MotoGP: World Championship Goes Back-To-Back With Misano GP

David Swarts

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September 6, 2023

MotoGP: World Championship Goes Back-To-Back With Misano GP

Destination Misano: MotoGP™ saddles up for San Marino

Who can take the spoils as MotoGP™ touches down on the Adriatic?

Wednesday, 06 September 2023

As the dust settles after the Catalan GP, there is a LOT to talk about. And first, it has to be reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) after that huge highside out the lead, from which he escaped with no fractures and relatively unscathed. Still, the #1 has to be passed fit to race at Misano, so it’ll be an important Thursday check for the Ducati rider.

If he is able to race – and he appeared adamant even before he left Barcelona that he was going to try – we can expect him to be fast. But as fast? The home crowd will be cheering him on but it could be a tougher weekend, and that could leave the door to the win ajar at the very least.

HOME GLORY

There are a few out for some home glory. But first, let’s talk about Aprilia. It’s not a home race for the riders – they just took a historic 1-2 in that – but it is for the Noale factory, and there’s no better way to arrive than that. It was just 0.377 between the two, too, so a close contest. Could Misano be a re-run? Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) will be full of confidence, and teammate Maverick Viñales has won at the venue. That was on a different machine, but he is also the rider with Aprilia’s only podium at the venue so far…

Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) also had some great pace in Barcelona on the 2022 RS-GP – the very bike that took that podium with Viñales – and arrives fresh from a first front row with Aprilia and another top five. What can he do? And can teammate Raul Fernandez turn flashes of speed into a sustained attack?

Meanwhile, at Mooney VR46, it’s a home race three times over: for the riders, for the team, and for their machinery. For Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) it wasn’t an ideal precursor at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya though, as he wasn’t quite at the front before that Turn 1 incident then more than compounded a tougher weekend. He finished with some points but rode through the pain barrier. Teammate Luca Marini, meanwhile, didn’t make it out of Q1 after a weekend out of sorts compared to his form so far in 2023. He beat ‘Bez’ by just over a tenth, but both want to be fighting for much more at Misano. Marini also came fourth last year.

At Gresini Racing MotoGP™ it’s another home race for the team and machinery, and for Fabio Di Giannantonio, who’ll be looking to consolidate some of his speed from Barcelona. Alex Marquez, meanwhile, will want to see the last Grand Prix as more of a blip after a tougher – by his 2023 standards – finish. Can he fight for some home glory for the team?

Home glory for the team is also on the cards for Prima Pramac racing, and after an Austrian Grand Prix to forget, the Jorge Martin – Johann Zarco combo came out swinging in the Catalan GP. They took third and fourth. Good for Zarco, and even better for Martin as he made a 16-point gain after the early race drama. Now it’s enemy territory in terms of his biggest title rivals – VR46 Academy local heroes Pecco and Bezzecchi – so can he make the weekend for Pramac but spoil the party for those key contenders?

One thing we do know is that Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) will sit it out. With a stunning record at Misano, that could prove a reprieve for his rivals as he recovers from that Turn 1 incident, his part in which also earned him a penalty to be served on his return. Michele Pirro won’t be stepping in though as he is on wildcard duty with the Aruba.it squad once again, so it’s a one-bike Ducati Lenovo entry heading in.

Franco Morbidelli, meanwhile, is another home hero and VR46 academy alumnus. He’ll want a lot more from Misano than he got at Catalunya, as he scored points – the other rider, along with Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3), to have done that in every GP so far this year – but came home a way off teammate Fabio Quartararo. Morbidelli was further off his teammate than Quartararo was off the victory. Can he find more as his races with Yamaha start to tick down?

LOOKING TO SPOIL THE PARTY

There were some positives to be found for the aforementioned Quartararo in Barcelona. The Frenchman won at the venue last year and this time around seventh may not sound like much, but he was just on the heels of Alex Marquez and pipped Miller to the flag. Misano is another venue that should suit the machinery, so as Quartararo awaits an important test for the Iwata marque on Monday, could it be a more positive weekend again?

KTM will be an interesting watch at Misano. And where could Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) have finished the Catalan GP? After that early contact with Bagnaia left his machine forced to pull out on the restart, we can’t know. But we do know he’ll be looking to fight back at Misano. Teammate Jack Miller had a much better finish than Austria too, so that was a positive, AND the factory squad will be joined by Dani Pedrosa in another wildcard appearance for the Little Samurai. Jerez was a stunner, so can he make life hard for the Austrian factory’s rivals again at Misano?

Meanwhile, Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) wants more after a damp squib end to the Catalan GP, but Augusto Fernandez took more points and remains one of only two riders to have scored in every GP race this season. It was a top ten too, overhauling Diggia.

At Honda, there were some more points for Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) on home turf in Barcelona. Now, we’re heading into one of the most partisan crowds of the season, and not in his favour, but the venue where Marquez took that most recent win at the Emilia-Romagna GP in 2021. Can we expect another step forward? And as the rumour mill keeps swirling around his future, what will we see unveiled at a crucial Misano test as MM93 looks for Honda to bring something to make a real difference?

Teammate Joan Mir needs that too, after a very tough weekend in Barcelona. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) will have a compatriot in the garage too as Takumi Takahashi subs for Alex Rins, with Iker Lecuona back on WorldSBK duty at Magny-Cours. Finally, Honda also have a wildcard for Stefan Bradl. As that test arrives on the horizon, it makes sense that the now-veteran German would be out on track for the Grand Prix – and his feedback could be key.

With so many fast faces, enough narratives to fill a decade and another Tissot Sprint and Grand Prix race just around the corner, tune in for a pivotal race weekend at the stunning Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli!

SHOWTIME FOR SAN MARINO

The Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini has MotoGP™ last on the menu:

Tissot Sprint: Saturday 15:00 (GMT +2)

Grand Prix Race: Sunday 14:00 (GMT +2)

Moto2: Sean Dylan Kelly Tests – And May Race – With Forward Racing (Updated)

David Swarts

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September 5, 2023

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Moto2: Sean Dylan Kelly Tests – And May Race – With Forward Racing (Updated)

Just days after his split with American Racing Team, Sean Dylan Kelly rode for Forward Racing during the Moto2 and Moto3 Pirelli tire test Monday, September 4 at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (a.k.a. Catalunya).

On August 31, ahead of the MotoGP World Championship event at Catalunya, Kelly announced that he and American Racing Team were splitting up due to a disagreement over his recovery from a second arm pump surgery, which he underwent during the mid-season break.

American Racing Team brought in Marcos Ramirez (who started the season with Forward Racing) to race Kelly’s bike at Silverstone and Red Bull Ring, the two rounds immediately after the break, while Kelly continued to recover. But according to Kelly, he was ready to race.

“After respecting the recovery time, I felt and was 100% ready to come back after Silverstone,” Kelly posted on Instagram on August 31, “but I have to be honest and say that this is where the team and I have differing opinions.”

American Racing Team co-owner Eitan Butbul did not respond to a request for comment from Roadracingworld.com prior to post time.

On Sunday, September 3, Kelly said he got a call to come testing Monday with Forward Racing alongside Moto2 veteran Simone Corsi and World Supersport racer Bahattin Sofuoglu.

“I did a solid 40 laps, which I’m super happy about considering I hadn’t been on a Moto2 bike since Assen,” Kelly wrote in a message to Roadracingworld.com. “My arm felt amazing, and I’m really happy about that.”

With regular rider Alex Escrig out due to injury and Ramirez gone to American Racing Team, Forward Racing has two seats to fill. Sofuoglu seems likely to get one of the seats, and Kelly is hoping he will be back on the Forward Racing machine for next weekend’s race at Misano, if not longer.

As for what the Pirelli tires were like, Kelly said all riders at the test were asked not to speak about the Pirellis.

Pirelli is replacing Dunlop as the new official Moto2 and Moto3 control tire supplier starting in 2024.

Update: On September 6, American Racing Team posted the following on its Facebook page:

“Sean Dylan Kelly and the American Racing Team have come to a mutual agreement to part ways for the remainder of 2023.

“We want to thank Sean for being a part of our history, for the great times and memories and we wish him the very best for the future.”

Video: See Triumph’s New 250cc Motocross Bike In Action

David Swarts

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September 5, 2023

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Video: See Triumph’s New 250cc Motocross Bike In Action

Editorial Note: Scroll down to see all three videos in Triumph’s Vision to Reality series.

FINAL TEST OF TRIUMPH’S NEW 250CC MOTOCROSS captured ON FILM

Triumph Motorcycles has released the last in its series of films, ‘Vision to Reality’, in which Ricky Carmichael performs the final test of Triumph’s new 250cc motocross bike.

Ricky is joined by amateur motocross sensation, Evan Ferry, who has been involved in the testing program of the new bike, alongside numerous professional riders, as it reached the final stage of development.

In the latest film, Ricky Carmichael is heard talking to Evan: “The chassis is really good, it’s super nimble, it’s plush. When you see a line, boom, you can do it.” With Evan Ferry adding: “They found something special with the frame. I don’t think I’ve ever felt something like that.”

The films have been released by Triumph in the run-up to the reveal of the new 250cc Motocross bike and go behind the scenes to meet members of the project team, share details of the all-new aluminium chassis, and engine and witness the final test.

The full reveal date is yet to be announced.

#ForTheRide #TriumphMotocross #TriumphRacing #Motocross

MotoGP: Bastianini Undergoes Surgery, Will Miss Several Races

David Swarts

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September 5, 2023

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MotoGP: Bastianini Undergoes Surgery, Will Miss Several Races

Ducati Lenovo Team rider Enea Bastianini will miss the next three MotoGP races after having surgery to repair broken bones in his left hand and left ankle on Monday, September 4, in Italy.

Bastianini suffered the injuries when he crashed in Turn One during the original start of the MotoGP race Sunday, September 3 at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain.

Ducati Corse reported Bastianini underwent successful surgery, but the Italian rider will miss the races at Misano World Circuit – Marco Simoncelli, in San Marino (9/8-10); Buddh International Circuit, in India (9/22-24); and Mobility Resort Motegi, in Japan (9/29-10/1).

Enea Bastianini post-crash. Photo courtesy Ducati. — Enea Bastianini post-crash and pre-surgery. Photo courtesy Ducati.

REV’IT! Introduces First Airbag System – Avertum Tech-Air

David Swarts

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September 5, 2023

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REV’IT! Introduces First Airbag System – Avertum Tech-Air

REV’IT! presents its first airbag: Avertum Tech-Air®

REV’IT! presents the all-new Avertum Tech-Air® airbag. As the brand’s first autonomous airbag vest, the Avertum Tech-Air® is a step forward in assuring rider safety as much as possible while simultaneously making sure comfort is always maintained.

Made to be worn under a regular riding jacket or suit, the lightweight and highly ventilated Avertum Tech-Air® boosts impact protection by deploying a large protective airbag in the event of a crash. Detected by A.I. and deployed within 40 milliseconds, the Avertum Tech-Air® offers up to 95% impact force reduction compared to passive protection – that is equivalent to 18 CE-level 1 back protectors.

With Avertum Tech-Air®, REV’IT! adds a whole new product type to its range of protective motorcycle clothing collections across the Adventure, Urban, Commuter, and Race segments. The Avertum Tech-Air® has been designed, developed, and engineered at REV’IT!’s Dutch headquarter in Oss to take rider safety to a new level in each of these rider categories.

A collaboration in rider safety

By utilizing Alpinestars’ tried-and-tested Tech-Air® air bag technology – a collaboration in rider safety – REV’IT! is able to offer a top-tier autonomous airbag vest that follows the brand’s guiding principles of integrating Design, Performance, and Innovation into every product that bears the REV’IT! name and Shield logo.

The Avertum Tech-Air® airbag will be available for purchase from official REV’IT! dealers and www.revitsport.com for Fall-Winter 2023.

For further details on pricing and availability, please refer to your local authorized REV’IT! dealers or www.revitsport.com.

MotoAmerica: Kayla Yaakov Riding Tytlers Cycle Racing Kawasaki In Supersport

David Swarts

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September 5, 2023

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MotoAmerica: Kayla Yaakov Riding Tytlers Cycle Racing Kawasaki In Supersport

Kayla Yaakov switches to Supersport with immediate effect – first race at COTA

Tytlers Cycle Racing is delighted to announce that Kayla Yaakov will join their Supersport program with immediate effect, competing in her first race in the upcoming MotoAmerica event at COTA. She will also compete for the squad at the season finale in New Jersey.

Yaakov, who finished third overall in last year’s Junior Cup series after a stunning season that saw her stand atop the podium four times, currently sits seventh overall in the MotoAmerica Twins Cup series having achieved a maiden podium in the class at the Barber Motorsports Park round.

She has also previously had success in Europe, racing to the podium in the bLU cRU finale at Portimao in Portugal, a support race to WorldSBK last year and has recently achieved success in Spain, winning several races in the R7 Cup!

Tytlers Cycle Racing are understandably excited to have been able to secure Kayla’s talents for the final two rounds of the Supersport season and look forward to seeing her on track in their colours for the first time later this week.

Michael Kiley: “It’s a privilege to have Kayla take the Supersport seat for Tytler’s Cycle Racing and to have her close out the season with us. Our intent was to allow Stefano to concentrate on Superbike and to give an opportunity to someone upcoming in the final rounds of the season. I know all of us will be watching and supporting her on track. Her accomplishments speak for themselves, and so it’s great to work with her and her family. After what she has already achieved, I am sure she is destined for more success.”

Michael Godin – Crew Chief for the Tytlers Racing Supersport Program: “Firstly, I want to wish Stefano the best of luck on the BMW M 1000 RR Superbike. We’re coming off our best weekend of the year and look forward to keeping up the momentum with Kayla on board as we finish out the season. I’ve been watching Kayla’s racing for many years and look forward to getting her acclimated to our program and watching her at work in the Supersport class.”

Kayla Yaakov: “I am extremely excited to be joining the Tytlers Cycle Racing Team for the final two rounds of the MotoAmerica Supersport season. This opportunity came completely out of the blue and I am so thankful for this chance to try the Supersport bike in this stacked class. Next weekend won’t be easy, learning a new track and a new bike but I know I have a strong team around me, and I am ready for the challenge and what lies ahead. The decision to jump off the Twins Cup bike and pursue Supersport so late in the season was difficult, but after a lot of thought about my progression and my future in the sport, myself, The WagBar MP13 Racing Team and Yamaha have come to a mutual decision in allowing me to dedicate the rest of the year to the Tytlers Cycle Supersport program. I want to thank everyone that has made this possible. See you all at COTA!”

Dave Yaakov: “Kayla and I are extremely excited to be joining the Tytlers Cycle Racing team for the remainder of the MotoAmerica Season. Supersport has been her goal and something she’s been aiming for. This opportunity will allow her to acclimatise to the class a little early. I want to personally say a big thank you to Michael for giving Kayla this opportunity and seeing potential in her. I look forward to formally meeting the entire Tytlers team this weekend and having a great time at the track. I would also like to thank MP13 and Yamaha for allowing Kayla to take advantage of this opportunity. Yamaha has and still does play a key role in Kayla’s success so it was with only their approval that we could take part in joining Tytlers Cycle Racing to finish out the MotoAmerica season.”

MotoAmerica: Kayla Yaakov And The WagBar MP13 Racing Team Part Ways

David Swarts

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September 5, 2023

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MotoAmerica: Kayla Yaakov And The WagBar MP13 Racing Team Part Ways

WAGBAR MP13 RACING AND KAYLA YAAKOV PART WAYS

Oceanside, CA — The WagBar MP13 Racing Team and racer Kayla Yaakov have terminated their 2023 contract agreement amicably. The team would like to wish Kayla much success as she pursues a new competitive opportunity in a different class on another motorcycle brand for the remaining two rounds of the 2023 MotoAmerica Series season at Circuit of The Americas and New Jersey Motorsports Park.

After successful preseason tests with Yaakov, the WagBar MP13 Racing team looked forward to attacking the seven-round, 14-race MotoAmerica REV’IT! Twin’s Cup Championship with the promising 16-year-old Pennsylvania native riding its proven, race-winning Yamaha YZF-R7.

A testing crash one week before the season-opening round at Daytona International Speedway dashed title-winning hopes for Yaakov and the team. Yaakov recovered from her injuries and returned to the series two rounds later at Barber Motorsports Park. In her return, she scored an astonishing two podium finishes in her first competitive outing on the Yamaha R7.

“While we always hope to finish what we start, the goal of my team has been to give opportunities to up-and-coming racers,” said Melissa Paris, owner of the WagBar MP13 Racing Team. “Kayla feels this is a chance she can’t pass up, and we don’t want to stand in her way.”

Paris continued, “Even though we will be watching and cheering for Kayla from the Supersport sidelines, the WagBar MP13 Racing Team will be back to business as usual at New Jersey Motorsports Park. We will field our Yamaha YZF-R3 in Junior Cup and our YZF-R7 in the REV’IT! Twins Cup. As always, we aim to be fighting at the front. The team will announce a replacement rider for the final round soon.”

The WagBar MP13 Racing Team would like to thank all of its partners for their support throughout the 2023 season: WagBar, Great Lakes Supply, CSU One Cure, Yamaha, bLU cRU, Spears Enterprises, Beringer, Yoshimura, Capit, Ohlins, GHD Designs, Vortex, Attack Performance, SBS Brakes, Maxima, Dunlop, and J4rce.

ASRA: Birch Racing Wins Team Challenge At NJMP

David Swarts

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September 5, 2023

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ASRA: Birch Racing Wins Team Challenge At NJMP

Birch Racing’s DJ Birch and Joe LiMandri took the overall and GTU class wins in the two-hour, 75-lap ASRA Team Challenge endurance race September 2 at New Jersey Motorsports Park, in Millville, New Jersey.

Off The Couch Racing’s Mark Heckles and Ricky O’Hare finished second overall and first in the GTO division, and third place overall and second place in GTO went to Nice Guys Racing’s Nikolay Zakharyan and Munis Saiyed.

Race Results:

GTO

1. Off The Couch Racing

2. Clark Racing

3. Roll off the Couch +Washed Up.

GTU

1. Birch Racing

2. Nice Guys Racing

3. Hazardous Racing

4. Coleman Powersports

5. Andrew Clark

GTL

1. Paddy Wagon

2. Unicorn Racing

3. Rodio Racing

4. J Crossman Racing

5. AM57 Racing

6. RFR

WorldSBK: Bulega Moving Up To Superbike With Aruba.it Racing Ducati

David Swarts

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September 5, 2023

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WorldSBK: Bulega Moving Up To Superbike With Aruba.it Racing Ducati

Nicolò Bulega aboard the Ducati Panigale V4R of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team in the 2024 WorldSBK season

Aruba.it Racing – Ducati is pleased to announce the agreement with Nicolò Bulega: the current Supersport World Championship leader (9 wins and 13 podiums in the season so far) will defend the colors of the official Team in the 2024 WorldSBK season aboard the Ducati Panigale V4R.

At the same time, the Team would like to thank Michael Ruben Rinaldi for what they have done together in these years: from the SuperStock 1000 championship win achieved in 2017, to the successes (3 victories and 16 podiums total) obtained with Aruba.it Racing – Ducati in WorldSBK, with the certainty of celebrating other podiums in the next rounds of the current championship.

Stefano Cecconi (Team Principal Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)

“Nicolò is a choice that makes us proud because it confirms the quality of the project we undertook two years ago in the SuperSport World Championship. His growth has been steady and we expect him to continue on this path riding a Panigale V4R, as he has proven he can be very fast with this bike during testing. From the beginning, we have believed in the talent of Nicolò who, moreover, in this year and a half has shown great professionalism and attachment to the colors of the Team. I would also like to address a big thank you to Michael Ruben Rinaldi with whom the professional and human relationship has always been very strong. Even if our paths separate he will always be part of our family. Good luck Michael!”

Luigi Dall’Igna (Ducati Corse General Manager).

“We are pleased to welcome Nicolò Bulega to the official Superbike team. Since last season, Nicolò has been able to give us immense delight. He is a very talented rider, and his experience (despite his young age) could be a determining factor in facing this fascinating and demanding challenge. During the test held with the Ducati Panigale V4R machine, he has shown that he has the potential to compete with the best riders in the WorldSBK Championship, and sharing the garage with Alvaro Bautista will only help him grow. However, it will be important for him to stay focused on his WorldSSP season. The Aruba.it Racing team had the merit last year to think about Bulega and involve him in a completely new project that Ducati cares so much about. We hope he can wrap up his last season in Supersport in the best possible way”.

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WSSP #11)

“I want to be honest: this is a dream coming true. Racing for an official team is the desire of every rider. Therefore, before I talk about my emotions and expectations, I want to thank Ducati and Aruba.it Racing. And I am also extremely grateful for the opportunity I was given already last season by Aruba.it and Feel Racing and especially by Stefano Cecconi, Serafino Foti and Daniele Casolari. They chose me to ride a fantastic Ducati Panigale V2, on which I felt immediately comfortable. I know how important this opportunity is and I will always give my best to improve myself, day after day, with the only goal of getting the best possible results. I say it again: thank you for the trust. Thinking about the history of this Team, where great champions have always raced, I feel proud to be able to defend the same colors. Also, I am very happy to be able to share the box with Alvaro Bautista. Having him as a teammate will be a big plus: I will try to absorb every information I can learn from him.”

Nicolò Bulega was born in Montecchio Emilia on October 16, 1999, and began racing in 2007 in the Italian Minibike Championship. In 2011 he was the Italian and European MiniGP Junior 50 champion, in the following season, he became the Italian PreGP 125 champion, while in 2013 he won the PreGP 250 category championship. In 2014 he took part to the Spanish championship (CEV), Moto3 category, finishing the season in sixth place; the same year he also participated in several CIV Moto3 races. In the 2015 CEV season, he got three third places, three-second places, and a victory, conquering the title in the last race in Valencia. His debut in the Moto3 class of MotoGP came in 2015, in the Grand Prix of the Valencian Community with the SKY Racing Team VR46: it is with this team that he will conquer the first podium in 2016, at the end of the Japanese Grand Prix. From the 2019 season, Bulega participated in the Moto2 championship obtaining as best result seventh place in the Czech Republic Grand Prix. In the 2022 season, the moved to the World Supersport Championship with the Aruba.it Racing team and the Ducati Panigale V2 with which he achieved 9 podiums finishing fourth in the standings.

Video: Gas On Bike Up With Eric Wood: Less Crashing, Better Braking

David Swarts

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September 4, 2023

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Video: Gas On Bike Up With Eric Wood: Less Crashing, Better Braking

Two motorcycle riding techniques to save crashes and drop lap times

Riding How To’s

This video covers two techniques that any rider can use to improve both your traction and confidence on corner entry. @gasonbikeup-motorcycles produces videos to show how the same techniques that are used by MotoGP and World Superbike riders can translate to all riders, track or street. If you’re interested in road racing, track days, or simply how to get the most out of your sport bike this video is for you! You’ll learn from Eric Wood, the head coach for the oldest motorcycle track training school in the United States. In this video, we discuss a common problem that affects both top racers and street riders when they need to stop the bike as quickly as they can. The solutions to better braking may surprise you!

Timecodes

0:00 Introduction

1:10 Foundations to getting a motorcycle deep into a corner

1:35 The most common mistake motorcycle riders make on the brakes

2:19 The first 5% of braking – your key to better entrances

2:38 How different corner entrances affect your brake application

5:14 Your weight is transferred, now ramp braking to full pressure

5:44 Balancing time to full pressure with stability – brakes zones are often short

6:43 The transition from throttle to brakes – a front fork’s view

8:36 Understanding how suspension action matters in braking

9:04 How physics comes into play with motorcycle braking

11:15 Secret #1 to mastering the brakes on a motorcycle

11:45 Secret #2 to mastering brakes and corner entry on a motorcycle

12:59 Demonstrating the technique for rolling off the throttle

13:30 Two places to apply GasonBikeUp techniques on the racetrack

14:51 Wrap up

Please subscribe and leave us comments – we’d love to hear what you like about this video and what else you’d like to see!

Have feedback or suggestions? We’d love to hear from you! Check out our website at https://gasonbikeup.com or email us at [email protected].

Our partner companies:

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@PenguinRacingSchool1 @woodcrafttechnologies8836

#motorcycleriding #motorcycleracing #motorcycletraining

MotoGP: World Championship Goes Back-To-Back With Misano GP

September 6, 2023

Misano World Circuit - Marco Simoncelli. Photo courtesy Michelin.

Destination Misano: MotoGP™ saddles up for San Marino

Who can take the spoils as MotoGP™ touches down on the Adriatic?

Wednesday, 06 September 2023

As the dust settles after the Catalan GP, there is a LOT to talk about. And first, it has to be reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) after that huge highside out the lead, from which he escaped with no fractures and relatively unscathed. Still, the #1 has to be passed fit to race at Misano, so it’ll be an important Thursday check for the Ducati rider.

If he is able to race – and he appeared adamant even before he left Barcelona that he was going to try – we can expect him to be fast. But as fast? The home crowd will be cheering him on but it could be a tougher weekend, and that could leave the door to the win ajar at the very least.

HOME GLORY

There are a few out for some home glory. But first, let’s talk about Aprilia. It’s not a home race for the riders – they just took a historic 1-2 in that – but it is for the Noale factory, and there’s no better way to arrive than that. It was just 0.377 between the two, too, so a close contest. Could Misano be a re-run? Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) will be full of confidence, and teammate Maverick Viñales has won at the venue. That was on a different machine, but he is also the rider with Aprilia’s only podium at the venue so far…

Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) also had some great pace in Barcelona on the 2022 RS-GP – the very bike that took that podium with Viñales – and arrives fresh from a first front row with Aprilia and another top five. What can he do? And can teammate Raul Fernandez turn flashes of speed into a sustained attack?

Meanwhile, at Mooney VR46, it’s a home race three times over: for the riders, for the team, and for their machinery. For Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) it wasn’t an ideal precursor at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya though, as he wasn’t quite at the front before that Turn 1 incident then more than compounded a tougher weekend. He finished with some points but rode through the pain barrier. Teammate Luca Marini, meanwhile, didn’t make it out of Q1 after a weekend out of sorts compared to his form so far in 2023. He beat ‘Bez’ by just over a tenth, but both want to be fighting for much more at Misano. Marini also came fourth last year.

At Gresini Racing MotoGP™ it’s another home race for the team and machinery, and for Fabio Di Giannantonio, who’ll be looking to consolidate some of his speed from Barcelona. Alex Marquez, meanwhile, will want to see the last Grand Prix as more of a blip after a tougher – by his 2023 standards – finish. Can he fight for some home glory for the team?

Home glory for the team is also on the cards for Prima Pramac racing, and after an Austrian Grand Prix to forget, the Jorge Martin – Johann Zarco combo came out swinging in the Catalan GP. They took third and fourth. Good for Zarco, and even better for Martin as he made a 16-point gain after the early race drama. Now it’s enemy territory in terms of his biggest title rivals – VR46 Academy local heroes Pecco and Bezzecchi – so can he make the weekend for Pramac but spoil the party for those key contenders?

One thing we do know is that Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) will sit it out. With a stunning record at Misano, that could prove a reprieve for his rivals as he recovers from that Turn 1 incident, his part in which also earned him a penalty to be served on his return. Michele Pirro won’t be stepping in though as he is on wildcard duty with the Aruba.it squad once again, so it’s a one-bike Ducati Lenovo entry heading in.

Franco Morbidelli, meanwhile, is another home hero and VR46 academy alumnus. He’ll want a lot more from Misano than he got at Catalunya, as he scored points – the other rider, along with Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3), to have done that in every GP so far this year – but came home a way off teammate Fabio Quartararo. Morbidelli was further off his teammate than Quartararo was off the victory. Can he find more as his races with Yamaha start to tick down?

LOOKING TO SPOIL THE PARTY

There were some positives to be found for the aforementioned Quartararo in Barcelona. The Frenchman won at the venue last year and this time around seventh may not sound like much, but he was just on the heels of Alex Marquez and pipped Miller to the flag. Misano is another venue that should suit the machinery, so as Quartararo awaits an important test for the Iwata marque on Monday, could it be a more positive weekend again?

KTM will be an interesting watch at Misano. And where could Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) have finished the Catalan GP? After that early contact with Bagnaia left his machine forced to pull out on the restart, we can’t know. But we do know he’ll be looking to fight back at Misano. Teammate Jack Miller had a much better finish than Austria too, so that was a positive, AND the factory squad will be joined by Dani Pedrosa in another wildcard appearance for the Little Samurai. Jerez was a stunner, so can he make life hard for the Austrian factory’s rivals again at Misano?

Meanwhile, Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) wants more after a damp squib end to the Catalan GP, but Augusto Fernandez took more points and remains one of only two riders to have scored in every GP race this season. It was a top ten too, overhauling Diggia.

At Honda, there were some more points for Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) on home turf in Barcelona. Now, we’re heading into one of the most partisan crowds of the season, and not in his favour, but the venue where Marquez took that most recent win at the Emilia-Romagna GP in 2021. Can we expect another step forward? And as the rumour mill keeps swirling around his future, what will we see unveiled at a crucial Misano test as MM93 looks for Honda to bring something to make a real difference?

Teammate Joan Mir needs that too, after a very tough weekend in Barcelona. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) will have a compatriot in the garage too as Takumi Takahashi subs for Alex Rins, with Iker Lecuona back on WorldSBK duty at Magny-Cours. Finally, Honda also have a wildcard for Stefan Bradl. As that test arrives on the horizon, it makes sense that the now-veteran German would be out on track for the Grand Prix – and his feedback could be key.

With so many fast faces, enough narratives to fill a decade and another Tissot Sprint and Grand Prix race just around the corner, tune in for a pivotal race weekend at the stunning Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli!

SHOWTIME FOR SAN MARINO

The Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini has MotoGP™ last on the menu:

Tissot Sprint: Saturday 15:00 (GMT +2)

Grand Prix Race: Sunday 14:00 (GMT +2)

Moto2: Sean Dylan Kelly Tests – And May Race – With Forward Racing (Updated)

September 5, 2023

American Sean Dylan Kelly rode for Forward Racing at the Moto2/Moto3 Pirelli test Monday, September 4 at Catalunya. Photo courtesy Forward Racing.