Sergio Garcia took pole position during Moto2 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his MT Helmets – MSI Boscoscuro on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard covered the 2.9-mile (4.7 km) track in 1:41.894, earning pole position and breaking the All-Time Lap Record of 1:41.917 he set Saturday morning.
Fermin Aldeguer was the best of the rest with a 1:42.134 on his MB Conveyors SpeedUp Boscoscuro, and Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Celestino Vietti claimed the third and final spot on the front with a time of 1:42.182 on his Kalex.
After running near the top all day Friday and again on Saturday morning, American Joe Roberts slipped to ninth in qualifying with a 1:42.364 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
The top 17 qualifiers were covered by less than one second.
Ivan Ortola grabbed pole position during FIM Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his MT Helmets – MSI KTM, the Spaniard lapped the 2.9-mile (4.7 km) course in 1:46.749 to top the field of 27 riders.
Espargaro takes fairytale pole to head Bagnaia and Raul Fernandez as Marc Marquez misses the cut
A second pole of the season for Aprilia, a maiden front row for Trackhouse, no ticket to Q2 for #MM93 and a tumble for Martin: the storylines overflow in qualifying
Saturday, 25 May 2024
The fairytale continues for Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing)! After announcing he’ll bow out at the end of the season, he went fastest on Friday and followed it up with pole position at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya. Reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) is second on the grid by just 0.031s, with a P3 for Raul Fernandez confirmed just after the session after his best lap was reinstated to give both the #25 and Trackhouse Racing their maiden front row.
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had celebrated that third in parc ferme before a review showed Raul Fernandez had gone through green panels, not yellow flags, on his best lap, but the KTM rider nevertheless starts fourth and a full 18 places ahead of Le Mans as he bounced back from that in style.
Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), meanwhile, will face a similar mountain to climb as he did in France, starting P14 after failing to make it through Q1.
Q1: LAST MINUTE LAP RECORD
It was another packed Q1 and another appearance for eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), and it wasn’t smooth sailing this time round either. In France it was Miguel Oliveira who knocked him out of contention and this time round, Oliveira’s Trackhouse Racing teammate Raul Fernandez was one of those who did the same.
The #25 was fastest in the session as both Marc Marquez and teammate Alex Marquez looked for a way through, but a last dash for glory from Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) saw the Italian not only depose Raul Fernandez from the top of Q1 but break the lap record, to much delight in the team’s box.
Diggia and Raul Fernandez moved through, leaving Alex Marquez P13 on the grid and Marc Marquez P14 – just ahead of a tougher session for Oliveira in P15 and Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) in 16th.
Q2: DRAMA, LAP RECORD, DRAMA
Once a packed Q2 got underway it was Bagnaia who flew to the top of the timesheets after the first run, setting a 1:38.221 – a strong target for the rest.
In the closing minutes of the session, riders pushed to the limit as ever, and a key mover was Binder as the South African found time to jump to second. But it all went wrong for Prima Pramac Racing late on, with both Martin and teammate Franco Morbidelli crashing at Turn 2 seconds apart. What looked at first like it could be friendly fire was instead two separate incidents at least, and riders both ok.
What was drama for them also proved some drama on the timing screens as the incident brought out the yellow flags, cancelling lap times. One of those was initially Raul Fernandez’ best effort, but after investigation the #25 passes what is a green panel just before it switches to yellow. So that lap was reinstated, putting him P3.
Amongst all that early and late drama, Espargaro was faultless to thread the needle, able to storm up to pole position on his final flying lap.
THE GRID
Behind Espargaro, Bagnaia, Raul Fernandez and Binder comes rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) in fifth, with Diggia in P6. The Italian’s best in Q2 didn’t quite reach the heights of his Q1 effort, which would have put him second on the grid.
P7 goes to Championship leader Martin after that bout of drama, and he has Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) alongside him as the #42 put in an impressive Q2. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) is next up, ahead of Morbidelli and Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team). Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) lines up P12 looking for a lot more this weekend to match the #41, with Top Gun not yet finding that form from Texas on home turf.
After another incredible qualifying, some shake ups on the grids set us up for fireworks as key contenders line up up and down the order. Make sure to tune in for Tissot Sprint at 15:00 today, before the Grand Prix at 14:00 tomorrow. See you there!
Gardner fastest on Friday ahead of Locatelli as Cremona test concludes
Australian star Remy Gardner led the Day 2 times, on a red-flagged Friday at Cremona with Locatelli and Rinaldi also impressing
Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was the fastest man on a Friday test which saw several red flags at Cremona. The Australian rocketed to the top of the combined times in the afternoon session, ultimately proving to be only one of two riders to break into the 1’28s, alongside fellow Yamaha rider Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha). Ducati riders Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing), Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and rider Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) made up the rest of the top five.
YAMAHA SHOW SPEED AT CREMONA: Gardner P1, Locatelli P2; Rea continues to adapt
Yamaha enjoyed a very successful Friday at Cremona, with three of their four riders occupying spots in the top eight. Gardner was a lowly 15th place in the morning test session but rebounded back in a big way to clock a time of 1’28.860s, claiming top spot. His teammate, Dominique Aegerter, rounded out the top eight with a strong time of 1’29.506s.
On the other side of the Japanese manufacturer, Locatelli enjoyed a very consistent Friday. In the morning session, Locatelli secured sixth place with a time of 1’30.076s. He ended the afternoon session on Friday with a vastly improved time of 1’28.919s, enough to secure second place behind Gardner. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) suffered a technical issue in the morning session which forced him off track but managed to secure seventh place. In the afternoon session, Rea continued his search for consistency in the afternoon, ultimately managing a best time of 1’30.027s.
DUCATI SETS THE PACE: Rinaldi fastest for Bologna bullets, Bulega and Bautista not far behind
Rinaldi had been one of the top performers throughout the entirety of the past two days at Cremona. Friday saw the #21 finish fourth overall in the morning session, setting a time of 1’29.663s. He then smashed his own time in the afternoon session, clocking a time of 1’29.047s to claim third overall. Elsewhere within the Bologna manufacturer, Lowes set the pace during Friday morning, topping out the session (after 63 laps) of 1’29.137s. Lowes did not reappear for the afternoon session of testing, with the Marc VDS Ducati squad opting to leave with what they have already. Like the other Ducati members, the priority of the Lowes camp was track familiarity and track time as opposed to testing of new parts.
Ducati continues to enjoy testing success at Cremona, with Aruba.it Racing – Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega and Alvaro Bautista being consistently strong on Friday, their only day of testing at Cremona. Both Bulega and Bautista set very impressive times, coming in at 1’29.501s and 1’29.518s. Throughout the two-day test, the emphasis has been centered around both riders getting to grips with the track, as well as having as much track time as possible.
REDDING AND GERLOFF EVENLY MATCHED: lots of data for BMW at Cremona
Bonovo Action BMW’s Scott Redding and Garrett Gerloff have been BMW’s sole riders at Cremona, given the absence of ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team’s Toprak Razgatlioglu and Michael van der Mark. Both Redding and Gerloff have been very similar in terms of pace, with the riders clocking in times of 1’30.389s and 1’30.459s respectively in the morning. In the afternoon, both Redding and Gerloff improved on their times, clocking 1’29.215s and 1’29.325s respectively. Redding suffered a mechanical issue early in Friday’s session, with Redding potentially testing a couple of items today but focusing on the setup of his M 1000 RR.
RABAT IMPRESSES AT CREMONA: busiest rider, consistently towards the top
Kawasaki Puccetti Racing’s Tito Rabat has been one of the standout performers during the Cremona test, repeatedly coming in towards the top of the timesheets during testing. Rabat clocked a time of 1’29.663s on Friday morning, enough for a top five place. He has also been one of the most active riders on track, completing 121 laps on Day 1, whilst completing 112 on Day 2; a total of 233 laps across both days. Rabat ended the day with an improved time of 1’29.543s. Rabat and Puccetti Kawasaki were working on new configurations and setup from the Japanese manufacturer, and they were the only Kawasaki representatives on track.
HONDA LOOK FOR GAINS: Lecuona and Vierge make subtle improvements
Honda entered Friday’s Cremona test seeking to test different swingarms, as well as to gain familiarity with the track. In the morning session, Iker Lecouna (Team HRC) clocked a time of 1’30.229s, enough for eighth place. In the afternoon session, his time improved to 1’29.787s. It was a similar story for teammate Xavi Vierge, who clocked a time of 1’30.293s in the morning but managed to improve his time in the afternoon to 1’30.135s.
On the other side of the Honda setup, PETRONAS MIE Racing’s Tarran Mackenzie and Adam Norrodin had a good day. Mackenzie enjoyed a strong start in the morning session, clocking a time of 1’30.646s, but he could not improve that time in the afternoon, recording a best time of 1’31.165s. Norrodin, on the other hand, managed the opposite, improving from a 1’32.846s in the morning to a time of 1’31.591s in the afternoon.
HUERTAS LEADS WORLDSSP FIELD AT CREMONA
For the second day in a row, Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) was the fastest of the WorldSSP riders on display during the Cremona test. The Aruba.it rider showed some good pace over the course of Friday’s test. Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) claimed second with Khairul Idham Bin Pawi (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) in third. His teammate, Kaito Toba, was fourth with Ivan Goi (QJMOTOR Factory Racing) rounding out the field WorldSSP field.
The top six from Friday at Cremona, find the full results from Friday’s test at Cremona here:
CRF450R, RWE, RX feature optimized chassis rigidity, smooth power delivery
All-new CRF250RWE includes premium components, like the CRF450RWE
Popular CRF250F, 125F, 110F and 50F trail bikes all return for 2025
Two weeks after Jett Lawrence’s securing of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship, and the day before he kicks off his defense of the 2023 AMA Pro Motocross Championship at Southern California’s Fox Raceway, American Honda announced its entire line of 2025 CRF Performance and CRF Trail dirt bikes.
Honda’s legendary CRF450R and CRF250R motocrossers have received extensive updates for 2025, based in part on development input from Team Honda HRC riders Jett and Hunter Lawrence. Revisions to these models’ chasses result in optimized rigidity for a comfortable ride while maintaining precise handling, and engine updates result in strong but controllable power. These same updates are carried over to the closed-course off-road-focused CRF450RX and CRF250RX, as well as the premium-level CRF450RWE. And new for 2025, Honda is offering a 250 in the premium trim option—the CRF250RWE, based on the factory machines of Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas.
“At Honda, the R&D processes of our production machines and our factory race bikes are closely intertwined,” said Colin Miller, Assistant Manager of Public Relations at American Honda. “Over the past year and a half, Team Honda HRC has dominated in AMA Supercross and AMA Pro Motocross, and the progress in that realm has both benefited from and contributed to the development of our production CRF Performance motocrossers. For 2025, the CRF450R, CRF450RWE, CRF250R and all-new CRF250RWE are more capable than ever, and those advances also carry over to the CRF450RX and CRF250RX closed-course off-roaders. As we celebrate Jett Lawrence’s AMA Supercross crown, and on the eve of his AMA Pro Motocross title defense, we’re happy to unveil our 2025 dirt-bike lineup with our fans and customers. With the updates made to these models, and the important contributions of our race team, Honda’s off-road success promises to continue.”
Other models included in the announcement are the off-road-ready CRF450X (the winningest model in Baja 1000 history) and the CRF450RL dual-sport bike, as well as the CRF150R motocrosser. Also returning for 2025 is the entire CRF Trail family, including the CRF250F, CRF125F, CRF110F and CRF50F—a lineup that has welcomed legions of new riders to the world of dirt-bike riding.
The 2025 CRF motocross models will be displayed in Honda’s vendor booth during tomorrow’s Honda Fox Raceway National Motocross round in Southern California.
A 2025-model Honda CRF450R. Photo courtesy American Honda.
CRF450R
Motocross continues to evolve with new techniques and riding styles that enable riders to push the sport to new heights. Matching that evolution, the 2025 CRF450R makes important strides in handling characteristics, power delivery and suspension performance that allow riders to perform at their best, even when the track is at its worst. Several years in the making, this new model integrates input from factory HRC riders like Jett and Hunter Lawrence and five-time MXGP world champion Tim Gajser, as well as professional test riders. Many of its features have been developed and used in competition, during Jett Lawrence’s perfect 2023 Pro Motocross season, his 2023 450 SuperMotocross championship, and his 2024 450 Supercross title. But this bike isn’t just for the pros; Honda’s engineers also considered feedback from customers and leading motocross media to deliver the most comprehensive package of performance and rideability to date.
Color: Red
MSRP: $9,699
Available: August
A 2025-model Honda CRF450RWE. Photo courtesy American Honda.
CRF450RWE
A purpose-built race weapon, the 2025 CRF450RWE is for riders seeking the ultimate motocross machine. Inspired by the factory Honda HRC machines of Jett and Hunter Lawrence, this special version (the “WE” stands for Works Edition) features a long list of component upgrades that are championship-proven in the AMA Supercross, AMA Pro Motocross and SuperMotocross series. In addition to the top-shelf componentry, the RWE also benefits from the chassis, suspension and engine advancements of the 2025 CRF450R platform, further improving its ride quality, handling and power delivery. From the top step of the podium, straight to the showroom floor, the CRF450RWE is a testament to Honda’s continued race-driven innovation.
Color: Red
MSRP: $12,599
Available: November
A 2025-model Honda CRF450RX Photo courtesy American Honda.
CRF450RX
From NGPC to WORCS and GNCC, closed-course off-road racing requires a high level of versatility from both rider and machine. The CRF450RX is designed and developed to deliver just that, with motocross-inspired engine and chassis performance and off-road-focused features like dedicated ECU and suspension settings, an 18-inch rear wheel, an aluminum side stand, a large 2.1-gallon fuel tank and hand guards. For 2025, the CRF450RX benefits from the same chassis, engine and suspension updates as its motocross relative, the CRF450R. These advancements enhance handling characteristics, with greater stability and comfort—especially in rough terrain. The CRF450RX’s race-winning pedigree and legendary reliability are continuously proven in the toughest conditions by teams like SLR Honda, Phoenix Racing Honda and JCR Honda.
Color: Red
MSRP: $9,999
Available: August
A 2025-model Honda CRF250R Photo courtesy American Honda.
CRF250R
After winning the 2023 AMA Pro Motocross 250 Championship and both regions of the AMA Supercross 250 Championship at the hands of Jett and Hunter Lawrence, the CRF250R is not resting on its laurels for the 2025 model year. Constant refinement is required to compete at the highest level, as riders and tracks continue to demand more from the machines. For 2025, the CRF250R takes another step forward in its evolution, with advancements to its chassis, suspension and engine. The combination of improved stability, greater comfort and refined power characteristics translates to faster laps and a confidence-inspiring ride. From young, aspiring racers, all the way to those in the professional ranks, the CRF250R performs at every level.
Color: Red
MSRP: $8,299
Available: July
A 2025-model Honda CRF250RWE Photo courtesy American Honda.
CRF250RWE
An all-new model for the 2025 model year, the CRF250RWE brings the premium componentry used by Team Honda HRC to the quarter-liter category for the first time. Inspired by the factory race bikes of Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas, this special edition offers high-level performance right out of the box, with a wide range of race-proven upgrades. Plus, with the platform-wide chassis, suspension and engine updates for the 2025 model year, the CRF250RWE represents Honda’s most advanced 250cc motocross bike to date.
Color: Red
MSRP: $10,599
Available: September
A 2025-model Honda CRF250RX Photo courtesy American Honda.
CRF250RX
From the high-speed tracks of the WORCS and NGPC series to tight, wooded GNCC and enduro courses, the CRF250RX is designed to thrive in closed-course off-road competition. A close relative of the motocross-focused CRF250R, the RX benefits from off-road-specific features and settings that maximize versatility and performance across a wide range of terrain. For the 2025 model year, it receives the same chassis, suspension and engine updates as its motocross counterpart, achieving greater stability, comfort and power delivery. Trusted by teams like Phoenix Racing Honda and SLR Honda, the CRF250RX continues to be a potent podium contender at off-road races across the country, having earned the 2023 NGPC Pro II title at the hands of Kade Tinkler-Walker.
Color: Red
MSRP: $8,699
Available: August
A 2025-model Honda CRF450X Photo courtesy American Honda.
CRF450X
Known both for being bulletproof and for performing at a high level, Honda’s CRF450X—developed with extensive input from off-road legend Johnny Campbell—is the winningest motorcycle ever in the Baja 1000, with an incredible 16 victories in the grueling off-road event. As if that weren’t enough, the iconic model is also an excellent trail machine, thanks in part to its 50-state year-round off-road-legal status, plus off-road-appropriate features like a side stand, 18-inch rear wheel, headlight, sealed chain and six-speed transmission. It’s an impressive combination of attributes, confirming the unmatched versatility of the CRF450X.
Color: Red
MSRP: $8,699
Available: June
CRF450RL
Distilled to its fundamental elements, dual-sport riding comprises linking together trails via sections of road. Enter the CRF450RL, which performs admirably both in the dirt and on the tarmac. Based on the legendary CRF450 Performance off-road platform (including a 449cc Unicam® engine, twin-spar aluminum frame and premium, long-travel suspension), but with street-legal features like a quiet muffler, a vibration-damping urethane-injected swingarm and a wide-ratio six-speed transmission, this is the quintessential on/off-road machine. Throw in Honda’s legendary durability, and there’s little wonder that the CRF450RL has made a name for itself in the dual-sport world.
Color: Red
MSRP: $10,099
Available: August
A 2025-model Honda CRF150R Photo courtesy American Honda.
CRF150R
The smallest machine in Honda’s CRF Performance lineup, the CRF150R is nonetheless big on performance, making it an effective entry point for young, aspiring motocrossers. It boasts many of the same features found on Honda’s full-size motocross bikes, including Showa® suspension (an inverted fork and a single shock mated to a Pro-Link® rear system), and a Unicam® four-stroke engine that is unique in the mini MX world, delivering a strong but smooth spread of power across the rev range. This scaled-down motocrosser is available in both standard and Big Wheel versions—the latter being a great choice for taller riders, thanks to its larger wheels, higher seat and additional rear-suspension travel.
Color: Red
MSRP
CRF150R: $5,399
CRF150R Big Wheel: $5,599
Available: August
A 2025-model Honda CRF250F Photo courtesy American Honda.
CRF250F
With sharp styling that’s inspired by the industry-leading CRF Performance line, but in a friendly, trail-focused package that’s year-round off-road-legal in all 50 states, the CRF250F has reliable performances that is suitable for a wide variety of riders—from first-timers exploring the world of off-road recreation to experienced enthusiasts navigating technical trails. The CRF250F boasts smooth power across a wide powerband, thanks in part to its clean-running, electronically controlled fuel injection, and the Showa suspension maintains a comfortable, controlled ride across varied terrain.
Color: Red
MSRP: $4,999
Available: August
CRF125F
As a kind of midpoint in Honda’s CRF Trail lineup, the CRF125F is incredibly versatile—a confidence-inspiring, reliable, long-running machine that’s well-suited to young off-roaders, first-time trail riders, and even some more experienced enthusiasts, making for enjoyable outings with friends and family. Available in both standard and Big Wheel configurations, the CRF125F is also 50-state off-road legal, providing access to trails across the country.
Color: Red
MSRP
CRF125F: $3,499
CRF125F Big Wheel: $3,899
Available: July
A 2025-model Honda CRF110F Photo courtesy American Honda.
CRF110F
How popular is the CRF110F? Simply put, it’s the powersports industry’s top-selling dirt bike, a model that has welcomed legions of new riders to the world of motorcycling. The reasons are clear when the features and benefits are considered: The CRF110F is approachable, reliable and performs well, with an automatic clutch, a low seat height and push-button electric start, allowing young riders to keep their focus on the trail. With clean-running fuel injection for low maintenance, and 50-state off-road-legal status, the CRF110F is dependable and versatile, and it’s available in both Red and White.
Color: Red
MSRP: $2,699
Available: August
CRF50F
Being a kid is the best, especially when there’s a CRF50F in the garage. Small in size, it’s the ideal first motorcycle for the next generation, delivering a smooth ride thanks to its single shock and an inverted fork; and controllable power thanks to its reliable 49cc air-cooled four-stroke engine. With the model’s automatic clutch and a low seat height, riders can focus on the basics, while parents and guardians can bank on its unparalleled dependability, plus the fact that it has year-round off-road-legal status in all 50 states. Add it all up, and there’s no wonder the CRF50F is the powersports industry’s best-selling 50-class trailbike.
Granado takes stunning 10th pole to edge out Casadei and Zaccone by just 0.032s
A dramatic qualifying sees Granado storm to pole ahead of reigning champ Casadei and Zaccone with Ferrari down the order after early crash
Friday, 24th May 2024
The FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship is back on track for Round 3 at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya with two more blockbuster instalments awaiting us tomorrow. Launching from his tenth pole position in the electric class will be Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) after taking the spoils by setting a sensational 1:48.215. But it certainly wasn’t a comfortable pole position, as both Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team) and Alessandro Zaccone (Tech3 E-Racing) set the exact same lap time just 0.032s behind Granado to line up second and third respectively.
For the first time in 2024, Nicholas Spinelli (Tech3 E-Racing) is not on the front row of the grid. The three-time winner this year – and sure championship contender – starts from fourth where he’ll have to watch out on his approach into Turn 1 so that rookie sensation Oscar Gutierrez (Axxis-MSI) and French GP polesitter Hector Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) don’t come flying down Spinelli’s inside from fifth and sixth. While Garzo won’t be overly pleased with sixth, there is at least a little more satisfaction in the #4’s side of the Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™ garage than there is on Lukas Tulovic’s side, as unfortunately after Tulovic progressed through from Q1, he was unable to set a flying lap in Q2 due to technical issues.
On the third row is where we find yet more heavy MotoE™ hitters. Two-time World Cup Winner Jordi Torres (Openbank Aspar Team) lines up seventh for the second time this season just ahead of teammate Kevin Zannoni (Openbank Aspar Team) who fortunately this time was indeed able to take part in Q2 after progressing through Q1. Alongside them is the luckless Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini Team) who, after finding something of his old form in Practice, crashed late on in Q2 denying him the chance of being able to improve his grid slot. Regardless, ninth is his first top 10 start so far this season.
Make sure you don’t miss both races tomorrow with lights out at 12:15 local time (UTC +2) for Race 1 before Race 2 gets underway at 16:10 local time. We’ll see you then for yet more fantastic MotoE™ racing.
Vanson Leathers announces 50 year Anniversary Celebration June 1-2, 2024
Fall River, MA: Vanson Leathers, America’s leading manufacturer of Leather motorcycle jackets and motorcycle riding apparel for men and women will celebrate 50 years in business on June 1-2 at their headquarters in Fall River, Massachusetts.
The events taking place in the retail showroom over the weekend on June 1-2 include complimentary grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, live music from local Rock-a-Billy band The Vegas Lords on Saturday and Original Rock by Calamity Brain on Sunday. Coffee is available from NO VACANCY coffee roasters of Newport, RI. The event also features factory tours, design and custom fitting assistance for leather garments and racing leathers, raffles, door prizes, product discounts, and a giant birthday cake!
Sunday, June 2 will also feature the first ever Vintage Wheels ride-in bike show judged by James Goodson, one of the original founding partners of Vanson Associates in 1974.
Bike categories are: Best British, Japanese, German/Austrian, Italian, Spanish, USA and People’s choice. All bikes must have been built in 1974 or [earlier] to enter.
Vanson Leathers is America’s largest manufacturer of leather motorcycle jackets, leather motorcycle apparel and custom leather racing suits. Celebrating 50 years of manufacturing in Massachusetts, USA.
Vanson Leathers has consistently innovated and evolved its product line to meet and exceed the expectations of motorcycle riders worldwide.
Vanson Leathers is located at 951 Broadway, Fall River, MA 02724
Four Live Network Telecasts on NBC Highlight Broadcast Schedule for 2024 Pro Motocross Championship
Pair of Encore Presentations on USA Network Combine for Six Network Showcases; Peacock Continues as Centerpiece of SuperMotocross Coverage
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (May 24, 2024) – The 2024 Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, kicked off its 53rd season on Thursday with a press conference ahead of Saturday’s opening round at the Honda Fox Raceway National Presented by Fox Racing. Pro Motocross serves as the midway point of the SuperMotocross World Championship Series (SMX), beginning the summer portion of the regular season with Round 18. Southern California’s Pala Casino provided the setting for the industry gathering, after which the adjacent Fox Raceway saw all entered racers take to track for the first time.
A focal point of the press conference was the dynamic broadcast package that encompasses the SMX Series. Another successful season of Monster Energy AMA Supercross saw impressive growth across all areas, including a 30-percent increase in live minutes watched on Peacock, the centerpiece of SMX broadcasts that will carry wall-to-wall live coverage of all 11 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship. Additionally, network showcases of Supercross on NBC and USA Network, along with re-airs on CNBC, saw 24-percent growth in audience reach. Additionally, SuperMotocross Video Pass continued to drive a broader reach for the sport’s international audience, which included the introduction of a dedicated Spanish-language broadcast that contributed to more than 130 different countries being represented. To top it all off, a new partnership with Telemundo brought the Spanish-language broadcast to the domestic SMX audience in the U.S. for the first time, with three simulcasts on Telemundo Deportes’ YouTube channel and the Telemundo page on the NBC mobile app–the recent Supercross finale from Salt Lake City, the upcoming Pro Motocross finale from Indiana’s Ironman Raceway on August 24, and the SuperMotocross World Championship Final in Las Vegas on September 21.
The Pro Motocross Championship will carry the momentum into the summer with an action-packed broadcast schedule highlighted by four live network showcases on NBC–Round 3 from Colorado’s Thunder Valley Motocross Park on June 8, Round 6 from Michigan’s RedBud MX on July 6, Round 7 from Minnesota’s Spring Creek MX Park on July 13, and Round 8 from Washington’s Washougal MX Park on July 20. Additionally, USA Network will feature a pair of Sunday encore presentations, with Round 4 from Pennsylvania’s High Point Raceway, which will air on June 16, and Round 10 from Southern Maryland’s Budds Creek Motocross Park, which will air on August 17.
The entirety of the 2024 season will unfold live on Peacock, with uninterrupted streaming coverage of every moto across the 450 Class and 250 Class. Each Saturday on the championship calendar will begin with Race Day Live Presented by MotoSport.com, available exclusively on Peacock, with live coverage of the final timed qualifying sessions of the “A” groups from each division. Once the racing is complete, Peacock’s exclusive post-race show will bring viewers the latest from the paddock after the checkered flag has waved and the champagne has been sprayed.
All 11 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship will also re-air via tape delay on CNBC every Sunday night for viewers in the Pacific Time Zone at 11 p.m. PT and Monday morning for viewers in the Eastern Time Zone at 2 a.m. ET.
For international viewers, the SuperMotocross Video Pass will continue to provide fans around the world with the same award-winning production found domestically, with live streaming of every moto, from every round of the season. Viewers from more than 130 different countries have subscribed to Video Pass, which has seen even more growth this year with the introduction of the aforementioned Spanish-language broadcast hosted by veteran announcer Edgar Lopez and former racer Tommy Rios. With a continued influx of international talent contesting the Pro Motocross Championship, this reach is expected to expand even further. For a limited time, new subscribers can sign up for SuperMotocross Video Pass with a 50% discount.
For any fans unable to watch the action on television or a mobile device this summer, SiriusXM satellite radio will provide an audio simulcast of the broadcast of each round via NBC Sports Audio Channel 85.
The talented broadcast team bringing the action of the Pro Motocross Championship to viewers all summer long will consist of host and play-by-play commentator Jason Weigandt, the longtime voice of American motocross, and the analyst duo of AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers Ricky Carmichael and James Stewart in the booth. On the track, pit reporters Jason Thomas and Will Christien will bring the latest breaking news and perspective from the paddock and will be joined at select rounds by veteran reporter Katie Osborne.
Each week in between races, fans can stay connected to the season through SMX Insider, the weekly news magazine hosted by Jason Weigandt and Jason Thomas, airing each Thursday on the SuperMotocross YouTube channel. Additionally, the Title24 podcast with Ricky Carmichael and fellow AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Ryan Villopoto, will bring an insider’s perspective from two of the sport’s most decorated champions each week and can be seen on Peacock and the Motorsports on NBC YouTube channel.
The 2024 Pro Motocross Championship will get underway from the motocross epicenter of Southern California tomorrow, Saturday, May 25, with the Fox Raceway National. Broadcast coverage will air exclusively on Peacock, beginning with Race Day Live at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. Coverage of all four motos of the 250 Class and 450 Class will air at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET, followed by the post-race show at the conclusion of the afternoon.
Just hours after announcing he will retire at the end of the season, Aleix Espargaro led MotoGP Practice One with a new All-Time Lap Record at Circuito de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain.
Riding his factory Aprilia RS-GP, the Spaniard lapped his 2.9-mile (4.7 km) home track in 1:38.562, eclipsing Francesco Bagnaia’s 2023 mark of 1:38.639.
Brad Binder was second-quickest with a 1:38.634 in spite of crashing his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing RC 16 twice in the session.
Rookie sensation Pedro Acosta was third with a time of 1:38.665 on his Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 machine.
Espargaro smashes lap record ahead of Binder and Acosta as Marc Marquez faces Q1
It’s an Aprilia-KTM-GASGAS party on Friday at the top, setting the scene for an interesting Saturday in Barcelona
Aleix Espargaro (41). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Friday, 24 May 2024
Practice at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya definitely didn’t disappoint, setting us up for an interesting super Saturday. First, 2023 Barcelona winner Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) was back on top and with a new lap record. Second, it’s two RC16s on the chase as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) ended the session second and third, respectively. Third, Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) will once again have to head through Q1… although it didn’t stop him in France.
It was a Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1-2 for the majority of the session, but it wouldn’t stay like that by the end of play. Espargaro’s new lap record but paid to that, although Binder got close with one last bid for it. On his last flying lap, the South African got within 0.072 of the top to complete a recovery in style, having crashed once early on at Turn 2 and then again at the very same Turn 2 later in the session.
Brad Binder (33) and Jack Miller (43). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Down in fourth it’s reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) as he looks for his first GP podium in Barcelona, and on Friday he was the fastest of the Championship top three. The Italian set 23 laps across the session but had some drama after the flag came out, forced to push his bike back to the pitlane. Still, the #1 was able to end the day ahead of the second Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine of Jack Miller, who nevertheless completes the top five.
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) and managed to get the better of teammate Franco Morbidelli, who had a solid day and made it both Prima Pramac Racing machines inside the top 10, split by just 0.038. Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) ends Friday in eighth after spending most of the session outside the top 15 positions but finding time in the closing minutes.
Pedro Acosta (31). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) heads through to Q2 from P9 on Friday, his second visit this season so far and on the way to his 200th Grand Prix start. Teammate Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), meanwhile, crashed at Turn 5 early on – rider ok but ending the session in 14th. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) rounded out the top 10.
There was plenty of drama, with a number of crashes at the end of the session playing some havoc with yellow flags too. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) crashed earlier at Turn 5, but things soon got worse for the Italian then crashed for a second time at Turn 9 in the last 10 minutes of the session. Di Giannantonio ended the hour-long session in 17th ahead of Red Bull GASGAS Tech3’s Augusto Fernandez who also had a crash late in the session at turn four.
Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) also couldn’t improve after suffering a crash in the final five minutes, and with all that drama there was no space for many others to move forward either amongst the yellow flags. That included for his teammate Marc Marquez. The number #93 faces Q1 for the second time in two weeks, although in France it didn’t make too much difference… and he didn’t even make it through! Will he this time? Tune in on super Saturday to find out!
FP2: 10:10 (UTC +2)
Q1: 10:50
Q2: 11.15
Tissot Sprint: 15:00
Jorge Navarro (9). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Navarro heads Roberts, Muñoz third as full-timers get deposed on Friday
Friday in Moto2™ ended in some wildcard glory at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, with Jorge Navarro (KLINT Forward Factory Team) taking to the top and with a new lap record. Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing) was second quickest, with replacement rider Daniel Muñoz (Pertamina Mandalika GAS UP Team) taking third fresh from doing the double at the venue in the Moto2™ European Championship last weekend, where Navarro also stood on the podium.
After finishing fastest in Free Practice, Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) was fourth at the end of the day, setting a 1:43.076. Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors SpeedUp) rounded out the top five in Moto2™ but was unable to improve on his time late in the session, instead forced into a save. Aiming to take his second Moto2™ victory will be Aron Canet (Fantic Racing), who was sixth – ending the day ahead of Elf Marc VDS Racing Team’s Filip Salač. The #12 was ahead of Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) who showed consistent pace throughout the session despite a crash in the morning.
Check out the full results below and come back for more at 9:25 local time (UTC+2) for Practice 2 before qualifying at 13:45 local time.
David Alonso (80). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Alonso heads Rueda and Holgado as the top five in the standings stake their claim on Catalunya
CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team’s David Alonso ends Friday at the top of the standings at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, fastest in the morning and afternoon. The #80 put in an impressive 12 lap run at the start of P1 and then stamped some authority back on the session on his final exit. He ends the day 0.158s clear of Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo), with Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) fnding a heap of time on Friday afternoon to end P1 in third.
It was a thrilling end to Friday with riders treating it like qualifying, as Holgado, Rueda, and then Alonso all switched the top spot between them with the pace beginning to heat up. However, Nicola Carraro (LEVELUP – MTA) crashed on his final lap, bringing out the yellow flag and taking away any chance for the #10 to improve. Another rider who had a bad end to Friday was Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), who ended Friday at the bottom of the standings after suffering from a technical issue – unable to set a time.
Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) continued to impress, showing consistent pace to end the day a mere 0.255s adrift from the top spot. Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) rounded out the top five, with the #48 putting in fast laps in the early stages of the session. Moto3™ head back out in the morning for P2 before qualifying at 12:50 (UTC +2).
A piece of art on two wheels presented at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.
München/Cernobbio – May 24, 2024… In front of the picturesque background of Villa d’Este at Lake Como, BMW Motorrad unveils its latest design masterpiece: the BMW R20 concept. This motorcycle celebrates the highest craftsmanship and presents itself as the epitome of expressive and cool design, refined down to the last detail.
As part of the renowned Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, famous for its elegance and historical significance for extraordinary vehicles, BMW Motorrad showcases the legendary air-oil cooled Big Boxer engine as a central sculptural element.
Markus Flasch, Head of BMW Motorrad describes the concept as follows: “The BMW R20 concept is a mechanical masterpiece. The Big Boxer is its center. Distinctly BMW Motorrad.”
The Boxer engine in the R20 displaces 2,000cc. Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad.
Authentic, high class, cool
The BMW R20 concept is a motorcycle that impresses with a powerful appearance in a casual gentleman style, while fulfilling typical attributes of BMW Motorrad: classic design and excellent engineering combined with thrilling mechanics.
Centered around the Big Boxer engine as the epicenter of great riding pleasure, the expressive tank presents itself like a sculpture, the rear is reduced to the essentials to emphasize the clean lines and the power of the motorcycle.
The chassis has been completely redeveloped and, with a black double-loop main frame made of chrome-molybdenum steel tubes, forms the backbone. With the black disc wheel at 17×6.25 inches at the rear, on which a tire of the dimension 200/55 is mounted, and a 17″ spoke wheel with black spokes and the tire dimension 120/70 at the front, the BMW R20 concept combines tradition and modernity. The proven BMW Paralever has been executed in a new two-arm variant, in which the swingarm is made of chrome-molybdenum steel and the Paralever strut is made of aluminum. The kinematics are designed so that the drive torque is completely balanced. The two milled aluminum rear axle carriers are another high-quality detail. The exposed driveshaft, conceptually adopted from the R18 – the visual highlight of the well-known R 18 models – has been shortened for integration into the roadster architecture. As suspension elements, fully adjustable Öhlins Blackline components work at the front and rear. The basic vehicle geometry has a steering head angle of 62.5°, as well as a wheelbase of 1,550 mm. Radially mounted brake calipers from ISR at the front and rear take care of the deceleration – with six pistons at the front and four pistons per brake caliper at the rear. Additionally, the 2-in-2 exhaust system delivers the appropriate sound character and perfectly completes the design.
As a Big Boxer Roadster, the BMW R20 concept sets new standards in the world of motorcycles and confirms BMW Motorrad’s commitment to the finest engineering and the pure passion for motorcycling.
The BMW R20 features a shortened and exposed rear drive shaft. Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad.
Living Big Boxer Culture
The centerpiece of the BMW R20 concept continues to be the air-oil-cooled Big Boxer engine, now with a displacement of 2,000 cc. For the concept bike, new cylinder head covers, a new belt cover and a new oil cooler were developed, in order to be able to mount the oil pipes partially hidden.
A special highlight is the side view: The eye follows the path of the air as it flows through the open intake funnels into the throttle bodies and cylinders, before escaping through the open exhaust system and the tailpipes in megaphone design, creating the typical Big Boxer sound.
Bold in Style
The aluminum tank got a new design and presents itself in the progressive color “hotter than pink” from the 1970´s. The BMW R20 concept is color-coordinated with the cylinder head covers, belt cover and air intake funnels made of polished and anodized aluminum, as well as the Paralever strut, footrest system and the ISR brake calipers in gunmetal.
The taillight has been perfectly integrated into the single seat, which is upholstered with quilted black Alcantara and fine-grain leather, and emphasizes the dynamic roadster appearance with its compact rear. The modern LED headlight is presented in form of a 3D-printed aluminum ring with integrated daytime running light. The main headlight appears to float optically in the middle of this daytime running light ring.
Each of these details contributes to the unique character of the concept bike and underscores its overall statement:
The BMW R20 concept takes the Big Boxer Culture to a new level.
“The R20 concept is a bold interpretation of the BMW Motorrad DNA,” says Alexander Buckan, Head of Design BMW Motorrad. “It combines modern technical elements with a classic roadster design. Its oversized proportions and minimalistic aesthetic make it an unmistakable character.”
Sergio Garcia took pole position during Moto2 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his MT Helmets – MSI Boscoscuro on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard covered the 2.9-mile (4.7 km) track in 1:41.894, earning pole position and breaking the All-Time Lap Record of 1:41.917 he set Saturday morning.
Fermin Aldeguer was the best of the rest with a 1:42.134 on his MB Conveyors SpeedUp Boscoscuro, and Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Celestino Vietti claimed the third and final spot on the front with a time of 1:42.182 on his Kalex.
After running near the top all day Friday and again on Saturday morning, American Joe Roberts slipped to ninth in qualifying with a 1:42.364 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
The top 17 qualifiers were covered by less than one second.
Ivan Ortola grabbed pole position during FIM Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his MT Helmets – MSI KTM, the Spaniard lapped the 2.9-mile (4.7 km) course in 1:46.749 to top the field of 27 riders.
Espargaro takes fairytale pole to head Bagnaia and Raul Fernandez as Marc Marquez misses the cut
A second pole of the season for Aprilia, a maiden front row for Trackhouse, no ticket to Q2 for #MM93 and a tumble for Martin: the storylines overflow in qualifying
Saturday, 25 May 2024
The fairytale continues for Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing)! After announcing he’ll bow out at the end of the season, he went fastest on Friday and followed it up with pole position at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya. Reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) is second on the grid by just 0.031s, with a P3 for Raul Fernandez confirmed just after the session after his best lap was reinstated to give both the #25 and Trackhouse Racing their maiden front row.
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had celebrated that third in parc ferme before a review showed Raul Fernandez had gone through green panels, not yellow flags, on his best lap, but the KTM rider nevertheless starts fourth and a full 18 places ahead of Le Mans as he bounced back from that in style.
Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), meanwhile, will face a similar mountain to climb as he did in France, starting P14 after failing to make it through Q1.
Q1: LAST MINUTE LAP RECORD
It was another packed Q1 and another appearance for eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), and it wasn’t smooth sailing this time round either. In France it was Miguel Oliveira who knocked him out of contention and this time round, Oliveira’s Trackhouse Racing teammate Raul Fernandez was one of those who did the same.
The #25 was fastest in the session as both Marc Marquez and teammate Alex Marquez looked for a way through, but a last dash for glory from Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) saw the Italian not only depose Raul Fernandez from the top of Q1 but break the lap record, to much delight in the team’s box.
Diggia and Raul Fernandez moved through, leaving Alex Marquez P13 on the grid and Marc Marquez P14 – just ahead of a tougher session for Oliveira in P15 and Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) in 16th.
Q2: DRAMA, LAP RECORD, DRAMA
Once a packed Q2 got underway it was Bagnaia who flew to the top of the timesheets after the first run, setting a 1:38.221 – a strong target for the rest.
In the closing minutes of the session, riders pushed to the limit as ever, and a key mover was Binder as the South African found time to jump to second. But it all went wrong for Prima Pramac Racing late on, with both Martin and teammate Franco Morbidelli crashing at Turn 2 seconds apart. What looked at first like it could be friendly fire was instead two separate incidents at least, and riders both ok.
What was drama for them also proved some drama on the timing screens as the incident brought out the yellow flags, cancelling lap times. One of those was initially Raul Fernandez’ best effort, but after investigation the #25 passes what is a green panel just before it switches to yellow. So that lap was reinstated, putting him P3.
Amongst all that early and late drama, Espargaro was faultless to thread the needle, able to storm up to pole position on his final flying lap.
THE GRID
Behind Espargaro, Bagnaia, Raul Fernandez and Binder comes rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) in fifth, with Diggia in P6. The Italian’s best in Q2 didn’t quite reach the heights of his Q1 effort, which would have put him second on the grid.
P7 goes to Championship leader Martin after that bout of drama, and he has Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) alongside him as the #42 put in an impressive Q2. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) is next up, ahead of Morbidelli and Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team). Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) lines up P12 looking for a lot more this weekend to match the #41, with Top Gun not yet finding that form from Texas on home turf.
After another incredible qualifying, some shake ups on the grids set us up for fireworks as key contenders line up up and down the order. Make sure to tune in for Tissot Sprint at 15:00 today, before the Grand Prix at 14:00 tomorrow. See you there!
Remy Gardner (87), as seen during a recent WorldSBK test. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Gardner fastest on Friday ahead of Locatelli as Cremona test concludes
Australian star Remy Gardner led the Day 2 times, on a red-flagged Friday at Cremona with Locatelli and Rinaldi also impressing
Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was the fastest man on a Friday test which saw several red flags at Cremona. The Australian rocketed to the top of the combined times in the afternoon session, ultimately proving to be only one of two riders to break into the 1’28s, alongside fellow Yamaha rider Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha). Ducati riders Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing), Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and rider Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) made up the rest of the top five.
YAMAHA SHOW SPEED AT CREMONA: Gardner P1, Locatelli P2; Rea continues to adapt
Yamaha enjoyed a very successful Friday at Cremona, with three of their four riders occupying spots in the top eight. Gardner was a lowly 15th place in the morning test session but rebounded back in a big way to clock a time of 1’28.860s, claiming top spot. His teammate, Dominique Aegerter, rounded out the top eight with a strong time of 1’29.506s.
On the other side of the Japanese manufacturer, Locatelli enjoyed a very consistent Friday. In the morning session, Locatelli secured sixth place with a time of 1’30.076s. He ended the afternoon session on Friday with a vastly improved time of 1’28.919s, enough to secure second place behind Gardner. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) suffered a technical issue in the morning session which forced him off track but managed to secure seventh place. In the afternoon session, Rea continued his search for consistency in the afternoon, ultimately managing a best time of 1’30.027s.
DUCATI SETS THE PACE: Rinaldi fastest for Bologna bullets, Bulega and Bautista not far behind
Rinaldi had been one of the top performers throughout the entirety of the past two days at Cremona. Friday saw the #21 finish fourth overall in the morning session, setting a time of 1’29.663s. He then smashed his own time in the afternoon session, clocking a time of 1’29.047s to claim third overall. Elsewhere within the Bologna manufacturer, Lowes set the pace during Friday morning, topping out the session (after 63 laps) of 1’29.137s. Lowes did not reappear for the afternoon session of testing, with the Marc VDS Ducati squad opting to leave with what they have already. Like the other Ducati members, the priority of the Lowes camp was track familiarity and track time as opposed to testing of new parts.
Ducati continues to enjoy testing success at Cremona, with Aruba.it Racing – Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega and Alvaro Bautista being consistently strong on Friday, their only day of testing at Cremona. Both Bulega and Bautista set very impressive times, coming in at 1’29.501s and 1’29.518s. Throughout the two-day test, the emphasis has been centered around both riders getting to grips with the track, as well as having as much track time as possible.
REDDING AND GERLOFF EVENLY MATCHED: lots of data for BMW at Cremona
Bonovo Action BMW’s Scott Redding and Garrett Gerloff have been BMW’s sole riders at Cremona, given the absence of ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team’s Toprak Razgatlioglu and Michael van der Mark. Both Redding and Gerloff have been very similar in terms of pace, with the riders clocking in times of 1’30.389s and 1’30.459s respectively in the morning. In the afternoon, both Redding and Gerloff improved on their times, clocking 1’29.215s and 1’29.325s respectively. Redding suffered a mechanical issue early in Friday’s session, with Redding potentially testing a couple of items today but focusing on the setup of his M 1000 RR.
RABAT IMPRESSES AT CREMONA: busiest rider, consistently towards the top
Kawasaki Puccetti Racing’s Tito Rabat has been one of the standout performers during the Cremona test, repeatedly coming in towards the top of the timesheets during testing. Rabat clocked a time of 1’29.663s on Friday morning, enough for a top five place. He has also been one of the most active riders on track, completing 121 laps on Day 1, whilst completing 112 on Day 2; a total of 233 laps across both days. Rabat ended the day with an improved time of 1’29.543s. Rabat and Puccetti Kawasaki were working on new configurations and setup from the Japanese manufacturer, and they were the only Kawasaki representatives on track.
HONDA LOOK FOR GAINS: Lecuona and Vierge make subtle improvements
Honda entered Friday’s Cremona test seeking to test different swingarms, as well as to gain familiarity with the track. In the morning session, Iker Lecouna (Team HRC) clocked a time of 1’30.229s, enough for eighth place. In the afternoon session, his time improved to 1’29.787s. It was a similar story for teammate Xavi Vierge, who clocked a time of 1’30.293s in the morning but managed to improve his time in the afternoon to 1’30.135s.
On the other side of the Honda setup, PETRONAS MIE Racing’s Tarran Mackenzie and Adam Norrodin had a good day. Mackenzie enjoyed a strong start in the morning session, clocking a time of 1’30.646s, but he could not improve that time in the afternoon, recording a best time of 1’31.165s. Norrodin, on the other hand, managed the opposite, improving from a 1’32.846s in the morning to a time of 1’31.591s in the afternoon.
HUERTAS LEADS WORLDSSP FIELD AT CREMONA
For the second day in a row, Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) was the fastest of the WorldSSP riders on display during the Cremona test. The Aruba.it rider showed some good pace over the course of Friday’s test. Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) claimed second with Khairul Idham Bin Pawi (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) in third. His teammate, Kaito Toba, was fourth with Ivan Goi (QJMOTOR Factory Racing) rounding out the field WorldSSP field.
The top six from Friday at Cremona, find the full results from Friday’s test at Cremona here:
A 2025-model Honda CRF250RWE. Photo courtesy American Honda.
Honda Announces 2025 Lineup of CRF Dirt Bikes
May 24, 2024 — PALA, Calif.
CRF450R, RWE, RX feature optimized chassis rigidity, smooth power delivery
All-new CRF250RWE includes premium components, like the CRF450RWE
Popular CRF250F, 125F, 110F and 50F trail bikes all return for 2025
Two weeks after Jett Lawrence’s securing of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship, and the day before he kicks off his defense of the 2023 AMA Pro Motocross Championship at Southern California’s Fox Raceway, American Honda announced its entire line of 2025 CRF Performance and CRF Trail dirt bikes.
Honda’s legendary CRF450R and CRF250R motocrossers have received extensive updates for 2025, based in part on development input from Team Honda HRC riders Jett and Hunter Lawrence. Revisions to these models’ chasses result in optimized rigidity for a comfortable ride while maintaining precise handling, and engine updates result in strong but controllable power. These same updates are carried over to the closed-course off-road-focused CRF450RX and CRF250RX, as well as the premium-level CRF450RWE. And new for 2025, Honda is offering a 250 in the premium trim option—the CRF250RWE, based on the factory machines of Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas.
“At Honda, the R&D processes of our production machines and our factory race bikes are closely intertwined,” said Colin Miller, Assistant Manager of Public Relations at American Honda. “Over the past year and a half, Team Honda HRC has dominated in AMA Supercross and AMA Pro Motocross, and the progress in that realm has both benefited from and contributed to the development of our production CRF Performance motocrossers. For 2025, the CRF450R, CRF450RWE, CRF250R and all-new CRF250RWE are more capable than ever, and those advances also carry over to the CRF450RX and CRF250RX closed-course off-roaders. As we celebrate Jett Lawrence’s AMA Supercross crown, and on the eve of his AMA Pro Motocross title defense, we’re happy to unveil our 2025 dirt-bike lineup with our fans and customers. With the updates made to these models, and the important contributions of our race team, Honda’s off-road success promises to continue.”
Other models included in the announcement are the off-road-ready CRF450X (the winningest model in Baja 1000 history) and the CRF450RL dual-sport bike, as well as the CRF150R motocrosser. Also returning for 2025 is the entire CRF Trail family, including the CRF250F, CRF125F, CRF110F and CRF50F—a lineup that has welcomed legions of new riders to the world of dirt-bike riding.
The 2025 CRF motocross models will be displayed in Honda’s vendor booth during tomorrow’s Honda Fox Raceway National Motocross round in Southern California.
A 2025-model Honda CRF450R. Photo courtesy American Honda.
CRF450R
Motocross continues to evolve with new techniques and riding styles that enable riders to push the sport to new heights. Matching that evolution, the 2025 CRF450R makes important strides in handling characteristics, power delivery and suspension performance that allow riders to perform at their best, even when the track is at its worst. Several years in the making, this new model integrates input from factory HRC riders like Jett and Hunter Lawrence and five-time MXGP world champion Tim Gajser, as well as professional test riders. Many of its features have been developed and used in competition, during Jett Lawrence’s perfect 2023 Pro Motocross season, his 2023 450 SuperMotocross championship, and his 2024 450 Supercross title. But this bike isn’t just for the pros; Honda’s engineers also considered feedback from customers and leading motocross media to deliver the most comprehensive package of performance and rideability to date.
Color: Red
MSRP: $9,699
Available: August
A 2025-model Honda CRF450RWE. Photo courtesy American Honda.
CRF450RWE
A purpose-built race weapon, the 2025 CRF450RWE is for riders seeking the ultimate motocross machine. Inspired by the factory Honda HRC machines of Jett and Hunter Lawrence, this special version (the “WE” stands for Works Edition) features a long list of component upgrades that are championship-proven in the AMA Supercross, AMA Pro Motocross and SuperMotocross series. In addition to the top-shelf componentry, the RWE also benefits from the chassis, suspension and engine advancements of the 2025 CRF450R platform, further improving its ride quality, handling and power delivery. From the top step of the podium, straight to the showroom floor, the CRF450RWE is a testament to Honda’s continued race-driven innovation.
Color: Red
MSRP: $12,599
Available: November
A 2025-model Honda CRF450RX Photo courtesy American Honda.
CRF450RX
From NGPC to WORCS and GNCC, closed-course off-road racing requires a high level of versatility from both rider and machine. The CRF450RX is designed and developed to deliver just that, with motocross-inspired engine and chassis performance and off-road-focused features like dedicated ECU and suspension settings, an 18-inch rear wheel, an aluminum side stand, a large 2.1-gallon fuel tank and hand guards. For 2025, the CRF450RX benefits from the same chassis, engine and suspension updates as its motocross relative, the CRF450R. These advancements enhance handling characteristics, with greater stability and comfort—especially in rough terrain. The CRF450RX’s race-winning pedigree and legendary reliability are continuously proven in the toughest conditions by teams like SLR Honda, Phoenix Racing Honda and JCR Honda.
Color: Red
MSRP: $9,999
Available: August
A 2025-model Honda CRF250R Photo courtesy American Honda.
CRF250R
After winning the 2023 AMA Pro Motocross 250 Championship and both regions of the AMA Supercross 250 Championship at the hands of Jett and Hunter Lawrence, the CRF250R is not resting on its laurels for the 2025 model year. Constant refinement is required to compete at the highest level, as riders and tracks continue to demand more from the machines. For 2025, the CRF250R takes another step forward in its evolution, with advancements to its chassis, suspension and engine. The combination of improved stability, greater comfort and refined power characteristics translates to faster laps and a confidence-inspiring ride. From young, aspiring racers, all the way to those in the professional ranks, the CRF250R performs at every level.
Color: Red
MSRP: $8,299
Available: July
A 2025-model Honda CRF250RWE Photo courtesy American Honda.
CRF250RWE
An all-new model for the 2025 model year, the CRF250RWE brings the premium componentry used by Team Honda HRC to the quarter-liter category for the first time. Inspired by the factory race bikes of Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas, this special edition offers high-level performance right out of the box, with a wide range of race-proven upgrades. Plus, with the platform-wide chassis, suspension and engine updates for the 2025 model year, the CRF250RWE represents Honda’s most advanced 250cc motocross bike to date.
Color: Red
MSRP: $10,599
Available: September
A 2025-model Honda CRF250RX Photo courtesy American Honda.
CRF250RX
From the high-speed tracks of the WORCS and NGPC series to tight, wooded GNCC and enduro courses, the CRF250RX is designed to thrive in closed-course off-road competition. A close relative of the motocross-focused CRF250R, the RX benefits from off-road-specific features and settings that maximize versatility and performance across a wide range of terrain. For the 2025 model year, it receives the same chassis, suspension and engine updates as its motocross counterpart, achieving greater stability, comfort and power delivery. Trusted by teams like Phoenix Racing Honda and SLR Honda, the CRF250RX continues to be a potent podium contender at off-road races across the country, having earned the 2023 NGPC Pro II title at the hands of Kade Tinkler-Walker.
Color: Red
MSRP: $8,699
Available: August
A 2025-model Honda CRF450X Photo courtesy American Honda.
CRF450X
Known both for being bulletproof and for performing at a high level, Honda’s CRF450X—developed with extensive input from off-road legend Johnny Campbell—is the winningest motorcycle ever in the Baja 1000, with an incredible 16 victories in the grueling off-road event. As if that weren’t enough, the iconic model is also an excellent trail machine, thanks in part to its 50-state year-round off-road-legal status, plus off-road-appropriate features like a side stand, 18-inch rear wheel, headlight, sealed chain and six-speed transmission. It’s an impressive combination of attributes, confirming the unmatched versatility of the CRF450X.
Color: Red
MSRP: $8,699
Available: June
CRF450RL
Distilled to its fundamental elements, dual-sport riding comprises linking together trails via sections of road. Enter the CRF450RL, which performs admirably both in the dirt and on the tarmac. Based on the legendary CRF450 Performance off-road platform (including a 449cc Unicam® engine, twin-spar aluminum frame and premium, long-travel suspension), but with street-legal features like a quiet muffler, a vibration-damping urethane-injected swingarm and a wide-ratio six-speed transmission, this is the quintessential on/off-road machine. Throw in Honda’s legendary durability, and there’s little wonder that the CRF450RL has made a name for itself in the dual-sport world.
Color: Red
MSRP: $10,099
Available: August
A 2025-model Honda CRF150R Photo courtesy American Honda.
CRF150R
The smallest machine in Honda’s CRF Performance lineup, the CRF150R is nonetheless big on performance, making it an effective entry point for young, aspiring motocrossers. It boasts many of the same features found on Honda’s full-size motocross bikes, including Showa® suspension (an inverted fork and a single shock mated to a Pro-Link® rear system), and a Unicam® four-stroke engine that is unique in the mini MX world, delivering a strong but smooth spread of power across the rev range. This scaled-down motocrosser is available in both standard and Big Wheel versions—the latter being a great choice for taller riders, thanks to its larger wheels, higher seat and additional rear-suspension travel.
Color: Red
MSRP
CRF150R: $5,399
CRF150R Big Wheel: $5,599
Available: August
A 2025-model Honda CRF250F Photo courtesy American Honda.
CRF250F
With sharp styling that’s inspired by the industry-leading CRF Performance line, but in a friendly, trail-focused package that’s year-round off-road-legal in all 50 states, the CRF250F has reliable performances that is suitable for a wide variety of riders—from first-timers exploring the world of off-road recreation to experienced enthusiasts navigating technical trails. The CRF250F boasts smooth power across a wide powerband, thanks in part to its clean-running, electronically controlled fuel injection, and the Showa suspension maintains a comfortable, controlled ride across varied terrain.
Color: Red
MSRP: $4,999
Available: August
CRF125F
As a kind of midpoint in Honda’s CRF Trail lineup, the CRF125F is incredibly versatile—a confidence-inspiring, reliable, long-running machine that’s well-suited to young off-roaders, first-time trail riders, and even some more experienced enthusiasts, making for enjoyable outings with friends and family. Available in both standard and Big Wheel configurations, the CRF125F is also 50-state off-road legal, providing access to trails across the country.
Color: Red
MSRP
CRF125F: $3,499
CRF125F Big Wheel: $3,899
Available: July
A 2025-model Honda CRF110F Photo courtesy American Honda.
CRF110F
How popular is the CRF110F? Simply put, it’s the powersports industry’s top-selling dirt bike, a model that has welcomed legions of new riders to the world of motorcycling. The reasons are clear when the features and benefits are considered: The CRF110F is approachable, reliable and performs well, with an automatic clutch, a low seat height and push-button electric start, allowing young riders to keep their focus on the trail. With clean-running fuel injection for low maintenance, and 50-state off-road-legal status, the CRF110F is dependable and versatile, and it’s available in both Red and White.
Color: Red
MSRP: $2,699
Available: August
CRF50F
Being a kid is the best, especially when there’s a CRF50F in the garage. Small in size, it’s the ideal first motorcycle for the next generation, delivering a smooth ride thanks to its single shock and an inverted fork; and controllable power thanks to its reliable 49cc air-cooled four-stroke engine. With the model’s automatic clutch and a low seat height, riders can focus on the basics, while parents and guardians can bank on its unparalleled dependability, plus the fact that it has year-round off-road-legal status in all 50 states. Add it all up, and there’s no wonder the CRF50F is the powersports industry’s best-selling 50-class trailbike.
Granado takes stunning 10th pole to edge out Casadei and Zaccone by just 0.032s
A dramatic qualifying sees Granado storm to pole ahead of reigning champ Casadei and Zaccone with Ferrari down the order after early crash
Friday, 24th May 2024
The FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship is back on track for Round 3 at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya with two more blockbuster instalments awaiting us tomorrow. Launching from his tenth pole position in the electric class will be Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) after taking the spoils by setting a sensational 1:48.215. But it certainly wasn’t a comfortable pole position, as both Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team) and Alessandro Zaccone (Tech3 E-Racing) set the exact same lap time just 0.032s behind Granado to line up second and third respectively.
For the first time in 2024, Nicholas Spinelli (Tech3 E-Racing) is not on the front row of the grid. The three-time winner this year – and sure championship contender – starts from fourth where he’ll have to watch out on his approach into Turn 1 so that rookie sensation Oscar Gutierrez (Axxis-MSI) and French GP polesitter Hector Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) don’t come flying down Spinelli’s inside from fifth and sixth. While Garzo won’t be overly pleased with sixth, there is at least a little more satisfaction in the #4’s side of the Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™ garage than there is on Lukas Tulovic’s side, as unfortunately after Tulovic progressed through from Q1, he was unable to set a flying lap in Q2 due to technical issues.
On the third row is where we find yet more heavy MotoE™ hitters. Two-time World Cup Winner Jordi Torres (Openbank Aspar Team) lines up seventh for the second time this season just ahead of teammate Kevin Zannoni (Openbank Aspar Team) who fortunately this time was indeed able to take part in Q2 after progressing through Q1. Alongside them is the luckless Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini Team) who, after finding something of his old form in Practice, crashed late on in Q2 denying him the chance of being able to improve his grid slot. Regardless, ninth is his first top 10 start so far this season.
Make sure you don’t miss both races tomorrow with lights out at 12:15 local time (UTC +2) for Race 1 before Race 2 gets underway at 16:10 local time. We’ll see you then for yet more fantastic MotoE™ racing.
Vanson Leathers headquarters, located behind the yellow door in this 19th-century mill. (Right) Mike and Kim van der Sleesen are the proprietors of Vanson Leathers, where riders can walk in and be involved in the design, specification, and fitment of top-quality racing gear.
Vanson Leathers announces 50 year Anniversary Celebration June 1-2, 2024
Fall River, MA: Vanson Leathers, America’s leading manufacturer of Leather motorcycle jackets and motorcycle riding apparel for men and women will celebrate 50 years in business on June 1-2 at their headquarters in Fall River, Massachusetts.
The events taking place in the retail showroom over the weekend on June 1-2 include complimentary grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, live music from local Rock-a-Billy band The Vegas Lords on Saturday and Original Rock by Calamity Brain on Sunday. Coffee is available from NO VACANCY coffee roasters of Newport, RI. The event also features factory tours, design and custom fitting assistance for leather garments and racing leathers, raffles, door prizes, product discounts, and a giant birthday cake!
Sunday, June 2 will also feature the first ever Vintage Wheels ride-in bike show judged by James Goodson, one of the original founding partners of Vanson Associates in 1974.
Bike categories are: Best British, Japanese, German/Austrian, Italian, Spanish, USA and People’s choice. All bikes must have been built in 1974 or [earlier] to enter.
Vanson Leathers is America’s largest manufacturer of leather motorcycle jackets, leather motorcycle apparel and custom leather racing suits. Celebrating 50 years of manufacturing in Massachusetts, USA.
Vanson Leathers has consistently innovated and evolved its product line to meet and exceed the expectations of motorcycle riders worldwide.
Vanson Leathers is located at 951 Broadway, Fall River, MA 02724
Hunter Lawrence (96). Photo courtesy MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.
Four Live Network Telecasts on NBC Highlight Broadcast Schedule for 2024 Pro Motocross Championship
Pair of Encore Presentations on USA Network Combine for Six Network Showcases; Peacock Continues as Centerpiece of SuperMotocross Coverage
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (May 24, 2024) – The 2024 Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, kicked off its 53rd season on Thursday with a press conference ahead of Saturday’s opening round at the Honda Fox Raceway National Presented by Fox Racing. Pro Motocross serves as the midway point of the SuperMotocross World Championship Series (SMX), beginning the summer portion of the regular season with Round 18. Southern California’s Pala Casino provided the setting for the industry gathering, after which the adjacent Fox Raceway saw all entered racers take to track for the first time.
A focal point of the press conference was the dynamic broadcast package that encompasses the SMX Series. Another successful season of Monster Energy AMA Supercross saw impressive growth across all areas, including a 30-percent increase in live minutes watched on Peacock, the centerpiece of SMX broadcasts that will carry wall-to-wall live coverage of all 11 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship. Additionally, network showcases of Supercross on NBC and USA Network, along with re-airs on CNBC, saw 24-percent growth in audience reach. Additionally, SuperMotocross Video Pass continued to drive a broader reach for the sport’s international audience, which included the introduction of a dedicated Spanish-language broadcast that contributed to more than 130 different countries being represented. To top it all off, a new partnership with Telemundo brought the Spanish-language broadcast to the domestic SMX audience in the U.S. for the first time, with three simulcasts on Telemundo Deportes’ YouTube channel and the Telemundo page on the NBC mobile app–the recent Supercross finale from Salt Lake City, the upcoming Pro Motocross finale from Indiana’s Ironman Raceway on August 24, and the SuperMotocross World Championship Final in Las Vegas on September 21.
The Pro Motocross Championship will carry the momentum into the summer with an action-packed broadcast schedule highlighted by four live network showcases on NBC–Round 3 from Colorado’s Thunder Valley Motocross Park on June 8, Round 6 from Michigan’s RedBud MX on July 6, Round 7 from Minnesota’s Spring Creek MX Park on July 13, and Round 8 from Washington’s Washougal MX Park on July 20. Additionally, USA Network will feature a pair of Sunday encore presentations, with Round 4 from Pennsylvania’s High Point Raceway, which will air on June 16, and Round 10 from Southern Maryland’s Budds Creek Motocross Park, which will air on August 17.
The entirety of the 2024 season will unfold live on Peacock, with uninterrupted streaming coverage of every moto across the 450 Class and 250 Class. Each Saturday on the championship calendar will begin with Race Day Live Presented by MotoSport.com, available exclusively on Peacock, with live coverage of the final timed qualifying sessions of the “A” groups from each division. Once the racing is complete, Peacock’s exclusive post-race show will bring viewers the latest from the paddock after the checkered flag has waved and the champagne has been sprayed.
All 11 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship will also re-air via tape delay on CNBC every Sunday night for viewers in the Pacific Time Zone at 11 p.m. PT and Monday morning for viewers in the Eastern Time Zone at 2 a.m. ET.
For international viewers, the SuperMotocross Video Pass will continue to provide fans around the world with the same award-winning production found domestically, with live streaming of every moto, from every round of the season. Viewers from more than 130 different countries have subscribed to Video Pass, which has seen even more growth this year with the introduction of the aforementioned Spanish-language broadcast hosted by veteran announcer Edgar Lopez and former racer Tommy Rios. With a continued influx of international talent contesting the Pro Motocross Championship, this reach is expected to expand even further. For a limited time, new subscribers can sign up for SuperMotocross Video Pass with a 50% discount.
For any fans unable to watch the action on television or a mobile device this summer, SiriusXM satellite radio will provide an audio simulcast of the broadcast of each round via NBC Sports Audio Channel 85.
The talented broadcast team bringing the action of the Pro Motocross Championship to viewers all summer long will consist of host and play-by-play commentator Jason Weigandt, the longtime voice of American motocross, and the analyst duo of AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers Ricky Carmichael and James Stewart in the booth. On the track, pit reporters Jason Thomas and Will Christien will bring the latest breaking news and perspective from the paddock and will be joined at select rounds by veteran reporter Katie Osborne.
Each week in between races, fans can stay connected to the season through SMX Insider, the weekly news magazine hosted by Jason Weigandt and Jason Thomas, airing each Thursday on the SuperMotocross YouTube channel. Additionally, the Title24 podcast with Ricky Carmichael and fellow AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Ryan Villopoto, will bring an insider’s perspective from two of the sport’s most decorated champions each week and can be seen on Peacock and the Motorsports on NBC YouTube channel.
The 2024 Pro Motocross Championship will get underway from the motocross epicenter of Southern California tomorrow, Saturday, May 25, with the Fox Raceway National. Broadcast coverage will air exclusively on Peacock, beginning with Race Day Live at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. Coverage of all four motos of the 250 Class and 450 Class will air at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET, followed by the post-race show at the conclusion of the afternoon.
Just hours after announcing he will retire at the end of the season, Aleix Espargaro led MotoGP Practice One with a new All-Time Lap Record at Circuito de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain.
Riding his factory Aprilia RS-GP, the Spaniard lapped his 2.9-mile (4.7 km) home track in 1:38.562, eclipsing Francesco Bagnaia’s 2023 mark of 1:38.639.
Brad Binder was second-quickest with a 1:38.634 in spite of crashing his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing RC 16 twice in the session.
Rookie sensation Pedro Acosta was third with a time of 1:38.665 on his Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 machine.
Espargaro smashes lap record ahead of Binder and Acosta as Marc Marquez faces Q1
It’s an Aprilia-KTM-GASGAS party on Friday at the top, setting the scene for an interesting Saturday in Barcelona
Aleix Espargaro (41). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Friday, 24 May 2024
Practice at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya definitely didn’t disappoint, setting us up for an interesting super Saturday. First, 2023 Barcelona winner Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) was back on top and with a new lap record. Second, it’s two RC16s on the chase as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) ended the session second and third, respectively. Third, Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) will once again have to head through Q1… although it didn’t stop him in France.
It was a Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 1-2 for the majority of the session, but it wouldn’t stay like that by the end of play. Espargaro’s new lap record but paid to that, although Binder got close with one last bid for it. On his last flying lap, the South African got within 0.072 of the top to complete a recovery in style, having crashed once early on at Turn 2 and then again at the very same Turn 2 later in the session.
Brad Binder (33) and Jack Miller (43). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Down in fourth it’s reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) as he looks for his first GP podium in Barcelona, and on Friday he was the fastest of the Championship top three. The Italian set 23 laps across the session but had some drama after the flag came out, forced to push his bike back to the pitlane. Still, the #1 was able to end the day ahead of the second Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine of Jack Miller, who nevertheless completes the top five.
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) and managed to get the better of teammate Franco Morbidelli, who had a solid day and made it both Prima Pramac Racing machines inside the top 10, split by just 0.038. Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) ends Friday in eighth after spending most of the session outside the top 15 positions but finding time in the closing minutes.
Pedro Acosta (31). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) heads through to Q2 from P9 on Friday, his second visit this season so far and on the way to his 200th Grand Prix start. Teammate Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), meanwhile, crashed at Turn 5 early on – rider ok but ending the session in 14th. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) rounded out the top 10.
There was plenty of drama, with a number of crashes at the end of the session playing some havoc with yellow flags too. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) crashed earlier at Turn 5, but things soon got worse for the Italian then crashed for a second time at Turn 9 in the last 10 minutes of the session. Di Giannantonio ended the hour-long session in 17th ahead of Red Bull GASGAS Tech3’s Augusto Fernandez who also had a crash late in the session at turn four.
Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) also couldn’t improve after suffering a crash in the final five minutes, and with all that drama there was no space for many others to move forward either amongst the yellow flags. That included for his teammate Marc Marquez. The number #93 faces Q1 for the second time in two weeks, although in France it didn’t make too much difference… and he didn’t even make it through! Will he this time? Tune in on super Saturday to find out!
FP2: 10:10 (UTC +2)
Q1: 10:50
Q2: 11.15
Tissot Sprint: 15:00
Jorge Navarro (9). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Navarro heads Roberts, Muñoz third as full-timers get deposed on Friday
Friday in Moto2™ ended in some wildcard glory at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, with Jorge Navarro (KLINT Forward Factory Team) taking to the top and with a new lap record. Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing) was second quickest, with replacement rider Daniel Muñoz (Pertamina Mandalika GAS UP Team) taking third fresh from doing the double at the venue in the Moto2™ European Championship last weekend, where Navarro also stood on the podium.
After finishing fastest in Free Practice, Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) was fourth at the end of the day, setting a 1:43.076. Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors SpeedUp) rounded out the top five in Moto2™ but was unable to improve on his time late in the session, instead forced into a save. Aiming to take his second Moto2™ victory will be Aron Canet (Fantic Racing), who was sixth – ending the day ahead of Elf Marc VDS Racing Team’s Filip Salač. The #12 was ahead of Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) who showed consistent pace throughout the session despite a crash in the morning.
Check out the full results below and come back for more at 9:25 local time (UTC+2) for Practice 2 before qualifying at 13:45 local time.
David Alonso (80). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Alonso heads Rueda and Holgado as the top five in the standings stake their claim on Catalunya
CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team’s David Alonso ends Friday at the top of the standings at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, fastest in the morning and afternoon. The #80 put in an impressive 12 lap run at the start of P1 and then stamped some authority back on the session on his final exit. He ends the day 0.158s clear of Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo), with Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) fnding a heap of time on Friday afternoon to end P1 in third.
It was a thrilling end to Friday with riders treating it like qualifying, as Holgado, Rueda, and then Alonso all switched the top spot between them with the pace beginning to heat up. However, Nicola Carraro (LEVELUP – MTA) crashed on his final lap, bringing out the yellow flag and taking away any chance for the #10 to improve. Another rider who had a bad end to Friday was Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), who ended Friday at the bottom of the standings after suffering from a technical issue – unable to set a time.
Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) continued to impress, showing consistent pace to end the day a mere 0.255s adrift from the top spot. Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) rounded out the top five, with the #48 putting in fast laps in the early stages of the session. Moto3™ head back out in the morning for P2 before qualifying at 12:50 (UTC +2).
BMW's R20 concept bike. Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad.
BMW Motorrad presents the BMW R20 concept.
A piece of art on two wheels presented at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.
München/Cernobbio – May 24, 2024… In front of the picturesque background of Villa d’Este at Lake Como, BMW Motorrad unveils its latest design masterpiece: the BMW R20 concept. This motorcycle celebrates the highest craftsmanship and presents itself as the epitome of expressive and cool design, refined down to the last detail.
As part of the renowned Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, famous for its elegance and historical significance for extraordinary vehicles, BMW Motorrad showcases the legendary air-oil cooled Big Boxer engine as a central sculptural element.
Markus Flasch, Head of BMW Motorrad describes the concept as follows: “The BMW R20 concept is a mechanical masterpiece. The Big Boxer is its center. Distinctly BMW Motorrad.”
The Boxer engine in the R20 displaces 2,000cc. Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad.
Authentic, high class, cool
The BMW R20 concept is a motorcycle that impresses with a powerful appearance in a casual gentleman style, while fulfilling typical attributes of BMW Motorrad: classic design and excellent engineering combined with thrilling mechanics.
Centered around the Big Boxer engine as the epicenter of great riding pleasure, the expressive tank presents itself like a sculpture, the rear is reduced to the essentials to emphasize the clean lines and the power of the motorcycle.
The chassis has been completely redeveloped and, with a black double-loop main frame made of chrome-molybdenum steel tubes, forms the backbone. With the black disc wheel at 17×6.25 inches at the rear, on which a tire of the dimension 200/55 is mounted, and a 17″ spoke wheel with black spokes and the tire dimension 120/70 at the front, the BMW R20 concept combines tradition and modernity. The proven BMW Paralever has been executed in a new two-arm variant, in which the swingarm is made of chrome-molybdenum steel and the Paralever strut is made of aluminum. The kinematics are designed so that the drive torque is completely balanced. The two milled aluminum rear axle carriers are another high-quality detail. The exposed driveshaft, conceptually adopted from the R18 – the visual highlight of the well-known R 18 models – has been shortened for integration into the roadster architecture. As suspension elements, fully adjustable Öhlins Blackline components work at the front and rear. The basic vehicle geometry has a steering head angle of 62.5°, as well as a wheelbase of 1,550 mm. Radially mounted brake calipers from ISR at the front and rear take care of the deceleration – with six pistons at the front and four pistons per brake caliper at the rear. Additionally, the 2-in-2 exhaust system delivers the appropriate sound character and perfectly completes the design.
As a Big Boxer Roadster, the BMW R20 concept sets new standards in the world of motorcycles and confirms BMW Motorrad’s commitment to the finest engineering and the pure passion for motorcycling.
The BMW R20 features a shortened and exposed rear drive shaft. Photo courtesy BMW Motorrad.
Living Big Boxer Culture
The centerpiece of the BMW R20 concept continues to be the air-oil-cooled Big Boxer engine, now with a displacement of 2,000 cc. For the concept bike, new cylinder head covers, a new belt cover and a new oil cooler were developed, in order to be able to mount the oil pipes partially hidden.
A special highlight is the side view: The eye follows the path of the air as it flows through the open intake funnels into the throttle bodies and cylinders, before escaping through the open exhaust system and the tailpipes in megaphone design, creating the typical Big Boxer sound.
Bold in Style
The aluminum tank got a new design and presents itself in the progressive color “hotter than pink” from the 1970´s. The BMW R20 concept is color-coordinated with the cylinder head covers, belt cover and air intake funnels made of polished and anodized aluminum, as well as the Paralever strut, footrest system and the ISR brake calipers in gunmetal.
The taillight has been perfectly integrated into the single seat, which is upholstered with quilted black Alcantara and fine-grain leather, and emphasizes the dynamic roadster appearance with its compact rear. The modern LED headlight is presented in form of a 3D-printed aluminum ring with integrated daytime running light. The main headlight appears to float optically in the middle of this daytime running light ring.
Each of these details contributes to the unique character of the concept bike and underscores its overall statement:
The BMW R20 concept takes the Big Boxer Culture to a new level.
“The R20 concept is a bold interpretation of the BMW Motorrad DNA,” says Alexander Buckan, Head of Design BMW Motorrad. “It combines modern technical elements with a classic roadster design. Its oversized proportions and minimalistic aesthetic make it an unmistakable character.”
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for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
