Staring sets the Friday Superbike pace at Queensland Raceway
Round three of the 2024 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) kicked off at Queensland Raceway today, with veteran Bryan Staring taking the early honours in the premier Alpinestars Superbike class.
The West Aussie is the lap record holder around Queensland Raceway, and he showed his affinity with the 3.126km circuit hadn’t waned after he completed practice at the top of the timesheets on the MotoGo Yamaha ahead of Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) and Josh Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati).
In superb conditions which will continue into the weekend, Archie McDonald (Stop & Seal Yamaha), Harrison Watts (Champion’s Ride Days Kawasaki) and Ethan Johnson (Yamaha YZF-R15) were the fastest in the other ASBK Championship classes at Queensland Raceway: Michelin Supersport, Race and Road Supersport 300 and the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup.
And the great part: today was just the appetiser ahead of what’s expected to be an exhilarating weekend of qualifying and racing at a circuit which never fails to deliver showstopping action.
Aussie Racing Cars are also in action this weekend, and off-track there’s the ASBK Trade Alley, autograph sessions with all the top riders, and a few lucky patrons will score the ride of their lives behind former Aussie Superbike champions Steve Martin and Troy Corser in the ASBK Pillion Program.
To purchase tickets for Queensland Raceway, click here. Tickets will also available at the gate over the weekend.
Staring was in the groove from the get-go this morning, so it was no surprise when the 2010 Alpinestars Superbike champion ended the day on top with a best lap of 1m07.508s – one of five riders to eclipse the current lap record.
Jones, battling a debilitating virus, looked like he might be able to challenge Staring but he was still more than impressive with a 1:07.609.
Waters (1:07.654), Max Stauffer (Penrite Racing Yamaha, 1:07.669) and last year’s double winner Troy Herfoss (DesmoSport Ducati, 1:07.781) were the others to dip below Staring’s circuit benchmark.
Glenn Allerton (GT Racing BMW, 1:07.885) also enjoyed a productive Friday, with the top 10 completed by Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati, 1:08.168), Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team, 1:08.399), Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha, 1:08.421) and Arthur Sissis (1:08.867) making his debut on the Stop & Seal-backed Yamaha.
The 20-rider Alpinestars Superbike field will reconvene for final practice tomorrow morning, and then qualifying begins at 2:20pm to decide the grid positions for Sunday two 16-lap races.
Michelin Supersport
McDonald put the hammer down in Michelin Supersport, showing no signs of fatigue after returning from round one European Stock 600 commitments in Italy last weekend.
The Albury teenager edged out his teammates Tom Toparis, Corey Turner and Jack Mahaffy in an intra-squad shootout, followed by Tom Bramich (Apex Group Yamaha) and Olly Simpson (Yamaha Australia).
Championship leader Jonathan Nahlous (Complete AV Yamaha) and Marcus Chiodo (Honda Australia) were next – but it’s all extremely tight, pointing to some exciting rolling scrums coming our way in Sunday’s two 14-lap races.
Race and Road Supersport 300
Race and Road Supersport 300 co-leader Watts is on a rapid trajectory of both speed and maturity, and he delivered another example today by leading from the front in practice.
Jordan Simpson (YRD Yamaha Australia), Ryan Larkin (Green Panet Nutrients Yamaha), Valentino Knezovic (Motocity Yamaha), Josh Newman (Wet4U Race Fairings Kawaski) and New Zealander Jesse Stroud (Connect Homes Yamaha) completed the top six.
Newman leads the standings with Watts, while Stroud is on his first visit to Queensland Raceway.
There’s still plenty more to play out, with qualifying tomorrow followed by race one for the 23 riders at 3:15pm.
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
The standings sometimes don’t tell lies. Today, the top six riders in the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup filled the top six positions in practice.
The order was Johnson from Hunter Charlett, Hunter Corney, Rossi, McAdam, Nikolas Lazos and Elijah Andrew.
Corney leads the points from Charlett and McAdam.
The young brigade will race for the first time tomorrow, with the final two battles on Sunday.
For more information on the 2024 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul:
Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia was fastest during MotoGP World Championship Practice Friday afternoon at Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, in Spain. Riding his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP24 on Michelin control tires, the two-time and defending World Champion lapped the 2.7-mile (4.4 km) course in 1:36.025, which was good enough to top the field of 25 riders and to break his own All-Time Lap Record of 1:36.170 from 2022.
Factory Aprilia rider Maverick Vinales was also under the old lap record with 1:36.125, as was Marc Marquez, who did a third-quickest 1:36.168 on his Gresini Racing Ducati Demosedici GP23.
Just 0.143 splits Bagnaia, Viñales and Marquez as lap records fall on Friday
Day 1 serves up the perfect aperitivo ahead of a tantalising super Saturday in Andalucia
Friday, 26 April 2024
It was a hard battle for the top 10 in MotoGP™ Practice at the Gran Premio Estrella Galicia 0,0 de España as the shootout for direct entry to Q2 went down to the wire, setting the stage for a truly super Saturday. By the end of play, a top three split by only 0.143 had emerged: reigning Champion Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), COTA winner Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™).
For Bagnaia, it was a day to test things out on the bike following by a shiny new lap record; for Viñales, a crash early doors before a laptime that initially put him top; and for Marquez, just one sector that stood between him and the fastest lap of the day. All three were under the previous lap record too, not just Bagnaia, and that teases plenty of action on super Saturday even before the full cast of characters are brought onto the stage.
Despite a crash at turn one at the beginning of the session, Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing) fought back to fourth in the final 10 minutes of the day, with he and teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio both having a positive Friday and ‘Diggia’ also through to Q2 in P9.
Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) is fifth on Friday, but it’s a four-tenth gap to the top he’s looking to bridge in Q2, and he’s got some company he’d likely rather escape right behind him: Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3). The rookie sensation was outside the top 10 heading into the final run but got the pedal to the metal and jumped up to sixth at the end of the day, after earlier running round in tandem with MotoGP™ Legend and wildcard Dani Pedrosa (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) too.
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) was seventh as he looks to get back on a par with Viñales at a track that saw the #41 take pole last year, making it both factory Aprilias securing a spot in Q2. Second in the Championship Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) set a 1:36.480 for P8 – improving on his pace from the morning Free Practice session – but he’ll want more on Saturday.
Behind the aforementioned Diggia, Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) is the final rider heading straight through. That means there are a few fast and famous faces ready to do battle in a star-studded Q1.
One of the most famous is probably Pedrosa, as he was P14 at the end of play. And the most desperate to get through is probably teammate Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who finished up P11 after a crash near the end of PR when he was setting red sectors. Barring any bad luck or trouble, the South African would seem a safe bet for moving up from Q1. Teammate Jack Miller looks to do the same, ending Friday in P13, and Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) wants to ruin the party for them all. The Italian, who missed pre-season through injury, is really getting there on pace and put in a convincing Friday in Jerez, in the upper echelons of the timesheets until getting pushed down to P12 by the end of the decisive PR session.
Erstwhile master of Jerez Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) was in P20 too, and will aim for a big step on Saturday after teammate Alex Rins turned the tables on Day 1, taking P15 and four tenths up the road.
The next time the MotoGP™ field is out on track will be at 10:10 local time (UTC +2) for Free Practice before the battle begins at 10:50 local time for qualifying, with that Q1 promising a showdown. Then the full grids and pole will be decided before the Tissot Sprint lights up the stunning Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto… so don’t miss a minute of a truly super Saturday, up next!
FP2: 10:10 (UTC +2)
Q1: 10:50
Q2: 11.15
Tissot Sprint: 15:00
Roberts rockets to the top ahead of Aldeguer
Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) rocketed to the top spot at the end of Friday action in Jerez as the American continued to show strong pace at the Gran Premio Estrella Galicia 0,0 de España, setting a strong 1:40.664 to end Practice 1 ahead of pre-season favourite Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) by 0.234. Race winner at COTA and Championship leader Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) rounded out the top three after a brilliant session for the #3.
Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team) capped off a great opening day for American Racing, finding pace late in the session to set a 1:40.964. Ramirez was ahead of Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI), who showed strong pace in the early stages of the session, rounding out the top five. Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2), Zonta Van Den Goorbergh (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP) and Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp).
Albert Arenas (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™), CFMOTO Aspar Team’s Izan Guevara, Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Aspar Team), Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia), Filip Salac (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Barry Baltus (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP ), who took the final place inside the top 14, are currently the final riders set to move through to Q2.
It was a tough day in the office for Aron Canet (Fantic Racing), who crashed at the end of the session and was later declared unfit with a broken ankle. He’ll have to watch on as the Moto2™ grid head back on track on Saturday morning at 9:25 local time (UTC+2) for Practice 2 before qualifying at 13:45 local time.
Alonso smashes lap record to pull nearly a second clear on Friday
David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) dominated Day 1 at the Gran Premio Estrella Galicia 0,0 de España, setting an incredible 1:43.710 to destroy a lap record which had just been set by the Colombian on Friday morning. Alonso was almost a second clear of rookie Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), with Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) only a further 0.083 adrift on a very impressive Friday for the Dutchman.
Finding time in the afternoon session was Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), who jumped to fourth position, ending the session ahead of the returning David Almansa (Rivacold Snipers Team), who found time in the final sector on a final fast lap to round out the top five. Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports), last year’s race winner Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI), Riccardo Rossi (CIP Green Power), BOE Motorsports’ David Muñoz, Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA), Tatsuki Suzuki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI), CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team’s rookie Joel Esteban and Scott Ogden (MLav Racing) round out the top 14 currently set to move straight to Q2.
The Moto3™ grid will have one last chance to fight for the top 14 spots at 8:40 local time (UTC +2) before qualifying begins at 12:50 local time! Come back then for more and check out the full results below.
Joe Roberts led Moto2 World Championship Practice One Friday afternoon at Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, in Spain. Riding his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex on Pirelli tires around the 2.7-mile (4.4 km) course, Roberts turned a 1:40.664 to top the field of 32 riders.
Fermin Aldeguer was the best of the rest with a 1:40.898 on his Beta Tools SpeedUp Boscoscuro, and Sergio Garcia was third in the session with a 1:40.931 on his MT Helmets – MSI Boscoscuro.
David Alonso broke the All-Time Moto3 Lap Record Friday morning at Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, in Spain, and then he lowered it even further Friday afternoon.
Riding his Pirelli-shod Gaviota Aspar Team CFMOTO in Free Practice One on Friday morning, the 18-year-old Colombian covered the 2.7-mile (4.4 km) road course in 1:44.590, breaking Andrea Migno’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:44.988 from 2021.
In Friday afternoon’s Practice One, Alonso turned a 1:43.710, smashing his own hours-old lap record and topping the next-fastest rider by 0.969 second!
Brothers and teammates Alex and Marc Marquez finished MotoGP Free Practice One (FP1) first and second, respectively, Friday morning at Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, in Spain.
Younger brother Alex led the session with a 1:36.630 on his Michelin-shod Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici, while older brother Marc, the six-time MotoGP World Champion, was second-best with a 1:37.137 around the 2.7-mile (4.4 km) course.
The best of the rest was Maverick Vinales, who turned a third-quickest 1:37.221 on his factory Aprilia RS-GP.
Alonso Lopez led Moto2 World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, in Spain. Lopez covered the 2.7-mile (4.4 km) course in 1:40.797 on his Pirelli-shod Beta Tools SpeedUp Boscoscuro to lead the field of 32 riders.
American Joe Roberts, who currently sits second in the World Championship point standings, was sixth with a time of 1:41.192 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
David Alonso was quickest in FIM Moto3 World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, in Spain. Riding his Pirelli-shod Gaviota Aspar Team CFMOTO, the 18-year-old Colombian covered the 2.7-mile (4.4 km) road course in 1:44.590. Not only was that fastest enough to top the field of 26 riders, it was also fast enough to break Andrea Migno’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:44.988 from 2021.
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 28th consecutive year of showcasing an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica and AMA Pro races and Championships, including 13 AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2024 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
First road race: 2017, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Midwest Karting Assoc., Kids Mini Supermoto, 1st.
Current racebikes: Aprilia RS 660, Kramer 690, Kawasaki ZX-6R and KX450.
Current tuners/mechanics: Redeye Performance, William “Billy” Vossberg (father).
Primary race series: N2/WERA National Championship, WERA, CRA.
Top sponsors: Robem Engineering, P501 Suspension, Redeye Performance, Millennium Technologies, Schmotter Motion Racing, Vortex, Forma Boots, LS2 Helmets, Mark and Pam Madigan, Kramer Motorcycles, Initech Consulting, Cedar Creek Motorsports, Wiseco, NGK.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2023 season, won Clubman Expert WERA Sportsman North Central Regional Championship (19 race wins with WERA), placed 3rd in Ultra-Lightweight Championship N2/WERA National Endurance Championship (1 win, 2 total podiums), won 13 CRA races, finished 2nd in two Road America Supermoto Club Championships (450 Pro, Sportsman); 2022 season, won 2 WERA Sportsman National Championships (D Superbike Expert, F Superstock Expert), 10 race wins with WERA, co-rode to N2/WERA National Endurance Ultra-Lightweight class victory, won CCS 300 GP Expert Midwest Regional Championship, won ASRA Moto3 National race, won Road America Supermoto Mini Championship; 2021 season, won 2 WERA Sportsman National Championship (D Superstock Novice, F Superstock Novice), won 4 WERA Sportsman Regional Class Championships, won 18 WERA races.
2024 racing goals: Win N2/WERA National Endurance Lightweight Championship, win 450 Pro Road America Supermoto Championship.
Racing career goal: Finish in the top five of a MotoAmerica race.
Racing hero: Josh Hayes.
Favorite track: Carolina Motorsports Park.
Favorite hobby: Playing other sports.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Skiing.
…
Some of the riders who have graduated from Young Guns and gone on to racing success in National or International series include:
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion Jason Aguilar (R.I.P.);
2013 AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and 2022 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Corey Alexander;
AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race winner Tommy Aquino (R.I.P.);
2008 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and multi-time MotoAmerica Superbike race winner J.D. Beach;
five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion and Moto2 World Championship point scorer Cameron Beaubier;
MotoAmerica Twins Cup race winner Jackson Blackmon;
former Canadian Sport Bike Champion Tomas Casas;
three-time Canadian Sport Bike Champion and 2014 Canadian Superbike Champion Jodi Christie;
former AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 race winner Josh Day;
2011 Daytona 200 winner Jason DiSalvo;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Championship runner-up and current MotoAmerica team owner Dustin Dominguez;
2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, 2019 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, and 2021 Canadian Superbike Champion Alex Dumas;
four-time Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race winner and former motorcycle track record holder Carlin Dunne (R.I.P.);
Canadian Superbike race winner Bodhi Edie;
two-time AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, two-time AMA Pro XR1200/Harley-Davidson Champion and four-time Daytona 200 winner Danny Eslick;
2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and MotoAmerica Superbike race winner Bobby Fong;
2010 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, 2015 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Superstock 1000 Champion, and three-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne;
two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and World Superbike podium finisher Garrett Gerloff;
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Championship runner-up Michael Gilbert;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Champion, 2023 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion, and 2023 MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers Champion Hayden Gillim;
2002 AMA Superbike Champion and 2006 FIM MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden (R.I.P.);
2007 AMA Pro 600cc Supersport Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up, and 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship runner-up Roger Hayden;
eight-time AMA Pro Superbike race winner and two-time AMA Supersport Champion Tommy Hayden;
2013 AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Champion, 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and three-time Daytona 200 winner Josh Herrin;
MotoAmerica Supersport front-runner Teagg Hobbs;
AMA Pro Superstock race winner Jake Holden;
2011 British Superbike Championship runner-up and former MotoGP and World Superbike regular John Hopkins;
2015 Supersport World Championship runner-up, 2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Superbike race winner Patrick “P.J.” Jacobsen;
2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, Moto2 World Championship point scorer, and MotoAmerica Superbike racer Sean Dylan Kelly;
Canadian Superbike race winner Kevin Lacombe;
two-time MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, 2020 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up Rocco Landers;
two-time MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Andrew Lee;
2021 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup Champion Jake Lewis;
MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Sam Lochoff;
MotoAmerica Superstock 600 race winner Nick McFadden;
AMA Pro SuperSport race winner and MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Stefano Mesa;
Elena Myers, the first and only woman to win AMA Pro Supersport races;
AMA Pro XR1200 race winner, multi-time Loudon Classic winner, and three-time BRL Champion Shane Narbonne;
2012 Canadian Superbike Championship runner-up Andrew Nelson;
2016 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Champion, 2019 British Motostar (Moto3) Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch;
2012 Daytona 200 winner and 2010 AMA Pro Supersport West Champion Joey Pascarella;
AMA Pro and Canadian National race winner and multi-time N2/WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Peris;
two-time AMA Pro SuperSport National Champion, British Supersport podium finisher, 2020 AFT Production Twins Champion, and 2023 MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers Championship runner-up James Rispoli;
2015 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport race winner, and Moto2 World Championship race winner Joe Roberts;
2022 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship runner-up and 2023 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship runner-up Gus Rodio;
former Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Champion and former FIM Moto2 European Championship competitor Benny Solis, Jr.;
three-time AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2009 Superbike World Champion, MotoGP race winner, and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Ben Spies;
multi-time AMA Pro race winner and four-time overall WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Ulrich;
MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher and former World Superbike competitor Jayson Uribe;
2017 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Championship runner-up, 2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher Cory Ventura;
Canadian Superbike race winner Alex Welsh;
former AMA Pro Superbike Rookie of the Year, Chinese Superbike Championship race winner, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and MotoAmerica Super Hooligan race winner Cory West;
MotoAmerica Junior Cup and Superbike Cup race winner Ashton Yates;
and two-time AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up Blake Young.
Featured In the April 2024 issue of Roadracing World:
If I didn’t know better, I’d think it was magic. We are watching a Michelin Moto GP rear slick being made and it is a thing of wonder.
The tire is being created from nothing by Michelin’s C3M process, which is basically a huge 3D printer, measuring about four meters square and standing several meters tall. The tire is built on a spinning, heated steel mold, one ingredient after the other.
Computer-controlled robot arms whizz this way and that, applying the base rubber via a multi-head nozzle; knitting in metal cords, both the belts around the tire’s bead and the cords crisscrossed across the tire; then knitting in textile cords; then applying the rubber compound that does the work, layer by layer.Everything happens at high speed, a blur before our eyes…
“MotoGP Analysis: Conjuring Magic Tires,” by Mat Oxley
Michelin has been MotoGP’s exclusive tire supplier for almost a decade now. We get a rare peek inside the company’s MotoGP tire lab and see how its racing tires are made—by a giant 3D printer! It’s all in the latest issue of Roadracing World!
Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine is available in print and digital formats.
Click here for a sample issue of Roadracing World magazine. (Print Edition, one sample issue per household, U.S. address only.)
Staring sets the Friday Superbike pace at Queensland Raceway
Round three of the 2024 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) kicked off at Queensland Raceway today, with veteran Bryan Staring taking the early honours in the premier Alpinestars Superbike class.
The West Aussie is the lap record holder around Queensland Raceway, and he showed his affinity with the 3.126km circuit hadn’t waned after he completed practice at the top of the timesheets on the MotoGo Yamaha ahead of Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) and Josh Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati).
In superb conditions which will continue into the weekend, Archie McDonald (Stop & Seal Yamaha), Harrison Watts (Champion’s Ride Days Kawasaki) and Ethan Johnson (Yamaha YZF-R15) were the fastest in the other ASBK Championship classes at Queensland Raceway: Michelin Supersport, Race and Road Supersport 300 and the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup.
And the great part: today was just the appetiser ahead of what’s expected to be an exhilarating weekend of qualifying and racing at a circuit which never fails to deliver showstopping action.
Aussie Racing Cars are also in action this weekend, and off-track there’s the ASBK Trade Alley, autograph sessions with all the top riders, and a few lucky patrons will score the ride of their lives behind former Aussie Superbike champions Steve Martin and Troy Corser in the ASBK Pillion Program.
To purchase tickets for Queensland Raceway, click here. Tickets will also available at the gate over the weekend.
Staring was in the groove from the get-go this morning, so it was no surprise when the 2010 Alpinestars Superbike champion ended the day on top with a best lap of 1m07.508s – one of five riders to eclipse the current lap record.
Jones, battling a debilitating virus, looked like he might be able to challenge Staring but he was still more than impressive with a 1:07.609.
Waters (1:07.654), Max Stauffer (Penrite Racing Yamaha, 1:07.669) and last year’s double winner Troy Herfoss (DesmoSport Ducati, 1:07.781) were the others to dip below Staring’s circuit benchmark.
Glenn Allerton (GT Racing BMW, 1:07.885) also enjoyed a productive Friday, with the top 10 completed by Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati, 1:08.168), Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team, 1:08.399), Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha, 1:08.421) and Arthur Sissis (1:08.867) making his debut on the Stop & Seal-backed Yamaha.
The 20-rider Alpinestars Superbike field will reconvene for final practice tomorrow morning, and then qualifying begins at 2:20pm to decide the grid positions for Sunday two 16-lap races.
Michelin Supersport
McDonald put the hammer down in Michelin Supersport, showing no signs of fatigue after returning from round one European Stock 600 commitments in Italy last weekend.
The Albury teenager edged out his teammates Tom Toparis, Corey Turner and Jack Mahaffy in an intra-squad shootout, followed by Tom Bramich (Apex Group Yamaha) and Olly Simpson (Yamaha Australia).
Championship leader Jonathan Nahlous (Complete AV Yamaha) and Marcus Chiodo (Honda Australia) were next – but it’s all extremely tight, pointing to some exciting rolling scrums coming our way in Sunday’s two 14-lap races.
Race and Road Supersport 300
Race and Road Supersport 300 co-leader Watts is on a rapid trajectory of both speed and maturity, and he delivered another example today by leading from the front in practice.
Jordan Simpson (YRD Yamaha Australia), Ryan Larkin (Green Panet Nutrients Yamaha), Valentino Knezovic (Motocity Yamaha), Josh Newman (Wet4U Race Fairings Kawaski) and New Zealander Jesse Stroud (Connect Homes Yamaha) completed the top six.
Newman leads the standings with Watts, while Stroud is on his first visit to Queensland Raceway.
There’s still plenty more to play out, with qualifying tomorrow followed by race one for the 23 riders at 3:15pm.
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
The standings sometimes don’t tell lies. Today, the top six riders in the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup filled the top six positions in practice.
The order was Johnson from Hunter Charlett, Hunter Corney, Rossi, McAdam, Nikolas Lazos and Elijah Andrew.
Corney leads the points from Charlett and McAdam.
The young brigade will race for the first time tomorrow, with the final two battles on Sunday.
For more information on the 2024 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul:
Francesco Bagnaia (1) leads Marco Bezzecchi (72) Friday at Jerez. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia was fastest during MotoGP World Championship Practice Friday afternoon at Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, in Spain. Riding his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP24 on Michelin control tires, the two-time and defending World Champion lapped the 2.7-mile (4.4 km) course in 1:36.025, which was good enough to top the field of 25 riders and to break his own All-Time Lap Record of 1:36.170 from 2022.
Factory Aprilia rider Maverick Vinales was also under the old lap record with 1:36.125, as was Marc Marquez, who did a third-quickest 1:36.168 on his Gresini Racing Ducati Demosedici GP23.
Just 0.143 splits Bagnaia, Viñales and Marquez as lap records fall on Friday
Day 1 serves up the perfect aperitivo ahead of a tantalising super Saturday in Andalucia
Friday, 26 April 2024
It was a hard battle for the top 10 in MotoGP™ Practice at the Gran Premio Estrella Galicia 0,0 de España as the shootout for direct entry to Q2 went down to the wire, setting the stage for a truly super Saturday. By the end of play, a top three split by only 0.143 had emerged: reigning Champion Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), COTA winner Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™).
For Bagnaia, it was a day to test things out on the bike following by a shiny new lap record; for Viñales, a crash early doors before a laptime that initially put him top; and for Marquez, just one sector that stood between him and the fastest lap of the day. All three were under the previous lap record too, not just Bagnaia, and that teases plenty of action on super Saturday even before the full cast of characters are brought onto the stage.
Despite a crash at turn one at the beginning of the session, Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing) fought back to fourth in the final 10 minutes of the day, with he and teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio both having a positive Friday and ‘Diggia’ also through to Q2 in P9.
Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) is fifth on Friday, but it’s a four-tenth gap to the top he’s looking to bridge in Q2, and he’s got some company he’d likely rather escape right behind him: Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3). The rookie sensation was outside the top 10 heading into the final run but got the pedal to the metal and jumped up to sixth at the end of the day, after earlier running round in tandem with MotoGP™ Legend and wildcard Dani Pedrosa (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) too.
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) was seventh as he looks to get back on a par with Viñales at a track that saw the #41 take pole last year, making it both factory Aprilias securing a spot in Q2. Second in the Championship Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) set a 1:36.480 for P8 – improving on his pace from the morning Free Practice session – but he’ll want more on Saturday.
Behind the aforementioned Diggia, Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) is the final rider heading straight through. That means there are a few fast and famous faces ready to do battle in a star-studded Q1.
One of the most famous is probably Pedrosa, as he was P14 at the end of play. And the most desperate to get through is probably teammate Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who finished up P11 after a crash near the end of PR when he was setting red sectors. Barring any bad luck or trouble, the South African would seem a safe bet for moving up from Q1. Teammate Jack Miller looks to do the same, ending Friday in P13, and Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) wants to ruin the party for them all. The Italian, who missed pre-season through injury, is really getting there on pace and put in a convincing Friday in Jerez, in the upper echelons of the timesheets until getting pushed down to P12 by the end of the decisive PR session.
Erstwhile master of Jerez Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) was in P20 too, and will aim for a big step on Saturday after teammate Alex Rins turned the tables on Day 1, taking P15 and four tenths up the road.
The next time the MotoGP™ field is out on track will be at 10:10 local time (UTC +2) for Free Practice before the battle begins at 10:50 local time for qualifying, with that Q1 promising a showdown. Then the full grids and pole will be decided before the Tissot Sprint lights up the stunning Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto… so don’t miss a minute of a truly super Saturday, up next!
FP2: 10:10 (UTC +2)
Q1: 10:50
Q2: 11.15
Tissot Sprint: 15:00
Roberts rockets to the top ahead of Aldeguer
Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) rocketed to the top spot at the end of Friday action in Jerez as the American continued to show strong pace at the Gran Premio Estrella Galicia 0,0 de España, setting a strong 1:40.664 to end Practice 1 ahead of pre-season favourite Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) by 0.234. Race winner at COTA and Championship leader Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) rounded out the top three after a brilliant session for the #3.
Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team) capped off a great opening day for American Racing, finding pace late in the session to set a 1:40.964. Ramirez was ahead of Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI), who showed strong pace in the early stages of the session, rounding out the top five. Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2), Zonta Van Den Goorbergh (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP) and Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp).
Albert Arenas (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™), CFMOTO Aspar Team’s Izan Guevara, Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Aspar Team), Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia), Filip Salac (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Barry Baltus (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP ), who took the final place inside the top 14, are currently the final riders set to move through to Q2.
It was a tough day in the office for Aron Canet (Fantic Racing), who crashed at the end of the session and was later declared unfit with a broken ankle. He’ll have to watch on as the Moto2™ grid head back on track on Saturday morning at 9:25 local time (UTC+2) for Practice 2 before qualifying at 13:45 local time.
Alonso smashes lap record to pull nearly a second clear on Friday
David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) dominated Day 1 at the Gran Premio Estrella Galicia 0,0 de España, setting an incredible 1:43.710 to destroy a lap record which had just been set by the Colombian on Friday morning. Alonso was almost a second clear of rookie Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), with Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) only a further 0.083 adrift on a very impressive Friday for the Dutchman.
Finding time in the afternoon session was Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), who jumped to fourth position, ending the session ahead of the returning David Almansa (Rivacold Snipers Team), who found time in the final sector on a final fast lap to round out the top five. Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports), last year’s race winner Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI), Riccardo Rossi (CIP Green Power), BOE Motorsports’ David Muñoz, Stefano Nepa (LEVELUP – MTA), Tatsuki Suzuki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI), CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team’s rookie Joel Esteban and Scott Ogden (MLav Racing) round out the top 14 currently set to move straight to Q2.
The Moto3™ grid will have one last chance to fight for the top 14 spots at 8:40 local time (UTC +2) before qualifying begins at 12:50 local time! Come back then for more and check out the full results below.
Joe Roberts led Moto2 World Championship Practice One Friday afternoon at Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, in Spain. Riding his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex on Pirelli tires around the 2.7-mile (4.4 km) course, Roberts turned a 1:40.664 to top the field of 32 riders.
Fermin Aldeguer was the best of the rest with a 1:40.898 on his Beta Tools SpeedUp Boscoscuro, and Sergio Garcia was third in the session with a 1:40.931 on his MT Helmets – MSI Boscoscuro.
David Alonso broke the All-Time Moto3 Lap Record Friday morning at Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, in Spain, and then he lowered it even further Friday afternoon.
Riding his Pirelli-shod Gaviota Aspar Team CFMOTO in Free Practice One on Friday morning, the 18-year-old Colombian covered the 2.7-mile (4.4 km) road course in 1:44.590, breaking Andrea Migno’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:44.988 from 2021.
In Friday afternoon’s Practice One, Alonso turned a 1:43.710, smashing his own hours-old lap record and topping the next-fastest rider by 0.969 second!
Brothers and teammates Alex and Marc Marquez finished MotoGP Free Practice One (FP1) first and second, respectively, Friday morning at Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, in Spain.
Younger brother Alex led the session with a 1:36.630 on his Michelin-shod Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici, while older brother Marc, the six-time MotoGP World Champion, was second-best with a 1:37.137 around the 2.7-mile (4.4 km) course.
The best of the rest was Maverick Vinales, who turned a third-quickest 1:37.221 on his factory Aprilia RS-GP.
Alonso Lopez led Moto2 World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, in Spain. Lopez covered the 2.7-mile (4.4 km) course in 1:40.797 on his Pirelli-shod Beta Tools SpeedUp Boscoscuro to lead the field of 32 riders.
American Joe Roberts, who currently sits second in the World Championship point standings, was sixth with a time of 1:41.192 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
David Alonso (80), as seen in Qatar. Photo courtesy Aspar Team.
David Alonso was quickest in FIM Moto3 World Championship Free Practice One (FP1) Friday morning at Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, in Spain. Riding his Pirelli-shod Gaviota Aspar Team CFMOTO, the 18-year-old Colombian covered the 2.7-mile (4.4 km) road course in 1:44.590. Not only was that fastest enough to top the field of 26 riders, it was also fast enough to break Andrea Migno’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:44.988 from 2021.
Roadracing World started this exclusive special feature recognizing the most promising young road racers as an answer to pessimists who claimed America had no new, up-and-coming young racers. This edition of the Roadracing World Young Gun Awards marks the 28th consecutive year of showcasing an abundance of new talent.
Roadracing World Young Guns have won:
FIM MotoGP and FIM Superbike races and World Championships;
MotoAmerica and AMA Pro races and Championships, including 13 AMA Pro Superbike Championships;
A KTM RC Cup World Final race;
WERA National Endurance Championships and WERA National Challenge Championships;
ASRA/Formula USA Grand National and CCS National Championships;
AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and Horizon Awards;
USGPRU National Championships;
Many regional and local titles.
The competition has continually become more intense as more – and younger—racers with higher levels of accomplishment are nominated, and the level of achievement required to make the grade keeps getting tougher.
We’ve spent the last several months accepting nominations and evaluating road racers between the ages of 10 and 18 (as of the start of the 2024 season) who have, at a minimum, won Expert-level road races and/or Championships or had outstanding results as an Amateur/Novice. Most of the riders included here have done far more than the minimum.
The young riders recognized here are the most promising young road racers in North America. All have earned the title of Roadracing World Young Gun.
We will feature one Young Gun per day, presenting them in alphabetical order.
First road race: 2017, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Midwest Karting Assoc., Kids Mini Supermoto, 1st.
Current racebikes: Aprilia RS 660, Kramer 690, Kawasaki ZX-6R and KX450.
Current tuners/mechanics: Redeye Performance, William “Billy” Vossberg (father).
Primary race series: N2/WERA National Championship, WERA, CRA.
Top sponsors: Robem Engineering, P501 Suspension, Redeye Performance, Millennium Technologies, Schmotter Motion Racing, Vortex, Forma Boots, LS2 Helmets, Mark and Pam Madigan, Kramer Motorcycles, Initech Consulting, Cedar Creek Motorsports, Wiseco, NGK.
Recent racing accomplishments: 2023 season, won Clubman Expert WERA Sportsman North Central Regional Championship (19 race wins with WERA), placed 3rd in Ultra-Lightweight Championship N2/WERA National Endurance Championship (1 win, 2 total podiums), won 13 CRA races, finished 2nd in two Road America Supermoto Club Championships (450 Pro, Sportsman); 2022 season, won 2 WERA Sportsman National Championships (D Superbike Expert, F Superstock Expert), 10 race wins with WERA, co-rode to N2/WERA National Endurance Ultra-Lightweight class victory, won CCS 300 GP Expert Midwest Regional Championship, won ASRA Moto3 National race, won Road America Supermoto Mini Championship; 2021 season, won 2 WERA Sportsman National Championship (D Superstock Novice, F Superstock Novice), won 4 WERA Sportsman Regional Class Championships, won 18 WERA races.
2024 racing goals: Win N2/WERA National Endurance Lightweight Championship, win 450 Pro Road America Supermoto Championship.
Racing career goal: Finish in the top five of a MotoAmerica race.
Racing hero: Josh Hayes.
Favorite track: Carolina Motorsports Park.
Favorite hobby: Playing other sports.
If I wasn’t racing I would be…: Skiing.
…
Some of the riders who have graduated from Young Guns and gone on to racing success in National or International series include:
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion Jason Aguilar (R.I.P.);
2013 AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and 2022 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Corey Alexander;
AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race winner Tommy Aquino (R.I.P.);
2008 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and multi-time MotoAmerica Superbike race winner J.D. Beach;
five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion and Moto2 World Championship point scorer Cameron Beaubier;
MotoAmerica Twins Cup race winner Jackson Blackmon;
former Canadian Sport Bike Champion Tomas Casas;
three-time Canadian Sport Bike Champion and 2014 Canadian Superbike Champion Jodi Christie;
former AMA Pro SuperSport East Champion and MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 race winner Josh Day;
2011 Daytona 200 winner Jason DiSalvo;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Championship runner-up and current MotoAmerica team owner Dustin Dominguez;
2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, 2019 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, and 2021 Canadian Superbike Champion Alex Dumas;
four-time Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race winner and former motorcycle track record holder Carlin Dunne (R.I.P.);
Canadian Superbike race winner Bodhi Edie;
two-time AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, two-time AMA Pro XR1200/Harley-Davidson Champion and four-time Daytona 200 winner Danny Eslick;
2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and MotoAmerica Superbike race winner Bobby Fong;
2010 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, 2015 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North America Superstock 1000 Champion, and three-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne;
two-time MotoAmerica Supersport Champion and World Superbike podium finisher Garrett Gerloff;
2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Championship runner-up Michael Gilbert;
2014 AMA Pro SuperSport Champion, 2023 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion, and 2023 MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers Champion Hayden Gillim;
2002 AMA Superbike Champion and 2006 FIM MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden (R.I.P.);
2007 AMA Pro 600cc Supersport Champion, 2014 AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up, and 2017 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship runner-up Roger Hayden;
eight-time AMA Pro Superbike race winner and two-time AMA Supersport Champion Tommy Hayden;
2013 AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2016 MotoAmerica Superstock 1000 Champion, 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, and three-time Daytona 200 winner Josh Herrin;
MotoAmerica Supersport front-runner Teagg Hobbs;
AMA Pro Superstock race winner Jake Holden;
2011 British Superbike Championship runner-up and former MotoGP and World Superbike regular John Hopkins;
2015 Supersport World Championship runner-up, 2019 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Superbike race winner Patrick “P.J.” Jacobsen;
2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion, Moto2 World Championship point scorer, and MotoAmerica Superbike racer Sean Dylan Kelly;
Canadian Superbike race winner Kevin Lacombe;
two-time MotoAmerica Junior Cup Champion, 2020 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Champion, 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship runner-up Rocco Landers;
two-time MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion Andrew Lee;
2021 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup Champion Jake Lewis;
MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Sam Lochoff;
MotoAmerica Superstock 600 race winner Nick McFadden;
AMA Pro SuperSport race winner and MotoAmerica Supersport race winner Stefano Mesa;
Elena Myers, the first and only woman to win AMA Pro Supersport races;
AMA Pro XR1200 race winner, multi-time Loudon Classic winner, and three-time BRL Champion Shane Narbonne;
2012 Canadian Superbike Championship runner-up Andrew Nelson;
2016 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Champion, 2019 British Motostar (Moto3) Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch;
2012 Daytona 200 winner and 2010 AMA Pro Supersport West Champion Joey Pascarella;
AMA Pro and Canadian National race winner and multi-time N2/WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Peris;
two-time AMA Pro SuperSport National Champion, British Supersport podium finisher, 2020 AFT Production Twins Champion, and 2023 MotoAmerica King Of The Baggers Championship runner-up James Rispoli;
2015 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, MotoAmerica Supersport race winner, and Moto2 World Championship race winner Joe Roberts;
2022 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship runner-up and 2023 MotoAmerica Twins Cup Championship runner-up Gus Rodio;
former Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup Champion and former FIM Moto2 European Championship competitor Benny Solis, Jr.;
three-time AMA Pro Superbike Champion, 2009 Superbike World Champion, MotoGP race winner, and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Ben Spies;
multi-time AMA Pro race winner and four-time overall WERA National Endurance Champion Chris Ulrich;
MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher and former World Superbike competitor Jayson Uribe;
2017 MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup Championship runner-up, 2018 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship runner-up, and MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher Cory Ventura;
Canadian Superbike race winner Alex Welsh;
former AMA Pro Superbike Rookie of the Year, Chinese Superbike Championship race winner, MotoAmerica Supersport podium finisher, and MotoAmerica Super Hooligan race winner Cory West;
MotoAmerica Junior Cup and Superbike Cup race winner Ashton Yates;
and two-time AMA Pro Superbike Championship runner-up Blake Young.
Jorge Martin (89) leads Francesco Bagnaia (1) and Marco Bezzecchi (72) in the 2023 MotoGP race at Misano, all running magic Michelin rear tires.
Featured In the April 2024 issue of Roadracing World:
If I didn’t know better, I’d think it was magic. We are watching a Michelin Moto GP rear slick being made and it is a thing of wonder.
The tire is being created from nothing by Michelin’s C3M process, which is basically a huge 3D printer, measuring about four meters square and standing several meters tall. The tire is built on a spinning, heated steel mold, one ingredient after the other.
Computer-controlled robot arms whizz this way and that, applying the base rubber via a multi-head nozzle; knitting in metal cords, both the belts around the tire’s bead and the cords crisscrossed across the tire; then knitting in textile cords; then applying the rubber compound that does the work, layer by layer.Everything happens at high speed, a blur before our eyes…
“MotoGP Analysis: Conjuring Magic Tires,” by Mat Oxley
Michelin has been MotoGP’s exclusive tire supplier for almost a decade now. We get a rare peek inside the company’s MotoGP tire lab and see how its racing tires are made—by a giant 3D printer! It’s all in the latest issue of Roadracing World!
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