Roadracing World MotoGP Editor and Isle of Man TT winner Mat Oxley and two-time World Championship-winning Crew Chief Peter Bom have started “The Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast,” which will be focused on the FIM MotoGP World Championship.
This podcast is “Tech Talk – The Terrible Throttle Tell-All.”
The original podcast can be found on BuzzSprout.com or listened to via other places you get podcasts.
From the Oxley Bom Podcast:
If you want to go fast, you hit the gas. But what actually happens when a rider goes full throttle? The answer, as you might expect of a cutting edge million dollar speed machine, is a little complex. Luckily, we’ve got our very own engineering expert! Join us as Mat asks Peter everything you’ve ever wanted to know about what happens when you turn that handle.
Oh, and make sure to stick around for the end of the episode for some very cool updates about the future of the podcast…
With big thanks as always to Brad Baloo from The Next Men and Gentleman’s Dub Club, who wrote our theme song. Check out The Nextmen for more great music!
Featured In the January 2024 issue of Roadracing World:
Urban legend says Henry Ford once commissioned a study of Ford cars in junkyards. The researcher reported back that they found that the cars had died for all sorts of reasons: Transmissions, crankshafts, broken pistons, etc. The researcher did offer that, on the upside, all the king pin bushings in the front suspension were in excellent condition.
“Make the kingpin bushings cheaper,” was Ford’s response.
That unverified and argued-over anecdote could explain why the king pin bushings on my 1970 E100 were garbage. It also could illustrate how manufacturers may aim to have all the parts wear out at the same rate, as well as strive to deliver performance at a price point…
“An Autopsy Of A 2020 Yamaha YZF-R1 Race Engine,” by Sam Fleming
In the interest of science, Sam Fleming enlisted Michael Godin from KWS Motorsports to tear down a 4,000-mile Army Of Darkness race engine and provide an independent assessment of its condition and a recommendation for how to proceed if it was a track day/streetbike instead of an engine intended to win the 2023 N2 WERA National Endurance Championship. This is what Godin found—and 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.)
At a boutique hotel in the heart of Hollywood, the U.S.-based Aprilia squad Trackhouse Racing on Friday unveiled the livery for the RS-GP machines the team will use in MotoGP competition during the 2024 season.
In addition to Trackhouse founder and owner Justin Marks, a former NASCAR racer and owner of a NASCAR team, riders Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez were on hand, as well as former and current Grand Prix racers. They were joined by Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia Racing, as well as Wilco Zeelenberg, the former 250cc Grand Prix racer who is the team manager for Trackhouse.
Wayne Rainey, a three-time 500cc Grand Prix World Champion and now President of MotoAmerica, and 1993 500cc Grand Prix World Champion Kevin Schwantz were both on hand, representing the period of Grand Prix racing that was utterly dominated by American riders. From 1978 to 1993, Americans won 13 of 16 500cc Grand Prix titles.
Trackhouse is based in North Carolina, but the satellite team will operate out of Noale, Italy, in conjunction with the Aprilia racing department. Oliveira will start the season on a 2024 RS-GP, while Fernandez will start racing on the 2023 version of the machine and transition to a 2024 during the season. Oliveira is a multi-time MotoGP winner with KTM, and Fernandez is a multi-time winner in Moto2 and runner-up in the Moto2 World Championship in 2022.
The livery for the Trackhouse Racing Aprilia RS-GP machines for the 2024 season reflects the team’s American heritage. Miguel Oliveira will ride the 2024 version, while Raul Fernandez will start with the 2023 machine that won two races last year. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Marks said the opportunity to get involved in MotoGP came about much more quickly than expected, but when told it was now or never by the leaders of Dorna, he jumped at the chance. The CryptoData RNF MotoGP Team was imploding, and the satellite Aprilias that RNF ran – and their grid slots – were available if Trackhouse was willing to move immediately.
“We went to the MotoGP race in Austria,” Marks said. “We went there as a NASCAR team to see what MotoGP was like, to see if we could learn something about making our team a little bit better, to take some inspiration. That was five months ago.
“When I was talking to Carmelo and Carlos (Ezpeleta, CEO and Chief Sporting Officer of Dorna Sports, respectively), they said they would love to have us in MotoGP. I said I know there’s a lot to learn. Let’s look at 2025. Give me a year, in 2024 we’ll take a year, go to races, meet people, learn everything. They said, the door’s open right now and I can’t tell you how long it’s going to be open. It was a ready, fire, aim moment for Trackhouse. We have a lot of exciting things ahead of us and we’re excited.”
“We are super excited, and we share their vision,” Rivola said.
Rainey and Schwantz talked about how important having an American team in Grand Prix racing is for the sport in the U.S.
“Grand Prix racing is something that’s almost been forgotten about here,” Schwantz said. “It’s a great stepping stone. There’s so much talent here in America that could race on the world stage. They just don’t have the manufacturer support to get it done. To have someone like Trackhouse who is focused on racing here – it’s big.”
“I think it’s really exciting news,” Rainey said. “This had to happen. Trackhouse gets to grow their brand, and it will help raise awareness of Grand Prix racing here in the U.S.”
3D Motorsports signs Bicknese and Enriquez for Supersport
Decatur, Texas-based 3D Motorsports has signed Hayden Bicknese as well as Alex Enriquez to pilot their Suzuki GSX-R750s in MotoAmerica Supersport in 2024. Both riders have tested with the team over the winter and feel confident for the 2024 season.
Hayden Bicknese is no stranger to the MotoAmerica podium with six podiums in Junior Cup. He is up for the challenge in Supersport this year and feels he can run up front.
“I’m excited to see what we can do with Hayden. We are lucky enough to be able to ride a lot during the year with him and believe we can develop both the bike and him to be a contender,” expressed 3D Motorsports owner Dustin Dominguez.
Hayden Bicknese (68). Photo courtesy 3D Motorsports.
Bicknese added, “I am very excited to be joining 3D Motorsports on the GSX-R750 for my first year in Supersport. I think that I have the opportunity to have a strong first year in the class with Dustin Dominguez and his team, and I can’t wait to see what I can do at Road Atlanta.”
Alex Enriquez had a great year in 2023 as he was selected to represent America in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. The teenager has also had success finishing on the podium in the North American Talent Cup in 2022. For 2024, the Californian will jump into the Supersport class. Enriquez stated, “I’m happy I will be racing in the MotoAmerica Supersport class on a GSX-R750 with 3D Motorsports. I’m so excited and can’t wait till the season starts!”
Dominguez spoke about Enriquez, “I went out to Chuckwalla in December and watched some races and saw Alex on a 600. I was impressed with his riding and lap times. I went to talk to his father and learned it was his first time ever on a Supersport bike. We’re excited to have him with us for 2024.”
3D Motorsports is excited about the future and plans to announce its Stock 1000 rider lineup soon. For more info about the team email [email protected] We want thank all our sponsors for the tremendous support, Btec Turbines, CG Law, Blud Lubricants, Drippin Wet, M4, Spears Racing, Orient Express, Ktech, Dunlop, AF1 Racing, and Southern Adrenaline.
Featured In the January 2024 issue of Roadracing World:
While many manufacturers have used carbon-fiber for parts of their MotoGP machines, few have committed to full composite chassis. The most successful were the Ducati Desmosedici GP09 and GP10 models in the hands of Casey Stoner, but after going winless in 2011, the Italian company, which had used steel trellis frames until adopting the carbon monocoque design, fell in line with orthodoxy and built its GP12 with a twin-spar aluminum frame.
KTM has been MotoGP’s technical rebel in recent years, sticking with a steel frame and its own suspension components when all others adopted variations on aluminum twin-spar frames and Öhlins…
“Back To The Future,” by Michael Gougis
Now KTM has gone where others have feared to tread, equipping its factory RC16 racebikes with full carbon-fiber chassis. KTM’s Technical Manager for MotoGP, Sebastian Risse, explains why the company feels it is not only the correct choice, but will soon be the only choice for MotoGP machines. 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.)
Editorial Note: The official All-Time WorldSBK Lap Record at Jerez is 1:38.247, which was set by Jonathan Rea in 2019.
Bulega impresses with blazing fastest lap while Bautista explores combined weight set-up
Nicolo Bulega continued to set the pace at Jerez, clocking an impressive 1’37.809s lap time that remained untouched throughout the day.
Jonathan Rea (65). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Jonathan Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu, adjusting to their new teams, concluded the second day with the second- and fourth-fastest times, respectively. Scott Redding claimed the third spot on the timesheets.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (54). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Challenges arose for Alvaro Bautista, the reigning WorldSBK Champion, as he navigated the Jerez test, focusing on adapting to the new weight regulation.
Alvaro Bautista (1). Photo courtesy Dorna.
On the second day of testing at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, Andalucía, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) continued his dominance, setting an exceptional lap record pace, leaving his competitors trailing by more than half a second. In contrast, teammate Alvaro Bautista encountered difficulties, finishing in 16th, lapping in 1’39.583s. Ducati showcased strength with Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) securing fifth place while Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) also delivered a solid performance, finishing seventh. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) claiming ninth while Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) was 15th on his sole day of testing.
Andrea Iannone (29). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Sam Lowes (14). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) showcased Yamaha’s prowess, securing second place with a 1’38.345s, while teammate Andrea Locatelli completed the top ten. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) secured eighth place, while Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) took 12th.
Scott Redding (45). Photo courtesy Dorna.
In a surprising turn, Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) surged late to claim third place with a 1’38.572s, pushing Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) to fourth. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) also performed well, securing sixth place. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) finished 13th with a best time of 1’39.224s.
Garrett Gerloff (31). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Leading the Kawasaki camp, Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) finished in 11th place, focusing on race pace, with Axel Bassani improving to 14th. Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was 18th.
Honda had a challenging day, with Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) leading the team in 16th, and teammate Iker Lecuona finishing 19th.
The WorldSBK Paddock is set to move to Portimao, continuing its testing program on January 29th and 30th.
Nicolo Bulega | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“It was a solid test. We tried things that I liked. The time attack was very good, and the pace was consistent all day with race tyres. I’m very proud and happy of my fast lap. It’s our first test of the year, and we already have this great feeling with the bike. It wasn’t easy, but when I saw the dashboard with 1’37.8s, I was smiling. I’m happy with all the work done during this first test of the year. I’m already looking forward to the next one. We’ll continue working this way and keep improving the feeling with the bike in Portimao.”
Jerez Test Day 2 Results:
1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’37.809, 69 laps
2. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 1’38.345s, 78 laps
3. Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) 1’38.572s, 77 laps
4. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’38.638s, 78 laps
5. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) 1’38.744s, 61 laps
6. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) 1’38.832s, 74 laps
7. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) 1’38,852s, 91 laps
9. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 1’38.907s, 73 laps
10. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 1’38.943s, 73 laps
Stefano Manzi (62). Photo courtesy Dorna.
2023 WorldSSP runner-up Stefano Manzi (Pata Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) took top spot in the World Supersport field with a 1’41.338s, completing 64 laps. He was three tenths clear of Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in second as he continues his comeback from arm surgery, while Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) took P3. With Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) in fourth, four different manufacturers were inside the top four at the end of Day 2.
More, from a press release issued by Team HRC Honda:
Team HRC preps for the 2024 WorldSBK Championship with a two-day test at Jerez
Team HRC has kicked off preparations for the upcoming 2024 Superbike World Championship with two days of testing at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Spain.
Benefiting from almost ideal weather conditions on both Wednesday and Thursday, with clear skies and mild temperatures for the time of year, factory riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge made the most of the track time, riding from 10.30am until 6.00pm.
The squad focused on identifying a solid base-setup for the new CBR1000RR-R. This involved testing a series of upgrades made to different areas of the machine, and building on the work completed in November when the bike made its debut outing at Jerez. In addition to this setup work, the team also tested the new E40 sustainable fuel, the use of which is part of the 2024 Superbike regulation, in order to gather data and insights.
Lecuona and Vierge made an impressive number of laps over the course of two intense days, further developing their understanding of the bike’s performance and potential as a result.
Team HRC now looks ahead to its next testing session at Portugal’s Autódromo Internacional do Algarve on 29-30 January, when the preparations for the upcoming racing season will continue.
Xavi Vierge 97
“I’m happy to be back working with my squad and all the members of my team. We’ve had two days of ideal weather conditions here in Jerez, which has allowed us to complete a lot of laps and get through a significant amount of work. It’s true that we’ve had a little more difficulty than expected, especially during the traction phase, so one of our main goals here was to improve traction and grip. The overall feeling on the bike is quite good, but as soon as we close the throttle, we cannot exploit the power and have too much spin. We’ve made a number of adjustments to the bike setup and electronics, and now it will be crucial for the engineers to analyze all the data and come up with a solid plan for Portimão, so that we can quickly make progress.”
Iker Lecuona 7
“Over the winter I had a small surgery on my left hand, as I’d been having some issues last season, an after-effect of having broken my hand back in 2021. Although I’ve had to scale back my gym work a little, I’m almost 100% and am now training properly again; I feel strong physically but also mentally and was looking forward to getting on the bike yesterday. I see 2024 as being an important year for me, and so I want to do my best to be ready for it. I feel we’ve taken a step with the aero package, and the bike overall seems to work in a different way, thanks to updated electronics and the like, which helps us to improve in certain areas. Having said that, the bike is new, and we’re still struggling with certain aspects. I wanted to find better front feeling this week, and we worked hard to achieve that but are not there yet. The next two days of testing at Portimão will be important, giving us the chance to understand how the bike feels at a completely different track and to establish the best possible base before we head to Phillip Island.”
More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:
Bulega in great form at Jerez (P1). Intense set up work for Bautista. Huertas does well in WorldSSP (P3)
The first two days of testing for the 2024 WorldSBK season concluded at Jerez de la Frontera (Spain).
At the Angel Nieto Circuit, Nicolò Bulega proved to be already at ease on the Ducati Panigale V4R of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, finishing first on both Day 1 and Day 2 and setting an impressive chrono of 1’37.809, the fastest time ever set at the Angel Nieto Circuit by a World Superbike rider.
Extremely intense work by Bautista: for the first time, he was able to test the bike in the 2024 configuration, with the extra kilos of ballast required by the new regulations. The Spanish rider (still not at the top of his condition after the scary crash he was involved in during the previous winter test at Jerez) carried out extensive set-up work with his team, completing 149 laps in two days. The time of 1’39.583 (P17) is not indicative, as Bautista was one of the very few riders not taking to the track on a qualifying tire.
Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #11)
“I am happy because we took another step forward, even compared to yesterday, and the feeling has grown steadily. We worked well on the time attack and that means I was also able to improve on the qualifying tires. I think it was an important test and now we go to Portimao to continue on this path. Today’s lap time? It doesn’t change anything: I remain a rookie and my objectives are different to the top riders”.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #1)
“I am satisfied because on Day 1, due to some pain, I didn’t get the best feeling; today things went better and this is undoubtedly a good sign. I can say that my condition has even improved. We worked a lot on the set-up, especially in light of the new regulations, and we got some important indications. We haven’t tried a time attack but that wasn’t the priority of this testing. I am looking forward to being at Portimao to continue on this path and to get further feedback on my condition”.
WorldSSP
Good start for Adrian Huertas and the Ducati Panigale V2 of the Aruba.it Racing WSSP team. The Spanish rider completed 124 laps, lowering today (1’41.942) by more than 6 tenths of a second the time recorded on Day 1 and finishing in third place among the 13 WorldSSP riders on track.
Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WSSP #99)
“I am very satisfied with the work we did. We tried many solutions and we were able to understand which of them could be useful and which ones did not work well. We didn’t focus on the lap time but we will have a chance to do that in the upcoming tests.”
More, from a press release issued by Elf Marc VDS Racing:
Lowes steps up WorldSBK preparations in Jerez
With their debut season in the WorldSBK Championship fast approaching, the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team and Sam Lowes were back on track for the first time in 2024 to complete a positive two-day test session at the Circuito de Angel Nieto in Jerez.
Riding in the stunning new Elf Marc VDS WorldSBK livery for the first time, favourable weather conditions enabled Lowes to continue his adaptation to Ducati’s Panigale V4 R machine in impressive fashion.
With the majority of this year’s star-studded WorldSBK line-up on track in Jerez, Lowes finished the test in a hugely encouraging eighth position, with plenty of data and experience gained ahead of next month’s season opener in Australia.
The Elf Marc VDS Racing Team now leaves Spain to cross the border into Portugal for another two-day test session at the spectacular Algarve International Circuit next week.
Sam Lowes
/// 8th, 1:38.852, 173 laps
After the winter break, Lowes was busy on track on day one to complete 82 laps, with his prime focus on finding a base set-up while also gaining crucial experience of Pirelli’s hard compound tyres.
Lowes ended the first day only 0.3s behind reigning World Champion Alvaro Bautista, with continual improvements made throughout, which was reflected in his fast and constant pace in race trim.
More valuable set-up work was accomplished in a marathon stint of 91 laps on the second day, which saw Lowes use Pirelli’s super grippy soft rear tyre for his first time attack on the Ducati Panigale VR 4.
His performance on softer rubber was particularly eye-catching, with Lowes able to lap 1.3s faster compared to his best time on day one and he ended eighth overall with a fastest lap of 1:38.852 to finish third fastest Ducati on track.
“This test was full of positives”
“I’m really happy with how the test finished. I improved a lot compared to the first day and I felt a lot better on the bike. That’s a normal evolution as I get more used to the Ducati and know what I need to be fast. The team has done an amazing job in helping me understand more how to ride a superbike and I’m starting to feel like this is my bike. I did a lot of good laps on my own and today was the first time I tried the super soft Pirelli tyre. My time was fast, but I only used one tyre, so I’m sure I could go even faster again. We must be happy with the job we’ve done, and I know there is a plenty more to come as we do more laps and get more comfortable with the Ducati. We did a lot of laps in Jerez, and I feel pretty tired now, but I can’t thank the team enough for all their hard work. We tried a lot of different set-ups to help us get very important information and now I’m looking forward to going to Portimao next week to understand the bike on a completely different track. This test was full of positives and gives me a big boost heading to Portugal.”
BigR Racing Signs Jared Lowe for 2024 Progressive AFT Season
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 25, 2024) – BigR Racing is excited to announce it has signed up-and-coming talent Jared Lowe to contest the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER championship aboard a Honda CRF450R during the 2024 Progressive American Track season.
Lowe enters his fourth professional season coming off his most impressive campaign yet and expects to continue the upward trend in ‘24. Last season, “the Jet” signaled his arrival as a serious contender in the extraordinary competitive class, notching up a host of personal bests, including his total number of top-ten finishes (five), championship points (80), top Main Event finish (seventh), and top qualifying performance (fourth).
Lowe’s rise mirrors that of BigR Racing. The Kansas-based outfit burst onto the scene as a top-ten entity in 2022 and then increased its top-ten haul, up from three to four, in 2023. Along with the signing of Jared as the team’s lead pilot for the upcoming season, BigR Racing has also recruited Sam Lowe to serve as the squad’s Crew Chief.
BigR Team Owner Ron Belt said, “The entire Lowe racing family brings good things to the series. And after watching Jared and Sam work together in 2023, I knew they would be a great fit with the team.”
Lowe said, “I’m excited to be a part of BigR Racing this year. I’ve got some seat time on the bikes, and I already feel very comfortable. I’m ready to compete.”
BigR Racing and the team is supported by several of the sport’s leading sponsors. Mike Vinson of Vinson Construction, Mission Foods, Roof Systems of Dallas, Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda, Scott Scherb of Scherb Racing, Ryan Sangals of SPC Racing, Motion Pro, L&R Racing, VP Racing Fuel, and LBP, along with many others.
The deeper dive into 75 years of racing starts with some of the biggest names in the sport: the Champions
Thursday, 25 January 2024
As we celebrate the 75 years of competition that have brought us to 2024, we’re taking a deeper dive into some of the facts and stats – starting with some of the biggest names in the sport! Check them out, and head to our all-new 75th anniversary page to enjoy some of the best content from then and now, with plenty more to be added throughout the season.
ALL CLASSES
126 Champions
126 riders have won Championships. 56 have more than one, leaving 70 riders with one Grand Prix motorcycle racing Championship to their name – in some cases, so far, as they include a number of familiar names from the current grid.
Champions with the most titles
Giacomo Agostini leads with 15: 8 in the premier class and 7 in the 350cc category. Next up it’s Angel Nieto with 12+1 titles – 7x125cc and 6x50cc – before 3 riders who have 9 titles each: Carlo Ubbiali (6x125cc, 3x250cc), Mike Hailwood (4x500cc, 2x350cc, 3x250cc) and Valentino Rossi (7x500cc/MotoGP™, 1x250cc, 1x125cc).
The only current rider able to join that club soon is Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), who has 8: 6xMotoGP™, 1xMoto2™ and 1x125cc. After all the former riders who have 7, 6, 5 or 4 titles each, the next current competitor with most titles overall is reigning MotoGP™ World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), who has 3: 2xMotoGP™ and 1xMoto2™
.
Championship Streaks
One rider holds the overall record: Giacomo Agostini, with 7 titles in a row in the 500cc class from 1966 to 1972, and 7 in a row in the 350cc class from 1968 to 1974.
PREMIER CLASS
Champions with the most premier class titles
Looking at the premier class only, the rider with the most doesn’t change – it’s Giacomo Agostini (8). Then it’s Valentino Rossi with 7, ahead of Marc Marquez on 6 – putting the number 93 in reach of another piece of history.
The only rider with 5 premier class crowns is Mick Doohan, and 4 have 4: Mike Hailwood, John Surtees, Geoff Duke and Eddie Lawson.
Some riders have only won titles in the premier class. Those with the most are Mick Doohan (5), Eddie Lawson (4), Wayne Rainey (3) and Kenny Roberts (3).
Championship Streaks: premier class
Pecco Bagnaia became only the third rider in the MotoGP™ era to defend the crown when he did so in 2023. The others are Valentino Rossi, who won from 2002 to 2005 (adding to his maiden premier class 500cc crown in 2001), and then again in 2008 and 2009, and Marc Marquez – he reigned 2013 and 2014, and then from 2016 to 2019.
Over 75 years of premier class history, Giacomo Agostini leads the way with the longest winning streak: those 7 premier class titles we mentioned above.
There are two riders in second on the list of most premier class crowns in a row, with 5 each: Valentino Rossi from 2001 to 2005, and Mick Doohan from 1994 to 1998. Completing the top five, there are two riders who have four in a row: Marc Marquez (2016 to 2019) and Mike Hailwood (1962 to 1965).
HISTORY ON THE LINE
As the most decorated rider on the grid as it stands, there’s history on the line for Marc Marquez this year. He could:
– Join Carlo Ubbiali, Mike Hailwood and Valentino Rossi as a nine-time Champion
– Equal Valentino Rossi in second on the list of riders with most premier class titles
– Become the first rider with an Independent Team to win the crown in the MotoGP™ era
– Join only Valentino Rossi (Honda – Yamaha) and Casey Stoner (Ducati – Honda) as riders who have won Championships in the MotoGP™ era with more than one manufacturer
Join us for the Sepang Shakedown to see our first glimpse of 2024 before we see Marc Marquez start his new adventure, in new colours, at the Sepang Test from the 6th to the 8th of February. And then it’s one more test before we start a record-breaking 2024 calendar!
Editorial Note: Scroll down to watch Kawasaki’s Super Bowl commercial.
KAWASAKI SET TO DEBUT FIRST SUPER BOWL AD
Mullets Take Center Stage in Super Bowl Spot from Goodby Silverstein & Partners
Foothill Ranch, Calif. – Known for Ninja® motorcycles, JET SKI® personal watercraft and MULE™ side x sides, Kawasaki will literally blaze a new trail at Super Bowl LVIII with the first-ever Big Game spot for an off-road side x side vehicle to promote their new Kawasaki RIDGE side x side. The commercial, created by Goodby Silverstein & Partners (GS&P), pays homage to an all-American hairstyle that’s roared back to popularity in recent years: the mullet.
“The Kawasaki RIDGE combines industry-leading performance and a premium automotive-inspired interior; it’s a mix of work and play.” said Bob O’Brien, Director of Marketing, Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. “The mullet is a perfect metaphor—business in the front, party in the back. We hired GS&P to help us bring this category from its current niche audience to the biggest stage in the world and generate mass awareness.”
The ad features two adventure seekers who magically grow mullets upon entering the RIDGE. As the duo tear across backcountry trails, creatures such as bald eagles and bears sprout mullets that look like they’re straight out of an ’80s metal show—culminating in the famously hair-free pro wrestling legend (and real-life Kawasaki enthusiast) Steve Austin suddenly sporting a blonde mullet as the RIDGE passes him by.
“This has all the earmarks of great Super Bowl advertising. Instant RIDGE action. Animals. A big name. Humor. And mullets. Watch any NBA game or hot video. The mullet is everywhere,” said Jeff Goodby, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman, GS&P. “Given the hairstyle’s versatile nature, it’s an unexpectedly simple way to introduce the RIDGE.”
Powersports—and especially side x side vehicles—have left their once-niche world of ranchers and adrenaline junkies and are on the verge of entering mainstream consciousness. The fastest-growing segment in powersports is now side x side vehicles, sales of which have skyrocketed as of late. During the pandemic many families realized that side x side vehicles provided the perfect way to get outside, spend time on adventures and have more fun together. Even as motorcycles sales continue to rise, side x side sales have outpaced them and are projected to overtake the powersports category.
“Kawasaki has built a legacy on pushing the limits in innovation, performance, style and attitude.” said Eigo Konya, President, Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. “Over the decades our products have evolved, but one thing remains the same—Kawasaki exists to ‘Let the Good Times Roll’.”
GS&P has a history of making famous Super Bowl ads. Over the years it’s created memorable ads for Doritos, Cheetos, bubly, Pepsi, BMW, Hyundai, Emerald Nuts, E*TRADE, Budweiser and many others.
In tandem with GS&P’s Super Bowl campaign, Kawasaki also developed a RIDGE launch campaign with marketing partner Fuse Interactive. The launch campaign, which focuses on the vehicle’s top features, introduces the tagline Peak Premium Performance. This statement will firmly plant the Kawasaki flag at the top of the premium Side x Side segment.
Featured In the January 2024 issue of Roadracing World:
Why did Marc Márquez quit a hugely lucrative factory Repsol Honda ride to race a second-hand Ducati for an independent team? The six-time MotoGP World Champion ended the first half of the 2023 season crashing Honda’s uncompetitive RC213V seven times during June’s German and Dutch Grands Prix.
Even for Márquez, who has always ridden on the ragged edge, that was a lot. He knew he couldn’t go on like this. “After the summer break I said to myself, ‘I will ride more calmly,’ so I started riding in a safety way,” says the 30-year-old Spaniard. “But that was so boring! For me it was like a nightmare to go to a circuit and ride in easy mode and fight for 15th place. I said to myself, ‘Can I do one more year like this?’ ”
“Marc Marquez Interview,” by MotoGP Editor Mat Oxley
The short answer is no, Marc Marquez could not see himself doing one more year on the Honda RC213V. He explains why he quit Honda to race an independent-team Ducati in 2024, why the Ducati is MotoGP’s best bike, and why he wouldn’t wish his recent injuries on anyone. 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.)
Roadracing World MotoGP Editor and Isle of Man TT winner Mat Oxley (right) and two-time World Championship-winning Crew Chief Peter Bom (left). Photo courtesy Mat Oxley.
Roadracing World MotoGP Editor and Isle of Man TT winner Mat Oxley and two-time World Championship-winning Crew Chief Peter Bom have started “The Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast,” which will be focused on the FIM MotoGP World Championship.
This podcast is “Tech Talk – The Terrible Throttle Tell-All.”
The original podcast can be found on BuzzSprout.com or listened to via other places you get podcasts.
From the Oxley Bom Podcast:
If you want to go fast, you hit the gas. But what actually happens when a rider goes full throttle? The answer, as you might expect of a cutting edge million dollar speed machine, is a little complex. Luckily, we’ve got our very own engineering expert! Join us as Mat asks Peter everything you’ve ever wanted to know about what happens when you turn that handle.
Oh, and make sure to stick around for the end of the episode for some very cool updates about the future of the podcast…
With big thanks as always to Brad Baloo from The Next Men and Gentleman’s Dub Club, who wrote our theme song. Check out The Nextmen for more great music!
Cody Wyman on the N2/WERA National Endurance Championship-winning Army of Darkness Yamaha YZF-R1. After 4,000+ miles the team took it apart. Raul Jerez/Highside Photo.
Featured In the January 2024 issue of Roadracing World:
Urban legend says Henry Ford once commissioned a study of Ford cars in junkyards. The researcher reported back that they found that the cars had died for all sorts of reasons: Transmissions, crankshafts, broken pistons, etc. The researcher did offer that, on the upside, all the king pin bushings in the front suspension were in excellent condition.
“Make the kingpin bushings cheaper,” was Ford’s response.
That unverified and argued-over anecdote could explain why the king pin bushings on my 1970 E100 were garbage. It also could illustrate how manufacturers may aim to have all the parts wear out at the same rate, as well as strive to deliver performance at a price point…
“An Autopsy Of A 2020 Yamaha YZF-R1 Race Engine,” by Sam Fleming
In the interest of science, Sam Fleming enlisted Michael Godin from KWS Motorsports to tear down a 4,000-mile Army Of Darkness race engine and provide an independent assessment of its condition and a recommendation for how to proceed if it was a track day/streetbike instead of an engine intended to win the 2023 N2 WERA National Endurance Championship. This is what Godin found—and 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.)
From left, Raul Fernandez, Justin Marks and Miguel Oliveira. Fernandez and Oliveira are the riders for the new-for-2024 Trackhouse MotoGP team. Photo by Michael Gougis.
At a boutique hotel in the heart of Hollywood, the U.S.-based Aprilia squad Trackhouse Racing on Friday unveiled the livery for the RS-GP machines the team will use in MotoGP competition during the 2024 season.
In addition to Trackhouse founder and owner Justin Marks, a former NASCAR racer and owner of a NASCAR team, riders Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez were on hand, as well as former and current Grand Prix racers. They were joined by Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia Racing, as well as Wilco Zeelenberg, the former 250cc Grand Prix racer who is the team manager for Trackhouse.
Wayne Rainey, a three-time 500cc Grand Prix World Champion and now President of MotoAmerica, and 1993 500cc Grand Prix World Champion Kevin Schwantz were both on hand, representing the period of Grand Prix racing that was utterly dominated by American riders. From 1978 to 1993, Americans won 13 of 16 500cc Grand Prix titles.
Trackhouse is based in North Carolina, but the satellite team will operate out of Noale, Italy, in conjunction with the Aprilia racing department. Oliveira will start the season on a 2024 RS-GP, while Fernandez will start racing on the 2023 version of the machine and transition to a 2024 during the season. Oliveira is a multi-time MotoGP winner with KTM, and Fernandez is a multi-time winner in Moto2 and runner-up in the Moto2 World Championship in 2022.
The livery for the Trackhouse Racing Aprilia RS-GP machines for the 2024 season reflects the team’s American heritage. Miguel Oliveira will ride the 2024 version, while Raul Fernandez will start with the 2023 machine that won two races last year. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Marks said the opportunity to get involved in MotoGP came about much more quickly than expected, but when told it was now or never by the leaders of Dorna, he jumped at the chance. The CryptoData RNF MotoGP Team was imploding, and the satellite Aprilias that RNF ran – and their grid slots – were available if Trackhouse was willing to move immediately.
“We went to the MotoGP race in Austria,” Marks said. “We went there as a NASCAR team to see what MotoGP was like, to see if we could learn something about making our team a little bit better, to take some inspiration. That was five months ago.
“When I was talking to Carmelo and Carlos (Ezpeleta, CEO and Chief Sporting Officer of Dorna Sports, respectively), they said they would love to have us in MotoGP. I said I know there’s a lot to learn. Let’s look at 2025. Give me a year, in 2024 we’ll take a year, go to races, meet people, learn everything. They said, the door’s open right now and I can’t tell you how long it’s going to be open. It was a ready, fire, aim moment for Trackhouse. We have a lot of exciting things ahead of us and we’re excited.”
“We are super excited, and we share their vision,” Rivola said.
Rainey and Schwantz talked about how important having an American team in Grand Prix racing is for the sport in the U.S.
“Grand Prix racing is something that’s almost been forgotten about here,” Schwantz said. “It’s a great stepping stone. There’s so much talent here in America that could race on the world stage. They just don’t have the manufacturer support to get it done. To have someone like Trackhouse who is focused on racing here – it’s big.”
“I think it’s really exciting news,” Rainey said. “This had to happen. Trackhouse gets to grow their brand, and it will help raise awareness of Grand Prix racing here in the U.S.”
3D Motorsports signs Bicknese and Enriquez for Supersport
Decatur, Texas-based 3D Motorsports has signed Hayden Bicknese as well as Alex Enriquez to pilot their Suzuki GSX-R750s in MotoAmerica Supersport in 2024. Both riders have tested with the team over the winter and feel confident for the 2024 season.
Hayden Bicknese is no stranger to the MotoAmerica podium with six podiums in Junior Cup. He is up for the challenge in Supersport this year and feels he can run up front.
“I’m excited to see what we can do with Hayden. We are lucky enough to be able to ride a lot during the year with him and believe we can develop both the bike and him to be a contender,” expressed 3D Motorsports owner Dustin Dominguez.
Hayden Bicknese (68). Photo courtesy 3D Motorsports.
Bicknese added, “I am very excited to be joining 3D Motorsports on the GSX-R750 for my first year in Supersport. I think that I have the opportunity to have a strong first year in the class with Dustin Dominguez and his team, and I can’t wait to see what I can do at Road Atlanta.”
Alex Enriquez had a great year in 2023 as he was selected to represent America in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. The teenager has also had success finishing on the podium in the North American Talent Cup in 2022. For 2024, the Californian will jump into the Supersport class. Enriquez stated, “I’m happy I will be racing in the MotoAmerica Supersport class on a GSX-R750 with 3D Motorsports. I’m so excited and can’t wait till the season starts!”
Dominguez spoke about Enriquez, “I went out to Chuckwalla in December and watched some races and saw Alex on a 600. I was impressed with his riding and lap times. I went to talk to his father and learned it was his first time ever on a Supersport bike. We’re excited to have him with us for 2024.”
3D Motorsports is excited about the future and plans to announce its Stock 1000 rider lineup soon. For more info about the team email [email protected] We want thank all our sponsors for the tremendous support, Btec Turbines, CG Law, Blud Lubricants, Drippin Wet, M4, Spears Racing, Orient Express, Ktech, Dunlop, AF1 Racing, and Southern Adrenaline.
Jack Miller on a KTM RC16 with a carbon-fiber frame and camouflaged bodywork hiding experimental ground-effect aerodynamic devices on the upper fairing, in post-season testgin at Valencia. Photo by Gigi Soldano/DPPI Media.
Featured In the January 2024 issue of Roadracing World:
While many manufacturers have used carbon-fiber for parts of their MotoGP machines, few have committed to full composite chassis. The most successful were the Ducati Desmosedici GP09 and GP10 models in the hands of Casey Stoner, but after going winless in 2011, the Italian company, which had used steel trellis frames until adopting the carbon monocoque design, fell in line with orthodoxy and built its GP12 with a twin-spar aluminum frame.
KTM has been MotoGP’s technical rebel in recent years, sticking with a steel frame and its own suspension components when all others adopted variations on aluminum twin-spar frames and Öhlins…
“Back To The Future,” by Michael Gougis
Now KTM has gone where others have feared to tread, equipping its factory RC16 racebikes with full carbon-fiber chassis. KTM’s Technical Manager for MotoGP, Sebastian Risse, explains why the company feels it is not only the correct choice, but will soon be the only choice for MotoGP machines. 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.)
Editorial Note: The official All-Time WorldSBK Lap Record at Jerez is 1:38.247, which was set by Jonathan Rea in 2019.
Bulega impresses with blazing fastest lap while Bautista explores combined weight set-up
Nicolo Bulega continued to set the pace at Jerez, clocking an impressive 1’37.809s lap time that remained untouched throughout the day.
Jonathan Rea (65). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Jonathan Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu, adjusting to their new teams, concluded the second day with the second- and fourth-fastest times, respectively. Scott Redding claimed the third spot on the timesheets.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (54). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Challenges arose for Alvaro Bautista, the reigning WorldSBK Champion, as he navigated the Jerez test, focusing on adapting to the new weight regulation.
Alvaro Bautista (1). Photo courtesy Dorna.
On the second day of testing at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, Andalucía, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) continued his dominance, setting an exceptional lap record pace, leaving his competitors trailing by more than half a second. In contrast, teammate Alvaro Bautista encountered difficulties, finishing in 16th, lapping in 1’39.583s. Ducati showcased strength with Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) securing fifth place while Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) also delivered a solid performance, finishing seventh. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) claiming ninth while Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) was 15th on his sole day of testing.
Andrea Iannone (29). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Sam Lowes (14). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) showcased Yamaha’s prowess, securing second place with a 1’38.345s, while teammate Andrea Locatelli completed the top ten. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) secured eighth place, while Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) took 12th.
Scott Redding (45). Photo courtesy Dorna.
In a surprising turn, Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) surged late to claim third place with a 1’38.572s, pushing Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) to fourth. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) also performed well, securing sixth place. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) finished 13th with a best time of 1’39.224s.
Garrett Gerloff (31). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Leading the Kawasaki camp, Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) finished in 11th place, focusing on race pace, with Axel Bassani improving to 14th. Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was 18th.
Honda had a challenging day, with Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) leading the team in 16th, and teammate Iker Lecuona finishing 19th.
The WorldSBK Paddock is set to move to Portimao, continuing its testing program on January 29th and 30th.
Nicolo Bulega | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“It was a solid test. We tried things that I liked. The time attack was very good, and the pace was consistent all day with race tyres. I’m very proud and happy of my fast lap. It’s our first test of the year, and we already have this great feeling with the bike. It wasn’t easy, but when I saw the dashboard with 1’37.8s, I was smiling. I’m happy with all the work done during this first test of the year. I’m already looking forward to the next one. We’ll continue working this way and keep improving the feeling with the bike in Portimao.”
Jerez Test Day 2 Results:
1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’37.809, 69 laps
2. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 1’38.345s, 78 laps
3. Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) 1’38.572s, 77 laps
4. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’38.638s, 78 laps
5. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) 1’38.744s, 61 laps
6. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) 1’38.832s, 74 laps
7. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) 1’38,852s, 91 laps
9. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 1’38.907s, 73 laps
10. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 1’38.943s, 73 laps
Stefano Manzi (62). Photo courtesy Dorna.
2023 WorldSSP runner-up Stefano Manzi (Pata Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) took top spot in the World Supersport field with a 1’41.338s, completing 64 laps. He was three tenths clear of Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in second as he continues his comeback from arm surgery, while Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) took P3. With Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) in fourth, four different manufacturers were inside the top four at the end of Day 2.
More, from a press release issued by Team HRC Honda:
Team HRC preps for the 2024 WorldSBK Championship with a two-day test at Jerez
Team HRC has kicked off preparations for the upcoming 2024 Superbike World Championship with two days of testing at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Spain.
Benefiting from almost ideal weather conditions on both Wednesday and Thursday, with clear skies and mild temperatures for the time of year, factory riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge made the most of the track time, riding from 10.30am until 6.00pm.
The squad focused on identifying a solid base-setup for the new CBR1000RR-R. This involved testing a series of upgrades made to different areas of the machine, and building on the work completed in November when the bike made its debut outing at Jerez. In addition to this setup work, the team also tested the new E40 sustainable fuel, the use of which is part of the 2024 Superbike regulation, in order to gather data and insights.
Lecuona and Vierge made an impressive number of laps over the course of two intense days, further developing their understanding of the bike’s performance and potential as a result.
Team HRC now looks ahead to its next testing session at Portugal’s Autódromo Internacional do Algarve on 29-30 January, when the preparations for the upcoming racing season will continue.
Xavi Vierge 97
“I’m happy to be back working with my squad and all the members of my team. We’ve had two days of ideal weather conditions here in Jerez, which has allowed us to complete a lot of laps and get through a significant amount of work. It’s true that we’ve had a little more difficulty than expected, especially during the traction phase, so one of our main goals here was to improve traction and grip. The overall feeling on the bike is quite good, but as soon as we close the throttle, we cannot exploit the power and have too much spin. We’ve made a number of adjustments to the bike setup and electronics, and now it will be crucial for the engineers to analyze all the data and come up with a solid plan for Portimão, so that we can quickly make progress.”
Iker Lecuona 7
“Over the winter I had a small surgery on my left hand, as I’d been having some issues last season, an after-effect of having broken my hand back in 2021. Although I’ve had to scale back my gym work a little, I’m almost 100% and am now training properly again; I feel strong physically but also mentally and was looking forward to getting on the bike yesterday. I see 2024 as being an important year for me, and so I want to do my best to be ready for it. I feel we’ve taken a step with the aero package, and the bike overall seems to work in a different way, thanks to updated electronics and the like, which helps us to improve in certain areas. Having said that, the bike is new, and we’re still struggling with certain aspects. I wanted to find better front feeling this week, and we worked hard to achieve that but are not there yet. The next two days of testing at Portimão will be important, giving us the chance to understand how the bike feels at a completely different track and to establish the best possible base before we head to Phillip Island.”
More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:
Bulega in great form at Jerez (P1). Intense set up work for Bautista. Huertas does well in WorldSSP (P3)
The first two days of testing for the 2024 WorldSBK season concluded at Jerez de la Frontera (Spain).
At the Angel Nieto Circuit, Nicolò Bulega proved to be already at ease on the Ducati Panigale V4R of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, finishing first on both Day 1 and Day 2 and setting an impressive chrono of 1’37.809, the fastest time ever set at the Angel Nieto Circuit by a World Superbike rider.
Extremely intense work by Bautista: for the first time, he was able to test the bike in the 2024 configuration, with the extra kilos of ballast required by the new regulations. The Spanish rider (still not at the top of his condition after the scary crash he was involved in during the previous winter test at Jerez) carried out extensive set-up work with his team, completing 149 laps in two days. The time of 1’39.583 (P17) is not indicative, as Bautista was one of the very few riders not taking to the track on a qualifying tire.
Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #11)
“I am happy because we took another step forward, even compared to yesterday, and the feeling has grown steadily. We worked well on the time attack and that means I was also able to improve on the qualifying tires. I think it was an important test and now we go to Portimao to continue on this path. Today’s lap time? It doesn’t change anything: I remain a rookie and my objectives are different to the top riders”.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #1)
“I am satisfied because on Day 1, due to some pain, I didn’t get the best feeling; today things went better and this is undoubtedly a good sign. I can say that my condition has even improved. We worked a lot on the set-up, especially in light of the new regulations, and we got some important indications. We haven’t tried a time attack but that wasn’t the priority of this testing. I am looking forward to being at Portimao to continue on this path and to get further feedback on my condition”.
WorldSSP
Good start for Adrian Huertas and the Ducati Panigale V2 of the Aruba.it Racing WSSP team. The Spanish rider completed 124 laps, lowering today (1’41.942) by more than 6 tenths of a second the time recorded on Day 1 and finishing in third place among the 13 WorldSSP riders on track.
Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WSSP #99)
“I am very satisfied with the work we did. We tried many solutions and we were able to understand which of them could be useful and which ones did not work well. We didn’t focus on the lap time but we will have a chance to do that in the upcoming tests.”
More, from a press release issued by Elf Marc VDS Racing:
Lowes steps up WorldSBK preparations in Jerez
With their debut season in the WorldSBK Championship fast approaching, the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team and Sam Lowes were back on track for the first time in 2024 to complete a positive two-day test session at the Circuito de Angel Nieto in Jerez.
Riding in the stunning new Elf Marc VDS WorldSBK livery for the first time, favourable weather conditions enabled Lowes to continue his adaptation to Ducati’s Panigale V4 R machine in impressive fashion.
With the majority of this year’s star-studded WorldSBK line-up on track in Jerez, Lowes finished the test in a hugely encouraging eighth position, with plenty of data and experience gained ahead of next month’s season opener in Australia.
The Elf Marc VDS Racing Team now leaves Spain to cross the border into Portugal for another two-day test session at the spectacular Algarve International Circuit next week.
Sam Lowes
/// 8th, 1:38.852, 173 laps
After the winter break, Lowes was busy on track on day one to complete 82 laps, with his prime focus on finding a base set-up while also gaining crucial experience of Pirelli’s hard compound tyres.
Lowes ended the first day only 0.3s behind reigning World Champion Alvaro Bautista, with continual improvements made throughout, which was reflected in his fast and constant pace in race trim.
More valuable set-up work was accomplished in a marathon stint of 91 laps on the second day, which saw Lowes use Pirelli’s super grippy soft rear tyre for his first time attack on the Ducati Panigale VR 4.
His performance on softer rubber was particularly eye-catching, with Lowes able to lap 1.3s faster compared to his best time on day one and he ended eighth overall with a fastest lap of 1:38.852 to finish third fastest Ducati on track.
“This test was full of positives”
“I’m really happy with how the test finished. I improved a lot compared to the first day and I felt a lot better on the bike. That’s a normal evolution as I get more used to the Ducati and know what I need to be fast. The team has done an amazing job in helping me understand more how to ride a superbike and I’m starting to feel like this is my bike. I did a lot of good laps on my own and today was the first time I tried the super soft Pirelli tyre. My time was fast, but I only used one tyre, so I’m sure I could go even faster again. We must be happy with the job we’ve done, and I know there is a plenty more to come as we do more laps and get more comfortable with the Ducati. We did a lot of laps in Jerez, and I feel pretty tired now, but I can’t thank the team enough for all their hard work. We tried a lot of different set-ups to help us get very important information and now I’m looking forward to going to Portimao next week to understand the bike on a completely different track. This test was full of positives and gives me a big boost heading to Portugal.”
Jared Lowe (63). Photo by Tim Lester, courtesy AFT.
BigR Racing Signs Jared Lowe for 2024 Progressive AFT Season
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 25, 2024) – BigR Racing is excited to announce it has signed up-and-coming talent Jared Lowe to contest the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER championship aboard a Honda CRF450R during the 2024 Progressive American Track season.
Lowe enters his fourth professional season coming off his most impressive campaign yet and expects to continue the upward trend in ‘24. Last season, “the Jet” signaled his arrival as a serious contender in the extraordinary competitive class, notching up a host of personal bests, including his total number of top-ten finishes (five), championship points (80), top Main Event finish (seventh), and top qualifying performance (fourth).
Lowe’s rise mirrors that of BigR Racing. The Kansas-based outfit burst onto the scene as a top-ten entity in 2022 and then increased its top-ten haul, up from three to four, in 2023. Along with the signing of Jared as the team’s lead pilot for the upcoming season, BigR Racing has also recruited Sam Lowe to serve as the squad’s Crew Chief.
BigR Team Owner Ron Belt said, “The entire Lowe racing family brings good things to the series. And after watching Jared and Sam work together in 2023, I knew they would be a great fit with the team.”
Lowe said, “I’m excited to be a part of BigR Racing this year. I’ve got some seat time on the bikes, and I already feel very comfortable. I’m ready to compete.”
BigR Racing and the team is supported by several of the sport’s leading sponsors. Mike Vinson of Vinson Construction, Mission Foods, Roof Systems of Dallas, Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda, Scott Scherb of Scherb Racing, Ryan Sangals of SPC Racing, Motion Pro, L&R Racing, VP Racing Fuel, and LBP, along with many others.
Valentino Rossi (46) making the winning move, passing Casey Stoner on the dirt heading down the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca in 2008. Photo by DPPI.
#MotoGP75: the Champions!
The deeper dive into 75 years of racing starts with some of the biggest names in the sport: the Champions
Thursday, 25 January 2024
As we celebrate the 75 years of competition that have brought us to 2024, we’re taking a deeper dive into some of the facts and stats – starting with some of the biggest names in the sport! Check them out, and head to our all-new 75th anniversary page to enjoy some of the best content from then and now, with plenty more to be added throughout the season.
ALL CLASSES
126 Champions
126 riders have won Championships. 56 have more than one, leaving 70 riders with one Grand Prix motorcycle racing Championship to their name – in some cases, so far, as they include a number of familiar names from the current grid.
Champions with the most titles
Giacomo Agostini leads with 15: 8 in the premier class and 7 in the 350cc category. Next up it’s Angel Nieto with 12+1 titles – 7x125cc and 6x50cc – before 3 riders who have 9 titles each: Carlo Ubbiali (6x125cc, 3x250cc), Mike Hailwood (4x500cc, 2x350cc, 3x250cc) and Valentino Rossi (7x500cc/MotoGP™, 1x250cc, 1x125cc).
The only current rider able to join that club soon is Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), who has 8: 6xMotoGP™, 1xMoto2™ and 1x125cc. After all the former riders who have 7, 6, 5 or 4 titles each, the next current competitor with most titles overall is reigning MotoGP™ World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), who has 3: 2xMotoGP™ and 1xMoto2™
.
Championship Streaks
One rider holds the overall record: Giacomo Agostini, with 7 titles in a row in the 500cc class from 1966 to 1972, and 7 in a row in the 350cc class from 1968 to 1974.
PREMIER CLASS
Champions with the most premier class titles
Looking at the premier class only, the rider with the most doesn’t change – it’s Giacomo Agostini (8). Then it’s Valentino Rossi with 7, ahead of Marc Marquez on 6 – putting the number 93 in reach of another piece of history.
The only rider with 5 premier class crowns is Mick Doohan, and 4 have 4: Mike Hailwood, John Surtees, Geoff Duke and Eddie Lawson.
Some riders have only won titles in the premier class. Those with the most are Mick Doohan (5), Eddie Lawson (4), Wayne Rainey (3) and Kenny Roberts (3).
Championship Streaks: premier class
Pecco Bagnaia became only the third rider in the MotoGP™ era to defend the crown when he did so in 2023. The others are Valentino Rossi, who won from 2002 to 2005 (adding to his maiden premier class 500cc crown in 2001), and then again in 2008 and 2009, and Marc Marquez – he reigned 2013 and 2014, and then from 2016 to 2019.
Over 75 years of premier class history, Giacomo Agostini leads the way with the longest winning streak: those 7 premier class titles we mentioned above.
There are two riders in second on the list of most premier class crowns in a row, with 5 each: Valentino Rossi from 2001 to 2005, and Mick Doohan from 1994 to 1998. Completing the top five, there are two riders who have four in a row: Marc Marquez (2016 to 2019) and Mike Hailwood (1962 to 1965).
HISTORY ON THE LINE
As the most decorated rider on the grid as it stands, there’s history on the line for Marc Marquez this year. He could:
– Join Carlo Ubbiali, Mike Hailwood and Valentino Rossi as a nine-time Champion
– Equal Valentino Rossi in second on the list of riders with most premier class titles
– Become the first rider with an Independent Team to win the crown in the MotoGP™ era
– Join only Valentino Rossi (Honda – Yamaha) and Casey Stoner (Ducati – Honda) as riders who have won Championships in the MotoGP™ era with more than one manufacturer
Join us for the Sepang Shakedown to see our first glimpse of 2024 before we see Marc Marquez start his new adventure, in new colours, at the Sepang Test from the 6th to the 8th of February. And then it’s one more test before we start a record-breaking 2024 calendar!
A 2025-model Kawasaki Ridge side x side utility vehicle. Photo courtesy Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
Editorial Note: Scroll down to watch Kawasaki’s Super Bowl commercial.
KAWASAKI SET TO DEBUT FIRST SUPER BOWL AD
Mullets Take Center Stage in Super Bowl Spot from Goodby Silverstein & Partners
Foothill Ranch, Calif. – Known for Ninja® motorcycles, JET SKI® personal watercraft and MULE™ side x sides, Kawasaki will literally blaze a new trail at Super Bowl LVIII with the first-ever Big Game spot for an off-road side x side vehicle to promote their new Kawasaki RIDGE side x side. The commercial, created by Goodby Silverstein & Partners (GS&P), pays homage to an all-American hairstyle that’s roared back to popularity in recent years: the mullet.
“The Kawasaki RIDGE combines industry-leading performance and a premium automotive-inspired interior; it’s a mix of work and play.” said Bob O’Brien, Director of Marketing, Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. “The mullet is a perfect metaphor—business in the front, party in the back. We hired GS&P to help us bring this category from its current niche audience to the biggest stage in the world and generate mass awareness.”
The ad features two adventure seekers who magically grow mullets upon entering the RIDGE. As the duo tear across backcountry trails, creatures such as bald eagles and bears sprout mullets that look like they’re straight out of an ’80s metal show—culminating in the famously hair-free pro wrestling legend (and real-life Kawasaki enthusiast) Steve Austin suddenly sporting a blonde mullet as the RIDGE passes him by.
“This has all the earmarks of great Super Bowl advertising. Instant RIDGE action. Animals. A big name. Humor. And mullets. Watch any NBA game or hot video. The mullet is everywhere,” said Jeff Goodby, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman, GS&P. “Given the hairstyle’s versatile nature, it’s an unexpectedly simple way to introduce the RIDGE.”
Powersports—and especially side x side vehicles—have left their once-niche world of ranchers and adrenaline junkies and are on the verge of entering mainstream consciousness. The fastest-growing segment in powersports is now side x side vehicles, sales of which have skyrocketed as of late. During the pandemic many families realized that side x side vehicles provided the perfect way to get outside, spend time on adventures and have more fun together. Even as motorcycles sales continue to rise, side x side sales have outpaced them and are projected to overtake the powersports category.
“Kawasaki has built a legacy on pushing the limits in innovation, performance, style and attitude.” said Eigo Konya, President, Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. “Over the decades our products have evolved, but one thing remains the same—Kawasaki exists to ‘Let the Good Times Roll’.”
GS&P has a history of making famous Super Bowl ads. Over the years it’s created memorable ads for Doritos, Cheetos, bubly, Pepsi, BMW, Hyundai, Emerald Nuts, E*TRADE, Budweiser and many others.
In tandem with GS&P’s Super Bowl campaign, Kawasaki also developed a RIDGE launch campaign with marketing partner Fuse Interactive. The launch campaign, which focuses on the vehicle’s top features, introduces the tagline Peak Premium Performance. This statement will firmly plant the Kawasaki flag at the top of the premium Side x Side segment.
Marc Márquez (93) riding an unbranded Gresini Ducati during post-season testing at Valencia. Red Bull photo.
Featured In the January 2024 issue of Roadracing World:
Why did Marc Márquez quit a hugely lucrative factory Repsol Honda ride to race a second-hand Ducati for an independent team? The six-time MotoGP World Champion ended the first half of the 2023 season crashing Honda’s uncompetitive RC213V seven times during June’s German and Dutch Grands Prix.
Even for Márquez, who has always ridden on the ragged edge, that was a lot. He knew he couldn’t go on like this. “After the summer break I said to myself, ‘I will ride more calmly,’ so I started riding in a safety way,” says the 30-year-old Spaniard. “But that was so boring! For me it was like a nightmare to go to a circuit and ride in easy mode and fight for 15th place. I said to myself, ‘Can I do one more year like this?’ ”
“Marc Marquez Interview,” by MotoGP Editor Mat Oxley
The short answer is no, Marc Marquez could not see himself doing one more year on the Honda RC213V. He explains why he quit Honda to race an independent-team Ducati in 2024, why the Ducati is MotoGP’s best bike, and why he wouldn’t wish his recent injuries on anyone. It’s all in the latest issue of Roadracing World!
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