STT is so pumped for our next Ladies First event at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway!
Are you a female rider looking for a supportive space for your first track day? Do you know a female rider who’s contemplated a track day but has yet to take the plunge? Are you an experienced female rider looking to have fun and encourage other female riders to join the sport you love?
Join us on Saturday, September 20 at Talladega GP for Ladies First! This event is perfect for women to learn in a comfortable and relaxed setting that addresses many of the concerns and challenges unique to women within the sport.
Advanced and Intermediate groups are combined for this day. In an effort to better serve our riders, we have opted to eliminate the Advanced group for this day and expand our Novice availability.
Ladies First events offer a ton of extras, too, like swag, coaching, and raffles! Click here to learn more!
Guys, we do hope you’ll join us as spectators to support our female riders!
Photo by US129
UPCOMING EVENTS
BLACKHAWK FARMS September 6 Novice and Intermediate groups sold out
Race Certificate Class available September 7 Novice and Intermediate groups sold out
AUTOBAHN COUNTRY CLUB September 27
Race Certificate Class available
1:1 Instruction available September 28
Race Certificate Class available
1:1 Instruction available
Móra d’Ebre, Catalonia, Spain – American rider Sebastian Dear made a stunning start to the 2025 PromoRACC Catalunya Cup season with a victory in the opening round at Circuit Móra d’Ebre in the Ohvale GP2 190cc class. Braving tricky weather and a wet track, the Barcelona-based Texan charged from a fourth-place grid position to seize the win.
Sebastian got a solid start and settled in behind the early leaders while gauging the track’s grip. After some early caution, he began stalking the leading group, biding his time, studying the front-runners’ lines and waiting for the right opportunity. With four laps to go, the patience paid off. He attacked the leading group to take the lead. Once out front, the young American quickly opened up a huge gap.
“The big challenge was trying to stay calm and stay on the bike in the tough conditions. I thought I had the speed to make the podium, but I wasn’t sure I had the speed to win because my qualifying was only good enough for P4,” Sebastian said. “During the race I noticed that I was able to carry a lot more speed in the corners than the leaders. I’m not sure if they knew something I didn’t and maybe I was pushing too hard for the conditions, but I just kept riding my race and waiting for a smart spot to overtake. After I passed the leaders, my goal was simply to stay on the bike! The gap was huge, but I still had four laps to survive without crashing. My RS Academy team mechanics had the bike’s suspension dialed in and it seemed like I had a lot of braking stability on the wet track. The Brembos on the new Ohvale 190 are so good. The Dunlop rain tires were a nice surprise. I’ve raced the Pirelli rains before, but these Dunlops were on another level in terms of grip. It seemed like I could just ride like I always do. So I did. And won.”
This victory was more than just points in the championship – it was a personal milestone for Sebastian, who moved from the United States to Spain train with some of the best riders in the world. Competing in Spain has meant adapting to a new culture on and off the track. Young riders in Spain are relentlessly fast; they start riding about when they start walking. When he first arrived over a year ago, it was a brutal wake up call.
“When we first got here, I was getting blue flagged [lapped],” he said. “It really brought me down but also made me angry. It was embarrassing to hear the Spanish parents yelling about the slow North Americans. They aren’t yelling now — it took some time, but it feels like we’re part of a big racing family. We all help each other and cheer for each other — it was a rough start, but now it’s amazing. Getting on the top step after starting from basically nowhere is a huge mental victory for me. Now that I know I can win, my focus is to continue step by step and see if I can do this again.”
The learning curve was steep. Learning to adjust to the aggressive racing style of the Spanish took some time. “In Texas, the racing is pretty friendly, in Spain, it’s combat. But off track, it’s like a party. We try to kill each other on track and we roast marshmallows together off track,” Sebastian said.
In addition to Sebastian’s victory in the GP2 190 Ohvale class, 12 year old sister Sofia Dear, got third place overall in the opening round in the Ohvale 160cc class. This result comes after Sofia’s stellar Spanish debut in 2024, in which she finished 4th overall in the Catalunya Cup’s 110cc category, including 2 podium finishes and she also took 2nd place in the Barcelona Championship for her class. She was also the top female racer in the Catalunya championship.
Younger brother 10-year-old Oliver Dear made his debut in his first full season of racing in Spain, competing in the 160 category with his sister Sofia, finishing a hard-fought 8th in the main race after crashing out of 6th place in the sprint race.
“I qualified 14th so I was not very confident that I could win — my goal was just not to be last, but I know I have good starts, so I used that to pick up a lot of places in the first turn. I was so mad I crashed in the first race, so I made sure I was smoother on the throttle in the second race,” Oliver said.
The Dear Racing kids are competing in the Spanish FIM MiniGP Championship along with the Catalunya Cup. Sofia and Oliver were selected by the Spanish federation as sponsored riders for the 160cc class in the Spanish series, getting full factory support from ETG Racing and Ohvale Spain.
Aprilia Racing presents the RSV4 X-GP, the limited-edition bike from the noale-based racing team to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the RS-GP’s début in MotoGP.
The fifth generation of the X, the new RSV4 X-GP is an aerodynamic excellence: the first factory derivative bike in the world with leg and tail wings, present only on the RS-GP prototype that races in the MotoGP championship.
The maximum expression of the technology developed in noale, the RSV4 X-GP has the most direct connection with MotoGP, with the brand-new feature of the structural carbon seat support.
With the official livery of the MotoGP team, it is the most powerful RSV4 ever built with 238 hp for just 165 kg (363.7 lb) of weight, translating into a weight/power ratio that provides an unprecedented riding experience.
RSV4 X-GP. Photo courtesy Aprilia Racing
Presented at the Catalunya Grand Prix, the RSV4 X GP is the special edition created directly from Aprilia Racing’s cutting-edge know-how in MotoGP and produced in a limited-edition quantity of 30 units, made to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the RS-GP’s début in the premier category of World Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing.
And so, Aprilia Racing consolidated its internationally renowned X brand with the RSV4 X-GP, the fifth generation of a project which is the only one of its kind in the world. It began in 2019 with the RSV4 X, then with the Tuono X in 2020, followed in 2022 by the advanced RSV4 X Trenta and in 2024 with the RSV4 X ex3ma. All exclusive models, distinguished by that “X” (in reference to the Roman numeral 10) which represents the absolute top tier anyone could desire for a bike available to the general public in terms of technology and performance.
It is an aerodynamic work of art, an area where Aprilia Racing has always been acknowledged as a point of reference in MotoGP. In fact, the RSV4 X-GP is closely derived from the RS-GP25 in its form, especially beginning from the design of the rear, capable of faithfully replicating the air flow. The most prominent new feature of the entire aerodynamics package – derived from MotoGP – is the leg wings, a technology developed and patented solely by Aprilia Racing, as well as the tail wings, both introduced just a few months ago on the RS-GP25. The combination of the leg wings and the tail wings add aerodynamic load in the braking and cornering stages, as well as the front wing, obviously, with its unique shape, the under wing, and the cornering wings. This evolution focused on aerodynamics is joined by a unique element, specifically from the racing prototypes: the structural carbon seat support, made by PAN Compositi, with built-in structural, aerodynamic, and design features. Another design refinement of this new feature is the “sandwich structure type” processing of the carbon, namely a particular way of laying the carbon fiber to make it extremely light, whilst still maintaining the desired stiffness. All of this makes the rear-end vehicle dynamics even more similar to those of the racing prototype, increasing perception of grip and ensuring a more direct feeling between rear tyre performance and the rider’s sensations. Completing the package is the double-pipe SC Project MotoGP style exhaust, designed to maximise performance and provide a racing sound.
Featuring ground effect aerodynamics, a technology developed and patented solely by Aprilia Racing, the RSV4 X-GP has a particular fairing shape on the sides that decreases air pressure between the ground and the fairing when the bike is leaned into a corner, so much that it creates a down force that pushes the bike toward the ground.
RSV4 X-GP. Photo courtesy Aprilia Racing
All the fairings are made in carbon by PAN Compositi using the same procedures followed for the MotoGP bikes to keep it as faithful as possible to the Aprilia Racing prototype. Compared with the RSV4, the new version allows for five times the vertical load of air pressure on the straight, increasing stability and riding precision, simultaneously decreasing front lift-up and tripling the load with the bike leaned over, all with huge benefits to grip when cornering.
Another new feature that makes the RSV4 X-GP unique is the special livery reminiscent of the RS-GP25, a tribute to a winning bike that currently represents the latest advancements of the Aprilia Racing MotoGP project.
The technical specifications describe a true MotoGP style racing bike. The 1099 cc 65° V4 with racing SBK specs has been prepared by the Aprilia Racing department and now has an extraordinary maximum power of 238 HP at 13,750 rpm (with max engine rpm at 14,100) and maximum torque at the crankshaft of 131 Nm at 11,750 rpm. This performance is achieved thanks to a specific tuning of the V4 that also includes an increased compression ratio, as well as the use of the high permeability Sprint Filter racing air filter, airbox intake trumpets with racing specs, the MotoGP replica titanium double-pipe exhaust system made by SC Project with compensator, and the STM dry clutch.
The ECU that manages all the active electronic controls is the Aprilia Racing APX, an exclusive component and the latest evolution of the one which was a protagonist in the WSBK championships won by Biaggi and RSV4. The ECU boasts operational strategies identical to those implemented for the RSV4 bikes used in racing and with fully adjustable parameters to adapt to riding styles and track conditions, with data acquisition for performance analysis. In particular, the APX system allows for calibration of front wheel lift mitigation and power, traction control, and engine braking for each individual gear. The APX system is completed by a built-in GPS system.
The double cradle aluminium frame, which has always admirably represented Aprilia’s art of manufacturing bikes with agile and rigorous chassis architecture, is enhanced by mechanically controlled Öhlins suspension with dedicated setup, where the refined pressurized fork stands out, whereas the Brembo braking system includes a 19×16 front master cylinder combined with billet GP4 MS callipers fitted with Z04 pads that grip 5.5” DP 330 “T Drive” brake disks, and the rear brake is gripped by a nickel-plated calliper.
The Aprilia RSV4 X-GP rides on a set of Marchesini rims forged in magnesium, shod with the same slicks Pirelli uses in the World Superbike Championship (125/70 CS-1 at the front and 200/65 SC-X at the rear).
The trademark Aprilia Racing attention to detail on this model is unrivalled. Both mudguards are carbon. The button cluster on the right handlebar is racing by Jetprime, whereas the adjustable footpegs, the clutch lever, the fuel cap, and the engine crankcase and front brake lever guards by Spider, as well as the steering plate which bears the production number of the unit are all billet aluminium. The oversized water and oil radiators have WSBK technology, whereas the transmission includes a titanium rear sprocket and lighter front sprocket by PBR, as well as an RK 520 chain.
Each of the 30 Aprilia RSV4 X-GP units, available on the European market at a cost of €90,000 + VAT, can be booked exclusively online from September through the FACTORYWORKS.APRILIA.COM web area. Purchasers will also have the option of collecting their respective bikes from Aprilia Racing, with an exclusive visit to the Noale racing department. In addition to the numbered limited edition of the RSV4, they will also receive a Yashi laptop preloaded with software to manage the ECU parameters and electronic strategies, a dedicated NFT for the digital copy of the certificate of authenticity and other content managed through blockchain technology, IRC thermal tyre covers, RCB titanium front and rear stands, a floor mat, and a bike cover.
Aprilia RSV4 X-GP is part of the Factory Works program launched by Aprilia Racing. This is a project that was conceived and created internally within the Noale Racing Department to make the same technology developed in racing available to those who intend to compete at top levels in factory derivative championships, or for those who want to have an RSV4 or a Tuono V4 with absolute top tier performance.
MASSIMO RIVOLA, CEO APRILIA RACING :
“Ten years after their return to MotoGP, Aprilia Racing wanted to celebrate the occasion with a truly special X, drawing as much as possible from MotoGP and transferring many concepts of the RS-GP25 to a factory derivative bike. This is certainly a unique, beautiful, and extremely intriguing product capable of providing special sensations – those that only racing riders know how to take full advantage of, but which even an amateur enthusiast can clearly perceive. It is a product for a select few which houses all of Aprilia Racing’s passion, technology, and artisanal love for racing.”
FABIANO STERLACCHINI, DIRETTORE TECNICO APRILIA RACING :
“With the RSV4 X-GP, we wanted to take another step forward in our project of placing the most advanced technology in the hands of our customers. Our engineers created something that is much more than an evolution of the extraordinary X project. It is a bike truly born out of MotoGP DNA. Several features demonstrate this: the aerodynamics with leg and tail wings derived directly from the RS-GP25, the structural carbon seat support, with technology like that used on the MotoGP bikes and an exceptional weight/power ratio. Numerous components – both visible and not – are new or have been optimised with the goal of ensuring performance and a riding experience in line with the highest standards of motorsport.”
Anthony West was the star of the show in qualifying for round six of the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) at Phillip Island on September 6.
The Queenslander was a cut above in the premier SW-Motech Superbike class, powering to his maiden pole position in the ASBK Championship on the Addicted to Track Yamaha.
The 44-year-old has been knocking on the door of pole position for quite some time, but in brilliant Phillip Island weather he finally reached the summit with searing lap of 1:30.462 – the second best ever in the Superbike class.
West will be joined on the front row for Sunday’s two 11-lap races by Josh Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati) and Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team), who both sit above him in the championship race after five of eight rounds.
Qualifying was also held across all the other ASBK classes on Saturday – Kawasaki Supersport, Race and Road Supersport 300 and the BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup – as well as the Yamaha R3 BLU CRU Asia-Pacific Championship making its first visit to Phillip Island.
The Oceania Junior Cup riders also enjoyed their first race to bookend Saturday’s on-track activities, ahead of a massive 11-race schedule on Sunday.
Round six of the Australian Superbike Championship is supported by the Victorian Government via its Significant Sporting Events Program.
There’s breaking records and then there’s breaking records.
Albury’s Archie McDonald was simply sensational in Kawasaki Supersport qualifying, setting a new best lap of 1:33.808 on his Stop and Seal Yamaha YZF-R6, nearly one second under the current lap record (1:34.682) and well over a second ahead of the previous qualifying marker.
McDonald has now been in pole position in all four ASBK rounds he has competed in this season. He’s currently second in the championship behind teammate Jack Mahaffy.
Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) and Hayden Nelson (BCperformance Kawasaki) were second and third among the 17 Supersport riders, ahead of Tom Bramich (Yamaha), Mahaffy and Oli Simpson (BCperformance Kawasaki).
Mahaffy laboured in practice and qualifying with a bent frame, which will be replaced overnight.
Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal Ducati) was the fastest of the Supersport Next Gen riders despite a bingle at turn six in the second qualifying session.
Archie McDonald was untouchable in Kawasaki Supersport qualifying. Photo by RbMotoLens
Race and Road Supersport 300
Pressure Ghage! A stunning pole position for Ghage Plowman (Yamaha) in his Race and Road Supersport 300 ASBK debut, with Oliver Short (Kawasaki) and Jordy Simpson (Yamaha) second and third.
Championship leader Scott Nicholson qualified in sixth, three spots ahead of his closest pursuer – fellow Kawasaki rider Tara Morrison.
The times were typically tight, though, which augers well for three crackerjack races on Sunday.
Ghage Plowman put the hammer down in Race and Road Supersport 300 qualifying. Photo by RbMotoLens
BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup
A race for the ages, with the top 20 OJC riders flashing across the finish line separated by just 1.648 seconds! Junior talent in all its glory.
Xavier Curmi came out of the rolling scrum first ahead of Chaz Williams and Rossi McAdam.
There will be two more races on Sunday.
What a BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup opener! Photo by RbMotoLens
Stefano Manzi won FIM Supersport World Championship Race One Saturday at Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his Pata Yamaha Ten Kate YZF R9, the Italian won the 19-lap race by 0.244 second.
Can Oncu was the runner-up on his Blu Cru Evan Bros Yamaha YZF R9, 4.171 seconds ahead of his teammate, Alberto Surra.
Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise crashed his Renzi Corse Ducati Panigale V2 on Turn 15 and Did Not Finish (DNF).
Stefano Manzi leads the championship with 319 points, 64 ahead of Can Oncu who has 255 points. Tom Booth-Amos is third with 198 points.
LAST-LAP COMEBACK: Manzi pulls off stunning final lap to beat Oncu in epic WorldSSP Race 1.
Manzi was trailing the #61 by around a second at the end of the penultimate lap but managed to pull it all back to pass Oncu on the final lap.
Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) pulled off a late-race comeback that will go down in FIM Supersport World Championship history at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. After a huge moment on the penultimate lap, the #62 was able to re-group to close down around a second to Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) before passing him at Turn 13 on the last lap to claim a stunning and what seemed unlikely victory with just a lap to go during Race 1 for the French Round.
RACE FOR THE AGES: Manzi vs Oncu in an all-time classic
Oncu grabbed the holeshot when lights went out as he looked to take points out of title rival Manzi’s lead, with the #62 having to settle for P3 in the early stages behind Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA). The #94 moved ahead of Oncu at Turn 1 on Lap 4 under braking at Turn 5, although Manzi was back in front on the same lap at Turn 13 with Mahias demoted to third. On Lap 6, Oncu moved ahead of his rival at Turn 5 under heavy braking to re-take the lead, but at Turn 15 they swapped positions again as Manzi caught the #61 by surprise. It looked like Manzi was trying to break away from Oncu around halfway through, but the Turkish rider was able to go with him as the pair continued to trade places throughout the race.
Manzi held the lead until Lap 15 when Oncu came through at Turn 5, but Manzi waited just a few corners to re-claim the lead when he passed his title rival at Turn 13. Two laps later and the pair were side-by-side with nothing between them into Turn 5 as Oncu took P1 once again but, as before, Manzi responded quickly: passing his rival at Turn 11. It was repeated a lap later and this time the #62 responded at Turn 8, adding to the list of corners he made a move at. However, Manzi had a big moment through Turn 13 which gave Oncu a chance to take the lead by over a second; but Manzi pulled the gap down by six tenths very quickly. On the final lap, Manzi moved ahead at Turn 13 and did enough to take a remarkable victory ahead of the #61.
ROOKIE ON THE ROSTRUM: Surra fights for the podium on debut
While the top two eventually broke away, both Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) and debutant Alberto Surra (Yamah BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) went with them through the first half of the race as they fought over P3. Mahias led the battle for a while but on Lap 7, the Italian rider moved ahead of the Frenchman at Turn 5 before the #94 responded four laps later to take P3. On Lap 16, Surra moved ahead at Turn 5 once again as he took third place from the 2017 Champion. Mahias was able to use his experience to claim P3 on the track but he was given a three-second penalty for shortcutting and not losing sufficient time, promoting Surra onto the podium on his debut.
A 2025 BEST FOR PEROLARI: P5 for the home rider
Corentin Perolari (Honda Racing World Supersport) secured his best result of the season with P5, finishing seven seconds down on Manzi at the head of the field. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) finished in sixth, 1.595s down on the Honda rider ahead of him. Filippo Farioli (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was seventh at the end of the 19-lap race.
QJMOTOR SCORE POINTS WITH NEW BIKE: a WorldSSP best for the Chinese manufacturer
Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) secured another top-ten finish as he came home in P8, fending off Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team) by just over three tenths. Half-a-second back was Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) who completed the top ten, with six manufacturers in the top ten in Race 1. Xavi Cardelus (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) was 11th with Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) 12th and Raffaele De Rosa (QJMOTOR Factory Racing) 13th. The Italian took QJMOTOR’s best finish in WorldSSP on the weekend they debuted their new machine. Ondrej Vostatek (WRP Racing) and Niccolo Antonelli (VFT Racing) completed the points-paying positions.
HOUSEKEEPING FROM RACE 1: six retirements
On the opening lap, Niki Tuuli (QJMOTOR Factory Racing) and Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) collided at Turn 9, with the #51 taken to the medical centre for a check-up following the fall. Marcel Schroetter (WRP Racing) and Simon Jespersen (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) came together at Turn 8 with the German rider given a Long Lap Penalty for irresponsible riding. Federico Caricasulo (D34G WorldSSP Racing Team) crashed from the top eight at Turn 17 on Lap 14. Kaito Toba (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) crashed out in the closing stages of the race, while Roberto Garcia (GMT94-YAMAHA) also retired from the race.
The top six from WorldSSP Race 1, full results here:
1. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)
2. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +0.244s
3. Alberto Surra (Yamah BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +4.415s
4. Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) +5.991s
5. Corentin Perolari (Honda Racing World Supersport) +7.257s
6. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) +8.852s
Marc Márquez won the MotoGP Tissot Sprint race Saturday afternoon at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Lenovo Team Ducati Desmosedici GP25 on Michelin control tires, the six-time MotoGP World Champion won the 12-lap race by 1.299 seconds.
Fabio Quartararo was the runner-up on his Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1, and Fabio Di Giannantonio finished third on his Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Ducati Desmosedici GP25.
Pedro Acosta got fourth on his Red Bull KTM Factory RC16.
Enea Bastianini crossed the finish line fifth on his Red Bull KTM Tech3 RC16.
Marc Marquez leads the championship with 467 points, 187 ahead of Alex Marquez who has 280 points. Bagnaia is third with 228 points.
Marc Marquez claims Barcelona gold as Alex Marquez crashes from lead. Drama unfolds for the Gresini star in the closing stages as Quartararo and Di Giannantonio earn Saturday podiums at the Catalan GP.
Marc Marquez’s (Ducati Lenovo Team) unbeaten run continues, but the #93 was handed a gold medal gift on Saturday afternoon at the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalonia as Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) crashes out of the lead while over a second clear. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) finished the Tissot Sprint just over a second behind Marc Marquez to earn silver, while Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) earned a relatively comfortable P3 after breaking clear of a brilliant KTM battle.
93, 37 & 20 GO TOE-TO-TOE ON OPENING LAP
Alex Marquez got the launch he was searching for as Quartararo, Marc Marquez, and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) went side-by-side into Turn 1. Acosta was on the outside of Marc Marquez as Quartararo swept inside the duo to grab P2 and tag right onto the back of Alex Marquez, leaving the Spaniards in P3 and P4.
An edge-of-your-seat opening lap then unfolded between Quartararo, Marc Marquez and Acosta. Marquez was up the inside of the Frenchman at Turn 10 but Quartararo dug his heels in and kept the inside line into Turn 12, and then Acosta fancied a piece and overtook Marquez too. Then, earning a dose of slipstream from Quartararo’s Yamaha, Marquez got the better of both into Turn 1 and despite having initially lost out, Quartararo bit back again to keep Acosta behind him.
The Sprint then settled down as Marc Marquez and Quartararo hunted down Alex Marquez, who sat 0.5s clear of his brother and 0.9s ahead of Quartararo. Acosta, out of shot, then lost a place to Di Giannantonio and then dropped back into the clutches of teammate Brad Binder and Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3). Remember that KTM scrap we mentioned?
At the front, Quartararo couldn’t keep tabs on Marquez duo’s pace and by Lap 6 of 12, El Diablo was 1.3s adrift of the #93. But it looked like Alex Marquez had the championship leader covered as things stood – the gap was up to 1.3s with four laps remaining.
DRAMA: ALEX MARQUEZ CRASHES FROM LEAD
However, later on that lap at the tricky Turn 10, the leader was down. Alex Marquez’s front end washed away, and that was that for the #73’s Tissot Sprint gold medal hopes. An almost certain victory vanished, and thus, the lead was Marc Marquez’s.
Heading onto the final lap, Marquez’s advantage over Quartararo was 1.298s, and he wasn’t going to give that up, was he? No, of course not. Marc Marquez clinched his 14th Sprint win of the year in dramatic fashion as Quartararo returned to the rostrum alongside Di Giannantonio, as a fierce KTM battle unfolded behind.
YOUR SATURDAY POINTS SCORERS
In that scintillating scrap, Acosta just held onto P4 ahead of Bastianini and Binder, as the trio crossed the line just 0.075s apart in the top six. Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) ended the Sprint in P7 and beat fellow HRC star Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) by 0.3s, with rookie Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) earning the final point in P9.
COMING UP: GRAND PRIX SUNDAY
Can Alex Marquez bounce back from late disappointment on Sunday and fight back against Marc Marquez? After a tense Sprint, Sunday should be a belter in Barcelona.
Toprak Razgatlioglu won World Superbike Race One Saturday at Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR, the 2024 WorldSuperbike Champion won the 21-lap race by 8.597 seconds.
Nicolo Bulega was the runner-up on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4R, and Alex Lowes was third on his Bimota by Kawasaki KB998 Rimini.
Danilo Petrucci crossed the finish line fourth on his Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati Panigale V4R.
American Garrett Gerloff crashed his Kawasaki ZX-10RR on turn 3.
Toprak Razgatlioglu leads the championship with 432 points, 31 ahead of Nicolo Bulega who has 401 points. Danilo Petrucci is third with 246 points.
RAZGATLIOGU’S REDEMPTION: ‘El Turco’ ties Rea’s record Magny-Cours win tally in emphatic Race 1 triumph.
The #1 performed well once again at the French venue ahead of Bulega in P2 and Alex Lowes, who earned Bimota’s first full-length dry podium since returning to WorldSBK this season.
The French Round’s MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship race action has broken out in force at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) emerged victorious on a sunny Saturday afternoon at the quaint French hamlet for his 16th win of the season, now just two below his 2024 race win tally. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed P2 for Italy’s 500thWorldSBK podium, and in third, Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) earned his 48th career podium.
TOPRAK’S TRIO: Becomes the second-ever rider to win a race with three different manufacturers at the same track.
Toprak Razgatlioglu landed the holeshot, followed into the first corner by Alex Lowes, who slid past Nicolo Bulega from the Englishman’s P4 start. Lap after lap, Toprak slowly ran away with the race, having put more than four seconds between himself and Bulega behind him by Lap 11. From there, it was a lonely ride for ‘El Turco’ and ‘Bulegas’ alike as the #1 cruised to his ninth win at Magny-Cours, tying Jonathan Rea’s tally of nine wins at the French Circuit. Bulega led Lowes onto the rostrum in P2 as the British rider earned Bimota their 24th podium.
BROTHERS BATTLE FOR PODIUM: Alex Lowes earns first dry Bimota podium since Hockenheim Race 2 1989
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) battled brother on brother starting on Lap 6 as the twins scrapped tooth and nail for the final podium position. Alex led the duo until his brother Sam crashed out on Turn 13 of Lap 19 for a P9 finish. Riding some distance behind the brotherly duel, Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) finished P4. After starting one spot from the back of the grid in P22, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) worked his way all the way up to P8 in Lap 6 behind fellow Yamaha rider Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team). By Lap 14, ‘Loka’ climbed a further two positions to P6 and finally improved to P5 finish after Sam Lowes’ crash in front of him. Behind the Italian, fellow Yamaha rider Gardner landed P6.
BASSANI AND AEGERTER FINDING CONSISTENCY: Consecutive top eights for the pair
Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) finished P7 for his third consecutive top ten finish after finishing outside that mark across the prior six races. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) finished P8 for his eighth top ten finish this season. After crashing out of his podium battle with his brother, Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) recovered to score points, finishing in P9.
SEASON HIGHS: Best 2025 results for Sofuoglu and Rinaldi
Bahattin Sofuoglu (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) did well to work his way forward after starting in P21; he finished P10 for his first top 10 and so far in his rookie WorldSBK season. Sergio Garcia (Honda HRC) finished in the points in his first race with Honda as he landed P11. In twelfth, Michael Rinaldi (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) earned his best result of the season.
VICKERS P13: The British rookie bounces back from Balaton Race 2 DNF:
Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) earned P13 ahead of Honda riders Tito Rabat (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) and Zaqhwan Zaidi (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team who rounded out the point-scoring positions. Zaidi’s P15 effort earned him his first WorldSBK points in his rookie seasonBehind them, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) recovered from their early crash to finish P16 and P17.
SIX RETIREMENTS: A Lap 1 crash ended the race for Rea, Iannone and Montella
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team), Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha), Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) and Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) all saw gravel in Turn 13 of the opening lap. The crash ended the day for Rea, Montella, and Iannone, who then had to visit the medical centre. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) ran as high as P5 in Lap 5 after his P8 starting position. He held the P5 spot until an unfortunate crash in Lap 8, Turn 8, sent him back to the pits. He returned to the track but crashed again on Turn 3 from P17. Van der Mark and Iannone will be reassessed after the Warm Up session on Sunday morning. Lastly, Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) sailed ahead in the first laps of the race from his back-of-the-grid start after his crash in the WorldSBK Tissot Superpole. He slowly cut down at Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team)’s lead, until springing his move to steal P7 from the Aussie on Lap 13. However, the American crashed on Turn 3 of Lap 18, sending him back to P15 before retiring.
Daniel Holgado was the man to beat during Moto2 World qualifying Saturday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. The Spaniard rider topped qualifying session with a new lap record time. Riding his Pirelli-shod CFMOTO Impulse Aspar Team Kalex, Holgado navigated the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) course in 1:41.549, breaking Sergio Garcia’s 2024 All-Time Lap Record of 1:41.894.
Jake Dixon was second-best with a 1:41.629 on his ELF Marc VDS Racing Team Boscoscuro.
Collin Veijer claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:41.738 on his Red Bull KTM Ajo Kalex.
Row-two qualifiers included Italjet Gresini’s Albert Arenas (1:41.761), Fantic Racing Lino Sonego’s Barry Baltus (1:41.800) and Veijer’s teammate Daniel Muñoz (1:41.807).
American Joe Roberts finished Saturday qualifying’s session 18th with a best time of 1:42.369 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
Holgado takes first Moto2™ pole to head Dixon and Veijer. Two rookies and a veteran start from the front row in Barcelona, with Canet P9, Gonzalez P12 and Moreira P13 as the top three face a comeback.
After some impressive pace on Friday, Dani Holgado (CFMoto Impulse Aspar Team) backed it up on Saturday with a new lap record for his first pole position in Moto2™. Fellow rookie Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) continued his recent form to take a first front row in the class, with the two debutants split by Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) in second.
Dixon was holding provisional pole until the final couple of minutes of Q2 as Holgado hammered home his new lap record to deny the Brit. Veijer was the last fast lap of the session to steal that final place on the front row, just denying Albert Arenas (Italjet Gresini Moto2), who came from Q1 and heads Row 2.
He’s joined on the second row by Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) in P5 and an impressive performance from Daniel Muñoz as he continues to sub for Deniz Öncü at Red Bull KTM Ajo. Filip Salač (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) and Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) are Row 3, with Ayumu Sasaki (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP) completing the top ten.
Normally, P9 could be an extra complication for a title contender, but this time Canet’s position on the third row actually puts him highest up the grid of the top three in the title fight. Points leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) in P12, and third overall, Brazilian Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) right behind him.
Maria Herrera won Race One of the World Women’s Circuit Racing at Magny-Cours, in Spain. Riding her Klint Forward Racing Team Yamaha YZF-R7 on Pirelli control tires, Herrera won the 11-lap race by 0.130 second.
Chloe Jones was the runner-up on her GR Motosport Yamaha YZF-R7.
Beatriz Neila was third on her Ampito Crescent Yamaha YZF-R7.
American Mallory Dobbs finished 10th on her Diva Racing Yamaha YZF-R7 and American Sonya Lloyd crashed her Team Trasimeno Yamaha YZF-R7 on turn 3.
Herrera fires first in France, outpacing Neila and holding off a late attack from Jones. Herrera continues to close her grip on the 2025 World Championship with her Race 1 win at Magny-Cours.
The FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship has officially kicked off race action at the French Round’s Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team) topped the podium in the first encounter of the weekend, followed into Parc Ferme by Chloe Jones (GR Motorsport) and Beatriz Nelia (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) for their fourth and ninth podiums of the season, respectively.
PODIUM STREAK CONTINUES: Herrera maintains her season-long podium streak, nine consecutive for #6
Herrera surged forward to take the holeshot from P2, and after Jones ran wide in the ‘180º’ Turn 9, the Championship leader reinstated herself in P1 with eight laps to go. Four riders isolated themselves at the front as they doggedly pursued Herrera, comprised of Beatriz Nelia (Ampito Crescent Yamaha), Chloe Jones (GR Motorsport) and home hero Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94-YAMAHA). As the laps poled up, Boudesseul’s pace fell off, and into the final laps, Herrera and Chloe Jones (GR Motorsport) battled for P1 as the Englishwoman fought for her first WorldWCR race win. Despite a final sector surge from Jones, Herrera’s pace held to claim P1, her fifth win of the season. Jones’s P2 makes it now three second-place finishes in a row as the young rider continues to grow. Neila didn’t quite have the race pace to keep up with her title rival and Jones in front of her, as she settled for P3’s 16 points.
THREE P4’S IN A ROW FOR PONZIANI: Climbed back up the order from P8 start position
Riding most of the race behind the lead group, Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team) and rookie Natalia Rivera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) fought for fourth place as the young Spaniard continued her strong form in Race 1 after a career-best P5 qualification in Friday’s Tissot Superpole session. The pair caught up to Boudesseul late in the race, overtaking the French rider to finish P4 with a margin of 0.328s behind her. While she looked poised for her first WorldWCR podium, Boudesseul will have to settle with P5 as her pace declined as the race continued. Natalia Rivera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) set a new career-high result of P6, a positive sign for the young Spaniard as she will look for a further step to keep up with riders like Ponziani in Race 2.
ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZ: Pedemonte and Vieillard continue to shine at home
Wildcard rider Justine Pedemonte (MDS) landed P7 in Race 1 of her home round. She battled with Aussie Tayla Relph (Full Throttle Racing), who finished behind her in P8 as they floated more than four seconds above the riders behind them. Along with Boudesseul and Pedemonte, Line Vieillard (FT Racing Academy) represented their home country well as she finished P9, placing three out of the field’s four French riders within the top 10. In P10, American rider Mallory Dobbs (Diva Racing) earned her best finish of the season, placing in the top ten for the first time since her pair of P9s at 2024’s season finale at Jerez.
LLOYD AND BONDI COME TO GRIEF: The pair made contact and saw gravel before being taken to the medical centre
Sonya Lloyd (Team Trasimeno) and Emily Bondi (ZELOS Trasimeno) crashed in Turn 3 of their second lap; both riders were brought to the medical centre for further analysis. Sara Sanchez (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) missed the top five positions for the first time this season as she crashed out on Turn 9.
David Almansa earned pole position during Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Leopard Racing Honda on Pirelli control tires, Almansa topped the 26-rider field with a lap time of 1:46.877.
Joel Kelso was the best of the rest with a 1:47.079 on his LevelUp MTA KTM, and Angel Piqueras claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:47.086 on his Frinsa MT Helmets MSI KTM.
Row-two qualifiers included Liquid Moly Dynavolt Intact GP’s David Muñoz (1:47.096), Piqueras’ teammate, Ryusei Yamanaka (1:47.233) and Almansa’s teammate Adrian Fernandez (1:47.235).
Almansa blasts to career-first pole in Barcelona. Leading the field going into Sunday, the #22 has primed himself for a strong Grand Prix.
David Almansa (Leopard Racing) left it late to fire himself into pole position for the first time in his Moto3™ career. The Spaniard will have a clear view down to Turn 1 and was the only rider able to dip into the 1’46s, with a 1’46.877 good enough to see him clear of Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) and Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI).
Graduating from Q1, Angel Piqueras, teammate Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI), Dennis Foggia (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) and Cormac Buchanan (DENSSI Racing – BOE) all joined the pole battle. After the first run in Q2, Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) was sitting pretty at the top of the standings with Yamanaka right behind him ahead of Piqueras, whilst David Almansa (Leopard Racing) was P4. After his two crashes thus far in the weekend, Maximo Quiles’ (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) got his first lap banked, good enough for P7.
However, with less than three minutes remaining, the fast laps started to come in as everyone pushed to raise the bar one more time. Piqueras blasted to provisional pole, using his extra Q1 session to his advantage. Late laps were needed for the likes of David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) and Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) with them 12th and 17th and for Muñoz at least, he managed to get into P4, whereas Perrone was 14th. At the front and on his last lap, Almansa pounced to bag a career-first pole and fifth front row of the year. He wasn’t the only late improver as Joel Kelso took second and first front row since Le Mans; denied pole, Piqueras completed the front row in third.
Behind the top three, Muñoz was a solid fourth ahead of Yamanaka and Fernandez. Championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) could only manage seventh and heads up the third row, ahead of Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) and Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo). Quiles, unable to challenge at the front, rounds out the top ten and starts from the fourth row, his second-worst qualifying of the year.
STT is so pumped for our next Ladies First event at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway!
Are you a female rider looking for a supportive space for your first track day? Do you know a female rider who’s contemplated a track day but has yet to take the plunge? Are you an experienced female rider looking to have fun and encourage other female riders to join the sport you love?
Join us on Saturday, September 20 at Talladega GP for Ladies First! This event is perfect for women to learn in a comfortable and relaxed setting that addresses many of the concerns and challenges unique to women within the sport.
Advanced and Intermediate groups are combined for this day. In an effort to better serve our riders, we have opted to eliminate the Advanced group for this day and expand our Novice availability.
Ladies First events offer a ton of extras, too, like swag, coaching, and raffles! Click here to learn more!
Guys, we do hope you’ll join us as spectators to support our female riders!
Photo by US129
UPCOMING EVENTS
BLACKHAWK FARMS September 6 Novice and Intermediate groups sold out
Race Certificate Class available September 7 Novice and Intermediate groups sold out
AUTOBAHN COUNTRY CLUB September 27
Race Certificate Class available
1:1 Instruction available September 28
Race Certificate Class available
1:1 Instruction available
American Sebastian Dear wins the first race of the Catalunya Cup championship (GP2 Ohvale) to start the 2025 season. Photo courtesy Brian Dear
Móra d’Ebre, Catalonia, Spain – American rider Sebastian Dear made a stunning start to the 2025 PromoRACC Catalunya Cup season with a victory in the opening round at Circuit Móra d’Ebre in the Ohvale GP2 190cc class. Braving tricky weather and a wet track, the Barcelona-based Texan charged from a fourth-place grid position to seize the win.
Sebastian got a solid start and settled in behind the early leaders while gauging the track’s grip. After some early caution, he began stalking the leading group, biding his time, studying the front-runners’ lines and waiting for the right opportunity. With four laps to go, the patience paid off. He attacked the leading group to take the lead. Once out front, the young American quickly opened up a huge gap.
“The big challenge was trying to stay calm and stay on the bike in the tough conditions. I thought I had the speed to make the podium, but I wasn’t sure I had the speed to win because my qualifying was only good enough for P4,” Sebastian said. “During the race I noticed that I was able to carry a lot more speed in the corners than the leaders. I’m not sure if they knew something I didn’t and maybe I was pushing too hard for the conditions, but I just kept riding my race and waiting for a smart spot to overtake. After I passed the leaders, my goal was simply to stay on the bike! The gap was huge, but I still had four laps to survive without crashing. My RS Academy team mechanics had the bike’s suspension dialed in and it seemed like I had a lot of braking stability on the wet track. The Brembos on the new Ohvale 190 are so good. The Dunlop rain tires were a nice surprise. I’ve raced the Pirelli rains before, but these Dunlops were on another level in terms of grip. It seemed like I could just ride like I always do. So I did. And won.”
This victory was more than just points in the championship – it was a personal milestone for Sebastian, who moved from the United States to Spain train with some of the best riders in the world. Competing in Spain has meant adapting to a new culture on and off the track. Young riders in Spain are relentlessly fast; they start riding about when they start walking. When he first arrived over a year ago, it was a brutal wake up call.
“When we first got here, I was getting blue flagged [lapped],” he said. “It really brought me down but also made me angry. It was embarrassing to hear the Spanish parents yelling about the slow North Americans. They aren’t yelling now — it took some time, but it feels like we’re part of a big racing family. We all help each other and cheer for each other — it was a rough start, but now it’s amazing. Getting on the top step after starting from basically nowhere is a huge mental victory for me. Now that I know I can win, my focus is to continue step by step and see if I can do this again.”
The learning curve was steep. Learning to adjust to the aggressive racing style of the Spanish took some time. “In Texas, the racing is pretty friendly, in Spain, it’s combat. But off track, it’s like a party. We try to kill each other on track and we roast marshmallows together off track,” Sebastian said.
In addition to Sebastian’s victory in the GP2 190 Ohvale class, 12 year old sister Sofia Dear, got third place overall in the opening round in the Ohvale 160cc class. This result comes after Sofia’s stellar Spanish debut in 2024, in which she finished 4th overall in the Catalunya Cup’s 110cc category, including 2 podium finishes and she also took 2nd place in the Barcelona Championship for her class. She was also the top female racer in the Catalunya championship.
Younger brother 10-year-old Oliver Dear made his debut in his first full season of racing in Spain, competing in the 160 category with his sister Sofia, finishing a hard-fought 8th in the main race after crashing out of 6th place in the sprint race.
“I qualified 14th so I was not very confident that I could win — my goal was just not to be last, but I know I have good starts, so I used that to pick up a lot of places in the first turn. I was so mad I crashed in the first race, so I made sure I was smoother on the throttle in the second race,” Oliver said.
The Dear Racing kids are competing in the Spanish FIM MiniGP Championship along with the Catalunya Cup. Sofia and Oliver were selected by the Spanish federation as sponsored riders for the 160cc class in the Spanish series, getting full factory support from ETG Racing and Ohvale Spain.
Aprilia Racing presents the RSV4 X-GP, the limited-edition bike from the noale-based racing team to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the RS-GP’s début in MotoGP.
The fifth generation of the X, the new RSV4 X-GP is an aerodynamic excellence: the first factory derivative bike in the world with leg and tail wings, present only on the RS-GP prototype that races in the MotoGP championship.
The maximum expression of the technology developed in noale, the RSV4 X-GP has the most direct connection with MotoGP, with the brand-new feature of the structural carbon seat support.
With the official livery of the MotoGP team, it is the most powerful RSV4 ever built with 238 hp for just 165 kg (363.7 lb) of weight, translating into a weight/power ratio that provides an unprecedented riding experience.
RSV4 X-GP. Photo courtesy Aprilia Racing
Presented at the Catalunya Grand Prix, the RSV4 X GP is the special edition created directly from Aprilia Racing’s cutting-edge know-how in MotoGP and produced in a limited-edition quantity of 30 units, made to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the RS-GP’s début in the premier category of World Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing.
And so, Aprilia Racing consolidated its internationally renowned X brand with the RSV4 X-GP, the fifth generation of a project which is the only one of its kind in the world. It began in 2019 with the RSV4 X, then with the Tuono X in 2020, followed in 2022 by the advanced RSV4 X Trenta and in 2024 with the RSV4 X ex3ma. All exclusive models, distinguished by that “X” (in reference to the Roman numeral 10) which represents the absolute top tier anyone could desire for a bike available to the general public in terms of technology and performance.
It is an aerodynamic work of art, an area where Aprilia Racing has always been acknowledged as a point of reference in MotoGP. In fact, the RSV4 X-GP is closely derived from the RS-GP25 in its form, especially beginning from the design of the rear, capable of faithfully replicating the air flow. The most prominent new feature of the entire aerodynamics package – derived from MotoGP – is the leg wings, a technology developed and patented solely by Aprilia Racing, as well as the tail wings, both introduced just a few months ago on the RS-GP25. The combination of the leg wings and the tail wings add aerodynamic load in the braking and cornering stages, as well as the front wing, obviously, with its unique shape, the under wing, and the cornering wings. This evolution focused on aerodynamics is joined by a unique element, specifically from the racing prototypes: the structural carbon seat support, made by PAN Compositi, with built-in structural, aerodynamic, and design features. Another design refinement of this new feature is the “sandwich structure type” processing of the carbon, namely a particular way of laying the carbon fiber to make it extremely light, whilst still maintaining the desired stiffness. All of this makes the rear-end vehicle dynamics even more similar to those of the racing prototype, increasing perception of grip and ensuring a more direct feeling between rear tyre performance and the rider’s sensations. Completing the package is the double-pipe SC Project MotoGP style exhaust, designed to maximise performance and provide a racing sound.
Featuring ground effect aerodynamics, a technology developed and patented solely by Aprilia Racing, the RSV4 X-GP has a particular fairing shape on the sides that decreases air pressure between the ground and the fairing when the bike is leaned into a corner, so much that it creates a down force that pushes the bike toward the ground.
RSV4 X-GP. Photo courtesy Aprilia Racing
All the fairings are made in carbon by PAN Compositi using the same procedures followed for the MotoGP bikes to keep it as faithful as possible to the Aprilia Racing prototype. Compared with the RSV4, the new version allows for five times the vertical load of air pressure on the straight, increasing stability and riding precision, simultaneously decreasing front lift-up and tripling the load with the bike leaned over, all with huge benefits to grip when cornering.
Another new feature that makes the RSV4 X-GP unique is the special livery reminiscent of the RS-GP25, a tribute to a winning bike that currently represents the latest advancements of the Aprilia Racing MotoGP project.
The technical specifications describe a true MotoGP style racing bike. The 1099 cc 65° V4 with racing SBK specs has been prepared by the Aprilia Racing department and now has an extraordinary maximum power of 238 HP at 13,750 rpm (with max engine rpm at 14,100) and maximum torque at the crankshaft of 131 Nm at 11,750 rpm. This performance is achieved thanks to a specific tuning of the V4 that also includes an increased compression ratio, as well as the use of the high permeability Sprint Filter racing air filter, airbox intake trumpets with racing specs, the MotoGP replica titanium double-pipe exhaust system made by SC Project with compensator, and the STM dry clutch.
The ECU that manages all the active electronic controls is the Aprilia Racing APX, an exclusive component and the latest evolution of the one which was a protagonist in the WSBK championships won by Biaggi and RSV4. The ECU boasts operational strategies identical to those implemented for the RSV4 bikes used in racing and with fully adjustable parameters to adapt to riding styles and track conditions, with data acquisition for performance analysis. In particular, the APX system allows for calibration of front wheel lift mitigation and power, traction control, and engine braking for each individual gear. The APX system is completed by a built-in GPS system.
The double cradle aluminium frame, which has always admirably represented Aprilia’s art of manufacturing bikes with agile and rigorous chassis architecture, is enhanced by mechanically controlled Öhlins suspension with dedicated setup, where the refined pressurized fork stands out, whereas the Brembo braking system includes a 19×16 front master cylinder combined with billet GP4 MS callipers fitted with Z04 pads that grip 5.5” DP 330 “T Drive” brake disks, and the rear brake is gripped by a nickel-plated calliper.
The Aprilia RSV4 X-GP rides on a set of Marchesini rims forged in magnesium, shod with the same slicks Pirelli uses in the World Superbike Championship (125/70 CS-1 at the front and 200/65 SC-X at the rear).
The trademark Aprilia Racing attention to detail on this model is unrivalled. Both mudguards are carbon. The button cluster on the right handlebar is racing by Jetprime, whereas the adjustable footpegs, the clutch lever, the fuel cap, and the engine crankcase and front brake lever guards by Spider, as well as the steering plate which bears the production number of the unit are all billet aluminium. The oversized water and oil radiators have WSBK technology, whereas the transmission includes a titanium rear sprocket and lighter front sprocket by PBR, as well as an RK 520 chain.
Each of the 30 Aprilia RSV4 X-GP units, available on the European market at a cost of €90,000 + VAT, can be booked exclusively online from September through the FACTORYWORKS.APRILIA.COM web area. Purchasers will also have the option of collecting their respective bikes from Aprilia Racing, with an exclusive visit to the Noale racing department. In addition to the numbered limited edition of the RSV4, they will also receive a Yashi laptop preloaded with software to manage the ECU parameters and electronic strategies, a dedicated NFT for the digital copy of the certificate of authenticity and other content managed through blockchain technology, IRC thermal tyre covers, RCB titanium front and rear stands, a floor mat, and a bike cover.
Aprilia RSV4 X-GP is part of the Factory Works program launched by Aprilia Racing. This is a project that was conceived and created internally within the Noale Racing Department to make the same technology developed in racing available to those who intend to compete at top levels in factory derivative championships, or for those who want to have an RSV4 or a Tuono V4 with absolute top tier performance.
MASSIMO RIVOLA, CEO APRILIA RACING :
“Ten years after their return to MotoGP, Aprilia Racing wanted to celebrate the occasion with a truly special X, drawing as much as possible from MotoGP and transferring many concepts of the RS-GP25 to a factory derivative bike. This is certainly a unique, beautiful, and extremely intriguing product capable of providing special sensations – those that only racing riders know how to take full advantage of, but which even an amateur enthusiast can clearly perceive. It is a product for a select few which houses all of Aprilia Racing’s passion, technology, and artisanal love for racing.”
FABIANO STERLACCHINI, DIRETTORE TECNICO APRILIA RACING :
“With the RSV4 X-GP, we wanted to take another step forward in our project of placing the most advanced technology in the hands of our customers. Our engineers created something that is much more than an evolution of the extraordinary X project. It is a bike truly born out of MotoGP DNA. Several features demonstrate this: the aerodynamics with leg and tail wings derived directly from the RS-GP25, the structural carbon seat support, with technology like that used on the MotoGP bikes and an exceptional weight/power ratio. Numerous components – both visible and not – are new or have been optimised with the goal of ensuring performance and a riding experience in line with the highest standards of motorsport.”
The top three in SW-Motech Superbike qualifying: (L to R) Waters, West and Jones. Photo courtesy ASBK.
Anthony West was the star of the show in qualifying for round six of the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) at Phillip Island on September 6.
The Queenslander was a cut above in the premier SW-Motech Superbike class, powering to his maiden pole position in the ASBK Championship on the Addicted to Track Yamaha.
The 44-year-old has been knocking on the door of pole position for quite some time, but in brilliant Phillip Island weather he finally reached the summit with searing lap of 1:30.462 – the second best ever in the Superbike class.
West will be joined on the front row for Sunday’s two 11-lap races by Josh Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati) and Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team), who both sit above him in the championship race after five of eight rounds.
Qualifying was also held across all the other ASBK classes on Saturday – Kawasaki Supersport, Race and Road Supersport 300 and the BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup – as well as the Yamaha R3 BLU CRU Asia-Pacific Championship making its first visit to Phillip Island.
The Oceania Junior Cup riders also enjoyed their first race to bookend Saturday’s on-track activities, ahead of a massive 11-race schedule on Sunday.
Round six of the Australian Superbike Championship is supported by the Victorian Government via its Significant Sporting Events Program.
There’s breaking records and then there’s breaking records.
Albury’s Archie McDonald was simply sensational in Kawasaki Supersport qualifying, setting a new best lap of 1:33.808 on his Stop and Seal Yamaha YZF-R6, nearly one second under the current lap record (1:34.682) and well over a second ahead of the previous qualifying marker.
McDonald has now been in pole position in all four ASBK rounds he has competed in this season. He’s currently second in the championship behind teammate Jack Mahaffy.
Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) and Hayden Nelson (BCperformance Kawasaki) were second and third among the 17 Supersport riders, ahead of Tom Bramich (Yamaha), Mahaffy and Oli Simpson (BCperformance Kawasaki).
Mahaffy laboured in practice and qualifying with a bent frame, which will be replaced overnight.
Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal Ducati) was the fastest of the Supersport Next Gen riders despite a bingle at turn six in the second qualifying session.
Archie McDonald was untouchable in Kawasaki Supersport qualifying. Photo by RbMotoLens
Race and Road Supersport 300
Pressure Ghage! A stunning pole position for Ghage Plowman (Yamaha) in his Race and Road Supersport 300 ASBK debut, with Oliver Short (Kawasaki) and Jordy Simpson (Yamaha) second and third.
Championship leader Scott Nicholson qualified in sixth, three spots ahead of his closest pursuer – fellow Kawasaki rider Tara Morrison.
The times were typically tight, though, which augers well for three crackerjack races on Sunday.
Ghage Plowman put the hammer down in Race and Road Supersport 300 qualifying. Photo by RbMotoLens
BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup
A race for the ages, with the top 20 OJC riders flashing across the finish line separated by just 1.648 seconds! Junior talent in all its glory.
Xavier Curmi came out of the rolling scrum first ahead of Chaz Williams and Rossi McAdam.
There will be two more races on Sunday.
What a BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup opener! Photo by RbMotoLens
Oncu (61), Manzi (62), Mahias (94) and Surra (76) at Magny-Cours. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Stefano Manzi won FIM Supersport World Championship Race One Saturday at Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his Pata Yamaha Ten Kate YZF R9, the Italian won the 19-lap race by 0.244 second.
Can Oncu was the runner-up on his Blu Cru Evan Bros Yamaha YZF R9, 4.171 seconds ahead of his teammate, Alberto Surra.
Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise crashed his Renzi Corse Ducati Panigale V2 on Turn 15 and Did Not Finish (DNF).
Stefano Manzi leads the championship with 319 points, 64 ahead of Can Oncu who has 255 points. Tom Booth-Amos is third with 198 points.
LAST-LAP COMEBACK: Manzi pulls off stunning final lap to beat Oncu in epic WorldSSP Race 1.
Manzi was trailing the #61 by around a second at the end of the penultimate lap but managed to pull it all back to pass Oncu on the final lap.
Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) pulled off a late-race comeback that will go down in FIM Supersport World Championship history at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. After a huge moment on the penultimate lap, the #62 was able to re-group to close down around a second to Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) before passing him at Turn 13 on the last lap to claim a stunning and what seemed unlikely victory with just a lap to go during Race 1 for the French Round.
RACE FOR THE AGES: Manzi vs Oncu in an all-time classic
Oncu grabbed the holeshot when lights went out as he looked to take points out of title rival Manzi’s lead, with the #62 having to settle for P3 in the early stages behind Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA). The #94 moved ahead of Oncu at Turn 1 on Lap 4 under braking at Turn 5, although Manzi was back in front on the same lap at Turn 13 with Mahias demoted to third. On Lap 6, Oncu moved ahead of his rival at Turn 5 under heavy braking to re-take the lead, but at Turn 15 they swapped positions again as Manzi caught the #61 by surprise. It looked like Manzi was trying to break away from Oncu around halfway through, but the Turkish rider was able to go with him as the pair continued to trade places throughout the race.
Manzi held the lead until Lap 15 when Oncu came through at Turn 5, but Manzi waited just a few corners to re-claim the lead when he passed his title rival at Turn 13. Two laps later and the pair were side-by-side with nothing between them into Turn 5 as Oncu took P1 once again but, as before, Manzi responded quickly: passing his rival at Turn 11. It was repeated a lap later and this time the #62 responded at Turn 8, adding to the list of corners he made a move at. However, Manzi had a big moment through Turn 13 which gave Oncu a chance to take the lead by over a second; but Manzi pulled the gap down by six tenths very quickly. On the final lap, Manzi moved ahead at Turn 13 and did enough to take a remarkable victory ahead of the #61.
ROOKIE ON THE ROSTRUM: Surra fights for the podium on debut
While the top two eventually broke away, both Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) and debutant Alberto Surra (Yamah BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) went with them through the first half of the race as they fought over P3. Mahias led the battle for a while but on Lap 7, the Italian rider moved ahead of the Frenchman at Turn 5 before the #94 responded four laps later to take P3. On Lap 16, Surra moved ahead at Turn 5 once again as he took third place from the 2017 Champion. Mahias was able to use his experience to claim P3 on the track but he was given a three-second penalty for shortcutting and not losing sufficient time, promoting Surra onto the podium on his debut.
A 2025 BEST FOR PEROLARI: P5 for the home rider
Corentin Perolari (Honda Racing World Supersport) secured his best result of the season with P5, finishing seven seconds down on Manzi at the head of the field. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) finished in sixth, 1.595s down on the Honda rider ahead of him. Filippo Farioli (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was seventh at the end of the 19-lap race.
QJMOTOR SCORE POINTS WITH NEW BIKE: a WorldSSP best for the Chinese manufacturer
Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) secured another top-ten finish as he came home in P8, fending off Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team) by just over three tenths. Half-a-second back was Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) who completed the top ten, with six manufacturers in the top ten in Race 1. Xavi Cardelus (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) was 11th with Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) 12th and Raffaele De Rosa (QJMOTOR Factory Racing) 13th. The Italian took QJMOTOR’s best finish in WorldSSP on the weekend they debuted their new machine. Ondrej Vostatek (WRP Racing) and Niccolo Antonelli (VFT Racing) completed the points-paying positions.
HOUSEKEEPING FROM RACE 1: six retirements
On the opening lap, Niki Tuuli (QJMOTOR Factory Racing) and Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) collided at Turn 9, with the #51 taken to the medical centre for a check-up following the fall. Marcel Schroetter (WRP Racing) and Simon Jespersen (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) came together at Turn 8 with the German rider given a Long Lap Penalty for irresponsible riding. Federico Caricasulo (D34G WorldSSP Racing Team) crashed from the top eight at Turn 17 on Lap 14. Kaito Toba (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) crashed out in the closing stages of the race, while Roberto Garcia (GMT94-YAMAHA) also retired from the race.
The top six from WorldSSP Race 1, full results here:
1. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)
2. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +0.244s
3. Alberto Surra (Yamah BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +4.415s
4. Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) +5.991s
5. Corentin Perolari (Honda Racing World Supersport) +7.257s
6. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) +8.852s
From left to right, Acosta (37), Bezzecchi (72), Bagnaia (63), Di Giannantonio (49), Aldeguer (54) and Savadori (32) at Montmelo. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Marc Márquez won the MotoGP Tissot Sprint race Saturday afternoon at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Lenovo Team Ducati Desmosedici GP25 on Michelin control tires, the six-time MotoGP World Champion won the 12-lap race by 1.299 seconds.
Fabio Quartararo was the runner-up on his Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1, and Fabio Di Giannantonio finished third on his Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Ducati Desmosedici GP25.
Pedro Acosta got fourth on his Red Bull KTM Factory RC16.
Enea Bastianini crossed the finish line fifth on his Red Bull KTM Tech3 RC16.
Marc Marquez leads the championship with 467 points, 187 ahead of Alex Marquez who has 280 points. Bagnaia is third with 228 points.
Marc Marquez claims Barcelona gold as Alex Marquez crashes from lead. Drama unfolds for the Gresini star in the closing stages as Quartararo and Di Giannantonio earn Saturday podiums at the Catalan GP.
Marc Marquez’s (Ducati Lenovo Team) unbeaten run continues, but the #93 was handed a gold medal gift on Saturday afternoon at the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalonia as Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) crashes out of the lead while over a second clear. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) finished the Tissot Sprint just over a second behind Marc Marquez to earn silver, while Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) earned a relatively comfortable P3 after breaking clear of a brilliant KTM battle.
93, 37 & 20 GO TOE-TO-TOE ON OPENING LAP
Alex Marquez got the launch he was searching for as Quartararo, Marc Marquez, and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) went side-by-side into Turn 1. Acosta was on the outside of Marc Marquez as Quartararo swept inside the duo to grab P2 and tag right onto the back of Alex Marquez, leaving the Spaniards in P3 and P4.
An edge-of-your-seat opening lap then unfolded between Quartararo, Marc Marquez and Acosta. Marquez was up the inside of the Frenchman at Turn 10 but Quartararo dug his heels in and kept the inside line into Turn 12, and then Acosta fancied a piece and overtook Marquez too. Then, earning a dose of slipstream from Quartararo’s Yamaha, Marquez got the better of both into Turn 1 and despite having initially lost out, Quartararo bit back again to keep Acosta behind him.
The Sprint then settled down as Marc Marquez and Quartararo hunted down Alex Marquez, who sat 0.5s clear of his brother and 0.9s ahead of Quartararo. Acosta, out of shot, then lost a place to Di Giannantonio and then dropped back into the clutches of teammate Brad Binder and Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3). Remember that KTM scrap we mentioned?
At the front, Quartararo couldn’t keep tabs on Marquez duo’s pace and by Lap 6 of 12, El Diablo was 1.3s adrift of the #93. But it looked like Alex Marquez had the championship leader covered as things stood – the gap was up to 1.3s with four laps remaining.
DRAMA: ALEX MARQUEZ CRASHES FROM LEAD
However, later on that lap at the tricky Turn 10, the leader was down. Alex Marquez’s front end washed away, and that was that for the #73’s Tissot Sprint gold medal hopes. An almost certain victory vanished, and thus, the lead was Marc Marquez’s.
Heading onto the final lap, Marquez’s advantage over Quartararo was 1.298s, and he wasn’t going to give that up, was he? No, of course not. Marc Marquez clinched his 14th Sprint win of the year in dramatic fashion as Quartararo returned to the rostrum alongside Di Giannantonio, as a fierce KTM battle unfolded behind.
YOUR SATURDAY POINTS SCORERS
In that scintillating scrap, Acosta just held onto P4 ahead of Bastianini and Binder, as the trio crossed the line just 0.075s apart in the top six. Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) ended the Sprint in P7 and beat fellow HRC star Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) by 0.3s, with rookie Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) earning the final point in P9.
COMING UP: GRAND PRIX SUNDAY
Can Alex Marquez bounce back from late disappointment on Sunday and fight back against Marc Marquez? After a tense Sprint, Sunday should be a belter in Barcelona.
Nicolo Bulega (11), Alex Lowes (22) and Sam Lowes (14) at Magny-Cours. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Toprak Razgatlioglu won World Superbike Race One Saturday at Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR, the 2024 WorldSuperbike Champion won the 21-lap race by 8.597 seconds.
Nicolo Bulega was the runner-up on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4R, and Alex Lowes was third on his Bimota by Kawasaki KB998 Rimini.
Danilo Petrucci crossed the finish line fourth on his Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati Panigale V4R.
American Garrett Gerloff crashed his Kawasaki ZX-10RR on turn 3.
Toprak Razgatlioglu leads the championship with 432 points, 31 ahead of Nicolo Bulega who has 401 points. Danilo Petrucci is third with 246 points.
RAZGATLIOGU’S REDEMPTION: ‘El Turco’ ties Rea’s record Magny-Cours win tally in emphatic Race 1 triumph.
The #1 performed well once again at the French venue ahead of Bulega in P2 and Alex Lowes, who earned Bimota’s first full-length dry podium since returning to WorldSBK this season.
The French Round’s MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship race action has broken out in force at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) emerged victorious on a sunny Saturday afternoon at the quaint French hamlet for his 16th win of the season, now just two below his 2024 race win tally. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed P2 for Italy’s 500thWorldSBK podium, and in third, Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) earned his 48th career podium.
TOPRAK’S TRIO: Becomes the second-ever rider to win a race with three different manufacturers at the same track.
Toprak Razgatlioglu landed the holeshot, followed into the first corner by Alex Lowes, who slid past Nicolo Bulega from the Englishman’s P4 start. Lap after lap, Toprak slowly ran away with the race, having put more than four seconds between himself and Bulega behind him by Lap 11. From there, it was a lonely ride for ‘El Turco’ and ‘Bulegas’ alike as the #1 cruised to his ninth win at Magny-Cours, tying Jonathan Rea’s tally of nine wins at the French Circuit. Bulega led Lowes onto the rostrum in P2 as the British rider earned Bimota their 24th podium.
BROTHERS BATTLE FOR PODIUM: Alex Lowes earns first dry Bimota podium since Hockenheim Race 2 1989
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) battled brother on brother starting on Lap 6 as the twins scrapped tooth and nail for the final podium position. Alex led the duo until his brother Sam crashed out on Turn 13 of Lap 19 for a P9 finish. Riding some distance behind the brotherly duel, Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) finished P4. After starting one spot from the back of the grid in P22, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) worked his way all the way up to P8 in Lap 6 behind fellow Yamaha rider Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team). By Lap 14, ‘Loka’ climbed a further two positions to P6 and finally improved to P5 finish after Sam Lowes’ crash in front of him. Behind the Italian, fellow Yamaha rider Gardner landed P6.
BASSANI AND AEGERTER FINDING CONSISTENCY: Consecutive top eights for the pair
Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) finished P7 for his third consecutive top ten finish after finishing outside that mark across the prior six races. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) finished P8 for his eighth top ten finish this season. After crashing out of his podium battle with his brother, Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) recovered to score points, finishing in P9.
SEASON HIGHS: Best 2025 results for Sofuoglu and Rinaldi
Bahattin Sofuoglu (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) did well to work his way forward after starting in P21; he finished P10 for his first top 10 and so far in his rookie WorldSBK season. Sergio Garcia (Honda HRC) finished in the points in his first race with Honda as he landed P11. In twelfth, Michael Rinaldi (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) earned his best result of the season.
VICKERS P13: The British rookie bounces back from Balaton Race 2 DNF:
Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) earned P13 ahead of Honda riders Tito Rabat (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) and Zaqhwan Zaidi (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team who rounded out the point-scoring positions. Zaidi’s P15 effort earned him his first WorldSBK points in his rookie seasonBehind them, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) recovered from their early crash to finish P16 and P17.
SIX RETIREMENTS: A Lap 1 crash ended the race for Rea, Iannone and Montella
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team), Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha), Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) and Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) all saw gravel in Turn 13 of the opening lap. The crash ended the day for Rea, Montella, and Iannone, who then had to visit the medical centre. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) ran as high as P5 in Lap 5 after his P8 starting position. He held the P5 spot until an unfortunate crash in Lap 8, Turn 8, sent him back to the pits. He returned to the track but crashed again on Turn 3 from P17. Van der Mark and Iannone will be reassessed after the Warm Up session on Sunday morning. Lastly, Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) sailed ahead in the first laps of the race from his back-of-the-grid start after his crash in the WorldSBK Tissot Superpole. He slowly cut down at Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team)’s lead, until springing his move to steal P7 from the Aussie on Lap 13. However, the American crashed on Turn 3 of Lap 18, sending him back to P15 before retiring.
Daniel Holgado in Parc fermé after taking pole position at Montmelo. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Daniel Holgado was the man to beat during Moto2 World qualifying Saturday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. The Spaniard rider topped qualifying session with a new lap record time. Riding his Pirelli-shod CFMOTO Impulse Aspar Team Kalex, Holgado navigated the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) course in 1:41.549, breaking Sergio Garcia’s 2024 All-Time Lap Record of 1:41.894.
Jake Dixon was second-best with a 1:41.629 on his ELF Marc VDS Racing Team Boscoscuro.
Collin Veijer claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:41.738 on his Red Bull KTM Ajo Kalex.
Row-two qualifiers included Italjet Gresini’s Albert Arenas (1:41.761), Fantic Racing Lino Sonego’s Barry Baltus (1:41.800) and Veijer’s teammate Daniel Muñoz (1:41.807).
American Joe Roberts finished Saturday qualifying’s session 18th with a best time of 1:42.369 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
Holgado takes first Moto2™ pole to head Dixon and Veijer. Two rookies and a veteran start from the front row in Barcelona, with Canet P9, Gonzalez P12 and Moreira P13 as the top three face a comeback.
After some impressive pace on Friday, Dani Holgado (CFMoto Impulse Aspar Team) backed it up on Saturday with a new lap record for his first pole position in Moto2™. Fellow rookie Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) continued his recent form to take a first front row in the class, with the two debutants split by Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) in second.
Dixon was holding provisional pole until the final couple of minutes of Q2 as Holgado hammered home his new lap record to deny the Brit. Veijer was the last fast lap of the session to steal that final place on the front row, just denying Albert Arenas (Italjet Gresini Moto2), who came from Q1 and heads Row 2.
He’s joined on the second row by Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) in P5 and an impressive performance from Daniel Muñoz as he continues to sub for Deniz Öncü at Red Bull KTM Ajo. Filip Salač (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) and Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) are Row 3, with Ayumu Sasaki (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP) completing the top ten.
Normally, P9 could be an extra complication for a title contender, but this time Canet’s position on the third row actually puts him highest up the grid of the top three in the title fight. Points leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) in P12, and third overall, Brazilian Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) right behind him.
Maria Herrera (6), Chloe Jones (15), Beatriz Neila (36) at Magny-Cours. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Maria Herrera won Race One of the World Women’s Circuit Racing at Magny-Cours, in Spain. Riding her Klint Forward Racing Team Yamaha YZF-R7 on Pirelli control tires, Herrera won the 11-lap race by 0.130 second.
Chloe Jones was the runner-up on her GR Motosport Yamaha YZF-R7.
Beatriz Neila was third on her Ampito Crescent Yamaha YZF-R7.
American Mallory Dobbs finished 10th on her Diva Racing Yamaha YZF-R7 and American Sonya Lloyd crashed her Team Trasimeno Yamaha YZF-R7 on turn 3.
Herrera fires first in France, outpacing Neila and holding off a late attack from Jones. Herrera continues to close her grip on the 2025 World Championship with her Race 1 win at Magny-Cours.
The FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship has officially kicked off race action at the French Round’s Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team) topped the podium in the first encounter of the weekend, followed into Parc Ferme by Chloe Jones (GR Motorsport) and Beatriz Nelia (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) for their fourth and ninth podiums of the season, respectively.
PODIUM STREAK CONTINUES: Herrera maintains her season-long podium streak, nine consecutive for #6
Herrera surged forward to take the holeshot from P2, and after Jones ran wide in the ‘180º’ Turn 9, the Championship leader reinstated herself in P1 with eight laps to go. Four riders isolated themselves at the front as they doggedly pursued Herrera, comprised of Beatriz Nelia (Ampito Crescent Yamaha), Chloe Jones (GR Motorsport) and home hero Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94-YAMAHA). As the laps poled up, Boudesseul’s pace fell off, and into the final laps, Herrera and Chloe Jones (GR Motorsport) battled for P1 as the Englishwoman fought for her first WorldWCR race win. Despite a final sector surge from Jones, Herrera’s pace held to claim P1, her fifth win of the season. Jones’s P2 makes it now three second-place finishes in a row as the young rider continues to grow. Neila didn’t quite have the race pace to keep up with her title rival and Jones in front of her, as she settled for P3’s 16 points.
THREE P4’S IN A ROW FOR PONZIANI: Climbed back up the order from P8 start position
Riding most of the race behind the lead group, Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team) and rookie Natalia Rivera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) fought for fourth place as the young Spaniard continued her strong form in Race 1 after a career-best P5 qualification in Friday’s Tissot Superpole session. The pair caught up to Boudesseul late in the race, overtaking the French rider to finish P4 with a margin of 0.328s behind her. While she looked poised for her first WorldWCR podium, Boudesseul will have to settle with P5 as her pace declined as the race continued. Natalia Rivera (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) set a new career-high result of P6, a positive sign for the young Spaniard as she will look for a further step to keep up with riders like Ponziani in Race 2.
ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZ: Pedemonte and Vieillard continue to shine at home
Wildcard rider Justine Pedemonte (MDS) landed P7 in Race 1 of her home round. She battled with Aussie Tayla Relph (Full Throttle Racing), who finished behind her in P8 as they floated more than four seconds above the riders behind them. Along with Boudesseul and Pedemonte, Line Vieillard (FT Racing Academy) represented their home country well as she finished P9, placing three out of the field’s four French riders within the top 10. In P10, American rider Mallory Dobbs (Diva Racing) earned her best finish of the season, placing in the top ten for the first time since her pair of P9s at 2024’s season finale at Jerez.
LLOYD AND BONDI COME TO GRIEF: The pair made contact and saw gravel before being taken to the medical centre
Sonya Lloyd (Team Trasimeno) and Emily Bondi (ZELOS Trasimeno) crashed in Turn 3 of their second lap; both riders were brought to the medical centre for further analysis. Sara Sanchez (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) missed the top five positions for the first time this season as she crashed out on Turn 9.
David Almansa takes pole position at Montmelo. Photo courtesy Dorna.
David Almansa earned pole position during Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Leopard Racing Honda on Pirelli control tires, Almansa topped the 26-rider field with a lap time of 1:46.877.
Joel Kelso was the best of the rest with a 1:47.079 on his LevelUp MTA KTM, and Angel Piqueras claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:47.086 on his Frinsa MT Helmets MSI KTM.
Row-two qualifiers included Liquid Moly Dynavolt Intact GP’s David Muñoz (1:47.096), Piqueras’ teammate, Ryusei Yamanaka (1:47.233) and Almansa’s teammate Adrian Fernandez (1:47.235).
Almansa blasts to career-first pole in Barcelona. Leading the field going into Sunday, the #22 has primed himself for a strong Grand Prix.
David Almansa (Leopard Racing) left it late to fire himself into pole position for the first time in his Moto3™ career. The Spaniard will have a clear view down to Turn 1 and was the only rider able to dip into the 1’46s, with a 1’46.877 good enough to see him clear of Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) and Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI).
Graduating from Q1, Angel Piqueras, teammate Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI), Dennis Foggia (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) and Cormac Buchanan (DENSSI Racing – BOE) all joined the pole battle. After the first run in Q2, Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) was sitting pretty at the top of the standings with Yamanaka right behind him ahead of Piqueras, whilst David Almansa (Leopard Racing) was P4. After his two crashes thus far in the weekend, Maximo Quiles’ (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) got his first lap banked, good enough for P7.
However, with less than three minutes remaining, the fast laps started to come in as everyone pushed to raise the bar one more time. Piqueras blasted to provisional pole, using his extra Q1 session to his advantage. Late laps were needed for the likes of David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) and Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) with them 12th and 17th and for Muñoz at least, he managed to get into P4, whereas Perrone was 14th. At the front and on his last lap, Almansa pounced to bag a career-first pole and fifth front row of the year. He wasn’t the only late improver as Joel Kelso took second and first front row since Le Mans; denied pole, Piqueras completed the front row in third.
Behind the top three, Muñoz was a solid fourth ahead of Yamanaka and Fernandez. Championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) could only manage seventh and heads up the third row, ahead of Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) and Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo). Quiles, unable to challenge at the front, rounds out the top ten and starts from the fourth row, his second-worst qualifying of the year.
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for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
