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World Superbike: Rea Tops Jerez Test On New Kawasaki ZX-10RR (Updated)

David Swarts
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World Superbike: Rea Tops Jerez Test On New Kawasaki ZX-10RR (Updated)

FIM Superbike World Championship

Circuito de Jerez, Spain

November 18, 2020

Day Two And Overall Best Lap Times (all on Pirelli tires):

  1. Jonathan Rea, UK (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:38.324
  2. Toprak Razgatlioglu, Turkey (Yam YZF-R1), 1:38.839
  3. Alex Lowes, UK (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:38.886
  4. Garrett Gerloff, USA (Yam YZF-R1), 1:39.171
  5. Leon Haslam, UK (Hon CBR1000RR-R SP), 1:39.851
  6. Andrea Locatelli, Italy (Yam YZF-R1), 1:39.877
  7. Lucas Mahias, France (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:40.194
  8. Alvaro Bautista, Spain (Hon CBR1000RR-R SP), 1:40.231
  9. Kohta Nozane, Japan (Yam YZF-R1), 1:40.669
  10. Isaac Vinales, Spain (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:40.892

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:

Rea Fastest After First Winter Test

Kawasaki Racing Team riders Alex Lowes and Jonathan Rea completed their first two-day winter test session at Jerez de la Frontera with Rea fastest of all and Lowes third quickest of the WorldSBK riders.

Rea would set a best-of-test 1’38.324 lap time right at the end of two very busy days, riding a Ninja ZX-10RR machine featuring some exciting development parts and first technical steps into the 2021 season.

Lowes personal best lap of 1’38.887 was also set near the end of the second day of action at Jerez, after what was a highly positive period of work for all involved inside the KRT squad.

This was particularly useful test to work through set-up and development ideas after a 2020 season that was so disrupted by the unavoidable effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Qualifying tyres were evaluated at the end of the test by most of the major players but it was the performance on race tyres that was the focus of attention – and the areas of greatest satisfaction – for both the riders and the team.

The first steps toward a new season – visual and otherwise – were taken at Jerez, but for a full reveal visit the Kawasaki Motors YouTube channel on 23 November, at 15.00 CET.

With the Jerez tests complete the final on-track KRT action of the 2020 calendar year will take place at the next winter test sessions at Motorland Aragon in northern Spain, between 25 and 26 November.

 

Jonathan Rea on his new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Jonathan Rea on his new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

Jonathan Rea, stated: “We started to work with some items for 2021, part of the test plan KHI sent us. Like always we were collecting information and tried many things – a different front fairing to give our feedback to Kawasaki, engine feeling, front fork, some brake items and a front tyre for Pirelli. We did quite a lot of work and I set a lot of laps today with an old tyre. I have not been super-fast with a fresh tyre but the more laps I did on a tyre the faster I got. That is a good problem to have! There were pluses and minuses and we have a lot of information to go back now and assess everything before we return to the track and go further at Motorland next week.”

 

Alex Lowes on his new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Alex Lowes on his new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

Alex Lowes, stated: “We had some back-to-back testing to do after yesterday’s first sessions so in the morning today we focused on this In the afternoon we rode with some 2021 parts, including our first experience with the new fairing. It was nice and it looks really good as well, which is always a bonus. Today in general has been really positive. We still need to keep working but it was a good day – probably one of my best days of testing with the Ninja ZX-10RR. To pick one main point is hard to say, because when you are testing and a lot of new things arrive, it is about evaluating what is good and what’s bad before we start the new season next year.”

Pere Riba, Crew Chief for Jonathan Rea, stated: “It was all OK, as usual. We have the new bike and we have been testing all the items, the old ones and the new ones, just to collect the information. The engine has a new character and this has an effect. The aerodynamics of the new fairing seems to be working very well and it helps in different areas. It also makes the bike work a little bit different in terms of balance and we need time to look for the best package. We followed the plan, and the items that KHI requested. Johnny was finally the fastest rider, with a Q tyre, but he did very well.”

Marcel Duinker, Crew Chief for Alex Lowes, stated: “It was a very good test. After a season like we had this year it was very easy for us to understand where we needed to improve and that is what we did. We took a very relaxed approach because we had a tight test schedule with five main items, chassis and engine. We worked through these items and were able to be fast and consistent, even one of the fastest guys on track at this moment. Alex is very happy, he had a smile on his face on both days and we are already looking forward to the next test. I can only say mission accomplished so far.”

Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) embarked on his first WorldSBK rides with enthusiasm and finished up eighth fastest on his Ninja ZX-10RR. Isaac Vinales (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) put himself 11th in his new role as WorldSBK competitor, while Loris Cresson (Outdo TPR Kawasaki) was 12th.

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:

Pata Yamaha Enjoys Positive 2021 WorldSBK Preparation Test at Jerez

Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team got their 2021 FIM Superbike World Championship preparations underway in the post-season test at Jerez and accomplished a significant amount of work. Toprak Razgatlıoğlu ended the test second fastest overall as Andrea Locatelli showed early promise in his Superbike career, quickly adapting to his Yamaha R1 across the two days.

Focusing on development work ahead of next year, Razgatlıoğlu completed 173 laps of the Circuito de Jerez in total, with his best time of 1’38.855, set on the second day using an “X” specification race tyre, good enough for second overall, while the Turkish rider’s excellent feedback and consistent pace will help guide the further development of the 2021-spec Yamaha R1.

For Locatelli, this test marked his first two full days of riding the 2020 Yamaha R1 and provided an early opportunity to work with his crew chief, Andrew Pitt, and his side of the Pata Yamaha garage. The Italian youngster completed 162 laps and went seventh fastest, with a best time of 1’39.878, having shown a big improvement on the test’s second day.

 

Toprak Razgatlioglu in action at Jerez. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Toprak Razgatlioglu in action at Jerez. Photo courtesy Yamaha.

 

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu: P2 – 1’38.855 / 173 laps

Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team

“It was a very positive test for me. We tried many new parts and both the team and I are really happy because we’ve got a good direction ahead of 2021. We worked mainly on the race tyre and have improved the rear grip a lot. I focused on fast and consistent lap times, the goal was to be in the low 1’40s and we managed to do that. I did a good lap time on the X tyre, which I was pleased with! We need to work on maximising the Q tyre and try some other set-ups before we get going next year.”

 

Andrea Locatelli (55). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Andrea Locatelli (55). Photo courtesy Yamaha.

 

Andrea Locatelli: P7 – 1’39.878 / 162 laps

Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team

“It was a very exciting two days for me, the conditions here in Jerez this week were perfect. The feeling on the Yamaha R1 was really good and I’m beginning to understand the bike better and better. Every lap we improved over the two days, which is a good starting point as we look to the future. I’m very focused, there is still some work to do, but I’m really looking forward to being back on the Yamaha R1 again.”

 

Paul Denning – Team Principal

Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team

“Most importantly, I think we can count ourselves lucky to be here with everything that’s going on in the world at the moment. On top of that, the weather’s been perfect and Yamaha did a great job bringing so many new development parts to evaluate for the 2021 season. The riders worked incredibly hard, with Toprak doing 173 laps and Andrea completing 162 over the two days. In terms of the development work, most of that was focused on Toprak, given his experience both of WorldSBK and the Yamaha R1. He approached the test very positively and enjoyed this new responsibility! Andrea’s job was to gain more experience on the Yamaha R1 and to understand how to be fast and consistent. He took huge steps forward between day one and two. The engineers and crew chiefs have a huge amount of data and rider feedback to analyse, and these two days will put us in a stronger position for the future.”

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team:

GRT Yamaha Begin Work For 2021 in Jerez WorldSBK Test

For the first time since the end of the 2020 season, the FIM Superbike World Championship paddock reunited at the circuit of Jerez de la Frontera. For the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team, Garrett Gerloff carried out development work with various new parts ahead of 2021, while new rider, Japanese All-Japan JSB1000 champion Kohta Nozane, got his first taste of the Yamaha R1 WorldSBK machine.

By the end of the first day, American rider Gerloff, fresh from a stellar MotoGP appearance in Valencia, topped the timings, with Nozane 10th after showing steady improvement throughout the day.

On Wednesday, Gerloff and Nozane continued to gain confidence and were fourth and 10th respectively, but with much-improved lap times. They completed a combined 281 laps, with Gerloff riding 138 and Nozane 143.

 

Garrett Gerloff: P4 – 1’39.172 / 138 laps

GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team

Every time I get on the bike it feels more and more like mine. During this test, I jumped on this past year’s Yamaha R1 and had a really good feeling right away, but I also tried the new development parts for 2021 and I immediately found some more details which made me even more comfortable. That was awesome. I am super motivated for next year, we have made a lot of progress in general. Now, I just want to keep training as much as I can. I will go home to the United States for the winter break, and I can’t wait to see my family and friends again; it’s been a long time, so I am really looking forward to that, and to going back to my home motocross and go-kart tracks. It will be good to have that sense of familiarity. To take that positivity from my family and then come back here will be a good way to start the season. My expectations for next year are to fight to be the best Yamaha, which might include fighting for the championship. I am really happy with the GRT Yamaha team and with the Yamaha R1 and I think that, if we focus on what is right in front of us, race after race, day after day, we will be strong.

Kohta Nozane: P10 – 1’40.670 / 143 laps

GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team

To me, everything was new: the bike, the tyres, the circuit, it was my first time with all these things, and in the beginning, I was very anxious. But, during the two days, I could improve my pace little by little. That was very nice, and it was a really productive and useful test. At first, due to the coronavirus situation, I was unsure whether I could take part in the test or not, but in the end, luckily, I could participate and gain very important experience. The entire GRT Yamaha crew has welcomed me very warmly and the atmosphere in the garage is great. They are fully supporting me, so I really wanted to do my best to give them a nice result and show them my improvements. My teammate, Garrett, is very kind and we had some interesting conversations, which was another positive thing about these two days. For next season, I will focus on learning and improving as much as possible, and on trying to achieve our goals. I will try to do my best. Also, I will for sure practice my language skills to improve my English!

MotoGP: Team Suzuki ECSTAR Chasing Triple Crown In Portugal

David Swarts
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MotoGP: Team Suzuki ECSTAR Chasing Triple Crown In Portugal

SUZUKI CHASING HISTORIC TRIPLE CROWN FOR PORTIMÃO CLOSER

Team Suzuki Ecstar and the MotoGP World Championship paddock will head to the Algarve International Circuit in Portugal for the first time this weekend as the season reaches its grand finale.

Joan Mir comes into the race on top of the world after taking the much coveted crown of MotoGP Champion last time out in Valencia. The Mallorcan rode a calm and calculated race, doing just enough to take the title one round before the end and giving Suzuki their first crown for 20 years.

Alex Rins also did a great job in Valencia to climb from 14th on the grid to fourth in the race. This solid result keeps him in contention for second place in the world standings, something which he and the team are very much hoping to achieve. His strong results in recent races have also guaranteed Team Suzuki Ecstar the top spot in the Teams’ Championship and means that Suzuki are now level on points for the Constructors’ crown too.

Portimão’s Algarve Circuit is a relative unknown for the vast majority of the MotoGP field, with just a ‘streetbike’ test taking place a few months ago for the riders to learn the layout. The track is situated in southern Portugal, close to several stunning beaches and it boasts a full sporting complex on site. It also has a unique layout, with several elevation changes and a long straight, and it is likely to produce some exciting racing as the 2020 season comes to a close.

Davide Brivio – Team Manager:

“The whole team are still feeling amazing after what happened last weekend in Valencia, we truly achieved our biggest dream with Joan. We’re looking forward to getting back on track for the last race of this year, and we’re hoping to complete the ‘triple crown’ of Riders’, Teams’, and Constructors’ titles – that would be absolutely incredible. For sure it won’t be an easy weekend because this circuit is new for everyone, but we’ll give our best from Friday onwards and see how it turns out.”

Joan Mir:

“I’m still trying to realise what happened on Sunday! It has started to sink in now, but these last few days have been intense and fantastic, I’ve received so many supportive messages and congratulations from fans, fellow riders, and the media. But the season isn’t done yet and I’m aiming to learn Portimão as quickly as possible in order to end the season in even higher spirits!”

Alex Rins:

“Last weekend was a great experience for all the team, but we’re ready to fight again in Portugal! I want to get the best result possible and try to secure a 1-2 for the team. When I tried Portimão with the street bike it was very fun to ride, but it’s quite complex! It will be interesting to see what we can do here and I will work hard, as always, to give the team a super result to end the year.”

AMA Hall Of Famer Carl Cranke, R.I.P.

David Swarts
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AMA Hall Of Famer Carl Cranke, R.I.P.

Represented the U.S. 10 times in the International Six Days Trial

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Carl Cranke, a 10-time member of the U.S. International Six Days Trial team and a 2000 inductee to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, died Saturday. He was 71.

Mr. Cranke earned seven gold medals and two silvers in ISDT competition aboard Penton, KTM and Yamaha motorcycles. The ISDT is now known as the International Six Days Enduro.

He was one of the top American enduro racers in the 1960s and ’70s.

At the 1977 ISDT in Czechoslovakia, Mr. Cranke suffered torn ligaments in his left shoulder and two broken bones in his left foot.

The U.S. team doctor, Ben Meyer, told him: “The most strenuous activity I would recommend for the next month is getting in and out of the shower,” to which Mr. Cranke replied: “I’ve got another race next week. I’ll be ready.”

He finished the 1977 ISDT with a silver medal in the 500cc class aboard a KTM.

Mr. Cranke was also a noted tuner and is credited with helping develop Penton motorcycles and his own specialized parts line.

He lived in Battle Ground, Wash.

Mr. Cranke’s biography is available at motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=151.

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.

MotoGP: Grand Finale Is Next Weekend At Portimao

David Swarts
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MotoGP: Grand Finale Is Next Weekend At Portimao

The grand finale: MotoGP™ gears up to face down the rollercoaster

The pressure is off for Mir, the race to be runner up is on… and a host of farewells, honours and challenges await on the Algarve

Wednesday, 18 November 2020

2020 will forever be a season to be remembered: records equalled and broken, a new premier class Champion, history made for manufacturers old and new… and nine different winners already. The time has come for the curtain to come down but not without one final spectacular as the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve welcomes the MotoGP™ paddock for the final round rollercoaster, and there remains plenty on the line.

First mention must, of course, go to Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar). The Majorcan arrives as the reigning MotoGP™ World Champion after converting his lead into the crown last time out, and he will now take on a venue that should suit Suzuki very much from the best position possible: little to lose, and in the best way. The number 36 admitted the calm exterior of late hadn’t been the whole story, so Mir unleashed could well prove the benchmark.

The fact the venue – with its incredible undulations and whole-new layout – may well suit the Hamamatsu factory is also crucial for Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and the manufacturer as a whole. Suzuki could complete the Triple Crown, as the riders’ title is theirs and so is the teams’ – all that remains is the constructors’ Championship, and it’s on a knife edge with Ducati as the two are equal on points. And when it comes to Rins, the Spaniard may have lost out on the crown but he’s well in the fight to end the year as runner up, and that’s despite having much of his earlier season affected by injury. He’s only four points off second place overall…

The man Rins trails, however, is on a roll. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) is currently the man in second and he arrives fresh from the top step. We’d seen the Italian win by domination twice this year already, but the third time was a charm for everyone watching as it all came down to a spectacular last lap scrap against Jack Miller (Pramac Racing). Morbidelli won to move up to second overall, and Petronas Yamaha SRT were also named best Independent Team. If Morbidelli can keep his form rolling, he has a chance not only to be runner up in the title fight, but also to take the top Independent Team rider honours too. His teammate, Fabio Quartararo, is the only man who can deny him – but the Frenchman is now 17 points off after a huge shuffle at Valencia, although he’s also gunning to leave the team on a high.

That huge shuffle has left it as an every man for himself to complete the top top four or five in the standings, assuming there’s no huge drama for the likes of Morbidelli and Rins. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) is now fourth and two points ahead of Quartararo, and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) now sixth but equal on points with ‘El Diablo’. That could all change in a single corner at Portimão…

Dovizioso is also a key player in the constructors’ standings as Ducati face down Suzuki and Yamaha, but it’s an even bigger personal occasion for the Italian too: his last MotoGP™ race before a planned sabbatical. Whether it will be tinged with joy, sadness or relief in some ways remains a personal question for the man himself, but for millions of fans around the world the impeccable Italian will surely be very missed on the 2021 grid, and one last race in red is something to remember.

There are goodbyes for another player in the fight for the top five too, as Pol Espargaro is only three points off Dovi in the standings as he prepares to saddle up with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing for the last time. The Spaniard has been part of the project since almost inception and has seen it grow to race wins and, for him, an incredible run of podiums – so he’ll be pushing hard to go out swinging from his time with the Austrian factory.

Jack Miller also moves from Pramac to the Ducati Team next season and will want to move up on a high, Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) moves to replace him and Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) heads from Ducati to Red Bull KTM Tech 3. Tito Rabat (Esponsorama Racing), meanwhile, is another who faces a swan song for now, the Spaniard not currently set to return to the grid in 2021.

And then there’s Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol). Just to add to the swathe of goodbyes, the Brit, after three Grand Prix wins and some record-breaking achievements, is hanging up his race leathers to become a test rider in 2021. That will be with Yamaha, where there is also a pivotal goodbye as Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) leaves the team – but not factory – at the end of the season.

It’s been a tough one at times this season for the nine-time World Champion, but his time at the factory Yamaha team will be measured far more by their incredible shared successes. Breaking records and proving almost unbeatable for some time, the pairing is one of – if not the most – iconic in the history of the sport. The number 46 will remain on the grid but in the Petronas Yamaha SRT box next season, so it will be the end of a defining era for his team and the man himself.

Amongst everything at stake in the constructor and rider standings, and the final chapters many face, there is also the search for the tenth different winner to break the all-time record. Could it be Pol Espargaro? Miller? Zarco? Rossi? Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu)? The Japanese rider is searching for his first podium too, and has been on a run of serious speed but tinged with bad luck. There’s also the Rookie of the Year to be decided. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) all but has it wrapped up as he’s 20 points ahead of Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), but racing is never a formality. And certainly, at the behemoth of Portimão, it will be about as far from that as possible.

Finally, there is a home hero who arrives to race on home soil for the first time in the premier class: Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3). He’s already a podium finisher and a winner in MotoGP™, and there sadly won’t be any home fans at the track to cheer him on but there will be millions watching from home. As the Portuguese GP returns to the calendar, it will be a big race for Oliveira – and he’ll be pushing at the limit to end his season on a high before he moves to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.

So strap in, gear up and get ready for another spectacular weekend of racing as MotoGP™ takes on the rollercoaster Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. For some it’s a farewell, for others a final stand and for everyone, a completely new challenge. Tune in on Sunday at 14:00 (GMT) for a season finale to remember!

MotoGP™ Championship Standings

1 Joan Mir – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki – 171

2 Franco Morbidelli* – Petronas Yamaha SRT – Yamaha – 142

3 Alex Rins – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki – 138

4 Maverick Viñales – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 127

5 Fabio Quartararo* – Petronas Yamaha SRT – Yamaha – 125

*Independent Team riders
 

Four riders, one crown and an all-new track: Moto2™ arrives in Portimão

Bastianini, Lowes, Marini and Bezzecchi remain in the hunt as the 2020 Championship prepares to be decided on the Algarve

The time has come for the final showdown in the 2020 Moto2™ World Championship, and what better place to decide the outcome than a new challenge for everyone? Four riders remain in the running: Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) arrives on top, Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) is 14 points back, Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) 18… and Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) is hanging on with a 23-point deficit. One of them will end the season with the crown, and the Algarve will decide which.

It is, regardless of who takes to the rollercoaster of Portimão the quickest, Bastianini who arrives with the key advantage. 14 points in his pocket mean he can afford to not take every risk and play it a little safer, needing to finish in the top four to guarantee himself the crown regardless, and even if he doesn’t manage that, his rivals remain facing down a mountain.

Bezzecchi is the simplest equation: the Italian in fourth has no choice but to win if he’s to lift the crown, although he has already done that twice in 2020 so it’s far from a long shot. He would also, however, need Bastianini to fail to score – and Lowes and Marini not do much better. Marini, meanwhile, needs at least a second place to hold up his half of his chances, and then also would need to pray for some much worse luck for his rivals. Lowes needs a podium as his minimum, but the Brit also arrives battling injury after his huge FP3 crash in the Valencia GP.  So it’s advantage Bastianini, although anything can still very much happen.

This season we’ve seen riders crash out the lead, frontrunners battling injury, sudden highsides… and many a change of fortune. There are also a whole host of other fast riders on the grid who will doubtless play a big role in deciding the 2020 Champion. Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) arrives from a win and is heading for MotoGP™, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Beta Tools Speed Up) from close to victory and wanting some revenge… Aron Canet (Pull&Bear Aspar Team) wants the Rookie of the Year title and Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP 40) the same, as well as another podium. Joe Roberts (Tennor American Racing), meanwhile, will want to leave his team on a high and Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) won’t be shy about pushing the limits – which could be the key to glory at a whole new track…

Who will come out on top in the season finale? FP1 will give us the first clue, and then it could likely become a numbers game as Bastianini faces the pressure of the lead, Lowes rides through the pain barrier and Marini and Bezzecchi play their last rolls of the dice. Tune in at 12:20 (GMT) on Sunday to see who tames Portimão and who takes the crown.

Moto2™ Championship Standings

1 Enea Bastianini – Italtrans Racing Team – Kalex – 194

2 Sam Lowes – EG0,0 Marc VDS – Kalex – 180

3 Luca Marini – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex – 176

4 Marco Bezzecchi – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex – 171

5 Jorge Martin – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 150
 

Arenas vs Ogura vs Arbolino: game on in Portimão

The Moto3™ title hangs in the balance as the paddock arrives on the Algarve for the season finale

After 14 races and some incredible highs and lows, the rollercoaster 2020 Moto3™ season is almost at a close with three contenders hoping to lift the crown. In the Gaviota Aspar Team corner there’s Championship leader Albert Arenas, in the Honda Team Asia corner Ai Ogura, and then there’s Rivacold Snipers Team’s Tony Arbolino. Arenas’ lead is eight points over Ogura and 11 over Arbolino, or in other words… it really is everything to play for.

If Arenas wins the Portuguese GP or comes second, he’s the Champion. If he’s on the podium in third and Ogura doesn’t win, likewise. But if he’s not on the podium it all becomes a maths challenge with the three contenders, and lately Arenas has not been on the podium. Add in the new, undulating rollercoaster of Portimão where most have zero or very little experience and the final round is sure to be a showstopper.

The man with the momentum on the way in is not the Championship leader, it’s Arbolino. He’s the latest winner – becoming the 25th different rider to take a victory across all classes this year, equalling the record – and that’s put him right back in the hunt. The Italian has also been a dark horse for some time and arrives with a little less pressure as the underdog, but then Ogura does in many ways too, the Japanese rider’s season a case study in consistency and podiums rather than how to the take pressure as a favourite for the crown.

The pressure then, really, is on Arenas – so can he take it? The Spaniard has had his share of bad luck this season and a few key mistakes, but he’s also shown his A-game to be the best in the business as he’s outfoxed everyone on some pitch perfect final laps. Is that what he’ll bring to Portimão? Or will experience not prove an ace card at a brand new venue?

The other question is their rivals, who may be out of the running for the crown but are very much in the running for the win recently. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is on form, Darryn Binder (CIP – Green Power) arrives from a first pole… Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0) is on a roll of rostrum form. It’s more than a three-horse race and it may well come down to those around the three contenders on track to decide the outcome of the Championship and how they balance risk and reward. And all this at a brand new track…

It’s been a stunning season and the Grande Premio MEO de Portugal is sure to round it out in style. Tune in for the Moto3™ race on Sunday at 11:00 (GMT), where we’ll see a Champion crowned – and another rollercoaster lightweight class battle.

Moto3™ Championship Standings

1 Albert Arenas – Gaviota Aspar Team Moto3 – KTM – 170

2 Ai Ogura – Honda Team Asia – Honda – 162

3 Tony Arbolino – Rivacold Snipers Team – Honda – 159

4 Jaume Masia – Leopard Racing – Honda – 140

5 Celestino Vietti – Sky Racing Team VR46 – KTM – 137

Harley-Davidson Holding Learn-To-Ride Giveaway

David Swarts
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Harley-Davidson Holding Learn-To-Ride Giveaway

SHARE THE THRILL OF MOTORCYCLE RIDING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON:

HARLEY-DAVIDSON ENCOURAGES RIDERS TO NOMINATE FRIENDS & FAMILY FOR FREE LEARN-TO-RIDE CLASSES

Put 2020 in the Rearview Mirror with Learn-to-Ride Giveaway

MILWAUKEE (Nov. 18, 2020) –  As we put 2020 in the rearview mirror and focus on the new year, Harley-Davidson wants to help friends and family reconnect with the shared passion of the open road by giving away 500 H-D™ Riding Academy classes this holiday season.

Now through Dec. 31, riders will be able to nominate the non-rider in their life they want to gift the thrill of riding to in 2021. Winners will receive a free H-D Riding Academy class in addition to a $200 Harley-Davidson ™ Gift Card* to use for riding gear to prepare for their course. And the best part is, if your non-rider is selected, you win a $100 Harley-Davidson™ Gift Card* to enjoy for yourself.

“The thrill of riding with your best friend and reconnecting over a shared adventure is the gift that will always keep giving,” said Theo Keetell, Vice President of Marketing, Harley-Davidson. “From backroads to coastal highways, motorcycle riding offers open-air exploration to free your soul and sense of adventure.”

Nominating is easy – and winners will be picked randomly – just follow these steps on your preferred social media platform. The giveaway runs from Nov. 18 to Dec. 31, 2020.

•         Instagram: Upload your favorite personal Harley-Davidson motorcycle image. Then @mention the non-rider friend or family member in your life you want to learn to ride and use #GiftOfRiding and #Giveaway. Post must include #GiftOfRiding and #Giveaway.

•         Twitter: Upload your favorite personal Harley-Davidson motorcycle image. Then tag the non-rider friend or family member in your life you want to learn to ride. Tweet must include #GiftOfRiding and #Giveaway.

 

The Gift of the Open Road

For anyone interested in learning to ride in 2021, H-D™ Riding Academy can help you build your skills on two wheels in just a few days. Offered at select Harley-Davidson dealers, the New Rider Course provides you with expert guidance from Harley-Davidson certified coaches. In the classroom, you’ll get to know the motorcycle you’ll be riding and learn basic riding skills. On the practice range, you’ll build skills and confidence, learning everything from braking, turning and skilled maneuvers. Best of all, you will be connected to a growing community of new riders.

 

Make the Season Your Own & Dash Through Your Gift List

H-D.com and H-D® Authorized Dealerships are perfect one-stop shops for everyone on your gift list – whether they already ride or have it on their wish list. From inspiring the next generation of riders with the LEGO® Creator Expert Harley-Davidson Fat Boy® Building Sets to fashion forward apparel including customizable flannel and plaid shirts to keep your loved ones warm and toasty this holiday season. For those on the go – whether commuting to work or hitting the road, loved ones will feel like going on an adventure every time they leave the house with the desirable and useful Waxed Canvas Backpack or the Overwatch Dry Bag.

Harley-Davidson has all the season’s hottest gifts, from classic-cool leather jackets to the latest tech and audio toys. For more information on how to make this holiday season your own, visit H-D.com/holiday and be sure not to miss our Black Friday and Cyber Week deals. For more information on the H-D Riding Academy holiday giveaway, visit Harley-Davidson’s Instagram and Twitter pages.

 

*Card is issued by MetaBank®, N.A., Member FDIC. Use of this card constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions stated in the Cardholder Agreement. This is an advertisement.

 

Moto3: GASGAS Motorcycles Is Going Road Racing

David Swarts
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Moto3: GASGAS Motorcycles Is Going Road Racing

GASGAS MOTORCYCLES HEAD FOR THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF MOTO3™

PUTTING TWO WHEELS ONTO THE ASPHALT FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER WE’RE STEPPING INTO THE INTERNATIONAL ROAD RACING SPOTLIGHT WITH ASPAR MOTO3™ TEAM

Taking another historic step forward, we’re expanding our global racing program for 2021 and going road racing for the first time ever! From trial to enduro and rally, to MXGP and US Supercross, and now top-flight international road racing, we’re excited to be starting a thrilling, and historic, new project as we team up with Jorge Martinez and his Aspar Moto3™ squad for our official entry into the 2021 FIM Moto3™ World Championship. And we can’t wait!

GASGAS Motorcycles go international road racing for the first time ever!

Team to be managed by Jorge Martinez’ Aspar Team

Official team riders Sergio Garcia and Izan Guevara

Our entry into international road racing will be a first for GASGAS – something never done before, but a move we believe will further underline and expand our impressive motorsport credentials. While we’re all about offroad as far as our production bikes are concerned, competing in Moto3™ will allow us to increase awareness of GASGAS on a global basis.

So why Moto3™, why Aspar and why now? Well, timing, as they say, is everything! We believe now is the right time for us to broaden our horizons and put ourselves out there, onto the asphalt. Moto3™ has a youthful energy about it, which fits perfectly with GASGAS and partnering with Aspar Team, well, what better way is there to arrive in Moto3™? We’re a brand with a proud Spanish heritage, they’re a successful Spanish team, which will have Spanish riders competing against the world’s best. It’s a perfect fit.

With Sergio Garcia and Izan Guevara competing on their RC 250 GP machines (that’s a computer generated image of our concept bike at the top of this release) we’re excited to see what our two young guns can do as they sink their teeth into the 2021 Moto3™ championship. Fully focused on success, we’ll also be making sure our riders have plenty of fun away from the races, staying active and experiencing what it’s like to GET ON THE GAS! on our offroad bikes!

Hubert Trunkenpolz – CMO KTM AG: “GASGAS are a legendary brand that is built on a passion for competition, with a proud Spanish personality that is daring and vibrant. GASGAS today also stand for high-performance, allowing riders to enjoy joining the action with the best machinery. Considering all of these points, it is absolutely fitting that GASGAS look to the Moto3™ World Championship as an exciting new series in which to go racing and also in which to promote the brand, outside of the offroad disciplines it is well known for. This is an exciting, and fitting, new chapter for GASGAS Motorcycles.”

Pit Beirer, GASGAS Motorsports Director: “We’re really excited to introduce GASGAS Motorcycles into international road racing and firmly believe it will both strengthen the brand and open it up to a worldwide audience. There is also no better place than the Moto3™ World Championship, as the category represents the first step on the MotoGP™ ladder – it’s the perfect proving ground when it comes to selecting and nurturing new rider talent. With the extremely successful Aspar Team managing the brand’s arrival, we’re really looking forward to seeing our distinctive GASGAS bikes out on track at the first race of the 2021 season.”

Jorge Martinez – Aspar Team manager: “To carry the GASGAS name into the Moto3™ World Championship is a very important moment, both for myself personally and for this team. As a proud Spanish team, to be the first to work with a brand with such strong Spanish roots, to take it into the highest level of international road racing, is very, very special. 2021 is looking to be an extremely exciting season for us! Of course, we hope to continue the exceptional run of form we have enjoyed during the 2020 season and together with our two strong riders, Sergio Garcia and Izan Guevara, we are focused on immediately fighting for podiums and taking the GASGAS brand onto the world stage.”

About Aspar Team

The Aspar team was founded by four times world champion Jorge ‘Aspar’ Martinez almost 30 years ago. The team has 95 race victories and 304 podiums since it started racing back in 1992. Initially finding success in the former 125cc category, where they won four world championships between 2006 and 2011 thanks to the efforts of four different riders, the team then participated in Moto3™, Moto2™ and MotoGP™ categories before settling on Moto2™, Moto3™ and MotoE™ from 2019 onwards. During the 2020 season, the Aspar team has forged a successful campaign with Albert Arenas. Enjoying victory at the season-opening event in Qatar, he has since claimed three Grand Prix wins and five podiums and has sat at the top of the series standings during almost the entire season.

About GASGAS Motorcycles

GASGAS are proud to have a colorful, Spanish character and we’re committed to being the brand that puts fun back into riding. Daring, capable, vibrant and inviting, GASGAS offer a range of performance motorcycles that under PIERER Mobility AG group ownership benefit from an established and proven high-performance technical platform. GASGAS are down to earth, approachable, full of energy, and focused on enabling riders to enjoy the simple pleasure of riding.

FIM CEV Repsol Series: Dunlop Continuing As Official Tire Supplier

David Swarts
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FIM CEV Repsol Series: Dunlop Continuing As Official Tire Supplier

Dunlop confirmed as a FIM CEV Repsol tyre supplier until 2023

The iconic brand will remain a cornerstone of the FIM Moto3™ Junior World Championship and Moto2™ European Championship

Dunlop and Dorna Sports have agreed a three-year contract extension that will see the FIM Moto3™ Junior World Championship and the Moto2™ European Championship continue racing on Dunlop tyres for at least another three seasons of the FIM CEV Repsol. Legendary tyre marque Dunlop has been and will continue to be a vital asset to both Championships, not only supplying them with incredible quality tyres, but also creating valuable parity between them and the lightweight and intermediate classes of Grand Prix racing.

Dunlop have been the sole tyre supplier to the FIM Moto3™ JWCh since Moto3™ bikes replaced 125cc machinery in the Championship in 2012, the same season the switch occurred in the Grand Prix paddock. With one supplier for both Championships, the success was immediate and created even more cohesion between the Road to MotoGP™ and Moto3™, as well as allowing instant expertise-sharing thanks to the experience gained in both.

In the Moto2™ ECh, Dunlop became the sole tyre supplier in 2015. Already established as the benchmark for Moto2™ machinery, having been the sole tyre supplier to the Moto2™ World Championship since its inception in 2010, a wealth of experience helped the partnership quickly establish some remarkable success. That has since only grown, and now the Moto2™ ECh – and the Moto3™ JWCh – can look forward to at least three more seasons of partnership with Dunlop, including on site services and technical assistance as the British brand bring their Grand Prix experience to each round of the FIM CEV Repsol.

Wim van Achter, Motorsport Manager, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe: “We are pleased to extend our partnership with Dorna Sports to remain the exclusive tyre supplier to the Moto3™ Junior World Championship and Moto2™ European Championship within the FIM CEV Repsol. Dorna Sports has an excellent platform to allow young riders to progress through the ranks up to the world stage, and we’re proud to support this by sharing expertise between the Grand Prix and FIM CEV Repsol paddocks. We look forward to even more success in the coming years.”

Pau Serracanta, Managing Director at Dorna Sports: “We are very proud to continue our partnership with Dunlop in the FIM CEV Repsol and see them return as the sole tyre supplier for the Moto3 Junior World Championship and Moto2 European Championship for another three seasons. We’ve already built some incredible success together and I look forward to sharing more as our journey together continues in the FIM CEV Repsol alongside the Grand Prix paddock, sharing our expertise.”

Yamaha Motor Europe Selling YZF-R6 Track Bikes

David Swarts
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Yamaha Motor Europe Selling YZF-R6 Track Bikes

Yamaha Announces Track Focused, Non-Homologated, R6 RACE

17 November 2020 Motorcycles

Yamaha’s illustrious range of race bikes have enjoyed success from the pinnacle of racing, MotoGP and FIM Superbike World Championship, to grassroot series and track days. The Yamaha R6, introduced in 1999, has been the Supersport bike of choice since its creation and the 2021 model will be available exclusively as a non-homologated version, while a dedicated R6 GYTR Kit is being introduced from January 2021 for the ultimate track day experience.

Racing History

After scoring its maiden victory on only its second outing, with Jamie Whitham in the 1999 FIM Supersport World Championship’s visit to Donington Park, the Yamaha R6 has since taken the likes of Jörg Teuchert, Cal Crutchlow, Chaz Davies, Sam Lowes, Lucas Mahias, Sandro Cortese and Randy Krummenacher to world titles. This year, Andrea Locatelli joined that list after a record-breaking season with the R6, which continues to prove itself as the leading choice in WorldSSP. The appreciation of the R6 on the race track has been largely recognized as well amongst track day enthusiasts and national racers.

Yamaha R6 RACE

The homologated R6 will be discontinued next year, as Yamaha shifts its focus to providing the ultimate track bike, and the standard R6 RACE is available now for a race-targeted price, for track day participants to national supersport championship contenders. Customers can decide how they want their bike to be personalised to further enhance their on-track experience.

The R6 RACE is powered by a lightweight 599cc DOHC liquid-cooled, four-cylinder engine with titanium valves. The Deltabox aluminium frame incorporates years of Grand Prix racing development, with the magnesium subframe optimising front-rear weight balance, while the high-spec KYB front forks and KYB rear shock suspension result in precise handling and razor-sharp cornering. It also includes traction control, D-modes, and a ride-by-wire Yamaha chip-controlled throttle for ultimate responsiveness.

The non-homologated R6 RACE will be available at your local Yamaha dealers from January 2021 onwards.

R6 GYTR Kit

GYTR® (Genuine Yamaha Technology Racing) engineers have been bringing industry-leading technology to every performance accessory they’ve designed for over 40 years. Working closely with racing teams and test riders, a wide range of performance-enhancing components have been developed for anyone looking to boost their Yamaha bikes, parts and full race kits.

The R6 GYTR Kit takes the Yamaha R6 RACE to the next level, ready to line up on the grid, with an array of performance enhancing features in exclusive full race trim. This includes a GYTR Electronic package with a lightweight wire harness and programable ECU so the bike can be set up for optimal engine performance. The AIS (Air Intake System) block off plates will allow the R6 RACE to use the fresh air directly provided by its large air intake which will benefit its power output. And to make sure all power is well managed the full Titanium Akrapovic race exhaust is specifically developed to maximize engine power, and significantly reduces overall weight.

The easy to fit WSS race cowling reduces drag, and will improve straight-line speed as well as handling.  Along with the increase of power, the brakes are also upgraded with stainless steel brake lines for direct feedback and an improved feeling under deceleration. The GYTR ABS Emulator will allow the ABS pump removal for even further weight reduction.

Other FIM required parts are fitted, such as the front brake lever guard and rear sprocket protector, while the rear paddock stand hooks make for better efficiency when removing the rear wheel.

The R6 GYTR Kit developed for the R6 RACE includes the following racing parts:

GYTR race cowling set

Akrapovic full race system

GYTR ECU set

GYTR wire harness set

GYTR on/off switch

GYTR Interface cable

GYTR AIS plug set

GYTR ABS emulator

GYTR keyless fuel cap

GYTR seat cushion

Stainless steel brake line set for front and rear

Front brake lever guard

GYTR fully adjustable race rear set with optional reverse shifting kit

Rear sprocket guard (shark fin)

Sprocket drive 14T fits 520 chain conversion

Rear sprocket, 45 fits 520 chain conversion

Sprocket nut set for 520 conversion

DID gold race chain 520 conversion

Rear paddock stand hooks

Paddock stand

In addition to all the R6 GYTR features, a range of GYTR and Öhlins parts is available for racing enthusiasts to personalize their R6 RACE even further.

MotoGP: Kallio Subbing For Lecuona At Portimao

David Swarts
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MotoGP: Kallio Subbing For Lecuona At Portimao

Home highlight for Oliveira – Kallio to replace Lecuona in Portimao
 

For the first time in MotoGP history the premier class will head to Portimao, Portugal this weekend for the final round of the 2020 World Championship. The ultimate Grand Prix of the year is very special for Red Bull KTM Tech3 with home hero Miguel Oliveira, who will ride his KTM RC16 for the very first time on national ground. After bringing home his third top 6 result in a row last Sunday in Valencia, the Portuguese is extra motivated to conclude the season and his adventure with Red Bull KTM Tech3 with another great outcome.

At the same time, Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Iker Lecuona will not be able to take part in the final round, as he was tested positive on Covid-19 last week. Therefore, KTM test rider Mika Kallio will be stepping in at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. The Finnish routineer will be returning to MotoGP after he was set as a replacement in Red Bull KTM throughout the second half of 2019.

Miguel Oliveira
 

Championship: 10th

Points: 100

“I’m very excited for the last race, which is my home race. It’s a dream coming true to race in Portugal with the MotoGP. Unfortunately, we will not have the public there, but I still think it’s a nice way to conclude the season. I hope we can get a very, very good result, be comfortable with the bike from Friday and do a great race to say goodbye to Red Bull KTM Tech3.”

Mika Kallio
 

Championship: –

Points: –

“First of all, it‘s not an easy situation for the team and for Iker I’m sorry that he will have to skip this race as well. So, I’ll jump on the bike, which is not that easy at the moment, because I haven’t been on the bike not too often this year. Obviously, it’s going to be interesting to see what my speed is and how I can learn the new track and many other things. Of course, the crew is new for me, so I have many things to learn. It’s a big challenge and we’ll go and do everything as best as possible. It’s always an honor to race with a MotoGP bike and also being with Hervé and Red Bull KTM Tech3. I know them for a long time and it’s good to come back to racing, even if it’s only the last race of the season. The finale is always a special moment for everyone and it’s always nice to be there with the best bikes and the best guys arounds, I always enjoy it a lot. We don’t have anything to expect there, we do our job and we will see where we end up. When a rider puts the helmet on and the red lights turn off, I think the race mood will be there immediately. So, I think it’s going to be an interesting weekend.”

Hervé Poncharal

Team Manager

“Here we are at the grand finale of the 2020 MotoGP World Championship. It’s incredible how quick it’s been. It looks almost like Jerez was yesterday and it has been a great adventure. I really would like to thank Dorna and everybody involved in the championship for the effort and for having the possibility of a proper championship in 2020, that was incredible. Although we were having a lockdown paddock, we still had an amazing atmosphere, we had incredible races. For Red Bull KTM Tech3 it was of course the very first MotoGP victory with Miguel Oliveira in Austria, which is the home event for both, Red Bull and KTM, so that was incredible for us. It is with great sadness, that we are going to have our last race with Miguel. He has been with us for two years and played a vital row in our team. He has been a team player, a great racer, but also a super nice person with a great sense of humor. He always has the right attitude, very focused, but never without a smile on his face. Having the very last race of the season at his home is going to be something very special. Miguel is a big star in Portugal, everybody is waiting for him. He has had a fantastic season so far, so we know he will be the center of attention there. He has great expectations and we hope we can give him the package he needs to deliver the performance he is targeting. Honestly, the whole team can’t wait to be there, because this is a great place in the world, we heard, although nobody in the team has ever been there. The test that was taking place there before the French Grand Prix was very positive, so we just can’t wait to be there. But of course, I would also like to point out that Mika Kallio will be riding for us, which is a great honor. We’ve been following Mika for many years, we saw what he did in 125cc, in 250cc, then in Moto2 and in MotoGP. He has a very strong link with the KTM MotoGP project, this is almost his baby. Because of the unfortunate situation of Iker Lecuona, Mika will be with us to celebrate this very last race of the 2020 season and we can’t wait to start working with him. We know we shouldn’t have too many expectations. I told Mika that he shouldn’t have any pressure on him, just enjoy the moment, have fun, be part of the team and leave this very last MotoGP weekend together with positive vibes. So, Mika, Miguel, let’s meet very soon in Portugal!”

Brembo Acquires SBS Friction

David Swarts
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Brembo Acquires SBS Friction

BREMBO ANNOUNCES THE ACQUISITION OF SBS FRICTION

The transaction will allow the Group to integrate brake pads in its two-wheeler product portfolio, strengthening its leadership in this strategic sector

Brembo has signed an agreement for the acquisition of a 100% stake in SBS Friction A/S, a Danish company which develops and manufactures very innovative and eco-friendly sintered and organic material brake pads for motorbikes.

The transaction will allow the integration of such a strategic component as brake pads in Brembo’s current product range, with particular attention to the environment, and further strengthening Brembo’s leadership in the motorbike sector.

This acquisition is in line with Brembo’s new mission to become a respected solution provider, with a view to meeting the new sustainable mobility paradigms and offering the best driving experience.

“We are particularly glad to welcome SBS Friction in our Group”, stated Alberto Bombassei, Chairman of Brembo. “Despite the highly complex market context, Brembo has maintained its natural propensity to invest in innovation. This acquisition is an important step in our strategy: it enables us to integrate even more specific competences in a key sector, to further strengthen our range of ‘made-in-Brembo’ solutions for the benefit of our customers.”

“Brembo has long been a trustworthy partner that knows the value of SBS Friction’s technological knowhow and its strong niche position”, stated Peter Eriksen Jensen, Chairman of SBS Group. “We are pleased that SBS Friction will get a strong, long-term, industrial owner who will support the company’s continued development. The transaction is a good solution for SBS Group, SBS Friction, the employees, and the city of Svendborg.”

The transaction entails a consideration of 224 million Danish Kroner, equal to approximately €30 million, which will be paid using available cash, and is subject to the customary adjustment mechanisms as for similar transactions. Enterprise Value is 300 million Danish Kroner, equal to about €40.3 million. The agreement is expected to be finalised in the first quarter of 2021.

World Superbike: Rea Tops Jerez Test On New Kawasaki ZX-10RR (Updated)

Jonathan Rea at speed on his new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR Wednesday at Jerez. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Jonathan Rea at speed on his new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR Wednesday at Jerez. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

FIM Superbike World Championship

Circuito de Jerez, Spain

November 18, 2020

Day Two And Overall Best Lap Times (all on Pirelli tires):

  1. Jonathan Rea, UK (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:38.324
  2. Toprak Razgatlioglu, Turkey (Yam YZF-R1), 1:38.839
  3. Alex Lowes, UK (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:38.886
  4. Garrett Gerloff, USA (Yam YZF-R1), 1:39.171
  5. Leon Haslam, UK (Hon CBR1000RR-R SP), 1:39.851
  6. Andrea Locatelli, Italy (Yam YZF-R1), 1:39.877
  7. Lucas Mahias, France (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:40.194
  8. Alvaro Bautista, Spain (Hon CBR1000RR-R SP), 1:40.231
  9. Kohta Nozane, Japan (Yam YZF-R1), 1:40.669
  10. Isaac Vinales, Spain (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:40.892

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:

Rea Fastest After First Winter Test

Kawasaki Racing Team riders Alex Lowes and Jonathan Rea completed their first two-day winter test session at Jerez de la Frontera with Rea fastest of all and Lowes third quickest of the WorldSBK riders.

Rea would set a best-of-test 1’38.324 lap time right at the end of two very busy days, riding a Ninja ZX-10RR machine featuring some exciting development parts and first technical steps into the 2021 season.

Lowes personal best lap of 1’38.887 was also set near the end of the second day of action at Jerez, after what was a highly positive period of work for all involved inside the KRT squad.

This was particularly useful test to work through set-up and development ideas after a 2020 season that was so disrupted by the unavoidable effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Qualifying tyres were evaluated at the end of the test by most of the major players but it was the performance on race tyres that was the focus of attention – and the areas of greatest satisfaction – for both the riders and the team.

The first steps toward a new season – visual and otherwise – were taken at Jerez, but for a full reveal visit the Kawasaki Motors YouTube channel on 23 November, at 15.00 CET.

With the Jerez tests complete the final on-track KRT action of the 2020 calendar year will take place at the next winter test sessions at Motorland Aragon in northern Spain, between 25 and 26 November.

 

Jonathan Rea on his new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Jonathan Rea on his new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

Jonathan Rea, stated: “We started to work with some items for 2021, part of the test plan KHI sent us. Like always we were collecting information and tried many things – a different front fairing to give our feedback to Kawasaki, engine feeling, front fork, some brake items and a front tyre for Pirelli. We did quite a lot of work and I set a lot of laps today with an old tyre. I have not been super-fast with a fresh tyre but the more laps I did on a tyre the faster I got. That is a good problem to have! There were pluses and minuses and we have a lot of information to go back now and assess everything before we return to the track and go further at Motorland next week.”

 

Alex Lowes on his new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Alex Lowes on his new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.

 

Alex Lowes, stated: “We had some back-to-back testing to do after yesterday’s first sessions so in the morning today we focused on this In the afternoon we rode with some 2021 parts, including our first experience with the new fairing. It was nice and it looks really good as well, which is always a bonus. Today in general has been really positive. We still need to keep working but it was a good day – probably one of my best days of testing with the Ninja ZX-10RR. To pick one main point is hard to say, because when you are testing and a lot of new things arrive, it is about evaluating what is good and what’s bad before we start the new season next year.”

Pere Riba, Crew Chief for Jonathan Rea, stated: “It was all OK, as usual. We have the new bike and we have been testing all the items, the old ones and the new ones, just to collect the information. The engine has a new character and this has an effect. The aerodynamics of the new fairing seems to be working very well and it helps in different areas. It also makes the bike work a little bit different in terms of balance and we need time to look for the best package. We followed the plan, and the items that KHI requested. Johnny was finally the fastest rider, with a Q tyre, but he did very well.”

Marcel Duinker, Crew Chief for Alex Lowes, stated: “It was a very good test. After a season like we had this year it was very easy for us to understand where we needed to improve and that is what we did. We took a very relaxed approach because we had a tight test schedule with five main items, chassis and engine. We worked through these items and were able to be fast and consistent, even one of the fastest guys on track at this moment. Alex is very happy, he had a smile on his face on both days and we are already looking forward to the next test. I can only say mission accomplished so far.”

Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) embarked on his first WorldSBK rides with enthusiasm and finished up eighth fastest on his Ninja ZX-10RR. Isaac Vinales (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) put himself 11th in his new role as WorldSBK competitor, while Loris Cresson (Outdo TPR Kawasaki) was 12th.

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:

Pata Yamaha Enjoys Positive 2021 WorldSBK Preparation Test at Jerez

Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team got their 2021 FIM Superbike World Championship preparations underway in the post-season test at Jerez and accomplished a significant amount of work. Toprak Razgatlıoğlu ended the test second fastest overall as Andrea Locatelli showed early promise in his Superbike career, quickly adapting to his Yamaha R1 across the two days.

Focusing on development work ahead of next year, Razgatlıoğlu completed 173 laps of the Circuito de Jerez in total, with his best time of 1’38.855, set on the second day using an “X” specification race tyre, good enough for second overall, while the Turkish rider’s excellent feedback and consistent pace will help guide the further development of the 2021-spec Yamaha R1.

For Locatelli, this test marked his first two full days of riding the 2020 Yamaha R1 and provided an early opportunity to work with his crew chief, Andrew Pitt, and his side of the Pata Yamaha garage. The Italian youngster completed 162 laps and went seventh fastest, with a best time of 1’39.878, having shown a big improvement on the test’s second day.

 

Toprak Razgatlioglu in action at Jerez. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Toprak Razgatlioglu in action at Jerez. Photo courtesy Yamaha.

 

Toprak Razgatlıoğlu: P2 – 1’38.855 / 173 laps

Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team

“It was a very positive test for me. We tried many new parts and both the team and I are really happy because we’ve got a good direction ahead of 2021. We worked mainly on the race tyre and have improved the rear grip a lot. I focused on fast and consistent lap times, the goal was to be in the low 1’40s and we managed to do that. I did a good lap time on the X tyre, which I was pleased with! We need to work on maximising the Q tyre and try some other set-ups before we get going next year.”

 

Andrea Locatelli (55). Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Andrea Locatelli (55). Photo courtesy Yamaha.

 

Andrea Locatelli: P7 – 1’39.878 / 162 laps

Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team

“It was a very exciting two days for me, the conditions here in Jerez this week were perfect. The feeling on the Yamaha R1 was really good and I’m beginning to understand the bike better and better. Every lap we improved over the two days, which is a good starting point as we look to the future. I’m very focused, there is still some work to do, but I’m really looking forward to being back on the Yamaha R1 again.”

 

Paul Denning – Team Principal

Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team

“Most importantly, I think we can count ourselves lucky to be here with everything that’s going on in the world at the moment. On top of that, the weather’s been perfect and Yamaha did a great job bringing so many new development parts to evaluate for the 2021 season. The riders worked incredibly hard, with Toprak doing 173 laps and Andrea completing 162 over the two days. In terms of the development work, most of that was focused on Toprak, given his experience both of WorldSBK and the Yamaha R1. He approached the test very positively and enjoyed this new responsibility! Andrea’s job was to gain more experience on the Yamaha R1 and to understand how to be fast and consistent. He took huge steps forward between day one and two. The engineers and crew chiefs have a huge amount of data and rider feedback to analyse, and these two days will put us in a stronger position for the future.”

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team:

GRT Yamaha Begin Work For 2021 in Jerez WorldSBK Test

For the first time since the end of the 2020 season, the FIM Superbike World Championship paddock reunited at the circuit of Jerez de la Frontera. For the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team, Garrett Gerloff carried out development work with various new parts ahead of 2021, while new rider, Japanese All-Japan JSB1000 champion Kohta Nozane, got his first taste of the Yamaha R1 WorldSBK machine.

By the end of the first day, American rider Gerloff, fresh from a stellar MotoGP appearance in Valencia, topped the timings, with Nozane 10th after showing steady improvement throughout the day.

On Wednesday, Gerloff and Nozane continued to gain confidence and were fourth and 10th respectively, but with much-improved lap times. They completed a combined 281 laps, with Gerloff riding 138 and Nozane 143.

 

Garrett Gerloff: P4 – 1’39.172 / 138 laps

GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team

Every time I get on the bike it feels more and more like mine. During this test, I jumped on this past year’s Yamaha R1 and had a really good feeling right away, but I also tried the new development parts for 2021 and I immediately found some more details which made me even more comfortable. That was awesome. I am super motivated for next year, we have made a lot of progress in general. Now, I just want to keep training as much as I can. I will go home to the United States for the winter break, and I can’t wait to see my family and friends again; it’s been a long time, so I am really looking forward to that, and to going back to my home motocross and go-kart tracks. It will be good to have that sense of familiarity. To take that positivity from my family and then come back here will be a good way to start the season. My expectations for next year are to fight to be the best Yamaha, which might include fighting for the championship. I am really happy with the GRT Yamaha team and with the Yamaha R1 and I think that, if we focus on what is right in front of us, race after race, day after day, we will be strong.

Kohta Nozane: P10 – 1’40.670 / 143 laps

GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team

To me, everything was new: the bike, the tyres, the circuit, it was my first time with all these things, and in the beginning, I was very anxious. But, during the two days, I could improve my pace little by little. That was very nice, and it was a really productive and useful test. At first, due to the coronavirus situation, I was unsure whether I could take part in the test or not, but in the end, luckily, I could participate and gain very important experience. The entire GRT Yamaha crew has welcomed me very warmly and the atmosphere in the garage is great. They are fully supporting me, so I really wanted to do my best to give them a nice result and show them my improvements. My teammate, Garrett, is very kind and we had some interesting conversations, which was another positive thing about these two days. For next season, I will focus on learning and improving as much as possible, and on trying to achieve our goals. I will try to do my best. Also, I will for sure practice my language skills to improve my English!

MotoGP: Team Suzuki ECSTAR Chasing Triple Crown In Portugal

Team Suzuki ECSTAR. Photo courtesy Team Suzuki Press Office.
Team Suzuki ECSTAR. Photo courtesy Team Suzuki Press Office.

SUZUKI CHASING HISTORIC TRIPLE CROWN FOR PORTIMÃO CLOSER

Team Suzuki Ecstar and the MotoGP World Championship paddock will head to the Algarve International Circuit in Portugal for the first time this weekend as the season reaches its grand finale.

Joan Mir comes into the race on top of the world after taking the much coveted crown of MotoGP Champion last time out in Valencia. The Mallorcan rode a calm and calculated race, doing just enough to take the title one round before the end and giving Suzuki their first crown for 20 years.

Alex Rins also did a great job in Valencia to climb from 14th on the grid to fourth in the race. This solid result keeps him in contention for second place in the world standings, something which he and the team are very much hoping to achieve. His strong results in recent races have also guaranteed Team Suzuki Ecstar the top spot in the Teams’ Championship and means that Suzuki are now level on points for the Constructors’ crown too.

Portimão’s Algarve Circuit is a relative unknown for the vast majority of the MotoGP field, with just a ‘streetbike’ test taking place a few months ago for the riders to learn the layout. The track is situated in southern Portugal, close to several stunning beaches and it boasts a full sporting complex on site. It also has a unique layout, with several elevation changes and a long straight, and it is likely to produce some exciting racing as the 2020 season comes to a close.

Davide Brivio – Team Manager:

“The whole team are still feeling amazing after what happened last weekend in Valencia, we truly achieved our biggest dream with Joan. We’re looking forward to getting back on track for the last race of this year, and we’re hoping to complete the ‘triple crown’ of Riders’, Teams’, and Constructors’ titles – that would be absolutely incredible. For sure it won’t be an easy weekend because this circuit is new for everyone, but we’ll give our best from Friday onwards and see how it turns out.”

Joan Mir:

“I’m still trying to realise what happened on Sunday! It has started to sink in now, but these last few days have been intense and fantastic, I’ve received so many supportive messages and congratulations from fans, fellow riders, and the media. But the season isn’t done yet and I’m aiming to learn Portimão as quickly as possible in order to end the season in even higher spirits!”

Alex Rins:

“Last weekend was a great experience for all the team, but we’re ready to fight again in Portugal! I want to get the best result possible and try to secure a 1-2 for the team. When I tried Portimão with the street bike it was very fun to ride, but it’s quite complex! It will be interesting to see what we can do here and I will work hard, as always, to give the team a super result to end the year.”

AMA Hall Of Famer Carl Cranke, R.I.P.

Carl Cranke, R.I.P. Photo courtesy AMA Hall of Fame Museum.
Carl Cranke, R.I.P. Photo courtesy AMA Hall of Fame Museum.

Represented the U.S. 10 times in the International Six Days Trial

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Carl Cranke, a 10-time member of the U.S. International Six Days Trial team and a 2000 inductee to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, died Saturday. He was 71.

Mr. Cranke earned seven gold medals and two silvers in ISDT competition aboard Penton, KTM and Yamaha motorcycles. The ISDT is now known as the International Six Days Enduro.

He was one of the top American enduro racers in the 1960s and ’70s.

At the 1977 ISDT in Czechoslovakia, Mr. Cranke suffered torn ligaments in his left shoulder and two broken bones in his left foot.

The U.S. team doctor, Ben Meyer, told him: “The most strenuous activity I would recommend for the next month is getting in and out of the shower,” to which Mr. Cranke replied: “I’ve got another race next week. I’ll be ready.”

He finished the 1977 ISDT with a silver medal in the 500cc class aboard a KTM.

Mr. Cranke was also a noted tuner and is credited with helping develop Penton motorcycles and his own specialized parts line.

He lived in Battle Ground, Wash.

Mr. Cranke’s biography is available at motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=151.

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.

MotoGP: Grand Finale Is Next Weekend At Portimao

Aleix Espargaro (41) in action at Algarve International Circuit in Portimao, Portugal. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Aleix Espargaro (41) in action at Algarve International Circuit in Portimao, Portugal. Photo courtesy Dorna.

The grand finale: MotoGP™ gears up to face down the rollercoaster

The pressure is off for Mir, the race to be runner up is on… and a host of farewells, honours and challenges await on the Algarve

Wednesday, 18 November 2020

2020 will forever be a season to be remembered: records equalled and broken, a new premier class Champion, history made for manufacturers old and new… and nine different winners already. The time has come for the curtain to come down but not without one final spectacular as the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve welcomes the MotoGP™ paddock for the final round rollercoaster, and there remains plenty on the line.

First mention must, of course, go to Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar). The Majorcan arrives as the reigning MotoGP™ World Champion after converting his lead into the crown last time out, and he will now take on a venue that should suit Suzuki very much from the best position possible: little to lose, and in the best way. The number 36 admitted the calm exterior of late hadn’t been the whole story, so Mir unleashed could well prove the benchmark.

The fact the venue – with its incredible undulations and whole-new layout – may well suit the Hamamatsu factory is also crucial for Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and the manufacturer as a whole. Suzuki could complete the Triple Crown, as the riders’ title is theirs and so is the teams’ – all that remains is the constructors’ Championship, and it’s on a knife edge with Ducati as the two are equal on points. And when it comes to Rins, the Spaniard may have lost out on the crown but he’s well in the fight to end the year as runner up, and that’s despite having much of his earlier season affected by injury. He’s only four points off second place overall…

The man Rins trails, however, is on a roll. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) is currently the man in second and he arrives fresh from the top step. We’d seen the Italian win by domination twice this year already, but the third time was a charm for everyone watching as it all came down to a spectacular last lap scrap against Jack Miller (Pramac Racing). Morbidelli won to move up to second overall, and Petronas Yamaha SRT were also named best Independent Team. If Morbidelli can keep his form rolling, he has a chance not only to be runner up in the title fight, but also to take the top Independent Team rider honours too. His teammate, Fabio Quartararo, is the only man who can deny him – but the Frenchman is now 17 points off after a huge shuffle at Valencia, although he’s also gunning to leave the team on a high.

That huge shuffle has left it as an every man for himself to complete the top top four or five in the standings, assuming there’s no huge drama for the likes of Morbidelli and Rins. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) is now fourth and two points ahead of Quartararo, and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) now sixth but equal on points with ‘El Diablo’. That could all change in a single corner at Portimão…

Dovizioso is also a key player in the constructors’ standings as Ducati face down Suzuki and Yamaha, but it’s an even bigger personal occasion for the Italian too: his last MotoGP™ race before a planned sabbatical. Whether it will be tinged with joy, sadness or relief in some ways remains a personal question for the man himself, but for millions of fans around the world the impeccable Italian will surely be very missed on the 2021 grid, and one last race in red is something to remember.

There are goodbyes for another player in the fight for the top five too, as Pol Espargaro is only three points off Dovi in the standings as he prepares to saddle up with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing for the last time. The Spaniard has been part of the project since almost inception and has seen it grow to race wins and, for him, an incredible run of podiums – so he’ll be pushing hard to go out swinging from his time with the Austrian factory.

Jack Miller also moves from Pramac to the Ducati Team next season and will want to move up on a high, Johann Zarco (Esponsorama Racing) moves to replace him and Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) heads from Ducati to Red Bull KTM Tech 3. Tito Rabat (Esponsorama Racing), meanwhile, is another who faces a swan song for now, the Spaniard not currently set to return to the grid in 2021.

And then there’s Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol). Just to add to the swathe of goodbyes, the Brit, after three Grand Prix wins and some record-breaking achievements, is hanging up his race leathers to become a test rider in 2021. That will be with Yamaha, where there is also a pivotal goodbye as Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) leaves the team – but not factory – at the end of the season.

It’s been a tough one at times this season for the nine-time World Champion, but his time at the factory Yamaha team will be measured far more by their incredible shared successes. Breaking records and proving almost unbeatable for some time, the pairing is one of – if not the most – iconic in the history of the sport. The number 46 will remain on the grid but in the Petronas Yamaha SRT box next season, so it will be the end of a defining era for his team and the man himself.

Amongst everything at stake in the constructor and rider standings, and the final chapters many face, there is also the search for the tenth different winner to break the all-time record. Could it be Pol Espargaro? Miller? Zarco? Rossi? Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu)? The Japanese rider is searching for his first podium too, and has been on a run of serious speed but tinged with bad luck. There’s also the Rookie of the Year to be decided. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) all but has it wrapped up as he’s 20 points ahead of Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), but racing is never a formality. And certainly, at the behemoth of Portimão, it will be about as far from that as possible.

Finally, there is a home hero who arrives to race on home soil for the first time in the premier class: Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3). He’s already a podium finisher and a winner in MotoGP™, and there sadly won’t be any home fans at the track to cheer him on but there will be millions watching from home. As the Portuguese GP returns to the calendar, it will be a big race for Oliveira – and he’ll be pushing at the limit to end his season on a high before he moves to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.

So strap in, gear up and get ready for another spectacular weekend of racing as MotoGP™ takes on the rollercoaster Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. For some it’s a farewell, for others a final stand and for everyone, a completely new challenge. Tune in on Sunday at 14:00 (GMT) for a season finale to remember!

MotoGP™ Championship Standings

1 Joan Mir – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki – 171

2 Franco Morbidelli* – Petronas Yamaha SRT – Yamaha – 142

3 Alex Rins – Team Suzuki Ecstar – Suzuki – 138

4 Maverick Viñales – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 127

5 Fabio Quartararo* – Petronas Yamaha SRT – Yamaha – 125

*Independent Team riders
 

Four riders, one crown and an all-new track: Moto2™ arrives in Portimão

Bastianini, Lowes, Marini and Bezzecchi remain in the hunt as the 2020 Championship prepares to be decided on the Algarve

The time has come for the final showdown in the 2020 Moto2™ World Championship, and what better place to decide the outcome than a new challenge for everyone? Four riders remain in the running: Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) arrives on top, Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) is 14 points back, Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) 18… and Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) is hanging on with a 23-point deficit. One of them will end the season with the crown, and the Algarve will decide which.

It is, regardless of who takes to the rollercoaster of Portimão the quickest, Bastianini who arrives with the key advantage. 14 points in his pocket mean he can afford to not take every risk and play it a little safer, needing to finish in the top four to guarantee himself the crown regardless, and even if he doesn’t manage that, his rivals remain facing down a mountain.

Bezzecchi is the simplest equation: the Italian in fourth has no choice but to win if he’s to lift the crown, although he has already done that twice in 2020 so it’s far from a long shot. He would also, however, need Bastianini to fail to score – and Lowes and Marini not do much better. Marini, meanwhile, needs at least a second place to hold up his half of his chances, and then also would need to pray for some much worse luck for his rivals. Lowes needs a podium as his minimum, but the Brit also arrives battling injury after his huge FP3 crash in the Valencia GP.  So it’s advantage Bastianini, although anything can still very much happen.

This season we’ve seen riders crash out the lead, frontrunners battling injury, sudden highsides… and many a change of fortune. There are also a whole host of other fast riders on the grid who will doubtless play a big role in deciding the 2020 Champion. Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) arrives from a win and is heading for MotoGP™, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Beta Tools Speed Up) from close to victory and wanting some revenge… Aron Canet (Pull&Bear Aspar Team) wants the Rookie of the Year title and Hector Garzo (Flexbox HP 40) the same, as well as another podium. Joe Roberts (Tennor American Racing), meanwhile, will want to leave his team on a high and Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) won’t be shy about pushing the limits – which could be the key to glory at a whole new track…

Who will come out on top in the season finale? FP1 will give us the first clue, and then it could likely become a numbers game as Bastianini faces the pressure of the lead, Lowes rides through the pain barrier and Marini and Bezzecchi play their last rolls of the dice. Tune in at 12:20 (GMT) on Sunday to see who tames Portimão and who takes the crown.

Moto2™ Championship Standings

1 Enea Bastianini – Italtrans Racing Team – Kalex – 194

2 Sam Lowes – EG0,0 Marc VDS – Kalex – 180

3 Luca Marini – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex – 176

4 Marco Bezzecchi – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex – 171

5 Jorge Martin – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 150
 

Arenas vs Ogura vs Arbolino: game on in Portimão

The Moto3™ title hangs in the balance as the paddock arrives on the Algarve for the season finale

After 14 races and some incredible highs and lows, the rollercoaster 2020 Moto3™ season is almost at a close with three contenders hoping to lift the crown. In the Gaviota Aspar Team corner there’s Championship leader Albert Arenas, in the Honda Team Asia corner Ai Ogura, and then there’s Rivacold Snipers Team’s Tony Arbolino. Arenas’ lead is eight points over Ogura and 11 over Arbolino, or in other words… it really is everything to play for.

If Arenas wins the Portuguese GP or comes second, he’s the Champion. If he’s on the podium in third and Ogura doesn’t win, likewise. But if he’s not on the podium it all becomes a maths challenge with the three contenders, and lately Arenas has not been on the podium. Add in the new, undulating rollercoaster of Portimão where most have zero or very little experience and the final round is sure to be a showstopper.

The man with the momentum on the way in is not the Championship leader, it’s Arbolino. He’s the latest winner – becoming the 25th different rider to take a victory across all classes this year, equalling the record – and that’s put him right back in the hunt. The Italian has also been a dark horse for some time and arrives with a little less pressure as the underdog, but then Ogura does in many ways too, the Japanese rider’s season a case study in consistency and podiums rather than how to the take pressure as a favourite for the crown.

The pressure then, really, is on Arenas – so can he take it? The Spaniard has had his share of bad luck this season and a few key mistakes, but he’s also shown his A-game to be the best in the business as he’s outfoxed everyone on some pitch perfect final laps. Is that what he’ll bring to Portimão? Or will experience not prove an ace card at a brand new venue?

The other question is their rivals, who may be out of the running for the crown but are very much in the running for the win recently. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is on form, Darryn Binder (CIP – Green Power) arrives from a first pole… Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0) is on a roll of rostrum form. It’s more than a three-horse race and it may well come down to those around the three contenders on track to decide the outcome of the Championship and how they balance risk and reward. And all this at a brand new track…

It’s been a stunning season and the Grande Premio MEO de Portugal is sure to round it out in style. Tune in for the Moto3™ race on Sunday at 11:00 (GMT), where we’ll see a Champion crowned – and another rollercoaster lightweight class battle.

Moto3™ Championship Standings

1 Albert Arenas – Gaviota Aspar Team Moto3 – KTM – 170

2 Ai Ogura – Honda Team Asia – Honda – 162

3 Tony Arbolino – Rivacold Snipers Team – Honda – 159

4 Jaume Masia – Leopard Racing – Honda – 140

5 Celestino Vietti – Sky Racing Team VR46 – KTM – 137

Harley-Davidson Holding Learn-To-Ride Giveaway

A scene from a Harley-Davidson Riding Academy. Photo courtesy Harley-Davidson.
new motorcyclists learning to ride. Photo courtesy Harley-Davidson.

SHARE THE THRILL OF MOTORCYCLE RIDING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON:

HARLEY-DAVIDSON ENCOURAGES RIDERS TO NOMINATE FRIENDS & FAMILY FOR FREE LEARN-TO-RIDE CLASSES

Put 2020 in the Rearview Mirror with Learn-to-Ride Giveaway

MILWAUKEE (Nov. 18, 2020) –  As we put 2020 in the rearview mirror and focus on the new year, Harley-Davidson wants to help friends and family reconnect with the shared passion of the open road by giving away 500 H-D™ Riding Academy classes this holiday season.

Now through Dec. 31, riders will be able to nominate the non-rider in their life they want to gift the thrill of riding to in 2021. Winners will receive a free H-D Riding Academy class in addition to a $200 Harley-Davidson ™ Gift Card* to use for riding gear to prepare for their course. And the best part is, if your non-rider is selected, you win a $100 Harley-Davidson™ Gift Card* to enjoy for yourself.

“The thrill of riding with your best friend and reconnecting over a shared adventure is the gift that will always keep giving,” said Theo Keetell, Vice President of Marketing, Harley-Davidson. “From backroads to coastal highways, motorcycle riding offers open-air exploration to free your soul and sense of adventure.”

Nominating is easy – and winners will be picked randomly – just follow these steps on your preferred social media platform. The giveaway runs from Nov. 18 to Dec. 31, 2020.

•         Instagram: Upload your favorite personal Harley-Davidson motorcycle image. Then @mention the non-rider friend or family member in your life you want to learn to ride and use #GiftOfRiding and #Giveaway. Post must include #GiftOfRiding and #Giveaway.

•         Twitter: Upload your favorite personal Harley-Davidson motorcycle image. Then tag the non-rider friend or family member in your life you want to learn to ride. Tweet must include #GiftOfRiding and #Giveaway.

 

The Gift of the Open Road

For anyone interested in learning to ride in 2021, H-D™ Riding Academy can help you build your skills on two wheels in just a few days. Offered at select Harley-Davidson dealers, the New Rider Course provides you with expert guidance from Harley-Davidson certified coaches. In the classroom, you’ll get to know the motorcycle you’ll be riding and learn basic riding skills. On the practice range, you’ll build skills and confidence, learning everything from braking, turning and skilled maneuvers. Best of all, you will be connected to a growing community of new riders.

 

Make the Season Your Own & Dash Through Your Gift List

H-D.com and H-D® Authorized Dealerships are perfect one-stop shops for everyone on your gift list – whether they already ride or have it on their wish list. From inspiring the next generation of riders with the LEGO® Creator Expert Harley-Davidson Fat Boy® Building Sets to fashion forward apparel including customizable flannel and plaid shirts to keep your loved ones warm and toasty this holiday season. For those on the go – whether commuting to work or hitting the road, loved ones will feel like going on an adventure every time they leave the house with the desirable and useful Waxed Canvas Backpack or the Overwatch Dry Bag.

Harley-Davidson has all the season’s hottest gifts, from classic-cool leather jackets to the latest tech and audio toys. For more information on how to make this holiday season your own, visit H-D.com/holiday and be sure not to miss our Black Friday and Cyber Week deals. For more information on the H-D Riding Academy holiday giveaway, visit Harley-Davidson’s Instagram and Twitter pages.

 

*Card is issued by MetaBank®, N.A., Member FDIC. Use of this card constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions stated in the Cardholder Agreement. This is an advertisement.

 

Moto3: GASGAS Motorcycles Is Going Road Racing

A GASGAS RC 250 GP road racing motorcycle. Photo courtesy GASGAS Motorcycles.
A GASGAS RC 250 GP road racing motorcycle. Photo courtesy GASGAS Motorcycles.

GASGAS MOTORCYCLES HEAD FOR THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF MOTO3™

PUTTING TWO WHEELS ONTO THE ASPHALT FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER WE’RE STEPPING INTO THE INTERNATIONAL ROAD RACING SPOTLIGHT WITH ASPAR MOTO3™ TEAM

Taking another historic step forward, we’re expanding our global racing program for 2021 and going road racing for the first time ever! From trial to enduro and rally, to MXGP and US Supercross, and now top-flight international road racing, we’re excited to be starting a thrilling, and historic, new project as we team up with Jorge Martinez and his Aspar Moto3™ squad for our official entry into the 2021 FIM Moto3™ World Championship. And we can’t wait!

GASGAS Motorcycles go international road racing for the first time ever!

Team to be managed by Jorge Martinez’ Aspar Team

Official team riders Sergio Garcia and Izan Guevara

Our entry into international road racing will be a first for GASGAS – something never done before, but a move we believe will further underline and expand our impressive motorsport credentials. While we’re all about offroad as far as our production bikes are concerned, competing in Moto3™ will allow us to increase awareness of GASGAS on a global basis.

So why Moto3™, why Aspar and why now? Well, timing, as they say, is everything! We believe now is the right time for us to broaden our horizons and put ourselves out there, onto the asphalt. Moto3™ has a youthful energy about it, which fits perfectly with GASGAS and partnering with Aspar Team, well, what better way is there to arrive in Moto3™? We’re a brand with a proud Spanish heritage, they’re a successful Spanish team, which will have Spanish riders competing against the world’s best. It’s a perfect fit.

With Sergio Garcia and Izan Guevara competing on their RC 250 GP machines (that’s a computer generated image of our concept bike at the top of this release) we’re excited to see what our two young guns can do as they sink their teeth into the 2021 Moto3™ championship. Fully focused on success, we’ll also be making sure our riders have plenty of fun away from the races, staying active and experiencing what it’s like to GET ON THE GAS! on our offroad bikes!

Hubert Trunkenpolz – CMO KTM AG: “GASGAS are a legendary brand that is built on a passion for competition, with a proud Spanish personality that is daring and vibrant. GASGAS today also stand for high-performance, allowing riders to enjoy joining the action with the best machinery. Considering all of these points, it is absolutely fitting that GASGAS look to the Moto3™ World Championship as an exciting new series in which to go racing and also in which to promote the brand, outside of the offroad disciplines it is well known for. This is an exciting, and fitting, new chapter for GASGAS Motorcycles.”

Pit Beirer, GASGAS Motorsports Director: “We’re really excited to introduce GASGAS Motorcycles into international road racing and firmly believe it will both strengthen the brand and open it up to a worldwide audience. There is also no better place than the Moto3™ World Championship, as the category represents the first step on the MotoGP™ ladder – it’s the perfect proving ground when it comes to selecting and nurturing new rider talent. With the extremely successful Aspar Team managing the brand’s arrival, we’re really looking forward to seeing our distinctive GASGAS bikes out on track at the first race of the 2021 season.”

Jorge Martinez – Aspar Team manager: “To carry the GASGAS name into the Moto3™ World Championship is a very important moment, both for myself personally and for this team. As a proud Spanish team, to be the first to work with a brand with such strong Spanish roots, to take it into the highest level of international road racing, is very, very special. 2021 is looking to be an extremely exciting season for us! Of course, we hope to continue the exceptional run of form we have enjoyed during the 2020 season and together with our two strong riders, Sergio Garcia and Izan Guevara, we are focused on immediately fighting for podiums and taking the GASGAS brand onto the world stage.”

About Aspar Team

The Aspar team was founded by four times world champion Jorge ‘Aspar’ Martinez almost 30 years ago. The team has 95 race victories and 304 podiums since it started racing back in 1992. Initially finding success in the former 125cc category, where they won four world championships between 2006 and 2011 thanks to the efforts of four different riders, the team then participated in Moto3™, Moto2™ and MotoGP™ categories before settling on Moto2™, Moto3™ and MotoE™ from 2019 onwards. During the 2020 season, the Aspar team has forged a successful campaign with Albert Arenas. Enjoying victory at the season-opening event in Qatar, he has since claimed three Grand Prix wins and five podiums and has sat at the top of the series standings during almost the entire season.

About GASGAS Motorcycles

GASGAS are proud to have a colorful, Spanish character and we’re committed to being the brand that puts fun back into riding. Daring, capable, vibrant and inviting, GASGAS offer a range of performance motorcycles that under PIERER Mobility AG group ownership benefit from an established and proven high-performance technical platform. GASGAS are down to earth, approachable, full of energy, and focused on enabling riders to enjoy the simple pleasure of riding.

FIM CEV Repsol Series: Dunlop Continuing As Official Tire Supplier

The start of the Repsol CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship race at Estoril Circuit. Photo courtesy Repsol CEV Press Office.
The start of the Repsol CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship race at Estoril Circuit. Photo courtesy Repsol CEV Press Office.

Dunlop confirmed as a FIM CEV Repsol tyre supplier until 2023

The iconic brand will remain a cornerstone of the FIM Moto3™ Junior World Championship and Moto2™ European Championship

Dunlop and Dorna Sports have agreed a three-year contract extension that will see the FIM Moto3™ Junior World Championship and the Moto2™ European Championship continue racing on Dunlop tyres for at least another three seasons of the FIM CEV Repsol. Legendary tyre marque Dunlop has been and will continue to be a vital asset to both Championships, not only supplying them with incredible quality tyres, but also creating valuable parity between them and the lightweight and intermediate classes of Grand Prix racing.

Dunlop have been the sole tyre supplier to the FIM Moto3™ JWCh since Moto3™ bikes replaced 125cc machinery in the Championship in 2012, the same season the switch occurred in the Grand Prix paddock. With one supplier for both Championships, the success was immediate and created even more cohesion between the Road to MotoGP™ and Moto3™, as well as allowing instant expertise-sharing thanks to the experience gained in both.

In the Moto2™ ECh, Dunlop became the sole tyre supplier in 2015. Already established as the benchmark for Moto2™ machinery, having been the sole tyre supplier to the Moto2™ World Championship since its inception in 2010, a wealth of experience helped the partnership quickly establish some remarkable success. That has since only grown, and now the Moto2™ ECh – and the Moto3™ JWCh – can look forward to at least three more seasons of partnership with Dunlop, including on site services and technical assistance as the British brand bring their Grand Prix experience to each round of the FIM CEV Repsol.

Wim van Achter, Motorsport Manager, Dunlop Motorcycle Europe: “We are pleased to extend our partnership with Dorna Sports to remain the exclusive tyre supplier to the Moto3™ Junior World Championship and Moto2™ European Championship within the FIM CEV Repsol. Dorna Sports has an excellent platform to allow young riders to progress through the ranks up to the world stage, and we’re proud to support this by sharing expertise between the Grand Prix and FIM CEV Repsol paddocks. We look forward to even more success in the coming years.”

Pau Serracanta, Managing Director at Dorna Sports: “We are very proud to continue our partnership with Dunlop in the FIM CEV Repsol and see them return as the sole tyre supplier for the Moto3 Junior World Championship and Moto2 European Championship for another three seasons. We’ve already built some incredible success together and I look forward to sharing more as our journey together continues in the FIM CEV Repsol alongside the Grand Prix paddock, sharing our expertise.”

Yamaha Motor Europe Selling YZF-R6 Track Bikes

A 2020 Yamaha YZF-R6 streetbike at speed on a racetrack. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
A 2020 Yamaha YZF-R6 streetbike at speed on a racetrack. Photo courtesy Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.

Yamaha Announces Track Focused, Non-Homologated, R6 RACE

17 November 2020 Motorcycles

Yamaha’s illustrious range of race bikes have enjoyed success from the pinnacle of racing, MotoGP and FIM Superbike World Championship, to grassroot series and track days. The Yamaha R6, introduced in 1999, has been the Supersport bike of choice since its creation and the 2021 model will be available exclusively as a non-homologated version, while a dedicated R6 GYTR Kit is being introduced from January 2021 for the ultimate track day experience.

Racing History

After scoring its maiden victory on only its second outing, with Jamie Whitham in the 1999 FIM Supersport World Championship’s visit to Donington Park, the Yamaha R6 has since taken the likes of Jörg Teuchert, Cal Crutchlow, Chaz Davies, Sam Lowes, Lucas Mahias, Sandro Cortese and Randy Krummenacher to world titles. This year, Andrea Locatelli joined that list after a record-breaking season with the R6, which continues to prove itself as the leading choice in WorldSSP. The appreciation of the R6 on the race track has been largely recognized as well amongst track day enthusiasts and national racers.

Yamaha R6 RACE

The homologated R6 will be discontinued next year, as Yamaha shifts its focus to providing the ultimate track bike, and the standard R6 RACE is available now for a race-targeted price, for track day participants to national supersport championship contenders. Customers can decide how they want their bike to be personalised to further enhance their on-track experience.

The R6 RACE is powered by a lightweight 599cc DOHC liquid-cooled, four-cylinder engine with titanium valves. The Deltabox aluminium frame incorporates years of Grand Prix racing development, with the magnesium subframe optimising front-rear weight balance, while the high-spec KYB front forks and KYB rear shock suspension result in precise handling and razor-sharp cornering. It also includes traction control, D-modes, and a ride-by-wire Yamaha chip-controlled throttle for ultimate responsiveness.

The non-homologated R6 RACE will be available at your local Yamaha dealers from January 2021 onwards.

R6 GYTR Kit

GYTR® (Genuine Yamaha Technology Racing) engineers have been bringing industry-leading technology to every performance accessory they’ve designed for over 40 years. Working closely with racing teams and test riders, a wide range of performance-enhancing components have been developed for anyone looking to boost their Yamaha bikes, parts and full race kits.

The R6 GYTR Kit takes the Yamaha R6 RACE to the next level, ready to line up on the grid, with an array of performance enhancing features in exclusive full race trim. This includes a GYTR Electronic package with a lightweight wire harness and programable ECU so the bike can be set up for optimal engine performance. The AIS (Air Intake System) block off plates will allow the R6 RACE to use the fresh air directly provided by its large air intake which will benefit its power output. And to make sure all power is well managed the full Titanium Akrapovic race exhaust is specifically developed to maximize engine power, and significantly reduces overall weight.

The easy to fit WSS race cowling reduces drag, and will improve straight-line speed as well as handling.  Along with the increase of power, the brakes are also upgraded with stainless steel brake lines for direct feedback and an improved feeling under deceleration. The GYTR ABS Emulator will allow the ABS pump removal for even further weight reduction.

Other FIM required parts are fitted, such as the front brake lever guard and rear sprocket protector, while the rear paddock stand hooks make for better efficiency when removing the rear wheel.

The R6 GYTR Kit developed for the R6 RACE includes the following racing parts:

GYTR race cowling set

Akrapovic full race system

GYTR ECU set

GYTR wire harness set

GYTR on/off switch

GYTR Interface cable

GYTR AIS plug set

GYTR ABS emulator

GYTR keyless fuel cap

GYTR seat cushion

Stainless steel brake line set for front and rear

Front brake lever guard

GYTR fully adjustable race rear set with optional reverse shifting kit

Rear sprocket guard (shark fin)

Sprocket drive 14T fits 520 chain conversion

Rear sprocket, 45 fits 520 chain conversion

Sprocket nut set for 520 conversion

DID gold race chain 520 conversion

Rear paddock stand hooks

Paddock stand

In addition to all the R6 GYTR features, a range of GYTR and Öhlins parts is available for racing enthusiasts to personalize their R6 RACE even further.

MotoGP: Kallio Subbing For Lecuona At Portimao

Mika Kallio (82) during the MotoGP pre-season test at Sepang in February 2020. Photo courtesy KTM Factory Racing.
Mika Kallio (82) during the MotoGP pre-season test at Sepang in February 2020. Photo courtesy KTM Factory Racing.

Home highlight for Oliveira – Kallio to replace Lecuona in Portimao
 

For the first time in MotoGP history the premier class will head to Portimao, Portugal this weekend for the final round of the 2020 World Championship. The ultimate Grand Prix of the year is very special for Red Bull KTM Tech3 with home hero Miguel Oliveira, who will ride his KTM RC16 for the very first time on national ground. After bringing home his third top 6 result in a row last Sunday in Valencia, the Portuguese is extra motivated to conclude the season and his adventure with Red Bull KTM Tech3 with another great outcome.

At the same time, Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Iker Lecuona will not be able to take part in the final round, as he was tested positive on Covid-19 last week. Therefore, KTM test rider Mika Kallio will be stepping in at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. The Finnish routineer will be returning to MotoGP after he was set as a replacement in Red Bull KTM throughout the second half of 2019.

Miguel Oliveira
 

Championship: 10th

Points: 100

“I’m very excited for the last race, which is my home race. It’s a dream coming true to race in Portugal with the MotoGP. Unfortunately, we will not have the public there, but I still think it’s a nice way to conclude the season. I hope we can get a very, very good result, be comfortable with the bike from Friday and do a great race to say goodbye to Red Bull KTM Tech3.”

Mika Kallio
 

Championship: –

Points: –

“First of all, it‘s not an easy situation for the team and for Iker I’m sorry that he will have to skip this race as well. So, I’ll jump on the bike, which is not that easy at the moment, because I haven’t been on the bike not too often this year. Obviously, it’s going to be interesting to see what my speed is and how I can learn the new track and many other things. Of course, the crew is new for me, so I have many things to learn. It’s a big challenge and we’ll go and do everything as best as possible. It’s always an honor to race with a MotoGP bike and also being with Hervé and Red Bull KTM Tech3. I know them for a long time and it’s good to come back to racing, even if it’s only the last race of the season. The finale is always a special moment for everyone and it’s always nice to be there with the best bikes and the best guys arounds, I always enjoy it a lot. We don’t have anything to expect there, we do our job and we will see where we end up. When a rider puts the helmet on and the red lights turn off, I think the race mood will be there immediately. So, I think it’s going to be an interesting weekend.”

Hervé Poncharal

Team Manager

“Here we are at the grand finale of the 2020 MotoGP World Championship. It’s incredible how quick it’s been. It looks almost like Jerez was yesterday and it has been a great adventure. I really would like to thank Dorna and everybody involved in the championship for the effort and for having the possibility of a proper championship in 2020, that was incredible. Although we were having a lockdown paddock, we still had an amazing atmosphere, we had incredible races. For Red Bull KTM Tech3 it was of course the very first MotoGP victory with Miguel Oliveira in Austria, which is the home event for both, Red Bull and KTM, so that was incredible for us. It is with great sadness, that we are going to have our last race with Miguel. He has been with us for two years and played a vital row in our team. He has been a team player, a great racer, but also a super nice person with a great sense of humor. He always has the right attitude, very focused, but never without a smile on his face. Having the very last race of the season at his home is going to be something very special. Miguel is a big star in Portugal, everybody is waiting for him. He has had a fantastic season so far, so we know he will be the center of attention there. He has great expectations and we hope we can give him the package he needs to deliver the performance he is targeting. Honestly, the whole team can’t wait to be there, because this is a great place in the world, we heard, although nobody in the team has ever been there. The test that was taking place there before the French Grand Prix was very positive, so we just can’t wait to be there. But of course, I would also like to point out that Mika Kallio will be riding for us, which is a great honor. We’ve been following Mika for many years, we saw what he did in 125cc, in 250cc, then in Moto2 and in MotoGP. He has a very strong link with the KTM MotoGP project, this is almost his baby. Because of the unfortunate situation of Iker Lecuona, Mika will be with us to celebrate this very last race of the 2020 season and we can’t wait to start working with him. We know we shouldn’t have too many expectations. I told Mika that he shouldn’t have any pressure on him, just enjoy the moment, have fun, be part of the team and leave this very last MotoGP weekend together with positive vibes. So, Mika, Miguel, let’s meet very soon in Portugal!”

Brembo Acquires SBS Friction

SBS motorcycle brake pads. Photo courtesy SBS Friction.
SBS motorcycle brake pads. Photo courtesy SBS Friction.

BREMBO ANNOUNCES THE ACQUISITION OF SBS FRICTION

The transaction will allow the Group to integrate brake pads in its two-wheeler product portfolio, strengthening its leadership in this strategic sector

Brembo has signed an agreement for the acquisition of a 100% stake in SBS Friction A/S, a Danish company which develops and manufactures very innovative and eco-friendly sintered and organic material brake pads for motorbikes.

The transaction will allow the integration of such a strategic component as brake pads in Brembo’s current product range, with particular attention to the environment, and further strengthening Brembo’s leadership in the motorbike sector.

This acquisition is in line with Brembo’s new mission to become a respected solution provider, with a view to meeting the new sustainable mobility paradigms and offering the best driving experience.

“We are particularly glad to welcome SBS Friction in our Group”, stated Alberto Bombassei, Chairman of Brembo. “Despite the highly complex market context, Brembo has maintained its natural propensity to invest in innovation. This acquisition is an important step in our strategy: it enables us to integrate even more specific competences in a key sector, to further strengthen our range of ‘made-in-Brembo’ solutions for the benefit of our customers.”

“Brembo has long been a trustworthy partner that knows the value of SBS Friction’s technological knowhow and its strong niche position”, stated Peter Eriksen Jensen, Chairman of SBS Group. “We are pleased that SBS Friction will get a strong, long-term, industrial owner who will support the company’s continued development. The transaction is a good solution for SBS Group, SBS Friction, the employees, and the city of Svendborg.”

The transaction entails a consideration of 224 million Danish Kroner, equal to approximately €30 million, which will be paid using available cash, and is subject to the customary adjustment mechanisms as for similar transactions. Enterprise Value is 300 million Danish Kroner, equal to about €40.3 million. The agreement is expected to be finalised in the first quarter of 2021.

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