Adrian Huertas won FIM Supersport World Championship Race One Saturday at Circuito de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V2, the Spanish rider won the 18-lap race by 1.277 seconds.
Stefano Manzi was the runner-up on his Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing YZF-R6, and Marcel Schroetter placed third on his factory MV Agusta F3 800 RR.
Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise finished fifth on his Evan Bros. Yamaha.
WSS R1
Mattia Casadei won FIM MotoE World Championship Race Two Saturday at Algarve International Circuit, in Portugal. The LCR E-Team rider won the seven-lap race by just 0.066 second over Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE’s Hector Garzo. Oscar Gutierrez was a very close third, just 0.198 second behind Casadei, on his Axxis-MSI Ducati electric racebike.
MotoE R2
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Spinelli takes the spoils in dramatic first MotoE™ race of 2024
The Italian picks up where he left off to beat Garzo and Casadei in a close final lap – with drama aplenty for some fellow big hitters
Saturday, 23 March 2024
Nicholas Spinelli (Tech3 E-Racing) finished 2023 on the top step and that’s exactly how he’s started the 2024 FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship: with victory. The Italian held off a hard-charging Hector Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) and Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team) on a close final lap as the top three escaped at the front following some drama for key names in the first showdown of the season.
Garzo took the holeshot after a storming start from Row 2, with Spinelli and Casadei on his tail as polesitter Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) dropped a few positions initially. Over the line for the first time Garzo had held onto it too, denying a Spinelli attack and the Italian also ceding to Casadei and Granado. Next time round Granado then grabbed a 2-for-1 into Turn 1 to take the lead, but not long after the first big drama hit as he slid out. Not long after that there was even more, with Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE™) crashing out.
A close top four of Casadei, Spinelli, Garzo and Zaccone were then in the lead, with Openbank Aspar Team’s Jordi Torres in touch too. But another huge twist was yet to come. On the penultimate lap down into Turn 5, Zaccone was just that bit too close to Torres and tagged the back of the number 81, sending both sliding out across the run off. The Italian was later also given a Long Lap penalty for the incident.
And then there were three. Onto the final lap, it was close. Spinelli attacked and took the lead at Turn 1, keeping it tidy. Another big opportunity for Garzo and Casadei to try and hit back, Turn 5, was off the table too as yellow flags remained out following the Zaccone-Torres crash. As the final sector dawned, Garzo was tagged on to the Tech3 rider in the lead, but there was no way through. Spinelli kept it perfect to the line for the first win of 2024, with Garzo and Casadei completing the podium.
Fourth goes to the returning Lukas Tulovic (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™), with Kevin Zannoni (Openbank Aspar Team) completing the top five. Massimo Roccoli (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) beat Andrea Mantovani (Klint Forward Factory Team) to sixth. Kevin Manfredi (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) was just ahead of a solid debut for Chaz Davies (Aruba Cloud MotoE™ Racing Team), with his fellow rookie and teammate Armando Pontone completing the top ten in touch too.
Casadei strikes back in stunning Race 2 showdown
The reigning Champion takes to the top to pip Garzo and a spectacular charge from Gutierrez to complete the podium
Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team) is back on top of the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship standings after a stunning charge to victory in Race 2 in Portugal. The Italian got his elbows out and held off Hector Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) on the drag to the line, with rookie Oscar Gutierrez (Axxis-MSI) charging through to take third and his first MotoE™ podium.
Race 1 winner Nicholas Spinelli (Tech3 E-Racing) got the holeshot, holding off Garzo on take 2, but the Italian had already had some bad luck – judging his starting position ever so slightly wrong in the slot and given a double Long Lap not long after. Still, Garzo had to get it done on track before that, and the Spaniard shot past at Turn 1 on Lap 2 as Casadei overhauled teammate Eric Granado. Then, before Spinelli could take his penalty, the Italian suddenly slid out at Turn 10.
That left a gaggle of riders in a tight front group, and Casadei first struck for the front with four to go. Jordi Torres (Openbank Aspar Team), Alessandro Zaccone (Tech3 E-Racing) and Gutierrez were charging into contention too, and the latter didn’t even wait for Zaccone to serve his LLP given for his Race 1 incident, slicing past the Italian on his charge.
Garzo made the next move at the front, taking the lead back from Casadei as Gutierrez pipped past Torres, the rookie then onto the tail of Granado. But Granado’s elbows were also out and the Brazilian attacked his teammate at Turn 11, setting his sights on race leader Garzo.
But the main straight saw another shuffle as the slipstream came into play, and as the field fanned out Garzo kept his grip on the lead, with Gutierrez able to bag a two for one and slice up into second. Casadei headed teammate Granado, and it was going down to the wire.
Into Turn 1 for the final time, Gutierrez attacked Garzo as Casadei then shot past both, the Italian keeping a twitch under control to take over at the front. Garzo grabbed second again on the cutback too, and the top four locked into a tense push to the flag. But the reigning Champion just held on to take his first victory of the year, with Garzo’s second place putting him only a point behind on the way to Round 2. For Gutierrez, meanwhile, it’s a first ever MotoE™ podium in his first round as a full timer, having done two replacement rides in 2023.
Granado was forced to settle for fourth ahead of Torres and Lukas Tulovic (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™), with Kevin Zannoni (Openbank Aspar Team), Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE™), Andrea Mantovani (KLINT Forward Factory Team) and Massimo Roccoli (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) completing the top ten.
That’s a wrap on Round 2 of the 2024 FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship, with Casadei back on top on track and in the standings. But it’s by a single point as MotoE™ prepares to return at le Mans –with another 14 races still to play for in 2024.
Toprak Razgatlioglu won FIM Superbike World Championship Race One Saturday at Circuito de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his ROKiT BMW M 1000 RR, the Turkish racer won the 20-lap race by 0.868 second.
Nicolo Bulega was the runner-up on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati, and Bulega’s teammate, defending Champion Alvaro Bautista, placed third.
American Garrett Gerloff finished 12th on his Bonovo Action BMW.
WorldSBK R1
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Stunning first win for Toprak and BMW
Toprak Razgatlioglu claims his first victory for BMW
Double podium for Aruba.it Racing – Ducati with Alvaro Bautista recovering from the fifth row of the grid
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) concedes the Championship lead with a sixth place finish
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) led the majority of the race. At one point the Italian had opened a four second lead but in Catalunya tyre consumption is a key factor and with a harder front tyre Razgatlioglu could close down that margin. The BMW rider would take the lead on the 20th and final lap.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), winner of six races in a row at this circuit, was handed a grid penalty that dropped him to the fifth row of the grid for the start. The reigning World Champion recovered to finish third and move up to fourth position in the Championship standings. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) continued to impress as a rookie with a fourth position finish. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) started the race as the Championship leader and finished in sixth position. Lowes dropped a single point behind Bulega in the Championship standings with Razgatlioglu now third.
Having smashed the lap record in the Superpole session Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was aiming for a podium in Race 1 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Instead the Turkish star came from behind to claim the race victory in the opening race of the Pirelli Catalunya Round.
The win marked BMW’s first success since 2021 and validated Razgatlioglu’s decision to switch manufacturers for this season. His teammate, Michael van der Mark, had been combative throughout the race before falling to ninth place at the finish.
More on worldsbk.com
P1 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
“I’m really happy. Every day the team has done an unbelievable job and they have worked really hard. It’s important for me to win at this circuit because I’ve never won here. It’s been a dream of mine to win in Catalunya and this is unbelievable. It was a very hard race. My plan was to ride a little bit slower than the others and at the start I was waiting for Bulega because the other riders were pushing very hard. After Bulega had come past I thought I’d follow him. After two laps later I felt that I was pushing too hard. I slowed down to save the rear tyre. I thought a podium would be enough for me. In the last five laps here, the rear tyre has a big drop. I saw Iannone started to drop and then Bulega also dropped in the last five laps. I was pushing hard, especially on the brakes. On the last lap, I passed him. Maybe it was a good strategy for me.”
P2 | Nicolo Bulega | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“This was my first long race because we had pit stops in Australia. At the end of the race unfortunately I had no grip from the rear tyre. It was difficult for me to manage this and Toprak was very fast at the end. His lap times were better than mine. Maybe, I push a little too hard at the beginning of the race to overtake riders. Today, I learned something and I will be better prepared next time.”
P3 | Alvaro Bautista | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“It’s never easy because this track is so complicated. You have to manage the tyres. I was in the situation that I wanted to push more in the first laps to gain some positions but I also had to save my tyres. I tried to keep calm and to manage the tyre as well as possible. I had some problems in the big group because the front overheated. I had to save some slides with my elbow. When you are behind the other riders, the front tyre doesn’t work as expected and I struggled to brake hard or enter fast into corners. I think our best was to get a podium, but this was a surprise for me.”
More, from a press release issued by Pirelli:
Razgatlioğlu gambles on the Pirelli standard SCX to win Race 1
The BMW rider bested Bulega (Ducati) at the end of the final lap; in WorldSSP Huertas (Ducati) wins his first race in the category
In Race 1 of the Catalan round, the first European stop for the FIM World Superbike Championship, after a solitary ride all the way to the final lap, Nicolò Bulega (Ducati) gave over to Toprak Razgatlioğlu just a few turns from the finish line. The two started the race with different tyre choices: SC2 at the front and SCX at the rear for the Turkish rider; SC1 front and SCX-A (C0900 development specification) at the rear for the Italian. Third on the podium was Álvaro Bautista (Ducati), also with the same tyre combination as his teammate and also making a comeback ride which was rewarded just a few laps from the end when he overtook Andrea Iannone (Ducati)
Giorgio Barbier, Motorcycle Racing Director
Both rear choices valid for the race
“Since yesterday, the riders had been undecided as to which rear solution to use. This can happen sometimes in the Friday sessions, because the riders and teams still need to optimise the bike setup. Then, in the race today, we saw that both the rear solutions – the standard SCX and the C0900 specification development tyre – performed similarly. On one hand, we saw that Toprak Razgatlioğlu started from pole position on the SCX and remained in the battle for first, finally achieving it on the final lap. On the other hand, the C0900 specification development SCX, at its debut in race, allowed Bulega to stay in the race lead all the way to the final turn and it even allowed his teammate Bautista to come back from fourteenth to third place. For tomorrow’s race, we may see some changes for some of the riders, whereas for the Superpole Race, we expect most of the riders to use the SCQ compound rear.”
Tyres In Action
· The WorldSBK Superpole session was extremely fast, with an amazing ten riders breaking the previous track record for the category. The best was Toprak Razgatlioğlu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), ahead of Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven – Ducati). All three relied on the front SC1 – rear SCQ combination to do their best times.
· Tyre choices on the grid for Race 1 in Superbike were uncertain until just before the start. Whereas the SC1 at the front was the most popular choice, at the rear, there was a greater mixture of solutions, almost equally split between the SCX and the C0900.
· In WorldSSP, the combination preferred by the top three riders in the Superpole standings was the SC1 at the front and the SCX at the rear. In Race 1, the SC1 at the front was the common choice for all the riders with the sole exception of Öncü (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), who chose the SC2. At the rear, choices were equally divided between the SC0 and the SCX. In Race 1, Spaniard Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) took his first win in the category ahead of Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) and Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse). The three riders on the podium made identical choices for the front in the race, using the SC1; at the rear, Huertas and Schroetter raced on the SCX, whereas Manzi was on the SC0.
· In the categories dedicated to young talent, the first WorldSSP300 race win of the season went to Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-PALIGO Racing) ahead of Aldi Satya Mahendra (Team BrCorse) and Samuel Di Sora (ARCO MotoR University Team – Yamaha). In the FIM Yamaha R3 bLU cRU World Cup, Spaniard Gonzalo Sanchez Melendez (bLU cRU Yamaha Racing Spain) took the win, besting Eduardo Burr (Yamaha AD78 Team Latin America) and Marc Vich (DS Racing School) in the race finale.
Manuel Gonzalez took pole position during Moto2 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Algarve International Circuit, in Portimao, Portugal. Riding his QJMOTOR Gresini Kalex, the Spaniard turned a 1:41.514 to top the 27-rider field.
Fermin Aldeguer was second-quickest with a 1:41.648 on his Beta Tools SpeedUp Boscoscuro, and Aron Canet claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:41.713 on his Fantic Racing Kalex.
American Joe Roberts qualified fifth with a 1:42.031 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
Moto2 Comb Qual
Jose Antonio Rueda captured pole position during Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Algarve International Circuit, in Portugal. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider turned a lap time of 1:46.379, which not only topped the field of 26 but it also broke the All-Time Lap Record, a 1:46.798 set by Ayumu Sasaki in 2023.
BOE Motorsports KTM’s Joel Kelso (1:46.438) was second-best, and David Alonso (1:46.497) claimed the third and final spot on the front row on his CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team machine.
Moto3 Comb Qual
Nicholas Spinelli won FIM MotoE World Championship Race One Saturday at Algarve International Circuit, in Portimao, Portugal. Riding his Tech3 E-Racing Ducati electric motorcycle, the Italian won the seven-lap race by 0.148 second.
Hector Garzo was the runner-up on his Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE machine, and LCR E-Team’s Mattia Casadei finished third.
MotoE R1
Enea Bastianini claimed pole position during MotoGP qualifying Saturday at Algarve International Circuit, in Portimao, Portugal. Riding his Ducati Lenovo Team Desmosedici GP24, the Italian racer covered the undulating course in 1:37.706 to lead the field of 22 riders.
Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales was second-fastest with a 1:37.788, and Jorge Martin earned the third and final spot on the front row with a time of 1:37.812 on his Prima Pramac Ducati.
MotoGP Combined Qualifying
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Beast mode engaged: Bastianini edges out Viñales for pole
A front row split by a tenth, Bagnaia P4 and Marc Marquez P8 after a dramatic Q2 sets the stage for a spectacle in Portugal
Saturday, 23 March 2024
Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) continued his statement weekend at the Grande Premio Tissot de Portugal with pole position on Saturday morning, Beast mode most definitely engaged. It’s close at the top, however, with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) getting to within less than a tenth of the number 23 after a late charge. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) completes the front row only a further 0.024 behind, setting the stage for some serious fireworks on the Algarve.
Q1 was a hard-fought battle to move through. Rookie sensation Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and home hero Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing) were just some of those with more than a shout of moving through, and it went down to the wire. Acosta was leading the way until a late overhaul from AM73, with the Gresini taking over on top by an infinitesimal 0.005. No one could overhaul that or split the two, so Acosta and Alex Marquez moved through, leaving Espargaro P13 on the grids ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Oliveira..
Q2 began with sheer expectation and the field piled out of pitlane ready to deliver. The first drama came almost immediately as Marc Marquez slid out, the number 93 losing the rear round Turn 15 and sliding across the run off. The race was on to get back to the box and get back out. Then Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) went down, rider also ok, making it two big hitters looking to reset quick.
Meanwhile, the red sectors were coming in on the first runs. The first pacesetter was reigning Champion Bagnaia, who held the top by less than a tenth ahead of Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and FP2 pacesetter Viñales.
From there, the first mover was Martin as he took over on top, but Bastianini had a near instant riposte to cut another tenth off, making it #23-#89-#1 on the provisional front row. Then the red sectors starting coming in from Bagnaia again, but the final part of the lap put paid to that. One final lap was going to challenge Bastianini, and despite Marc Marquez being back out, it’s wasn’t his – it was Viñales’.
The Aprilia was up and had already proven plenty with that new FP2 lap record, but it wasn’t quite enough to take pole over the line, coming up short by just 0.082. So it’s the Beast of Bastianini back on top, ahead of Viñales and Martin relegated to P3 on the outside of the front row.
Bagnaia heads up Row 2, with Miller starting from P5 as his speed continues to impress in Portugal. Sixth goes to Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) whose Round 2 continues to be a big leap forward from a tough Round 1.
The apprentice edges out the master on Row 3. Acosta is P7 at the head of it, just hundredths ahead of Marc Marquez as the number 93 didn’t quite find the fireworks on his second run. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) takes P9, ahead of Binder who, like MM93, couldn’t quite bring the noise on his final attempt after that early crash.
And so the grids are decided, and they set quite a stage. The Tissot Sprint promises much on Saturday afternoon, and that’s just the first serving of the world’s most exciting sport at full throttle on the rollercoaster. Tune in for two stunning showdowns, with lights out on Saturday at 15:00 (UTC) and Sunday at 14:00.
Toprak Razgatlioglu took pole position during World Superbike Superpole qualifying Saturday at Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his ROKiT BMW M 1000 RR, the Turkish racer lapped the course in 1:39.489 to top the field of 23 riders.
Razgatlioglu’s time also set a new All-Time Lap Record, eclipsing Alvaro Bautista’s mark of 1:40.264 from 2023.
Rookie sensation Nicolo Bulega was second-best with a 1:39.591 on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati, and Andrea Iannone claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a time of 1:39.799 on his Team GoEleven Ducati.
American Garrett Gerloff qualified 14th with a lap time of 1:40.705 on his Bonovo Action BMW.
WSBK SP Qual
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Granado grabs first pole of the season from Spinelli and Casadei
The stage is set for the opener as the Brazilian comes out swinging – and Ferrari faces a fight back
Friday, 22 March 2024
Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) will start the first races of the 2024 FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship season from pole position after storming back to the top in qualifying at the Grande Premio Tissot de Portugal. The Brazilian showed his hand to deny Nicholas Spinelli (Tech3 E-Racing) by just 0.067, with reigning Champion Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team) forced to settle for third on the grid for the first two races of 2024.
Some other big names have a little more work to do, setting up a Saturday to remember at Round 1. 2023 MotoE™ runner-up Jordi Torres (Openbank Aspar Team) starts from seventh, and after some issues on Friday, Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE™) gets ready for his assault on the crown from 11th.
In Q1, the Italian was just edged out as Miquel Pons (Axxis-MSI) and the returning Lukas Tulovic (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) moved through in a tight field. However, once Q2 got underway it was all change again, and it went to the wire. Both Spinelli and Casadei looked to be challenging Granado, but the final sector saw it fade away and the Brazilian takes that coveted first pole of the season.
A strong showing from Hector Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) puts him at the head of the second row, and it was tight as he slots in ahead of Alessandro Zaccone (Tech3 E-Racing) by just 0.012. Rookie Oscar Gutierrez (Axxis-MSI), who did two rounds last season but two rounds only, impressed to complete the top six.
Torres takes P7 ahead of Tulovic, who is racing on the Ducati V21L for the first time, with Kevin Zannoni completing an Openbank Aspar Team sandwich around Tulovic on Row 3. Aiming to immediately join that party if not even further forward once the lights go out, Ferrari sees lights out from P11.
Check out the full results below and make sure to tune in for Race 1 at 12:15, before the second serving of electric action at 16:10 (UTC)!
MV AGUSTA UNVEILS NEW STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP
Varese, March 22, 2024 – In a landmark move marking the start of a new chapter in its history, MV Agusta, the iconic Italian motorcycle brand known for its blend of cutting-edge performance and unparalleled craftsmanship, announces significant changes to its leadership structure. This strategic evolution follows the recent majority acquisition by PIERER Mobility AG, paving the way for an exhilarating future of growth.
The newly appointed board of directors is all set to steer MV Agusta into its next phase of global expansion and technological advancement, underscoring the brand’s commitment to Italian excellence and its rich heritage.
The Board of Directors is composed as follows:
Hubert Trunkenpolz takes the helm as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, bringing a wealth of experience from his long-standing career in the motorcycle industry, particularly his crucial role in expanding KTM’s global footprint.
Timur Sardarov is appointed Deputy Chairman, recognising his pivotal contributions and vision in driving MV Agusta’s recent successes and brand resurgence.
Luca Martin steps into the role of Deputy CEO and Managing Director, where his extensive knowledge and passion for motorcycles will continue to enrich the brand’s innovative edge.
Filippo Bassoli is appointed Chief Marketing Officer and Managing Director, bringing a fresh perspective and dynamic approach to the company’s marketing, brand and communication strategies.
Barbara Kenedi has been confirmed Chief Alliance Officer, tasked with forging strategic partnerships and alliances to bolster MV Agusta’s position in the global marketplace.
Victor Sigl and Ratmir Sardarov serve as Non-Executive Directors, offering their invaluable insight and oversight to ensure the company’s long-term strategic objectives are met.
MV Agusta extends its gratitude to Simone Tedeschi for his tenure as a board member. Tedeschi’s role was instrumental in nurturing a fruitful partnership between PIERER Mobility AG and the Sardarov family, laying a solid foundation for the brand’s future endeavours.
Under this new leadership, MV Agusta is setting off on an ambitious journey, focusing on innovation, market expansion, and strengthening its legacy as an Italian manufacturer of the world’s most prestigious motorcycles. The board’s diverse expertise and unified vision will undoubtedly propel MV Agusta towards new heights of success and redefine the boundaries of motorcycle excellence.
Adrian Huertas won FIM Supersport World Championship Race One Saturday at Circuito de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V2, the Spanish rider won the 18-lap race by 1.277 seconds.
Stefano Manzi was the runner-up on his Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing YZF-R6, and Marcel Schroetter placed third on his factory MV Agusta F3 800 RR.
Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise finished fifth on his Evan Bros. Yamaha.
WSS R1
Mattia Casadei won FIM MotoE World Championship Race Two Saturday at Algarve International Circuit, in Portugal. The LCR E-Team rider won the seven-lap race by just 0.066 second over Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE’s Hector Garzo. Oscar Gutierrez was a very close third, just 0.198 second behind Casadei, on his Axxis-MSI Ducati electric racebike.
MotoE R2
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Spinelli takes the spoils in dramatic first MotoE™ race of 2024
The Italian picks up where he left off to beat Garzo and Casadei in a close final lap – with drama aplenty for some fellow big hitters
Saturday, 23 March 2024
Nicholas Spinelli (Tech3 E-Racing) finished 2023 on the top step and that’s exactly how he’s started the 2024 FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship: with victory. The Italian held off a hard-charging Hector Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) and Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team) on a close final lap as the top three escaped at the front following some drama for key names in the first showdown of the season.
Garzo took the holeshot after a storming start from Row 2, with Spinelli and Casadei on his tail as polesitter Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) dropped a few positions initially. Over the line for the first time Garzo had held onto it too, denying a Spinelli attack and the Italian also ceding to Casadei and Granado. Next time round Granado then grabbed a 2-for-1 into Turn 1 to take the lead, but not long after the first big drama hit as he slid out. Not long after that there was even more, with Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE™) crashing out.
A close top four of Casadei, Spinelli, Garzo and Zaccone were then in the lead, with Openbank Aspar Team’s Jordi Torres in touch too. But another huge twist was yet to come. On the penultimate lap down into Turn 5, Zaccone was just that bit too close to Torres and tagged the back of the number 81, sending both sliding out across the run off. The Italian was later also given a Long Lap penalty for the incident.
And then there were three. Onto the final lap, it was close. Spinelli attacked and took the lead at Turn 1, keeping it tidy. Another big opportunity for Garzo and Casadei to try and hit back, Turn 5, was off the table too as yellow flags remained out following the Zaccone-Torres crash. As the final sector dawned, Garzo was tagged on to the Tech3 rider in the lead, but there was no way through. Spinelli kept it perfect to the line for the first win of 2024, with Garzo and Casadei completing the podium.
Fourth goes to the returning Lukas Tulovic (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™), with Kevin Zannoni (Openbank Aspar Team) completing the top five. Massimo Roccoli (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) beat Andrea Mantovani (Klint Forward Factory Team) to sixth. Kevin Manfredi (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) was just ahead of a solid debut for Chaz Davies (Aruba Cloud MotoE™ Racing Team), with his fellow rookie and teammate Armando Pontone completing the top ten in touch too.
Casadei strikes back in stunning Race 2 showdown
The reigning Champion takes to the top to pip Garzo and a spectacular charge from Gutierrez to complete the podium
Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team) is back on top of the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship standings after a stunning charge to victory in Race 2 in Portugal. The Italian got his elbows out and held off Hector Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) on the drag to the line, with rookie Oscar Gutierrez (Axxis-MSI) charging through to take third and his first MotoE™ podium.
Race 1 winner Nicholas Spinelli (Tech3 E-Racing) got the holeshot, holding off Garzo on take 2, but the Italian had already had some bad luck – judging his starting position ever so slightly wrong in the slot and given a double Long Lap not long after. Still, Garzo had to get it done on track before that, and the Spaniard shot past at Turn 1 on Lap 2 as Casadei overhauled teammate Eric Granado. Then, before Spinelli could take his penalty, the Italian suddenly slid out at Turn 10.
That left a gaggle of riders in a tight front group, and Casadei first struck for the front with four to go. Jordi Torres (Openbank Aspar Team), Alessandro Zaccone (Tech3 E-Racing) and Gutierrez were charging into contention too, and the latter didn’t even wait for Zaccone to serve his LLP given for his Race 1 incident, slicing past the Italian on his charge.
Garzo made the next move at the front, taking the lead back from Casadei as Gutierrez pipped past Torres, the rookie then onto the tail of Granado. But Granado’s elbows were also out and the Brazilian attacked his teammate at Turn 11, setting his sights on race leader Garzo.
But the main straight saw another shuffle as the slipstream came into play, and as the field fanned out Garzo kept his grip on the lead, with Gutierrez able to bag a two for one and slice up into second. Casadei headed teammate Granado, and it was going down to the wire.
Into Turn 1 for the final time, Gutierrez attacked Garzo as Casadei then shot past both, the Italian keeping a twitch under control to take over at the front. Garzo grabbed second again on the cutback too, and the top four locked into a tense push to the flag. But the reigning Champion just held on to take his first victory of the year, with Garzo’s second place putting him only a point behind on the way to Round 2. For Gutierrez, meanwhile, it’s a first ever MotoE™ podium in his first round as a full timer, having done two replacement rides in 2023.
Granado was forced to settle for fourth ahead of Torres and Lukas Tulovic (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™), with Kevin Zannoni (Openbank Aspar Team), Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE™), Andrea Mantovani (KLINT Forward Factory Team) and Massimo Roccoli (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) completing the top ten.
That’s a wrap on Round 2 of the 2024 FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship, with Casadei back on top on track and in the standings. But it’s by a single point as MotoE™ prepares to return at le Mans –with another 14 races still to play for in 2024.
Toprak Razgatlioglu won FIM Superbike World Championship Race One Saturday at Circuito de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his ROKiT BMW M 1000 RR, the Turkish racer won the 20-lap race by 0.868 second.
Nicolo Bulega was the runner-up on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati, and Bulega’s teammate, defending Champion Alvaro Bautista, placed third.
American Garrett Gerloff finished 12th on his Bonovo Action BMW.
WorldSBK R1
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Stunning first win for Toprak and BMW
Toprak Razgatlioglu claims his first victory for BMW
Double podium for Aruba.it Racing – Ducati with Alvaro Bautista recovering from the fifth row of the grid
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) concedes the Championship lead with a sixth place finish
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) led the majority of the race. At one point the Italian had opened a four second lead but in Catalunya tyre consumption is a key factor and with a harder front tyre Razgatlioglu could close down that margin. The BMW rider would take the lead on the 20th and final lap.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), winner of six races in a row at this circuit, was handed a grid penalty that dropped him to the fifth row of the grid for the start. The reigning World Champion recovered to finish third and move up to fourth position in the Championship standings. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) continued to impress as a rookie with a fourth position finish. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) started the race as the Championship leader and finished in sixth position. Lowes dropped a single point behind Bulega in the Championship standings with Razgatlioglu now third.
Having smashed the lap record in the Superpole session Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was aiming for a podium in Race 1 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Instead the Turkish star came from behind to claim the race victory in the opening race of the Pirelli Catalunya Round.
The win marked BMW’s first success since 2021 and validated Razgatlioglu’s decision to switch manufacturers for this season. His teammate, Michael van der Mark, had been combative throughout the race before falling to ninth place at the finish.
More on worldsbk.com
P1 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team
“I’m really happy. Every day the team has done an unbelievable job and they have worked really hard. It’s important for me to win at this circuit because I’ve never won here. It’s been a dream of mine to win in Catalunya and this is unbelievable. It was a very hard race. My plan was to ride a little bit slower than the others and at the start I was waiting for Bulega because the other riders were pushing very hard. After Bulega had come past I thought I’d follow him. After two laps later I felt that I was pushing too hard. I slowed down to save the rear tyre. I thought a podium would be enough for me. In the last five laps here, the rear tyre has a big drop. I saw Iannone started to drop and then Bulega also dropped in the last five laps. I was pushing hard, especially on the brakes. On the last lap, I passed him. Maybe it was a good strategy for me.”
P2 | Nicolo Bulega | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“This was my first long race because we had pit stops in Australia. At the end of the race unfortunately I had no grip from the rear tyre. It was difficult for me to manage this and Toprak was very fast at the end. His lap times were better than mine. Maybe, I push a little too hard at the beginning of the race to overtake riders. Today, I learned something and I will be better prepared next time.”
P3 | Alvaro Bautista | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“It’s never easy because this track is so complicated. You have to manage the tyres. I was in the situation that I wanted to push more in the first laps to gain some positions but I also had to save my tyres. I tried to keep calm and to manage the tyre as well as possible. I had some problems in the big group because the front overheated. I had to save some slides with my elbow. When you are behind the other riders, the front tyre doesn’t work as expected and I struggled to brake hard or enter fast into corners. I think our best was to get a podium, but this was a surprise for me.”
More, from a press release issued by Pirelli:
Razgatlioğlu gambles on the Pirelli standard SCX to win Race 1
The BMW rider bested Bulega (Ducati) at the end of the final lap; in WorldSSP Huertas (Ducati) wins his first race in the category
In Race 1 of the Catalan round, the first European stop for the FIM World Superbike Championship, after a solitary ride all the way to the final lap, Nicolò Bulega (Ducati) gave over to Toprak Razgatlioğlu just a few turns from the finish line. The two started the race with different tyre choices: SC2 at the front and SCX at the rear for the Turkish rider; SC1 front and SCX-A (C0900 development specification) at the rear for the Italian. Third on the podium was Álvaro Bautista (Ducati), also with the same tyre combination as his teammate and also making a comeback ride which was rewarded just a few laps from the end when he overtook Andrea Iannone (Ducati)
Giorgio Barbier, Motorcycle Racing Director
Both rear choices valid for the race
“Since yesterday, the riders had been undecided as to which rear solution to use. This can happen sometimes in the Friday sessions, because the riders and teams still need to optimise the bike setup. Then, in the race today, we saw that both the rear solutions – the standard SCX and the C0900 specification development tyre – performed similarly. On one hand, we saw that Toprak Razgatlioğlu started from pole position on the SCX and remained in the battle for first, finally achieving it on the final lap. On the other hand, the C0900 specification development SCX, at its debut in race, allowed Bulega to stay in the race lead all the way to the final turn and it even allowed his teammate Bautista to come back from fourteenth to third place. For tomorrow’s race, we may see some changes for some of the riders, whereas for the Superpole Race, we expect most of the riders to use the SCQ compound rear.”
Tyres In Action
· The WorldSBK Superpole session was extremely fast, with an amazing ten riders breaking the previous track record for the category. The best was Toprak Razgatlioğlu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), ahead of Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven – Ducati). All three relied on the front SC1 – rear SCQ combination to do their best times.
· Tyre choices on the grid for Race 1 in Superbike were uncertain until just before the start. Whereas the SC1 at the front was the most popular choice, at the rear, there was a greater mixture of solutions, almost equally split between the SCX and the C0900.
· In WorldSSP, the combination preferred by the top three riders in the Superpole standings was the SC1 at the front and the SCX at the rear. In Race 1, the SC1 at the front was the common choice for all the riders with the sole exception of Öncü (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), who chose the SC2. At the rear, choices were equally divided between the SC0 and the SCX. In Race 1, Spaniard Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) took his first win in the category ahead of Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) and Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse). The three riders on the podium made identical choices for the front in the race, using the SC1; at the rear, Huertas and Schroetter raced on the SCX, whereas Manzi was on the SC0.
· In the categories dedicated to young talent, the first WorldSSP300 race win of the season went to Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-PALIGO Racing) ahead of Aldi Satya Mahendra (Team BrCorse) and Samuel Di Sora (ARCO MotoR University Team – Yamaha). In the FIM Yamaha R3 bLU cRU World Cup, Spaniard Gonzalo Sanchez Melendez (bLU cRU Yamaha Racing Spain) took the win, besting Eduardo Burr (Yamaha AD78 Team Latin America) and Marc Vich (DS Racing School) in the race finale.
Manuel Gonzalez took pole position during Moto2 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Algarve International Circuit, in Portimao, Portugal. Riding his QJMOTOR Gresini Kalex, the Spaniard turned a 1:41.514 to top the 27-rider field.
Fermin Aldeguer was second-quickest with a 1:41.648 on his Beta Tools SpeedUp Boscoscuro, and Aron Canet claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:41.713 on his Fantic Racing Kalex.
American Joe Roberts qualified fifth with a 1:42.031 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
Moto2 Comb Qual
Jose Antonio Rueda captured pole position during Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Algarve International Circuit, in Portugal. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider turned a lap time of 1:46.379, which not only topped the field of 26 but it also broke the All-Time Lap Record, a 1:46.798 set by Ayumu Sasaki in 2023.
BOE Motorsports KTM’s Joel Kelso (1:46.438) was second-best, and David Alonso (1:46.497) claimed the third and final spot on the front row on his CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team machine.
Moto3 Comb Qual
Nicholas Spinelli won FIM MotoE World Championship Race One Saturday at Algarve International Circuit, in Portimao, Portugal. Riding his Tech3 E-Racing Ducati electric motorcycle, the Italian won the seven-lap race by 0.148 second.
Hector Garzo was the runner-up on his Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE machine, and LCR E-Team’s Mattia Casadei finished third.
MotoE R1
Enea Bastianini claimed pole position during MotoGP qualifying Saturday at Algarve International Circuit, in Portimao, Portugal. Riding his Ducati Lenovo Team Desmosedici GP24, the Italian racer covered the undulating course in 1:37.706 to lead the field of 22 riders.
Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales was second-fastest with a 1:37.788, and Jorge Martin earned the third and final spot on the front row with a time of 1:37.812 on his Prima Pramac Ducati.
MotoGP Combined Qualifying
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Beast mode engaged: Bastianini edges out Viñales for pole
A front row split by a tenth, Bagnaia P4 and Marc Marquez P8 after a dramatic Q2 sets the stage for a spectacle in Portugal
Saturday, 23 March 2024
Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) continued his statement weekend at the Grande Premio Tissot de Portugal with pole position on Saturday morning, Beast mode most definitely engaged. It’s close at the top, however, with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) getting to within less than a tenth of the number 23 after a late charge. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) completes the front row only a further 0.024 behind, setting the stage for some serious fireworks on the Algarve.
Q1 was a hard-fought battle to move through. Rookie sensation Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and home hero Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing) were just some of those with more than a shout of moving through, and it went down to the wire. Acosta was leading the way until a late overhaul from AM73, with the Gresini taking over on top by an infinitesimal 0.005. No one could overhaul that or split the two, so Acosta and Alex Marquez moved through, leaving Espargaro P13 on the grids ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Oliveira..
Q2 began with sheer expectation and the field piled out of pitlane ready to deliver. The first drama came almost immediately as Marc Marquez slid out, the number 93 losing the rear round Turn 15 and sliding across the run off. The race was on to get back to the box and get back out. Then Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) went down, rider also ok, making it two big hitters looking to reset quick.
Meanwhile, the red sectors were coming in on the first runs. The first pacesetter was reigning Champion Bagnaia, who held the top by less than a tenth ahead of Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and FP2 pacesetter Viñales.
From there, the first mover was Martin as he took over on top, but Bastianini had a near instant riposte to cut another tenth off, making it #23-#89-#1 on the provisional front row. Then the red sectors starting coming in from Bagnaia again, but the final part of the lap put paid to that. One final lap was going to challenge Bastianini, and despite Marc Marquez being back out, it’s wasn’t his – it was Viñales’.
The Aprilia was up and had already proven plenty with that new FP2 lap record, but it wasn’t quite enough to take pole over the line, coming up short by just 0.082. So it’s the Beast of Bastianini back on top, ahead of Viñales and Martin relegated to P3 on the outside of the front row.
Bagnaia heads up Row 2, with Miller starting from P5 as his speed continues to impress in Portugal. Sixth goes to Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) whose Round 2 continues to be a big leap forward from a tough Round 1.
The apprentice edges out the master on Row 3. Acosta is P7 at the head of it, just hundredths ahead of Marc Marquez as the number 93 didn’t quite find the fireworks on his second run. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) takes P9, ahead of Binder who, like MM93, couldn’t quite bring the noise on his final attempt after that early crash.
And so the grids are decided, and they set quite a stage. The Tissot Sprint promises much on Saturday afternoon, and that’s just the first serving of the world’s most exciting sport at full throttle on the rollercoaster. Tune in for two stunning showdowns, with lights out on Saturday at 15:00 (UTC) and Sunday at 14:00.
Toprak Razgatlioglu took pole position during World Superbike Superpole qualifying Saturday at Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his ROKiT BMW M 1000 RR, the Turkish racer lapped the course in 1:39.489 to top the field of 23 riders.
Razgatlioglu’s time also set a new All-Time Lap Record, eclipsing Alvaro Bautista’s mark of 1:40.264 from 2023.
Rookie sensation Nicolo Bulega was second-best with a 1:39.591 on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati, and Andrea Iannone claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a time of 1:39.799 on his Team GoEleven Ducati.
American Garrett Gerloff qualified 14th with a lap time of 1:40.705 on his Bonovo Action BMW.
WSBK SP Qual
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Granado grabs first pole of the season from Spinelli and Casadei
The stage is set for the opener as the Brazilian comes out swinging – and Ferrari faces a fight back
Friday, 22 March 2024
Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) will start the first races of the 2024 FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship season from pole position after storming back to the top in qualifying at the Grande Premio Tissot de Portugal. The Brazilian showed his hand to deny Nicholas Spinelli (Tech3 E-Racing) by just 0.067, with reigning Champion Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team) forced to settle for third on the grid for the first two races of 2024.
Some other big names have a little more work to do, setting up a Saturday to remember at Round 1. 2023 MotoE™ runner-up Jordi Torres (Openbank Aspar Team) starts from seventh, and after some issues on Friday, Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE™) gets ready for his assault on the crown from 11th.
In Q1, the Italian was just edged out as Miquel Pons (Axxis-MSI) and the returning Lukas Tulovic (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) moved through in a tight field. However, once Q2 got underway it was all change again, and it went to the wire. Both Spinelli and Casadei looked to be challenging Granado, but the final sector saw it fade away and the Brazilian takes that coveted first pole of the season.
A strong showing from Hector Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) puts him at the head of the second row, and it was tight as he slots in ahead of Alessandro Zaccone (Tech3 E-Racing) by just 0.012. Rookie Oscar Gutierrez (Axxis-MSI), who did two rounds last season but two rounds only, impressed to complete the top six.
Torres takes P7 ahead of Tulovic, who is racing on the Ducati V21L for the first time, with Kevin Zannoni completing an Openbank Aspar Team sandwich around Tulovic on Row 3. Aiming to immediately join that party if not even further forward once the lights go out, Ferrari sees lights out from P11.
Check out the full results below and make sure to tune in for Race 1 at 12:15, before the second serving of electric action at 16:10 (UTC)!
MV AGUSTA UNVEILS NEW STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP
Varese, March 22, 2024 – In a landmark move marking the start of a new chapter in its history, MV Agusta, the iconic Italian motorcycle brand known for its blend of cutting-edge performance and unparalleled craftsmanship, announces significant changes to its leadership structure. This strategic evolution follows the recent majority acquisition by PIERER Mobility AG, paving the way for an exhilarating future of growth.
The newly appointed board of directors is all set to steer MV Agusta into its next phase of global expansion and technological advancement, underscoring the brand’s commitment to Italian excellence and its rich heritage.
The Board of Directors is composed as follows:
Hubert Trunkenpolz takes the helm as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, bringing a wealth of experience from his long-standing career in the motorcycle industry, particularly his crucial role in expanding KTM’s global footprint.
Timur Sardarov is appointed Deputy Chairman, recognising his pivotal contributions and vision in driving MV Agusta’s recent successes and brand resurgence.
Luca Martin steps into the role of Deputy CEO and Managing Director, where his extensive knowledge and passion for motorcycles will continue to enrich the brand’s innovative edge.
Filippo Bassoli is appointed Chief Marketing Officer and Managing Director, bringing a fresh perspective and dynamic approach to the company’s marketing, brand and communication strategies.
Barbara Kenedi has been confirmed Chief Alliance Officer, tasked with forging strategic partnerships and alliances to bolster MV Agusta’s position in the global marketplace.
Victor Sigl and Ratmir Sardarov serve as Non-Executive Directors, offering their invaluable insight and oversight to ensure the company’s long-term strategic objectives are met.
MV Agusta extends its gratitude to Simone Tedeschi for his tenure as a board member. Tedeschi’s role was instrumental in nurturing a fruitful partnership between PIERER Mobility AG and the Sardarov family, laying a solid foundation for the brand’s future endeavours.
Under this new leadership, MV Agusta is setting off on an ambitious journey, focusing on innovation, market expansion, and strengthening its legacy as an Italian manufacturer of the world’s most prestigious motorcycles. The board’s diverse expertise and unified vision will undoubtedly propel MV Agusta towards new heights of success and redefine the boundaries of motorcycle excellence.
