Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) kickstarted an unmissable weekend at the PT Grand Prix of Thailand, setting a 1:35.192 to steal the top spot on Friday. Canet bagged a 0.218s advantage over Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), who had an incredible afternoon – claiming P2. The Italian battled back in Practice 1, fighting fit after an earlier incident on the entry to the pitlane in FP. Meanwhile, Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team) took third, completing a strong day for the #24 after securing top honours in the morning session and ending Friday just 0.250s adrift from the #44’s benchmark.
It was a hectic start to the weekend, with Free Practice delivering further drama as Ramirez ended the day quickest – setting a 1:35.897. Once Practice 1 began, Canet became the early pacesetter, improving on the times set in Free Practice. Then in the final 10 minutes, lap times dropped, and Ramirez battled back, climbing to the top of the standings before Canet further improved and seized control on the opening day.
Taking fourth after an impressive final run of the day was Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team), who set nearly 20 laps throughout the day. Dixon was in front of Alonso Lopez, who brought his Triumph-powered Beta Tools SpeedUp machine to fifth position in Thailand. However, Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) would end the day in P6 after the Championship leader suffered an early end to the day after an issue in the final two minutes. Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) took seventh as Round 16 winner Manuel Gonzalez (Gresini Moto2™) earned P8 at the end of Friday.
Albert Arenas finished a great day for the Gresini Moto2™ squad, finishing in front of Jorge Navarro, who rounded out the top 10, with the #9 replacing the injured Joe Roberts at the OnlyFans American Racing Team. Further back, Izan Guevara (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) showed a strong pace across the day, placing in front of Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team). Meanwhile, Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and home hero Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) took the final spots inside the provisional top 14. However, Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) is one of the riders with work to do on Saturday morning – ending Friday in P15.
Moto3™ kicked off a fascinating weekend at the PT Grand Prix of Thailand, with David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) grabbing Friday honours after a brilliant start to the weekend. The #80 clocked a 1:40.703 on Friday afternoon on what was a hectic day for the Colombian, who ended the day with a 0.385s advantage over Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) in second. The Australian had a great opening day of action in Thailand, improving in the closing stages of the session after setting 15 laps. Kelso placed ahead of Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), with the #31 ending Friday as the top Honda rider with a strong starting point for this weekend.
Alonso had a busy morning, finding the limit with a crash at Turn 3 before remounting and later posting a 1:40.544 to end Free Practice at the top of the standings and with a new lap record. Temperatures continued to rise, and once Practice 1 got underway, Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) was the rider at the top of the standings as Alonso suffered a second crash of the day before remounting and improving on his Practice 1 time to end Friday at the top of the standings.
Meanwhile, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) worked hard throughout the day, claiming fourth spot and ending Friday in front of Veijer. After leading early on, the Dutchman dropped back to fifth, 0.587s adrift from Alonso’s reference time. Veijer rounded out the top five, while Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) continued to impress, stealing sixth place on a great day for the Italian. Lunetta improved on his final fast lap to place ahead of MT Helmets – MSI’s Ivan Ortola, who seeks redemption after a tough Australian GP. Ortola was ahead of David Almansa (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team), who had a busy day in eighth.
Further back, Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) rounded out the top 10 places, with the #36 lapping inside the low 1:41 bracket. Meanwhile, David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) and Riccardo Rossi (CIP Green Power) were 11th and 12th, as Scott Ogden (FleetSafe Honda – MLav Racing) and MT Helmets – MSI’s Ryusei Yamanaka took the vital final spots inside the top 14.
Friday afternoon’s Practice delivered a vital session for teams and riders at the PT Grand Prix of Thailand, with Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) securing the top spot at the end of proceedings. The #93 set an unbelievable 1:29.165, securing a 0.110s advantage over Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), who continued a strong day in Thailand. Martin crucially ended the session safely inside the top 10 and ahead of Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team). ‘The Beast’ improved on his final flying lap of the day, recovering after an earlier fall at Turn 3.
The 60 minute session served up further drama with a busy start to the session for Lorenzo Savadori (Trackhouse Racing) and Bastianini, who suffered small crashes in the opening stages – riders OK. Meanwhile, Marc Marquez stole top honours early on as the premier class stars began to dip into the low 1:30 bracket. Times were extremely close in the opening 40 minutes, with just 0.445s separating the top 15 riders.
However, time attacks – as usual – began to arrive thick and fast in the final 15 minutes at the Chang International Circuit, with Brad Binder (Red Bull Factory Racing) setting the pace and stealing top honours before Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) found time. It was a breathtaking end to Friday’s action, with Martin becoming the next rider to have a go at the top before Marc Marquez seized control and ended Practice fastest.
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) will sleep well tonight, ending proceedings in fourth spot as the Italian continues to work on the setup of his GP24. The reigning World Champion was less than two-tenths adrift from Marc Marquez’ benchmark, finishing Friday in front of the top Aprilia Racing rider, Maverick Viñales. The #12 showed stunning pace throughout the day, beating Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing), who grabbed sixth.
Meanwhile, Acosta was able to find time, safely securing a spot in seventh, bouncing back after a tough weekend in Australia. The rookie was quick to adapt, placing ahead of Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), who set over 20 laps across the hour-long Practice. The #73 was strong in the third sector, ending the afternoon in front of Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), who climbed to ninth after topping FP1, with the final spot inside the important top 10 going the way of CASTROL Honda LCR’s Johann Zarco.
Further back, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Binder and Jack Miller will go back to the drawing board overnight as both riders prepare to battle in Q1 on Saturday. Joining them will be Quartararo and the fighting fit Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) as an action-packed session awaits. Meanwhile, Aprilia Racing’s Aleix Espargaro completed the day 2.218s down, opting to spend the latter stages of the session in the pit box as the #41 continued to recover from his FP1 crash.
Marcos Ramirez headed Manuel Gonzalez and Fermin Aldeguer in the Moto2 Free Practice session at Chang International Circuit. Moto2 Championship leader Ai Ogura was fourth.
2024 Moto3 World Champion David Alonso topped the first Moto3 practice session at the Chang International Circuit. The Leopard Racing Hondas of Angel Piqueras and Adrian Fernandez completed the top three.
MotoGP™ returns for another throw of the dice at the PT Grand Prix of Thailand, with Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) claiming the advantage after Free Practice 1. The Italian set a strong 1:30.492 in the opening stages of the session, remaining unbeatable in the closing moments. The #72 had a mere 0.038s advantage over World Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), who secured second position at the end of proceedings. Martin looked comfortable in FP1 and placed ahead of title rival Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), with the Italian setting 20 laps across FP1.
Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was fourth, claiming a strong starting point at the Chang International Circuit. The #93 was 0.259s adrift from the top spot, ending the morning ahead of his brother Alex Marquez, who capped off a great morning for Gresini Racing MotoGP™ – rounding out the top five spots. Meanwhile, Ducati Lenovo Team’s Enea Bastianini was sixth, finishing ahead of the returning Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3). The rookie grabbed seventh position, placing ahead of Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in the timesheets.
Further back, Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) and Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™’s Fabio Quartararo rounded out the top 10 – finishing as the top riders for the Japanese factories. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) rounded out the top 15 in a tough morning for the Noale factory, with Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) ending the session down in P21 after the #41 suffered a crash at Turn 12 in the opening 10 minutes.
Friday’s action continues for MotoGP™ Practice at 15:00 local time (UTC +7) as the premier class stars battle for direct entry to Q2, so make sure you tune in and don’t miss any of the action on motogp.com!
The final three races of this enthralling 2024 MotoGP™ campaign have arrived and Round 18 brings us back to a beauty: Buriram, and the PT Grand Prix of Thailand. Ahead of a scorching weekend of action, we got the low down from the chief title contenders and more as another crucial three days on track were previewed.
Press Conference 1 saw Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) sit alongside title rival Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Australian GP winner Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) before Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) had a chat in Press Conference 2.
JORGE MARTIN (Prima Pramac Racing)
Buriram was one of your strongest weekends of the season last year, how confident are you to have the potential to repeat the treble again, and how big will that be for the World Championship?
“I’m happy that I’m still battling for this World Championship. I’m in a good moment as we come from Indonesia, Japan and Australia, which were all really good. Australia was really good, I wanted to win, but it was really difficult. I’m confident about this race, it will be really difficult and hot, and both Marc and Pecco will be really strong, so I think it will be a tough weekend.”
FRANCESCO BAGNAIA (Ducati Lenovo Team)
How important is it to not lose points to Jorge, and do you feel you can show your full potential this weekend?
“The ambition is to recover points and be competitive, we know that this track is better for me in terms of performance. I have always been on the podium at Phillip Island in the last three seasons, but I have not always been the fastest, and I have been struggling more or less every year and this year more. We went in the wrong direction on Saturday, and then it was a bit too late on Sunday, and these two guys were just faster. I had to slow down and just try and finish the race as I was struggling with the tyres. We arrive here at a track that I like and a track where our potential can be higher, and I love the layout, so hopefully we can have a good weekend.”
MARC MARQUEZ (Gresini Racing MotoGP™)
How high are expectations that you can be in the fight again, and do you expect it to be another last-lap decider?
“It will be difficult, especially because these two guys will put the level super high if you want to fight for victory. But we will try to continue our progress, the last races have been super good, we have been consistent and have been fast enough to fight for the podium, so let’s see if we can fight for the podium here.”
BRAD BINDER (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
What do you think is possible this weekend as we know it’s a track which has worked for KTM and yourself?
“I think this is a circuit which has worked well for us, not only last year but before that. In general, I feel pretty good, we come into this race quite prepared; we tried a few things at Phillip Island, and we have seemed to make some small steps forward. I am really looking forward to getting back on the bike here, and my goal will be to put a strong weekend together. It will be great to fight for the victory again, of course, that is my goal, and I am definitely planning on trying hard over the weekend to try and make up some of the difference.”
FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team)
How motivated and determined are you to end your season with another fight for the season?
“It was an amazing weekend for us at Phillip Island. It was fantastic to be back on the level that we showed until our crash in Austria this year, so I am super proud of our comeback. Also, there is a bit of sadness as I have never needed to end my season early or miss a few races due to injury in my career. I’m fully motivated to do a good job this weekend, I want to give my maximum for myself and the team, and it would be fantastic to end the season with a podium as I am also missing it from last year.”
LUCA MARINI (Repsol Honda Team)
Is it possible or realistic to be able to fight for the top 10 finish this weekend?
“I think we have to wait until Friday because every time that we are at a different track, we have to set up the bike and understand our performance in that situation. But we made a huge step forward in these last races. The bike has improved so much, and it is super nice to ride, but it is still missing some performance. This is a track which uses a lot of the bike’s power, and we need to understand the grip level. If we are able to find a good compromise in the bike, then we can try and pass through to Q2. This will be our first target, and then if you start from a good grid position, the race can be really positive.”
ESCALANTE AND SCOTT RE-SIGN WITH TEAM HAMMER FOR 2025 AND 2026
Team Hammer, Inc., racing as Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki, is pleased to announce two-year agreements with both Richie Escalante and Tyler Scott to compete for the squad through the 2025 and 2026 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Road Racing seasons.
Escalante and Scott both joined Team Hammer in 2022 and have proven to be two of the most exciting and productive riders in the championship.
Escalante, who hails from Tizayuca, Mexico, stepped up to MotoAmerica Superbike competition upon joining the team after previously enjoying a spectacular Supersport career, highlighted by a dominant 2020 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship.
The 29-year-old has repeatedly demonstrated his potential in the premier Superbike class aboard the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R. After finishing inside the championship top-10 in 2022 as a rookie, Escalante took a major leap forward in 2023, earning a fourth-place championship ranking with 11 top-fives, including a runner-up run at the Circuit of the Americas to earn his initial Superbike podium.
Escalante’s title hopes in 2024 were dashed when he suffered a serious injury in the season-opener that cost him the majority of the season. However, he returned to the scene in top form, closing on the year with four top-fives in the season’s final five races, including a return to the podium in Texas.
Richie Escalante (54) finished third in a MotoAmerica Superbike race at COTA. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Besides his regular Superbike duties, Richie will once again contend for victory in the Daytona 200 aboard a Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750.
Fresh from four days of testing alongside Scott on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway where the team evaluated both technical systems and a slightly altered course layout, Escalante said, “I am really happy to continue on the same bike and with the same crew. I feel like the team is my racing family, and it feels like home to me. They gave me a chance at my dream of racing in the Superbike class, and I will always be thankful for them believing in me. I had a tough year with my injuries, but the team offered me support and encouragement the whole time. We will work hard to have more successes together.”
Meanwhile, Tyler Scott has established himself as one of the paddock’s most impressive young stars. Still just 18 years old, the Pennsylvanian has won races and finished inside the Supersport championship top-five in all three seasons since joining Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki.
During that span, Scott has amassed six victories, 24 podiums, 35 top fives, while claiming a best championship ranking of second.
Scott will now try to take the next step and guide the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750 to the Supersport championship in 2025. Doing so would see Tyler add yet another accomplishment to the long list he’s already stacked up despite his youth, having previously taken the 2021 Junior Cup title, been named AMA Youth Dirt Track Racer of the Year on four occasions on the strength of 13 AMA Grand Championships, and competed overseas in the Red Bull Rookies Cup and the FIM CEV European Talent Cup.
Scott, who finished second in the 2024 Daytona 200, will once again go for victory in the 2025 edition of the iconic race.
Tyler Scott (70) put his GSX-R750 on the top of the Supersport podium at Road America. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Scott said, “I am really happy to be back with the team for the next two years. My goal in 2025 is to win the Supersport Championship, and I think I have the team and bike to do it. The class has strong competition and is always going to get harder every year. We are not looking to take one step forward this off-season but to make a jump and get ahead of everyone else. I will be training hard and the team will also be working to make it possible.”
Chris Ulrich, Team Hammer Vice President of Racing Operations, said, “We’re pleased to be returning with Richie and Tyler for the next two years. Both riders have shown competitiveness and growth during their three years with the team. We have a lot of respect for both riders and their abilities and have always had good relationships with both. We also appreciate their loyalty in staying with us.
“The team enjoys working with both riders, but at the end of the day, it is about results and we have seen those. They have proven what they can do and we believe we can keep getting stronger and more competitive with Richie and Tyler.”
Additional rider signings will be announced at a later date.
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2024 season marks Team Hammer’s 44th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 134 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 373 times and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport). The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
ABOUT VISION WHEEL
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
ABOUT SUZUKI
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automotive Parts, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
American Racing Team Welcomes Jorge Navarro as Replacement Rider for Thailand and Malaysian GP
Following Joe Roberts’ injury sustained during the Australian GP, the American Racing Team is pleased to announce that Jorge Navarro will step in as the replacement rider for the upcoming Thailand and
Malaysian Grands Prix.
Jorge Navarro, a seasoned Moto2 rider, brings a wealth of experience to the team. The 28-year-old Spaniard has had a distinguished career, with 111 starts in the Moto2 class, securing a total of 10 podiums. We are confident that Jorge’s experience will contribute positively to the team’s efforts while we give Joe the time he needs to fully recover.
The entire American Racing Team wishes Joe a smooth recovery and looks forward to welcoming him back to competition soon. In the meantime, we look forward to seeing Jorge in action.
Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) kickstarted an unmissable weekend at the PT Grand Prix of Thailand, setting a 1:35.192 to steal the top spot on Friday. Canet bagged a 0.218s advantage over Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), who had an incredible afternoon – claiming P2. The Italian battled back in Practice 1, fighting fit after an earlier incident on the entry to the pitlane in FP. Meanwhile, Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team) took third, completing a strong day for the #24 after securing top honours in the morning session and ending Friday just 0.250s adrift from the #44’s benchmark.
It was a hectic start to the weekend, with Free Practice delivering further drama as Ramirez ended the day quickest – setting a 1:35.897. Once Practice 1 began, Canet became the early pacesetter, improving on the times set in Free Practice. Then in the final 10 minutes, lap times dropped, and Ramirez battled back, climbing to the top of the standings before Canet further improved and seized control on the opening day.
Taking fourth after an impressive final run of the day was Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team), who set nearly 20 laps throughout the day. Dixon was in front of Alonso Lopez, who brought his Triumph-powered Beta Tools SpeedUp machine to fifth position in Thailand. However, Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) would end the day in P6 after the Championship leader suffered an early end to the day after an issue in the final two minutes. Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) took seventh as Round 16 winner Manuel Gonzalez (Gresini Moto2™) earned P8 at the end of Friday.
Albert Arenas finished a great day for the Gresini Moto2™ squad, finishing in front of Jorge Navarro, who rounded out the top 10, with the #9 replacing the injured Joe Roberts at the OnlyFans American Racing Team. Further back, Izan Guevara (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) showed a strong pace across the day, placing in front of Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team). Meanwhile, Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and home hero Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) took the final spots inside the provisional top 14. However, Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) is one of the riders with work to do on Saturday morning – ending Friday in P15.
Moto3™ kicked off a fascinating weekend at the PT Grand Prix of Thailand, with David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) grabbing Friday honours after a brilliant start to the weekend. The #80 clocked a 1:40.703 on Friday afternoon on what was a hectic day for the Colombian, who ended the day with a 0.385s advantage over Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) in second. The Australian had a great opening day of action in Thailand, improving in the closing stages of the session after setting 15 laps. Kelso placed ahead of Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), with the #31 ending Friday as the top Honda rider with a strong starting point for this weekend.
Alonso had a busy morning, finding the limit with a crash at Turn 3 before remounting and later posting a 1:40.544 to end Free Practice at the top of the standings and with a new lap record. Temperatures continued to rise, and once Practice 1 got underway, Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) was the rider at the top of the standings as Alonso suffered a second crash of the day before remounting and improving on his Practice 1 time to end Friday at the top of the standings.
Meanwhile, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) worked hard throughout the day, claiming fourth spot and ending Friday in front of Veijer. After leading early on, the Dutchman dropped back to fifth, 0.587s adrift from Alonso’s reference time. Veijer rounded out the top five, while Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) continued to impress, stealing sixth place on a great day for the Italian. Lunetta improved on his final fast lap to place ahead of MT Helmets – MSI’s Ivan Ortola, who seeks redemption after a tough Australian GP. Ortola was ahead of David Almansa (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team), who had a busy day in eighth.
Further back, Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing) rounded out the top 10 places, with the #36 lapping inside the low 1:41 bracket. Meanwhile, David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) and Riccardo Rossi (CIP Green Power) were 11th and 12th, as Scott Ogden (FleetSafe Honda – MLav Racing) and MT Helmets – MSI’s Ryusei Yamanaka took the vital final spots inside the top 14.
Friday afternoon’s Practice delivered a vital session for teams and riders at the PT Grand Prix of Thailand, with Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) securing the top spot at the end of proceedings. The #93 set an unbelievable 1:29.165, securing a 0.110s advantage over Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), who continued a strong day in Thailand. Martin crucially ended the session safely inside the top 10 and ahead of Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team). ‘The Beast’ improved on his final flying lap of the day, recovering after an earlier fall at Turn 3.
The 60 minute session served up further drama with a busy start to the session for Lorenzo Savadori (Trackhouse Racing) and Bastianini, who suffered small crashes in the opening stages – riders OK. Meanwhile, Marc Marquez stole top honours early on as the premier class stars began to dip into the low 1:30 bracket. Times were extremely close in the opening 40 minutes, with just 0.445s separating the top 15 riders.
However, time attacks – as usual – began to arrive thick and fast in the final 15 minutes at the Chang International Circuit, with Brad Binder (Red Bull Factory Racing) setting the pace and stealing top honours before Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) found time. It was a breathtaking end to Friday’s action, with Martin becoming the next rider to have a go at the top before Marc Marquez seized control and ended Practice fastest.
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) will sleep well tonight, ending proceedings in fourth spot as the Italian continues to work on the setup of his GP24. The reigning World Champion was less than two-tenths adrift from Marc Marquez’ benchmark, finishing Friday in front of the top Aprilia Racing rider, Maverick Viñales. The #12 showed stunning pace throughout the day, beating Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing), who grabbed sixth.
Meanwhile, Acosta was able to find time, safely securing a spot in seventh, bouncing back after a tough weekend in Australia. The rookie was quick to adapt, placing ahead of Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), who set over 20 laps across the hour-long Practice. The #73 was strong in the third sector, ending the afternoon in front of Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), who climbed to ninth after topping FP1, with the final spot inside the important top 10 going the way of CASTROL Honda LCR’s Johann Zarco.
Further back, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Binder and Jack Miller will go back to the drawing board overnight as both riders prepare to battle in Q1 on Saturday. Joining them will be Quartararo and the fighting fit Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) as an action-packed session awaits. Meanwhile, Aprilia Racing’s Aleix Espargaro completed the day 2.218s down, opting to spend the latter stages of the session in the pit box as the #41 continued to recover from his FP1 crash.
Chang International Circuit, in Buriram, Thailand. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Marcos Ramirez headed Manuel Gonzalez and Fermin Aldeguer in the Moto2 Free Practice session at Chang International Circuit. Moto2 Championship leader Ai Ogura was fourth.
Chang International Circuit, in Buriram, Thailand. Photo courtesy Dorna.
2024 Moto3 World Champion David Alonso topped the first Moto3 practice session at the Chang International Circuit. The Leopard Racing Hondas of Angel Piqueras and Adrian Fernandez completed the top three.
Chang International Circuit, in Buriram, Thailand. Photo courtesy Dorna.
MotoGP™ returns for another throw of the dice at the PT Grand Prix of Thailand, with Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) claiming the advantage after Free Practice 1. The Italian set a strong 1:30.492 in the opening stages of the session, remaining unbeatable in the closing moments. The #72 had a mere 0.038s advantage over World Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), who secured second position at the end of proceedings. Martin looked comfortable in FP1 and placed ahead of title rival Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), with the Italian setting 20 laps across FP1.
Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was fourth, claiming a strong starting point at the Chang International Circuit. The #93 was 0.259s adrift from the top spot, ending the morning ahead of his brother Alex Marquez, who capped off a great morning for Gresini Racing MotoGP™ – rounding out the top five spots. Meanwhile, Ducati Lenovo Team’s Enea Bastianini was sixth, finishing ahead of the returning Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3). The rookie grabbed seventh position, placing ahead of Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in the timesheets.
Further back, Takaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda LCR) and Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™’s Fabio Quartararo rounded out the top 10 – finishing as the top riders for the Japanese factories. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) rounded out the top 15 in a tough morning for the Noale factory, with Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) ending the session down in P21 after the #41 suffered a crash at Turn 12 in the opening 10 minutes.
Friday’s action continues for MotoGP™ Practice at 15:00 local time (UTC +7) as the premier class stars battle for direct entry to Q2, so make sure you tune in and don’t miss any of the action on motogp.com!
From left, Francesco Bagnaia, Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez. Photo courtesy Dorna.
The final three races of this enthralling 2024 MotoGP™ campaign have arrived and Round 18 brings us back to a beauty: Buriram, and the PT Grand Prix of Thailand. Ahead of a scorching weekend of action, we got the low down from the chief title contenders and more as another crucial three days on track were previewed.
Press Conference 1 saw Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) sit alongside title rival Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Australian GP winner Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) before Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Luca Marini (Repsol Honda Team) had a chat in Press Conference 2.
JORGE MARTIN (Prima Pramac Racing)
Buriram was one of your strongest weekends of the season last year, how confident are you to have the potential to repeat the treble again, and how big will that be for the World Championship?
“I’m happy that I’m still battling for this World Championship. I’m in a good moment as we come from Indonesia, Japan and Australia, which were all really good. Australia was really good, I wanted to win, but it was really difficult. I’m confident about this race, it will be really difficult and hot, and both Marc and Pecco will be really strong, so I think it will be a tough weekend.”
FRANCESCO BAGNAIA (Ducati Lenovo Team)
How important is it to not lose points to Jorge, and do you feel you can show your full potential this weekend?
“The ambition is to recover points and be competitive, we know that this track is better for me in terms of performance. I have always been on the podium at Phillip Island in the last three seasons, but I have not always been the fastest, and I have been struggling more or less every year and this year more. We went in the wrong direction on Saturday, and then it was a bit too late on Sunday, and these two guys were just faster. I had to slow down and just try and finish the race as I was struggling with the tyres. We arrive here at a track that I like and a track where our potential can be higher, and I love the layout, so hopefully we can have a good weekend.”
MARC MARQUEZ (Gresini Racing MotoGP™)
How high are expectations that you can be in the fight again, and do you expect it to be another last-lap decider?
“It will be difficult, especially because these two guys will put the level super high if you want to fight for victory. But we will try to continue our progress, the last races have been super good, we have been consistent and have been fast enough to fight for the podium, so let’s see if we can fight for the podium here.”
BRAD BINDER (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
What do you think is possible this weekend as we know it’s a track which has worked for KTM and yourself?
“I think this is a circuit which has worked well for us, not only last year but before that. In general, I feel pretty good, we come into this race quite prepared; we tried a few things at Phillip Island, and we have seemed to make some small steps forward. I am really looking forward to getting back on the bike here, and my goal will be to put a strong weekend together. It will be great to fight for the victory again, of course, that is my goal, and I am definitely planning on trying hard over the weekend to try and make up some of the difference.”
FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team)
How motivated and determined are you to end your season with another fight for the season?
“It was an amazing weekend for us at Phillip Island. It was fantastic to be back on the level that we showed until our crash in Austria this year, so I am super proud of our comeback. Also, there is a bit of sadness as I have never needed to end my season early or miss a few races due to injury in my career. I’m fully motivated to do a good job this weekend, I want to give my maximum for myself and the team, and it would be fantastic to end the season with a podium as I am also missing it from last year.”
LUCA MARINI (Repsol Honda Team)
Is it possible or realistic to be able to fight for the top 10 finish this weekend?
“I think we have to wait until Friday because every time that we are at a different track, we have to set up the bike and understand our performance in that situation. But we made a huge step forward in these last races. The bike has improved so much, and it is super nice to ride, but it is still missing some performance. This is a track which uses a lot of the bike’s power, and we need to understand the grip level. If we are able to find a good compromise in the bike, then we can try and pass through to Q2. This will be our first target, and then if you start from a good grid position, the race can be really positive.”
Tyler Scott (left) and Richie Escalante (right) sign their 2025-2026 contracts with Team Hammer VP Chris Ulrich (center), Sunday at Daytona.
ESCALANTE AND SCOTT RE-SIGN WITH TEAM HAMMER FOR 2025 AND 2026
Team Hammer, Inc., racing as Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki, is pleased to announce two-year agreements with both Richie Escalante and Tyler Scott to compete for the squad through the 2025 and 2026 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Road Racing seasons.
Escalante and Scott both joined Team Hammer in 2022 and have proven to be two of the most exciting and productive riders in the championship.
Escalante, who hails from Tizayuca, Mexico, stepped up to MotoAmerica Superbike competition upon joining the team after previously enjoying a spectacular Supersport career, highlighted by a dominant 2020 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship.
The 29-year-old has repeatedly demonstrated his potential in the premier Superbike class aboard the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R. After finishing inside the championship top-10 in 2022 as a rookie, Escalante took a major leap forward in 2023, earning a fourth-place championship ranking with 11 top-fives, including a runner-up run at the Circuit of the Americas to earn his initial Superbike podium.
Escalante’s title hopes in 2024 were dashed when he suffered a serious injury in the season-opener that cost him the majority of the season. However, he returned to the scene in top form, closing on the year with four top-fives in the season’s final five races, including a return to the podium in Texas.
Richie Escalante (54) finished third in a MotoAmerica Superbike race at COTA. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Besides his regular Superbike duties, Richie will once again contend for victory in the Daytona 200 aboard a Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750.
Fresh from four days of testing alongside Scott on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway where the team evaluated both technical systems and a slightly altered course layout, Escalante said, “I am really happy to continue on the same bike and with the same crew. I feel like the team is my racing family, and it feels like home to me. They gave me a chance at my dream of racing in the Superbike class, and I will always be thankful for them believing in me. I had a tough year with my injuries, but the team offered me support and encouragement the whole time. We will work hard to have more successes together.”
Meanwhile, Tyler Scott has established himself as one of the paddock’s most impressive young stars. Still just 18 years old, the Pennsylvanian has won races and finished inside the Supersport championship top-five in all three seasons since joining Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki.
During that span, Scott has amassed six victories, 24 podiums, 35 top fives, while claiming a best championship ranking of second.
Scott will now try to take the next step and guide the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R750 to the Supersport championship in 2025. Doing so would see Tyler add yet another accomplishment to the long list he’s already stacked up despite his youth, having previously taken the 2021 Junior Cup title, been named AMA Youth Dirt Track Racer of the Year on four occasions on the strength of 13 AMA Grand Championships, and competed overseas in the Red Bull Rookies Cup and the FIM CEV European Talent Cup.
Scott, who finished second in the 2024 Daytona 200, will once again go for victory in the 2025 edition of the iconic race.
Tyler Scott (70) put his GSX-R750 on the top of the Supersport podium at Road America. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Scott said, “I am really happy to be back with the team for the next two years. My goal in 2025 is to win the Supersport Championship, and I think I have the team and bike to do it. The class has strong competition and is always going to get harder every year. We are not looking to take one step forward this off-season but to make a jump and get ahead of everyone else. I will be training hard and the team will also be working to make it possible.”
Chris Ulrich, Team Hammer Vice President of Racing Operations, said, “We’re pleased to be returning with Richie and Tyler for the next two years. Both riders have shown competitiveness and growth during their three years with the team. We have a lot of respect for both riders and their abilities and have always had good relationships with both. We also appreciate their loyalty in staying with us.
“The team enjoys working with both riders, but at the end of the day, it is about results and we have seen those. They have proven what they can do and we believe we can keep getting stronger and more competitive with Richie and Tyler.”
Additional rider signings will be announced at a later date.
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2024 season marks Team Hammer’s 44th consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 134 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 373 times and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport). The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
ABOUT VISION WHEEL
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
ABOUT SUZUKI
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automotive Parts, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
Spaniard Jorge Navarro is subbing for injured American Joe Roberts. Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
American Racing Team Welcomes Jorge Navarro as Replacement Rider for Thailand and Malaysian GP
Following Joe Roberts’ injury sustained during the Australian GP, the American Racing Team is pleased to announce that Jorge Navarro will step in as the replacement rider for the upcoming Thailand and
Malaysian Grands Prix.
Jorge Navarro, a seasoned Moto2 rider, brings a wealth of experience to the team. The 28-year-old Spaniard has had a distinguished career, with 111 starts in the Moto2 class, securing a total of 10 podiums. We are confident that Jorge’s experience will contribute positively to the team’s efforts while we give Joe the time he needs to fully recover.
The entire American Racing Team wishes Joe a smooth recovery and looks forward to welcoming him back to competition soon. In the meantime, we look forward to seeing Jorge in action.
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www.roadracingworld.com
July 18, 2025
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