Texas-based RideSmart Motorcycle Schools is offering special MotoAmerica-only sessions during its events September 7 and 8 at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), in Austin, Texas, and space is still available as of Friday, August 30.
In 2023, eligible MotoAmerica racers seeking extra track time ahead of the races at COTA signed up to ride in the RideSmart Motorcycle School at COTA, which was no problem.
But with the Advanced riding group at the event filling up, MotoAmerica racers started signing up to ride in lower-level groups, including Novice, which was a problem.
This year, RideSmart is going out of its way to create extra space at its COTA event by ordering more time from the track and offering it to MotoAmerica racers. In fact, the track will be hot from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. with MotoAmerica racers receiving six dedicated 20-minute sessions each day they sign up for.
Interested MotoAmerica racers should go to www.ridesmart.info, create a profile, pick which day or days they want to ride (September 7 or 8 or both), pick “MotoAmerica Licensed Session,” and be ready to provide your AMA or MotoAmerica license number. Participants will also be asked to provide their MotoAmerica race license during registration at the track.
MotoAmerica testing restrictions will still apply to racers participating in this event.
More, from a press release issued by Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup:
Carpe is the man – Another Rookies Pole in Aragon
When points leader Alvaro Carpe completed Free Practice 2 half a second quicker than anyone else, the 25 other KTM riders in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup knew what they were up against. The 17-year-old who scored the double two weeks ago in Austria worked on his own in Qualifying. He was still 0.238 seconds quicker than 16-year-old Brian Uriarte in P2 with Màximo Quiles, also 16, completing the front row.
That is the same order that they stand in the points table with just 4 races remaining in the season. The second row of the grid features their closest challenger for the Cup, Argentine 16-year-old Valentin Perrone who qualified sixth.
Carpe cool and ready to place one hand on the Cup
“My feeling with the bike was perfect. I made a small front suspension change from FP2 to Qualifying which helped. I’m really happy because I did my time alone, here it is really difficult to do that, without the slipstream in the back straight. It was also windy and that also affected things in the uphill section, it was difficult to manage.”
“I was pushing alone, I know that I have a very good pace and I can do it alone. In FP2 I changed from the long gearing and changed to the shorter sprocket and used that for the Qualifying. I am still thinking which I will use for the race.”
“I feel I have improved quite a lot in the second half of the season,I have been training very hard. I started the year thinking about not taking too many chances, to not crash, not to push the limit too much. But now I have found another way, it worked in Austria and I am going to carry on like that, fastest in FP1, FP2 and Qualifying.”
Uriarte keen to regain the points lead he had before Austria
“Today I struggled a lot in Free Practice on the new asphalt,” admitted the Spaniard. Also, I was making some tests 2 days ago with a Moto3 bike that I felt was very different to this bike. It was a super big step to swap back to the Rookies bike this morning and also with the new asphalt I just had zero feeling. In the first session, I was super lost.”
“FP2 was quite a bit better and in this session, I used Rico as a reference and it helped me a lot. I found a nice pace but I think that there are still places to improve in the race. I have to think about where I can improve, perhaps a small change to the bike but nothing major.”
Quiles feels there is more to come
“The first row is nice,” enthused the Spaniard. I think in Quali I could do a better job because I was pushing but no one seemed to want to push with me. So I pushed, I did my best but the track lacks grip, the tyres slide really early so after the first few laps I felt that I couldn’t push.”
“I am happy though and looking forward to the race. I think the new asphalt causes a lot of wear and the last laps will be difficult, maybe turn and gas it.”
Perrone will push from the start
“P6 is not so bad, on the second row so that’s good. I am happy with the bike, it’s giving me a good feeling but the track is a bit slippery, a bit strange.”
“Tomorrow I will try to make a good start so that I can be second or third in the beginning. I don’t want Carpe to be able to get away. If I can do that then I will try to be calm through the race, be smart and do good things in the finals laps.”
Broadcast
This weekend’s Rookies Cup races can be seen live on www.redbull.tv and on TV stations around the world.
Race 1 is at 16:10 CET on Saturday and Race 2 is on Sunday at 08:45, the show starts 10 minutes before the race.
Marc Marquez was the man to beat during MotoGP World Championship practice Friday at MotorLand Aragon, in Spain. After leading Friday morning practice on his Michelin-equipped Gresini Ducati, Marquez came back in the afternoon and lapped the repaved 3.1-mile course in 1:45.801. Not only was that good enough to top the field of 22 riders, it also eclipsed Francesco Bagnaia’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:46.069 from 2022.
Aprilia factory rider Aleix Espargaro finished Friday morning’s practice second from the bottom and then he finished Friday afternoon’s practice second from the top thanks to a 1:46.073.
Espargaro’s teammate Maverick Vinales was third with a 1:46.117.
Jorge Martin turned a fourth-fastest 1:46.406 on his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati.
Marquez’s teammate and younger brother Alex Marquez was fifth at 1:46.406.
Other riders finishing in the top 10 during Friday afternoon’s session and securing their spot in Qualifying Two were Lenovo Ducati’s two-time and defending World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (1:46.591), Martin’s teammate Franco Morbidelli (1:46.705), Castrol LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco (1:46.732), and Trackhouse Racing teammates Raul Fernandez (1:46.840) and Miguel Oliveira (1:46.855).
Marquez lays down a marker at MotorLand, Aprilia on the chase
The #93 makes it a first on Friday since 2021, Aprilia find some impressive form and Honda make it straight through to Q2 for the first time this season
Marc Marquez (93). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Friday, 30 August 2024
It was a stunning end to MotoGP™ Practice at the Gran Premio GoPro de Aragon, with high-speed action and thrills to close Friday’s action. At the end of the hour-long session, it was Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) who came out on top – setting a stunning new lap record. The #93 had the best start to a weekend since the 2021 Americas GP, topping both sessions. He ended the day ahead of Aprilia Racing duo Aleix Espargaro, who jumped to second, and teammate Maverick Viñales as the Noale factory also had plenty to write home about on Day 1.
Aleix Espargaro (41). Photo courtesy Dorna.
There were plenty of stories which formed throughout the session, all bubbling up to a party of red sectors. Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) suffered from some issues early on, delaying valuable running for the #73. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) crashed at Turn 5, losing the front on entry. Moments after, Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) lost the front at Turn 16, with both riders soon making their way back to the pits.
Maverick Vinales (12). Photo courtesy Dorna.
There was further drama later in the session, with Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) crashing at Turn 16, bringing an early end to the Australian’s Friday with less than one minute to go. And the frenzy on the timesheets had already been underway for some time.
Aprilia led right until the final flying miracle from Marquez, with the #93 getting back on top right at the end. Still, Espargaro takes that P2 and Viñales is right on his heels, the latter the only rider seemingly able to challenge Marquez on the very last lap round. But not quite, as he slotted into third.
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) took fourth after a busy session for the #89. Martin ends the day 0.578s adrift from the top, however, with Marquez two tenths clear just by himself and the Aprilia slotting into the gap. Alex Marquez recovered to P5 after a delayed start to the session, and he also did some running in tandem with the #93 side of the Gresini box.
Taking sixth it’s Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia, who is the sole Ducati Lenovo Team rider inside the top 10 after Enea Bastianini was unable to put together an uninterrupted lap due to late yellow flags. The #1 ended the session in front of Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing), making 2022 winner Bastianini the GP24 hungry for a boost up the order on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) made it a 2024 milestone day for Honda as work continues on getting back to the front of the pack. The Frenchman took eighth, becoming the first Honda to secure direct entry to Q2 in 2024. The final spots inside the top 10 were Trackhouse Racing’s Raul Fernandez and Miguel Oliveira, who made it all four RS-GPs in the top ten on a very positive day for Aprilia.
An action-packed Q1 awaits after a tough afternoon for the Pierer Mobility Group riders: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder and teammate Miller are now forced to battle it in Q1, as well as Red Bull GASGAS Tech3’s Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez. Both Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team riders Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marco Bezzecchi were also outside the top 10, ahead of Bastianini. With just two spots up for grabs in Q2 once the Q1 runners head back out, it could get spicy.
Don’t miss a minute of a super Saturday at MotorLand Aragon, with qualifying just the beginning. Then it’s time for the first ever Tissot Sprint at the venue as the Gran Premio GoPro Aragon brings the world’s most exciting sport back to Teruel with a bang.
FP2: 10:10 (UTC +2)
Q1: 10:50
Q2: 11.15
Tissot Sprint: 15:00
Alonso Lopez (21). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Lopez leads the way with new lap record ahead of timesheets tightening up
Alonso Lopez (Sync SpeedUp) completed a perfect Friday at the Gran Premio GoPro de Aragon with a new lap record in P1 after having already led the way on Friday morning. The #21 set an impressive 1:50.989 benchmark to move two tenths clear of the first on the chase, rookie Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team), with CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team’s Jake Dixon taking the final spot inside the top three within a tenth of the Brazilian.
– Fourth was even closer, with Fermin Aldeguer (Sync SpeedUp) within just 0.007 of Dixon, and small gaps from there on out: Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) in fifth is only half a tenth further back, ahead of Albert Arenas (QJMotor Gresini Moto2™) at a similar deficit and Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team)
– Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) had one of his best intermediate class showings so far in P7, ahead of Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) and Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) completing the top ten. Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) was the rider just edged out
– Championship leader Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) was all the way down in P26, and fellow contender and teammate Ai Ogura in P17 as he returns from injury
– The FIM MotoGP™ Stewards have given a number of riders three-place grid penalties for being slow online in P1: Arenas, Alex Escrig (KLINT Forward Factory Team), Filip Salač (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Dennis Foggia (Italtrans Racing Team)
David Alonso (80). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Alonso edges out Rueda as Moto3™ returns to MotorLand
David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) took control on Day 1 in Aragon, with the #80 entering the low 1:57 bracket and finishing 0.210s ahead of his rivals – breaking the lap record in the process. However, Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was charging hard behind, having a strong day and setting almost 15 laps across during Practice 1. The #99 was ahead of David Almansa (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team), who had an equally impressive afternoon, rounding out the top three spots and finishing as the top Honda.
– Dutchman Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) finished Friday in P4 but at a deficit of nearly eight tenths
– from fourth to P10, it’s split by hundredths, with Austria podium finisher David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) heading Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI), rookie Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing), Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) and Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse)
– Austria podium finisher Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) will be one of the first looking to move forward on Saturday, ending Practice 1 in P14
Alonso Lopez led Moto2 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at MotorLand Aragon, in Spain. Riding his Sync SpeedUp Boscoscuro on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard lapped the repaved 3.1-mile road course in 1:50.989, topping the field of 32 riders and breaking Sam Lowes’ All-Time Lap Record of 1:51.296 from 2020.
Diogo Moreira was second-best with a time of 1:51.212 on his Italtrans Racing Kalex.
Jake Dixon did a third-fastest 1:51.292 on his CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team Kalex.
Lopez’s teammate Fermin Aldeguer was fourth with a lap at 1:51.299.
Aron Canet rounded out the top five with a 1:51.351 on his Fantic Racing Kalex.
American Joe Roberts finished Friday afternoon’s practice session 11th with a best time of 1:51.680 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
David Alonso led Moto3 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at MotorLand Aragon, in Spain. Alonso used his Pirelli-shod Gaviota Aspar Team CFMOTO to lap the repaved 3.1-mile track in 1:57.052, which led the field of 27 riders and broke Jorge Martin’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:57.066 from 2018.
Marc Marquez was quickest during MotoGP World Championship Free Practice One Friday morning at MotorLand Aragon, in Spain. Riding his Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici on Michelin control tires, the six-time MotoGP World Champion lapped the 3.1-mile course in 1:48.289 to lead the field of 22 riders.
Jorge Martin was second-best with a 1:48.772 on his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati.
Rookie Pedro Acosta did a third-fastest 1:48.902 on his Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 machine.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder was fourth at 1:48.952.
Fabio Di Giannantonio rounded out the top five with a 1:48.954.
Less than one second covered the top 10 riders in the session.
Alonso Lopez topped Moto2 World Championship Free Practice Friday morning at MotorLand Aragon, in Spain. Riding a Sync SpeedUp Boscoscuro on spec Pirelli tires, the Spaniard navigated the repaved 3.1-mile road course in 1:51.657 to lead the field of 32 riders.
Tony Arbolino was the best of the rest with a 1:51.954 on his Elf Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex.
Manuel Gonzalez was third thanks to his lap time of 1:52.040 on is QJMOTOR Gresini Kalex.
Red Bull KTM Ajo Kalex rider Deniz Oncu was fourth at 1:52.152.
American Joe Roberts rounded out the top five with a time of 1:52.244 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
David Alonso led Moto3 World Championship practice Friday morning at MotorLand Aragon, in Spain. Riding his Gaviota Aspar Team CFMOTO on Pirelli control tires, the Colombian lapped the repaved 3.1-mile track in 1:59.683. That didn’t set any new records, but it was good enough to lead the field of 27 riders.
Featured In the August 2024 issue of Roadracing World:
“It’s insane what can go through your head when you’re on the track.
“I clearly remember my time on the big track at Willow Springs Raceway with the KTM 790 Duke a few years back, because I’d just discovered the disco band Boney M and was humming their 1979 chart-topping single ‘Gotta Go Home’ as I whistled down the back straight.
“I was in a very good mood, heading into Turn Eight with the throttle at the stop and with absolutely no intention of backing off when I flicked it in. Good times…
“So when we got our hands on the latest version of the 790 Duke, let’s just say that I was primed for a positive experience…”
“Quick Look: 2024 KTM 790 Duke,” by Michael Gougis
The 2024 790 Duke is exactly the same light, agile, responsive, standard-style bike that was introduced back in 2018, with plenty of power and advanced electronics. Here’s the big difference: The 2024 model costs a full $1,000 less than it did in 2018! Read our test report and learn how well KTM’s “value” bike works—it’s 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.)
What’s the same? The piston. That’s the way a Husqvarna representative described the differences between the prior Svartpilen/Vitpilen 401 and the new 2024 platform. A day spent blasting up and down twisty roads above Malibu in Southern California at the 2024 introduction of the machines revealed a bigger, better, and easier-to-ride brace of street Singles, aimed at making it even easier for newer riders to enter the sport (and for re-entry riders to get back on two wheels).
What’s different? New frame, new engine, new electronics.
The displacement is larger, the chassis is bigger, and the electronics suite comes from KTM’s well-loved RC 390. But Husqvarna engineers were determined to keep the riding position accessible to new riders. So the shock is offset and mounted to a new swingarm. The airbox is redesigned and aimed forward. The subframe is revised. Those changes allow the company to keep the seat height relatively low, and combined with the claimed dry weight of 340.6 lbs., the bikes are easy for an inexperienced rider to manage at a stoplight.
The new LC4c engine, a single-cylinder four-stroke with a bore and stroke of 89mm x 64mm, features new cases, a new cylinder head, and new fuel injectors. The claimed engine output is 44.25 horsepower (about what the previous model made) to meet tiered licensing requirements outside of the United States. But the longer stroke, which brings the displacement from 373cc to 398.1cc, results in increased torque, Husqvarna says. The new engine also features longer service intervals.
New WP Apex suspension is adjustable front and rear.
Two ride modes, Street and Rain, are available, and the rear-wheel ABS can be switched off–the company calls that Supermoto Mode. A quickshifter allows clutchless up-and down-shifting. The cornering-sensitive traction control can be switched off. The bikes feature a new ride-by-wire system, and an assisted/slipper clutch keeps the rear wheel from hopping during deceleration.
The 401 platform comes in two variations. The Svartpilen (which means Black Arrow in Swedish) comes with scrambler styling cues, including wire spoke wheels, Pirelli Scorpion Rally tires, and higher handlebars. The Vitpilen (White Arrow) comes with Michelin Road 6 tires, lower handlebars, and cast-aluminum-alloy wheels.
Riding the bikes is an exercise in simplicity. The clutch pull is light, the feel at the brake lever direct. The front has a single 320mm disc brake, but the relatively light weight means the machine doesn’t need more front brake. The relatively short hydraulic hose means less is lost in translation when the rider pulls the front brake lever.
The increased torque means leaving a stoplight or stop sign is easier, and the engine pulls harder than prior iterations. This is very useful on the tight, uphill hairpins.
In some circumstances, the suspension feels almost rigid. The damping is less than ideal over the worst pavement heaves, but it is better than many bikes in this market segment and works well on bumpy-but-not-awful pavement. The Svartpilen felt a little more vague when cornering, something I attribute to the tires. The Pirellis would be more suited to light off-road duty while the Michelins are definitely pavement-only tires.
The Svartpilen and Vitpilen are among the new breed of bikes that are suitable for beginners–or people who stopped riding when real life interfered but want to start riding again–but won’t be tossed aside once someone gets the hang of (or re-acquires) the fundamentals of riding. They are stylish in a unique, eye-catching way, powerful enough to use comfortably on an interstate highway and handle well enough to keep things entertaining. At $5,899, the Husqvarnas offer a lot of features for the money, and there are worse ways for someone to start–or re-start–their motorcycling journey.
Gus Rodio (96). Photo by Sara Chappell Photo, courtesy Aprilia USA.
Texas-based RideSmart Motorcycle Schools is offering special MotoAmerica-only sessions during its events September 7 and 8 at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), in Austin, Texas, and space is still available as of Friday, August 30.
In 2023, eligible MotoAmerica racers seeking extra track time ahead of the races at COTA signed up to ride in the RideSmart Motorcycle School at COTA, which was no problem.
But with the Advanced riding group at the event filling up, MotoAmerica racers started signing up to ride in lower-level groups, including Novice, which was a problem.
This year, RideSmart is going out of its way to create extra space at its COTA event by ordering more time from the track and offering it to MotoAmerica racers. In fact, the track will be hot from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. with MotoAmerica racers receiving six dedicated 20-minute sessions each day they sign up for.
Interested MotoAmerica racers should go to www.ridesmart.info, create a profile, pick which day or days they want to ride (September 7 or 8 or both), pick “MotoAmerica Licensed Session,” and be ready to provide your AMA or MotoAmerica license number. Participants will also be asked to provide their MotoAmerica race license during registration at the track.
MotoAmerica testing restrictions will still apply to racers participating in this event.
More, from a press release issued by Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup:
Carpe is the man – Another Rookies Pole in Aragon
When points leader Alvaro Carpe completed Free Practice 2 half a second quicker than anyone else, the 25 other KTM riders in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup knew what they were up against. The 17-year-old who scored the double two weeks ago in Austria worked on his own in Qualifying. He was still 0.238 seconds quicker than 16-year-old Brian Uriarte in P2 with Màximo Quiles, also 16, completing the front row.
That is the same order that they stand in the points table with just 4 races remaining in the season. The second row of the grid features their closest challenger for the Cup, Argentine 16-year-old Valentin Perrone who qualified sixth.
Carpe cool and ready to place one hand on the Cup
“My feeling with the bike was perfect. I made a small front suspension change from FP2 to Qualifying which helped. I’m really happy because I did my time alone, here it is really difficult to do that, without the slipstream in the back straight. It was also windy and that also affected things in the uphill section, it was difficult to manage.”
“I was pushing alone, I know that I have a very good pace and I can do it alone. In FP2 I changed from the long gearing and changed to the shorter sprocket and used that for the Qualifying. I am still thinking which I will use for the race.”
“I feel I have improved quite a lot in the second half of the season,I have been training very hard. I started the year thinking about not taking too many chances, to not crash, not to push the limit too much. But now I have found another way, it worked in Austria and I am going to carry on like that, fastest in FP1, FP2 and Qualifying.”
Uriarte keen to regain the points lead he had before Austria
“Today I struggled a lot in Free Practice on the new asphalt,” admitted the Spaniard. Also, I was making some tests 2 days ago with a Moto3 bike that I felt was very different to this bike. It was a super big step to swap back to the Rookies bike this morning and also with the new asphalt I just had zero feeling. In the first session, I was super lost.”
“FP2 was quite a bit better and in this session, I used Rico as a reference and it helped me a lot. I found a nice pace but I think that there are still places to improve in the race. I have to think about where I can improve, perhaps a small change to the bike but nothing major.”
Quiles feels there is more to come
“The first row is nice,” enthused the Spaniard. I think in Quali I could do a better job because I was pushing but no one seemed to want to push with me. So I pushed, I did my best but the track lacks grip, the tyres slide really early so after the first few laps I felt that I couldn’t push.”
“I am happy though and looking forward to the race. I think the new asphalt causes a lot of wear and the last laps will be difficult, maybe turn and gas it.”
Perrone will push from the start
“P6 is not so bad, on the second row so that’s good. I am happy with the bike, it’s giving me a good feeling but the track is a bit slippery, a bit strange.”
“Tomorrow I will try to make a good start so that I can be second or third in the beginning. I don’t want Carpe to be able to get away. If I can do that then I will try to be calm through the race, be smart and do good things in the finals laps.”
Broadcast
This weekend’s Rookies Cup races can be seen live on www.redbull.tv and on TV stations around the world.
Race 1 is at 16:10 CET on Saturday and Race 2 is on Sunday at 08:45, the show starts 10 minutes before the race.
Marc Marquez was the man to beat during MotoGP World Championship practice Friday at MotorLand Aragon, in Spain. After leading Friday morning practice on his Michelin-equipped Gresini Ducati, Marquez came back in the afternoon and lapped the repaved 3.1-mile course in 1:45.801. Not only was that good enough to top the field of 22 riders, it also eclipsed Francesco Bagnaia’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:46.069 from 2022.
Aprilia factory rider Aleix Espargaro finished Friday morning’s practice second from the bottom and then he finished Friday afternoon’s practice second from the top thanks to a 1:46.073.
Espargaro’s teammate Maverick Vinales was third with a 1:46.117.
Jorge Martin turned a fourth-fastest 1:46.406 on his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati.
Marquez’s teammate and younger brother Alex Marquez was fifth at 1:46.406.
Other riders finishing in the top 10 during Friday afternoon’s session and securing their spot in Qualifying Two were Lenovo Ducati’s two-time and defending World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (1:46.591), Martin’s teammate Franco Morbidelli (1:46.705), Castrol LCR Honda’s Johann Zarco (1:46.732), and Trackhouse Racing teammates Raul Fernandez (1:46.840) and Miguel Oliveira (1:46.855).
Marquez lays down a marker at MotorLand, Aprilia on the chase
The #93 makes it a first on Friday since 2021, Aprilia find some impressive form and Honda make it straight through to Q2 for the first time this season
Marc Marquez (93). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Friday, 30 August 2024
It was a stunning end to MotoGP™ Practice at the Gran Premio GoPro de Aragon, with high-speed action and thrills to close Friday’s action. At the end of the hour-long session, it was Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) who came out on top – setting a stunning new lap record. The #93 had the best start to a weekend since the 2021 Americas GP, topping both sessions. He ended the day ahead of Aprilia Racing duo Aleix Espargaro, who jumped to second, and teammate Maverick Viñales as the Noale factory also had plenty to write home about on Day 1.
Aleix Espargaro (41). Photo courtesy Dorna.
There were plenty of stories which formed throughout the session, all bubbling up to a party of red sectors. Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) suffered from some issues early on, delaying valuable running for the #73. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) crashed at Turn 5, losing the front on entry. Moments after, Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) lost the front at Turn 16, with both riders soon making their way back to the pits.
Maverick Vinales (12). Photo courtesy Dorna.
There was further drama later in the session, with Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) crashing at Turn 16, bringing an early end to the Australian’s Friday with less than one minute to go. And the frenzy on the timesheets had already been underway for some time.
Aprilia led right until the final flying miracle from Marquez, with the #93 getting back on top right at the end. Still, Espargaro takes that P2 and Viñales is right on his heels, the latter the only rider seemingly able to challenge Marquez on the very last lap round. But not quite, as he slotted into third.
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) took fourth after a busy session for the #89. Martin ends the day 0.578s adrift from the top, however, with Marquez two tenths clear just by himself and the Aprilia slotting into the gap. Alex Marquez recovered to P5 after a delayed start to the session, and he also did some running in tandem with the #93 side of the Gresini box.
Taking sixth it’s Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia, who is the sole Ducati Lenovo Team rider inside the top 10 after Enea Bastianini was unable to put together an uninterrupted lap due to late yellow flags. The #1 ended the session in front of Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing), making 2022 winner Bastianini the GP24 hungry for a boost up the order on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) made it a 2024 milestone day for Honda as work continues on getting back to the front of the pack. The Frenchman took eighth, becoming the first Honda to secure direct entry to Q2 in 2024. The final spots inside the top 10 were Trackhouse Racing’s Raul Fernandez and Miguel Oliveira, who made it all four RS-GPs in the top ten on a very positive day for Aprilia.
An action-packed Q1 awaits after a tough afternoon for the Pierer Mobility Group riders: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder and teammate Miller are now forced to battle it in Q1, as well as Red Bull GASGAS Tech3’s Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez. Both Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team riders Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marco Bezzecchi were also outside the top 10, ahead of Bastianini. With just two spots up for grabs in Q2 once the Q1 runners head back out, it could get spicy.
Don’t miss a minute of a super Saturday at MotorLand Aragon, with qualifying just the beginning. Then it’s time for the first ever Tissot Sprint at the venue as the Gran Premio GoPro Aragon brings the world’s most exciting sport back to Teruel with a bang.
FP2: 10:10 (UTC +2)
Q1: 10:50
Q2: 11.15
Tissot Sprint: 15:00
Alonso Lopez (21). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Lopez leads the way with new lap record ahead of timesheets tightening up
Alonso Lopez (Sync SpeedUp) completed a perfect Friday at the Gran Premio GoPro de Aragon with a new lap record in P1 after having already led the way on Friday morning. The #21 set an impressive 1:50.989 benchmark to move two tenths clear of the first on the chase, rookie Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team), with CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team’s Jake Dixon taking the final spot inside the top three within a tenth of the Brazilian.
– Fourth was even closer, with Fermin Aldeguer (Sync SpeedUp) within just 0.007 of Dixon, and small gaps from there on out: Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) in fifth is only half a tenth further back, ahead of Albert Arenas (QJMotor Gresini Moto2™) at a similar deficit and Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing Team)
– Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) had one of his best intermediate class showings so far in P7, ahead of Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) and Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) completing the top ten. Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) was the rider just edged out
– Championship leader Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) was all the way down in P26, and fellow contender and teammate Ai Ogura in P17 as he returns from injury
– The FIM MotoGP™ Stewards have given a number of riders three-place grid penalties for being slow online in P1: Arenas, Alex Escrig (KLINT Forward Factory Team), Filip Salač (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Dennis Foggia (Italtrans Racing Team)
David Alonso (80). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Alonso edges out Rueda as Moto3™ returns to MotorLand
David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) took control on Day 1 in Aragon, with the #80 entering the low 1:57 bracket and finishing 0.210s ahead of his rivals – breaking the lap record in the process. However, Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was charging hard behind, having a strong day and setting almost 15 laps across during Practice 1. The #99 was ahead of David Almansa (Kopron Rivacold Snipers Team), who had an equally impressive afternoon, rounding out the top three spots and finishing as the top Honda.
– Dutchman Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) finished Friday in P4 but at a deficit of nearly eight tenths
– from fourth to P10, it’s split by hundredths, with Austria podium finisher David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) heading Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI), rookie Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing), Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) and Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse)
– Austria podium finisher Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) will be one of the first looking to move forward on Saturday, ending Practice 1 in P14
Alonso Lopez led Moto2 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at MotorLand Aragon, in Spain. Riding his Sync SpeedUp Boscoscuro on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard lapped the repaved 3.1-mile road course in 1:50.989, topping the field of 32 riders and breaking Sam Lowes’ All-Time Lap Record of 1:51.296 from 2020.
Diogo Moreira was second-best with a time of 1:51.212 on his Italtrans Racing Kalex.
Jake Dixon did a third-fastest 1:51.292 on his CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team Kalex.
Lopez’s teammate Fermin Aldeguer was fourth with a lap at 1:51.299.
Aron Canet rounded out the top five with a 1:51.351 on his Fantic Racing Kalex.
American Joe Roberts finished Friday afternoon’s practice session 11th with a best time of 1:51.680 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
David Alonso led Moto3 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at MotorLand Aragon, in Spain. Alonso used his Pirelli-shod Gaviota Aspar Team CFMOTO to lap the repaved 3.1-mile track in 1:57.052, which led the field of 27 riders and broke Jorge Martin’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:57.066 from 2018.
Marc Marquez was quickest during MotoGP World Championship Free Practice One Friday morning at MotorLand Aragon, in Spain. Riding his Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici on Michelin control tires, the six-time MotoGP World Champion lapped the 3.1-mile course in 1:48.289 to lead the field of 22 riders.
Jorge Martin was second-best with a 1:48.772 on his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati.
Rookie Pedro Acosta did a third-fastest 1:48.902 on his Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 machine.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder was fourth at 1:48.952.
Fabio Di Giannantonio rounded out the top five with a 1:48.954.
Less than one second covered the top 10 riders in the session.
Joe Roberts (16). Photo courtesy OnlyFans American Racing Team.
Alonso Lopez topped Moto2 World Championship Free Practice Friday morning at MotorLand Aragon, in Spain. Riding a Sync SpeedUp Boscoscuro on spec Pirelli tires, the Spaniard navigated the repaved 3.1-mile road course in 1:51.657 to lead the field of 32 riders.
Tony Arbolino was the best of the rest with a 1:51.954 on his Elf Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex.
Manuel Gonzalez was third thanks to his lap time of 1:52.040 on is QJMOTOR Gresini Kalex.
Red Bull KTM Ajo Kalex rider Deniz Oncu was fourth at 1:52.152.
American Joe Roberts rounded out the top five with a time of 1:52.244 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
David Alonso led Moto3 World Championship practice Friday morning at MotorLand Aragon, in Spain. Riding his Gaviota Aspar Team CFMOTO on Pirelli control tires, the Colombian lapped the repaved 3.1-mile track in 1:59.683. That didn’t set any new records, but it was good enough to lead the field of 27 riders.
Ample power is stylish. The KTM 790 Duke's Parallel Twin LC8c engine is still as strong and torquey as when it was introduced five years ago. Action photo by Karen E. Ott.
Featured In the August 2024 issue of Roadracing World:
“It’s insane what can go through your head when you’re on the track.
“I clearly remember my time on the big track at Willow Springs Raceway with the KTM 790 Duke a few years back, because I’d just discovered the disco band Boney M and was humming their 1979 chart-topping single ‘Gotta Go Home’ as I whistled down the back straight.
“I was in a very good mood, heading into Turn Eight with the throttle at the stop and with absolutely no intention of backing off when I flicked it in. Good times…
“So when we got our hands on the latest version of the 790 Duke, let’s just say that I was primed for a positive experience…”
“Quick Look: 2024 KTM 790 Duke,” by Michael Gougis
The 2024 790 Duke is exactly the same light, agile, responsive, standard-style bike that was introduced back in 2018, with plenty of power and advanced electronics. Here’s the big difference: The 2024 model costs a full $1,000 less than it did in 2018! Read our test report and learn how well KTM’s “value” bike works—it’s 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.)
The 2024 Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 in the Santa Monica mountains. Photo by Ryan Sarancha/courtesy Husqvarna.
What’s the same? The piston. That’s the way a Husqvarna representative described the differences between the prior Svartpilen/Vitpilen 401 and the new 2024 platform. A day spent blasting up and down twisty roads above Malibu in Southern California at the 2024 introduction of the machines revealed a bigger, better, and easier-to-ride brace of street Singles, aimed at making it even easier for newer riders to enter the sport (and for re-entry riders to get back on two wheels).
What’s different? New frame, new engine, new electronics.
The displacement is larger, the chassis is bigger, and the electronics suite comes from KTM’s well-loved RC 390. But Husqvarna engineers were determined to keep the riding position accessible to new riders. So the shock is offset and mounted to a new swingarm. The airbox is redesigned and aimed forward. The subframe is revised. Those changes allow the company to keep the seat height relatively low, and combined with the claimed dry weight of 340.6 lbs., the bikes are easy for an inexperienced rider to manage at a stoplight.
The new LC4c engine, a single-cylinder four-stroke with a bore and stroke of 89mm x 64mm, features new cases, a new cylinder head, and new fuel injectors. The claimed engine output is 44.25 horsepower (about what the previous model made) to meet tiered licensing requirements outside of the United States. But the longer stroke, which brings the displacement from 373cc to 398.1cc, results in increased torque, Husqvarna says. The new engine also features longer service intervals.
New WP Apex suspension is adjustable front and rear.
Two ride modes, Street and Rain, are available, and the rear-wheel ABS can be switched off–the company calls that Supermoto Mode. A quickshifter allows clutchless up-and down-shifting. The cornering-sensitive traction control can be switched off. The bikes feature a new ride-by-wire system, and an assisted/slipper clutch keeps the rear wheel from hopping during deceleration.
The 401 platform comes in two variations. The Svartpilen (which means Black Arrow in Swedish) comes with scrambler styling cues, including wire spoke wheels, Pirelli Scorpion Rally tires, and higher handlebars. The Vitpilen (White Arrow) comes with Michelin Road 6 tires, lower handlebars, and cast-aluminum-alloy wheels.
Riding the bikes is an exercise in simplicity. The clutch pull is light, the feel at the brake lever direct. The front has a single 320mm disc brake, but the relatively light weight means the machine doesn’t need more front brake. The relatively short hydraulic hose means less is lost in translation when the rider pulls the front brake lever.
The increased torque means leaving a stoplight or stop sign is easier, and the engine pulls harder than prior iterations. This is very useful on the tight, uphill hairpins.
In some circumstances, the suspension feels almost rigid. The damping is less than ideal over the worst pavement heaves, but it is better than many bikes in this market segment and works well on bumpy-but-not-awful pavement. The Svartpilen felt a little more vague when cornering, something I attribute to the tires. The Pirellis would be more suited to light off-road duty while the Michelins are definitely pavement-only tires.
The Svartpilen and Vitpilen are among the new breed of bikes that are suitable for beginners–or people who stopped riding when real life interfered but want to start riding again–but won’t be tossed aside once someone gets the hang of (or re-acquires) the fundamentals of riding. They are stylish in a unique, eye-catching way, powerful enough to use comfortably on an interstate highway and handle well enough to keep things entertaining. At $5,899, the Husqvarnas offer a lot of features for the money, and there are worse ways for someone to start–or re-start–their motorcycling journey.
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