American Moto2 World Championship rider Sean Dylan Kelly, also known as “SDK,” has split with American Racing Team.
After winning the 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship, then-19-year-old Kelly signed a two-year contract to race with American Racing Team in Moto2.
Kelly’s riding was hindered in 2022 by arm pump issues in his right arm, and during the off-season he had surgery to try to alleviate the symptoms. However, Kelly’s arm did not heal normally and excessive internal scarring brought the arm pump issues back almost immediately.
Sean Dylan Kelly (SDK) on the Moto2 grid at Mugello. Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
Kelly struggled through the first several rounds of the 2023 season and then decided to use the five-week mid-season break to have a second surgery to fix his arm. Kelly did this, but during his recovery American Racing Team decided to put former team rider Marcos Ramirez on Kelly’s bike.
On Thursday, August 31, Kelly posted the following statement to his Instagram account:
“Unfortunately, my time with the American Racing Team has come to an end. Obviously this is a huge disappointment for me, but by no means is this the end of my Moto2 World Championship ambitions. As most of you know, my arm pump came back due to abnormal scar tissue growth and I had surgery during the summer break. After respecting the recovery time, I felt and was 100% ready to come back after Silverstone, but I have to be honest and say that this is where the team and I have differing opinions. This is not an easy time but I look forward to confirming my plans for 2024 and sharing them with you all as soon as I can. In the meantime I will be working hard to ensure I’m ready for any opportunity that might present itself from now until the end of the year. I want to thank Eitan, Avner and John for all they’ve done for me these last few years and I wish them all well for the rest of the season.”
Ai Ogura topped Moto2 World Championship Practice One (P1) Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain. Riding his Idemitsu Honda Team Asia Kalex, the Japanese rider lapped the 2.9-mile (4.7 km) course in 1:44.804 to lead the field of 30 entries.
American Joe Roberts was fifth-fastest with a time of 1:44.961 on his Italtrans Racing Kalex.
Just 1.066 second covered the top 20 riders.
American Sean Dylan Kelly (SDK) and American Racing Team have parted ways, according to a social media post by the rider, and Marcos Ramirez is continuing in Kelly’s place.
Jaume Masia was quickest in Moto3 World Championship Practice One (P1) Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Leopard Racing Honda, the Spaniard covered the 2.9-mile (4.7 km) track in 1:48.300 to lead the field of 30 riders.
Mattia Casadei led FIM MotoE World Championship Practice One (P1) with a new All-Time Lap Record Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his HP Pons Los40 electrified Ducati, the Italian lapped the 2.9-mile (4.7 km) road course in 1:49.867, which smashed Fermin Aldeguer’s 2021 All-Time Lap Record of 1:50.399.
Former 250cc World Champion Sito Pons Joins Forces with CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team
The CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team is proud to announce the partnership with two-times 250cc World Champion, Sito Pons which will start in the 2024 season. The decision announced by RNF particularly aims to harness Sito’s four decades of MotoGP experience specifically leveraging on his expertise. This strategic alliance between two powerhouses represents an important progression within the team’s strategic business plan, contributing towards achieving a part of the team’s carefully designed future objectives.
Sito Pons, a name synonymous with triumph and tenacity, brings with him a legacy that speaks volumes. His illustrious journey, marked by winning the World Championship twice with Honda in 1988 and 1989, is a testament to his strong determination.
Notably, Pons’ achievements extend beyond the racetrack, earning him the prestigious Prince of Asturias Award for Sport in 1990. As the only motorcycle racer to hold this accolade, his contribution to the motorsport’s legacy is undeniable. Furthermore, his role as President of the International Road Racing Teams Association for over a decade, along with his representation of World Championship Racers on the International Motorcycling Federation, highlights his commitment to elevating the sport as a whole.
In this significant transition, Sito Pons, the mastermind behind one of the leading teams in the intermediate Moto2 category will begin a new chapter in MotoGP. His new role as Chief Revenue Officer with the CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team will leverage his experience of over 40 years in the MotoGP World Championship with the focus on growing the team.
Razlan Razali, Founder & Team Principal CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team
“We are thrilled to welcome Sito Pons to the RNF family. His extensive MotoGP experience, valuable insights and dedication align seamlessly with our vision of creating one of the best MotoGP teams. Together with Sito, our mission is to build a sustainable team and strive for strategic excellence with our partners.”
Sito Pons
“I’m excited to rejoin MotoGP, now as part of the CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team. In this new role, I’ll bring over 40 years of my MotoGP experience to the table – a decade as a rider and over three decades as a team principal in both MotoGP and Moto2. Working alongside Razlan and his team, we aim to enhance our portfolio by focusing on growing the value of the team. I love challenges and I’m very happy to be part of this new challenge.”
Ovidiu Toma, Co-founder and CEO of CryptoDATA Tech
“Sito Pons’ decision to join hands with CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team embodies our commitment to excellence and innovation. Together, we’ll find new ways to achieve great performance off-track.”
Bogdan Mărunțiș, Co-founder and Head of Global Strategy of CryptoDATA Tech
“Sito Pons brings a wealth of experience and strategic prowess that aligns with our growth trajectory. This partnership marks a significant step towards our vision of pushing boundaries in MotoGP. There’s much to achieve, and we look forward to the journey ahead.”
On September 8-10, MotoAmerica is holding its first standalone event at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), and it will be a very different experience for motorcycle road racing fans who have only attended the MotoGP event in Texas.
MotoAmerica has raced at COTA in the past, but it has always done so as part of MotoGP World Championship events. At those events, fan access has been limited and highly controlled. The MotoGP paddock area was closed to most fans, all seats in the grandstands were reserved, and parking usually involved long walks or shuttle rides.
Fans returning to COTA for the standalone MotoAmerica weekend to see the Medallia Superbike, Supersport, Mission King Of The Baggers, Steel Commander Stock 1000, and Mission Super Hooligan races are in for some pleasant surprises.
Let’s start with tickets. A General Admission (GA) ticket allows fans first-come, first-served access to any seat in the grandstands along the front straightaway, in Turn One, and at Turn 15, which offers views from Turn 12 at the end of the back straightaway through Turn 16.
Kids 12 years and younger are free with a paying adult, and significant discounts are available for military veterans.
Big-screen video screens will provide video feeds in these grandstand areas whenever MotoAmerica Live+ is broadcasting, which is most of the weekend.
Paddock access, including access to the free carnival games and rides, the Kids Zone, stunt shows, and music in the paddock, is included with every ticket. And fan shuttles will be running from the parking and grandstand areas to the paddock all weekend.
There will also be free demo rides offered by CFMOTO, Indian, Harley-Davidson, and Yamaha.
A GA ticket also gives fans access to the Dunlop Hot Pit Walk and Autograph Session with all the riders on hot pit lane mid-day on Sunday.
General admission parking involves a separate fee, but parking is located in Lot A, right behind the main grandstand on the front straightaway. Motorcycles, however, park for free in a dedicated motorcycle parking area.
For an elevated experience at different price points, there are also special Ducati Fan Experience, Dunlop ECSTAR Suzuki Two-Seat Superbike Experience, Harley-Davidson 120th Anniversary VIP, and VIP Hospitality ticket packages available.
The Cardo Parade Lap allows fans 16 and older to ride their own motorcycles on the racetrack for a separate fee.
Overnight and weekend-long camping is available in tents, RVs, and RVs with electrical hook-ups.
And COTA will be offering go-kart rentals, zipline rides, and access to its iconic 251-foot-tall observation tower for separate fees.
Multistrada: Twenty Years of Innovation and Emotion
Celebrating its twentieth anniversary, the model that reshaped Ducati’s history and paved the way for one of the most successful lineages from the Bologna-based motorcycle manufacturer reaches this significant milestone
The temporary exhibition “Multistrada 20th – Twenty Years of Evolutionary Exploration,” showcased within the Ducati Museum, captures technological accomplishments, adventures and emotions
The Multistrada will shine as a key figure in the Ducati World Première 2024 series, unfolding between September 19th and November 7th on the official Ducati website and social media platforms
Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), August 31, 2023 – The Multistrada, a name that encapsulates the spirit of a motorcycle destined to make an indelible mark in Ducati’s history like no other. Celebrating its twentieth year in 2023, this dynasty has been a beacon of innovation, performance, emotions, and adventures.
Born in 2003, the Multistrada emerged with the mission of providing Ducati enthusiasts with a versatile yet sporty motorcycle, capable of conquering any terrain with the utmost safety and solidity. The first version, the Multistrada 1000 DS, laid the foundation for a family that has continuously evolved through four generations, the latest ones powered by the V2 and V4 Granturismo engines.
Across its two-decade journey, the Multistrada has carried a legacy of groundbreaking innovations and technological advancements, reshaping the motorcycling industry’s benchmarks. It has stood as the perfect companion for adventure enthusiasts who relish exploring the world, immersing themselves in the landscape, and embracing the road, whether solo or with a passenger.
Among the pivotal innovations pioneered by the Multistrada, the 2010 model introduced Riding Modes, a feature now commonplace in high and mid-range motorcycles. The Multistrada V4, unveiled in 2020 as Ducati’s technological flagship, broke new ground by incorporating front and rear radar systems, marking the world’s first motorcycle with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Blind Spot Detection (BSD). These additions elevated both comfort and safety for riders. Additionally, the same model saw the integration of Phone Mirroring, turning the dashboard into a dynamic map navigator while retaining essential riding information.
The Multistrada V4 also set new standards for maintenance intervals, with valve clearance checks scheduled every 36,000 miles (60,000 km).
To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the model that changed the history of Ducati, a temporary exhibition titled “Multistrada 20th – Twenty Years of Evolutionary Exploration” has been curated within the Ducati Museum. This showcase allows enthusiasts to closely interact with two iconic models from the Multistrada lineage: the original Multistrada 1000 DS, embodying the founding vision, and the contemporary Multistrada V4 Rally, a testament to its journey of innovation over the past two decades.
Ducati is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Multistrada with a special “Multistrada 20th – Twenty Years of Evolutionary Exploration” exhibit at the Ducati Museum, in Italy. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Complementing the exhibition is a short documentary that showcases the journey and evolution of this remarkable model, from its inception to the latest iterations.
The special exhibition “Multistrada 20th – Twenty Years of Evolutionary Exploration” will be accessible until early October, mirroring the Ducati Museum’s operating hours – open from Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with Wednesdays being the designated closure days.
The Multistrada will take center stage during the Ducati World Première 2024. Spanning six episodes, starting from September 19th through November 7th, this series of unveilings will introduce new Ducati models for the 2024 lineup every two weeks. Complete details for visiting and booking are available under the Borgo Panigale Experience section on Ducati.com.
For an in-depth exploration of the Multistrada’s history, visit the Multistrada Dynasty article on the Ducati website. Additional information on the Multistrada family can be found on the dedicated page of the Ducati website, as well as on the @ducatimultistradav4 Instagram profile.
American Racing is thrilled to announce Joe Roberts’ return to the team for 2024.
Having produced his most successful Moto2 season to date with American Racing where he took three pole positions and one podium as well as seventh in the championship, both Joe and the team are eager to rekindle their partnership.
The American makes his return to the team after three seasons with Italtrans which saw him take a dramatic first Grand Prix victory in rainy Portugal.
Eitan Butbul – Team Co-Owner
I’m very, very excited to have Joe back with American Racing for the 2024 season.
Our journey started together in 2019 when we first acquired the team and then continued to 2020, where Joe had a great year resulting in the best season the team has had to date. We both feel that we have unfinished business and it’s time to get together and fight for the 2024 championship!
I know that Joe is in the best shape of his career, and it feels great to see him coming back home to the team. With this combination, we believe we can make America great again!
Joe Roberts – Rider #16
I’m excited to be back with American Racing. We had a great season together in 2020 and feel we can bring that magic back again next season so I’m looking forward to continuing what Eitan, John, Avner, and I started.
SSR Motorsports’ founder William Li has announced that Greg Blackwell has been hired as the company’s new vice president of sales and marketing. Blackwell has over 30 years of experience in the powersports industry, including positions with Hisun Motors USA, KTM North America, LeMans Corp./Parts Unlimited and Metzeler Motorcycle Tire North America.
“Greg brings exceptional knowledge and powersports experience to this important leadership role based on his strong dealer and interpersonal relationships, and the fact that he is, at his core, a true powersports enthusiast,” said Li. “With his experience, he’ll hit the ground running and have an immediate impact.”
SSR’s founder William Li (left) and new Vice President Greg Blackwell (right). Photo courtesy SSR Motorsports.
SSR values its partnerships with its national dealer network, and Blackwell has invested countless hours and miles, visiting dealers in nearly all 50 states. Blackwell’s passion for nurturing mutually beneficial relationships with the dealer network is key to supporting the growth of SSR dealers and the company’s family of consumers.
Blackwell will be responsible for leading the national team of district sales managers and marketing staff. Support of the current dealer network will be complemented with new dealer appointments in open markets. SSR has boosted its marketing efforts with the production of numerous advertisements on both wholesale and retail levels promoting the SSR motorcycles, QJ motorcycles, and SSR’s Bison UTVs.
SSR is committed to its mission statement:
“Provide quality powersports products at an affordable price with premier customer service.”
SSR Motorsports was established in 2002 to import and distribute powersports products in the United States. We provide products that are fun to ride, with cutting-edge design, superior engineering and well-managed quality control. We believe every enthusiast should be able to afford a brand-new powersport product that is backed by a manufacturer warranty, comprehensive dealer network, premier customer service and a West Coast distribution center stocked with readily available replacement parts. For more information, go to: http://www.ssrmotorsports.com/
More, from another press release issued by SSR Motorsports.
SSR MOTORSPORTS CHOSEN AS U.S. DISTRIBUTOR FOR QJMOTOR
SANTA FE SPRINGS, CA (August 30, 2023)
SSR Motorsports has taken on the role of distributor for QJMotor products in the United States. Zhejiang Qianjiang Motorcycle Co., Ltd. (QJMotor) — the parent company of Benelli Motorcycles — is a global leader in motorcycle design, engineering and manufacturing that produces a comprehensive line of street models. QJ models, which have been available in the U.S. since the spring, complement SSR’s popular line of on-road motorcycles, off-road motorcycles and SXS’s.
“QJMotor has models that are right for the U.S. market and hit some key price points and model segments” says Greg Blackwell, SSR’s vice president of sales and marketing.
The initial QJ lineup features 11 models, from the SRF135 street mini to the mighty SRT750X adventure bike.
“Dealers are signing up with SSR to sell QJ because we can supply dealer demand; we have the inventory ready to ship,” Blackwell said. “We’ll also help the dealers promote QJ in their own market.
“QJ models look great and perform even better.”
SSR is adding new QJ dealerships each week as the network — and product offerings — grow.
Along with its well-known off-road and on-road models, SSR is embracing QJ’s international marketing strategy by focusing on the QJMOTOR brand while still selling Benelli models, with special pricing available.
True to the SSR way, current Benelli riders can count on us for any necessary warranty work, and we continue to stock replacement parts through our national network of SSR dealers.
Watch for announcements about SSR’s many models — whether for fun or mobility — including off-highway, street and EV motorcycles, Bison (SxS) utility and recreational vehicles and pedal-assist EV bicycles.
We are committed to providing our dealers with the highest-quality products at a competitive price, as well as premier customer service.
After missing the first day of action, six-time Champion Jonathan Rea stormed to the top of the timesheets by less than a tenth
The final day of MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship testing concluded at MotorLand Aragon with Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) topping the times despite missing the first day. The #65 tested only on Wednesday but he was straight up to speed as he joined Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), who topped the morning session, in going under the existing race lap record.
SPLIT PROGRAMME FOR KAWASAKI: one eye on the present, one on the future
Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK’s race riders, Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes, only rode for one day at Aragon but they made use of it with Rea leading Lowes in a 1-3 in the afternoon session, and a 1-5 overall. The pair had a split programme for their sole test day with the #22 focusing on future developments and the 2024 season, while Rea was looking at the present as he looked to prepare best for the final four rounds of 2023. Rea was fastest in the afternoon as he set a 1’49.101s, which was good enough for top spot overall as he went under the race lap record, while Lowes posted a 1’49.791s for fifth. Lowes was the busiest rider on track, completing 130 laps; including 82 in the afternoon alone.
EVENLY MATCHED: Petrucci, Bautista set same lap time as Ducati try new items
Petrucci used the SCQ tyre to set his best time of 1’49.168s to finish the morning session on top, and joint second overall. The #9 spent the afternoon doing some comparison work between brake disks as he looked to find time in this part of the cornering phase to maximise his lap time. The WorldSBK rookie also had some electronic setups to try with engine braking as well as small adjustments to the triple clamp. In total, he completed 47 laps after ending his testing programme early on Wednesday.
At the factory team, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) got his hands on a new front fork that’s been designed with 2024 in mind, while the #1 also worked on some setup ideas they have in mind if the feeling improved compared to yesterday. He finished the day with the exact same lap time as Petrucci, a 1’49.168s, as he added 97 laps to his total. However, at the very end of the day, Bautista crashed at Turn 14. Teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi finished the day in seventh with 72 laps under his belt.
HONDA’S RAPID PACE CONTINUES: Lecuona surges into the top four
Honda continued to have three riders on track at Aragon with Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) the fastest of the trio. He completed 58 laps, all in the morning as he opted not to go out in the afternoon and set a 1’49.466s to secure fourth overall, with teammate Xavi Vierge in sixth as he put another 87 laps in on Wednesday. Tetsuta Nagashima was also on track as part of the test team and rounded out the WorldSBK field but did add a valuable 80 laps to Honda’s test programme, with the Japanese rider improving his time, like the majority of the field, in the closing stages of the test.
VAN DER MARK ON TOP AT BMW: nothing to separate the quartet of BMW riders
Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) led the four BMW riders between eighth and 11th place. The Dutchman completed 79 laps as he continued gaining fitness following his return from injury while he also tried some new brake ducts. His best time, a 1’50.362s, put him two tenths clear of Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) in ninth with Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK) completing the top ten with a 1’50.655s. Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) lost a chunk of running time in the afternoon when he had a mechanical issue but was still able to add 73 laps to his tally and finish in 11th.
BULEGA ON TOP AGAIN: Championship leader fastest in WorldSSP
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) continued to be the faster of the two WorldSSP riders on track ahead of Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team). The #11’s best time of 1’53.941s was set in the morning session and he racked up 37 laps while Mackenzie lapped around three seconds slower. He completed 31 laps on day two.
Full results from day two at Aragon:
1. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1’49.101s, 68 laps
2. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’49.168, 97 laps
3. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 1’49.168, 47 laps
4. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) 1’49.466s, 58 laps
5. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1’49.791, 130 laps
6. Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) 1’49.984, 87 laps
7. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’50.094, 72 laps
8. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’50.362, 79 laps
9. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) 1’50.557, 83 laps
10. Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’50.655, 81 laps
11. Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) 1’50.935, 73 laps
12. Tetsuta Nagashima (Team HRC) 1’51.026, 80 laps
More, from a press release issued by Team HRC:
Team HRC returns to work with testing at Aragón
Just over a week before the 2023 Superbike World Championship resumes at the Magny-Cours circuit in France, Team HRC has been busy testing at Motorland Aragón in Spain with factory riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge.
Although there has been no Superbike racing for a month, Vierge and Lecuona have had little time to rest, with Xavi competing in – and winning – the Suzuka 8 Hours as part of a three-rider team, and Iker taking part in both the British, Austrian and, this coming weekend, the Catalan MotoGP rounds as a substitute rider. Focused on the final WorldSBK rounds, Team HRC has made good use of this week’s track time in Spain, working hard to prepare its factory CBR1000RR-R for the upcoming events, which include a round at Aragón itself on 22-24 September.
Despite some strong winds affecting the session, the generally hot and sunny conditions allowed team and riders to complete a good part of the planned work. Having already tested at Motorland earlier in the year, both Iker and Xavi feel confident in their preparations for the races at this particular track and are also pleased with what has been achieved with a view to the remaining 2023 championship rounds.
Team HRC will be back on track for round nine of the WorldSBK championship, set to take place at Magny-Cours, France, over the weekend of 8-10 September.
Iker Lecuona (7). Photo courtesy Team HRC.
Iker Lecuona 7
“It felt good to get back on my CBR after one month and two stints in MotoGP, and I’m very pleased that I was immediately fast after just a couple of laps, re-adapting my riding style to the Superbike quite quickly. The MotoGP feeling is definitely different of course, but useful as well, because I feel that I changed something in my style over the last couple of weeks that might also help me in SBK. In the end, every racing experience helps and allows you to keep learning and improving as a rider. As for this test, we consider it a very good session and we worked a lot even if conditions were difficult due to the wind. That prevented us from testing several things because it would have been hard to get a real feel for them with those gusts of wind. So, we mainly worked on the setup of the bike and on my riding position. We changed a few details here and there and made a step forward, I think. On day two, with less wind, we tested those modifications again in the morning and they again worked well, so that’s positive. A few new items also helped us to improve a little but when the wind picked up again after lunch on day 2, we decided to finish earlier. We nevertheless leave here in a good mood.”
Xavi Vierge (97). Photo courtesy Team HRC.
Xavi Vierge 97
“I’m happy to be back riding my bike after the summer break, a short summer break in our case! The test has been good except for the weather conditions, which were tricky in terms of the wind. On the first morning the track was also a bit dirty, so we weren’t able to test so many new things. I mainly focused on myself and on making some adjustments to the bike setup for this track, which is one I struggled at last time I was here. It also took me some time to regain my feeling with the tyres on the back of my experience at Suzuka. So, the test has allowed me to gradually rebuild my confidence. We’ve focused on acceleration, one of our weak points, as this track is good for that kind of test because the grip is not the best. We gathered a great deal of information for the engineers to analyse and are ready for the second part of the season, when we will visit tracks that I think suit us better, so we’ll try to exploit that factor.”
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki Racing Team:
Motorland Test Wrapped Up For KRT
Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes took part in one day of testing at Motorland Aragon in Spain, alongside many of their WorldSBK rivals, on Wednesday 30 August 2023. Rea was the fastest overall and Lowes fifth quickest.
Due to restrictions on the number of testing days each rider can use over a season, Rea and Alex only rode in the second and final day of the Motorland Aragon private tests. The team itself worked on both days, however, as regular test rider Florian Marino and full-time Kawasaki WorldSSP rider for the MTM squad, Adrian Huertas, took part in the first day of testing in Tuesday 29 August.
With just one day on track for Alex and Jonathan it was important to keep to their pre-test plans and schedules, as well as getting up to racing speed after a long summer break that began after the Autodrom Most round at the end of July. The WorldSBK race season restarts relatively soon and there will also be a round at Motorland Aragon itself, near the end of September.
While Rea mostly worked on overall set-up and performance items, Lowes concentrated on some potential new items for next season after Marino had first evaluated them on the opening day. Rea set a best lap of 1’49.101 and Lowes a 1’49.791.
Warm but not fiercely hot track conditions provided a good opportunity for all the riders to make consistent evaluations of their machine set-ups. As this was not an official race weekend the riders were able to have more than one machine in their pit boxes, which helped speed up the process of back-to-back set-up comparisons.
Adrian Huertas rode at Motorland as recognition of his recent performances in WorldSSP and winning the WorldSSP3000 championship on a Kawasaki in 2021. The 20-year-old Spaniard set some strong lap times in his first test on an official KRT Superbike machine. He set a personal best of 1’51.044s, which placed him sixth overall on day one – the only day he was on track on the official Ninja ZX-10RR. Adrian rode for 79 laps in all.
Florian Marino, the team’s regular test rider, continued his valuable on-track development role, setting a personal best lap time of 1’51.689 in the process.
Next up for Rea and Lowes will be the ninth round of the championship itself, to be held at Magny Cours in France between 8 – 10 September.
Jonathan Rea (65). Photo courtesy Kawasaki Racing Team.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “It has been a positive day and I really enjoyed riding the bike again, especially after a long time away. I was surprised how fast I was able to be on the first lap, already inside the 1’50 bracket. That set the tone for the rest of the test as we were able to try some things that we will see for sure in the Motorland Round; some fine tuning. More or less this day was geared towards a performance test, trying to understand our potential. We have been consistently fast with race tyres and also at the end we tried a qualifying tyre. We were quite competitive with our lap times today, both on race rubber and qualifying rubber. I leave the test with optimism that we can have a really positive weekend in Magny Cours. Thanks to the team for all the effort to get here during the summer and it will set us at a good rhythm for the rest of the year.”
Alex Lowes (22). Photo courtesy Kawasaki Racing Team.
Alex Lowes, stated: “It is really nice to be back on the Ninja ZX-10RR after the summer break. I had a lot on my test schedule. I actually had three bikes in the morning, trying different set ups and a few things for 2024. Some were quite positive and some not so positive – which is completely normal when we are testing new items. It is more mentally tiring than physically tiring, because you are really trying to think about the good points and the bad points. You want to make the right decisions now, so that it can help us next year. I did 91 laps today, which is a decent amount to get me back into the swing of things before Magny Cours. I did a little bit of a run at the end of the test on my 2023 base bike that I will be riding next week at Magny Cours just to get back into the swing of that.”
Pere Riba, Crew Chief for Jonathan Rea, stated: “The plan in this test with Johnny was to find the base set-up we will use for race weekend, which is only a couple of weeks away. We worked calmly and made two different bike set-ups to understand which one to use. We evaluated the differences and we found one direction for the best set-up. This is the job we wanted to do. We also tried a few small new items and collected information about them. In the end Johnny made the fastest lap time which gives us good confidence. We are ready for the races.”
Marcel Duinker, Crew Chief for Alex Lowes, stated: “The test was all in favour of next season. We have worked hard over the last couple of months to prepare for this test and we brought some upgrades on the bike. On the first day with Florian we had a shakedown of every single bit. Step-by-step with this new material we improved the bike. Florian was really in the mix and as a test rider he was in between the WorldSBK riders, so this was very pleasing. With Alex we followed more or less the same test plan on day two. A few items we had on the first day list we took off, as with Alex the plan was to make more laps on every single bit to understand not only the initial performance but also the performance over a longer distance. We are pleased with the results and we gathered a lot of information. We have two months before we enter the winter tests so we can make some changes here and there to these upgraded materials, but we are happy with the results of this test and things worked out as we expected. Next week we will be heading to Magny Cours and we are looking forward to it.”
Adrian Huertas. Photo courtesy Kawasaki Racing Team.
Adrian Huertas, stated: “This is a much more powerful bike than the one I am used to riding. It is an awesome bike, an incredible experience and I enjoyed it a lot. It has a lot of power which felt really, really good. That is good for me. It was very different to ride a Superbike but I worked together with the team and they taught me how to improve a little bit. I have also taken some good experience to help me on the 600. I think this will be very helpful and this is like an extra motivation now. I think when I arrive in Magny Cours for WorldSSP I can fight for the victory. I want to thank all the team for this opportunity.”
More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:
The summer break came to an end at the Morland circuit in Aragon, where Alvaro Bautista and Michael Rinaldi underwent two days of testing ahead of the final phase of the season, scheduled for next week at Magny-Cours (France).
After the first day with sub-optimal track conditions and the tricky wind that prevented the riders from getting the best out of the session, both Alvaro Bautista and Michael Rinaldi were able to ride more consistently today.
Bautista completed 91 laps to close with the second fastest time (1’49.169), 67 thousandths behind Rea (Kawasaki), while Rinaldi (72 laps completed) posted a time of 1’50.094 to finish fifth.
Alvaro Bautista (1). Photo courtesy Aruba.it Racing Ducati.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing #Ducati 1)
“Today the feeling with the bike was definitely better than on the first day, also because the wind was much lower. We did a good job trying new solutions on the front end to improve the bike, especially in braking areas. We gathered some important data, even though maybe our expectations were higher, but it’s clear that the non-optimal track conditions combined with the wind didn’t allow us to express ourselves at our best. Anyway, I am very satisfied with the work we did with the team.
Michael Rinaldi (21). Photo courtesy Aruba.it Racing Ducati.
Michael Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #21)
“We did a good job even though the conditions were quite complicated on the first day of testing. I think, however, that we collected data that can be very useful not only for the Aragon Round but also for the end of the season. We focused on the set-up work rather than the fast lap. I am looking forward to Magny-Cours.” WorldSSP
Intense work also for Nicolò Bulega and the Panigale V2 of the Aruba.it Racing team: the rider closes the two days at Aragon with the best time of 1’53.941
Nicolo Bulega (11). Photo courtesy Aruba.it Racing Ducati.
Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WSSP #11)
“In terms of lap-times, I can’t express myself because we didn’t have many references being only two WorldSSP riders riding together with the other WorldSBK riders. Maybe I was expecting something more but we also have to consider that the track conditions were not the best. Anyway, we worked hard to improve for the next rounds and that is what matters.”
More, from a press release issued by PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team:
WorldSSP – Testing at Aragón concludes for the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team
Tarran Mackenzie (95). Photo courtesy PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team.
The PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team and its Supersport rider Tarran Mackenzie have completed a two-day test at the Motorland Aragón circuit in Spain with positive results.
Having had time to rest and recharge since the successful eight WorldSSP round in the Czech Republic, and the positive Suzuka 8H experience, the British rider were eager to get back to work this week in preparation for the final events of the 2023 season, participating in this week’s test alongside most of the factory Superbike teams and several privateers.
On track on both Tuesday and Wednesday, Mackenzie took the opportunity to familiarize himself with the Spanish track, considering that round ten will take place at Aragón over the weekend of 22-24 September. Over the two days, the Brit worked hard with his technicians to identify solutions for the CBR600RR that might be of use during the last four rounds of the 2023 Supersport season.
Having won the latest Supersport race at Most in challenging conditions, Tarran and his team are determined to get the very best out of their package, so as to be able to score some solid results also in dry conditions during what remains of this year’s championship.
Tarran Mackenzie
“This test at Aragón has gone well. We were able to test a new engine setup but although it brought some improvement, I think we hoped for a little more. We tried a few different things with the chassis setup too and made a good step there, albeit there’s some room for further improvement also there, I think. I always struggle a little going from riding the Superbike back to the Supersport so it’s been very good to have these two days to adapt back to the 600. Now we’ll head to Magny-Cours, another new one for me, where we can hopefully keep improving. I’m looking forward to it!”
American Moto2 World Championship rider Sean Dylan Kelly, also known as “SDK,” has split with American Racing Team.
After winning the 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship, then-19-year-old Kelly signed a two-year contract to race with American Racing Team in Moto2.
Kelly’s riding was hindered in 2022 by arm pump issues in his right arm, and during the off-season he had surgery to try to alleviate the symptoms. However, Kelly’s arm did not heal normally and excessive internal scarring brought the arm pump issues back almost immediately.
Sean Dylan Kelly (SDK) on the Moto2 grid at Mugello. Photo courtesy American Racing Team.
Kelly struggled through the first several rounds of the 2023 season and then decided to use the five-week mid-season break to have a second surgery to fix his arm. Kelly did this, but during his recovery American Racing Team decided to put former team rider Marcos Ramirez on Kelly’s bike.
On Thursday, August 31, Kelly posted the following statement to his Instagram account:
“Unfortunately, my time with the American Racing Team has come to an end. Obviously this is a huge disappointment for me, but by no means is this the end of my Moto2 World Championship ambitions. As most of you know, my arm pump came back due to abnormal scar tissue growth and I had surgery during the summer break. After respecting the recovery time, I felt and was 100% ready to come back after Silverstone, but I have to be honest and say that this is where the team and I have differing opinions. This is not an easy time but I look forward to confirming my plans for 2024 and sharing them with you all as soon as I can. In the meantime I will be working hard to ensure I’m ready for any opportunity that might present itself from now until the end of the year. I want to thank Eitan, Avner and John for all they’ve done for me these last few years and I wish them all well for the rest of the season.”
Joe Roberts (16). Photo courtesy Italtrans Racing.
Ai Ogura topped Moto2 World Championship Practice One (P1) Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain. Riding his Idemitsu Honda Team Asia Kalex, the Japanese rider lapped the 2.9-mile (4.7 km) course in 1:44.804 to lead the field of 30 entries.
American Joe Roberts was fifth-fastest with a time of 1:44.961 on his Italtrans Racing Kalex.
Just 1.066 second covered the top 20 riders.
American Sean Dylan Kelly (SDK) and American Racing Team have parted ways, according to a social media post by the rider, and Marcos Ramirez is continuing in Kelly’s place.
Jaume Masia was quickest in Moto3 World Championship Practice One (P1) Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Leopard Racing Honda, the Spaniard covered the 2.9-mile (4.7 km) track in 1:48.300 to lead the field of 30 riders.
Mattia Casadei led FIM MotoE World Championship Practice One (P1) with a new All-Time Lap Record Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his HP Pons Los40 electrified Ducati, the Italian lapped the 2.9-mile (4.7 km) road course in 1:49.867, which smashed Fermin Aldeguer’s 2021 All-Time Lap Record of 1:50.399.
(From left) Ovidiu Toma, Co-founder and CEO of CryptoDATA Tech; Sito Pons; Razlan Razali, Founder & Team Principal of CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team; Bogdan Mărunțiș, Co-founder and Head of Global Strategy of CryptoDATA Tech; and Wilco Zeelenberg, Team Manager CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team. Photo courtesy CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team.
Former 250cc World Champion Sito Pons Joins Forces with CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team
The CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team is proud to announce the partnership with two-times 250cc World Champion, Sito Pons which will start in the 2024 season. The decision announced by RNF particularly aims to harness Sito’s four decades of MotoGP experience specifically leveraging on his expertise. This strategic alliance between two powerhouses represents an important progression within the team’s strategic business plan, contributing towards achieving a part of the team’s carefully designed future objectives.
Sito Pons, a name synonymous with triumph and tenacity, brings with him a legacy that speaks volumes. His illustrious journey, marked by winning the World Championship twice with Honda in 1988 and 1989, is a testament to his strong determination.
Notably, Pons’ achievements extend beyond the racetrack, earning him the prestigious Prince of Asturias Award for Sport in 1990. As the only motorcycle racer to hold this accolade, his contribution to the motorsport’s legacy is undeniable. Furthermore, his role as President of the International Road Racing Teams Association for over a decade, along with his representation of World Championship Racers on the International Motorcycling Federation, highlights his commitment to elevating the sport as a whole.
In this significant transition, Sito Pons, the mastermind behind one of the leading teams in the intermediate Moto2 category will begin a new chapter in MotoGP. His new role as Chief Revenue Officer with the CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team will leverage his experience of over 40 years in the MotoGP World Championship with the focus on growing the team.
Razlan Razali, Founder & Team Principal CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team
“We are thrilled to welcome Sito Pons to the RNF family. His extensive MotoGP experience, valuable insights and dedication align seamlessly with our vision of creating one of the best MotoGP teams. Together with Sito, our mission is to build a sustainable team and strive for strategic excellence with our partners.”
Sito Pons
“I’m excited to rejoin MotoGP, now as part of the CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team. In this new role, I’ll bring over 40 years of my MotoGP experience to the table – a decade as a rider and over three decades as a team principal in both MotoGP and Moto2. Working alongside Razlan and his team, we aim to enhance our portfolio by focusing on growing the value of the team. I love challenges and I’m very happy to be part of this new challenge.”
Ovidiu Toma, Co-founder and CEO of CryptoDATA Tech
“Sito Pons’ decision to join hands with CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team embodies our commitment to excellence and innovation. Together, we’ll find new ways to achieve great performance off-track.”
Bogdan Mărunțiș, Co-founder and Head of Global Strategy of CryptoDATA Tech
“Sito Pons brings a wealth of experience and strategic prowess that aligns with our growth trajectory. This partnership marks a significant step towards our vision of pushing boundaries in MotoGP. There’s much to achieve, and we look forward to the journey ahead.”
Circuit of The Americas. Photo courtesy Circuit of The Americas.
On September 8-10, MotoAmerica is holding its first standalone event at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), and it will be a very different experience for motorcycle road racing fans who have only attended the MotoGP event in Texas.
MotoAmerica has raced at COTA in the past, but it has always done so as part of MotoGP World Championship events. At those events, fan access has been limited and highly controlled. The MotoGP paddock area was closed to most fans, all seats in the grandstands were reserved, and parking usually involved long walks or shuttle rides.
Fans returning to COTA for the standalone MotoAmerica weekend to see the Medallia Superbike, Supersport, Mission King Of The Baggers, Steel Commander Stock 1000, and Mission Super Hooligan races are in for some pleasant surprises.
Let’s start with tickets. A General Admission (GA) ticket allows fans first-come, first-served access to any seat in the grandstands along the front straightaway, in Turn One, and at Turn 15, which offers views from Turn 12 at the end of the back straightaway through Turn 16.
Kids 12 years and younger are free with a paying adult, and significant discounts are available for military veterans.
Big-screen video screens will provide video feeds in these grandstand areas whenever MotoAmerica Live+ is broadcasting, which is most of the weekend.
Paddock access, including access to the free carnival games and rides, the Kids Zone, stunt shows, and music in the paddock, is included with every ticket. And fan shuttles will be running from the parking and grandstand areas to the paddock all weekend.
There will also be free demo rides offered by CFMOTO, Indian, Harley-Davidson, and Yamaha.
A GA ticket also gives fans access to the Dunlop Hot Pit Walk and Autograph Session with all the riders on hot pit lane mid-day on Sunday.
General admission parking involves a separate fee, but parking is located in Lot A, right behind the main grandstand on the front straightaway. Motorcycles, however, park for free in a dedicated motorcycle parking area.
For an elevated experience at different price points, there are also special Ducati Fan Experience, Dunlop ECSTAR Suzuki Two-Seat Superbike Experience, Harley-Davidson 120th Anniversary VIP, and VIP Hospitality ticket packages available.
The Cardo Parade Lap allows fans 16 and older to ride their own motorcycles on the racetrack for a separate fee.
Overnight and weekend-long camping is available in tents, RVs, and RVs with electrical hook-ups.
And COTA will be offering go-kart rentals, zipline rides, and access to its iconic 251-foot-tall observation tower for separate fees.
Examples of the different Ducati Multistrada models with the current Multistrada V4 S in the foreground. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Multistrada: Twenty Years of Innovation and Emotion
Celebrating its twentieth anniversary, the model that reshaped Ducati’s history and paved the way for one of the most successful lineages from the Bologna-based motorcycle manufacturer reaches this significant milestone
The temporary exhibition “Multistrada 20th – Twenty Years of Evolutionary Exploration,” showcased within the Ducati Museum, captures technological accomplishments, adventures and emotions
The Multistrada will shine as a key figure in the Ducati World Première 2024 series, unfolding between September 19th and November 7th on the official Ducati website and social media platforms
Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), August 31, 2023 – The Multistrada, a name that encapsulates the spirit of a motorcycle destined to make an indelible mark in Ducati’s history like no other. Celebrating its twentieth year in 2023, this dynasty has been a beacon of innovation, performance, emotions, and adventures.
Born in 2003, the Multistrada emerged with the mission of providing Ducati enthusiasts with a versatile yet sporty motorcycle, capable of conquering any terrain with the utmost safety and solidity. The first version, the Multistrada 1000 DS, laid the foundation for a family that has continuously evolved through four generations, the latest ones powered by the V2 and V4 Granturismo engines.
Across its two-decade journey, the Multistrada has carried a legacy of groundbreaking innovations and technological advancements, reshaping the motorcycling industry’s benchmarks. It has stood as the perfect companion for adventure enthusiasts who relish exploring the world, immersing themselves in the landscape, and embracing the road, whether solo or with a passenger.
Among the pivotal innovations pioneered by the Multistrada, the 2010 model introduced Riding Modes, a feature now commonplace in high and mid-range motorcycles. The Multistrada V4, unveiled in 2020 as Ducati’s technological flagship, broke new ground by incorporating front and rear radar systems, marking the world’s first motorcycle with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Blind Spot Detection (BSD). These additions elevated both comfort and safety for riders. Additionally, the same model saw the integration of Phone Mirroring, turning the dashboard into a dynamic map navigator while retaining essential riding information.
The Multistrada V4 also set new standards for maintenance intervals, with valve clearance checks scheduled every 36,000 miles (60,000 km).
To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the model that changed the history of Ducati, a temporary exhibition titled “Multistrada 20th – Twenty Years of Evolutionary Exploration” has been curated within the Ducati Museum. This showcase allows enthusiasts to closely interact with two iconic models from the Multistrada lineage: the original Multistrada 1000 DS, embodying the founding vision, and the contemporary Multistrada V4 Rally, a testament to its journey of innovation over the past two decades.
Ducati is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Multistrada with a special “Multistrada 20th – Twenty Years of Evolutionary Exploration” exhibit at the Ducati Museum, in Italy. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Complementing the exhibition is a short documentary that showcases the journey and evolution of this remarkable model, from its inception to the latest iterations.
The special exhibition “Multistrada 20th – Twenty Years of Evolutionary Exploration” will be accessible until early October, mirroring the Ducati Museum’s operating hours – open from Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with Wednesdays being the designated closure days.
The Multistrada will take center stage during the Ducati World Première 2024. Spanning six episodes, starting from September 19th through November 7th, this series of unveilings will introduce new Ducati models for the 2024 lineup every two weeks. Complete details for visiting and booking are available under the Borgo Panigale Experience section on Ducati.com.
For an in-depth exploration of the Multistrada’s history, visit the Multistrada Dynasty article on the Ducati website. Additional information on the Multistrada family can be found on the dedicated page of the Ducati website, as well as on the @ducatimultistradav4 Instagram profile.
American Joe Roberts (16) in action during the 2020 Moto2 World Championship. Photo courtesy of American Racing Team.
American Racing is thrilled to announce Joe Roberts’ return to the team for 2024.
Having produced his most successful Moto2 season to date with American Racing where he took three pole positions and one podium as well as seventh in the championship, both Joe and the team are eager to rekindle their partnership.
The American makes his return to the team after three seasons with Italtrans which saw him take a dramatic first Grand Prix victory in rainy Portugal.
Eitan Butbul – Team Co-Owner
I’m very, very excited to have Joe back with American Racing for the 2024 season.
Our journey started together in 2019 when we first acquired the team and then continued to 2020, where Joe had a great year resulting in the best season the team has had to date. We both feel that we have unfinished business and it’s time to get together and fight for the 2024 championship!
I know that Joe is in the best shape of his career, and it feels great to see him coming back home to the team. With this combination, we believe we can make America great again!
Joe Roberts – Rider #16
I’m excited to be back with American Racing. We had a great season together in 2020 and feel we can bring that magic back again next season so I’m looking forward to continuing what Eitan, John, Avner, and I started.
A Benelli Leoncino at speed. Benelli is one of several brands distributed in the U.S. by SSR Motorsports. Photo courtesy SSR Motorsports. Motorcycles USA.
SSR IS POWERING UP WITH NEW VP!
SANTA FE SPRINGS, CA (August 30, 2023)
SSR Motorsports’ founder William Li has announced that Greg Blackwell has been hired as the company’s new vice president of sales and marketing. Blackwell has over 30 years of experience in the powersports industry, including positions with Hisun Motors USA, KTM North America, LeMans Corp./Parts Unlimited and Metzeler Motorcycle Tire North America.
“Greg brings exceptional knowledge and powersports experience to this important leadership role based on his strong dealer and interpersonal relationships, and the fact that he is, at his core, a true powersports enthusiast,” said Li. “With his experience, he’ll hit the ground running and have an immediate impact.”
SSR’s founder William Li (left) and new Vice President Greg Blackwell (right). Photo courtesy SSR Motorsports.
SSR values its partnerships with its national dealer network, and Blackwell has invested countless hours and miles, visiting dealers in nearly all 50 states. Blackwell’s passion for nurturing mutually beneficial relationships with the dealer network is key to supporting the growth of SSR dealers and the company’s family of consumers.
Blackwell will be responsible for leading the national team of district sales managers and marketing staff. Support of the current dealer network will be complemented with new dealer appointments in open markets. SSR has boosted its marketing efforts with the production of numerous advertisements on both wholesale and retail levels promoting the SSR motorcycles, QJ motorcycles, and SSR’s Bison UTVs.
SSR is committed to its mission statement:
“Provide quality powersports products at an affordable price with premier customer service.”
SSR Motorsports was established in 2002 to import and distribute powersports products in the United States. We provide products that are fun to ride, with cutting-edge design, superior engineering and well-managed quality control. We believe every enthusiast should be able to afford a brand-new powersport product that is backed by a manufacturer warranty, comprehensive dealer network, premier customer service and a West Coast distribution center stocked with readily available replacement parts. For more information, go to: http://www.ssrmotorsports.com/
More, from another press release issued by SSR Motorsports.
SSR MOTORSPORTS CHOSEN AS U.S. DISTRIBUTOR FOR QJMOTOR
SANTA FE SPRINGS, CA (August 30, 2023)
SSR Motorsports has taken on the role of distributor for QJMotor products in the United States. Zhejiang Qianjiang Motorcycle Co., Ltd. (QJMotor) — the parent company of Benelli Motorcycles — is a global leader in motorcycle design, engineering and manufacturing that produces a comprehensive line of street models. QJ models, which have been available in the U.S. since the spring, complement SSR’s popular line of on-road motorcycles, off-road motorcycles and SXS’s.
“QJMotor has models that are right for the U.S. market and hit some key price points and model segments” says Greg Blackwell, SSR’s vice president of sales and marketing.
The initial QJ lineup features 11 models, from the SRF135 street mini to the mighty SRT750X adventure bike.
“Dealers are signing up with SSR to sell QJ because we can supply dealer demand; we have the inventory ready to ship,” Blackwell said. “We’ll also help the dealers promote QJ in their own market.
“QJ models look great and perform even better.”
SSR is adding new QJ dealerships each week as the network — and product offerings — grow.
Along with its well-known off-road and on-road models, SSR is embracing QJ’s international marketing strategy by focusing on the QJMOTOR brand while still selling Benelli models, with special pricing available.
True to the SSR way, current Benelli riders can count on us for any necessary warranty work, and we continue to stock replacement parts through our national network of SSR dealers.
Watch for announcements about SSR’s many models — whether for fun or mobility — including off-highway, street and EV motorcycles, Bison (SxS) utility and recreational vehicles and pedal-assist EV bicycles.
We are committed to providing our dealers with the highest-quality products at a competitive price, as well as premier customer service.
Jonathan Rea (65). Photo courtesy Kawasaki Racing Team.
After missing the first day of action, six-time Champion Jonathan Rea stormed to the top of the timesheets by less than a tenth
The final day of MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship testing concluded at MotorLand Aragon with Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) topping the times despite missing the first day. The #65 tested only on Wednesday but he was straight up to speed as he joined Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), who topped the morning session, in going under the existing race lap record.
SPLIT PROGRAMME FOR KAWASAKI: one eye on the present, one on the future
Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK’s race riders, Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes, only rode for one day at Aragon but they made use of it with Rea leading Lowes in a 1-3 in the afternoon session, and a 1-5 overall. The pair had a split programme for their sole test day with the #22 focusing on future developments and the 2024 season, while Rea was looking at the present as he looked to prepare best for the final four rounds of 2023. Rea was fastest in the afternoon as he set a 1’49.101s, which was good enough for top spot overall as he went under the race lap record, while Lowes posted a 1’49.791s for fifth. Lowes was the busiest rider on track, completing 130 laps; including 82 in the afternoon alone.
EVENLY MATCHED: Petrucci, Bautista set same lap time as Ducati try new items
Petrucci used the SCQ tyre to set his best time of 1’49.168s to finish the morning session on top, and joint second overall. The #9 spent the afternoon doing some comparison work between brake disks as he looked to find time in this part of the cornering phase to maximise his lap time. The WorldSBK rookie also had some electronic setups to try with engine braking as well as small adjustments to the triple clamp. In total, he completed 47 laps after ending his testing programme early on Wednesday.
At the factory team, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) got his hands on a new front fork that’s been designed with 2024 in mind, while the #1 also worked on some setup ideas they have in mind if the feeling improved compared to yesterday. He finished the day with the exact same lap time as Petrucci, a 1’49.168s, as he added 97 laps to his total. However, at the very end of the day, Bautista crashed at Turn 14. Teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi finished the day in seventh with 72 laps under his belt.
HONDA’S RAPID PACE CONTINUES: Lecuona surges into the top four
Honda continued to have three riders on track at Aragon with Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) the fastest of the trio. He completed 58 laps, all in the morning as he opted not to go out in the afternoon and set a 1’49.466s to secure fourth overall, with teammate Xavi Vierge in sixth as he put another 87 laps in on Wednesday. Tetsuta Nagashima was also on track as part of the test team and rounded out the WorldSBK field but did add a valuable 80 laps to Honda’s test programme, with the Japanese rider improving his time, like the majority of the field, in the closing stages of the test.
VAN DER MARK ON TOP AT BMW: nothing to separate the quartet of BMW riders
Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) led the four BMW riders between eighth and 11th place. The Dutchman completed 79 laps as he continued gaining fitness following his return from injury while he also tried some new brake ducts. His best time, a 1’50.362s, put him two tenths clear of Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) in ninth with Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK) completing the top ten with a 1’50.655s. Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) lost a chunk of running time in the afternoon when he had a mechanical issue but was still able to add 73 laps to his tally and finish in 11th.
BULEGA ON TOP AGAIN: Championship leader fastest in WorldSSP
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) continued to be the faster of the two WorldSSP riders on track ahead of Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team). The #11’s best time of 1’53.941s was set in the morning session and he racked up 37 laps while Mackenzie lapped around three seconds slower. He completed 31 laps on day two.
Full results from day two at Aragon:
1. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1’49.101s, 68 laps
2. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’49.168, 97 laps
3. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 1’49.168, 47 laps
4. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) 1’49.466s, 58 laps
5. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1’49.791, 130 laps
6. Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) 1’49.984, 87 laps
7. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’50.094, 72 laps
8. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’50.362, 79 laps
9. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) 1’50.557, 83 laps
10. Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’50.655, 81 laps
11. Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) 1’50.935, 73 laps
12. Tetsuta Nagashima (Team HRC) 1’51.026, 80 laps
More, from a press release issued by Team HRC:
Team HRC returns to work with testing at Aragón
Just over a week before the 2023 Superbike World Championship resumes at the Magny-Cours circuit in France, Team HRC has been busy testing at Motorland Aragón in Spain with factory riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge.
Although there has been no Superbike racing for a month, Vierge and Lecuona have had little time to rest, with Xavi competing in – and winning – the Suzuka 8 Hours as part of a three-rider team, and Iker taking part in both the British, Austrian and, this coming weekend, the Catalan MotoGP rounds as a substitute rider. Focused on the final WorldSBK rounds, Team HRC has made good use of this week’s track time in Spain, working hard to prepare its factory CBR1000RR-R for the upcoming events, which include a round at Aragón itself on 22-24 September.
Despite some strong winds affecting the session, the generally hot and sunny conditions allowed team and riders to complete a good part of the planned work. Having already tested at Motorland earlier in the year, both Iker and Xavi feel confident in their preparations for the races at this particular track and are also pleased with what has been achieved with a view to the remaining 2023 championship rounds.
Team HRC will be back on track for round nine of the WorldSBK championship, set to take place at Magny-Cours, France, over the weekend of 8-10 September.
Iker Lecuona (7). Photo courtesy Team HRC.
Iker Lecuona 7
“It felt good to get back on my CBR after one month and two stints in MotoGP, and I’m very pleased that I was immediately fast after just a couple of laps, re-adapting my riding style to the Superbike quite quickly. The MotoGP feeling is definitely different of course, but useful as well, because I feel that I changed something in my style over the last couple of weeks that might also help me in SBK. In the end, every racing experience helps and allows you to keep learning and improving as a rider. As for this test, we consider it a very good session and we worked a lot even if conditions were difficult due to the wind. That prevented us from testing several things because it would have been hard to get a real feel for them with those gusts of wind. So, we mainly worked on the setup of the bike and on my riding position. We changed a few details here and there and made a step forward, I think. On day two, with less wind, we tested those modifications again in the morning and they again worked well, so that’s positive. A few new items also helped us to improve a little but when the wind picked up again after lunch on day 2, we decided to finish earlier. We nevertheless leave here in a good mood.”
Xavi Vierge (97). Photo courtesy Team HRC.
Xavi Vierge 97
“I’m happy to be back riding my bike after the summer break, a short summer break in our case! The test has been good except for the weather conditions, which were tricky in terms of the wind. On the first morning the track was also a bit dirty, so we weren’t able to test so many new things. I mainly focused on myself and on making some adjustments to the bike setup for this track, which is one I struggled at last time I was here. It also took me some time to regain my feeling with the tyres on the back of my experience at Suzuka. So, the test has allowed me to gradually rebuild my confidence. We’ve focused on acceleration, one of our weak points, as this track is good for that kind of test because the grip is not the best. We gathered a great deal of information for the engineers to analyse and are ready for the second part of the season, when we will visit tracks that I think suit us better, so we’ll try to exploit that factor.”
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki Racing Team:
Motorland Test Wrapped Up For KRT
Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes took part in one day of testing at Motorland Aragon in Spain, alongside many of their WorldSBK rivals, on Wednesday 30 August 2023. Rea was the fastest overall and Lowes fifth quickest.
Due to restrictions on the number of testing days each rider can use over a season, Rea and Alex only rode in the second and final day of the Motorland Aragon private tests. The team itself worked on both days, however, as regular test rider Florian Marino and full-time Kawasaki WorldSSP rider for the MTM squad, Adrian Huertas, took part in the first day of testing in Tuesday 29 August.
With just one day on track for Alex and Jonathan it was important to keep to their pre-test plans and schedules, as well as getting up to racing speed after a long summer break that began after the Autodrom Most round at the end of July. The WorldSBK race season restarts relatively soon and there will also be a round at Motorland Aragon itself, near the end of September.
While Rea mostly worked on overall set-up and performance items, Lowes concentrated on some potential new items for next season after Marino had first evaluated them on the opening day. Rea set a best lap of 1’49.101 and Lowes a 1’49.791.
Warm but not fiercely hot track conditions provided a good opportunity for all the riders to make consistent evaluations of their machine set-ups. As this was not an official race weekend the riders were able to have more than one machine in their pit boxes, which helped speed up the process of back-to-back set-up comparisons.
Adrian Huertas rode at Motorland as recognition of his recent performances in WorldSSP and winning the WorldSSP3000 championship on a Kawasaki in 2021. The 20-year-old Spaniard set some strong lap times in his first test on an official KRT Superbike machine. He set a personal best of 1’51.044s, which placed him sixth overall on day one – the only day he was on track on the official Ninja ZX-10RR. Adrian rode for 79 laps in all.
Florian Marino, the team’s regular test rider, continued his valuable on-track development role, setting a personal best lap time of 1’51.689 in the process.
Next up for Rea and Lowes will be the ninth round of the championship itself, to be held at Magny Cours in France between 8 – 10 September.
Jonathan Rea (65). Photo courtesy Kawasaki Racing Team.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “It has been a positive day and I really enjoyed riding the bike again, especially after a long time away. I was surprised how fast I was able to be on the first lap, already inside the 1’50 bracket. That set the tone for the rest of the test as we were able to try some things that we will see for sure in the Motorland Round; some fine tuning. More or less this day was geared towards a performance test, trying to understand our potential. We have been consistently fast with race tyres and also at the end we tried a qualifying tyre. We were quite competitive with our lap times today, both on race rubber and qualifying rubber. I leave the test with optimism that we can have a really positive weekend in Magny Cours. Thanks to the team for all the effort to get here during the summer and it will set us at a good rhythm for the rest of the year.”
Alex Lowes (22). Photo courtesy Kawasaki Racing Team.
Alex Lowes, stated: “It is really nice to be back on the Ninja ZX-10RR after the summer break. I had a lot on my test schedule. I actually had three bikes in the morning, trying different set ups and a few things for 2024. Some were quite positive and some not so positive – which is completely normal when we are testing new items. It is more mentally tiring than physically tiring, because you are really trying to think about the good points and the bad points. You want to make the right decisions now, so that it can help us next year. I did 91 laps today, which is a decent amount to get me back into the swing of things before Magny Cours. I did a little bit of a run at the end of the test on my 2023 base bike that I will be riding next week at Magny Cours just to get back into the swing of that.”
Pere Riba, Crew Chief for Jonathan Rea, stated: “The plan in this test with Johnny was to find the base set-up we will use for race weekend, which is only a couple of weeks away. We worked calmly and made two different bike set-ups to understand which one to use. We evaluated the differences and we found one direction for the best set-up. This is the job we wanted to do. We also tried a few small new items and collected information about them. In the end Johnny made the fastest lap time which gives us good confidence. We are ready for the races.”
Marcel Duinker, Crew Chief for Alex Lowes, stated: “The test was all in favour of next season. We have worked hard over the last couple of months to prepare for this test and we brought some upgrades on the bike. On the first day with Florian we had a shakedown of every single bit. Step-by-step with this new material we improved the bike. Florian was really in the mix and as a test rider he was in between the WorldSBK riders, so this was very pleasing. With Alex we followed more or less the same test plan on day two. A few items we had on the first day list we took off, as with Alex the plan was to make more laps on every single bit to understand not only the initial performance but also the performance over a longer distance. We are pleased with the results and we gathered a lot of information. We have two months before we enter the winter tests so we can make some changes here and there to these upgraded materials, but we are happy with the results of this test and things worked out as we expected. Next week we will be heading to Magny Cours and we are looking forward to it.”
Adrian Huertas. Photo courtesy Kawasaki Racing Team.
Adrian Huertas, stated: “This is a much more powerful bike than the one I am used to riding. It is an awesome bike, an incredible experience and I enjoyed it a lot. It has a lot of power which felt really, really good. That is good for me. It was very different to ride a Superbike but I worked together with the team and they taught me how to improve a little bit. I have also taken some good experience to help me on the 600. I think this will be very helpful and this is like an extra motivation now. I think when I arrive in Magny Cours for WorldSSP I can fight for the victory. I want to thank all the team for this opportunity.”
More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:
The summer break came to an end at the Morland circuit in Aragon, where Alvaro Bautista and Michael Rinaldi underwent two days of testing ahead of the final phase of the season, scheduled for next week at Magny-Cours (France).
After the first day with sub-optimal track conditions and the tricky wind that prevented the riders from getting the best out of the session, both Alvaro Bautista and Michael Rinaldi were able to ride more consistently today.
Bautista completed 91 laps to close with the second fastest time (1’49.169), 67 thousandths behind Rea (Kawasaki), while Rinaldi (72 laps completed) posted a time of 1’50.094 to finish fifth.
Alvaro Bautista (1). Photo courtesy Aruba.it Racing Ducati.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing #Ducati 1)
“Today the feeling with the bike was definitely better than on the first day, also because the wind was much lower. We did a good job trying new solutions on the front end to improve the bike, especially in braking areas. We gathered some important data, even though maybe our expectations were higher, but it’s clear that the non-optimal track conditions combined with the wind didn’t allow us to express ourselves at our best. Anyway, I am very satisfied with the work we did with the team.
Michael Rinaldi (21). Photo courtesy Aruba.it Racing Ducati.
Michael Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #21)
“We did a good job even though the conditions were quite complicated on the first day of testing. I think, however, that we collected data that can be very useful not only for the Aragon Round but also for the end of the season. We focused on the set-up work rather than the fast lap. I am looking forward to Magny-Cours.” WorldSSP
Intense work also for Nicolò Bulega and the Panigale V2 of the Aruba.it Racing team: the rider closes the two days at Aragon with the best time of 1’53.941
Nicolo Bulega (11). Photo courtesy Aruba.it Racing Ducati.
Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WSSP #11)
“In terms of lap-times, I can’t express myself because we didn’t have many references being only two WorldSSP riders riding together with the other WorldSBK riders. Maybe I was expecting something more but we also have to consider that the track conditions were not the best. Anyway, we worked hard to improve for the next rounds and that is what matters.”
More, from a press release issued by PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team:
WorldSSP – Testing at Aragón concludes for the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team
Tarran Mackenzie (95). Photo courtesy PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team.
The PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team and its Supersport rider Tarran Mackenzie have completed a two-day test at the Motorland Aragón circuit in Spain with positive results.
Having had time to rest and recharge since the successful eight WorldSSP round in the Czech Republic, and the positive Suzuka 8H experience, the British rider were eager to get back to work this week in preparation for the final events of the 2023 season, participating in this week’s test alongside most of the factory Superbike teams and several privateers.
On track on both Tuesday and Wednesday, Mackenzie took the opportunity to familiarize himself with the Spanish track, considering that round ten will take place at Aragón over the weekend of 22-24 September. Over the two days, the Brit worked hard with his technicians to identify solutions for the CBR600RR that might be of use during the last four rounds of the 2023 Supersport season.
Having won the latest Supersport race at Most in challenging conditions, Tarran and his team are determined to get the very best out of their package, so as to be able to score some solid results also in dry conditions during what remains of this year’s championship.
Tarran Mackenzie
“This test at Aragón has gone well. We were able to test a new engine setup but although it brought some improvement, I think we hoped for a little more. We tried a few different things with the chassis setup too and made a good step there, albeit there’s some room for further improvement also there, I think. I always struggle a little going from riding the Superbike back to the Supersport so it’s been very good to have these two days to adapt back to the 600. Now we’ll head to Magny-Cours, another new one for me, where we can hopefully keep improving. I’m looking forward to it!”
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