Alex Marquez won the MotoGP World Championship Sprint Race Saturday at Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Riding his Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici, the former Moto2 World Champion won the 10-lap race by 1.589 seconds.
Jorge Martin was the runner-up on his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati. Pole-sitter and defending World Champion Francesco Bagnaia finished third just ahead of his teammate Enea Bastianini in fourth and Red Bull KTM’s Brad Binder in fifth.
11 points in it: Alex Marquez fends off Martin as Bagnaia defends against Bastianini
The Gresini rider steals the headlines as the title protagonists duke it out and Martin gains two points in a tense Sprint at Sepang
MotoGP Sprint Race winner Alex Marquez (73). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Saturday, 11 November 2023
The final chapter of the 2023 Championship story is underway and the momentum swung a little more in the direction of the purple corner in Saturday’s Tissot Sprint. With Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) taking a classy, dominant victory and absolutely charging through to it too, that left Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) to battle it out. And the former claimed P2, with polesitter Pecco having to settle for P3. Now, the gap ahead of Sunday’s race is just 11 points.
The rider who got the best start on the front row was actually Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team), but the Beast played it to perfection for teammate Bagnaia (spoiler alert) as the Championship leader didn’t come under attack as he grabbed the holeshot and the number 23 slotted in behind. Alex Marquez struck soon after to take second though, with Martin shuffled down to fourth early doors.
Bagnaia led Alex Marquez led Martin as the number 89 hit back against Bastianini on Lap 1, and Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was past the second factory Ducati not long after.
Heartrates then hit the roof at the end of Lap 2 as Alex Marquez went for a dive on Bagnaia for the lead at the final corner. The reigning Champion let the Gresini machine steam past and head wide, taking back the lead, and that left Alex Marquez nearly side by side with Martin instead, squabbling for second. The Gresini decisively grabbed it at Turn 1, however, and from there was able to start reeling Bagnaia back in.
He did just that, with Martin able to stay close and Bastainini coming back at them too, back past Miller, and with five to go Alex Marquez struck with a brutal, clean move for the lead. And then came Martin, the number 89 attacking Bagnaia almost immediately. The hammer went down.
That left Bastianini with some decisions, right on the tail of his teammate and Pecco looking to recover after losing two positions in fairly quick succession. There was another twist in the tale too as something white then appeared on the front fairing of the #1 Ducati, some debris stuck on the bike. But it didn’t last too long as the battle for third was allowed to continue regardless.
Bagnaia held on, and Bastianini may not have attacked, but he definitely put on some pressure and proved two points at once – his speed and a little team spirit, certainly in terms of avoiding too much risk. It almost cost him fourth too, with a late charge from Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) saw the South African and the Beast nearly side-by-side over the line after a last corner squabble.
One second back from that battle was Miller as the Aussie kept himself within the mix for most of the Sprint to bring home a solid 6th-place finish. Another second back was Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), who fended off Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) to take 7th place. The Italian’s teammate Luca Marini took the final Sprint point in 9th ahead of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) who rounded out the top 10.
As the title battle continues to rage on there’s no telling which way the pendulum will swing. The PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia still has plenty to give in the 2023 Championship story with 25 Grand Prix points up for grabs on Sunday and a gap of just 11 between the top two.
Can Bagnaia bounce back, or will Martin continue to apply the pressure? Find out at 15:00 local time (GMT +8)!
Fermin Aldeguer claimed pole position during Moto2 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Riding his Beta Tools SpeedUp Boscoscuro racebike, the Spaniard navigated the 3.4-mile (5.5 km) course in 2:05.288 to lead the field of 32 riders.
Celestino Vietti was second-best with a 2:05.790 on his Fantic Racing Kalex, and Manuel Gonzalez earned the third and final spot on the front row with a 2:05.815 on his Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Team Kalex.
Americans Joe Roberts (2:06.170) and Sean Dylan Kelly (2:07.217) qualified 10th and 27th, respectively.
Jaume Masia earned pole position during Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Riding his Leopard Racing Honda, the Spaniard lapped the 3.4-mile (5.5 km) track in 2:10.846, which was not only good enough to top the field of 28 riders it also smashed Dennis Foggia’s 2022 lap record of 2:11.411.
Pecco vs Martin: the contenders go toe-to-toe for pole in Malaysia
Two new lap records, a crash and a late dash for the top: qualifying delivers a serious teaser at Sepang
Saturday, 11 November 2023
The heat is on and it’s a 1-2 for the top two in the title fight at Sepang! Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Time) slammed in a late stunner at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia to claim pole for the first time since Barcelona, denying title rival Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) as the number 89 suffered a late crash and was forced to watch from the sidelines and then settle for second. Bagnaia’s 1:57.491 is now also the new all-time lap record at PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit, overwriting Martin’s own set just a few seconds before, and his previous 2022 best.
Third makes for an interesting player on the grids this weekend too: Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) made it a Ducati front-row lockout after he climbed his way through Q1 to bag his first front-row start of the season.
Q1
As ever, it went to the wire in Q1. The last couple of minutes saw a flurry of laps, and it was Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) who came out on top, just pipping Bastianini by 0.088.
The drama came late too, with a crash for Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) when he was overtaking Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3). Rider perfectly ok, but losing out and left behind in Q1 along with the likes of Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing).
Q2
After the first runs, it was Martin on top and with a freshly pressed new lap record, set behind key rival Bagnaia to boot. The Martinator was 0.238 clear of Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), with Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), fastest on Friday, locking out the provisional front row as Bagnaia sat in fourth.
There were just over four minutes left on the clock as the field headed back out. In Bastianini’s case it was out for the first time in Q2, having come through Q1 and with one set of tyres in the locker for a time attack. The ‘Beast’ clocked a beast of a lap too, shooting up into provisional second on the grid just 0.108 off Martin.
A crash for Diggia in the final sector, rider ok, then looked like it could complicate life as the Yellow Flags were out, and then the same happened after a low drama lowside for Marini at Turn 9. But Bastianini was unaffected by both, and moved to within 0.041 of the top as the rest started their final assaults on Q2..
The decisive crash of the session was the next one, however. Martin was looking to better his own lap that had him on provisional pole but the number 89 overcooked it and slid out, rider ok but that last chance to push now gone. The ball was in Bagnaia’s court, and he intended to play it.
The number 1 was close in the first part of the lap, but he really turned the screw in the final two sectors. Both red, Pecco shot across the line to grab pole as Martin was forced to watch on the sidelines. And with that, it’s a 1-2 for the top two in the Championship – and Bastianini third right alongside, creating quite a front row as 37 more points go into play.
THE GRID
Behind Bagnaia, Martin and Bastianini, Alex Marquez just missed out on the top three by a whisker but will line up on the front of Row 2 in P4 with the Mooney VR46 Racing Team duo of Marini and Marco Bezzecchi joining him in 5th and 6th.
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) lines up in P7 as the South African was the first rider just missing out on breaking the 1:58 barrier. Binder will be joined on the third row by 2021 Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) as the pair bagged P8 and P9 in Q2 respectively.
The fourth row of the grid will feature Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) who rounded out the top 10 ahead of Di Giannantonio, who failed to replicate his 1:57.8 from Q1 after that crash in Q2. The Italian has to settle for P11 on the grid, with Australian GP winner Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) completing the top 12 and a key victim of Yellow Flags, leaving the Frenchman an unrepresentative 4+ seconds off the top with no flying lap counting.
The action has only just begun at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia and the heat has already been turned right up in the title fight…
It seems like only yesterday it was 1998 and I was the new guy in the paddock of America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, trying to suppress my inner fanboy while interacting with the stars of the day while keeping my eyes and ears open to learn from those who came before me.
Now, when I when I walk through the pits, very few of those same faces remain and I’m not sure if there are any younger people interested in what I have to say. But I can tell you that most of the important things are much better with MotoAmerica running the series, than they were in the past.
For starters, it’s easier than ever to watch the races you want, whenever you want, on whatever device you want, from a smartphone to a tablet to a laptop to a huge TV. I remember staying up until 2:00 a.m. back in the 1990s to watch a premiere broadcast of an AMA Pro Superbike race that had happened days (if not weeks) prior. If you were lucky you could also catch a broadcast of a Supersport race, but watching a full-length race of any other class was unheard of.
Now, thanks to MotoAmerica investing in its own in-house TV production, fans can watch traditional live broadcasts of most races and many classes on cable networks like FOX Sports 1 and MAVTV as well as digital streaming platforms like YouTube. Fans can watch every race live and uninterrupted via the MotoAmerica Live+ subscription streaming service, which also provides on-demand viewing of all the races.
Then there are seemingly constant replays of all the races on MotoAmericaTV and MTRSPT1, which is a channel available for free through most TV streaming services and available to 100 million households. This TV package has made the series very valuable to stakeholders, and there’s no better evidence than the Rahal Ducati Moto team coming into the series with non-endemic sponsors.
Broadcasting races live across the world requires a time-definite schedule. This means that if Superbike Race One is supposed to go green at 3:12 p.m. local time, the race needs to actually start at 3:12 p.m. local time.
This is not a new concept, but before MotoAmerica took over, it seemed like other groups running professional road racing in America could not consistently execute a time-definite schedule. The MotoAmerica staff carefully crafts each weekend’s schedule to include time buffers that can be used to soak up unexpected delays and get back on schedule quickly. And officials keep riders and teams informed of schedule changes via direct radio communication and even a new app.
Not only are MotoAmerica staff members good at making and keeping schedules, they are also good at officiating. While perfection is very difficult to attain, the making and enforcing of the rules under MotoAmerica is still light years ahead of where it’s been in the past. It wasn’t long ago that races–and even Championships–were ruined by bogus jump-start calls determined by the movement of a single pixel on a video replay, and there were even instances of race officials making up completely new rules and procedures in the middle of race weekends.
Now MotoAmerica follows the lead of FIM procedures, so rules are usually set in place well in advance and remain stable for long periods of time; violations of rules and the sanctions issued to riders and teams are made public; and those who are accused of breaking rules have set procedures they can follow to appeal decisions and sanctions. And aside from some technical issues that require special testing, the appeal process can be handled at the racetrack before the weekend is over.
Whether it be questions about scheduling, rules, sanctions, or other topics, it wasn’t long ago, a rider or team representative asking a race official a simple question often resulted in a demoralizing lecture, questioning of personal integrity, insults, shouting matches, and seriously poor customer service. Most teams and racers spend lots of money for the opportunity to race, and to have the people running the races yell at you for no good reason is hard to take.
MotoAmerica/KRAVE Group partners Terry Karges (far left), Chuck Aksland (second from left), Wayne Rainey (center), and Richard Varner (far right) with AMA President Rob Dingman (second from right) at the 2018 MotoAmerica awards banquet at Barber Motorsports Park. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
In my personal experience, MotoAmerica staffers have been very approachable, open, and honest when asked questions in even the most uncomfortable situations. Again, perfection is hard to attain, but many of the MotoAmerica officials currently in place were working in the paddock during the bad old days and were impacted by some very poor decisions made by their bosses, and they do not want to repeat that cycle.
Last but certainly not least, safety. As Editor John Ulrich often reminds us, back in the day if riders asked for some haybales so they wouldn’t die if they crashed in a particular corner, they were often rudely told in no uncertain terms that they should get off the property if they didn’t like how things were being run. Over the years, acceptable safety standards slowly improved, but with most racetracks designed without motorcycles in mind, hard barriers remained a serious hazard and the only really good answer was getting Airfence.
That’s why in 2001 Ulrich founded the Roadracing World Action Fund (RWAF) and started raising money to purchase and deploy Airfence and Alpina soft barriers at racetracks to help reduce injuries (and the severity of injuries) when racers crashed. But even then, past regimes running America’s premier motorcycle road racing series often treated the Airfence as an afterthought at best, and a burden at worst. Officials had to be convinced to deploy enough soft barriers, coached on where to deploy them, and frequently ignored advice on placement from riders. And they had to be closely monitored on how they handled and maintained the pricey soft barriers.
Now, MotoAmerica has a group of hard-working, trained staffers who transport, maintain, repair, deploy, and monitor the largest single fleet of soft barriers in the United States in a very effective and efficient manner. MotoAmerica staff members seek input from the most experienced racers in the paddock (including RWAF consultant Josh Hayes and RWAF representative Chris Ulrich) to improve deployment strategies and avoid compromise when it comes to safety. In fact, the MotoAmerica staff’s ability to deal with safety issues like fluid and debris clean-up and rider health concerns is unprecedented in the history of American motorcycle road racing.
MotoAmerica Race Director Rick Hobbs (left), MotoAmerica Director of Operations Niccole Cox (center), and FIMNA Safety Officer Dan Argano (right) with some newly deployed Alpina soft barriers provided by the Roadracing World Action Fund at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
For instance, it’s crazy to think that not long ago there was no such things as a Chief Medical Officer, a medical doctor who travels with the series and works directly with riders and treats their injuries, both incurred on and off the track. But MotoAmerica has had a Chief Medical Officer for years and usually has two doctors at the track at all times.
These are just a few of the positive differences that fans may or may not notice when they watch MotoAmerica races as opposed to American races in the past, but the riders certainly do notice. Another perspective on this comes from Hayes, the four-time AMA Pro Superbike Champion and all-time AMA Pro/MotoAmerica race win leader, who won his first AMA Pro racing at Daytona in 1999.
Josh Hayes won his first AMA Pro race in 1999 and he won his most recent MotoAmerica race in 2023. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
“A lot of times when we showed up at the races [during past eras] we didn’t feel we had a voice with the people who were in charge, and so it was a caustic atmosphere very often,” said Hayes. “The people who were running the show and the people who were in the show were not seeing eye-to-eye. There wasn’t a good line of communication, and things were very difficult.
“Then came the MotoAmerica era. They had people from a different time in motorsports who were running the show and listened to us. From a rider’s standpoint, we were listened to a lot more. The show and rider safety, in some respects, were greatly improved. Decision making fell into a more normal, common-sense way. But the big thing was feeling like we had a voice.
“[MotoAmerica] decided early on that we would not go to a racetrack where we could not ride in the rain. That was one of the huge things right off the bat. We ended up losing some racetracks that we really loved, but we had gotten to the point where we had to cancel races because of rain and what that did to fans, teams, and everyone else involved was just bad.
“I think overall the fan experience is second-to-none in motorsports. Road racing can be difficult to spectate because you can only see a small portion of the racetrack from any given point. So having Jumbotron TV screens at every event for fans to be able to watch all of the action, was a key thing MotoAmerica brought.
“Some people complain that manufacturer support in sportbike classes has decreased from what we would consider the heyday was. But the top level MotoAmerica guys are still top-level guys anywhere in the world. So, we still have really high-level racing with world-class riders here in MotoAmerica. We don’t quite have the depth [of talent] that we used to, but we’re bringing in younger riders, much younger than we did back in the day, and getting them involved in the sport earlier, which is good for the future.”
When MotoAmerica took over professional motorcycle road racing in 2015 it was like the toxic fog that had enveloped the paddock lifted, and the sun finally came out. MotoAmerica’s leadership made an immediate impact with how they ran races and listened to stakeholders. Now, as it enters its 10th season in 2024, MotoAmerica continues to stick to those endearing core characteristics while continuously improving the series for all parties involved, including the undercover fans working in the paddock, and enabling growth in the future.
LegionSBK Unveils Thrilling 2024 Race Season Schedule with Stellar Lineup of Sponsors
[Denver, CO] — Legion Motorsports, parent company of Legion Moto Trackdays and the all new Legion SuperBike series, is thrilled to unveil the highly anticipated schedule for the 2024 race season, promising an electrifying series of events that will captivate motorcycle enthusiasts in the Rocky Mountains and central areas. With both contingency and purse prizes to be contested the season promises to be a thrilling showcase of speed, skill, and sportsmanship. LegionSBK is eager to deliver an unforgettable experience to racing fans and express our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors for their invaluable support.
Title Sponsorship by 811 Underground
Leading the charge for an adrenaline-fueled season, we are proud to announce 811 Underground as our new title sponsor. Their commitment to safety and passion for speed align seamlessly with our dedication to delivering club level racing experiences.
Premier Class Sponsors
LegionSBK is excited to welcome aboard a stellar lineup of Premier Class Sponsors for the 2024 season:
Audi of Denver: Driving excellence both on and off the track, Audi Denver joins us as a Premier Class Sponsor, bringing luxury and performance to the forefront of our racing events.
KYT joins as a Premier Class Sponsor, adding a dynamic edge to the season with their commitment to high-performance and safety technology in the helmet world. KYT Helmets can be found on World Champions in MotoGP to National Champions here in the US. We are extremely excited to be partnered with the best in the industry.
Starbuds: Igniting excitement, Starbuds lights up the racing scene as a Premier Class Sponsor, infusing natural energy and a sense of adventure into every race.
Brandi Wright Reality: Accelerating to success with precision and expertise, Brandi Wright is the Reality Shark for a reason. A fierce competitor and rider herself, she’s an ideal partner in the all new series. We are excited to have her partner with us to elevate the racing experience for fans and participants alike.
Imperial Sportbikes: Pushing the boundaries of speed and style, Imperial Sportbikes revs up the excitement as a Premier Class Sponsor, contributing to the unparalleled thrills of our race events. They have been an instrumental part of Legion since its inception.
Tires Support: Pirelli
In the pursuit of excellence, we are proud to announce Pirelli as our main tire brand support for the 2024 season. Their world-class tires will play a crucial role in ensuring riders have the best rubber and track side services in the region.
Licensing for racers opens up January 1st.
June 14-16th | Round 1: Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Jennings, OK
July 12th-14th | Round 2: Utah Motorsports Campus, Grantsville, UT | Outer Course
Aug 2nd-4th | Round 3: Pueblo Motorsports Park, Pueblo CO
Sep 7th-8th | Round 4: Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain CO
Sep 27th-29th | Round 5: Motorsports Park Hastings, Hastings NE
Oct 18th-20th | Round 6: High Plains Raceway, Deer Trail, CO
For more information about the 2024 Race Season Schedule and sponsorship opportunities, please contact: [email protected] or visit legionsbk.com
About Legion Motorsports: Legion Motorsports and the Legion Superbike Series is founded by racers, for racers and is dedicated to bringing a high-class motorcycle racing experience to the Mid-Western and Mountain regions. Built upon the experience, excellence and foundations of the Legion MOTO Trackdays project.
Alex Marquez denies Martin, KTM give chase on Day 1
Gresini steal the show, Martin AND Bagnaia make it through to Q2 and Miller returns to the top three on Friday
Friday, 10 November 2023
It’s advantage Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) after the opening day of action at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia. The Spaniard was looking strong from the off and set a scintillating 1:57.823 in his late Practice time attack to take the top spot after falling just short of the all-time lap record. Marquez’s pace saw him deny title contender Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) a Friday clean-sweep. The ‘Martinator’ topped Practice 1 but was 0.174s back from his compatriot during the Friday afternoon time attack battle. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), meanwhile, enjoyed a positive return to form as the Aussie had the bit between his teeth in Practice to take the final spot inside the top three.
Jorge Martin (89). Photo courtesy Dorna.
A mad rush in Malaysia
With Friday afternoon’s Practice session deciding who goes through to Q2, the riders spent the majority of the session working on their race packages before engaging in full time-attack mode.
With rain clouds looming the riders put on the soft rubber with twenty minutes remaining and the hot laps came flying in. It was Alex Marquez who led the way after the first lot of time attacks. The session then quieted down as the clock ticked past the 10-minute mark, but it wasn’t over yet!
The red sectors came flying in once again and it was time for fireworks in the final three minutes of the session. Red sectors came in from Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Miller, and Alex Marquez until Martin moved the goalposts with the first 1:57 of the weekend. Alex Marquez still had plenty left in his back pocket however and the Spaniard quickly responded to retake the top spot ahead of Martin and Miller.
Jack Miller (43). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Fine margins make the difference…
Next up on the timesheets was Binder. The South African threatened the top spots throughout and finished the session just behind his teammate in P4, with Viñales just 0.005s behind him in 5th. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) was another 0.022s back as he took a solid P6.
It was a positive day in the Yamaha camp as both riders showed glimpses of promise during Friday’s running. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) was one of five riders in the 1:58.3 club as he kept himself in contention in P7 ahead of his 2022 title rival Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), as the World Championship leader bagged a very important Q2 spot in P8.
Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) also showed decent potential in Sepang. The Italian picked up P9 ahead of Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), the Frenchman claiming the final automatic Q2 spot in P10.
The Q1 battle
Q1 is set to be a tense affair as always with Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ being the first rider to miss out on Q2.
The Yamaha rider will have to battle it out with his compatriots Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), as well as both factory Honda and GASGAS Tech3 riders.
The action has only just started at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit. The title fight is on with MotoGP™ enjoying some of the closest racing in its history. Make sure you don’t miss a single detail as the action unfolds in Malaysia with qualifying and Tissot Sprint coming up on Saturday!
SHOWTIME
The stage is set for Qualifying and the Tissot Sprint! Make sure you tune in:
MotoGP™ FP2: 10:10
MotoGP™ Q1: 10:50
MotoGP™ Q2: 11:15
MotoGP™ Sprint: 15:00
Ai Ogura (79). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Ogura beats Aldeguer to Day 1 honours
Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) is the rider to beat after the opening day of the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia. Ogura’s 2:06.093 came from a late Practice 2 charge where the Team Asia rider became the only competitor to beat Fermin Aldeguer’s (Beta Tools SpeedUp) Practice 1 lap time. The latter topped Practice 1 with his 2:06.183, a time that held firm to consolidate 2nd place on the combined timings, as Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) made his presence known after his Practice 2 time attack saw the Spaniard sit just 0.100s back from the top spot in P3.
Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) is also looking strong around the Sepang International Circuit. The Brit’s personal best times from P1 and P2 were within 0.003s of each other with his P1 time seeing him just miss out on the top three by 0.050s. Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) rounded out the top five as he made positive steps forward in the afternoon to finish just ahead of Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing) and Sergio Garcia (Pons Wegow Los40). Acosta can wrap up the title this weekend if he finishes in the top four regardless of where Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) ends the Malaysian GP, and the Italian was P19 on Day 1.
Dennis Foggia (Italtrans Racing Team) put in an impressive performance to finish the day in 8th place overall. The Italian’s teammate Joe Roberts finished just behind him in P9 with Albert Arenas (Red Bull KTM Ajo) rounding out the top 10.
Moto2™ will be back in action on Saturday for Practice 3 at 9:25 and qualifying at 13:45 local (GMT +8)!
Jaume Masia (5). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Moto3™: Masia stamps some authority on the field in Malaysia
Championship leader Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) started his weekend at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia as he means to go on as the Spaniard’s 2:12.065 saw him top the pile on Day 1. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was looking strong from the off as well and was closest to Masia in P2, looking to keep his title hopes alive. Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), fresh from a maiden podium, also took well to the Petronas Sepang International Circuit and made a big step in Practice 2 to put himself into the top three on combined timings.
Buriram winner and Championship contender David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) had another strong showing as the rookie found himself just 0.037s away from the top three in P4. Matteo Bertelle (Rivacvold Snipars Team) made it three Hondas in the top five as the Italian rounded out that top five ahead of title challenger Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3).
The returning Romano Fenati (Rivacold Snipers Team) looked strong in Practice 1 and ended the day 7th overall ahead of title contender Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), as Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) and David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) rounded out the top 10.
Moto3™ action continues on Saturday, make sure not to miss any of the action with Practice 3 at 08:40 and qualifying at 12:50 local time (GMT +8)!
RAHAL DUCATI MOTO ANNOUNCES ALL-AMERICAN RIDER LINE-UP FOR 2024
PJ Jacobsen and Kayla Yaakov to pilot the No. 15 and No. 19 XPEL Ducati Panigale V2s
ZIONSVILLE, Ind., (11.10.2023) – The much-anticipated rider line up at Rahal Ducati Moto has been finalized as the team welcomes five-time race winner PJ Jacobsen and up-and-comer Kayla Yaakov to the organization. Jacobsen will pilot the No. 15 XPEL Ducati Panigale V2 in the MotoAmerica Supersport class, alongside Yaakov on the No. 19 XPEL Ducati Panigale V2.
“We are incredibly thrilled with the rider line up we have secured for our inaugural MotoAmerica season,” said team owner Graham Rahal. “PJ [Jacobsen] has shown incredible talent in his Supersport and Superbike career. We are grateful he was willing to bring his experience to our team to help set the bar as we (attempt to) contend for a championship (in our maiden/inaugural season). Kayla [Yaakov] is a young, talented rider and we are excited for her to showcase her potential during her rookie Supersport season. She will have both PJ and Ben [Spies] to look to for guidance and experience as she grows in her young career.
“We have a lot of work to do in the next few months as a new team to prepare, so we are eager to get the riders to the track to test with their new mechanics and on their new machines. We have high expectations going into the season and I truly believe we put together a line up to achieve and exceed the standards we have set for ourselves.”
PJ Jacobsen boasts a decorated Grand Prix resume having competed in several racing series around the globe, including the World Superbike Championship and World Supersport Championship. Among his accomplishments are earning the vice-champion title in the World Supersport Championship, securing a second-place finish in the Suzuka 8 Hour in 2018 and claiming second in the championship standings in the MotoAmerica Supersport class in 2019. Most recently, Jacobsen found a home in the MotoAmerica Superbike division where he finished third in the 2023 season championship. Jacobsen’s experience on the track will elevate the competitiveness the Rahal Ducati Moto team will bring in its 2024 debut season.
“I’m really looking forward to being a part of the Rahal Ducati Moto racing team,” said Jacobsen. “It’s great to be a part of this racing family and I think it’s very good for my future to be with this amazing group of people. Having Ben Spies back is going to be absolutely awesome to help with riding and the mechanics and strategy of the motorcycle racing. When I heard about the possibility of [Rahal Ducati Moto] coming to the paddock, my eyes lit up because they run such a professional team in car racing, and they will also have a great, professional team in motorcycle racing. It’s great for our sport to have people like this involved, and again, I’m very honored to get the call from them to be one of the riders to fight for wins and a championship. I’m super excited to get testing started and really, really motivated for the 2024 season – especially after having such a strong Superbike season in 2023. I feel very fit and in top-form in my career right now, and ready to fight for the top honors. Thank you to Graham and the people that truly believe in me. I’m really looking forward to a great 2024 season!”
Kayla Yaakov (19). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.
From an early age Kayla Yaakov had the drive to race. She started racing motorcycles at the young age of four and climbed her way through the ranks. In 2022, Yaakov became the first female to win a MotoAmerica race (Ridge Motorsports Park, Round 2), which was highlighted in her third-place finish in the Junior Cup Championship that year. After that first win, Yaakov found herself standing on the top step of the podium three additional times for a total of four wins and 11 collective podiums for the season. In 2023, the 16-year-old found herself in the Twins Cup Championship, finishing seventh in the championship, despite missing the first four races due to a pre-season injury. Yaakov, an inspiration for females aspiring to break into a male-dominated industry, will take on her debut MotoAmerica Supersport season for the team in 2024.
“I am extremely excited to be joining the Rahal Ducati Moto team for the 2024 MotoAmerica Supersport season,” said Yaakov. “Being a part of a team with such an iconic backing is a privilege, not only with one of the most prolific motorcycle brands in the world, but also with the Rahal family. Also, having a world champion like Ben Spies in our corner is such an honor. After talking to him for several years, coming together in this team is going to be huge for my progression in this sport! Although it’s a new team that comes with a lot of pressure, I am extremely confident in the abilities of the team and myself for this 2024 season. I can’t wait to get rolling with this amazing crew and am thankful to everyone that has made this possible. I’ll see you on the high banks of Daytona!”
The duo will begin testing their new horses early next year in preparation for the 2024 season. The MotoAmerica Supersport division will begin competition at the Daytona 200 (a non-points race) March 7-9 followed by the regular season points races at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (April 19-21), Barber Motorsports Park (May 17-19), Road America (May 31-June 2), Brainerd International Raceway (June 14-16), Ridge Motorsports Park (June 28-30), WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (July 12-14), Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (August 16-18), Circuit of the Americas (September 13-15) and New Jersey Motorsports Park (September 27-29).
For more information about the series or team, visit www.motoamerica.com and www.rahalducati.com.
Alex Marquez was fastest during MotoGP World Championship Free Practice Two (FP2) Friday afternoon at Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Riding his Gresini Racing Ducati, the Spaniard lapped the 3.4-mile (5.5 km) road course in 1:57.823, which was just shy of Jorge Martin’s 2022 All-Time Lap Record of 1:57.790.
Marquez’s countryman Martin was the best of the rest with a 1:57.997 on his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati.
Australian Jack Miller was third-quickest with a 1:58.232 on his Red Bull KTM RC16 and just ahead of his teammate Brad Binder (1:58.307).
Maverick Vinales rounded out the top five with a 1:58.312 on his factory Aprilia.
Ai Ogura was quickest during Moto2 World Championship Free Practice Two (FP2) Friday afternoon at Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Riding his Idemitsu Honda Team Asia Kalex, the Japanese star navigated the 3.4-mile (5.5 km) course in 2:06.093 to top the field of 32 riders.
Americans Joe Roberts (2:06.911) and Sean Dylan Kelly (2:08.795) were 11th and 29th, respectively, in the session.
Pole-sitter Francesco Bagnaia (1) led the charge into Turn One at the start of the MotoGP Sprint race at Sepang. Photo by Kohei Hirota.
Alex Marquez won the MotoGP World Championship Sprint Race Saturday at Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Riding his Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici, the former Moto2 World Champion won the 10-lap race by 1.589 seconds.
Jorge Martin was the runner-up on his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati. Pole-sitter and defending World Champion Francesco Bagnaia finished third just ahead of his teammate Enea Bastianini in fourth and Red Bull KTM’s Brad Binder in fifth.
11 points in it: Alex Marquez fends off Martin as Bagnaia defends against Bastianini
The Gresini rider steals the headlines as the title protagonists duke it out and Martin gains two points in a tense Sprint at Sepang
MotoGP Sprint Race winner Alex Marquez (73). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Saturday, 11 November 2023
The final chapter of the 2023 Championship story is underway and the momentum swung a little more in the direction of the purple corner in Saturday’s Tissot Sprint. With Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) taking a classy, dominant victory and absolutely charging through to it too, that left Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) to battle it out. And the former claimed P2, with polesitter Pecco having to settle for P3. Now, the gap ahead of Sunday’s race is just 11 points.
The rider who got the best start on the front row was actually Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team), but the Beast played it to perfection for teammate Bagnaia (spoiler alert) as the Championship leader didn’t come under attack as he grabbed the holeshot and the number 23 slotted in behind. Alex Marquez struck soon after to take second though, with Martin shuffled down to fourth early doors.
Bagnaia led Alex Marquez led Martin as the number 89 hit back against Bastianini on Lap 1, and Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was past the second factory Ducati not long after.
Heartrates then hit the roof at the end of Lap 2 as Alex Marquez went for a dive on Bagnaia for the lead at the final corner. The reigning Champion let the Gresini machine steam past and head wide, taking back the lead, and that left Alex Marquez nearly side by side with Martin instead, squabbling for second. The Gresini decisively grabbed it at Turn 1, however, and from there was able to start reeling Bagnaia back in.
He did just that, with Martin able to stay close and Bastainini coming back at them too, back past Miller, and with five to go Alex Marquez struck with a brutal, clean move for the lead. And then came Martin, the number 89 attacking Bagnaia almost immediately. The hammer went down.
That left Bastianini with some decisions, right on the tail of his teammate and Pecco looking to recover after losing two positions in fairly quick succession. There was another twist in the tale too as something white then appeared on the front fairing of the #1 Ducati, some debris stuck on the bike. But it didn’t last too long as the battle for third was allowed to continue regardless.
Bagnaia held on, and Bastianini may not have attacked, but he definitely put on some pressure and proved two points at once – his speed and a little team spirit, certainly in terms of avoiding too much risk. It almost cost him fourth too, with a late charge from Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) saw the South African and the Beast nearly side-by-side over the line after a last corner squabble.
One second back from that battle was Miller as the Aussie kept himself within the mix for most of the Sprint to bring home a solid 6th-place finish. Another second back was Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), who fended off Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) to take 7th place. The Italian’s teammate Luca Marini took the final Sprint point in 9th ahead of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) who rounded out the top 10.
As the title battle continues to rage on there’s no telling which way the pendulum will swing. The PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia still has plenty to give in the 2023 Championship story with 25 Grand Prix points up for grabs on Sunday and a gap of just 11 between the top two.
Can Bagnaia bounce back, or will Martin continue to apply the pressure? Find out at 15:00 local time (GMT +8)!
Fermin Aldeguer claimed pole position during Moto2 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Riding his Beta Tools SpeedUp Boscoscuro racebike, the Spaniard navigated the 3.4-mile (5.5 km) course in 2:05.288 to lead the field of 32 riders.
Celestino Vietti was second-best with a 2:05.790 on his Fantic Racing Kalex, and Manuel Gonzalez earned the third and final spot on the front row with a 2:05.815 on his Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Team Kalex.
Americans Joe Roberts (2:06.170) and Sean Dylan Kelly (2:07.217) qualified 10th and 27th, respectively.
Jaume Masia earned pole position during Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Riding his Leopard Racing Honda, the Spaniard lapped the 3.4-mile (5.5 km) track in 2:10.846, which was not only good enough to top the field of 28 riders it also smashed Dennis Foggia’s 2022 lap record of 2:11.411.
Pecco vs Martin: the contenders go toe-to-toe for pole in Malaysia
Two new lap records, a crash and a late dash for the top: qualifying delivers a serious teaser at Sepang
Saturday, 11 November 2023
The heat is on and it’s a 1-2 for the top two in the title fight at Sepang! Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Time) slammed in a late stunner at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia to claim pole for the first time since Barcelona, denying title rival Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) as the number 89 suffered a late crash and was forced to watch from the sidelines and then settle for second. Bagnaia’s 1:57.491 is now also the new all-time lap record at PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit, overwriting Martin’s own set just a few seconds before, and his previous 2022 best.
Third makes for an interesting player on the grids this weekend too: Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) made it a Ducati front-row lockout after he climbed his way through Q1 to bag his first front-row start of the season.
Q1
As ever, it went to the wire in Q1. The last couple of minutes saw a flurry of laps, and it was Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) who came out on top, just pipping Bastianini by 0.088.
The drama came late too, with a crash for Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) when he was overtaking Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3). Rider perfectly ok, but losing out and left behind in Q1 along with the likes of Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing).
Q2
After the first runs, it was Martin on top and with a freshly pressed new lap record, set behind key rival Bagnaia to boot. The Martinator was 0.238 clear of Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), with Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), fastest on Friday, locking out the provisional front row as Bagnaia sat in fourth.
There were just over four minutes left on the clock as the field headed back out. In Bastianini’s case it was out for the first time in Q2, having come through Q1 and with one set of tyres in the locker for a time attack. The ‘Beast’ clocked a beast of a lap too, shooting up into provisional second on the grid just 0.108 off Martin.
A crash for Diggia in the final sector, rider ok, then looked like it could complicate life as the Yellow Flags were out, and then the same happened after a low drama lowside for Marini at Turn 9. But Bastianini was unaffected by both, and moved to within 0.041 of the top as the rest started their final assaults on Q2..
The decisive crash of the session was the next one, however. Martin was looking to better his own lap that had him on provisional pole but the number 89 overcooked it and slid out, rider ok but that last chance to push now gone. The ball was in Bagnaia’s court, and he intended to play it.
The number 1 was close in the first part of the lap, but he really turned the screw in the final two sectors. Both red, Pecco shot across the line to grab pole as Martin was forced to watch on the sidelines. And with that, it’s a 1-2 for the top two in the Championship – and Bastianini third right alongside, creating quite a front row as 37 more points go into play.
THE GRID
Behind Bagnaia, Martin and Bastianini, Alex Marquez just missed out on the top three by a whisker but will line up on the front of Row 2 in P4 with the Mooney VR46 Racing Team duo of Marini and Marco Bezzecchi joining him in 5th and 6th.
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) lines up in P7 as the South African was the first rider just missing out on breaking the 1:58 barrier. Binder will be joined on the third row by 2021 Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) as the pair bagged P8 and P9 in Q2 respectively.
The fourth row of the grid will feature Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) who rounded out the top 10 ahead of Di Giannantonio, who failed to replicate his 1:57.8 from Q1 after that crash in Q2. The Italian has to settle for P11 on the grid, with Australian GP winner Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) completing the top 12 and a key victim of Yellow Flags, leaving the Frenchman an unrepresentative 4+ seconds off the top with no flying lap counting.
The action has only just begun at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia and the heat has already been turned right up in the title fight…
The start of MotoAmerica Superbike Race Two at Laguna Seca in 2023. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
FIRST PERSON/OPINION
By David Swarts
It seems like only yesterday it was 1998 and I was the new guy in the paddock of America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, trying to suppress my inner fanboy while interacting with the stars of the day while keeping my eyes and ears open to learn from those who came before me.
Now, when I when I walk through the pits, very few of those same faces remain and I’m not sure if there are any younger people interested in what I have to say. But I can tell you that most of the important things are much better with MotoAmerica running the series, than they were in the past.
For starters, it’s easier than ever to watch the races you want, whenever you want, on whatever device you want, from a smartphone to a tablet to a laptop to a huge TV. I remember staying up until 2:00 a.m. back in the 1990s to watch a premiere broadcast of an AMA Pro Superbike race that had happened days (if not weeks) prior. If you were lucky you could also catch a broadcast of a Supersport race, but watching a full-length race of any other class was unheard of.
Now, thanks to MotoAmerica investing in its own in-house TV production, fans can watch traditional live broadcasts of most races and many classes on cable networks like FOX Sports 1 and MAVTV as well as digital streaming platforms like YouTube. Fans can watch every race live and uninterrupted via the MotoAmerica Live+ subscription streaming service, which also provides on-demand viewing of all the races.
Then there are seemingly constant replays of all the races on MotoAmericaTV and MTRSPT1, which is a channel available for free through most TV streaming services and available to 100 million households. This TV package has made the series very valuable to stakeholders, and there’s no better evidence than the Rahal Ducati Moto team coming into the series with non-endemic sponsors.
Broadcasting races live across the world requires a time-definite schedule. This means that if Superbike Race One is supposed to go green at 3:12 p.m. local time, the race needs to actually start at 3:12 p.m. local time.
This is not a new concept, but before MotoAmerica took over, it seemed like other groups running professional road racing in America could not consistently execute a time-definite schedule. The MotoAmerica staff carefully crafts each weekend’s schedule to include time buffers that can be used to soak up unexpected delays and get back on schedule quickly. And officials keep riders and teams informed of schedule changes via direct radio communication and even a new app.
Not only are MotoAmerica staff members good at making and keeping schedules, they are also good at officiating. While perfection is very difficult to attain, the making and enforcing of the rules under MotoAmerica is still light years ahead of where it’s been in the past. It wasn’t long ago that races–and even Championships–were ruined by bogus jump-start calls determined by the movement of a single pixel on a video replay, and there were even instances of race officials making up completely new rules and procedures in the middle of race weekends.
Now MotoAmerica follows the lead of FIM procedures, so rules are usually set in place well in advance and remain stable for long periods of time; violations of rules and the sanctions issued to riders and teams are made public; and those who are accused of breaking rules have set procedures they can follow to appeal decisions and sanctions. And aside from some technical issues that require special testing, the appeal process can be handled at the racetrack before the weekend is over.
Whether it be questions about scheduling, rules, sanctions, or other topics, it wasn’t long ago, a rider or team representative asking a race official a simple question often resulted in a demoralizing lecture, questioning of personal integrity, insults, shouting matches, and seriously poor customer service. Most teams and racers spend lots of money for the opportunity to race, and to have the people running the races yell at you for no good reason is hard to take.
MotoAmerica/KRAVE Group partners Terry Karges (far left), Chuck Aksland (second from left), Wayne Rainey (center), and Richard Varner (far right) with AMA President Rob Dingman (second from right) at the 2018 MotoAmerica awards banquet at Barber Motorsports Park. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
In my personal experience, MotoAmerica staffers have been very approachable, open, and honest when asked questions in even the most uncomfortable situations. Again, perfection is hard to attain, but many of the MotoAmerica officials currently in place were working in the paddock during the bad old days and were impacted by some very poor decisions made by their bosses, and they do not want to repeat that cycle.
Last but certainly not least, safety. As Editor John Ulrich often reminds us, back in the day if riders asked for some haybales so they wouldn’t die if they crashed in a particular corner, they were often rudely told in no uncertain terms that they should get off the property if they didn’t like how things were being run. Over the years, acceptable safety standards slowly improved, but with most racetracks designed without motorcycles in mind, hard barriers remained a serious hazard and the only really good answer was getting Airfence.
That’s why in 2001 Ulrich founded the Roadracing World Action Fund (RWAF) and started raising money to purchase and deploy Airfence and Alpina soft barriers at racetracks to help reduce injuries (and the severity of injuries) when racers crashed. But even then, past regimes running America’s premier motorcycle road racing series often treated the Airfence as an afterthought at best, and a burden at worst. Officials had to be convinced to deploy enough soft barriers, coached on where to deploy them, and frequently ignored advice on placement from riders. And they had to be closely monitored on how they handled and maintained the pricey soft barriers.
Now, MotoAmerica has a group of hard-working, trained staffers who transport, maintain, repair, deploy, and monitor the largest single fleet of soft barriers in the United States in a very effective and efficient manner. MotoAmerica staff members seek input from the most experienced racers in the paddock (including RWAF consultant Josh Hayes and RWAF representative Chris Ulrich) to improve deployment strategies and avoid compromise when it comes to safety. In fact, the MotoAmerica staff’s ability to deal with safety issues like fluid and debris clean-up and rider health concerns is unprecedented in the history of American motorcycle road racing.
MotoAmerica Race Director Rick Hobbs (left), MotoAmerica Director of Operations Niccole Cox (center), and FIMNA Safety Officer Dan Argano (right) with some newly deployed Alpina soft barriers provided by the Roadracing World Action Fund at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
For instance, it’s crazy to think that not long ago there was no such things as a Chief Medical Officer, a medical doctor who travels with the series and works directly with riders and treats their injuries, both incurred on and off the track. But MotoAmerica has had a Chief Medical Officer for years and usually has two doctors at the track at all times.
These are just a few of the positive differences that fans may or may not notice when they watch MotoAmerica races as opposed to American races in the past, but the riders certainly do notice. Another perspective on this comes from Hayes, the four-time AMA Pro Superbike Champion and all-time AMA Pro/MotoAmerica race win leader, who won his first AMA Pro racing at Daytona in 1999.
Josh Hayes won his first AMA Pro race in 1999 and he won his most recent MotoAmerica race in 2023. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
“A lot of times when we showed up at the races [during past eras] we didn’t feel we had a voice with the people who were in charge, and so it was a caustic atmosphere very often,” said Hayes. “The people who were running the show and the people who were in the show were not seeing eye-to-eye. There wasn’t a good line of communication, and things were very difficult.
“Then came the MotoAmerica era. They had people from a different time in motorsports who were running the show and listened to us. From a rider’s standpoint, we were listened to a lot more. The show and rider safety, in some respects, were greatly improved. Decision making fell into a more normal, common-sense way. But the big thing was feeling like we had a voice.
“[MotoAmerica] decided early on that we would not go to a racetrack where we could not ride in the rain. That was one of the huge things right off the bat. We ended up losing some racetracks that we really loved, but we had gotten to the point where we had to cancel races because of rain and what that did to fans, teams, and everyone else involved was just bad.
“I think overall the fan experience is second-to-none in motorsports. Road racing can be difficult to spectate because you can only see a small portion of the racetrack from any given point. So having Jumbotron TV screens at every event for fans to be able to watch all of the action, was a key thing MotoAmerica brought.
“Some people complain that manufacturer support in sportbike classes has decreased from what we would consider the heyday was. But the top level MotoAmerica guys are still top-level guys anywhere in the world. So, we still have really high-level racing with world-class riders here in MotoAmerica. We don’t quite have the depth [of talent] that we used to, but we’re bringing in younger riders, much younger than we did back in the day, and getting them involved in the sport earlier, which is good for the future.”
When MotoAmerica took over professional motorcycle road racing in 2015 it was like the toxic fog that had enveloped the paddock lifted, and the sun finally came out. MotoAmerica’s leadership made an immediate impact with how they ran races and listened to stakeholders. Now, as it enters its 10th season in 2024, MotoAmerica continues to stick to those endearing core characteristics while continuously improving the series for all parties involved, including the undercover fans working in the paddock, and enabling growth in the future.
LegionSBK founder Matt Cooper (991). Photo by Kelly Vernell, courtesy LegionSBK.
LegionSBK Unveils Thrilling 2024 Race Season Schedule with Stellar Lineup of Sponsors
[Denver, CO] — Legion Motorsports, parent company of Legion Moto Trackdays and the all new Legion SuperBike series, is thrilled to unveil the highly anticipated schedule for the 2024 race season, promising an electrifying series of events that will captivate motorcycle enthusiasts in the Rocky Mountains and central areas. With both contingency and purse prizes to be contested the season promises to be a thrilling showcase of speed, skill, and sportsmanship. LegionSBK is eager to deliver an unforgettable experience to racing fans and express our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors for their invaluable support.
Title Sponsorship by 811 Underground
Leading the charge for an adrenaline-fueled season, we are proud to announce 811 Underground as our new title sponsor. Their commitment to safety and passion for speed align seamlessly with our dedication to delivering club level racing experiences.
Premier Class Sponsors
LegionSBK is excited to welcome aboard a stellar lineup of Premier Class Sponsors for the 2024 season:
Audi of Denver: Driving excellence both on and off the track, Audi Denver joins us as a Premier Class Sponsor, bringing luxury and performance to the forefront of our racing events.
KYT joins as a Premier Class Sponsor, adding a dynamic edge to the season with their commitment to high-performance and safety technology in the helmet world. KYT Helmets can be found on World Champions in MotoGP to National Champions here in the US. We are extremely excited to be partnered with the best in the industry.
Starbuds: Igniting excitement, Starbuds lights up the racing scene as a Premier Class Sponsor, infusing natural energy and a sense of adventure into every race.
Brandi Wright Reality: Accelerating to success with precision and expertise, Brandi Wright is the Reality Shark for a reason. A fierce competitor and rider herself, she’s an ideal partner in the all new series. We are excited to have her partner with us to elevate the racing experience for fans and participants alike.
Imperial Sportbikes: Pushing the boundaries of speed and style, Imperial Sportbikes revs up the excitement as a Premier Class Sponsor, contributing to the unparalleled thrills of our race events. They have been an instrumental part of Legion since its inception.
Tires Support: Pirelli
In the pursuit of excellence, we are proud to announce Pirelli as our main tire brand support for the 2024 season. Their world-class tires will play a crucial role in ensuring riders have the best rubber and track side services in the region.
Licensing for racers opens up January 1st.
June 14-16th | Round 1: Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Jennings, OK
July 12th-14th | Round 2: Utah Motorsports Campus, Grantsville, UT | Outer Course
Aug 2nd-4th | Round 3: Pueblo Motorsports Park, Pueblo CO
Sep 7th-8th | Round 4: Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain CO
Sep 27th-29th | Round 5: Motorsports Park Hastings, Hastings NE
Oct 18th-20th | Round 6: High Plains Raceway, Deer Trail, CO
For more information about the 2024 Race Season Schedule and sponsorship opportunities, please contact: [email protected] or visit legionsbk.com
About Legion Motorsports: Legion Motorsports and the Legion Superbike Series is founded by racers, for racers and is dedicated to bringing a high-class motorcycle racing experience to the Mid-Western and Mountain regions. Built upon the experience, excellence and foundations of the Legion MOTO Trackdays project.
Alex Marquez denies Martin, KTM give chase on Day 1
Gresini steal the show, Martin AND Bagnaia make it through to Q2 and Miller returns to the top three on Friday
Friday, 10 November 2023
It’s advantage Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) after the opening day of action at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia. The Spaniard was looking strong from the off and set a scintillating 1:57.823 in his late Practice time attack to take the top spot after falling just short of the all-time lap record. Marquez’s pace saw him deny title contender Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) a Friday clean-sweep. The ‘Martinator’ topped Practice 1 but was 0.174s back from his compatriot during the Friday afternoon time attack battle. Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), meanwhile, enjoyed a positive return to form as the Aussie had the bit between his teeth in Practice to take the final spot inside the top three.
Jorge Martin (89). Photo courtesy Dorna.
A mad rush in Malaysia
With Friday afternoon’s Practice session deciding who goes through to Q2, the riders spent the majority of the session working on their race packages before engaging in full time-attack mode.
With rain clouds looming the riders put on the soft rubber with twenty minutes remaining and the hot laps came flying in. It was Alex Marquez who led the way after the first lot of time attacks. The session then quieted down as the clock ticked past the 10-minute mark, but it wasn’t over yet!
The red sectors came flying in once again and it was time for fireworks in the final three minutes of the session. Red sectors came in from Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Miller, and Alex Marquez until Martin moved the goalposts with the first 1:57 of the weekend. Alex Marquez still had plenty left in his back pocket however and the Spaniard quickly responded to retake the top spot ahead of Martin and Miller.
Jack Miller (43). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Fine margins make the difference…
Next up on the timesheets was Binder. The South African threatened the top spots throughout and finished the session just behind his teammate in P4, with Viñales just 0.005s behind him in 5th. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) was another 0.022s back as he took a solid P6.
It was a positive day in the Yamaha camp as both riders showed glimpses of promise during Friday’s running. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) was one of five riders in the 1:58.3 club as he kept himself in contention in P7 ahead of his 2022 title rival Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), as the World Championship leader bagged a very important Q2 spot in P8.
Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) also showed decent potential in Sepang. The Italian picked up P9 ahead of Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), the Frenchman claiming the final automatic Q2 spot in P10.
The Q1 battle
Q1 is set to be a tense affair as always with Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ being the first rider to miss out on Q2.
The Yamaha rider will have to battle it out with his compatriots Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), as well as both factory Honda and GASGAS Tech3 riders.
The action has only just started at the PETRONAS Sepang International Circuit. The title fight is on with MotoGP™ enjoying some of the closest racing in its history. Make sure you don’t miss a single detail as the action unfolds in Malaysia with qualifying and Tissot Sprint coming up on Saturday!
SHOWTIME
The stage is set for Qualifying and the Tissot Sprint! Make sure you tune in:
MotoGP™ FP2: 10:10
MotoGP™ Q1: 10:50
MotoGP™ Q2: 11:15
MotoGP™ Sprint: 15:00
Ai Ogura (79). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Ogura beats Aldeguer to Day 1 honours
Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) is the rider to beat after the opening day of the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia. Ogura’s 2:06.093 came from a late Practice 2 charge where the Team Asia rider became the only competitor to beat Fermin Aldeguer’s (Beta Tools SpeedUp) Practice 1 lap time. The latter topped Practice 1 with his 2:06.183, a time that held firm to consolidate 2nd place on the combined timings, as Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) made his presence known after his Practice 2 time attack saw the Spaniard sit just 0.100s back from the top spot in P3.
Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) is also looking strong around the Sepang International Circuit. The Brit’s personal best times from P1 and P2 were within 0.003s of each other with his P1 time seeing him just miss out on the top three by 0.050s. Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) rounded out the top five as he made positive steps forward in the afternoon to finish just ahead of Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing) and Sergio Garcia (Pons Wegow Los40). Acosta can wrap up the title this weekend if he finishes in the top four regardless of where Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) ends the Malaysian GP, and the Italian was P19 on Day 1.
Dennis Foggia (Italtrans Racing Team) put in an impressive performance to finish the day in 8th place overall. The Italian’s teammate Joe Roberts finished just behind him in P9 with Albert Arenas (Red Bull KTM Ajo) rounding out the top 10.
Moto2™ will be back in action on Saturday for Practice 3 at 9:25 and qualifying at 13:45 local (GMT +8)!
Jaume Masia (5). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Moto3™: Masia stamps some authority on the field in Malaysia
Championship leader Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) started his weekend at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia as he means to go on as the Spaniard’s 2:12.065 saw him top the pile on Day 1. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was looking strong from the off as well and was closest to Masia in P2, looking to keep his title hopes alive. Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), fresh from a maiden podium, also took well to the Petronas Sepang International Circuit and made a big step in Practice 2 to put himself into the top three on combined timings.
Buriram winner and Championship contender David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) had another strong showing as the rookie found himself just 0.037s away from the top three in P4. Matteo Bertelle (Rivacvold Snipars Team) made it three Hondas in the top five as the Italian rounded out that top five ahead of title challenger Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3).
The returning Romano Fenati (Rivacold Snipers Team) looked strong in Practice 1 and ended the day 7th overall ahead of title contender Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), as Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) and David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) rounded out the top 10.
Moto3™ action continues on Saturday, make sure not to miss any of the action with Practice 3 at 08:40 and qualifying at 12:50 local time (GMT +8)!
RAHAL DUCATI MOTO ANNOUNCES ALL-AMERICAN RIDER LINE-UP FOR 2024
PJ Jacobsen and Kayla Yaakov to pilot the No. 15 and No. 19 XPEL Ducati Panigale V2s
ZIONSVILLE, Ind., (11.10.2023) – The much-anticipated rider line up at Rahal Ducati Moto has been finalized as the team welcomes five-time race winner PJ Jacobsen and up-and-comer Kayla Yaakov to the organization. Jacobsen will pilot the No. 15 XPEL Ducati Panigale V2 in the MotoAmerica Supersport class, alongside Yaakov on the No. 19 XPEL Ducati Panigale V2.
“We are incredibly thrilled with the rider line up we have secured for our inaugural MotoAmerica season,” said team owner Graham Rahal. “PJ [Jacobsen] has shown incredible talent in his Supersport and Superbike career. We are grateful he was willing to bring his experience to our team to help set the bar as we (attempt to) contend for a championship (in our maiden/inaugural season). Kayla [Yaakov] is a young, talented rider and we are excited for her to showcase her potential during her rookie Supersport season. She will have both PJ and Ben [Spies] to look to for guidance and experience as she grows in her young career.
“We have a lot of work to do in the next few months as a new team to prepare, so we are eager to get the riders to the track to test with their new mechanics and on their new machines. We have high expectations going into the season and I truly believe we put together a line up to achieve and exceed the standards we have set for ourselves.”
PJ Jacobsen boasts a decorated Grand Prix resume having competed in several racing series around the globe, including the World Superbike Championship and World Supersport Championship. Among his accomplishments are earning the vice-champion title in the World Supersport Championship, securing a second-place finish in the Suzuka 8 Hour in 2018 and claiming second in the championship standings in the MotoAmerica Supersport class in 2019. Most recently, Jacobsen found a home in the MotoAmerica Superbike division where he finished third in the 2023 season championship. Jacobsen’s experience on the track will elevate the competitiveness the Rahal Ducati Moto team will bring in its 2024 debut season.
“I’m really looking forward to being a part of the Rahal Ducati Moto racing team,” said Jacobsen. “It’s great to be a part of this racing family and I think it’s very good for my future to be with this amazing group of people. Having Ben Spies back is going to be absolutely awesome to help with riding and the mechanics and strategy of the motorcycle racing. When I heard about the possibility of [Rahal Ducati Moto] coming to the paddock, my eyes lit up because they run such a professional team in car racing, and they will also have a great, professional team in motorcycle racing. It’s great for our sport to have people like this involved, and again, I’m very honored to get the call from them to be one of the riders to fight for wins and a championship. I’m super excited to get testing started and really, really motivated for the 2024 season – especially after having such a strong Superbike season in 2023. I feel very fit and in top-form in my career right now, and ready to fight for the top honors. Thank you to Graham and the people that truly believe in me. I’m really looking forward to a great 2024 season!”
Kayla Yaakov (19). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.
From an early age Kayla Yaakov had the drive to race. She started racing motorcycles at the young age of four and climbed her way through the ranks. In 2022, Yaakov became the first female to win a MotoAmerica race (Ridge Motorsports Park, Round 2), which was highlighted in her third-place finish in the Junior Cup Championship that year. After that first win, Yaakov found herself standing on the top step of the podium three additional times for a total of four wins and 11 collective podiums for the season. In 2023, the 16-year-old found herself in the Twins Cup Championship, finishing seventh in the championship, despite missing the first four races due to a pre-season injury. Yaakov, an inspiration for females aspiring to break into a male-dominated industry, will take on her debut MotoAmerica Supersport season for the team in 2024.
“I am extremely excited to be joining the Rahal Ducati Moto team for the 2024 MotoAmerica Supersport season,” said Yaakov. “Being a part of a team with such an iconic backing is a privilege, not only with one of the most prolific motorcycle brands in the world, but also with the Rahal family. Also, having a world champion like Ben Spies in our corner is such an honor. After talking to him for several years, coming together in this team is going to be huge for my progression in this sport! Although it’s a new team that comes with a lot of pressure, I am extremely confident in the abilities of the team and myself for this 2024 season. I can’t wait to get rolling with this amazing crew and am thankful to everyone that has made this possible. I’ll see you on the high banks of Daytona!”
The duo will begin testing their new horses early next year in preparation for the 2024 season. The MotoAmerica Supersport division will begin competition at the Daytona 200 (a non-points race) March 7-9 followed by the regular season points races at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (April 19-21), Barber Motorsports Park (May 17-19), Road America (May 31-June 2), Brainerd International Raceway (June 14-16), Ridge Motorsports Park (June 28-30), WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (July 12-14), Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (August 16-18), Circuit of the Americas (September 13-15) and New Jersey Motorsports Park (September 27-29).
For more information about the series or team, visit www.motoamerica.com and www.rahalducati.com.
Alex Marquez was fastest during MotoGP World Championship Free Practice Two (FP2) Friday afternoon at Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Riding his Gresini Racing Ducati, the Spaniard lapped the 3.4-mile (5.5 km) road course in 1:57.823, which was just shy of Jorge Martin’s 2022 All-Time Lap Record of 1:57.790.
Marquez’s countryman Martin was the best of the rest with a 1:57.997 on his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati.
Australian Jack Miller was third-quickest with a 1:58.232 on his Red Bull KTM RC16 and just ahead of his teammate Brad Binder (1:58.307).
Maverick Vinales rounded out the top five with a 1:58.312 on his factory Aprilia.
Ai Ogura (79). Photo courtesy Idemitsu Honda Team Asia.
Ai Ogura was quickest during Moto2 World Championship Free Practice Two (FP2) Friday afternoon at Sepang International Circuit, in Malaysia. Riding his Idemitsu Honda Team Asia Kalex, the Japanese star navigated the 3.4-mile (5.5 km) course in 2:06.093 to top the field of 32 riders.
Americans Joe Roberts (2:06.911) and Sean Dylan Kelly (2:08.795) were 11th and 29th, respectively, in the session.
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