and provide our participating members with the fair, structured and inclusive events that they expect. With this agreement, the AMA is proud to acknowledge esports as its own classification of competition and sanction it accordingly.”
The AMA recognizes more than a dozen types of motorcycle competition disciplines, including motocross, trials, road racing, flat track, hillclimb, enduro, desert racing, ice racing, land-speed racing and more. With this agreement, motorcycle esports competition joins that list.
“Esports has become another way to connect with fans, and INIT ESPORT is happy to provide this tool for the AMA and its disciplines,” said INIT ESPORTS President Stefy Bau. “Riding and racing can be expensive, especially for a newbie, but esports can provide that first taste with a lower barrier to entry. The younger demographic is already playing video games, and now with motorcycle esports championships, anyone from across the globe can become an AMA eSports National Champion.”
Bau added that esports expands exposure to two-wheel competition, for both new and existing riders.
“The intention is to create a path to turn gamers into consumers of the sport and allow riders to have fun when they are not on their motorcycles by participating in or watching esports events,” Bau said. “This agreement with the AMA is a first of its kind and will be a model for other sports to follow. In a digital world, sports can really expand on diversity and inclusion.”
As part of the agreement, every AMA member will be eligible to receive an AMA eSports Competition License to compete in two-wheel esports events organized by INIT ESPORTS, in addition to other deals and discounts specific to esports. Non-AMA members will be licensed by the AMA, through its relationship with INIT ESPORTS, to participate in the events.
INIT ESPORTS (initesports.com) is a promoter and tournament organizer for motorsports esports events, with a focus on two-wheel esports, and works with companies and competitive gamers in the United States, Europe and Asia.
Established in 1924, the AMA (americanmotorcyclist.com) sanctions motorcycle competition in the United States and is the sole U.S. affiliate of the Fédération international de Motocyclisme, the world governing body for motorcycle sport. In addition to amateur racing, the AMA provides sanctioning services for professional series, including MotoAmerica, home of the AMA Superbike Championship, and the AMA Supercross Championship.
The AMA also promotes recreational motorcycle riding, including dual sport, adventure bike and road rally events. The AMA government relations department, based in Washington, D.C., combats anti-motorcycling laws and regulations and advocates for a pro-motorcycling agenda.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.
Not a member? Join the AMA today: americanmotorcyclist.com.
PETRONAS SRT’s Team Principal and Team Director look back at demanding 2020 season
The 2020 MotoGP season was one that no-one could have predicted. After the start of the season was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, a rollercoaster ride ensued with the highs of maiden victories for PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team and the lows of injuries. Now that the dust has settled, Team Principal Razlan Razali and Team Director Johan Stigefelt sat down to discuss the year…
PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team (SRT) Principal Razlan Razali (left) and Team Director Johan Stigefelt (right). Photo courtesy PETRONAS SRT.
How difficult was it to face this season with the COVID pandemic? How important was the work done by Dorna/IRTA and the support of the team’s Partners?
Razlan Razali (RR): “It was very difficult with the uncertainty of when the season would start. Fortunately the season went ahead in July and it went well. We all managed to stay safe and out of our entire team there were only two people that tested positive and that was outside of the circuit staff, which was good because it shows that the protocols that were implemented by Dorna worked very well.
“We really appreciate all the hard work that Dorna and IRTA have done this year in working with the various countries and authorities to make the season happen, it couldn’t have been done without them. It was very good of them to coordinate and manage all of the testing and protocols so that we could race, which was crucial to the team’s survival this year. Of course we would not be able to go racing without the understanding and commitment of our current partners as well, so we sincerely thank them. I am confident that we can now look forward to a great 2021 together.”
It was the second season with all three categories working together, how do you value the adaptation of the team staff to the new situation and limitations where not all members were allowed to travel?
Johan Stigefelt (JS): After last year we had a lot more experience that we could draw on. We knew from experience how it could work, so we prepared ourselves really well in the winter going into the 2020 season. That was one key element to us starting off so well because we were really prepared. We also knew each other and knew how to work to get the best out of each other. We also knew how to handle the logistics, which is a very big operation in this team.
“When the COVID situation fully emerged we were in Qatar at that time. We had to fly our Moto2 and Moto3 people to the Qatar race but also our MotoGP staff had to pack up all their bikes and prepare everything because we didn’t know when we would start again. It was very difficult, but I think we handled everything really well and once we started to travel again we were also prepared. Our coordinator Heather MacLennan has been in the team for many years so it makes it a lot easier for me, for example, to work in that tricky kind of environment when you know your team really well.”
Talking about the MotoGP category, it has been a season completely unexpected for a two-year old team; how do you rate this 2020 season and why?
RR: “It was unexpected and actually it has been a rollercoaster ,just like Portimão! We started off this year coming off the back of a great first season in 2019 where we achieved a number of pole positions and a couple of podiums, which was already beyond our expectations. Our approach this year was to try and get that first win and to be the first satellite Yamaha team to do in about 20 years. We wanted to achieve that for the fans, who couldn’t be at the races, for the team and of course for Yamaha. Even better than that, Fabio Quartararo won back-to-back races in Jerez! After that it became a rollercoaster ride, where after somehow leading the championship for most of the year, it wasn’t to be our year. We found ourselves slipping backwards until Franco Morbidelli claimed his first podium in Brno and Fabio came back with a win In Barcelona.
“After that we had mixed fortunes with Fabio struggling while Franky became more consistent, taking podiums and wins. Although it was a topsy-turvy season, there were plenty of positives. Franco coming second in the world championship completely beat our expectations and was something we didn’t expect. We had some unpredictable results but on paper we looked strong and, although we were a little disappointed, our two year old team racked up six wins, six pole positions and eight podiums, which is something that we are very proud of.”
JS: “In my opinion, it was not completely unexpected because we saw, especially with Fabio in 2019, incredible performances that saw him get stronger and stronger each race. He grew as a rider and we too learned and grew with him as a team. Also we got better machinery from Yamaha, he had a factory bike, so coming into this season I did expect top results from Fabio. We didn’t put any pressure on him but we were expecting podiums and wins, that’s what we were targeting. With Franky it was a bit different because he struggled in 2019, but he worked so hard in the winter and he really was an underdog this year. Nobody really spoke about him but as a team we always supported him and then he grew stronger and stronger during 2020, similar to Fabio in 2019, so it was really nice to see that progress and to see him end this season second in the championship.”
And regarding Moto2 and Moto3 teams, there were also highs and lows in both categories. What feelings do you end the season with?
JS: “John McPhee was immediately quick from the start; he was very fast in testing and then in Qatar he was challenging for the win. He took second there and then coming into Jerez after lockdown he was incredibly fast again, very aggressive and did really well. We expected a very good season with him, but then we experienced the lows with John in the last five or six races, we lost some points. It was difficult to see that he couldn’t challenge the front anymore. He was there, but he wasn’t in front winning races. After the second Misano race it was hard for him and so I end this season with mixed feelings in Moto3, especially because we had the high in the beginning and then the low at the end. With Khairul Idham Pawi it was very difficult this year as he never really picked up the understanding of Moto3 and it was hard to see. I feel for him because I have been in that situation as a rider and it’s not easy. I really hope that KIP can come back to racing in the future.
“Moto2 was also up and down. We did expect more from Xavi Vierge, the target was to be in the top-five this year with podiums and maybe a win. It didn’t happen, we struggled and it wasn’t easy for him, although we had some strong performances from him which highlight the level of potential. On the other side of the garage, it was fantastic to see Jake Dixon’s progress throughout the year, how he performed going into Brno, Austria and Misano before leading the race at Le Mans. It was heartbreaking to see him crash in the closing laps and then his injury in Valencia cut the season short, with three races to go. It was tough in Moto2 at the end of the year and we are definitely looking for a better season in 2021.”
What were your favourite moments in 2020?
RR: “In MotoGP Fabio’s win in Jerez, achieving our team’s first victory in MotoGP, was unbelievable and a great feeling. Words cannot explain further than that. Then Franky’s win at the second Valencia round was such a good moment. At the first Valencia race we had two pole positions in Moto2 and Moto3, but we weren’t able to capitalise on it. We had possibly the hardest championship round but then one week later Franco’s win was like a big morale boost. It lifted the team up and our motivation continued to end the final round in Portimão in a good way. Those were two great moments for the team.”
JS: “If I were to list my top three moments the first is definitely the win coming back from lockdown. Fabio’s win in Jerez was such an amazing feeling and that was the reward for many years of hard work and dedication from everyone in the team. My second highlight is Misano when Franky and John both won on the same day and I was on the podium two times – it was a great feeling. The third best moment was Franky’s fight in Valencia when he beat [Jack] Miller in a last lap battle. It’s not every day that you get to see that in MotoGP anymore and it showed how strong Franky is as a rider, and how hard he is to beat.”
How difficult was it not to participate in the Malaysian GP this year? When does the team plan to come to Malaysia again?
RR: “It was really hard when the time came for what would have been the Malaysian GP because you can feel it in the air and suddenly that was missing. I was in Malaysia at the time because I had to come home at that point. When it should have been Free Practice on the Friday I went with my son to Sepang Circuit for a casual bike ride, it was eerie and sad that we weren’t racing. Normally I would have been so busy at that time. It is only temporary though and we will come back next year. At the moment Sepang Circuit is working very hard to ensure that the winter test happens there and we really look forward to that test and of course our team launch that happens during the winter test.”
What lessons have the team learned in 2020?
JS: Take nothing for granted! We cannot control everything and we really saw that this year with COVID; we were all put on hold and we had a big struggle as we were not sure if we would come back racing this year – that’s my biggest lesson learned. I think everyone in this environment must be thankful that we’ve been able to do what we do this year. We do this because we have a passion for motorsports, for motorcycle racing, and I feel so blessed to be able to work with so many good people and to experience the emotions every weekend we race.”
What can we expect for the 2021 season for PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team?
RR: “We are very excited for 2021 in all three categories. We welcome Darryn Binder to our Moto3 team. He has a lot of potential and we will look to help him develop further and perform well. I’m sure he and John will push each other to be better and I know that we have a strong team for Moto3. I am looking forward to many podiums and hopefully the fight for that Moto3 crown.
“In Moto2 we hope to continue our progress. This year we achieved our first pole position in the category and, although we unfortunately weren’t able to get our first podium, this year’s championship standings are already an improvement on last year. We expect Xavi to continue to fight, with Jake not far behind him, or Jake could maybe even be in front of him! We hope that Jake recovers well from his injury and will come back strong next year. I expect both of them to be fighting for good positions.
“I am confident that Franky will continue his good form in MotoGP next year and I think he could be one of the contenders for the 2021 world championship. Nobody should underestimate him, as we have seen that he was a contender this year. It will be a very different atmosphere here for Valentino Rossi as we are a real family and one team across all three categories, where we support one another completely. I hope to learn a lot from him and at the same time I’m sure he can learn things from us as well. Therefore I think next year will be extremely exciting.”
JS: “I think in MotoGP we will continue to target high results – podiums – and I hope we can help Franky to be even better. With Valentino coming on board it will be an amazing feeling, a different feeling, because he’s coming from a factory team. It was a long time ago that he was last riding for a satellite team, so we will support him and hope to make him feel comfortable. I think if we do that then he will be very fast. We have very strong riders in Moto2 and Moto3 next year and my expectations are very high there. I want to win the team championship in Moto3 and I want at least one of our riders to be in the top three of Moto2.”
What’s the next step/future for this young team? What’s the next target?
RR: “To deliver the results for our sponsors and for our fans. We want to always be competitive, to always fight for podiums and, eventually, to win the world championship across all three categories. That is the intention and I believe that we can do it.”
How will you continue to help and promote young Malaysian talent?
RR: “The team was built to help develop young Malaysian talent and that will still be one of our key objectives. However, we don’t want to have a Malaysian rider just to be able to say there is one of the grid, to make up numbers, we want them to earn their place and be just as competitive as any other rider. We are one of the biggest teams in the paddock and we want to be seen as progressive and competitive. The junior development programme is really important to us, so we will continue to monitor young Malaysian riders in championships like FIM CEV and Asia Talent Cup. We want to see how much these kids want to race, see their passion and to have them demonstrate their commitment and skill by being competitive, successful and winning in these junior programmes. We have the structure to help them make the step from this into the world championship and we can’t wait to give that opportunity to a rising Malaysian star again. Of course we continue to help and promote Malaysian talent throughout our whole organisation, with so many different aspects to our business we want to help those who aren’t riders as well!”
Last year one of the wishes from the team was to achieve a win in the MotoGP category,… What is your wish for the 2021 season?
RR: ”In MotoGP our aim is to continue winning, we want to show that this wasn’t just a ‘lucky’ year for us. We want to continue this momentum, continue this winning streak and continue being on the podium. This is also the next task in Moto2, we want to see our riders on the podium. I think in Moto3 it is time for us to really fight for the world championship!”
JS: “We have already achieved so many things this year in MotoGP: we have won races, we had pole positions and podiums, so what I would really like to see is both of our riders on the podium together – a 1-2 finish would be amazing. That’s also a target in the Moto2 and Moto3 classes.
“My ultimate wish though is to have our riders win all three classes on a weekend. We saw in Misano that we can get two of the three, as Franco and John proved. Winning on the same day in all three categories is something that no-one else has done before, so it would be really something if we were the first. It’s a big target but I think we can do it!”
Interest in 2021 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup Ramps Up as Registration Deadline Extended
Young, aspiring road racing riders still have a chance to sign-up for the inaugural Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup, which has attracted worldwide interest, with just 10 places remaining and registrations now closing on 10 January 2021.
The Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup is a new championship for riders aged 12-20, all running FIM Supersport 300 World Championship race-winning Yamaha R3 machinery. The series will support six FIM Superbike World Championship rounds, with the riders getting their first taste of the championship in the official R3 bLU cRU European Cup promo day and test at Misano (18-19 March), as they begin their Road to WorldSBK.
At that test, Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team riders Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and Andrea Locatelli, as well as GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team’s Garrett Gerloff will be in attendance to help the young rookie riders realise their full potential aboard the Yamaha R3.
The registration deadline for the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup has been extended to 10 January 2021 to give riders a chance to seal sponsorship deals ahead of the new season. Riders from 14 countries are already signed up, with a range of ages represented on the current entry list. This brand-new series has not only attracted attention from within Europe though, as riders from Brazil, Colombia and New Zealand have applied for entries, while youngsters from Australia and Cambodia have also expressed interest.
These riders will receive their race kit of helmet, leather suit, gloves, boots and Paddock Blue apparel at the Misano test, before familiarising themselves with the Yamaha R3 ahead of the first race of the 2021 campaign.
Riders who are interested in signing up to the highly anticipated Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup can find out more information and register here.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu
Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team
“This is a great opportunity for young riders to take that first step into world championship racing. The Yamaha R3 is a proven race-winner in WorldSSP300 and myself, Andrea and Garrett will be at the test to show the first ever Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup riders how to maximise its performance. Already, riders from all over the world are interested and it’s always great to have people from different backgrounds in the WorldSBK paddock. I’m looking forward to seeing all the new young talents and maybe I’ll even get the chance to meet my future Pata Yamaha teammate!”
Andrea Dosoli
Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Manager
“We’re delighted by the amount of global interest the first-ever Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup is drawing and that we’re able to support the new racing generation. The grid is filling up fast, but we’ve taken the option of extending the deadline to allow riders to finalise their sponsorship packages for the 2021 season. What’s also great is to see riders registering from the likes of South America and Oceania, showing how truly far-reaching this championship is. The fact that Toprak, Andrea and Garrett will be at the test is also really exciting for the youngsters, as they’ll get to learn from some of the very best in the business.”
2020 MOTOGP™ MILESTONES: RED BULL KTM’S BEST YEAR YET
MotoGP 2020
Red Bull KTM can look back on an intense and busy 2020 MotoGP season with a high degree of satisfaction as the 14 Grands Prix held in 18 weeks delivered the best results, memories and promising signs yet for the manufacturer after just four years on the grid. Race and title success was also keenly felt in the Moto2™ and Moto3™ categories.
2020 MotoGP began in late July sizzling temperatures with the first ‘double-header’ at the Circuit de Jerez-Angel Nieto in Spain and where the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team of Pol Espargaro and Brad Binder as well as the Red Bull KTM Tech3 crew of Miguel Oliveira and Iker Lecuona already showed pace on their KTM RC16s to be able to challenge the front runners for grid slots and race positions.
A sensational first ever victory came at just round three as eventual Rookie of the Year Brad Binder shocked the establishment by crossing the finish line first with a five-second margin at the Automotodrom Brno in the Czech Republic. The 25-year old South African was the first athlete to have won in Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP classes with KTM machinery.
Two Grands Prix later and Oliveira picked up the first of his two triumphs with a measured but dramatic success at the Red Bull Ring (also the first MotoGP win for the Tech3 squad and becoming the second racer to do the ‘KTM clean sweep’ in all categories). The Portuguese – in only his second MotoGP term – would complete the set with a dominant performance at the Algarve International Circuit season-closer on home turf.
Ultimately it would be Espargaro with the most podium finishes (as well as two of the three Pole Positions registered by KTM) for 2020. The Spanish star – who gave KTM their maiden top three in MotoGP at the conclusion of 2018 in Valencia – walked the rostrum five times in total and reached 5th position in the final championship standings as KTM classified 4th in the Constructors contest, just four points from 2nd place. Rookie Iker Lecuona contributed 3 of KTM’s 27 top-ten results.
This year MotoGP managed to clock 14 Grands Prix from the original 20 for the premier class. A tight and unpredictable level of competition – where qualification times often saw the top twenty riders divided by a second – delivered 9 different winners and 15 different riders in podium positions.
Red Bull KTM 2020 MotoGP accomplishments from 14 rounds, 9 circuits with more than 5100km raced in 6 countries in 5 months and with 633 PCR tests (accumulated by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team alone):
3 wins (1: Binder & 2: Oliveira)
8 podiums (1: Binder, 5: Espargaro, 2: Oliveira)
3 Pole Positions (2: Espargaro, 1: Oliveira)
4 Fastest laps (2: Binder, 1: Espargaro, 1: Oliveira)
27 top ten finishes (5: Binder, 10: Espargaro, 3: Lecuona, 9: Oliveira)
5th in Riders Championship: Espargaro (highest yet for KTM)
4th in Constructors Championship (from 6, highest yet)
3rd in Teams Championship: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
7th in Teams Championship: Red Bull KTM Tech3
Rookie of the Year: Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Average points per round comparison won by KTM: 2019 = 9.26, 2020 = 26.71 (increase of 188.4%)
The KTM GP Academy spots, develops and funnels riders through the MotoGP tiers to hopefully guide athletes to a berth on the premier class grid. In 2020 the Academy had a notable year in Moto2 and Moto3.
In Moto2 the Red Bull KTM Ajo team were able to help both of their racers – Jorge Martin and Tetsuta Nakashima – either lead or fight for the FIM Moto2 World Championship. The Spaniard and Japanese posted three wins between them (two for Martin and one for Nagashima) and total of eight podium appearances. Martin also logged one Pole Position on his way to 5th in the series standings. Nagashima ended-up in 8th.
In Moto3 Albert Arenas used his KTM RC4 to become KTM’s fourth world champion since the inception of the class in 2012. His exciting final-round confirmation of the title came at the Algarve International Circuit. The Portuguese venue brought a gripping and typically fraught 15 fixtures of Moto3 to a close. The series began on a high for Arenas with his victory at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar and ended with his entry into the history books.
Four KTM riders classified in the top ten of the Moto3 standings. The same number tasted Grand Prix victory in 2020; three for the first time in their careers. Arenas shared the top of the ‘box’ with Celestino Vietti (1), Darryn Binder (1) and Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Raul Fernandez (2). KTM were able to rule 8 from the 15 rounds in 2020. KTM posted 7 Pole Positions (6 for Fernandez and 1 for Binder).
Arenas’ Qatar win was the 100th for KTM equipment on Grand Prix asphalt and all in all divisions; that number swelled to 110 by the finale of 2020.
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director: “When the tires have cooled and the tools are down we have to look back at 2020 as perhaps the most challenging season for us yet in just four years in MotoGP but what an amazing one. All the statistics speak for themselves. I cannot describe how rewarding it has been to see our riders develop, our teams, our machinery: the whole programme has taken big steps forward. The credit goes to every single person who played their part, whether that was in difficult conditions at the circuit or at home here in the factory. We punched over our weight in 2020 and we’ll keep swinging for more next season and for the years to come.”
2020 MotoGP Championship standings
1. Joan Mir (ESP), Suzuki, 171 points
2. Franco Morbidelli (ITA), Yamaha, 158
3. Alex Rins (ESP), Suzuki, 139
4. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA), Ducati, 135
5. Pol Espargaro (ESP), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 135
9. Miguel Oliveira (POR), Red Bull KTM Tech3, 125
11. Brad Binder (RSA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 87
GRESINI RACING: FROM 2022, THE MOTOGP PROJECT IS REALITY
As a pleasant confirmation for an institution as solid as historical within MotoGP, from 2022 Gresini Racing will be again in the premier class as Independent team.
The team led by Fausto Gresini, which is already present across all categories of the MotoGP World Championship, is back to its natural spot and will be relying on its own support only. A five-year agreement was signed between Gresini Racing and IRTA (2022-2026), a further proof of the commitment by the Faenza-based team.
Gresini Racing has been present in the premier class since 1997 and therefore is among the longest-lasting teams and one with a very solid tally: 41 podiums, 14 wins and three runner-up spots in the category.
FAUSTO GRESINI – TEAM MANAGER GRESINI RACING
“We’re happy to announce this agreement with IRTA, which will see us in MotoGP for five years starting from 2022. We will not be representing Aprilia as a factory team anymore, so we will continue as an Independent Team, doing so with as much will and commitment. There’s a lot of work to do and many things to define and communicate. Obviously we’re already working on this huge project, and we will reveal the details little by little. Stay tuned!”
THE NEW, HIGH-PERFORMANCE, 850CC, 65 HP ENGINE MAKES ITS DEBUT
2021 V7 IS FASTER, MORE COMFORTABLE, BETTER EQUIPPED AND REFINED, MAINTAINING ALL THE CHARACTER AND AUTHENTICITY THAT EVERY MOTO GUZZI BOASTS
More than fifty years after the launch of its first unit, Moto Guzzi is proud to present a new and important evolution in the history of the V7, a prominent symbol of Italian motorbikes around the world.
The revamping is so profound that the progressive numbering in Roman numerals, which had characterized the various evolutions of the model since its return to the market in 2007, is gone. But the character and authenticity remain intact, as these values are destined to last over time and embedded in the genetic code of every Moto Guzzi.
A 2021-model Moto Guzzi V7 Stone. Photo courtesy Piaggio Group.
Two versions are available: the patriarch, V7 Stone, with its strong and minimalistic style, is joined by the V7 Special, with its classic and elegant lines.
A 2021-model Moto Guzzi V7 Special. Photo courtesy Piaggio Group.
A new Moto Guzzi engine makes its début on the new V7, a close derivative of the one that powers the V85 TT. This is the most recent and modern drive built in Mandello, which guarantees better performance and overall greater efficiency in order to provide maximum riding pleasure, fun and reliability.
It has 25% more maximum power, going from the previous 52 hp at 6,200 rpm to the current 65 hp at 6,800 rpm. Maximum torque has also increased significantly, going from 60 Nm at 4250 rpm to the outstanding value of 73 Nm at 5,000 rpm, with more than 80% of the torque already available at 3,000 rpm.
The new Moto Guzzi V7 features a more powerful V-Twin engine. Photo courtesy Piaggio Group.
Compared to the previous version, the new addition from Mandello is generally more complete in terms of equipment and demonstrates superior maturity, also evident in the aesthetic impact of the larger engine, which stands out for its generously sized exhaust pipes in a different layout; the view from the rear highlights the larger cardan final drive and the wider rear wheel, as well as the more robust pair of Kayaba shock absorbers.
The stylish side panels are new, as is the shorter rear mudguard, elements which, along with the new exhaust system, give the new ‘eight and a half’ a revamped and more seductive look.
The rear view of a 2021-model Moto Guzzi V7 Special. Photo courtesy Piaggio Group.
Many new features have been introduced to improve stability and comfort, leaving the proverbial handling of the Moto Guzzi best-seller unaltered.
The frame has been evolved with the addition of steel elements in the headstock area, whereas the new pair of shock absorbers with greater travel and the new, two-tier saddle ensure greater comfort. With this same goal in mind, brand new rider foot peg supports are used.
Moto Guzzi V7 Stone has the new, full LED light system with the headlight that includes a DRL in the shape of the Moto Guzzi Eagle, whereas the new instrument cluster is perfectly in line with the look of a minimalist motorcycle, entirely digital on a single, circular dial. The aluminum wheels, in the sporty style that equips the Stone, are also new; the rear rim is shod with a wider 150/70 tire.
V7 Special maintains the elegant, dual dial analogue instrument cluster (speedometer and rev counter) and the ultra-classic spoked wheels.
V7 Stone is available in three satin-finish color schemes: Nero Ruvido, Azzurro Ghiaccio and Arancione Rame. The color variants of the V7 Special, the version closes to the classic and elegant spirit of the original model, are Blu Formale and Grigio Casual.
Marc Marquez’s progress after the surgery performed on December 3 and the start of antibiotic therapy has been deemed satisfactory by his medical team. Today he has been discharged from the Hospital Ruber Internacional to continue his recovery at home, where he will continue with the specific antibiotic treatment.
Yamaha Motor Australia 2021 Superbike racers (from left) Cru Halliday, Broc Parkes and Aiden Wagner. Photo courtesy ASBK.
Yamaha Racing Team Announces Three-Bike 2021 Campaign
The Yamaha Racing Team has today announced a three-bike assault on the 2021 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul.
Former World Supersport/Superbike and MotoGP competitor Broc Parkes will join the team, alongside existing riders Cru Halliday and Aiden Wagner.
Parkes is looking forward to returning to a Yamaha machine, which he rode in the World Supersport Championship from 2005-08, as well as rekindling his relationship with the Australian Yamaha Racing Team.
“I’d like to thank the Yamaha Racing Team for welcoming me back to the family,” Parkes said.
“I’ve been with Yamaha for more than half of my career and had a lot of good times and memories.
“Now I’m living full-time in Australia, I’m looking forward to racing in the Australian Superbike Championship – it’s come a long way in the last few years.
“I have a lot of experience with the Yamaha R1, so hopefully I can bring that to the team and we can be at the front, fighting for the championship.”
Yamaha Motor Australia general manager Andrew Eldridge said the team is excited to expand for the 2021 season.
“In a time where we’ve had a mixed 2020, it’s exciting to expand for 2021 and we’re sure it will add a new dimension to the grid.
“Broc comes to us with a good pedigree in racing, more recently in the Asian Cup, and we’ve been able to assist Yamaha Motor Company who have a lot of faith in Broc and his abilities.”
Tulovic and Perolari form Tech3 E-Racing spearhead in 2021
With the third season of the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup approaching very fast, Tech3 E-Racing is proud to announce that Lukas Tulovic and Corentin Perolari will build the line-up for 2021.
The 20-year old Tulovic is no stranger to the MotoE Championship, as he did his first year in the category in 2020, showing some decent pace and a steep learning curve with two front row starts, a strong fourth and sixth position in the race. Unfortunately, his progress was stopped by a crash in the fourth race of the season, yet, the talented German still managed to finish in 11th place of the overall championship standings, narrowly missing out on the top 10.
Perolari will be a rookie in the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup. Coming from the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, he became Spanish Champion in the Open600 class in 2016 before moving to the European Moto2 Championship in 2017. Since 2019 the French rider competed permanently in the World Supersport Championship. Hence the 22-year old is eager to start a new challenge in 2021, joining the Tech3 E-Racing Team.
Lukas Tulovic
“I’m super happy and excited to have the chance to compete again for Tech3 E-Racing in the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup in 2021 again. I’m very grateful for the opportunity and thanks to Hervé Poncharal for making this possible. We had some quite impressive E-Pole records in 2020 and also some good races, especially the first event in Jerez. The speed was there all season long, yet unfortunately in the second race of Misano I had this big crash, which kind of ruined the rest of my season. The final three races in Misano and Le Mans were just damage limitation and I tried to score as many points as possible in order to keep a decent position in the championship for me and the team. This we want to do better in 2021, of course get first podiums, be further in front and challenge for the title. We already started quite well this season, but now it’s time to do it even better.”
Corentin Perolari
“I’m really proud to join the Tech3 E-Racing Team in 2021. It’s a great crew, the results speak for themselves, so I hope to add something to the positive list of the team. The FIM Enel MotoE World Cup itself is a brand-new adventure for me, a category, that certainly has an amazing future. With regards to riding, my objective for my first year in this class is to learn and get up to speed as quick as possible in order to find my way towards the front end of the championship as soon as I can.”
Hervé Poncharal
Team Manager
“Finally, we can announce our 2021 MotoE line-up. I’m very proud to have the possibility to do another year with Lukas, who did his first season in MotoE last year and impressed quite a few observers. Unfortunately, he got injured for the last two rounds, therefore his final ranking is not what I believe is his real level, but clearly, 2021 we will see him with a year of experience under his belt, he knows how to master the Energica machine, he knows that Qualifying is the key moment of weekend, but also the first two laps are essential and we know the points we have to work on together. I’m quite sure he will make a big step and be fighting for podiums all through the season. On the other side it is with great joy that we will start working with Corentin Perolari, who is a young French rider, who raced the last two years in World Supersport. We could see that in MotoE like in any other class young riders are clearly the future and I believe Corentin will bring in his youth, his energy, and his dedication to his first MotoE season in order to progress as a rider. He is very proud to be in the MotoGP paddock and the MotoE is a young category with a great future ahead and I believe having young and fast riders will help the sport and e-racing itself to become even more exciting. 2021 will be year third year for the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup and year after year, it’s becoming a more essential class of the MotoGP World Championship. I’m convinced that the MotoE races will deliver an amazing show yet again in 2021.”
An MV Agusta Superveloce Alpine and an Alpine A110 sports car. Photo courtesy MV Agusta.
MV AGUSTA’S SUPERVELOCE ALPINE LIMITED EDITION SOLD-OUT HOURS AFTER LIVE STREAMING PRESENTATION
Varese, December 15, 2020 – MV Agusta repeats the success of the Superveloce 75 Anniversario with its new, limited edition Superveloce Alpine. Only hours after its official launch through a spectacular live streaming presentation hosted in its Varese historic factory, all 110 units of the new Superveloce have been sold out. Inspired by motorsport legend Alpine’s A110, the Superveloce Alpine is a celebration of both brand’s passion for design, beautiful engineering and racing.
The novelty in the Superveloce Alpine, in its stunning electric blue livery, goes well beyond the amazing design makeover, as many of the most important characterising elements are not visible to the naked eye. There’s the innovative choice and use of materials, the richest and most sophisticated electronics ever, full connectivity through the MV Ride App, GPS tracking, the luxury of the detailing and a host of dedicated accessories.
”This exceptional collaboration with Alpine is part of our vision” commented Timur Sardarov, CEO MV Agusta Motor S.p.A.: ”The development and the launching of new models is an important element of the industrial plan we presented two years ago. The Superveloce Alpine is the latest successful example of this policy, and proof that our efforts are paying off. I am delighted with yet another instant success, especially since we can share it with our partners in this project: Alpine, a brand and a company with whom we have so much in common. The Superveloce Alpine certainly benefited from the synergies between our two teams that naturally occurred during this project.”
The MotoGP grid for the Red Bull Virtual Grand Prix of Spain. Image courtesy of Dorna.
American Motorcyclist Association awards sanction to INIT ESPORTS for AMA eSports National Championship
INIT ESPORTS will organize, promote AMA-sanctioned two-wheel eSports competition
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association and INIT ESPORTS announce the formation of the AMA eSports National Championship, an AMA-sanctioned national championship that INIT ESPORTS will organize and promote under a multi-year agreement as an AMA-chartered promoter.
The AMA-sanctioned esports calendar will include two-wheel video game competitions of varying size and scope, culminating in an annual national championship that will award AMA National No. 1 plates to class champions as early as 2021. The AMA and INIT ESPORTS will announce schedule and registration information as it becomes available.
“Esports events require a technical infrastructure, rules packages and competitor engagement that make them as distinctive as any traditional racing discipline, and as such, area expertise is necessary,” said AMA Chief Operating Officer James Holter. “INIT ESPORTS is the right partner to bring that expertise and provide our participating members with the fair, structured and inclusive events that they expect. With this agreement, the AMA is proud to acknowledge esports as its own classification of competition and sanction it accordingly.”
The AMA recognizes more than a dozen types of motorcycle competition disciplines, including motocross, trials, road racing, flat track, hillclimb, enduro, desert racing, ice racing, land-speed racing and more. With this agreement, motorcycle esports competition joins that list.
“Esports has become another way to connect with fans, and INIT ESPORT is happy to provide this tool for the AMA and its disciplines,” said INIT ESPORTS President Stefy Bau. “Riding and racing can be expensive, especially for a newbie, but esports can provide that first taste with a lower barrier to entry. The younger demographic is already playing video games, and now with motorcycle esports championships, anyone from across the globe can become an AMA eSports National Champion.”
Bau added that esports expands exposure to two-wheel competition, for both new and existing riders.
“The intention is to create a path to turn gamers into consumers of the sport and allow riders to have fun when they are not on their motorcycles by participating in or watching esports events,” Bau said. “This agreement with the AMA is a first of its kind and will be a model for other sports to follow. In a digital world, sports can really expand on diversity and inclusion.”
As part of the agreement, every AMA member will be eligible to receive an AMA eSports Competition License to compete in two-wheel esports events organized by INIT ESPORTS, in addition to other deals and discounts specific to esports. Non-AMA members will be licensed by the AMA, through its relationship with INIT ESPORTS, to participate in the events.
INIT ESPORTS (initesports.com) is a promoter and tournament organizer for motorsports esports events, with a focus on two-wheel esports, and works with companies and competitive gamers in the United States, Europe and Asia.
Established in 1924, the AMA (americanmotorcyclist.com) sanctions motorcycle competition in the United States and is the sole U.S. affiliate of the Fédération international de Motocyclisme, the world governing body for motorcycle sport. In addition to amateur racing, the AMA provides sanctioning services for professional series, including MotoAmerica, home of the AMA Superbike Championship, and the AMA Supercross Championship.
The AMA also promotes recreational motorcycle riding, including dual sport, adventure bike and road rally events. The AMA government relations department, based in Washington, D.C., combats anti-motorcycling laws and regulations and advocates for a pro-motorcycling agenda.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.
Not a member? Join the AMA today: americanmotorcyclist.com.
The PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team (SRT). Photo courtesy PETRONAS SRT.
Razlan Razali and Johan Stigefelt reflect on 2020
PETRONAS SRT’s Team Principal and Team Director look back at demanding 2020 season
The 2020 MotoGP season was one that no-one could have predicted. After the start of the season was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, a rollercoaster ride ensued with the highs of maiden victories for PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team and the lows of injuries. Now that the dust has settled, Team Principal Razlan Razali and Team Director Johan Stigefelt sat down to discuss the year…
PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team (SRT) Principal Razlan Razali (left) and Team Director Johan Stigefelt (right). Photo courtesy PETRONAS SRT.
How difficult was it to face this season with the COVID pandemic? How important was the work done by Dorna/IRTA and the support of the team’s Partners?
Razlan Razali (RR): “It was very difficult with the uncertainty of when the season would start. Fortunately the season went ahead in July and it went well. We all managed to stay safe and out of our entire team there were only two people that tested positive and that was outside of the circuit staff, which was good because it shows that the protocols that were implemented by Dorna worked very well.
“We really appreciate all the hard work that Dorna and IRTA have done this year in working with the various countries and authorities to make the season happen, it couldn’t have been done without them. It was very good of them to coordinate and manage all of the testing and protocols so that we could race, which was crucial to the team’s survival this year. Of course we would not be able to go racing without the understanding and commitment of our current partners as well, so we sincerely thank them. I am confident that we can now look forward to a great 2021 together.”
It was the second season with all three categories working together, how do you value the adaptation of the team staff to the new situation and limitations where not all members were allowed to travel?
Johan Stigefelt (JS): After last year we had a lot more experience that we could draw on. We knew from experience how it could work, so we prepared ourselves really well in the winter going into the 2020 season. That was one key element to us starting off so well because we were really prepared. We also knew each other and knew how to work to get the best out of each other. We also knew how to handle the logistics, which is a very big operation in this team.
“When the COVID situation fully emerged we were in Qatar at that time. We had to fly our Moto2 and Moto3 people to the Qatar race but also our MotoGP staff had to pack up all their bikes and prepare everything because we didn’t know when we would start again. It was very difficult, but I think we handled everything really well and once we started to travel again we were also prepared. Our coordinator Heather MacLennan has been in the team for many years so it makes it a lot easier for me, for example, to work in that tricky kind of environment when you know your team really well.”
Talking about the MotoGP category, it has been a season completely unexpected for a two-year old team; how do you rate this 2020 season and why?
RR: “It was unexpected and actually it has been a rollercoaster ,just like Portimão! We started off this year coming off the back of a great first season in 2019 where we achieved a number of pole positions and a couple of podiums, which was already beyond our expectations. Our approach this year was to try and get that first win and to be the first satellite Yamaha team to do in about 20 years. We wanted to achieve that for the fans, who couldn’t be at the races, for the team and of course for Yamaha. Even better than that, Fabio Quartararo won back-to-back races in Jerez! After that it became a rollercoaster ride, where after somehow leading the championship for most of the year, it wasn’t to be our year. We found ourselves slipping backwards until Franco Morbidelli claimed his first podium in Brno and Fabio came back with a win In Barcelona.
“After that we had mixed fortunes with Fabio struggling while Franky became more consistent, taking podiums and wins. Although it was a topsy-turvy season, there were plenty of positives. Franco coming second in the world championship completely beat our expectations and was something we didn’t expect. We had some unpredictable results but on paper we looked strong and, although we were a little disappointed, our two year old team racked up six wins, six pole positions and eight podiums, which is something that we are very proud of.”
JS: “In my opinion, it was not completely unexpected because we saw, especially with Fabio in 2019, incredible performances that saw him get stronger and stronger each race. He grew as a rider and we too learned and grew with him as a team. Also we got better machinery from Yamaha, he had a factory bike, so coming into this season I did expect top results from Fabio. We didn’t put any pressure on him but we were expecting podiums and wins, that’s what we were targeting. With Franky it was a bit different because he struggled in 2019, but he worked so hard in the winter and he really was an underdog this year. Nobody really spoke about him but as a team we always supported him and then he grew stronger and stronger during 2020, similar to Fabio in 2019, so it was really nice to see that progress and to see him end this season second in the championship.”
And regarding Moto2 and Moto3 teams, there were also highs and lows in both categories. What feelings do you end the season with?
JS: “John McPhee was immediately quick from the start; he was very fast in testing and then in Qatar he was challenging for the win. He took second there and then coming into Jerez after lockdown he was incredibly fast again, very aggressive and did really well. We expected a very good season with him, but then we experienced the lows with John in the last five or six races, we lost some points. It was difficult to see that he couldn’t challenge the front anymore. He was there, but he wasn’t in front winning races. After the second Misano race it was hard for him and so I end this season with mixed feelings in Moto3, especially because we had the high in the beginning and then the low at the end. With Khairul Idham Pawi it was very difficult this year as he never really picked up the understanding of Moto3 and it was hard to see. I feel for him because I have been in that situation as a rider and it’s not easy. I really hope that KIP can come back to racing in the future.
“Moto2 was also up and down. We did expect more from Xavi Vierge, the target was to be in the top-five this year with podiums and maybe a win. It didn’t happen, we struggled and it wasn’t easy for him, although we had some strong performances from him which highlight the level of potential. On the other side of the garage, it was fantastic to see Jake Dixon’s progress throughout the year, how he performed going into Brno, Austria and Misano before leading the race at Le Mans. It was heartbreaking to see him crash in the closing laps and then his injury in Valencia cut the season short, with three races to go. It was tough in Moto2 at the end of the year and we are definitely looking for a better season in 2021.”
What were your favourite moments in 2020?
RR: “In MotoGP Fabio’s win in Jerez, achieving our team’s first victory in MotoGP, was unbelievable and a great feeling. Words cannot explain further than that. Then Franky’s win at the second Valencia round was such a good moment. At the first Valencia race we had two pole positions in Moto2 and Moto3, but we weren’t able to capitalise on it. We had possibly the hardest championship round but then one week later Franco’s win was like a big morale boost. It lifted the team up and our motivation continued to end the final round in Portimão in a good way. Those were two great moments for the team.”
JS: “If I were to list my top three moments the first is definitely the win coming back from lockdown. Fabio’s win in Jerez was such an amazing feeling and that was the reward for many years of hard work and dedication from everyone in the team. My second highlight is Misano when Franky and John both won on the same day and I was on the podium two times – it was a great feeling. The third best moment was Franky’s fight in Valencia when he beat [Jack] Miller in a last lap battle. It’s not every day that you get to see that in MotoGP anymore and it showed how strong Franky is as a rider, and how hard he is to beat.”
How difficult was it not to participate in the Malaysian GP this year? When does the team plan to come to Malaysia again?
RR: “It was really hard when the time came for what would have been the Malaysian GP because you can feel it in the air and suddenly that was missing. I was in Malaysia at the time because I had to come home at that point. When it should have been Free Practice on the Friday I went with my son to Sepang Circuit for a casual bike ride, it was eerie and sad that we weren’t racing. Normally I would have been so busy at that time. It is only temporary though and we will come back next year. At the moment Sepang Circuit is working very hard to ensure that the winter test happens there and we really look forward to that test and of course our team launch that happens during the winter test.”
What lessons have the team learned in 2020?
JS: Take nothing for granted! We cannot control everything and we really saw that this year with COVID; we were all put on hold and we had a big struggle as we were not sure if we would come back racing this year – that’s my biggest lesson learned. I think everyone in this environment must be thankful that we’ve been able to do what we do this year. We do this because we have a passion for motorsports, for motorcycle racing, and I feel so blessed to be able to work with so many good people and to experience the emotions every weekend we race.”
What can we expect for the 2021 season for PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team?
RR: “We are very excited for 2021 in all three categories. We welcome Darryn Binder to our Moto3 team. He has a lot of potential and we will look to help him develop further and perform well. I’m sure he and John will push each other to be better and I know that we have a strong team for Moto3. I am looking forward to many podiums and hopefully the fight for that Moto3 crown.
“In Moto2 we hope to continue our progress. This year we achieved our first pole position in the category and, although we unfortunately weren’t able to get our first podium, this year’s championship standings are already an improvement on last year. We expect Xavi to continue to fight, with Jake not far behind him, or Jake could maybe even be in front of him! We hope that Jake recovers well from his injury and will come back strong next year. I expect both of them to be fighting for good positions.
“I am confident that Franky will continue his good form in MotoGP next year and I think he could be one of the contenders for the 2021 world championship. Nobody should underestimate him, as we have seen that he was a contender this year. It will be a very different atmosphere here for Valentino Rossi as we are a real family and one team across all three categories, where we support one another completely. I hope to learn a lot from him and at the same time I’m sure he can learn things from us as well. Therefore I think next year will be extremely exciting.”
JS: “I think in MotoGP we will continue to target high results – podiums – and I hope we can help Franky to be even better. With Valentino coming on board it will be an amazing feeling, a different feeling, because he’s coming from a factory team. It was a long time ago that he was last riding for a satellite team, so we will support him and hope to make him feel comfortable. I think if we do that then he will be very fast. We have very strong riders in Moto2 and Moto3 next year and my expectations are very high there. I want to win the team championship in Moto3 and I want at least one of our riders to be in the top three of Moto2.”
What’s the next step/future for this young team? What’s the next target?
RR: “To deliver the results for our sponsors and for our fans. We want to always be competitive, to always fight for podiums and, eventually, to win the world championship across all three categories. That is the intention and I believe that we can do it.”
How will you continue to help and promote young Malaysian talent?
RR: “The team was built to help develop young Malaysian talent and that will still be one of our key objectives. However, we don’t want to have a Malaysian rider just to be able to say there is one of the grid, to make up numbers, we want them to earn their place and be just as competitive as any other rider. We are one of the biggest teams in the paddock and we want to be seen as progressive and competitive. The junior development programme is really important to us, so we will continue to monitor young Malaysian riders in championships like FIM CEV and Asia Talent Cup. We want to see how much these kids want to race, see their passion and to have them demonstrate their commitment and skill by being competitive, successful and winning in these junior programmes. We have the structure to help them make the step from this into the world championship and we can’t wait to give that opportunity to a rising Malaysian star again. Of course we continue to help and promote Malaysian talent throughout our whole organisation, with so many different aspects to our business we want to help those who aren’t riders as well!”
Last year one of the wishes from the team was to achieve a win in the MotoGP category,… What is your wish for the 2021 season?
RR: ”In MotoGP our aim is to continue winning, we want to show that this wasn’t just a ‘lucky’ year for us. We want to continue this momentum, continue this winning streak and continue being on the podium. This is also the next task in Moto2, we want to see our riders on the podium. I think in Moto3 it is time for us to really fight for the world championship!”
JS: “We have already achieved so many things this year in MotoGP: we have won races, we had pole positions and podiums, so what I would really like to see is both of our riders on the podium together – a 1-2 finish would be amazing. That’s also a target in the Moto2 and Moto3 classes.
“My ultimate wish though is to have our riders win all three classes on a weekend. We saw in Misano that we can get two of the three, as Franco and John proved. Winning on the same day in all three categories is something that no-one else has done before, so it would be really something if we were the first. It’s a big target but I think we can do it!”
Yamaha bLU cRU rider Bahattin Sofuoglu (54) in action on his YZF-R3. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Europe.
Interest in 2021 Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup Ramps Up as Registration Deadline Extended
Young, aspiring road racing riders still have a chance to sign-up for the inaugural Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup, which has attracted worldwide interest, with just 10 places remaining and registrations now closing on 10 January 2021.
The Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup is a new championship for riders aged 12-20, all running FIM Supersport 300 World Championship race-winning Yamaha R3 machinery. The series will support six FIM Superbike World Championship rounds, with the riders getting their first taste of the championship in the official R3 bLU cRU European Cup promo day and test at Misano (18-19 March), as they begin their Road to WorldSBK.
At that test, Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team riders Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and Andrea Locatelli, as well as GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team’s Garrett Gerloff will be in attendance to help the young rookie riders realise their full potential aboard the Yamaha R3.
The registration deadline for the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup has been extended to 10 January 2021 to give riders a chance to seal sponsorship deals ahead of the new season. Riders from 14 countries are already signed up, with a range of ages represented on the current entry list. This brand-new series has not only attracted attention from within Europe though, as riders from Brazil, Colombia and New Zealand have applied for entries, while youngsters from Australia and Cambodia have also expressed interest.
These riders will receive their race kit of helmet, leather suit, gloves, boots and Paddock Blue apparel at the Misano test, before familiarising themselves with the Yamaha R3 ahead of the first race of the 2021 campaign.
Riders who are interested in signing up to the highly anticipated Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup can find out more information and register here.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu
Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team
“This is a great opportunity for young riders to take that first step into world championship racing. The Yamaha R3 is a proven race-winner in WorldSSP300 and myself, Andrea and Garrett will be at the test to show the first ever Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup riders how to maximise its performance. Already, riders from all over the world are interested and it’s always great to have people from different backgrounds in the WorldSBK paddock. I’m looking forward to seeing all the new young talents and maybe I’ll even get the chance to meet my future Pata Yamaha teammate!”
Andrea Dosoli
Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Manager
“We’re delighted by the amount of global interest the first-ever Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Cup is drawing and that we’re able to support the new racing generation. The grid is filling up fast, but we’ve taken the option of extending the deadline to allow riders to finalise their sponsorship packages for the 2021 season. What’s also great is to see riders registering from the likes of South America and Oceania, showing how truly far-reaching this championship is. The fact that Toprak, Andrea and Garrett will be at the test is also really exciting for the youngsters, as they’ll get to learn from some of the very best in the business.”
Pol Espargaro's Red Bull KTM RC16 MotoGP racebike at rest. Photo by Polarity Photo, courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
2020 MOTOGP™ MILESTONES: RED BULL KTM’S BEST YEAR YET
MotoGP 2020
Red Bull KTM can look back on an intense and busy 2020 MotoGP season with a high degree of satisfaction as the 14 Grands Prix held in 18 weeks delivered the best results, memories and promising signs yet for the manufacturer after just four years on the grid. Race and title success was also keenly felt in the Moto2™ and Moto3™ categories.
2020 MotoGP began in late July sizzling temperatures with the first ‘double-header’ at the Circuit de Jerez-Angel Nieto in Spain and where the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team of Pol Espargaro and Brad Binder as well as the Red Bull KTM Tech3 crew of Miguel Oliveira and Iker Lecuona already showed pace on their KTM RC16s to be able to challenge the front runners for grid slots and race positions.
A sensational first ever victory came at just round three as eventual Rookie of the Year Brad Binder shocked the establishment by crossing the finish line first with a five-second margin at the Automotodrom Brno in the Czech Republic. The 25-year old South African was the first athlete to have won in Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP classes with KTM machinery.
Two Grands Prix later and Oliveira picked up the first of his two triumphs with a measured but dramatic success at the Red Bull Ring (also the first MotoGP win for the Tech3 squad and becoming the second racer to do the ‘KTM clean sweep’ in all categories). The Portuguese – in only his second MotoGP term – would complete the set with a dominant performance at the Algarve International Circuit season-closer on home turf.
Ultimately it would be Espargaro with the most podium finishes (as well as two of the three Pole Positions registered by KTM) for 2020. The Spanish star – who gave KTM their maiden top three in MotoGP at the conclusion of 2018 in Valencia – walked the rostrum five times in total and reached 5th position in the final championship standings as KTM classified 4th in the Constructors contest, just four points from 2nd place. Rookie Iker Lecuona contributed 3 of KTM’s 27 top-ten results.
This year MotoGP managed to clock 14 Grands Prix from the original 20 for the premier class. A tight and unpredictable level of competition – where qualification times often saw the top twenty riders divided by a second – delivered 9 different winners and 15 different riders in podium positions.
Red Bull KTM 2020 MotoGP accomplishments from 14 rounds, 9 circuits with more than 5100km raced in 6 countries in 5 months and with 633 PCR tests (accumulated by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team alone):
3 wins (1: Binder & 2: Oliveira)
8 podiums (1: Binder, 5: Espargaro, 2: Oliveira)
3 Pole Positions (2: Espargaro, 1: Oliveira)
4 Fastest laps (2: Binder, 1: Espargaro, 1: Oliveira)
27 top ten finishes (5: Binder, 10: Espargaro, 3: Lecuona, 9: Oliveira)
5th in Riders Championship: Espargaro (highest yet for KTM)
4th in Constructors Championship (from 6, highest yet)
3rd in Teams Championship: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
7th in Teams Championship: Red Bull KTM Tech3
Rookie of the Year: Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Average points per round comparison won by KTM: 2019 = 9.26, 2020 = 26.71 (increase of 188.4%)
The KTM GP Academy spots, develops and funnels riders through the MotoGP tiers to hopefully guide athletes to a berth on the premier class grid. In 2020 the Academy had a notable year in Moto2 and Moto3.
In Moto2 the Red Bull KTM Ajo team were able to help both of their racers – Jorge Martin and Tetsuta Nakashima – either lead or fight for the FIM Moto2 World Championship. The Spaniard and Japanese posted three wins between them (two for Martin and one for Nagashima) and total of eight podium appearances. Martin also logged one Pole Position on his way to 5th in the series standings. Nagashima ended-up in 8th.
In Moto3 Albert Arenas used his KTM RC4 to become KTM’s fourth world champion since the inception of the class in 2012. His exciting final-round confirmation of the title came at the Algarve International Circuit. The Portuguese venue brought a gripping and typically fraught 15 fixtures of Moto3 to a close. The series began on a high for Arenas with his victory at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar and ended with his entry into the history books.
Four KTM riders classified in the top ten of the Moto3 standings. The same number tasted Grand Prix victory in 2020; three for the first time in their careers. Arenas shared the top of the ‘box’ with Celestino Vietti (1), Darryn Binder (1) and Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Raul Fernandez (2). KTM were able to rule 8 from the 15 rounds in 2020. KTM posted 7 Pole Positions (6 for Fernandez and 1 for Binder).
Arenas’ Qatar win was the 100th for KTM equipment on Grand Prix asphalt and all in all divisions; that number swelled to 110 by the finale of 2020.
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director: “When the tires have cooled and the tools are down we have to look back at 2020 as perhaps the most challenging season for us yet in just four years in MotoGP but what an amazing one. All the statistics speak for themselves. I cannot describe how rewarding it has been to see our riders develop, our teams, our machinery: the whole programme has taken big steps forward. The credit goes to every single person who played their part, whether that was in difficult conditions at the circuit or at home here in the factory. We punched over our weight in 2020 and we’ll keep swinging for more next season and for the years to come.”
2020 MotoGP Championship standings
1. Joan Mir (ESP), Suzuki, 171 points
2. Franco Morbidelli (ITA), Yamaha, 158
3. Alex Rins (ESP), Suzuki, 139
4. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA), Ducati, 135
5. Pol Espargaro (ESP), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 135
9. Miguel Oliveira (POR), Red Bull KTM Tech3, 125
11. Brad Binder (RSA), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 87
The 2020 Gresini Racing teams with Fausto Gresini front and center. Photo courtesy Gresini Racing.
GRESINI RACING: FROM 2022, THE MOTOGP PROJECT IS REALITY
As a pleasant confirmation for an institution as solid as historical within MotoGP, from 2022 Gresini Racing will be again in the premier class as Independent team.
The team led by Fausto Gresini, which is already present across all categories of the MotoGP World Championship, is back to its natural spot and will be relying on its own support only. A five-year agreement was signed between Gresini Racing and IRTA (2022-2026), a further proof of the commitment by the Faenza-based team.
Gresini Racing has been present in the premier class since 1997 and therefore is among the longest-lasting teams and one with a very solid tally: 41 podiums, 14 wins and three runner-up spots in the category.
FAUSTO GRESINI – TEAM MANAGER GRESINI RACING
“We’re happy to announce this agreement with IRTA, which will see us in MotoGP for five years starting from 2022. We will not be representing Aprilia as a factory team anymore, so we will continue as an Independent Team, doing so with as much will and commitment. There’s a lot of work to do and many things to define and communicate. Obviously we’re already working on this huge project, and we will reveal the details little by little. Stay tuned!”
A 2021-model Moto Guzzi V7 Stone. Photo courtesy Piaggio Group.
NEW MOTO GUZZI V7
AFTER YEARS OF SUCCESS, A NEW V7 IS BORN
THE NEW, HIGH-PERFORMANCE, 850CC, 65 HP ENGINE MAKES ITS DEBUT
2021 V7 IS FASTER, MORE COMFORTABLE, BETTER EQUIPPED AND REFINED, MAINTAINING ALL THE CHARACTER AND AUTHENTICITY THAT EVERY MOTO GUZZI BOASTS
More than fifty years after the launch of its first unit, Moto Guzzi is proud to present a new and important evolution in the history of the V7, a prominent symbol of Italian motorbikes around the world.
The revamping is so profound that the progressive numbering in Roman numerals, which had characterized the various evolutions of the model since its return to the market in 2007, is gone. But the character and authenticity remain intact, as these values are destined to last over time and embedded in the genetic code of every Moto Guzzi.
A 2021-model Moto Guzzi V7 Stone. Photo courtesy Piaggio Group.
Two versions are available: the patriarch, V7 Stone, with its strong and minimalistic style, is joined by the V7 Special, with its classic and elegant lines.
A 2021-model Moto Guzzi V7 Special. Photo courtesy Piaggio Group.
A new Moto Guzzi engine makes its début on the new V7, a close derivative of the one that powers the V85 TT. This is the most recent and modern drive built in Mandello, which guarantees better performance and overall greater efficiency in order to provide maximum riding pleasure, fun and reliability.
It has 25% more maximum power, going from the previous 52 hp at 6,200 rpm to the current 65 hp at 6,800 rpm. Maximum torque has also increased significantly, going from 60 Nm at 4250 rpm to the outstanding value of 73 Nm at 5,000 rpm, with more than 80% of the torque already available at 3,000 rpm.
The new Moto Guzzi V7 features a more powerful V-Twin engine. Photo courtesy Piaggio Group.
Compared to the previous version, the new addition from Mandello is generally more complete in terms of equipment and demonstrates superior maturity, also evident in the aesthetic impact of the larger engine, which stands out for its generously sized exhaust pipes in a different layout; the view from the rear highlights the larger cardan final drive and the wider rear wheel, as well as the more robust pair of Kayaba shock absorbers.
The stylish side panels are new, as is the shorter rear mudguard, elements which, along with the new exhaust system, give the new ‘eight and a half’ a revamped and more seductive look.
The rear view of a 2021-model Moto Guzzi V7 Special. Photo courtesy Piaggio Group.
Many new features have been introduced to improve stability and comfort, leaving the proverbial handling of the Moto Guzzi best-seller unaltered.
The frame has been evolved with the addition of steel elements in the headstock area, whereas the new pair of shock absorbers with greater travel and the new, two-tier saddle ensure greater comfort. With this same goal in mind, brand new rider foot peg supports are used.
Moto Guzzi V7 Stone has the new, full LED light system with the headlight that includes a DRL in the shape of the Moto Guzzi Eagle, whereas the new instrument cluster is perfectly in line with the look of a minimalist motorcycle, entirely digital on a single, circular dial. The aluminum wheels, in the sporty style that equips the Stone, are also new; the rear rim is shod with a wider 150/70 tire.
V7 Special maintains the elegant, dual dial analogue instrument cluster (speedometer and rev counter) and the ultra-classic spoked wheels.
V7 Stone is available in three satin-finish color schemes: Nero Ruvido, Azzurro Ghiaccio and Arancione Rame. The color variants of the V7 Special, the version closes to the classic and elegant spirit of the original model, are Blu Formale and Grigio Casual.
Marc Marquez’s progress after the surgery performed on December 3 and the start of antibiotic therapy has been deemed satisfactory by his medical team. Today he has been discharged from the Hospital Ruber Internacional to continue his recovery at home, where he will continue with the specific antibiotic treatment.
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