Vance & Hines/Mission Suzuki Wins NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Championship

David Swarts

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November 13, 2023

Vance & Hines/Mission Suzuki Wins NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Championship

Vance & Hines/Mission Suzuki Storm to Pro Stock Motorcycle World Championship

Rookie Gaige Herrera Nails Record-Setting Season on Gen3 Hayabusa

BREA, CA – November 13, 2023 – Gaige Herrera won his first NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle World Championship and 11th race of the season as he faced off against his Vance & Hines/Mission Suzuki teammate Eddie Krawiec for a fourth-straight race at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, CA, on Sunday.

Race Highlights

Gaige Herrera qualified No. 1 for the 14th time and won his 11th race of the season, both class records, and clinched his first career Pro Stock Motorcycle World Championship.
Eddie Krawiec qualified third, advanced to a fourth-straight all-Vance & Hines/Mission Suzuki team final and finished second overall in the 2023 championship standings.

Riding a Gen III Suzuki Hayabusa wearing a special livery commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the legendary Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle and racing in front of a large crowd of Suzuki fans celebrating at the Hayabusa Homecoming, Herrera qualified his Hayabusa number one for the 14th time this season with a 6.661-second/203.80 mph run that re-set the Pomona track’s elapsed time record.

In round one, Herrera coasted to a win against Blaine Hale, who fouled on the starting line. In the second round, he defeated 2010 world champion LE Tonglet (6.839 seconds/195.14 mph) with a 6.744-second/201.76 mph run to advance to the semi-finals against veteran Steve Johnson, whom he defeated with a 6.713-second/202.33 mph run, his quickest of the day, outpacing Johnson’s 6.850-second/197.54 mph pass.

Herrera’s semi-final victory over Johnson set up an all-Vance & Hines/Mission Suzuki final-round matchup against Eddie Krawiec for the fourth race in a row. Once again, as he had done on the three prior occasions, Herrera and his Hayabusa denied his mentor a milestone 50th career win, defeating the four-time champion with a 6.721-second/201.46 mph run against Krawiec’s 6.796-second/199.52 mph pass.

In a season of superlatives and achievements as dominant as any in NHRA history, Herrera was the top qualifier in 14 of 15 races and won 11 of them, both class records. Herrera also set a new national elapsed-time record of 6.627 seconds and won the Pro Stock Motorcycle world championship in his first full season as a rider. Herrera’s championship is the 14th overall for the Vance & Hines/Mission Suzuki team, which finished the season first and second in the overall class standings.

“This season has been a dream. It’s surreal and almost doesn’t feel real at all. I’ve worked very hard to get to this point in my career. It’s amazing what we’ve accomplished as a team, all the wins and records we set. Having so much confidence in the performance and preparation of my Suzuki Hayabusa really helped me focus on riding the bike and getting the most out of this iconic motorcycle. It’s not just my championship. It belongs to the whole Vance & Hines/Mission Suzuki team,” Herrera said.

Looking ahead to next season, Herrera knows the rest of the class will be gunning for him. “Next year is going to be very competitive. Many teams will be stepping up their programs and coming for me. This year most people didn’t expect us to have the performance we did, especially with it being my first season riding full-time. I think next season will be harder for me, but I’m excited about it. I’m looking forward to winning a lot more races.”

Seeking his first win of the season and 50th of his career, Krawiec qualified third with a 6.734-second/201.94 mph pass to open the Pomona finals weekend.

In round one, Krawiec defeated Chris Bostick (7.016 seconds/179.80 mph) with a 6.757-second/201.55 mph blast, then advanced to the semi-finals with a 6.958-second/199.58 mph second-round victory over Marc Ingwersen, who fouled on the starting line. In the semi-finals, Krawiec defeated Hector Arana Jr. (6.880 seconds/196.36 mph) with a 6.819-second/200.53 mph run to set up yet another final-round matchup against Herrera, who once again denied him the career milestone victory.

On the strength of his strong performance over the second half of the season, Krawiec finished second in the championship, locking out the top two spots for the Vance & Hines/Mission Suzuki team.

“To finish one and two in a class that is as competitive as ours isn’t easy. We were able to get my Hayabusa into a really good position in the second half of the season. At the end of the day, I had a great race bike, but Gaige’s was just a little bit better. It was a great year. I went to four finals in the last four races and without Gaige here, I would have had another championship season,” Krawiec said. “What we saw this year from Gaige is something special. It doesn’t just happen all the time. He was machine-like pretty much all year long, made no mistakes, and was super consistent. When someone does that, it’s hard to beat.”

Vance & Hines/Mission Suzuki crew chief Andrew Hines credited the championship to a complete team effort on and off the track, Herrera’s talent as a rider, and the exceptional performance of the new Gen III Hayabusa that debuted this season.

“Never in our wildest dreams could we have expected this at the start of the season. Suzuki gave us a fast baseline with the new Gen III Hayabusa, which is bar-none the best motorcycle in the class. It’s almost effortless for our riders to make runs close to perfection on the Hayabusa. It’s a beautiful machine. Gaige was rock solid and rode like a veteran all season long. The exceptional thing is what he can do on a motorcycle in the first 10 feet of the run. As a crew chief, I can exploit that with the clutch setup and horsepower, and together it makes a potent combination. He’s next level. Eddie went to four straight finals, and in any other normal year, he would have won another championship, but his challenge was that the best motorcycle in the class was parked right next to him in the pit area,” Hines said. “As a team, we strive for greatness. Our status quo is to be the best. We sacrifice time with our families and work endless hours to make sure our motorcycles are immaculate, fast, and well-prepared. We come together under adversity like this weekend with Gaige’s bike. This championship is a testament to the guys here at the track and the support crew back at our shop who don’t get the accolades on TV. They all work so hard to make sure the motorcycles we bring to the track are the best.”

After the 2023 NHRA season, Herrera and Krawiec finished first and second in the Pro Stock Motorcycle standings with 2,877 and 2,663 points, respectively.

The Vance & Hines/Mission Suzuki team will return to action for the 15-race 2024 Pro Stock Motorcycle season on March 7-10, 2024, at the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, FL.

For the latest Suzuki team news, race reports, and information visit SuzukiCycles.com/Racing/Drag-Racing.

Hanging With MotoAmerica CFO Richard Varner, From The April 2022 Issue

David Swarts

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November 13, 2023

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Hanging With MotoAmerica CFO Richard Varner, From The April 2022 Issue

Editorial Note: This article originally appeared in the April 2022 issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine. Bonus photos and content have been added.

Hanging With…Richard Varner

By David Swarts

In late 2014 KRAVE Group acquired the rights to promote AMA-sanctioned professional motorcycle road racing in the United States and rebranded the series as MotoAmerica. KRAVE Group was, and still is, made up of Chief Marketing Officer Terry Karges (K), President Wayne Rainey (R), Chief Operating Officer Chuck Aksland (A), and Chief Financial Officer Richard Varner (V).

Some of those names were familiar to people following motorcycle racing. Rainey is a three-time 500cc Grand Prix World Champion and a former Grand Prix team manager; and former racer Chuck Aksland ran King Kenny Roberts’ Team Roberts for over 20 Grand Prix World Championship seasons and later ran Circuit of The Americas. And although Karges isn’t well known in motorcycle racing, he’s very well known in the auto racing world; he’s run his own team, led motorsports marketing efforts for Ford, served as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Roush Performance, and currently runs the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California. But who is Varner?

Not only is Varner the primary source of the funding that got MotoAmerica up and running, but he continues to drive the racing organization forward with his experience building and running several businesses, his passion for motorcycles and all motorsports, and his endless energy and enthusiasm.

Richard Varner speaking at the 2021 MotoAmerica Awards Banquet held at Barber Motorsports Park. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

Varner was born in Wichita, Kansas, where his appreciation of hard work and his lifelong attraction to motorized vehicles took root. “We all mowed lawns in the summertime where I grew up,” said Varner. “You’d have maybe eight or 10 lawns, and you could earn enough money to buy a minibike. Some kids had go-karts, but minibikes were better because you could ride it more places. You could find a vacant lot and ride it there until the owners chased you off or the police came.”

Varner earned a college football scholarship and played offensive guard at the University of Nebraska under Hall of Fame Coach Tom Osborne. “To know anything about my football career you had to be related to me or dating me, because I was not a standout or a star by any means,” said Varner, who stands 6-foot-5. “I played a little bit, I lettered, and that was about it. I realized pretty quickly that I wasn’t going to the Pros.”

Varner graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, but when he couldn’t find a job he passed on Law School and decided to get a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Kansas. After receiving his MBA, Varner found himself working in the energy business, which wasn’t a surprise.

MotoAmerica's Richard Varner (center) with partner Terry Karges (right) and FIM North America's Bill Cumbow, at Barber in 2016. Photo by Brian J. Nelson. — MotoAmerica’s Richard Varner (center) with partner Terry Karges (right) and FIM North America’s Bill Cumbow, at Barber in 2016. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.

“I had been around it all of my life,” said Varner in his usual straight-talking manner. “My father worked for a large oil company in Wichita. My grandfather worked in the oil fields. My cousins worked in the oil fields. My wife’s family had worked in the oil business. I had had summer jobs on pipeline crews and driving crude oil transport trucks in the field. So, I just kind of gravitated towards it.

“I worked for a large independent company called Coastal Corporation. I went to work in the crude oil trading group. We were buying and selling cargos of crude oil back in the mid-to-late 1970s, chartering ships, and transporting oil, and buying and selling. It was really an exciting time.”

Richard Varner on a horse at his cattle ranch in Kansas. Photo courtesy MotoAmerica.

After changing locations and companies a few times, Varner found himself working for Coastal again but this time in Southern California. “I ran their refining and marketing group out here,” said Varner. “We kind of had an integrated oil company. We were buying crude oil and putting it in our refinery and then selling the products out of it. I did that for a number of years.”

Eventually, Varner left Coastal and started his own company transporting various petroleum products up and down the West Coast and to Alaska and Hawaii using as many as 18 seagoing barges and vessels.

“We did that for 10 or 11 years and sold it, and then I got into the natural gas pipeline business. We take gas off major tug pipelines, and we deliver it to utility companies in little towns in Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas, and now California. We’ve recently branched out and we’re involved in some hydro-electric power generation in North Carolina. That’s a new thing for us. So, I’ve probably had three distinct careers in the energy industry over the last 47 years.”

Richard Varner with some of his personal motorcycles. Photo courtesy MotoAmerica.

While Varner was running his petroleum shipping company, he used the company’s machine shop to restore a 1967 Chevy II into a hot rod with his son. “I thought, I‘ll start restoring motorcycles for fun, too,” said Varner. “I bought a couple of Triumphs from the 1970s, my high school years. I thought that was a good age and it was the last good years of Triumphs back then.

“So, I started messing with that. Then I started getting new Triumphs and messing with those. I got Richard Pollock to build a frame for me. We started building these street trackers. They were 765s. We did some porting on the engine and some cam work. We got the first street tracker down to 305 pounds and 90 horsepower. It was a lot of fun. I took it to a couple of shows and met Terry Karges at one of those shows.

Richard Varner with his award-winning 1970 Triumph T120RT homologation special at The Quail show. Photo courtesy MotoAmerica. — Richard Varner with his award-winning 1970 Triumph T120RT homologation special at The Quail show. Varner says only 206 examples of this motorcycle were created. Photo courtesy MotoAmerica.

“We started talking about maybe trying to sell them and do different things. Then we started thinking it would be fun to do something besides Triumphs. Richard Pollock and Terry and I started talking about Yamahas. Maybe we could do an old TZ750 but use a R1 motor in it. We had a friend up in Monterey that introduced us to Wayne [Rainey]. So, Wayne came on and helped us with the project by sourcing a lot of the Öhlins parts. Then, we started talking about road racing and what should be done, and sh*t, here came MotoAmerica.

“In 2013, we started getting pretty earnest about it and started chasing this thing. We made a couple of offers to [Daytona Motorsports Group (DMG), which owns AMA Pro Racing], and they were rejected. At that time, we were going to try to buy the whole damn thing, flat track and everything they had bought from AMA. It wasn’t going to work, so we looked at doing our own thing. We looked at doing the North American Championship as opposed to the U.S. Championship.

“Finally, the AMA said, ‘We think [DMG] will sell us the road race [rights] back.’ We paid a fee to the AMA every year over a period of time, and I think that funded buying the sanctioning rights and commercial rights back from DMG. That was September 2014 when that was completed. From that point it was asses and elbows, and we were on track at COTA in Spring of 2015.”

Richard Varner in his vintage BMW racecar at Willow Springs. Photo courtesy MotoAmerica.

Varner said the best thing he feels MotoAmerica did was to adopt FIM technical rules and regulations, which made it easier for manufacturers to develop bikes and parts to a global specification instead of series-by-series. “The other critical issue the first year was getting the series back on TV,” said Varner. “We got on TV, but it wasn’t what it needed to be. So going from there to live TV the second year was a big deal. And I think ever since we have been continually improving our product and our operations.

“I’m not the racer that Wayne and Chuck are, but from my perspective when I look at a business it’s important to have continual improvement and refinement and hopefully no backsliding. It’s important that we’re moving forward all of the time. What happens is the product is going to get more reliable, more consistent, a better presentation, higher quality, and I think it trickles down.”

People with money come and go in racing all of the time. They come in and inject a lot of cash and enthusiasm for a while, but it rarely lasts because wealthy people tend to get bored and easily find new and more exciting ways to spend their money. Although his involvement in MotoAmerica has been a labor of love, Varner has always looked at MotoAmerica as a business, and a business needs to be profitable or it will not last. And seven years in, Varner realizes how much is at stake.

Richard Varner (right) with MotoAmerica racer Josh Herrin (left) during the Velocity Invitational motorsports exhibition event at Laguna Seca in 2021. Photo courtesy MotoAmerica.

“The thing that has probably kept me going in this thing as much as anything is once you get going in something you have an obligation to see it through. You never quit, right?” said Varner. “I will tell you that Wayne and Chuck and Terry and I very much see it as the decisions we make are not just about us. They are about our entire paddock and what’s best for it.

“Other people are depending on us to get it right, and that’s a real motivating deal. We can’t just leave it. We can’t just walk away from it. If you sponsor a team you can walk away from it, but when you start getting in this deep you can’t just walk away from it, not like it is. And it’s a sense of pride to make something work that other people couldn’t make work.”

MotoE: Granado Extends Contract With LCR E-Team

David Swarts

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November 13, 2023

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MotoE: Granado Extends Contract With LCR E-Team

ERIC GRANADO EXTENDS CONTRACT WITH LCR E-TEAM

LCR E-Team is proud to announce the renewal of Brazilian rider Eric Granado for the 2024 season.

For the 3rd consecutive year, Eric Granado will be on the LCR E-Team line-up in 2024. He joined the team in 2022 and achieved five victories and three other podium results in the first year with LCR, fighting for the Championship and finishing as the 2022 runner-up. In 2023, the Brazilian got another victory and three podiums.

The performance throughout the years alongside the special bond between the rider and the team has led to another season together. Cheers to a successful 2024!

Lucio Cecchinello, LCR E-Team Team Principal

“We are happy to count on Eric for another season. We’ve achieved great results throughout these past two years and now the goal is to fight for the maximum, as there is potential. He’s a good match to the LCR spirit and a fast rider, we can’t wait to start the 2024 season!

Eric Granado, LCR E-Team rider

“LCR is like a family for me and I’m excited to start another season together. We’ve already fought for the championship, and that’s the 2024 goal. I’d like to thank Lucio, the team, and all the sponsors for their support”.

Provisional 2024 Northern Talent Cup Schedule Released

David Swarts

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November 13, 2023

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Provisional 2024 Northern Talent Cup Schedule Released

Provisional 2024 Northern Talent Cup calendar

The new era of the NTC begins, with seven rounds and 14 races planned alongside MotoGP™, WorldSBK and the IDM

The provisional calendar for the 2024 Northern Talent Cup can now be revealed! It’s a whole new era of competition as the Cup welcomes Honda as the single manufacturer and Pirelli as tyre supplier, in line with much of the Road to MotoGP™, and the seven-round, 14-race calendar can now be revealed.

A pre-season test starts the action at Oschersleben, before competition then begins at the classic TT Circuit Assen alongside WorldSBK, as is becoming NTC tradition! From there the Cup heads for the Sachsenring, Oschersleben and Most alongside the IDM, before a second round at the Sachsenring alongside MotoGP™ at the German Grand Prix.

From the biggest sporting event in Germany, the NTC heads back to the TT Circuit Assen, this time alongside the IDM, before the season finale sees the NTC make its debut at the awe-inspiring Nürburgring to bring competition to a close.

Check out the full calendar below!

2024 PROVISIONAL CALENDAR

Be part of the new era of the Northern Talent Cup!

Applications for 2024 remain open for prospective competitors until December 31st
A new era is coming for the Northern Talent Cup in 2024, and prospective teams and riders can still apply to join the grid! Registration is open at northerntalentcup.com until the 31st of December for all those looking to take their place on the Road to MotoGP™.

The NTC switches to Honda NSF250 R machinery from 2024, bringing it in line with similar competitions such as the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup, and like much of the Road to MotoGP™ the Cup also welcomes Pirelli as tyre supplier. A number of fast faces from the NTC have already graduated into the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup on the next step on the Road to MotoGP™, and there’s now another year of opportunities up for grabs.

The 2024 NTC grid will be limited to 26 entrants and riders must be born between January 1st, 2005, and February 28th, 2010, to be a minimum age of 14 before the first round. Riders from different racing backgrounds can apply, with no road racing experience necessary as other disciplines can also translate into road racing success. All nationalities can also apply, but the NTC aims to discover talent from across northern and central Europe.

If individual riders apply, they must also choose a Team Name and have a Team Manager. Riders must also have at least one mechanic and a legal guardian.

Any Team Application should specify a Team Manager, who will be the main contact with the organisation, and the team can comprise a rider and two mechanics. Mechanics can also be family members or acquaintances.

KEY DATES

Application deadline: 31st December 2023

Confirmation of full time riders: 19th January 2024

MotoAmerica: JD Beach Tests Tytlers BMW Superbike At Homestead

David Swarts

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November 12, 2023

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MotoAmerica: JD Beach Tests Tytlers BMW Superbike At Homestead

JD Beach, the winner of the final race of the 2023 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship season, tested Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW Superbikes today during a track day event at Homestead-Miami Speedway, in Homestead, Florida.

According to Team Owner Michael Kiley, his team had an obligation to do some extra testing for BMW Motorrad and his 2023 riders, Cameron Beaubier and PJ Jacobsen, were unavailable. Beaubier is still recovering from knee surgery, Jacobsen has already signed with Rahal Ducati Moto for the 2024 season, and Beach was available.

Beach told Roadracingworld.com that he rode two different M 1000 RR Superbikes while working with Scott Jensen, who was PJ Jacobsen’s Crew Chief in 2023.

Asked if Beach was being consider as a rider for his team in 2024, Kiley told Roadracingworld.com that his team’s plans were still in the works.

JD Beach (center) with fellow Pro racers Armando Ferrer (right) and Alex Arango (left) Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Photo courtesy Armando Ferrer.

MRA Announces 2024 Board Of Directors

David Swarts

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November 12, 2023

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MRA Announces Its Board of Directors for the 2024 Race Season

Denver, CO – The Motorcycle Roadracing Association (MRA) is pleased to announce the election of its Board of Directors for the 2024 Race Season. The MRA held its Annual Meeting & Elections on the evening of November 8, 2023, in accordance with its by-laws.

Current Vice President, Bob Hasenhundl, was elected as President and will serve through the 2024 season. Bob Hasenhundl was 1 year into a 2-year term, so his election to President leaves the Vice President position vacant. The MRA will hold a special election to fill the vacant Vice President position.

This year the MRA will see three new board members elected to their first terms, Deborah Bingham for Secretary, Tim Ellis for Public Relations & Events, and Dustin Pfeiffer for VP of Rules & Tech. Dennis Stowers, Blair Harness, Katie Rayburn, and Codey Chewning were all re-elected in their respective positions. Additionally, Noel Ross will continue to serve as Treasurer, and Dan Spurlock will retain his position as New Rider Director, as both are 1 year into a 2-year term for their roles, making them exempt from the 2024 election cycle.

The MRA congratulates its new board members and extends its sincere appreciation to all the candidates for their willingness to serve the club. Electees will take office at the December Board of Directors meeting.

2024 Board of Directors:

– Bob Hasenhundl: President

– Deborah Bingham: Secretary

– Katie Rayburn: Race Director

– Noel Ross: Treasurer

– Dan Spurlock: New Rider Director

– Dustin Pfeiffer: VP Rules & Tech

– Dennis Stowers: Rider Representative – Rulebook

– Blair Harness: Rider Representative – Trophy & Class Sponsorship

– Tim Ellis: Rider Representative – Public Relation & Events

– Codey Chewning: Rider Representative – Press & Communications

The Motorcycle Roadracing Association is dedicated to promoting safe and competitive motorcycle road racing events for enthusiasts in Colorado and the surrounding area. For more information go to http://www.mra-racing.org/.

MotoGP: World Championship Race Results From Sepang

David Swarts

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November 12, 2023

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MotoGP: World Championship Race Results From Sepang

MotoGP Race Results

Enea Bastianini (23) held off Alex Marquez (73) to win the MotoGP race at Sepang. Photo by Kohei Hirota.

MotoGP Points after Race

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

#PECCOvsMARTIN: the title fight heats up as Bastianini blasts back to glory

It’s early race fireworks in the title fight, but up ahead Bastianini and Alex Marquez pull clear on Sunday

Enea Bastianini (23). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Sunday, 12 November 2023

Pecco vs Martin: it’s official. The fight for the 2023 FIM MotoGP™ World Championship is now a duel, and it’s a duel split by just 14 points as we head into the final two race weekends. It was also an early race duel at Sepang as the two went toe-to-toe in the fight for the podium, with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) defending with everything he had against now sole challenger, Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing). But that was the fight for third!

Up ahead, Enea Bastianini’s (Ducati Lenovo Team) fantastic return to form continued as the number 23 moved through to the lead, set some absolutely searing pace, and wasn’t to be seen again. Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) kept him honest enough, however, with the number 73 following up his Sprint win with another Grand Prix podium.

It was almost three abreast into Turn 1 once the lights went out, with the front row side-by-side. Bastianini played it safe, Bagnaia was on the outside, and it was Martin who let the brakes off – diving up the inside to very briefly take the holeshot. But he was deep and Bagnaia took the chance to try and cut back in, but the #1 wasn’t in the postcode of the apex either. He got back past Martin but Bastianini was already through, as was Alex Marquez.

Pecco held on to third against Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) but Martin wasn’t so lucky, getting shuffled back behind the Italian and left with a little more work to do from fifth.

And so Bastianini led Alex Marquez, with a small but increasing gap back to some stunning early race fireworks. Once Martin was able to get back past Bezzecchi, he was right on the tail of Bagnaia and the teams, factory and grandstands held their breath as the show began.

Francesco Bagnaia (1) and Jorge Martin (89) finished third and fourth, respectively, on Sunday. Photo courtesy Dorna.

The number 89 was all over the number 1 but he attacked and was denied, attacked and was denied as the two scythed round Sepang near side-by-side. It was stunning, and it could prove important in terms of more than just points. On Sundays when they’ve both seen the flag, the reigning Champion has only finished ahead of Martin once since the Red Bull Ring – on the day of Johann Zarco’s history-making win in Australia. Bagnaia hasn’t beaten Martin in a Sprint since Catalunya. But at Sepang, the reigning Champion also turned the tables in qualifying, nabbing pole from Martin and outqualifying the number 89 for the first time since Barcelona.

From that huge shot of adrenaline though, it became an ebb of tension as the laps ticked down. Bastianini led Alex Marquez, both in some clear air. Bagnaia was in a “safe” third, and Martin a “safe fourth” as the battle behind was the next.

By five laps to go, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) had arrived at Bezzecchi, and this time the Yamaha rider struck quickly, slicing through almost immediately. The he was left trying to hold off the mighty power of the Ducati out the final corner and down the main straight into Turn 1, but it was mission accomplished – Quartararo was up into the top five as Bezzecchi officially dropped out on title contention.

At the front, Bastianini pounded on. With just over a second in hand, sometimes up to 1.5, the Beast was keeping very calm as he carried on – and very, very fast. He crossed the line for his first win since Aragon last year with a second and a half in hand, becoming the seventh different winner this season. Alex Marquez returned to the Grand Prix podium in second, Bagnaia took that vital third, and Martin was forced to settle for fourth to end the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia 14 points adrift. Still, there are 74 left in play.

Quartararo took fifth from Bezzecchi, with Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™’s Franco Morbidelli putting on a charge into seventh and Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) P8. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was hot on the heels on the Australian, and they had Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) for company too as he completed the top ten.

Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) and his teammate Pol Espargaro completed the points – with one notable name missing out on some being Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) as he crashed out of the battle with Miller and Diggia, rider ok.

That’s it from Sepang and another stunning weekend. Every point is pivotal, and now it’s just 14 of them with 74 to play for. This is it: Pecco vs Martin. One of them will be crowned the 2023 FIM MotoGP™ World Champion… and the first match point comes in Qatar for Bagnaia. So don’t go anywhere… it’s GAME ON next weekend!

PECCO BAGNAIA: “I’m happy overall we managed to find our performance in terms of overall speed. It’s been since Barcelona that I’ve been on pole position so that was very very important. I tried to do everything today but the battle with Bastianini and Jorge made me lose a bit of time and then I tried to push to catch these guys, but it was very very difficult. I tried everything but the most important thing was to finish in front of Jorge without both having any problems. I already beat him in the last races but he was having some issues. This is the first time since Austria that I’ve beat him in the same conditions so I’m happy for that it was very important to do it before Qatar. We managed to finish the weekend with one more point advantage compared to when we started.”

Talk us through the overtakes…

“Jorge was very good on the entrance of Turn 14. That’s where he made the overtake, but he went a little bit wide, so I just tried to cross the line and get in front because it’s very important to not allow him to be in front, also because I wasn’t expecting that his pace was like it was, because then looking at the gap that I opened. I thought that I was arriving to the front the same, but it was very important to win the battle with him and it was also so much fun.

“I tried to go on the outside in Thailand and it didn’t work, so it was important to finally do it. Riding around the outside is always nicer than a normal overtake…”

Thoughts about the championship:

“I think we have to wait until Valencia to know for sure. 14 points are more than nothing but it’s not too much. If it was a normal season with one race it’s a good gap to manage, but with 37 points each weekend it’s not a lot. It’s a very small gap. In Qatar it will be important to work like we did this weekend and try and understand already on Friday and be at the top like we were this weekend. Pole position or to startt in the front will be very important again and try to push like we did today. In Qatar, it will be new for everyone with the new tarmac and tyres so let’s see.”

JORGE MARTIN: “You know I’m a little bit disappointed about the result but that’s the most I could do so let’s move to Qatar and try to reset from this race. I thought I was able to recover some points today. I was feeling great at the beginning of the race, but at some point, I started to lose the front and risk a lot on the right hand corners so I have to be happy with P4. It’s not what I expected, I expected to fight for the podium or for the victory. But it is what it is so let’s move onto the next one.”

At what point did you realise?

“Yeah, after six laps I started to lose ground to Pecco. It was strange because I tried to push to put some pressure on him so maybe he’d make a mistake but I started to be close to crashing so I decided that’s not what I wanted. So that’s the maximum I could do today.”

Qatar next, how much are you looking forward to that?

“Yeah I really like Qatar. I’ve had two pole positions there in the past two seasons and I was on the podium there in my second ever race in MotoGP. I’m really looking forward to it. We have to understand the new tyres for sure but this is a track where I’m always fast.”

Moto2: World Championship Race Results From Sepang

David Swarts

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November 12, 2023

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Moto2: World Championship Race Results From Sepang

Fermin Aldeguer won the Moto2 World Championship race Sunday at Sepang International Circuit, in Sepang, Malaysia. The Beta Tools SpeedUp rider won the 17-lap race by a large 7.128-second margin. It was the Spaniard’s second straight win and his third victory in 2023.

Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Pedro Acosta finished second in the race and that was enough for him to clinch the 2023 Moto2 World Championship with two rounds remaining.

Marcos Ramirez took third on his OnlyFans American Racing Kalex.

American Joe Roberts scored eighth on his Italtrans Racing Kalex, 18.482 seconds behind the winner, and his countryman Sean Dylan Kelly placed 19th on his Forward Racing machine.

Moto2 Race
Moto2 Points

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Aldeguer unbeatable as Acosta clinches the title at Sepang

Fermin Aldeguer (54). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is the 2023 Moto2™ World Champion thanks to a P2 finish at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia. The Spaniard becomes the youngest Moto2™ title winner – taking that accolade off Marc Marquez – as Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools Speed Up) strode to a commanding third win of the campaign. Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing) kept his composure to secure a hard-earned debut Moto2™ rostrum in P3.

There was drama from the off as polesitter Aldeguer and Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Team) made contact on the exit of Turn 1 which saw the latter crash out. Thankfully everyone managed to avoid the Spaniard but one rider who had to take evading action was Arbolino. The Italian lost ground and was down to P7, with Acosta capitalising on Gonzalez’s misfortunes to climb up to P2.

On Lap 2, desperate to pick off the riders ahead of him, Arbolino’s slim title hopes then all but vanished. The #14 made small contact with Ai Ogura’s (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) rear wheel at Turn 9, then made more contact with Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40), as Arbolino ran onto the grass. That dropped him outside the top 20.

Back at the front, Aldeguer was operating on another level. By Lap 4, the Spaniard was over two seconds clear of Acosta, who in turn was over a second up the road from third place Ramirez. Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools Speed Up) was P4 and had Ogura and Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) for company, with Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) just slightly adrift of the fight for P4.

Aldeguer’s lead kept growing and with seven laps left, six seconds split him and Acosta. Ramirez was holding Lopez, Ogura and Dixon a second behind him, with Ogura beginning to climb all over the back of Lopez’s rear wheel. With six to go, Ogura was through and then set about chasing Ramirez for the final spot on the podium.

With three to go, Ramirez was coming under increasing pressure. Ogura was taking two or three tenths a second a lap out of the Spaniard’s advantage but up the road, there were no issues whatsoever for Aldeguer and the Champion elect Acosta.

Aldeguer took the chequered flag a sensational 7.1s clear of anyone to claim a dominant victory, but it was all eyes on the rider in P2 as Acosta crossed the line to become the 2023 Moto2™ World Champion and a two-time Grand Prix Champion after his 2021 Moto3™ success. Take a bow Pedro, what a season!

Just behind, Ramirez did manage to fend off Ogura to claim a first Moto2™ podium, with the latter coming from P13 on the grid to challenge for a podium, as Dixon rounded out the top five. Chantra and Lowes take home P6 and P7, with Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team), Albert Arenas (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and the recovering Arbolino rounding out the top 10. A disappointing day for the #14 sees his title hopes disappear for 2023, but he’ll be back stronger in 2024

Barry Baltus (Fieten Olie Racing GP), Jeremy Alcoba (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™), Alex Escrig (Forward Team), Filip Salac (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) and Dennis Foggia (Italtrans Racing Team) were the final points scorers in Malaysia. With the title wrapped up, Acosta will head to Qatar with only one thing in mind: winning. So will the likes of Aldeguer as we get set for what could be a spell-binding end to the 2023 Moto2™ World Championship!

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

#ELT1BURON: Pedro Acosta is the 2023 FIM Moto2™ World Champion!

Believe the hype: the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider wraps up the crown at Sepang after another stunning season

Pedro Acosta celebrates his 2023 Moto2 World Championship. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Sunday, 12 November 2023

Pedro Acosta is the 2023 FIM Moto2™ World Champion! The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider took his second Championship in style with a podium at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia, becoming the youngest intermediate class Champion since Dani Pedrosa in 2004 and the youngest ever in Moto2™ – just ahead of Marc Marquez. Acosta has taken 14 podiums this year including seven wins, and wraps up the crown with two races to spare. Do you believe the hype?

Acosta got his first motorbike at five years old but took a little time to really fall in love. Once he did, his ascent started to gain traction and by 2017 he was wrapping up the pre-Moto3™ title in Spain with two races to spare. He then moved into the FIM Moto3™ Junior World Championship, now JuniorGP™, for 2018 and made a big step in that Championship the following season – alongside debuting in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.

The Rookies was where he began to really create the hype that has since followed him through the ranks. After finishing his first season as runner up with three wins and five podiums, 2020 then saw Acosta win the first six races in the Rookies and take the title with plenty of time to spare.

Making his debut in the Moto3™ World Championship in 2021, then, came with even more hype, and that was proven entirely correct. On his Grand Prix debut he took second place and started his career on the podium, just 0.042s off the win, and second time out, Acosta won. From pitlane.

More than two years later, that victory remains worthy of goosebumps and the season overall does too – with history made nearly every weekend. Acosta became the first rider to take the title in his rookie season in the 125cc/Moto3™ class since Loris Capirossi in 1990.

He moved to Moto2™ for 2022, and if anyone had doubts about the hype surrounding the Spaniard, the time to surrender them had come. In a new year and a new class, Acosta was the same sensation as he smashed the lap record in testing at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. Still, it was a tougher start to the races than he’d expected and then came some injury struggles, before he won his first Moto2™ race at Mugello and rounded out the season with a second victory in Valencia. He looks back on his intermediate class debut having expected more, but for the rest it said more than enough, and then came 2023.

The favourite from the off, the first part of the season saw Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) mount a challenge against Acosta but by summer break, the number 37 had taken back the lead and started to pull clear. From there, he only continued to hammer home his advantage, culminating in his second crown secured in style. Seven wins, 14 podiums and more history made – Pedro Acosta is the 2023 FIM Moto2™ World Champion! Next stop: MotoGP™!

Pedro Acosta, the 2023 Moto2 World Champion. Photo courtesy Dorna.

#ELT1BURON IN STATS

Aged 19 years and 171 days old, Acosta becomes the second-youngest intermediate class World Champion behind MotoGP™ Legend Dani Pedrosa (19 years and 18 days old) in 2004.

However, Acosta is the youngest Moto2™ World Champion ahead of Marc Marquez (19 years and 254 days old) in 2012.

He becomes the second rider to clinch the Moto2™ World Championship having previously clinched the Moto3™ title (2021), along with Alex Marquez (Moto3™/2014 and Moto2™/2019).

In addition, Acosta becomes the second former Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup winner to clinch the Moto2™ title along with Johann Zarco, the first ever Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Winner in 2007 and two-time Moto2™ World Champion (2015 and 2016).

Aged 18 years and 4 days old at the 2022 Italian GP, Acosta is the youngest intermediate class winner ahead of Marc Marquez (18 years and 87 days old at the 2011 French GP).

With 10 wins in Moto2™ so far, Acosta is tied in fifth place on the list of riders with the most wins in the class with Pol Espargaro and Sam Lowes.

Acosta has stood on the podium 14 times so far this season (more than any other rider) and 19 times in Moto2™. He is now tied in 11th place on the list of riders with most podiums in the class with Andrea Iannone. If he gets two more in the two remaining races, he will surpass 2024 teammate Augusto Fernandez (20) and equal Franco Morbidelli and Miguel Oliveira, who both have 21.

QUOTES

Pedro Acosta: “I was struggling not to feel the pressure. In the end, we have to understand that we weren’t in an easy situation but the window was open to achieve the championship and I said on Thursday if it wasn’t going to be here, it was going to be in Qatar or in Valencia. In the end, I approached it like a normal weekend trying to be competitive in Sunday’s race and like this we did it. It’s true that in the last couple of races we’ve been riding more with the head because I think it’s very important for the team to be able to achieve the championship and for us to be able to fight for the team title. I think the race was good in the end. We have seen that SpeedUp have something more in the last couple of races and we have to improve. Anyway, we have to be happy we are in our way and we have another podium in the bag with two more races in the championship where we can fight to win races, so we have to be happy about this race.”

Proud of this season, it has been very different to 2021?

“Yeah, in the end like you say, it’s not like it was in Moto3. In the end, I remembered that in Sachsenring maybe I had 83 points of gap to second place. It was quite crazy, also in Portimao I was quite nervous because it was a race after I lost a lot of points in the last part of the championship. Also I was a kid, when I arrived to this championship I was 16 and now I’m close to 20, so it’s very different. Also, last year I made a lot of mistakes by Round 5 we had had close to 20 crashes, which is a lot.

“In the end, this is my third year with Aki (Ajo) working with him and this year we decided to start from zero and put all the mistakes in one box and say that nothing can get out from that box. It’s true that we’ve made mistakes during the season, like in Le Mans and in Australia. Not everything is easy, but, and I don’t know what to say in the end, the team have worked super well. It’s true that last year we suffered a lot to try to find the right setting in the bike and also I was too small and too light to be able to ride in Moto2. We made a big step in the winter in the preseason and because of this I think we’ve improved in general and in the head. We know what not to do, more than we know what to do. We’ve taken a lot of experience from last year and played with this.”

To beat Marc Marquez to youngest Moto2™ Champion, and become second youngest intermediate class Champion behind Dani Pedrosa… do you look to set those records, especially when you were called “the next Marc Marquez”, or is it just nice to see your name join theirs?

“I try not to think about it in the end. I’m the new Pedro Acosta, not the new Marc Marquez. In the end, it’s a different era, it’s different bikes, so you can’t compare this. It’s true that it’s so nice to be amongst these names, but it’s not the moment to think about this. Now I just have to enjoy myself on the bike and in the paddock and have fun with the guys that are working here. It’s not the moment to think about what I’ve done and what I want to do.”

Dunlop’s All-New Sportmax Slick Demolishes Lap Records

David Swarts

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November 12, 2023

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Dunlop’s All-New Sportmax Slick Demolishes Lap Records

Rancho Cucamonga, CA: Dunlop’s all-new Sportmax Slick doesn’t just talk a big game, it proves its performance in lap times! At the Dunlop Proving Grounds, in Huntsville, Alabama, Dunlop’s Motorcycle Test Engineer Taylor Knapp averaged almost a whole second improvement on the Sportmax Slick over the KR451. More impressive than that, countless lap and class records have been demolished with the new and improved tire during the 2023 MotoAmerica series at nine out of ten tracks in multiple classes!

The Sportmax Slick had lap records broken at all the MotoAmerica tracks in 2023 except at Pittsburgh International Race Complex (due to the new chicane)

The new Sportmax Slick, Dunlop’s next generation of road race tires with more grip and improved predictability is available in 17”, 12” and 10” sizes. The Sportmax Slicks have been updated with new profiles, compounds, and constructions to make them the most advanced road racing tires Dunlop has ever produced! Riders will instantly feel a greater level of confidence with the new Sportmax Slick. The new Dunlop Sportmax Slick was initially only available for use in MotoAmerica but is now available for club racers and track day riders as well.

The Sportmax Slicks were developed over the last 3 years, with internal testing being done at Dunlop’s Proving Grounds in Huntsville, Alabama by Taylor Knapp and external testing being done by top MotoAmerica stars such as multi-time MotoAmerica Superbike champion Jake Gagne, plus Richie Escalante, PJ Jacobsen, Cam Petersen, Josh Herrin, Mathew Scholtz and Josh Hayes, the all-time winningest road racer in AMA history, just to name a few.

The front profile of the Sportmax Slick was pulled up from Dunlop’s Sportmax Q5 development and features a taller and narrower profile. This new profile results in a tire that has improved trail braking feedback, more precise turn-in, greater high-speed mid-corner stability, increased compliance, and a larger footprint at camber.

The rear tire also features a redesigned profile that is taller and generates increased lateral grip, acceleration grip and improved compliance, due to a larger, more evenly distributed footprint at all angles. This new design has led to a rear tire that is more predictable in every area of the corner from turn-in to acceleration at corner exit.

Dunlop’s 17” Sportmax Slicks, developed by Dunlop’s Advanced Research Team (D.A.R.T), replaces the industry standard KR448 and KR451 range of slicks and are the new Official Tires of the MotoAmerica series. Dunlop and MotoAmerica recently renewed their contract, allowing Dunlop to remain the official tire supplier of MotoAmerica through 2025, continuing the partnership since 2015.

The Sportmax Slick updates include:

Revised compounds and naming structures to be more intuitive: R0 (softest) to R8 (most durable). The low numbers for easier or hotter tracks and the higher numbers for more abrasive or cold tracks
New sidewall design with taller sidewalls provides more cushion and bump absorption for improved traction even on the bumpiest of tracks.
Optimized rear NTEC which combines the benefits of compliant cut-breaker construction with stiffer, continuously wound aramid-fiber, and Jointless Band (JLB) construction for maximum feel and stability when leaned over for more support when on the gas.
New taller profile, which leads to better contact patch. More predictable change in contact patch area (grip) while adding lean angle or taking lean angle away and driving out of the corner.

Multiple compounds are offered for the front and rear tires, but the R8 compound is exclusive to the rear tires only.

Due to the Sportmax Slicks being race tires, tire warmers are highly recommended for all compounds.

The new Sportmax Slick tires are available now from dunlopracing.com or from your local Dunlop trackside vendor.

About Dunlop Motorcycle Tires:

Dunlop is the largest supplier of original equipment and replacement motorcycle tires in the U.S.A. For more information, visit www.DunlopMotorcycleTires.com. Follow @ridedunlop on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter for the latest Dunlop news. Use #RideDunlop and/or #RaceDunlop to share your Dunlop moments.

Moto3: World Championship Race Results From Sepang

David Swarts

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November 12, 2023

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Moto3: World Championship Race Results From Sepang

Moto3 Race Results
Moto3 Points

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Veijer beats Sasaki and Masia in a dramatic Moto3™ showdown at Sepang

Collin Veijer (95). Photo courtesy Dorna.

The Netherlands has a new Grand Prix winner, and the first since 1990 as Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) defeated teammate – and title challenger – Ayumu Sasaki in the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia. Championship leader Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) completed the podium in a close race to the finish that went right to the final corner. It’s now likely a two-horse race for the crown too, with some big drama for three of the five contenders on the way into the weekend at Sepang.

Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) got the best start from Row 2 and looked like he was going to take the holeshot before Veijer shot through and somehow kept it nicely in line, with Masia then able to grab second too. It didn’t take long for the Leopard rider to grab the lead though, and the number 5 then started to seriously push. Who could go with him?

Initially the answer was Sasaki, Veijer and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo), but the small group couldn’t break away. It quickly became a freight train once again, but there was drama coming.

After a dramatic weekend before the lights went out, with the Buriram winner suffering some crashes including in qualifying, David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) started well down the order. By 13 laps to go, he was already into the top ten. But then came the drama as he suddenly crashed out in the group, taking, among others, fellow contender Dani Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) out of the race – all riders ok, but the group split and two key members of the Championship fight out of the race.

The group became Masia, Sasaki, Veijer, Öncü, Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Matteo Bertelle (Rivacold Snipers Team). As the laps ticked down the tension was high but no one was able to make a difference – until a difference was made for some. Rueda got it wrong at the final corner when going for a move on Bertelle, making contact with the Italian then unable to save it and going down – in a nightmare, also tagging and taking down his teammate Öncü just ahead. Again, all riders ok – Bertelle staying upright and Öncü getting back in it, but that left a trio fighting for victory: Masia, Sasaki… and Sasaki’s teammate, Veijer.

This wasn’t a team game though. Veijer passed Sasaki for the lead as the final lap began, and he then got the hammer very much down as he gunned for his first Grand Prix win to follow up his maiden podium. But still, it all went down to the final corner.

Sasaki looked for a way through and it looked like he couldn’t find one, but Veijer was wider than his teammate – leaving them gassing it away from the apex almost in unison and the number 71 very close behind. But the drag to the line wasn’t enough and Veijer kept it, taking his first win and first Grand Prix victory for the Netherlands since the 1990 Czech GP!

Sasaki took second on a day that saw so many contenders find bad fortune, but Masia also took a valuable podium and 16 points. The Spaniard is therefore now 13 clear of Sasaki in the title fight, with Alonso and Holgado both now at a deficit of 41 points.

Ortola ultimately came home fourth ahead of David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports), with Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), Xavier Artigas (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) and Joel Kelso completing the second group down to P8. Filippo Farioli (Red Bull KTM Tech3) beat Ryusei Yamanaka (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) to ninth, with Bertelle ending up P11 after his involuntary excursion. Öncü impressively got back on and took P12. But not so, with a time penalty equivalent to a Ride Through later given to Muñoz for causing a crash, moving all up a position behind where he’d crossed the line and that just enough to technically keep Öncü in the fight for the crown…

Join us for more Moto3™ action from Qatar to see where the next twist takes us as Masia faces a first match point!

Vance & Hines/Mission Suzuki Wins NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Championship

November 13, 2023

Gaige Herrera (79) capped off his record-breaking rookie season with a win in the NHRA Finals and a Pro Stock Motorcycle Championship. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.

Vance & Hines/Mission Suzuki Storm to Pro Stock Motorcycle World Championship

Rookie Gaige Herrera Nails Record-Setting Season on Gen3 Hayabusa

BREA, CA – November 13, 2023 – Gaige Herrera won his first NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle World Championship and 11th race of the season as he faced off against his Vance & Hines/Mission Suzuki teammate Eddie Krawiec for a fourth-straight race at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, CA, on Sunday.

Race Highlights

Gaige Herrera qualified No. 1 for the 14th time and won his 11th race of the season, both class records, and clinched his first career Pro Stock Motorcycle World Championship.
Eddie Krawiec qualified third, advanced to a fourth-straight all-Vance & Hines/Mission Suzuki team final and finished second overall in the 2023 championship standings.