Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Intent on Competitive Performance at Catalan GP
Montmeló (Spain), 30th August 2023
The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team gear up for a busy two weeks. The team have travelled to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for this weekend‘s Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya. The team is extra motivated for Round 11, as they share the title sponsor. The event will be directly followed by the Gran Premio di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini and the Misano MotoGP Official Test.
The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team are excited to start Round 11 of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship. The Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya shares the title sponsor with the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team, making the crew and riders all the more eager to put on a show.
Quartararo ranks 11th in the championship standings and is aiming to up the ante this weekend in Barcelona. The pace he had in Spielberg a fortnight ago gives him high hopes for Montmeló the coming weekend, which is a circuit where he and his Yamaha excel. The Frenchman has had his fair share of success at the Catalan GP. He secured a win there in 2018 in the Moto2 class, followed this up with a second place in the premier class in 2019, and added a MotoGP win in 2020 and 2022. He aims to pay the Montmeló podium another visit this weekend.
Morbidelli holds 12th place in the championship. This weekend he plans on finding a solid base set-up early on, as he is determined to get in strong results in the Practice and qualifying to improve his starting position. The Italian hasn‘t scored a top-3 finish at Catalunya yet in the MotoGP class but came close in 2020, when he finished fourth. Having been able to engage in battles at the previous round in Spielberg, the number-21 rider got a taste for battling with the competition, and he is keen to do it again this weekend.
Work to create the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya began in 1989. Two years later, the track was opened, and it soon became a crowd favourite after hosting its first MotoGP race in 1992. With an exciting 4.6km layout consisting of 14 corners (six left, eight right), the Catalan round is known to produce thrilling races.
Those who want to know the key to doing a fast lap in Montmeló can watch this week‘s MotoGP eSport video.
MASSIMO MEREGALLI
Team Director
There‘s a busy two weeks coming up: back-to-back rounds in Montmeló and Misano, which are important rounds for our team, and then the Misano test. But first things first: we need to focus on getting good results here this weekend. We are usually quite competitive in Catalunya. In theory, this track plays more into our strengths. It‘s also a Monster Energy-sponsored GP again, so we have a lot of motivation to get to work.
FABIO QUARTARARO
I rode one of the best races of my life here last year. Barcelona is one of my favourite circuits. I like Montmeló. It‘s usually a good track for me, and I always enjoy riding here. Let‘s see if we can get some good results and bring some smiles to the team and my family.
FRANCO MORBIDELLI
I had fun during the previous race weekend because we were engaging in battles. I want to build onto that and keep the momentum going. I felt good during the Austrian GP Race. I was gaining, but I arrived late to the group in front of me. This weekend we will hopefully improve the results on Friday and on Saturday morning so we can start a bit more from towards the front of the grid.
Jason O’Halloran to join Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki alongside Max Cook for 2024 British Superbike Championship title challenge
Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki are delighted to announce that 26-time race winner Australian Jason O’Halloran will be joining the team for the 2024 season. One of the most experienced and successful riders on the grid, Jason joins the Team Green family with both parties eager to put the Ninja ZX-10RR on the top step of the podium as he and the team compete for their maiden title.
Having challenged for the Bennetts British Superbike Championship title over the past few seasons, finishing runner up in 2020, Jason brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Coventry-based Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki team. Using Jason’s insights, the team is eager to get off to a flying start when testing gets underway with the aim of further developing the race-winning Ninja ZX-10RR into a genuine Championship contender.
The team’s highly regarded rookie, Max Cook, will be continuing with the team for 2024 alongside the experienced Australian. Making his debut in the ultra-competitive superbike class this year, the 20-year-old youngster has already impressed the paddock, particularly at Thruxton, where he missed out on his maiden podium by fractions of a second.
Kawasaki UK would like to take this opportunity to thank Lee Jackson, who is departing the team on good terms. His hard work, results, and support over the past six years has helped develop Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki into the BSB stalwarts that they are today, and we wish him the best for the next chapter in his career.
Nigel Snook, Team Owner, Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki
“We are excited to have Jason joining us for the 2024 season and must thank Alan Boyden from AJN Steelstock for his help in supporting Jason’s move to our team. We all know that Jason is one of the strongest and most successful riders on the grid. We believe the combination of Jason and a further improved Ninja ZX-10RR will put us in a strong position to be fighting for race wins and the British Superbike Championship crown.
‘’Of course, while we are looking forward to Jason joining us, it does mean that sadly we are parting company with Lee Jackson. Lee has been part of the FS-3 family for six years, and we have shared many high points together, from Superstock podiums and wins through to his first BSB wins at Oulton Park last year. We wish Lee all the best for 2024 and beyond and will be giving him our full support until the final chequered flag falls at Brands Hatch in October.”
Jason O’Halloran
‘’To have a 2024 contract signed in August is a great feeling, but it’s an even better feeling knowing I will be joining FS-3 Racing and Kawasaki. With my current team coming to a close at the end of 2023, it was always going to mean finding a new home for next season.
‘’When I first met with Nigel, Darren and the team at FS-3, I immediately had a good feeling. I already knew from the years competing against them of the level they operate at, but once I visited the team workshop and sat down with the guys, I knew that it was a place I could continue to push myself and further my career in BSB. With the support of Alan Boyden from AJN Steelstock, we are all going to be in a position to push onto a new level and chase success in the 2024 BSB championship. I’d like to thank Nigel and Darren from FS-3, Ross from Kawasaki UK and Alan from AJN Steelstock for making this possible. I’m excited about the future’’.
Max Cook (left) and Jason O’Halloran (right). Photo courtesy Kawasaki UK.
Max Cook
‘’I’m so happy to be staying with the team for 2024. This year has been a huge learning curve for me, but I think I’ve adapted well, and things have really come together over the past few rounds. I’m confident that I will be up at the sharp end next year and being alongside Jason is a great incentive. I think I’ve shocked some people this year, including myself, as to how quickly I’ve learnt to ride a superbike. I can’t thank Nigel enough for always having faith in me and I’m already looking forward to next year’’.
Ross Burridge, Head of Marketing & Racing Department, Kawasaki UK
“It is fantastic to be welcoming a rider of Jason’s calibre to the Team Green family. His credentials and success in BSB speak for themselves. The combination of Jason with the proven Ninja ZX-10RR gives us real confidence that the Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki team will be battling for race wins from the start of the season!
‘’It’s also great to be continuing with Max, who has already proven himself to be a star of tomorrow. Sharing a garage with Jason next year will only help him to take the next step and regularly challenge for podiums”.
MARCO BEZZECCHI AND MOONEY VR46 RACING TEAM TOGETHER IN 2024
Agreement signed for the next season: Marco will race with the Ducati Desmosedici GP of the Tavullia Team
Tavullia (Italy), Wednesday August 30th 2023 – Marco Bezzecchi will race with the Mooney VR46 Racing Team in 2024 on a Ducati Desmosedici GP. The rider from Rimini, currently third in the overall standings with 183 points, and author of two wins and three podiums (four podiums in the Sprint) in the current season, will be a rider of the Tavullia Team for the fifth consecutive year (debut in Moto2 in 2020).
A path of progressive growth that leads him first to touch the Championship podium in Moto2 in 2020 (P4), a goal he then achieved in 2021 with the third place and sealed with his MotoGP debut in 2022. A season in which Marco impresses by conquering the title of Rookie of the Year, a podium (P2 at Dutch GP) and a pole position (Thai GP).
A natural choice and a proof of continuity to count on a working group – and on the support of Ducati – again next year. A crucial aspect for Marco that allows him to conquer the first win in the Top class (Argentina GP) of his career and in the ten-year history of the Team and thus show his talent and being a real protagonist of the 2023 Championship.
MARCO BEZZECCHI – 72
“I am really happy to confirm that in 2024 I will be on track with the Mooney VR46 Racing Team. This Team has been crucial to my career until now and into the future. I arrived here in 2020, in Moto2, we then landed together in 2022 in MotoGP and this year we had an incredible season so far. Continuing to grow in this working group, with the support of Ducati, is the most natural choice for me. 2024 brings with it many expectations, but right now I want to focus on this season. We are currently fighting for the podium in the Championship, we have the Team Title open with Luca and I am sure that everyone in the Team will give their all, even more than they have done so far, to achieve these goals. Thanks to Vale, Uccio, Pablo, the VR46 Riders Academy and all those who made this possible. Remaining in the Vale Team is a great motivation as well as a pride”.
ALESSIO SALUCCI, TEAM DIRECTOR
“I cannot hide the satisfaction of having signed this agreement with Marco. Not only because he represents a bet won within a long growth path in our Team from Moto2, but for the entire working group and also for all our partners, whom we thank for their support, and the fans who follow us. It was essential to be able to continue another year and I have to thank all those who collaborate with the management of the Team, Vale and Pablo for the collective work that has led us to achieve this goal. I’m happy because I know how much means for Marco to stay here in our Family. As a Team, together with Ducati, we will give him all the resources and commitment available to continue working with the same serenity and Team spirit that has allowed us to achieve extraordinary goals this season”.
PABLO NIETO, TEAM MANAGER
“As a Team Manager, the human aspect of a working group that spends most of the year away from home has always been a crucial aspect to take into consideration. Reason that pushed us to do our best to reach this agreement to extend the contract for another year with Marco. A rider who has really impressed from all points of view since his debut in the Top class in 2022. The signing of this contract is a source of great pride for me to share with all the people who work in the Team, with Vale, Uccio, Ducati, who will support us as best they can, and our partners who make this possible. We continue to work and stay focused: we have two important goals to achieve this season before thinking about 2024″.
Hendry Wins Again, Rizzo Clinches Race of the Rockies GTU Class Championship
Byers, CO, August 27th, 2023 – The sixth race of the 2023 MRA Championship Series took place at High Plains Raceway over the weekend of August 26-27th on their 1.86-mile North Course configuration. The weather this weekend made for ideal racing conditions as temperature hovered around the mid 80’s and the wind was almost nonexistent, a rarity at High Plains.
The Race of the Rockies (RoR) Qualifying on Sunday went off without a hitch. Ray Thornton, continuing his excellent form, broke the all-time RoR qualifying record for North Course with a time of (1:12.608) and secured pole position. The previous record of (1:12.762) by Ryan Burke had stood since 2017. Brad Hendry qualified second with a time of (1:13.247) followed by James Wilkerson (1:13.277).
The start of RoR saw Hendry, Wilkerson, and Mike Applegate get excellent starts, and going into Turn One nobody wanted to give an inch. Thornton didn’t get the start he hoped for and quickly found himself in fourth place by the time the pack reached the back straight. Hendry, staying true to his form from the last round, easily made his way to the front to take the lead after lap one. Once out in front, Hendry quickly dropped his times down into the 1:12’s and started to pull a gap on the rest of the field. Wilkerson and Applegate were dicing it up for second and third position and by lap three Applegate made a clean pass on Wilkerson. By this point Hendry had opened a 1.5 second lead and it was clear he had the best pace of the field. Applegate fought hard for the remainder of the race but was never able to get within striking distance of the leader. Hendy maintained the lead for the entirety of the race finishing seven seconds ahead of Applegate in second. Wilkerson rounded out the podium in third place. With one round remaining in the 2023 season, Thornton maintains his RoR championship lead by just six points over Applegate.
In Race of the Rockies GTU, Salvatore Rizzo got an excellent start to lead going into Turn One followed closely by Justen Behmer and Kevin Caputo. By the end of the first lap, Dennis Stowers had carved his way from last on the grid to overtake Caputo for third position. Rizzo, Behmer, and Stowers quickly grouped up and proceeded to break away from the rest of the field. For the remainder of the race, the leading trio stayed within half a second of one another. Stowers was unable to find a way around Behmer and neither one could get close enough to Rizzo to make a clean pass. Rizzo secured his second RoR GTU win of the season and clinched the 2023 RoR GTU Class Championship. Behmer finished in second and Stowers in third.
Next up, the MRA heads back to High Plains Raceway in Byers, CO for Round 7 on September 23-24 for a full weekend of racing including the SuperStreet event on Saturday afternoon. SuperStreet gives street riders the opportunity to experience motorcycle road racing with minimal cost and preparation. See https://www.mra-racing.org/superstreet/superstreet-information for details.
The MRA welcomes racers from other clubs across the nation. If you’re a currently licensed racer, we have several reciprocity agreements in place along with very competitive pricing on license & entries to our 28 classes. Click here for MRA membership & entry information.
The Motorcycle Roadracing Association is dedicated to promoting safe and competitive motorcycle road racing events for enthusiasts in Colorado and the surrounding area. For more information go to http://www.mra-racing.org/.
Showdown at Springfield to Decide 2023 Grand National Championship
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 29, 2023) – It all comes down to this. One of most competitive and engaging championship battles in the history of Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, has been waged over 16 rounds with its two leading protagonists producing a combined 28 podiums and 13 wins. And yet, with just the series’ crown jewel event – the Mission Springfield Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties – remaining to determine the victor, the separation at the top is a single point.
While 2023 has witnessed two of the greatest single-season performances in the 70-year history of the Grand National Championship, only one rider will be crowned the Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle champion this Labor Day weekend when the season wraps up with a decisive doubleheader at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois, on Saturday September 2, and Sunday, September 3.
This year’s title fight has it all. The #1 plate has been vigorously defended by one of the most decorated riders of all time in Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750), who is looking to add to his slam dunk Hall of Fame résumé. By contrast, an incredible campaign has been mounted by one of the most promising riders to emerge in decades, Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), who is in contention to secure the first of what could one day prove to be multiple premier-class championships.
The championship fight is equally compelling from team and equipment standpoints with the factory Indian Motorcycle squad and its purpose-built FTR750 racer in position to earn a seventh consecutive title. Meanwhile, Estenson Racing is aiming to deliver Yamaha its first undivided Grand National Championship in nearly half a century with its production-based MT-07 DT.
Another feature this showdown boasts in no short supply is a list of potential spoilers, anyone of whom could tip the balance in either direction.
That possibility is only magnified by the venue, which tends to produce extremely close and unpredictable racing; In the most recent ten Springfield Miles, eight have been decided by less than a second. Of those eight, six have featured at least three riders within a second of victory, four with four or more, two with seven or more, and one with a full ten racers taking the checkered flag within a second of the winner.
Spearheading the spoilers are two-time Grand National Champion Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke) and two-time Springfield Mile winner Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750).
And like Bauman and Robinson, JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) and Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) have each stood upon a Mile podium at least once in the past two seasons and rank inside this season’s championship top six.
Seventh-ranked Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 Wally Brown Racing/JMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) and eighth-ranked Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing/2 Wheelz KTM 790 Duke) also merit special attention. Due to an injury suffered by Jesse Janisch, Vanderkooi will compete aboard the WBR KTM Duke that debuted with a podium on a Mile a season ago. Meanwhile, the younger Bauman has previously finished on the podium at the Springfield Mile, coming within 0.149 seconds of victory in the aforementioned epic 2019 contest in which ten riders were still in contention for the win as they exited the final corner.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
Reigning class champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) enters this weekend’s finale in a commanding position and the heavy favorite to successfully defend his Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER crown.
Kopp boasts a 35-points advantage built upon seven race wins with just 50 points left in play. That puts him within striking distance of not only joining Dallas Daniels as just the second rider to claim back-to-back titles in the class, but both match and surpass Daniels’ single-season wins record with a weekend sweep.
Kopp has already eliminated the title hopes of all his challengers save the Estenson Racing duo of Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha). While Brunner and Drane would need plenty of skill and luck to catch the leader, they also need to remain cognizant of how the standings stack up behind them.
Six riders are still in the mix for championship runner-up honors, with Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F), Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F), and Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) also maintaining at least mathematical possibilities of finishing second overall.
Among that grouping, Drane and Lowe split the wins in the season’s prior three Miles. Meanwhile, Saathoff finished second twice and third once, while Whale, Gauthier, and Brunner racked up a combined four top fives.
Several other gifted pilots will look to end their seasons on a high note, including regular frontrunners Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450) and James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450).
There will be plenty to keep fans entertained at the track, including the Kids Zone, a CAT heavy equipment simulator, expansive food and beverage options, and free motorcycle parking. And following Saturday’s Main Events, fans are invited to attend the Springfield Mile Post-Race Party presents by Progressive featuring the high-energy live music of the Brandy Kristin Band.
Angela Savage will serve as the weekend’s Grand Marshal. Savage is the daughter of the late David “Swede” Savage, a former Grand National Championship competitor who lost his life 50 years ago in a crash suffered while battling for the lead in the 1973 Indy 500.
General Admission Bleacher tickets are just $30 (kids 12 and under free), and there are a variety of upgraded ticket options to select from, including the VIP Ticket, which includes a reserved seat in the grandstand of choice, food, beverage, and pit pass for $150.
Pit Pass Upgrades are also available for purchase for non-VIP tickets, which provide all-day access to the pits where fans can scope out the world’s fastest dirt track motorcycles and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport.
Fans who purchase Saturday and Sunday tickets will receive a $5 discount at checkout. To reserve your tickets today, visit:
Gates will open for fans at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 p.m. PT) both days with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. PT).
For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FansChoice.tv is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://www.fanschoice.tv.
FOX Sports coverage of Mission Springfield Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere back-to-back on FS1 on Sunday, September 10, starting at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT).
Hunting for a home boost – Marquez and Mir prepare for Catalan GP
The second half of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship is set to come in thick and fast, the Catalan GP starting a run of ten races in 13 weeks.
Round 11 arrives at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, a special round for the Repsol Honda Team and both its riders. The 4.66-kilometre-long track has been a mainstay of the MotoGP calendar since the early 90s and has seen Honda take a total of 23 wins across all classes, including ten in the premier class with the most recent coming in 2019.
Marc Marquez was author to this 2019 victory on his way to the World Championship that year, one of two wins he has achieved at the track just a few hours from his hometown. The weekend for the eight-time World Champion will follow a similar structure to the previous two, Marquez working with the Repsol Honda Team and HRC engineers in a calm and defined manner to make further progress. This approach was rewarded with a return to the points last time out in Austria.
The Barcelona weekend is also the home round for Joan Mir, hailing from Palma just off the coast. It’s a circuit which has seen the #36 achieve some of his most consistent results in the premier class with two fourths, a second place and a worst finish of sixth. Mir’s final results in Austria did not reflect the work and progress he achieved during the weekend, able to consistently fight for top Honda honours but running foul of bad luck in the race. Continuing along this path will be crucial for the 2020 MotoGP World Champion as he aims to put on a strong showing for his home fans.
After the weekend, the Repsol Honda Team will head directly to Italy for the San Marino Grand Prix – the penultimate European race and a final in-season test.
Marc Marquez
“The weekend in Barcelona is always a special one, seeing all of the stands full of people and as my home race I love to see all the fans there. No matter what, the objective is to put on a great show for everyone there and give them an enjoyable and memorable weekend. From our side, there’s work to do and we need to keep the calm approach we have had in the past few weekends. In Austria we saw that this way of working let us get through the weekend and gather good data for the project. We go again and begin a busy end to the year.”
Joan Mir
“I am looking forward to the weekend in Montmelo, my home GP. Of course I want to produce a good result in front of the local fans but we need to keep on working. In Austria we had an overall good weekend that unfortunately ended in not the best way. I am confident that we can have another weekend where we are fighting to be the top Honda.”
More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing:
Irwin double closes down Bridewell as 16 riders remain in title fight ahead of the Showdown
Glenn Irwin. Photo courtesy MSVR.
Glenn Irwin completed a winning double in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship round at Cadwell Park to almost half his BeerMonster Ducati teammate’s advantage at the top of the standings with 16 riders remaining in mathematical title contention ahead of the Showdown.
Irwin came into the final round of the Main Season trailing Bridewell by 26.5 points and after a dominant double and a second place, he heads to Oulton Park in Cheshire with just a 14.5-point deficit. However, with the points’ value now increasing across the Showdown, the top 16 riders in the standings, completed by rookie Max Cook, remain in contention with a maximum of 255 points available across the final three rounds.
The annual August Bank Holiday round in Lincolnshire produced three intense races, and whilst the BeerMonster Ducati pairing were victorious, six riders celebrated podium finishes across the weekend for four different teams.
Irwin had got his weekend off to a flying start with his first Cadwell Park race win in the BikeSocial Sprint race yesterday, holding off the LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha pairing of Kyle Ryde and Ryan Vickers to celebrate in style his 200th Bennetts BSB race start.
In race two, Irwin was focused on a repeat performance and after running eighth in the early stages, he was into second by the final lap. He then made a move on Ryde at Coppice to take the lead, which he held to the chequered flag with his LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha rival, and McAMS Yamaha’s Jason O’Halloran completing the podium line up.
Tommy Bridewell (46) leads Glenn Irwin (2) Leon Haslam (91), and Kyle Ryde (77) at Cadwell Park. Photo courtesy MSVR.
In the final race of the Main Season, Ryde and Irwin were again fighting for the lead in the early stages of the race, but the final eight laps became a freight train of five riders who ended the race covered by less than a second.
Bridewell took the lead from Irwin with three laps remaining and was able to deny his teammate the treble, and there were celebrations for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team who completed the podium with Leon Haslam. Ryde, Lee Jackson and O’Halloran just missed out, as the top five ended the race separated by 0.947s.
Bridewell and Irwin remain at the top of the standings, with Ryde, O’Halloran and Haslam the leading five contenders ahead of Oulton Park as four teams feature in the top five ahead of the opening round of the Showdown on September 15/16/17.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Cadwell Park, Race 2 result:
Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) +0.468s
Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +0.770s
Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team) +1.175s
Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) +1.722s
Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) +2.485s
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +7.318s
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team) +7.611s
Storm Stacey (Starline Racing Kawasaki) +7.904s
Tom Neave (Honda Racing UK) +12.923s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Cadwell Park, Race 3 result:
Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) +0.057s
Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team) +0.491s
Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) +0.715s
Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) +0.947s
Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +1.651s
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +5.588s
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team) +7.117s
Storm Stacey (Starline Racing Kawasaki) +7.721s
Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team) +19.749s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) 303
Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 288.5
Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 252
Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 248.5
Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team) 227
Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) 216.5
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team) 202
Ryan Vickers (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 189
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 186
Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Racing Yamaha) 116
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Glenn Irwin
BeerMonster Ducati
“I’ve had a good feeling throughout the whole year. I was looking forward to coming here and we worked very well as a team throughout the whole weekend, the guys were fantastic so thanks to them and the crowd for their support.
“The last couple of laps of that last race were all in! The fans got treated to a typical BSB race, we were all flat out! I lost the front a good few times, I lost it in the Mountain on the last lap as well, Tommy was pretty much the same over at the Gooseneck. I thought I had him lined up at the chicane but the bike got a little snap.
“All in all, we look at it as a weekend, as part of a journey; one race doesn’t define a weekend, to bring the gap down to 14.5 was what we needed.
“The championship is very much set up. I think BSB has been an absolute treat so far this year and I think the fans are in for an absolutely fantastic last three rounds. Let’s get big crowds like we’ve had all year as it’s been great.
“I’m going to enjoy it, I’ll keep doing what I’m doing and keep working hard. I’ve got a very good feeling the trophy’s going to come to Northern Ireland for the very first time.”
Advantage Bagnaia: can the field fight back in Barcelona?
The pace is hotting up and so is Pecco’s form. The first back-to-back of the coming crescendo is GO!
Monday, 28 August 2023
The season is about to light up in a stunning crescendo to the fight for the crown, with the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya hosting the first in a back-to-back with Misano before we head for India, Japan, and two triple headers across three continents to bring the curtain down. The form on show for Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) showed no signs of feeling the pressure last time out though, with a perfect weekend seeing the number 1 sweep the board. Now it’s on the chasing pack to get the bit between their teeth and see if they can cut that gap, with Barcelona the first stop in a stunning final half of 2023.
Francesco Bagnaia (1). Photo courtesy Ducati.
The closest challengers
We could be forgiven for having expected a slightly different Martinator: Judgment Day for Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) in Austria, but what looked like it could be a key chance to hit back turned into a tougher weekend. Track limits bit him in qualifying, he was judged to have played the wrong kind of starring role in that Turn 1 incident in the Tissot Sprint, and then had his Grand Prix race hampered by a Long Lap to compound the mountain of starting P12. He’s still second overall, but that gap has grown once more. Still, Martin is one of the few on the grid who has gone toe-to-toe with Pecco this season and come out on top, in some style too, and he’s no stranger to a forced reset. He also took second last year in Barcelona.
Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), meanwhile, also lost out in that Turn 1 Sprint domino effect in Austria. And those were valuable points in play as the number 72 is now only six points off Martin. But sometimes, that’s the luck – or lack thereof – of the draw, and Bezzecchi reset on Sunday to grab a valuable haul and another podium. Heading into Barcelona, he’s somewhat of an unknown quantity too, as last season he crashed out. But he’s been slow nowhere so far in 2023…
In the leading postcode, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) is hanging on. It’s now a sizeable gap from the South African down to fifth place as he grabbed a double podium on KTM home turf, and vs the rest of the field he was doing far more than hanging on – he left them in the dust except for that one pesky red machine up ahead. If KTM want to beat Ducati, Binder did that seven times out of eight in Austria – twice. Now in Barcelona, can they do it again, or similar? It’s a very different track to the Red Bull Ring… but so is Jerez and there, he was two tenths off. Teammate Jack Miller, meanwhile, is going for a full reset once the lights go out. The Australian started just off the front row in Austria and then positively plummeted on Sunday, so one-lap speed? Check. Race pace? The mission. We’ve seen it in Jerez though, so watch this space.
Keep an eye on…
One rider who leaves Austria with a newly minted return to the top five is Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) as he impressed on Sunday to dispatch Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), and Marquez himself has impressed of late with that Sprint win at Silverstone only dampened by a mechanical issue thereafter. Marini has won in Moto2™ in Catalunya and took sixth in MotoGP™ last year, and AM73’s record at the track is excellent: a Moto3™ win and two Moto2™ wins. Can they bother the podium battle?
Aprilia also had a fairly solid Austria, all things considered, mostly that it’s supposed to be a tougher venue for their machine. But Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) had PACE and put it on the front row, with those starts just hampering the ultimate result. It’s something the Noale factory say they’re working on, and if they can solve that, the mountain gets a lot less steep. For Aleix Espargaro, meanwhile, Austria was pretty solid and now it’s time for a true home round – with the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya just up the road from his hometown of Granollers. Last year his speed was enough for second place before that late error of judgement, and he’ll come into this one looking for some revenge. Both Viñales and Aleix Espargaro are likely to lay down some serious gauntlets this weekend.
For the CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team Aprilia contingent, the story remains somewhat familiar: Raul Fernandez wants to move forward, and Miguel Oliveira just wants some luck. For those who don’t believe in luck in racing, Aleix Espargaro doesn’t either – unless you’re talking about Miguel Oliveira’s 2023 season. That sole exception is truly true as the Portuguese rider has seemed to find misfortune through zero fault of his own again and again this year. And what almost makes it even more frustrating? He’s been quick regardless. He’s still impressing and at some point, surely, that luck will turn. He’s a former winner in Barcelona too.
Going back to that true hometown vibe, it’s as true for Pol Espargaro as it is for his brother Aleix. The GASGAS name is also racing at home with Pol and GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 teammate Augusto Fernandez, and both will want some glory. Espargaro took that impressive Sprint result in Austria as he still gets back in the groove, and Fernandez then took a point after a late penalty for his teammate on Sunday in a mixed bag for the team, but a nice stat for Fernandez. He remains one of only two riders to have scored in every GP race so far this season. What have they got in the locker in Barcelona, and as the mystery rolls on for who will be where with KTM and GASGAS next season?
Looking for more
The first name on the list here has got to be Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), who is fifth in the Championship and has a season littered with podiums so far… but it just didn’t come together in Austria. Can he fight back in Barcelona, with his future now confirmed? Can Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) move forward and keep his name in the hat? And can Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) really start to challenge as his experience on this new machine increases?
Zarco’s new home for 2024, meanwhile, we now know is Honda, and they’re another camp looking for steps forward. There was one small milestone last time out though: Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) scored points on Sunday for the first time since Malaysia last season. It was in P12, but it’s something ticked off. Next mission: top ten? More? This is home turf for Marquez so he could be pushing risk vs reward that bit more. Teammate Joan Mir, meanwhile, wants that finish after a crash out in Austria and also races on home turf. Iker Lecuona too, and he’s back in subbing for Alex Rins at LCR Honda Castrol. On the other side of that box, LCR Honda Idemitsu’s Takaaki Nakagami will just want a little less drama than Turn 1 last year, and will want to get back into those points after a tougher couple of weekends.
Last year holds much better memories for some on the grid, not least of all the winner: Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™). It pays to remember that Marc Marquez has already been on pole and the Sprint podium this season just as it pays to remember Quartararo fought for the Championship last year to the final round – and won a good few races, including this one. It has not been decades, so can they make those steps back forward? Will the venue still prove a good one for the Frenchman and Yamaha? Assen saw him further forward once again so Barcelona could prove similar. For teammate Franco Morbidelli too, as he looks to keep those points rolling in and get back in the top ten.
SHOWTIME IN BARCELONA
The Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya has MotoGP™ last on the menu once more:
Tissot Sprint: Saturday 15:00 (GMT +2)
Grand Prix Race: Sunday 14:00 (GMT +2)
Can Acosta hit back on home turf?
After more than a year, Celestino Vietti (Fantic Racing) got back on the top step in Styria… and that was most definitely not in the script for Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo). The stars were supposed to have aligned: taking the Championship lead right before Red Bull and KTM’s home race, breaking the lap record on Friday, taking pole position despite that crash… the stage was set, but it wasn’t to be. A couple of moments – his own at Turn 3 and then another getting extremely close to Vietti’s rear wheel late on – saw the number 37 forced to call off the dogs and settle for second. And guess who won at Catalunya last year? Celestino Vietti.
Acosta, however, still extended that lead as Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) only came home sixth in Spielberg, and that’s starting to become a problem. A few races ago the Italian was banking podiums on tougher days, but he’ll really need to start hitting back soon to stay in Acosta’s postcode in the Championship. Jake Dixon (Asterius GASGAS Aspar Team) also had a gap to the podium in Austria and will want more in Catalunya, and Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) is on an even tougher run. Both Lopez and teammate Fermin Aldeguer, who won in Silverstone, will want a starring role.
Then there’s Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia). The Japanese rider has now taken two podiums from three races after injury plagued his pre-season and start to the year… so can he find that bit more again in Barcelona? We’ll find out on Sunday at 12:15 (GMT +2)!
Öncü & Sasaki ready for another charge at Holgado
Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) had been a frontrunner in Moto3™ for a good few seasons before he finally took that maiden win in Germany, and only a few races later he’s now added a second Grand Prix victory – in style and on important turf. He’s now third overall after that final corner pickpocket and another dose of bad luck, this time technical, for Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing), and Öncü will be looking to gain more ground again this weekend.
Championship leader Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3), however, remains steadfast in his consistency, speed and racecraft. In only his second full season he’s not giving the veterans any margin at all and Barcelona is another track he knows well. It’s also, interestingly, the last of three tracks before we head from India – new turf for all – to Motegi and the start of a run of venues Öncü and Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) have been racing quite a while longer.
Speaking of Sasaki, it’s now six podiums in a row for the Japanese rider, but it’s also a run of chasing the carrot to perfection before just getting pipped at the flag. He seems zen about it, however, confident it’ll come – so can he keep that roll of podiums going until the dice roll his way? Or will that be in Barcelona anyway? His teammate, Collin Veijer, needs a shoutout too after that speed in Austria.
Finally, David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team), after winning and then coming back down to Earth with a crash out the lead, will also be one to watch, eager to get back to bothering the more veteran runners in that podium fight. Tune in for more Moto3™ action this weekend, with lights out at 11:00 (GMT +2) on Sunday!
Early this morning, Tytlers Cycle Racing made the bombshell announcement that five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier is sitting out the remainder of the 2023 season, but that announcement left a couple of gaps to fill in.
As far as most people knew, Beaubier only suffered serious facial lacerations when he collided with Ashton Yates during MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Race Two August 20 at Pittsburgh International Race Complex (a.k.a. PittRace) and his face hit his BMW’s windscreen and top triple clamp. But it turns out that the California suffered other injuries, including his second concussion in three weeks.
“It’s funny because I didn’t really realize that I hit my head that good because I was so focused on my face bleeding,” Beaubier told Roadracingworld.com in a telephone interview Monday. “Then I got home, and I was having those same [concussion] symptoms I had after Brainerd, which wasn’t very fun.”
Beaubier suffered a concussion and was ruled unfit after crashing out of MotoAmerica Superbike Race One July 29 at Brainerd International Raceway.
“Like I said in the release, I’m just looking at the big picture,” added Beaubier. “I thumped my head twice within a couple of weeks of each other. Obviously, there’s nothing to gain. The Championship is over. I’m just going to heal up and get ready for next year.
“And I’ve been dealing with some [left] knee stuff [from the crash at PittRace]. I just got an MRI this morning. So, I’m waiting to hear back from that and go from there.”
It was known for a long time during this past off-season that Beeaubier would be riding with Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW in 2023. When the official announcement finally came out, it did not mention the length of Beaubier’s deal – two years, which makes this decision a little easier, he said.
“It’s nice talking to [Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW Team Owner] Michael Kiley,” said Beaubier. “He understands it. He gets racing. It’s nice to have a supportive team owner like that who realizes what’s going on.”
Editorial Note: Some teams scheduled to participate in the test include Aruba.it Racing Ducati, Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati, Bonovo Action BMW, Kawasaki Racing Team, Motocorsa Racing Ducati, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, Team GoEleven Ducati, and Team HRC Honda.
Aragon Test Precedes Season Restart
As the long summer break in WorldSBK race action approaches its conclusion there will be a short test session for the official Kawasaki FIM Superbike World Championship team, at Motorland Aragon, between 29-30 August.
With just one day remaining from their mandated limit of ten days of testing, Rea and Lowes will only ride on the final day of the test, Wednesday 30 August.
Lowes’s regular rider coach and team development rider since 2022, Florian Marino, will test the official Ninja ZX-10RR on Tuesday 29 August. He also has great experience in the WorldSBK paddock and the EWC series in his own right.
Florian will be joined on track by MTM Kawasaki WorldSSP rider, Adrian Huertas, as a recognition of winning the WorldSSP300 championship on a Kawasaki in 2021 and his increasingly strong performances since he made the jump to WorldSSP racing in 2022.
Iberia in general has been suffering from heatwaves recently, but despite the tough conditions the KRT squad will look forward to some very hot track and ambient conditions to close-in on the thus-far elusive optimum settings for exceedingly high temperature races.
Motorland Aragon features a 5.077km long WorldSBK track layout, but it is also an extensive motorsport and testing facility in general. It has hosted several WorldSBK rounds in recent years and will do so again in 2023 between 22-24 September. It was also the venue of a recent KRT test session, held in late June.
The next round of the 2023 WorldSBK championship itself takes place at another regular WorldSBK circuit, Magny Cours in France, between 8-10 September.
Jonathan Rea (65). Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “This Aragon test comes at a really valuable time because with Magny Cours fast approaching after a long summer break, it’s always beneficial to get back into the swing of things and into the flow of riding my ZX-10RR. I will be trying to get the rhythm back but also have one eye on the Motorland race weekend that comes soon after the Magny Cours race. So it’s all about trying to build into this last part of the season and being strong. We’ll continue testing some items that we’ve previously tried. And with one day left on my testing allocation we only have one day to use. We expect hot weather, which is also good to test in to try to further improve our bike settings. We will just keep working. The next three rounds are going to come in quick succession, so it’s important to hit the ground running. We’ll see what the engineers from KMC have for us and we will get stuck into the test.”
Alex Lowes (22). Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Alex Lowes, stated: “There will be some stuff for 2024 that we are testing, just some ideas. So that will take half a day because we have only one full day of testing left. The other half of that day will be just getting back up to speed and trying a couple of things on the rear of the bike, to try to improve edge grip. Marcel my crew chief has a couple of ideas and I’ve been speaking quite a lot with him about a plan to improve that. Hopefully the conditions will be hot. That’s the target and I am looking forward to getting back into action. It was not the best round in Autodrom Most for me recently, but we’ve got four rounds left. I want to get back on the podiums to finish the year strongly. There are some good tracks coming up for me and the Kawasaki. We haven’t met our goals at the start of this year, so a good end to this year will be what’s needed to set us up for next year as well. We have one eye on 2024, one eye on the final four rounds of this season and a couple of ideas that Marcel has to improve things. So, it’s gonna be a busy day of testing as we only have one day left. It’s gonna be nice to get back out on the bike before Magny Cours.”
Guim Roda, KRT Team Manager, stated: “Now we go back to work after the Autodrom Most race weekend. This test will be a good chance to prepare for Magny Cours and the last rounds of the year, and at the same time we will introduce new ideas to improve the bike for the 2024 season. Unfortunately, in the year we needed them the most, we only can test for 10 days. We have already used nine days, so even though we will be at the track for two days, Jonathan and Alex will test only day each. We’ll work with Florian Marino on the first day, and we’ll give Adrian Huertas the opportunity to test the WorldSBK bike, to see his abilities. We promised him in Most if he made the WorldSSP podium we would give him the chance to test. He could not achieve a podium, but finally we considered he deserved the chance, so let’s see how he manages it.”
Fabio Quartararo (20). Photo courtesy Monster Energy Yamaha.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Intent on Competitive Performance at Catalan GP
Montmeló (Spain), 30th August 2023
The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team gear up for a busy two weeks. The team have travelled to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for this weekend‘s Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya. The team is extra motivated for Round 11, as they share the title sponsor. The event will be directly followed by the Gran Premio di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini and the Misano MotoGP Official Test.
The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team are excited to start Round 11 of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship. The Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya shares the title sponsor with the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team, making the crew and riders all the more eager to put on a show.
Quartararo ranks 11th in the championship standings and is aiming to up the ante this weekend in Barcelona. The pace he had in Spielberg a fortnight ago gives him high hopes for Montmeló the coming weekend, which is a circuit where he and his Yamaha excel. The Frenchman has had his fair share of success at the Catalan GP. He secured a win there in 2018 in the Moto2 class, followed this up with a second place in the premier class in 2019, and added a MotoGP win in 2020 and 2022. He aims to pay the Montmeló podium another visit this weekend.
Morbidelli holds 12th place in the championship. This weekend he plans on finding a solid base set-up early on, as he is determined to get in strong results in the Practice and qualifying to improve his starting position. The Italian hasn‘t scored a top-3 finish at Catalunya yet in the MotoGP class but came close in 2020, when he finished fourth. Having been able to engage in battles at the previous round in Spielberg, the number-21 rider got a taste for battling with the competition, and he is keen to do it again this weekend.
Work to create the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya began in 1989. Two years later, the track was opened, and it soon became a crowd favourite after hosting its first MotoGP race in 1992. With an exciting 4.6km layout consisting of 14 corners (six left, eight right), the Catalan round is known to produce thrilling races.
Those who want to know the key to doing a fast lap in Montmeló can watch this week‘s MotoGP eSport video.
MASSIMO MEREGALLI
Team Director
There‘s a busy two weeks coming up: back-to-back rounds in Montmeló and Misano, which are important rounds for our team, and then the Misano test. But first things first: we need to focus on getting good results here this weekend. We are usually quite competitive in Catalunya. In theory, this track plays more into our strengths. It‘s also a Monster Energy-sponsored GP again, so we have a lot of motivation to get to work.
FABIO QUARTARARO
I rode one of the best races of my life here last year. Barcelona is one of my favourite circuits. I like Montmeló. It‘s usually a good track for me, and I always enjoy riding here. Let‘s see if we can get some good results and bring some smiles to the team and my family.
FRANCO MORBIDELLI
I had fun during the previous race weekend because we were engaging in battles. I want to build onto that and keep the momentum going. I felt good during the Austrian GP Race. I was gaining, but I arrived late to the group in front of me. This weekend we will hopefully improve the results on Friday and on Saturday morning so we can start a bit more from towards the front of the grid.
Jason O'Halloran. Photo courtesy Kawasaki Motors UK.
Jason O’Halloran to join Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki alongside Max Cook for 2024 British Superbike Championship title challenge
Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki are delighted to announce that 26-time race winner Australian Jason O’Halloran will be joining the team for the 2024 season. One of the most experienced and successful riders on the grid, Jason joins the Team Green family with both parties eager to put the Ninja ZX-10RR on the top step of the podium as he and the team compete for their maiden title.
Having challenged for the Bennetts British Superbike Championship title over the past few seasons, finishing runner up in 2020, Jason brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Coventry-based Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki team. Using Jason’s insights, the team is eager to get off to a flying start when testing gets underway with the aim of further developing the race-winning Ninja ZX-10RR into a genuine Championship contender.
The team’s highly regarded rookie, Max Cook, will be continuing with the team for 2024 alongside the experienced Australian. Making his debut in the ultra-competitive superbike class this year, the 20-year-old youngster has already impressed the paddock, particularly at Thruxton, where he missed out on his maiden podium by fractions of a second.
Kawasaki UK would like to take this opportunity to thank Lee Jackson, who is departing the team on good terms. His hard work, results, and support over the past six years has helped develop Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki into the BSB stalwarts that they are today, and we wish him the best for the next chapter in his career.
Nigel Snook, Team Owner, Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki
“We are excited to have Jason joining us for the 2024 season and must thank Alan Boyden from AJN Steelstock for his help in supporting Jason’s move to our team. We all know that Jason is one of the strongest and most successful riders on the grid. We believe the combination of Jason and a further improved Ninja ZX-10RR will put us in a strong position to be fighting for race wins and the British Superbike Championship crown.
‘’Of course, while we are looking forward to Jason joining us, it does mean that sadly we are parting company with Lee Jackson. Lee has been part of the FS-3 family for six years, and we have shared many high points together, from Superstock podiums and wins through to his first BSB wins at Oulton Park last year. We wish Lee all the best for 2024 and beyond and will be giving him our full support until the final chequered flag falls at Brands Hatch in October.”
Jason O’Halloran
‘’To have a 2024 contract signed in August is a great feeling, but it’s an even better feeling knowing I will be joining FS-3 Racing and Kawasaki. With my current team coming to a close at the end of 2023, it was always going to mean finding a new home for next season.
‘’When I first met with Nigel, Darren and the team at FS-3, I immediately had a good feeling. I already knew from the years competing against them of the level they operate at, but once I visited the team workshop and sat down with the guys, I knew that it was a place I could continue to push myself and further my career in BSB. With the support of Alan Boyden from AJN Steelstock, we are all going to be in a position to push onto a new level and chase success in the 2024 BSB championship. I’d like to thank Nigel and Darren from FS-3, Ross from Kawasaki UK and Alan from AJN Steelstock for making this possible. I’m excited about the future’’.
Max Cook (left) and Jason O’Halloran (right). Photo courtesy Kawasaki UK.
Max Cook
‘’I’m so happy to be staying with the team for 2024. This year has been a huge learning curve for me, but I think I’ve adapted well, and things have really come together over the past few rounds. I’m confident that I will be up at the sharp end next year and being alongside Jason is a great incentive. I think I’ve shocked some people this year, including myself, as to how quickly I’ve learnt to ride a superbike. I can’t thank Nigel enough for always having faith in me and I’m already looking forward to next year’’.
Ross Burridge, Head of Marketing & Racing Department, Kawasaki UK
“It is fantastic to be welcoming a rider of Jason’s calibre to the Team Green family. His credentials and success in BSB speak for themselves. The combination of Jason with the proven Ninja ZX-10RR gives us real confidence that the Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki team will be battling for race wins from the start of the season!
‘’It’s also great to be continuing with Max, who has already proven himself to be a star of tomorrow. Sharing a garage with Jason next year will only help him to take the next step and regularly challenge for podiums”.
Marco Bezzecchi (72). Photo courtesy Mooney VR46 Racing Team.
MARCO BEZZECCHI AND MOONEY VR46 RACING TEAM TOGETHER IN 2024
Agreement signed for the next season: Marco will race with the Ducati Desmosedici GP of the Tavullia Team
Tavullia (Italy), Wednesday August 30th 2023 – Marco Bezzecchi will race with the Mooney VR46 Racing Team in 2024 on a Ducati Desmosedici GP. The rider from Rimini, currently third in the overall standings with 183 points, and author of two wins and three podiums (four podiums in the Sprint) in the current season, will be a rider of the Tavullia Team for the fifth consecutive year (debut in Moto2 in 2020).
A path of progressive growth that leads him first to touch the Championship podium in Moto2 in 2020 (P4), a goal he then achieved in 2021 with the third place and sealed with his MotoGP debut in 2022. A season in which Marco impresses by conquering the title of Rookie of the Year, a podium (P2 at Dutch GP) and a pole position (Thai GP).
A natural choice and a proof of continuity to count on a working group – and on the support of Ducati – again next year. A crucial aspect for Marco that allows him to conquer the first win in the Top class (Argentina GP) of his career and in the ten-year history of the Team and thus show his talent and being a real protagonist of the 2023 Championship.
MARCO BEZZECCHI – 72
“I am really happy to confirm that in 2024 I will be on track with the Mooney VR46 Racing Team. This Team has been crucial to my career until now and into the future. I arrived here in 2020, in Moto2, we then landed together in 2022 in MotoGP and this year we had an incredible season so far. Continuing to grow in this working group, with the support of Ducati, is the most natural choice for me. 2024 brings with it many expectations, but right now I want to focus on this season. We are currently fighting for the podium in the Championship, we have the Team Title open with Luca and I am sure that everyone in the Team will give their all, even more than they have done so far, to achieve these goals. Thanks to Vale, Uccio, Pablo, the VR46 Riders Academy and all those who made this possible. Remaining in the Vale Team is a great motivation as well as a pride”.
ALESSIO SALUCCI, TEAM DIRECTOR
“I cannot hide the satisfaction of having signed this agreement with Marco. Not only because he represents a bet won within a long growth path in our Team from Moto2, but for the entire working group and also for all our partners, whom we thank for their support, and the fans who follow us. It was essential to be able to continue another year and I have to thank all those who collaborate with the management of the Team, Vale and Pablo for the collective work that has led us to achieve this goal. I’m happy because I know how much means for Marco to stay here in our Family. As a Team, together with Ducati, we will give him all the resources and commitment available to continue working with the same serenity and Team spirit that has allowed us to achieve extraordinary goals this season”.
PABLO NIETO, TEAM MANAGER
“As a Team Manager, the human aspect of a working group that spends most of the year away from home has always been a crucial aspect to take into consideration. Reason that pushed us to do our best to reach this agreement to extend the contract for another year with Marco. A rider who has really impressed from all points of view since his debut in the Top class in 2022. The signing of this contract is a source of great pride for me to share with all the people who work in the Team, with Vale, Uccio, Ducati, who will support us as best they can, and our partners who make this possible. We continue to work and stay focused: we have two important goals to achieve this season before thinking about 2024″.
Brad Hendry (616) at High Plains Raceway. Photo by Kelly Vernell, courtesy MRA.
Hendry Wins Again, Rizzo Clinches Race of the Rockies GTU Class Championship
Byers, CO, August 27th, 2023 – The sixth race of the 2023 MRA Championship Series took place at High Plains Raceway over the weekend of August 26-27th on their 1.86-mile North Course configuration. The weather this weekend made for ideal racing conditions as temperature hovered around the mid 80’s and the wind was almost nonexistent, a rarity at High Plains.
The Race of the Rockies (RoR) Qualifying on Sunday went off without a hitch. Ray Thornton, continuing his excellent form, broke the all-time RoR qualifying record for North Course with a time of (1:12.608) and secured pole position. The previous record of (1:12.762) by Ryan Burke had stood since 2017. Brad Hendry qualified second with a time of (1:13.247) followed by James Wilkerson (1:13.277).
The start of RoR saw Hendry, Wilkerson, and Mike Applegate get excellent starts, and going into Turn One nobody wanted to give an inch. Thornton didn’t get the start he hoped for and quickly found himself in fourth place by the time the pack reached the back straight. Hendry, staying true to his form from the last round, easily made his way to the front to take the lead after lap one. Once out in front, Hendry quickly dropped his times down into the 1:12’s and started to pull a gap on the rest of the field. Wilkerson and Applegate were dicing it up for second and third position and by lap three Applegate made a clean pass on Wilkerson. By this point Hendry had opened a 1.5 second lead and it was clear he had the best pace of the field. Applegate fought hard for the remainder of the race but was never able to get within striking distance of the leader. Hendy maintained the lead for the entirety of the race finishing seven seconds ahead of Applegate in second. Wilkerson rounded out the podium in third place. With one round remaining in the 2023 season, Thornton maintains his RoR championship lead by just six points over Applegate.
In Race of the Rockies GTU, Salvatore Rizzo got an excellent start to lead going into Turn One followed closely by Justen Behmer and Kevin Caputo. By the end of the first lap, Dennis Stowers had carved his way from last on the grid to overtake Caputo for third position. Rizzo, Behmer, and Stowers quickly grouped up and proceeded to break away from the rest of the field. For the remainder of the race, the leading trio stayed within half a second of one another. Stowers was unable to find a way around Behmer and neither one could get close enough to Rizzo to make a clean pass. Rizzo secured his second RoR GTU win of the season and clinched the 2023 RoR GTU Class Championship. Behmer finished in second and Stowers in third.
Next up, the MRA heads back to High Plains Raceway in Byers, CO for Round 7 on September 23-24 for a full weekend of racing including the SuperStreet event on Saturday afternoon. SuperStreet gives street riders the opportunity to experience motorcycle road racing with minimal cost and preparation. See https://www.mra-racing.org/superstreet/superstreet-information for details.
The MRA welcomes racers from other clubs across the nation. If you’re a currently licensed racer, we have several reciprocity agreements in place along with very competitive pricing on license & entries to our 28 classes. Click here for MRA membership & entry information.
The Motorcycle Roadracing Association is dedicated to promoting safe and competitive motorcycle road racing events for enthusiasts in Colorado and the surrounding area. For more information go to http://www.mra-racing.org/.
Jared Mees (1), Dallas Daniels (32), Brandon Robinson (44), and JD Beach (95) in action at the Springfield Mile in 2022. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy AFT.
Showdown at Springfield to Decide 2023 Grand National Championship
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 29, 2023) – It all comes down to this. One of most competitive and engaging championship battles in the history of Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, has been waged over 16 rounds with its two leading protagonists producing a combined 28 podiums and 13 wins. And yet, with just the series’ crown jewel event – the Mission Springfield Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties – remaining to determine the victor, the separation at the top is a single point.
While 2023 has witnessed two of the greatest single-season performances in the 70-year history of the Grand National Championship, only one rider will be crowned the Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle champion this Labor Day weekend when the season wraps up with a decisive doubleheader at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois, on Saturday September 2, and Sunday, September 3.
This year’s title fight has it all. The #1 plate has been vigorously defended by one of the most decorated riders of all time in Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750), who is looking to add to his slam dunk Hall of Fame résumé. By contrast, an incredible campaign has been mounted by one of the most promising riders to emerge in decades, Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), who is in contention to secure the first of what could one day prove to be multiple premier-class championships.
The championship fight is equally compelling from team and equipment standpoints with the factory Indian Motorcycle squad and its purpose-built FTR750 racer in position to earn a seventh consecutive title. Meanwhile, Estenson Racing is aiming to deliver Yamaha its first undivided Grand National Championship in nearly half a century with its production-based MT-07 DT.
Another feature this showdown boasts in no short supply is a list of potential spoilers, anyone of whom could tip the balance in either direction.
That possibility is only magnified by the venue, which tends to produce extremely close and unpredictable racing; In the most recent ten Springfield Miles, eight have been decided by less than a second. Of those eight, six have featured at least three riders within a second of victory, four with four or more, two with seven or more, and one with a full ten racers taking the checkered flag within a second of the winner.
Spearheading the spoilers are two-time Grand National Champion Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke) and two-time Springfield Mile winner Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750).
And like Bauman and Robinson, JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) and Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750) have each stood upon a Mile podium at least once in the past two seasons and rank inside this season’s championship top six.
Seventh-ranked Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 Wally Brown Racing/JMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) and eighth-ranked Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing/2 Wheelz KTM 790 Duke) also merit special attention. Due to an injury suffered by Jesse Janisch, Vanderkooi will compete aboard the WBR KTM Duke that debuted with a podium on a Mile a season ago. Meanwhile, the younger Bauman has previously finished on the podium at the Springfield Mile, coming within 0.149 seconds of victory in the aforementioned epic 2019 contest in which ten riders were still in contention for the win as they exited the final corner.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
Reigning class champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) enters this weekend’s finale in a commanding position and the heavy favorite to successfully defend his Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER crown.
Kopp boasts a 35-points advantage built upon seven race wins with just 50 points left in play. That puts him within striking distance of not only joining Dallas Daniels as just the second rider to claim back-to-back titles in the class, but both match and surpass Daniels’ single-season wins record with a weekend sweep.
Kopp has already eliminated the title hopes of all his challengers save the Estenson Racing duo of Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha). While Brunner and Drane would need plenty of skill and luck to catch the leader, they also need to remain cognizant of how the standings stack up behind them.
Six riders are still in the mix for championship runner-up honors, with Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F), Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F), and Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) also maintaining at least mathematical possibilities of finishing second overall.
Among that grouping, Drane and Lowe split the wins in the season’s prior three Miles. Meanwhile, Saathoff finished second twice and third once, while Whale, Gauthier, and Brunner racked up a combined four top fives.
Several other gifted pilots will look to end their seasons on a high note, including regular frontrunners Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450) and James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450).
There will be plenty to keep fans entertained at the track, including the Kids Zone, a CAT heavy equipment simulator, expansive food and beverage options, and free motorcycle parking. And following Saturday’s Main Events, fans are invited to attend the Springfield Mile Post-Race Party presents by Progressive featuring the high-energy live music of the Brandy Kristin Band.
Angela Savage will serve as the weekend’s Grand Marshal. Savage is the daughter of the late David “Swede” Savage, a former Grand National Championship competitor who lost his life 50 years ago in a crash suffered while battling for the lead in the 1973 Indy 500.
General Admission Bleacher tickets are just $30 (kids 12 and under free), and there are a variety of upgraded ticket options to select from, including the VIP Ticket, which includes a reserved seat in the grandstand of choice, food, beverage, and pit pass for $150.
Pit Pass Upgrades are also available for purchase for non-VIP tickets, which provide all-day access to the pits where fans can scope out the world’s fastest dirt track motorcycles and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport.
Fans who purchase Saturday and Sunday tickets will receive a $5 discount at checkout. To reserve your tickets today, visit:
Gates will open for fans at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 p.m. PT) both days with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. PT).
For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FansChoice.tv is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://www.fanschoice.tv.
FOX Sports coverage of Mission Springfield Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere back-to-back on FS1 on Sunday, September 10, starting at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT).
Marc Marquez (93) and Joan Mir (36) as seen at Red Bull Ring. Photo courtesy Repsol Honda.
Hunting for a home boost – Marquez and Mir prepare for Catalan GP
The second half of the 2023 MotoGP World Championship is set to come in thick and fast, the Catalan GP starting a run of ten races in 13 weeks.
Round 11 arrives at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, a special round for the Repsol Honda Team and both its riders. The 4.66-kilometre-long track has been a mainstay of the MotoGP calendar since the early 90s and has seen Honda take a total of 23 wins across all classes, including ten in the premier class with the most recent coming in 2019.
Marc Marquez was author to this 2019 victory on his way to the World Championship that year, one of two wins he has achieved at the track just a few hours from his hometown. The weekend for the eight-time World Champion will follow a similar structure to the previous two, Marquez working with the Repsol Honda Team and HRC engineers in a calm and defined manner to make further progress. This approach was rewarded with a return to the points last time out in Austria.
The Barcelona weekend is also the home round for Joan Mir, hailing from Palma just off the coast. It’s a circuit which has seen the #36 achieve some of his most consistent results in the premier class with two fourths, a second place and a worst finish of sixth. Mir’s final results in Austria did not reflect the work and progress he achieved during the weekend, able to consistently fight for top Honda honours but running foul of bad luck in the race. Continuing along this path will be crucial for the 2020 MotoGP World Champion as he aims to put on a strong showing for his home fans.
After the weekend, the Repsol Honda Team will head directly to Italy for the San Marino Grand Prix – the penultimate European race and a final in-season test.
Marc Marquez
“The weekend in Barcelona is always a special one, seeing all of the stands full of people and as my home race I love to see all the fans there. No matter what, the objective is to put on a great show for everyone there and give them an enjoyable and memorable weekend. From our side, there’s work to do and we need to keep the calm approach we have had in the past few weekends. In Austria we saw that this way of working let us get through the weekend and gather good data for the project. We go again and begin a busy end to the year.”
Joan Mir
“I am looking forward to the weekend in Montmelo, my home GP. Of course I want to produce a good result in front of the local fans but we need to keep on working. In Austria we had an overall good weekend that unfortunately ended in not the best way. I am confident that we can have another weekend where we are fighting to be the top Honda.”
More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing:
Irwin double closes down Bridewell as 16 riders remain in title fight ahead of the Showdown
Glenn Irwin. Photo courtesy MSVR.
Glenn Irwin completed a winning double in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship round at Cadwell Park to almost half his BeerMonster Ducati teammate’s advantage at the top of the standings with 16 riders remaining in mathematical title contention ahead of the Showdown.
Irwin came into the final round of the Main Season trailing Bridewell by 26.5 points and after a dominant double and a second place, he heads to Oulton Park in Cheshire with just a 14.5-point deficit. However, with the points’ value now increasing across the Showdown, the top 16 riders in the standings, completed by rookie Max Cook, remain in contention with a maximum of 255 points available across the final three rounds.
The annual August Bank Holiday round in Lincolnshire produced three intense races, and whilst the BeerMonster Ducati pairing were victorious, six riders celebrated podium finishes across the weekend for four different teams.
Irwin had got his weekend off to a flying start with his first Cadwell Park race win in the BikeSocial Sprint race yesterday, holding off the LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha pairing of Kyle Ryde and Ryan Vickers to celebrate in style his 200th Bennetts BSB race start.
In race two, Irwin was focused on a repeat performance and after running eighth in the early stages, he was into second by the final lap. He then made a move on Ryde at Coppice to take the lead, which he held to the chequered flag with his LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha rival, and McAMS Yamaha’s Jason O’Halloran completing the podium line up.
Tommy Bridewell (46) leads Glenn Irwin (2) Leon Haslam (91), and Kyle Ryde (77) at Cadwell Park. Photo courtesy MSVR.
In the final race of the Main Season, Ryde and Irwin were again fighting for the lead in the early stages of the race, but the final eight laps became a freight train of five riders who ended the race covered by less than a second.
Bridewell took the lead from Irwin with three laps remaining and was able to deny his teammate the treble, and there were celebrations for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team who completed the podium with Leon Haslam. Ryde, Lee Jackson and O’Halloran just missed out, as the top five ended the race separated by 0.947s.
Bridewell and Irwin remain at the top of the standings, with Ryde, O’Halloran and Haslam the leading five contenders ahead of Oulton Park as four teams feature in the top five ahead of the opening round of the Showdown on September 15/16/17.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Cadwell Park, Race 2 result:
Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) +0.468s
Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +0.770s
Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team) +1.175s
Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) +1.722s
Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) +2.485s
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +7.318s
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team) +7.611s
Storm Stacey (Starline Racing Kawasaki) +7.904s
Tom Neave (Honda Racing UK) +12.923s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Cadwell Park, Race 3 result:
Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati)
Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) +0.057s
Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team) +0.491s
Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) +0.715s
Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) +0.947s
Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +1.651s
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +5.588s
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team) +7.117s
Storm Stacey (Starline Racing Kawasaki) +7.721s
Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team) +19.749s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) 303
Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 288.5
Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 252
Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 248.5
Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team) 227
Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) 216.5
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team) 202
Ryan Vickers (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 189
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 186
Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Racing Yamaha) 116
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Glenn Irwin
BeerMonster Ducati
“I’ve had a good feeling throughout the whole year. I was looking forward to coming here and we worked very well as a team throughout the whole weekend, the guys were fantastic so thanks to them and the crowd for their support.
“The last couple of laps of that last race were all in! The fans got treated to a typical BSB race, we were all flat out! I lost the front a good few times, I lost it in the Mountain on the last lap as well, Tommy was pretty much the same over at the Gooseneck. I thought I had him lined up at the chicane but the bike got a little snap.
“All in all, we look at it as a weekend, as part of a journey; one race doesn’t define a weekend, to bring the gap down to 14.5 was what we needed.
“The championship is very much set up. I think BSB has been an absolute treat so far this year and I think the fans are in for an absolutely fantastic last three rounds. Let’s get big crowds like we’ve had all year as it’s been great.
“I’m going to enjoy it, I’ll keep doing what I’m doing and keep working hard. I’ve got a very good feeling the trophy’s going to come to Northern Ireland for the very first time.”
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Photo by Kohei Hirota.
Advantage Bagnaia: can the field fight back in Barcelona?
The pace is hotting up and so is Pecco’s form. The first back-to-back of the coming crescendo is GO!
Monday, 28 August 2023
The season is about to light up in a stunning crescendo to the fight for the crown, with the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya hosting the first in a back-to-back with Misano before we head for India, Japan, and two triple headers across three continents to bring the curtain down. The form on show for Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) showed no signs of feeling the pressure last time out though, with a perfect weekend seeing the number 1 sweep the board. Now it’s on the chasing pack to get the bit between their teeth and see if they can cut that gap, with Barcelona the first stop in a stunning final half of 2023.
Francesco Bagnaia (1). Photo courtesy Ducati.
The closest challengers
We could be forgiven for having expected a slightly different Martinator: Judgment Day for Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) in Austria, but what looked like it could be a key chance to hit back turned into a tougher weekend. Track limits bit him in qualifying, he was judged to have played the wrong kind of starring role in that Turn 1 incident in the Tissot Sprint, and then had his Grand Prix race hampered by a Long Lap to compound the mountain of starting P12. He’s still second overall, but that gap has grown once more. Still, Martin is one of the few on the grid who has gone toe-to-toe with Pecco this season and come out on top, in some style too, and he’s no stranger to a forced reset. He also took second last year in Barcelona.
Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), meanwhile, also lost out in that Turn 1 Sprint domino effect in Austria. And those were valuable points in play as the number 72 is now only six points off Martin. But sometimes, that’s the luck – or lack thereof – of the draw, and Bezzecchi reset on Sunday to grab a valuable haul and another podium. Heading into Barcelona, he’s somewhat of an unknown quantity too, as last season he crashed out. But he’s been slow nowhere so far in 2023…
In the leading postcode, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) is hanging on. It’s now a sizeable gap from the South African down to fifth place as he grabbed a double podium on KTM home turf, and vs the rest of the field he was doing far more than hanging on – he left them in the dust except for that one pesky red machine up ahead. If KTM want to beat Ducati, Binder did that seven times out of eight in Austria – twice. Now in Barcelona, can they do it again, or similar? It’s a very different track to the Red Bull Ring… but so is Jerez and there, he was two tenths off. Teammate Jack Miller, meanwhile, is going for a full reset once the lights go out. The Australian started just off the front row in Austria and then positively plummeted on Sunday, so one-lap speed? Check. Race pace? The mission. We’ve seen it in Jerez though, so watch this space.
Keep an eye on…
One rider who leaves Austria with a newly minted return to the top five is Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) as he impressed on Sunday to dispatch Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), and Marquez himself has impressed of late with that Sprint win at Silverstone only dampened by a mechanical issue thereafter. Marini has won in Moto2™ in Catalunya and took sixth in MotoGP™ last year, and AM73’s record at the track is excellent: a Moto3™ win and two Moto2™ wins. Can they bother the podium battle?
Aprilia also had a fairly solid Austria, all things considered, mostly that it’s supposed to be a tougher venue for their machine. But Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) had PACE and put it on the front row, with those starts just hampering the ultimate result. It’s something the Noale factory say they’re working on, and if they can solve that, the mountain gets a lot less steep. For Aleix Espargaro, meanwhile, Austria was pretty solid and now it’s time for a true home round – with the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya just up the road from his hometown of Granollers. Last year his speed was enough for second place before that late error of judgement, and he’ll come into this one looking for some revenge. Both Viñales and Aleix Espargaro are likely to lay down some serious gauntlets this weekend.
For the CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team Aprilia contingent, the story remains somewhat familiar: Raul Fernandez wants to move forward, and Miguel Oliveira just wants some luck. For those who don’t believe in luck in racing, Aleix Espargaro doesn’t either – unless you’re talking about Miguel Oliveira’s 2023 season. That sole exception is truly true as the Portuguese rider has seemed to find misfortune through zero fault of his own again and again this year. And what almost makes it even more frustrating? He’s been quick regardless. He’s still impressing and at some point, surely, that luck will turn. He’s a former winner in Barcelona too.
Going back to that true hometown vibe, it’s as true for Pol Espargaro as it is for his brother Aleix. The GASGAS name is also racing at home with Pol and GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 teammate Augusto Fernandez, and both will want some glory. Espargaro took that impressive Sprint result in Austria as he still gets back in the groove, and Fernandez then took a point after a late penalty for his teammate on Sunday in a mixed bag for the team, but a nice stat for Fernandez. He remains one of only two riders to have scored in every GP race so far this season. What have they got in the locker in Barcelona, and as the mystery rolls on for who will be where with KTM and GASGAS next season?
Looking for more
The first name on the list here has got to be Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), who is fifth in the Championship and has a season littered with podiums so far… but it just didn’t come together in Austria. Can he fight back in Barcelona, with his future now confirmed? Can Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) move forward and keep his name in the hat? And can Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) really start to challenge as his experience on this new machine increases?
Zarco’s new home for 2024, meanwhile, we now know is Honda, and they’re another camp looking for steps forward. There was one small milestone last time out though: Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) scored points on Sunday for the first time since Malaysia last season. It was in P12, but it’s something ticked off. Next mission: top ten? More? This is home turf for Marquez so he could be pushing risk vs reward that bit more. Teammate Joan Mir, meanwhile, wants that finish after a crash out in Austria and also races on home turf. Iker Lecuona too, and he’s back in subbing for Alex Rins at LCR Honda Castrol. On the other side of that box, LCR Honda Idemitsu’s Takaaki Nakagami will just want a little less drama than Turn 1 last year, and will want to get back into those points after a tougher couple of weekends.
Last year holds much better memories for some on the grid, not least of all the winner: Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™). It pays to remember that Marc Marquez has already been on pole and the Sprint podium this season just as it pays to remember Quartararo fought for the Championship last year to the final round – and won a good few races, including this one. It has not been decades, so can they make those steps back forward? Will the venue still prove a good one for the Frenchman and Yamaha? Assen saw him further forward once again so Barcelona could prove similar. For teammate Franco Morbidelli too, as he looks to keep those points rolling in and get back in the top ten.
SHOWTIME IN BARCELONA
The Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya has MotoGP™ last on the menu once more:
Tissot Sprint: Saturday 15:00 (GMT +2)
Grand Prix Race: Sunday 14:00 (GMT +2)
Can Acosta hit back on home turf?
After more than a year, Celestino Vietti (Fantic Racing) got back on the top step in Styria… and that was most definitely not in the script for Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo). The stars were supposed to have aligned: taking the Championship lead right before Red Bull and KTM’s home race, breaking the lap record on Friday, taking pole position despite that crash… the stage was set, but it wasn’t to be. A couple of moments – his own at Turn 3 and then another getting extremely close to Vietti’s rear wheel late on – saw the number 37 forced to call off the dogs and settle for second. And guess who won at Catalunya last year? Celestino Vietti.
Acosta, however, still extended that lead as Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) only came home sixth in Spielberg, and that’s starting to become a problem. A few races ago the Italian was banking podiums on tougher days, but he’ll really need to start hitting back soon to stay in Acosta’s postcode in the Championship. Jake Dixon (Asterius GASGAS Aspar Team) also had a gap to the podium in Austria and will want more in Catalunya, and Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) is on an even tougher run. Both Lopez and teammate Fermin Aldeguer, who won in Silverstone, will want a starring role.
Then there’s Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia). The Japanese rider has now taken two podiums from three races after injury plagued his pre-season and start to the year… so can he find that bit more again in Barcelona? We’ll find out on Sunday at 12:15 (GMT +2)!
Öncü & Sasaki ready for another charge at Holgado
Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) had been a frontrunner in Moto3™ for a good few seasons before he finally took that maiden win in Germany, and only a few races later he’s now added a second Grand Prix victory – in style and on important turf. He’s now third overall after that final corner pickpocket and another dose of bad luck, this time technical, for Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing), and Öncü will be looking to gain more ground again this weekend.
Championship leader Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3), however, remains steadfast in his consistency, speed and racecraft. In only his second full season he’s not giving the veterans any margin at all and Barcelona is another track he knows well. It’s also, interestingly, the last of three tracks before we head from India – new turf for all – to Motegi and the start of a run of venues Öncü and Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) have been racing quite a while longer.
Speaking of Sasaki, it’s now six podiums in a row for the Japanese rider, but it’s also a run of chasing the carrot to perfection before just getting pipped at the flag. He seems zen about it, however, confident it’ll come – so can he keep that roll of podiums going until the dice roll his way? Or will that be in Barcelona anyway? His teammate, Collin Veijer, needs a shoutout too after that speed in Austria.
Finally, David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team), after winning and then coming back down to Earth with a crash out the lead, will also be one to watch, eager to get back to bothering the more veteran runners in that podium fight. Tune in for more Moto3™ action this weekend, with lights out at 11:00 (GMT +2) on Sunday!
Cameron Beaubier, as seen at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Early this morning, Tytlers Cycle Racing made the bombshell announcement that five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier is sitting out the remainder of the 2023 season, but that announcement left a couple of gaps to fill in.
As far as most people knew, Beaubier only suffered serious facial lacerations when he collided with Ashton Yates during MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Race Two August 20 at Pittsburgh International Race Complex (a.k.a. PittRace) and his face hit his BMW’s windscreen and top triple clamp. But it turns out that the California suffered other injuries, including his second concussion in three weeks.
“It’s funny because I didn’t really realize that I hit my head that good because I was so focused on my face bleeding,” Beaubier told Roadracingworld.com in a telephone interview Monday. “Then I got home, and I was having those same [concussion] symptoms I had after Brainerd, which wasn’t very fun.”
Beaubier suffered a concussion and was ruled unfit after crashing out of MotoAmerica Superbike Race One July 29 at Brainerd International Raceway.
“Like I said in the release, I’m just looking at the big picture,” added Beaubier. “I thumped my head twice within a couple of weeks of each other. Obviously, there’s nothing to gain. The Championship is over. I’m just going to heal up and get ready for next year.
“And I’ve been dealing with some [left] knee stuff [from the crash at PittRace]. I just got an MRI this morning. So, I’m waiting to hear back from that and go from there.”
It was known for a long time during this past off-season that Beeaubier would be riding with Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW in 2023. When the official announcement finally came out, it did not mention the length of Beaubier’s deal – two years, which makes this decision a little easier, he said.
“It’s nice talking to [Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW Team Owner] Michael Kiley,” said Beaubier. “He understands it. He gets racing. It’s nice to have a supportive team owner like that who realizes what’s going on.”
Alex Lowes during a test at MotorLand Aragon earlier in 2023. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Editorial Note: Some teams scheduled to participate in the test include Aruba.it Racing Ducati, Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati, Bonovo Action BMW, Kawasaki Racing Team, Motocorsa Racing Ducati, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, Team GoEleven Ducati, and Team HRC Honda.
Aragon Test Precedes Season Restart
As the long summer break in WorldSBK race action approaches its conclusion there will be a short test session for the official Kawasaki FIM Superbike World Championship team, at Motorland Aragon, between 29-30 August.
With just one day remaining from their mandated limit of ten days of testing, Rea and Lowes will only ride on the final day of the test, Wednesday 30 August.
Lowes’s regular rider coach and team development rider since 2022, Florian Marino, will test the official Ninja ZX-10RR on Tuesday 29 August. He also has great experience in the WorldSBK paddock and the EWC series in his own right.
Florian will be joined on track by MTM Kawasaki WorldSSP rider, Adrian Huertas, as a recognition of winning the WorldSSP300 championship on a Kawasaki in 2021 and his increasingly strong performances since he made the jump to WorldSSP racing in 2022.
Iberia in general has been suffering from heatwaves recently, but despite the tough conditions the KRT squad will look forward to some very hot track and ambient conditions to close-in on the thus-far elusive optimum settings for exceedingly high temperature races.
Motorland Aragon features a 5.077km long WorldSBK track layout, but it is also an extensive motorsport and testing facility in general. It has hosted several WorldSBK rounds in recent years and will do so again in 2023 between 22-24 September. It was also the venue of a recent KRT test session, held in late June.
The next round of the 2023 WorldSBK championship itself takes place at another regular WorldSBK circuit, Magny Cours in France, between 8-10 September.
Jonathan Rea (65). Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “This Aragon test comes at a really valuable time because with Magny Cours fast approaching after a long summer break, it’s always beneficial to get back into the swing of things and into the flow of riding my ZX-10RR. I will be trying to get the rhythm back but also have one eye on the Motorland race weekend that comes soon after the Magny Cours race. So it’s all about trying to build into this last part of the season and being strong. We’ll continue testing some items that we’ve previously tried. And with one day left on my testing allocation we only have one day to use. We expect hot weather, which is also good to test in to try to further improve our bike settings. We will just keep working. The next three rounds are going to come in quick succession, so it’s important to hit the ground running. We’ll see what the engineers from KMC have for us and we will get stuck into the test.”
Alex Lowes (22). Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Alex Lowes, stated: “There will be some stuff for 2024 that we are testing, just some ideas. So that will take half a day because we have only one full day of testing left. The other half of that day will be just getting back up to speed and trying a couple of things on the rear of the bike, to try to improve edge grip. Marcel my crew chief has a couple of ideas and I’ve been speaking quite a lot with him about a plan to improve that. Hopefully the conditions will be hot. That’s the target and I am looking forward to getting back into action. It was not the best round in Autodrom Most for me recently, but we’ve got four rounds left. I want to get back on the podiums to finish the year strongly. There are some good tracks coming up for me and the Kawasaki. We haven’t met our goals at the start of this year, so a good end to this year will be what’s needed to set us up for next year as well. We have one eye on 2024, one eye on the final four rounds of this season and a couple of ideas that Marcel has to improve things. So, it’s gonna be a busy day of testing as we only have one day left. It’s gonna be nice to get back out on the bike before Magny Cours.”
Guim Roda, KRT Team Manager, stated: “Now we go back to work after the Autodrom Most race weekend. This test will be a good chance to prepare for Magny Cours and the last rounds of the year, and at the same time we will introduce new ideas to improve the bike for the 2024 season. Unfortunately, in the year we needed them the most, we only can test for 10 days. We have already used nine days, so even though we will be at the track for two days, Jonathan and Alex will test only day each. We’ll work with Florian Marino on the first day, and we’ll give Adrian Huertas the opportunity to test the WorldSBK bike, to see his abilities. We promised him in Most if he made the WorldSSP podium we would give him the chance to test. He could not achieve a podium, but finally we considered he deserved the chance, so let’s see how he manages it.”
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April 7, 2026
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