British Superbike: Race One Results And Report From Brands Hatch

David Swarts

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October 14, 2023

British Superbike: Race One Results And Report From Brands Hatch

R1
Point after R1

More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing (MSVR):

Ryde wins to close the gap as Bridewell leads standings into decider day

Kyle Ryde claimed an intense BikeSocial Sprint Race victory to edge him closer to his BeerMonster Ducati title rivals in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship title fight, but the LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha rider was pushed all the way to finish as just 0.015s separated him from Jason O’Halloran at the chequered flag.

Ryde has been determined all weekend as the LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha team target consecutive titles and he delivered exactly what he had threatened. He grabbed the lead from O’Halloran on the third lap and continued to fight him to the finish. O’Halloran had made a move into Paddock Hill Bend for the final time, but by the time the pair reaches Druids, Ryde was back ahead. The Yamahas were almost inseparable on the dash to the finish line, but the win means Ryde cut his deficit by a further eight points to Bridewell.

Meanwhile the raging battle between the BeerMonster Ducati teammates continued and Glenn Irwin carved his way through the pack from his 17th place grid start to be seventh by the fourth lap and then into fourth place behind his closest rival just two laps later.

Tommy Bridewell (46) held off his teammate and primary title challenger Glenn Irwin to place third in Race One. Photo courtesy MSVR.

Irwin was pushing to make a move on the dry line, but it was still damp in places off-line, as the pair were inseparable on equal machinery. Irwin made an attempt for a move at Stirlings, but as he dived ahead he ran onto the damp and had to then try and regain the ground.

Bridewell had the edge he needed to claim the final podium position and in doing so moves to 10.5 points ahead of Irwin ahead of tomorrow’s two crucial races with 70 points available for the taking tomorrow.

Whilst several of the title contenders featured on the podium, it was disaster again on the Grand Prix circuit for Leon Haslam as he crashed out of fifth place at Surtees on the ninth lap, giving him even more of an uphill task if he is to become Champion for the second time.

Christian Iddon carved through into fifth for the Oxford Products Racing Ducati team, holding off Peter Hickman and Josh Brookes. Jack Kennedy scored another top eight finish with Lee Jackson and Ryan Vickers completing the top ten.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, BikeSocial Sprint Race:

Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha)
Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +0.015s
Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) +3.476s
Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) +3.960s
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +7.658s
Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +9.541s
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +14.630s
Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Racing Yamaha) +14.741s
Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) +15.103s
Ryan Vickers (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) +15.346s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:

Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) 395
Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 384.5
Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 368
Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 347.5
Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) 338.5
Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team) 327
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) 310
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 286

For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com

Kyle Ryde

LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha

“I feel like my Free Practice three session this morning kind of won me that race today. I think a few people opted to sit the session out, understandably. I nearly did the same, but I just wanted to keep going round, I was enjoying riding my bike and that definitely won me the race because it was the exact same conditions, same tyres, probably the same temperature as well.

“Credit to the boys for making the bike a little bit better than FP3 this morning and I just managed to hold Jason off to the line. Luckily for me with the last corner you can see just how close Jason was with the shadow. I knew he wasn’t coming underneath me, so I just had to be as smooth as possible across the start line as I knew he had a little more grip.

“I’m very pleased to take my first ever win at Brands Hatch, at the last meeting where it means the most.”

Tommy Bridewell

BeerMonster Ducati

“That was a good race all in all. I’m really happy because I had Glenn plus-zero on my board pretty much the whole race. When the shoe is on the other foot I know that somehow I will make a pass, so I knew he would have a go.

“I made a mistake coming through Sheene Curve which gave him the opportunity, but obviously he had to go on the wet patch to do that. It was a tough race but always the target is to finish ahead of Glenn and we ticked that off and again another podium.

“We’ve got a decent chunk of work to do to try and get a bit stronger for tomorrow and hopefully we can take that next step again.”

MotoGP: Pertamina Lubricants Sponsoring VR46 Racing Through 2026

David Swarts

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October 14, 2023

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MotoGP: Pertamina Lubricants Sponsoring VR46 Racing Through 2026

VR46 RACING TEAM AND PERTAMINA LUBRICANTS SIGN A TITLE PARTNERSHIP STARTING IN 2024

From next January, the Tavullia Team will be named Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team. PT Pertamina Lubricants alongside the Team for three seasons.

Jakarta (Indonesia), October 14th 2023 – VR46 Racing Team and PT Pertamina Lubricants together in MotoGP for three seasons. The Indonesian lubricants brand, through the motorcycle lubricant brand Pertamina Enduro, will become title partner of the Tavullia crew starting from January 1st 2024, under the name of Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team.

A strategic choice and the birth of a new synergy, between the VR46 Racing Team, the team busy in the Motorcycling World Championship owned by the nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi, and the lubricants giant PT Pertamina Lubricants to give new impetus to two realities already established in Motorsport and thus becoming a true point of reference also in performance and technologies.

Common vision, shared values and great ambitions for the newborn Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team: a team animated by an immense passion for engines and two wheels, capable of combining the two biggest fan bases of the MotoGP circus in cheering and thus involving hundreds of thousands of fans from all over the world.

From the 2024 MotoGP season the Pertamina Enduro logo will be present on the Ducati Desmosedici GP bikes entrusted to Marco Bezzecchi and Luca Marini, the riders suits, helmets, technical spaces, as well as in all images, assets, materials and communications of the VR46 Racing Team.

Alessio Salucci, Team Director – VR46 Racing Team

“Welcoming Pertamina Lubricants, which for the next three seasons will be the title partner of the VR46 Racing Team, marks in a crucial way the history of our Team, an important piece and a further step forward in achieving our goals. We are truly honored to have entered into an agreement with a brand of this kind in the world of motorsport. With this new synergy, we not only share common ambitions, but we combine the two largest and most loyal fan bases in MotoGP. A bridge between the Italian fans and all those who follow us from Indonesia and to whom we hope to give important satisfactions in the future. This long-term project between two companies so experienced in the world of motorcycling and competitions, such as VR46 Racing Team and Pertamina Lubricants, aims to bring true passion for this sport from a unique point of view to hundreds of thousands of fans all around the world. In 2024, a new era of our history in MotoGP starts, an adventure full of successes, which began only two years ago, and which would not have been possible without the support and participation of a partner like Mooney who I would like to thank personally for mutual trust and respect”.

Mr. Werry Prayogi – President Director of PT Pertamina Lubricants

“The partnership between PT Pertamina Lubricants and VR46 Racing Team is a strategic move to extending our vision of becoming a champion in the lubricants industry. This is proof that VR46 Racing Team and Valentino Rossi place great trust in the international quality of Pertamina Enduro”.

Gianluca Falcioni, CEO – VR46 Agency

“We are very proud of the agreement reached with a prestigious and important company like Pertamina Lubricants for the VR46 Racing Team. Through VR46 Agency, Valentino Rossi’s company, we are looking for partners and sponsors for all projects in the VR46 world. From the first months we have aimed at new markets, towards rapidly growing countries. Indonesia and South-East Asia in general represent an enormous pool of fans and enthusiasts for VR46. The passion for MotoGP is immeasurable and we believe that through this agreement, with such an important company, we can evolve strategically by activating not only sporting synergies but also creating 360-degree opportunities between VR46 and these countries. From the first meeting with Pertamina we understood the great affinity of values, the same vision of motorcycling and approach to competitions. There are no words to describe the role and prestige that Pertamina Lubricants plays in. Endurance is the key point that make this great brand a unique partner to support our project. I would like to underline that this is not a simple partnership, but the birth of a synergy in which Pertamina Lubricants will make knowledge, experience and technology available to achieve great performance on the track. Finally, with this strategic agreement, we are getting even closer to our fan base in Indonesia, a country where we have always felt welcome and where we believe there are the foundations to activate multiple projects both in the racing and business opportunities fields”.

VR46 Racing Team

The Team was founded in 2014 with the aim of supporting young Italian talents of the two wheels from Moto3 to MotoGP. A long journey of 10 seasons on track, with a World Title won in 2018 in Moto2 thank to Francesco Bagnaia, a Team World Championship crown in 2020 in Moto2 and the first historic wins in the Top class in 2023 (Bezzecchi, Argentina GP). Francesco Bagnaia is the first rider from Sky VR46 project to arrive in MotoGP in 2019. He will be followed by Marini (2021) and Bezzecchi (2022 – the year of the Team’s debut in MotoGP). To date, 10 Italian riders have taken their first steps in the World Championship thanks to this crew. Based in Tavullia, the Mooney VR46 Racing Team currently races in MotoGP with two Ducati Desmosedici GPs entrusted to Marco Bezzecchi and Luca Marini. In just two years in this category, the Team has won 3 races, achieved a total of 9 podiums and the title of Rookie of the Year (2022 – Bezzecchi).

Pertamina Lubricants

Pertamina Lubricants is a subsidiary of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, Pertamina’s Commercial & Trading (C&T) Subholding that focuses on production, processing, transportation, storage, distribution, and marketing of world class lubricants, grease, and specialties chemicals. Pertamina Lubricants operates three production units in Gresik, Cilacap, and Jakarta, as well as one production unit in Thailand, with a total capacity exceeding 535 million liters per year. In addition to meeting the growing lubricant market demands in Indonesia, Pertamina Lubricants has expanded globally, currently present in 14 countries worldwide. Pertamina Lubricants primary goal is to develop in foreign markets and become a global champion in the lubricant industry.

Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast: MotoGP – Red Versus Purple

David Swarts

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October 14, 2023

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Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast: MotoGP – Red Versus Purple

Roadracing World MotoGP Editor and Isle of Man TT winner Mat Oxley and two-time World Championship-winning Crew Chief Peter Bom have started “The Oxley Bom MotoGP Podcast,” which will be focused on the FIM MotoGP World Championship.

This podcast is “MotoGP – Red Versus Purple”

The original podcast can be found on BuzzSprout.com or listened to via other places you get podcasts.

MotoGP: World Championship Sprint Race Results From Mandalika (Updated)

David Swarts

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October 14, 2023

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MotoGP: World Championship Sprint Race Results From Mandalika (Updated)

Jorge Martin won the MotoGP World Championship Sprint Race Saturday at Mandalika International Street Circuit, in Indonesia. Riding his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati, the Spaniard won the 13-lap race by 1.131 seconds.

Pole-sitter Luca Marini was the runner-up on his Mooney VR46 Racing Ducati, and Marini’s teammate Marco Bezzecchi placed third, making it a Ducati sweep of the podium.

With Martin’s victory, he takes over the MotoGP World Championship point lead from Francesco Bagnaia, who finished eighth in the Sprint Race.

MotoGP Sprint Race
MotoGP Points after Sprint race

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Martin strikes gold to grab the Championship lead in action-packed Sprint at Mandalika

Marini and Bezzecchi lock out the podium as Bagnaia can manage only eighth in the Tissot Sprint in Indonesia

Jorge Martin (89) won the MotoGP Sprint Race and took over the point lead Saturday in Indonesia. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Saturday, 14 October 2023

Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) is the new MotoGP™ Championship leader! The number 89 pulled another momentous performance out the bag to keep that momentum rolling in style, coming through from sixth on the grid to take a fourth Tissot Sprint win in a row and with it securing a fourth Constructors’ Crown in a row for Ducati.

Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) gave it a serious go though, coming home second from his maiden premier class pole, with teammate Marco Bezzecchi also seriously impressing as he took third after a late scrap with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing). The tougher weekend continued for reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) as he came home in P8, leaving him seven points off the top after earlier in the season having been 66 points clear.

Marini made a stellar start to take holeshot but it didn’t take long for Viñales to grab the lead and immediately put the hammer down, the number 12 streaking away in a matter of apexes. The front two were absolutely flying on Lap 1, with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) in third at the head of a Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)-Martin train.

The first drama then saw Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) slide out on Lap 1, rider perfectly ok but losing his chance at grabbing some Saturday glory. Meanwhile, into Turn 1 next time around Martin chose his moment to attack Quartararo – but the Frenchman wasn’t for rolling over and hit back immediately. And then again further round the lap. Martin got it done on the third time of asking, but Marini in second was a fair few tenths gone.

Then, more drama. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) went for a move on Binder for fifth and got it all sorts of wrong, losing the front and collecting the South African as both slid out across the gravel. They rejoined and Binder took P19, but the Aprilia was forced to retire.

Viñaes led Marini by eight tenths with 10 to go, with Martin starting to creep closer to the Mooney VR46 rider and Quartararo left with a little breathing room behind after the Aleix Espargaro-Binder incident. The rider next up by then was Bezzecchi as he dispatched Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and started to harry the Frenchman.

Martin then arrived at Marini and wasted no time with a clinical pickpocket on the Italian, taking over in second and left to chase the one rabbit left up ahead: Viñales. The Aprilia was nearly a second up the road and there were eight laps to go. But the gap started to come down, down, and down – and Marini was right with Martin too as the duo homed in.

Five to go saw Martin strike for gold and take the lead, and just as Viñales did early doors, the number 89 got the hammer absolutely down as soon as he was past. It seemed the Aprilia was struggling and soon enough, Marini was lining up an attack – with Bezzecchi now arriving on the scene too. Marini got past with a carbon copy of Martin’s manoeuvre and the number 72 was next up to have a go at the Aprilia. He had a nibble not long after but overcooked it as Viñales hit back, but how long could the Aprilia hold on?

Viñales held on until the very last lap, but Bezzecchi had it nailed on the final time of asking. The Mooney VR46 machine pulled alongside and pitched it perfectly, moving through for an incredible rostrum finish on Saturday, less than a week after that collarbone break and surgery.

Martin, up ahead, was unbothered to the flag. Marini made a charge but by the final lap the number 10 was forced to settle for second, coming home a second and a half off the Pramac. Bezzecchi completes the Sprint podium ahead of Viñales, with Quartararo taking a no-mean-feat fifth.

Di Giannantonio took his best Sprint result in sixth, ahead of Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team). And then came Bagnaia. It was a tough day at the office for the reigning Champion as he lost that lead and failed to make it out of Q1, and he’s got it all to do tomorrow too. What can he pull out the hat?

Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), meanwhile, took the final point in P9 but it wasn’t quite enough, after Binder’s incident, to keep the Austrian marque in the Constructors’ fight.

Now it’s on to the Grand Prix race. Martin has a seven-point lead over Bagnaia and most definitely kept that momentum rolling, but he’s got to do it for full GP distance on Sunday… and starts sixth once again. Can the number 89 stake a further claim on that number 1? Join us for more on Sunday at 15:00 (GMT +8) to find out

Canet grabs pole with FIVE riders covered by just 0.071

As ever, it was a close affair in Moto2™ as the riders took to the Mandalika Circuit to decide the grid ahead of Sunday’s racing action. But this time around, it was CLOSE. Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) put himself in the perfect position as he still seeks to take his first victory in the class. The Spaniard’s 1:34.155 put him just +0.003s clear of his compatriot Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46) who was lighting up the timing screens in the closing moments. Just +0.019s covered the top three in Q2 as Filip Salač (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) put in a stellar performance to take the final front-row spot, and it’s 0.071 covering the top FIVE.

Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) missed out on a front-row start by just +0.024s as he took P4. The newly signed 2024 MotoGP™ rider will be joined by Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) and Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) on row two. Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) bagged 7th place to head row three in front of his fellow Brit Sam Lowes (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team) and Zonta Van Den Goorbergh (Fieten Olie Racing GP), with title challenger Tony Arbolino (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team) taking a trip to the gravel trap and only rounding out the top ten.

Make sure not to miss any of the Moto2™ action set to commence on Sunday at 13:15 local time (GMT +8).

Moreira nabs first pole of 2023 to head Masia in Indonesia

Qualifying at the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia went the way of Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) as the number 10 put down a 1:39.085 to top Q2 and take his first pole of the season. Championship leader Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) put in a clinical performance to bag another front row as he looks to increase his lead, however, and rounding out the front row will be David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) who ended the session +0.225s away from pole position in 3rd.

From one rookie to another, Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) just missed out on the front row by 0.053s as he’s set to head row two ahead of Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia). Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) fronts row three in 7th place as he’s joined by Matteo Bertelle (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team), with David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) rounding out the top 10.

So where’s Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui oly Husqvarna Intact GP)? It was a tougher day at the office for the Japanese rider, currently second in the standings, and he’ll be looking to move forward from P11. See if he can on Sunday as the Moto3™ riders’ attention now turns to the race, with lights out at 12:00 local time (GMT +8)!

Moto2: Canet Captures Pole Position In Indonesia

David Swarts

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October 14, 2023

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Moto2: Canet Captures Pole Position In Indonesia

Aron Canet captured pole position during Moto2 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Mandalika International Street Circuit, in Indonesia. Riding his Pons Wegow Los40 Kalex, the Spaniard lapped the 2.6-mile (4.3 km) course in 1:34.155 to top the field of 30 riders.

Manuel Gonzalez was best of the rest with a 1:34.158 on his Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Kalex, and Filip Salac earned the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:34.174 on his QJMotor Gresini Kalex.

American Joe Roberts qualified 11th with a 1:34.529 on his Italtrans Racing Kalex.

American Sean Dylan Kelly has completed his fill-in role with Forward Racing and is not riding in Indonesia.

Moto2 Comb Qual

MotoGP: Marini Takes Career-First Pole Position, In Indonesia

David Swarts

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October 14, 2023

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MotoGP: Marini Takes Career-First Pole Position, In Indonesia

MotoGP Comb Qual

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Title contenders falter as Marini takes maiden pole to head Viñales

Bagnaia goes out in Q1 as Martin AND Bezzecchi crash in Q2, leaving Pecco P13, Bezzecchi P9 and Martin P6

Saturday, 14 October 2023

Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) really chose his moment to take a stunning maiden MotoGP™ pole. Aprilia came into super Saturday looking for a 1-2, reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) sought passage from Q1, Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) looked to capitalise and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) seemed like he could make life even more complicated for those just ahead of him in the Championship fight. But no, Saturday morning belongs to Marini as he emerged drama free from Q1 to take that impressive pole position. Main character energy, in the best way.

Aprilia were denied their 1-2 but complete the front row, continuing to look incredibly strong as Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) takes second and Aleix Espargaro third.

Martin? He’s the first of the top three in the Championship, but down in sixth after a crash mid-way through Q2. Bezzecchi crashed earlier in the session and could only recover to ninth. Bagnaia, meanwhile, starts in P13 after missing the cut in Q1 for the first time this season, and in somewhat awkward circumstances. Read on!

Q1

The. Drama. Until the final minute and a half, it looked like everything was going more or less to plan for Bagnaia. He’d gone top before Marini pipped him to it with a new lap record, but then the worst kind of valid but awkward competition appeared: his teammate, Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team). The ‘Beast’ put in a seriously hot lap of Pertamina Mandalika Circuit, and that was that: Pecco was out of Q2 for the first time this season.

Bastianini headed through just behind Marini, with Championship leader Bagnaia set to start P13 for both the Tissot Sprint and the Grand Prix race. Just to salt the wound a little more, both Marini AND Bastianini also have Long Laps to take on Sunday.

Q2

There was even more drama almost immediately as Bezzecchi took a tumble, rider ok and heading back to the box but racing against time and the pain barrier as he remains in recovery from that collarbone break.

The next drama was for Martin. He headed out wide late on on a lap, unsettled the bike and slid out across the run off. The race against time was even tighter for the number 89, having crashed later in the session than Bezzecchi and the clock ticking down.

Meanwhile, Aprilia were making hay at the top of the pile. Aleix Espargaro led the way after the first runs and then improved his own time on the second, but Viñales had something more on Saturday morning and was able to hit back. Finally, right at the end of the session, Marini unleashed the pole position lap: a new lap record and the first ever lap in 1:29s at Mandalika. That was that, with Aprilia bumped down to second and third.

THE GRID

Behind Marini, Viñales and Aleix Espargaro, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) heads the second row after a strong performance at a venue he likewise impressed at last year. He’s got Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) alongside in that special Springboks helmet, with Martin at the end of Row 2.

Row three sees Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) take seventh and pip Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), with Bezzecchi moving up late on to take P9.

Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the rider relegated to P10 with that late move, with the Aussie ahead of Bastianini and Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team). Then comes Bagnaia. Can the reigning Champion stay cool under pressure? He certainly did in Japan.

British Superbike: Ryde Leads Practice Friday At Brands Hatch

David Swarts

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October 13, 2023

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British Superbike: Ryde Leads Practice Friday At Brands Hatch

BSB FP1 + FP2

More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing:

Ryde bounces back from crash to end opening day ahead of title rivals

Kyle Ryde took the advantage in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship Free Practice times at Brands Hatch today, bouncing back from a small crash at Sheene Curve during the afternoon to lead the title contenders into tomorrow’s BikeSocial Sprint race.

Ryde arrives at Brands Hatch 35 points adrift of Tommy Bridewell at the top of the standings and the LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha rider stormed ahead in the closing minutes to displace Peter Hickman from the top of the times. The FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team rider had set the initial pace before a red flag interruption when Charlie Nesbitt crashed out unhurt.

When the session resumed the conditions had continued to improve and Ryde wasted no time in pushing to hit the top of the times as the LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha rider bids to retain the title for the team on Sunday.

Glenn Irwin had been sitting in 12th before the red flag, but when the session resumed he launched the BeerMonster Ducati into third place ahead of Christian Iddon on the Oxford Products Racing Ducati.

Championship leader Tommy Bridewell held a top five position at the end of the opening day with McAMS Yamaha in sixth place ahead of fellow title contenders Jason O’Halloran, Lee Jackson and Josh Brookes.

Max Cook held ninth despite a crash at Clearways in the final minute for Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki and Jack Kennedy. Ryan Vickers and Luke Mossey completed the top 12 who progress through to eBay Qualifying 2 tomorrow.

Leon Haslam meanwhile had a challenging start to the weekend as the title-contending ROKiT BMW Motorrad rider ended the opening day in 22nd position.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, combined Free Practice results:

Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 1m:25.757s
Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +0.331s
Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) +0.466s
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +0.678s
Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) +0.692s
Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +0.714s
Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) +0.724s
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing Motorrad) +0.980s
Max Cook (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) +0.988s
Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Racing Yamaha) +1.052s
Ryan Vickers (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) +1.290s
Luke Mossey (Tactix by Lloyd and Jones BMW) +1.322s

For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com

Kyle Ryde

LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha

“It feels good to end the day fastest and the best way to start the weekend, but it has been mixed conditions and emotions.

“I was very positive today and I was a little bit annoyed too! I missed a couple of minutes of the session, so I was pretty mad. There was no going steady – I went straight out and in a bit of anger I went straight to the top.

“I had a little tip off in the last session, but it was nothing. I just hit a wet patch and was scared to pull the brake and then ran into the gravel at about 70mph. I got beached and fell off, but luckily the bike wasn’t too damaged.

“To be fastest was good and I’ve got a little gap to second as well today but there is definitely room to improve the bike so hopefully we can do that in the morning. Obviously, when the track’s fully dry kerb to kerb, it’s a lot easier to ride and tomorrow people will be going faster for sure.”

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Canadian Superbike: Kawasaki ZX-4RR Spec Class Added

David Swarts

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October 13, 2023

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Canadian Superbike: Kawasaki ZX-4RR Spec Class Added

Bridgestone CSBK confirm new national classes including Kawasaki ZX-4RR spec for 2024

Toronto, ON – A new race division will join the Bridgestone CSBK national series in 2024, with the addition of an Amateur Twins category, and a brand-new Cup class for near standard “spec” Kawasaki ZX-4RR machinery.

“Our goal is to provide an opportunity for affordable competition within the Bridgestone CSBK range of classes,” explains series owner Ross Millson. “We’re excited to have Kawasaki join us in offering something new and exciting for Canadian road racing competitors.”

In 2023, CSBK offered a Pro Twins division in conjunction with the Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike category, but next season that category will stand alone with an additional Amateur component for the two-cylinder machinery offered by Suzuki, Aprilia, and Yamaha. The rules structure for Pro Twins will mirror other national divisions, with horsepower established at 90 and enforced on the official Dynojet Dyno by Brooklin Cycle Racing of Pickering, ON.

All three manufacturers won National Pro Twins races in 2023, with Aprilia veteran Jeff Williams leading the category prior to a race injury suffered in July. Eventually, Suzuki-mounted first-year pro Andrew Van Winkle, age 16 from Chilliwack, BC, earned the inaugural Bickle Racing Pro Twins title.

Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR Cup

Meanwhile, the big news is the development of a category focused on the brand new, high-revving four-cylinder Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR family of sports offerings.

Restricted in street trim due to noise regulations in the U.S.A., the CSBK Cup Series will allow for electronic upgrades that increase the engine’s power output. The unrestricted ZX-4RR is capable of more than 75 horsepower on a rear wheel Dyno.

Details of the Ninja ZX-4RR rules package and specific guidelines will be available shortly, the class offering only mild updates (bodywork, suspension, exhaust) to the standard high spec of the Ninja ZX-4RR.

The new series will be supported by Canadian Kawasaki Motors and be open to both Pro and Amateur level competitors.

Kawasaki last supported a “spec” type class in 2015, when CSBK produced 22 identical Ninja 300 twins for use in a special debut media event at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. These Kawasakis formed the basis for what would become the debut of the Amateur Lightweight Sport Bike category in 2018.

The initial 2024 plan will see Pro and Amateur Twins classes share track time with the new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR Series, practicing, qualifying, and racing together. As with the Pro-AM Lightweight category, each group will have one podium post race, with Pros and Amateurs sharing the rostrum.

However, if the two categories see sufficient entries, they could be separated in select later rounds.

In terms of Championship status, the Pros and Amateurs will be scored separately, meaning there will be a total of four National class Champions crowned at the completion of the 2024 season for the Pro-AM Twins/Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR class.

AHRMA Racer Silke Crombie, R.I.P.

David Swarts

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October 13, 2023

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(Knoxville, TN – October 13, 2023) It is with great sorrow that the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) shares the loss of a member of our racing family.

Silke Crombie, an AHRMA road racing competitor in the sidecar and solo motorcycle classes, from Mars Hill, NC, experienced a medical emergency on track during the final weekend of the 2023 AHRMA road racing championship at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL. Her medical emergency was unrelated to any racing activity.

The incident occurred Saturday, Oct. 7. She passed away at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, AL on Oct 12.

Her family has shared that as an organ donor, she will help others to live.

“Silke was known for her loving smile, her German wit, and her passion for everything, particularly racing motorcycles. Silke’s impact on our lives will forever be remembered,” said Daniel May, AHRMA’s Executive Director. “As we mourn the loss of her physical presence, let us also celebrate the beautiful moments we shared and the positive influence she had on all of us.”

The AHRMA family extends our deepest condolences to Silke’s family.

About AHRMA:

The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to competing on classic and vintage machines along with a wide range of modern motorcycles.

MotoGP: Aleix Espargaro Breaks Lap Record At Mandalika

David Swarts

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October 13, 2023

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MotoGP: Aleix Espargaro Breaks Lap Record At Mandalika

Aleix Espargaro was fastest during MotoGP World Championship Free Practice Two (FP2) Friday afternoon at Mandalika International Street Circuit, in Indonesia. Riding his factory Aprilia RS-GP, the Spaniard lapped the 2.6-mile (4.3 km) track in 1:30.474, smashing Fabio Quartararo’s 2022 All-Time Lap Record of 1:31.067.

Espargaro’s teammate Maverick Vinales was second-quickest with a 1:30.628.

And Marco Bezzecchi was third in FP2 with a 1:30.644 on his Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati just days after undergoing surgery to repair a broken collarbone.

MotoGP FP2

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Aprilia top, Bezzecchi third, Bagnaia out of Q2 on headline-packed Day 1 in Indonesia

Aleix Espargaro heads Viñales as Bezzecchi makes a stunning return to competition – with Bagnaia out of Q2 and Martin in the top five

Friday, 13 October 2023

The opening day of the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia has perfectly set the stage for what is set to be a barnstorming weekend of action in Mandalika. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) took top honours in Friday afternoon’s Practice as he turned his session around with a 1:30.474 after hitting the deck earlier on, and it’s his teammate Maverick Viñales in second as he also spent a lot of Friday towards the top end of the timing screens.

The headlines kept coming from there on out as a battered and bruised Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) took third despite an FP1 crash AND coming back from recent collarbone surgery, with reigning Champion and Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) more on the back foot after a late mistake sees him heading for Q1.

From the gravel trap to the top of the pile

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 putting in those late time attacks. With six minutes remaining, all riders were in the pits ready to fight for the all-important top 10, and the battle was about to commence with only a few bankers already set.

Bezzecchi already had his flyer in and was top of the pile after a heroic effort saw him move the goalposts at the 10-minute mark. But Aleix Espargaro had fire in his belly after crashing out of what was set to be a very hot lap earlier on, in the final five minutes he changed the benchmark time once more to smash the lap record and stamp some authority on Friday’s running.

With the Aprilia on rails around Mandalika, Espargaro was then joined by teammate Viñales as the factory Aprilia duo took the top two spots to demote Bezzecchi to P3.

Another hurdle for the World Champion…

Bagnaia was very much in the danger zone after leaving it to his very last lap of the session to put in a hot lap. With the chequered flag already out Bagnaia was sat outside of the top 10 but was motoring on, on course for a personal best. It looked as if the Champ’s lap was looking pretty safe until a big moment in the latter part of the lap saw his flyer scrapped, heading off at Turn 15 after a moment – and Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) then also crashing out almost in tandem.

Now with just a 3-point advantage over his title rival Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), Bagnaia will be forced to go through Q1 with Martin comfortably sat in the top five just behind Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who took fourth.

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was next up in 6th. The Spaniard has been all over recent headlines after his switch to Gresini Racing MotoGP™ for 2024 was announced, but is proving there are still very much six Grands Prix remaining this year for him to keep pushing.

Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), the rider Marc Marquez will be replacing, finished just behind the eight-time champ in P8, with Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) taking the final two Q2 spots in 9th and 10th.

The Q1 battle

There’s plenty of competition Bagnaia will have to contend with, as Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3), Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), and Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) will all be eyeing up the top two spots.

Equally with the Aprilia looking like a fine package in Indonesia, the CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team riders Raul Fernandez and Miguel Oliveira cannot be discounted either. Make sure you don’t miss a single detail as the action unfolds in Indonesia with Qualifying and Tissot Sprint coming up on Saturday!

British Superbike: Race One Results And Report From Brands Hatch

October 14, 2023

Kyle Ryde (77) and Jason O'Halloran (22) battle for the lead in Race One at Brands Hatch. Photo courtesy MSVR.