Toprak Razgatlioglu won the World Superbike Superpole Race Sunday at the Imola circuit, in Italy. Riding his Pata Yamaha Prometeon YZF-R1, the Turkish rider won the 10-lap race by 0.244 second. It was Razgatlioglu’s third Superpole Race win of the season.
Defending Champion Alvaro Bautista was the runner-up on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R.
Razgatlioglu’s teammate Andrea Locatelli finished a close third.
American Garrett Gerloff DNF the race, pulling his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR into the pits and retiring.
Jones Obliterates Morgan Park Lap Record for Superbike Pole as Hayden Nelson Stars in Michelin Supersport
Alpinestars Superbike
After starting every race of the 2023 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) race from the front row, Defending ASBK champion, Mike Jones on his Yamaha Racing Team YZF-R1 M went one better, as he continued his recent resurgence in the Alpinestars Superbike category to claim his first pole position of the year and the vital championship point that accompanies the feat to start at the front of the field for tomorrow’s two, 16-lap races.
It was neck and neck throughout the two qualifying sessions with Q1 deciding the top 12 that moved through to the second stanza to define the top four rows of the grid.
Arguably, Jones has done more laps around the Morgan Park layout than most of the field combined and he put his local circuit knowledge to good use as he led the morning’s fourth practice session and backed it up to do the same in both qualifying sessions.
After the first 20-minute qualifying session Jones led Herfoss with Cru Halliday on the way back to the top in third. The session was halted after a few minutes when Glenn Allerton’s BMW had a mechanical problem and there was a chance that some fluid had leaked on the track surface. The session was soon resumed although the leading four riders of Jones, Herfoss, Halliday and Pearson remained in the garage for the remainder of the session.
It was a lot more frantic in the main qualifying session, but no one could unseat Jones…
Read More on ASBK.com.au
Michelin Supersport
The Michelin Supersport Championship qualifying again proved it will be one of the closest fought tiles in recent years with the leaderboard changing numerous times during the two sessions today.
In the first part, defending champion, John Lytras, who was in the top slot in the three-practice sessions yesterday, sat out the session quietly confident that he had the pace to be able to lead the field heading into Q2. Without recording a time, the rest stepped up to the plate with class rookie, Hayden Nelson, slotting into the top spot from early series championship leader, Ty Lynch on Michelin tyres second fastest from JJ Nahlous, Cameron Dunker third with championship leader Olly Simpson fourth.
Nelson is an extremely fast learner and has adapted to the 600cc category with aplomb while for the championship leader, Olly Simpson it is his first visit to Morgan Park since he was a junior some 12 years ago, so for the South Australian he had to learn the track all over again. As for Nelson who happens to be a cousin of the Bayliss family, he has put in a few days there realising how critical it is to know the best line that is well known for its braking and acceleration, bumps around the back of the circuit requiring precision to find that sweet spot of the track.
For the second qualifying session, Nelson took a tip from Lytras’ lead to sit out the session, saving his energy and tyres as well as staying out of trouble in the final moments…
Read More on ASBK.com.au
Supersport 300
The opening Supersport 300 race was an absolute cracker, like many before! Cameron Swain was the pacesetter through the practice and qualifying sessions from South Australian Brodie Gawith but come race time he had to fight every millimetre.
From lights out, Marcus Hamod gained the initial advantage heading into turn two but by the time the field reached turn four, he had been relegated to fourth by Swain as well as Henry Snell, Brodie Gawith with series leader Brandon Demmery right on the rear of the pack. The quartet soon gapped the rest of the field but as is the norm in the production 300 classes the positions in the leading bunch were constantly changing at every corner.
The Supersport 300 field was as close as ever in the opening race of the weekend
As the last lap board was displayed any one of the leading pack could’ve taken the win, but Swain stretched the throttle cable in the run from turn two to four and had a five-bike length lead as they headed to turn six. The four following attempted to close the gap but in a typical tiddler battle, the last corner played a part. It was Gawith who was the victim, as he tried to make a move in the final chicane and crashed out after he set a new lap record on the eighth lap of ten.
It was enough of a buffer to ensure Swain his third win of the year in the class…
Read More on ASBK.com.au
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
The opening race of the Yamaha Finance R3 Cup was another typical extension of the 300s. The race was the last one of the day and was shortened by a lap because of the setting sun infiltrating riders’ vision as they headed up the hill to turn three but the shortened distance only added to the intensity.
As with the 300 class the usual suspects were at the front of the pack for the seven-lap dash but their intensity lifted as the little champions realised there were three kilometres less to make a move.
From lights out it was Swain, Gawith, Demmery, Hamod and Snell who again set the pace. With the nature of the racing to give a lap-by-lap report of proceedings would be extremely difficult to follow as the lead changed so often from corner to corner, let alone who led each lap. As the pack charged across the line, it was Hamod, Swain and Snell with the timing screen giving the race-winning distance as 0.000 between Swain and Hamod….
Read More on ASBK.com.au bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
Bodie Paige claimed a decisive race one victory in the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup to make it four wins in a row.
As the lights went out, a typical OJC race began. Chopping and changing, dicing and diving, the positions changed frequently as the contenders established themselves at the front. Riley Nauta couldn’t capitalise on his qualifying pace as he progressively slipped down the order to fifth…
Texan Mikey Lou Sanchez, age 13, won MIR Racing Finetwork Cup Promo3 Race One Saturday at Circuito de Navarra, in Spain. Sanchez won the eight-lap race by 2.4 seconds.
Spaniard Alvaro Bautista won FIM Superbike World Championship Race One Saturday afternoon at the Imola circuit, in Italy. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, Bautista won the 19-lap race by 3.672 seconds. It was Bautista’s 13th consecutive full-length race win and his 17th overall race win in 2023.
Turkish rider Toprak Razgatlioglu rode his Pata Yamaha Prometeon YZF-R1 to second place, and Northern Irishman Jonathan Rea was third on his Kawasaki Racing Team Ninja ZX-10RR.
American Garrett Gerloff finished 13th on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR.
Bautista triumphs in intense battle with Razgatlioglu to secure Race 1 victory at Imola
Alvaro Bautista (1). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) showcased his dominance in WorldSBK Race 1 at Imola, clinching his 17th win of the season and inching closer to the record for most victories in a single campaign. The race witnessed a thrilling battle, with Bautista emerging victorious ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), who celebrated his 100th WorldSBK podium and extended his impressive streak of 16 consecutive rostrum finishes. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) secured a solid third place, further adding to his extensive collection of 252 career podiums.
Meanwhile, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) put up a remarkable performance, leading the race initially and eventually finishing in fourth place. The Italian rider displayed excellent pace, battling against fierce competition. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) showcased his tenacity as he fought his way to fifth place while Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) demonstrated resilience and skill, crossing the line in sixth position after a hard-fought race.
With his triumph, Bautista not only solidified his lead in the championship standings with 382 points but also equaled the record for most wins in a season, tying with Doug Polen in 1991 and Jonathan Rea in 2018 and 2019. Bautista’s performance highlights his unwavering determination to etch his name in WorldSBK history.
Read the full report from Race 1 on worldsbk.com
Bautista dominated at Imola, securing his first victory at the circuit. With a strong performance, he solidifies his position at the top of the championship standings with 382 points, extending his lead over his rivals.
P1 | Alvaro Bautista | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“Honestly, I didn’t expect to win. It was only my second time here at Imola. Today, we made a small change to the bike, and I felt much better in the morning. It started to feel like it did at the other tracks. The race was really tough because it was hot and very slippery. In the beginning, I didn’t feel much confidence to push in the opening laps. I saw several riders with more confidence than me. I started to, step by step, push more. We were missing some grip. I thought it was maybe because I don’t have clean air and the front is struggling a bit. I had some laps with clean air. The feeling with the front was improving so I tried to stay in front and, at least, the front was better.”
Razgatlioglu secured second place in Race 1 and reached a milestone with his 100th career podium in WorldSBK.
Jonathan Rea claims third place in Race 1, reducing the gap to Andrea Locatelli to 13 points in their battle for third position in the WorldSBK championship standings.
Andrea Locatelli finished fourth and maintaining his position ahead of Jonathan Rea in the WorldSBK championship standings.
Kawasaki Racing Team React To New Rev Limits In WorldSBK
Following the announcement by the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO) that rev limits will be changed following analysis of the relative performance of the machines over the most recent six rounds, the maximum rev limit for Kawasaki will be increased by 250 rpm more from the Imola round onwards; a total of 500 rpm since the season started.
According to point 2.4.3.1 of the FIM rules that define functionality of “Concession and Super Concession” Points – and according to the list of Concession parts allowed 2.4.3.3 c – KRT asked for 250 rpm in the 2 check points (500 rpm in total), after the Motorland race and the Donington race according to the parts nominated in point 2.4.3.3.c.iii in the rule book.
KRT are currently not using those 500rpm and are waiting to introduce at the third check point the items nominated in point 2.4.3.3.c.i
From the beginning of the season, Kawasaki is the manufacturer with less rpm allowed as per how the rules are constructed around mass production machinery. (1,500 rpm less than Ducati for example).
The set of items requested by KRT using concession points, are the same items the FIM did not allow Kawasaki to homologate in the 2021 ZX-10RR iteration due to a difference in interpretation of a “redesigned engine”.
KRT hopes this clarifies the situation and any doubts of the many people not deeply involved in this complex rule, created to help manufacturers improve the performance of their bike during the season.
Italian Stefano Manzi won FIM Supersport World Championship Race One Saturday afternoon at the Imola circuit, in Italy. Manzi won the 16-lap red-flag-shortened race on his Ten Kate Racing Yamaha YZF-R6.
German Marcel Schroetter was the runner-up on his Reparto Corse MV Agusta F3 RR 800, and Italian Nicolo Bulega, the Championship point leader, was third on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V2.
Former MotoAmerica regular Valentin Debise, who ride a GMT94 Yamaha, retired from the race and DNF.
Toprak Razgatlioglu was fastest in World Superbike Superpole qualifying Saturday at the Imola circuit, in Italy. Riding his Pata Yamaha Prometeon YZF-R1, the Turkish rider lapped the 3.0-mile track in 1:45.959 to top the field of 25 riders.
Razgatlioglu’s Italian teammate Andrea Locatelli was second-best with a 1:46.017, and Axel Bassani, another Italian, earned the third and final spot on the front row with a time of 1:46.062 on his Motocorsa Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R.
American Garrett Gerloff qualified 14th with a time of 1:47.241 on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR.
Many riders in the session had lap times cancelled due to waving yellow flags.
Italian Federico Caricasulo captured pole position during World Supersport Superpole qualifying Saturday morning at the Imola circuit, in Italy. Riding his Althea Racing Team Ducati Panigale V2, Caricasulo lapped the 3.0-mile (4.9 km) circuit in 1:50.779 to lead the field of 31 riders.
Former MotoAmerica regular Valentin Debise qualified 14th with a time of 1:52.719 on his GMT94 Yamaha YZF-R6.
Exciting News! Bagger Racing League is offering FREE live streaming of the thrilling Drag Specialties Battle of the Baggers Blackhawk. Get ready to witness all the heart-pounding action from the comfort of your own screen!
As the official home of all bagger racing, BRL is your go-to destination for the most epic race series featuring custom and performance Harley and Indian motorcycles. And now, you can watch Rounds 1 & 2 races from Pittsburgh on YouTube, with Rounds 2 & 3 races at Blackhawk Farms streamed live.
Bagger Racing League is taking the motorcycle world by storm, breaking attendance records and captivating fans everywhere. Don’t miss the premiere of the Pittsburgh race on www.baggerracingleague.com and BRL’s YouTube channel this Thursday, July 13th. And mark your calendars for the thrilling live coverage of the Drag Specialties Baggers Blackhawk races on July 15th and 16th.
“We’ve heard the demands of our fans, and we’re thrilled to bring our race series online,” exclaimed Rob Buydos, the founder and president of Bagger Racing League. “By broadcasting our races for free, we’re taking our business to new heights and giving our fans direct access to all the action. This is a game-changer that will help grow our fan base and elevate this sport to new heights.”
Get ready for non-stop excitement and stay up to date with all the latest news, airtimes, and race information on Bagger Racing League’s social media and official website. Don’t miss a moment of the adrenaline-fueled action on www.baggerracingleague.com
More MotoGP™ machinery and Legends take on The Hill at Goodwood Festival of Speed
The likes of Stoner and Schwantz join the fray as the unique event continues to showcase the best of motorsport
Friday, 14 July 2023
Rain on Friday didn’t dampen spirits at the Goodwood Festival of Speed as the unique event continued to provide plenty to celebrate, and MotoGP™ was in the thick of the action. As on Thursday, Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3), Michele Pirro (Ducati Lenovo Team), Mika Kallio (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing) headed up The Hill on their 2023 machines fresh from the track, joined by Dakota Mamola riding the LCR Honda Castrol-liveried Honda, and even more famous faces joined the Legend contingent too.
One big draw on Friday was 1993 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz, with the American cutting a legendary figure as he made his way up the hillclimb on his Championship-winning bike, joined by the likes of 1987 500cc World Champion Wayne Gardner and their fellow MotoGP™ Legends Randy Mamola and Kenny Roberts Jr. As well as, of course, the flotilla of 2023 machinery – and more!
The Legends corner also boasted another familiar face used to visiting the top step: Casey Stoner. The Australian is no stranger to Goodwood either and returns to the event in 2023 as part of the extra-special MotoGP™ contingent, riding his bike from 2008 sporting that number 1.
Casey Stoner (1) on his 2008 MotoGP World Championship-winning Ducati. Photo courtesy Dorna.
STILL TO COME
Reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and teammate Enea Bastianini are ready to roll over the weekend, as well as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder. Binder was already at the event on Friday soaking in the atmosphere, and he’ll be suited and booted to head up The Hill on Saturday and Sunday.
BRAD BINDER: “It looks awesome, it’s so cool to walk around here and see all the amazing machines of the present and the past. It’s been super cool so far, managed to see quite a lot already and I’m definitely looking forward to taking my KTM up The Hill. There are so may cool things around, I think it’s hard to choose one. But when I have a couple of hours off tomorrow or in between, I’m going to go and have a walk round and look, go incognito!”
At GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, Pol Espargaro hands over to Augusto Fernandez, and CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team’s Miguel Oliveira joins the fray for Aprilia on Saturday. More Legends are yet to saddle up too, including Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan and Alex Crivillé.
Kevin Schwantz (1) celebrated the 30th anniversary of his 1993 500cc GP World Championship with a run up the hill at Goodwood. Photo courtesy Dorna.
WHERE TO FIND US & HOW TO WATCH
On site, the MotoGP™ delegation is based in the Ballroom Paddock near the Drivers’ Club – the perfect showcase to allow fans an awesome overview of the teams prepping the machines. And if you can’t make it? We have incredible coverage of the event.
MotoGP™’s hillclimb action is live streamed on motogp.com, making sure fans around the world can get involved in this unique celebration of the sport. There’s also a selection of photos and round-ups of the action each day of the festival, so make sure to come back for more tomorrow!
QUOTES
CASEY STONER: “I’ve been coming here since 2006, I think it’s my fifth or sixth time here. So we’ve experienced this many times! For me, it’s an incredible event. There aren’t many places in the world that you can come to one area and see so much history as well as all the new products. And not only that, you get to see most of the cars and bikes all going up The Hill and actually being started, not just on display. I think it’s a fantastic event with so many people under one roof – well, there’s no roof. In one place! As a fan, I would definitely be coming to this event.
Casey Stoner. Photo courtesy Dorna.
“It’s a bit slippery when it’s wet but overall it’s a great way to give the crowd something they normally don’t get to see. To see the range of bikes from the 1900s all the way through to what we have currently and the latest MotoGP bikes. It’s a really special event for it. Same with the cars! It can a little tricky, this track, but overall it’s always enjoyable and it’s great to catch up with friends.”
KEVIN SCHWANTZ: “Goodwood is always such a great experience. The weather’s taken a little bit away from it today, you know the ride up is a bit more fun when it’s dry! But still, the experience of being here, the house and driveway, all the people, the fans, there’s so much going on and there are so many special people here, whether it’s guys I’ve raced against, new generations of racers, previous generations to me. And so many four wheel guys, all kinds of really special people and it’s a real honour to be here. It’s a pretty special year for all of us, and it’s my 30th anniversary of my Championship.
“I get to get back on my old bike, I was just talking about it with my crew chief. Some of the races we did, ‘92, ’93, ‘94, he was my crew chief, and getting back on that bike you start to think about some of the stuff we did on it. Some of the great accomplishments, some of the great failures, the crashes, just all the different places that racing has taken us throughout the years. The experience of starting the Grand Prix season… I think in ’88 we had 12 or 13 races, to 15 or 16 when we finished. And so many places throughout the world we got to see, people we got to meet. And fans all over the world.”
About the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard
First staged in 1993, the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard is the world’s largest automotive garden party; set against the spectacular backdrop of Goodwood House in West Sussex, UK. Over 600 cars and motorcycles spanning the phenomenal history of motoring and motorsport take part along with legendary figures from the automotive world. Highlights include Future Lab presented by Randox, Electric Avenue presented by bp pulse, Forest Rally Stage, Michelin Supercar Paddock, Michelin Supercar Run, F1 Pit Lane presented by Sky, Drivers’ Club, GAS Arena, Cartier Style et Luxe Concours d’Elegance and Bonhams Auction.
About MotoGP™ & Dorna Sports
The FIM Grand Prix World Championship, MotoGP™, is the world’s most exciting motorsport. 22 of the fastest riders compete on purpose-built prototype motorcycles on some of the world’s greatest racetracks, creating one of the most thrilling shows on Earth. Since it was inaugurated in 1949, the sport has grown to comprise 20 Grands Prix across five continents, with the television broadcast reaching hundreds of millions around the world.
Dorna Sports became the sole commercial and television rights holder of the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship in 1991. Based in Madrid, Spain, with premises in Barcelona and a subsidiary in Rome, the Dorna Group is a leader in sports management, marketing and media, and has seen continued growth over the years; expanding from solely MotoGP™ to include other leading motorcycle racing championships across the globe.
Autodromo Internazionale Enzo E Dino Ferrari (a.k.a. Imola), in Imola, Italy. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Toprak Razgatlioglu won the World Superbike Superpole Race Sunday at the Imola circuit, in Italy. Riding his Pata Yamaha Prometeon YZF-R1, the Turkish rider won the 10-lap race by 0.244 second. It was Razgatlioglu’s third Superpole Race win of the season.
Defending Champion Alvaro Bautista was the runner-up on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R.
Razgatlioglu’s teammate Andrea Locatelli finished a close third.
American Garrett Gerloff DNF the race, pulling his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR into the pits and retiring.
Jones Obliterates Morgan Park Lap Record for Superbike Pole as Hayden Nelson Stars in Michelin Supersport
Alpinestars Superbike
After starting every race of the 2023 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) race from the front row, Defending ASBK champion, Mike Jones on his Yamaha Racing Team YZF-R1 M went one better, as he continued his recent resurgence in the Alpinestars Superbike category to claim his first pole position of the year and the vital championship point that accompanies the feat to start at the front of the field for tomorrow’s two, 16-lap races.
It was neck and neck throughout the two qualifying sessions with Q1 deciding the top 12 that moved through to the second stanza to define the top four rows of the grid.
Arguably, Jones has done more laps around the Morgan Park layout than most of the field combined and he put his local circuit knowledge to good use as he led the morning’s fourth practice session and backed it up to do the same in both qualifying sessions.
After the first 20-minute qualifying session Jones led Herfoss with Cru Halliday on the way back to the top in third. The session was halted after a few minutes when Glenn Allerton’s BMW had a mechanical problem and there was a chance that some fluid had leaked on the track surface. The session was soon resumed although the leading four riders of Jones, Herfoss, Halliday and Pearson remained in the garage for the remainder of the session.
It was a lot more frantic in the main qualifying session, but no one could unseat Jones…
Read More on ASBK.com.au
Michelin Supersport
The Michelin Supersport Championship qualifying again proved it will be one of the closest fought tiles in recent years with the leaderboard changing numerous times during the two sessions today.
In the first part, defending champion, John Lytras, who was in the top slot in the three-practice sessions yesterday, sat out the session quietly confident that he had the pace to be able to lead the field heading into Q2. Without recording a time, the rest stepped up to the plate with class rookie, Hayden Nelson, slotting into the top spot from early series championship leader, Ty Lynch on Michelin tyres second fastest from JJ Nahlous, Cameron Dunker third with championship leader Olly Simpson fourth.
Nelson is an extremely fast learner and has adapted to the 600cc category with aplomb while for the championship leader, Olly Simpson it is his first visit to Morgan Park since he was a junior some 12 years ago, so for the South Australian he had to learn the track all over again. As for Nelson who happens to be a cousin of the Bayliss family, he has put in a few days there realising how critical it is to know the best line that is well known for its braking and acceleration, bumps around the back of the circuit requiring precision to find that sweet spot of the track.
For the second qualifying session, Nelson took a tip from Lytras’ lead to sit out the session, saving his energy and tyres as well as staying out of trouble in the final moments…
Read More on ASBK.com.au
Supersport 300
The opening Supersport 300 race was an absolute cracker, like many before! Cameron Swain was the pacesetter through the practice and qualifying sessions from South Australian Brodie Gawith but come race time he had to fight every millimetre.
From lights out, Marcus Hamod gained the initial advantage heading into turn two but by the time the field reached turn four, he had been relegated to fourth by Swain as well as Henry Snell, Brodie Gawith with series leader Brandon Demmery right on the rear of the pack. The quartet soon gapped the rest of the field but as is the norm in the production 300 classes the positions in the leading bunch were constantly changing at every corner.
The Supersport 300 field was as close as ever in the opening race of the weekend
As the last lap board was displayed any one of the leading pack could’ve taken the win, but Swain stretched the throttle cable in the run from turn two to four and had a five-bike length lead as they headed to turn six. The four following attempted to close the gap but in a typical tiddler battle, the last corner played a part. It was Gawith who was the victim, as he tried to make a move in the final chicane and crashed out after he set a new lap record on the eighth lap of ten.
It was enough of a buffer to ensure Swain his third win of the year in the class…
Read More on ASBK.com.au
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
The opening race of the Yamaha Finance R3 Cup was another typical extension of the 300s. The race was the last one of the day and was shortened by a lap because of the setting sun infiltrating riders’ vision as they headed up the hill to turn three but the shortened distance only added to the intensity.
As with the 300 class the usual suspects were at the front of the pack for the seven-lap dash but their intensity lifted as the little champions realised there were three kilometres less to make a move.
From lights out it was Swain, Gawith, Demmery, Hamod and Snell who again set the pace. With the nature of the racing to give a lap-by-lap report of proceedings would be extremely difficult to follow as the lead changed so often from corner to corner, let alone who led each lap. As the pack charged across the line, it was Hamod, Swain and Snell with the timing screen giving the race-winning distance as 0.000 between Swain and Hamod….
Read More on ASBK.com.au bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
Bodie Paige claimed a decisive race one victory in the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup to make it four wins in a row.
As the lights went out, a typical OJC race began. Chopping and changing, dicing and diving, the positions changed frequently as the contenders established themselves at the front. Riley Nauta couldn’t capitalise on his qualifying pace as he progressively slipped down the order to fifth…
Texan Mikey Lou Sanchez (center) on top of the podium at Circuito de Navarra, in Spain. Photo courtesy Sanchez Racing.
Texan Mikey Lou Sanchez, age 13, won MIR Racing Finetwork Cup Promo3 Race One Saturday at Circuito de Navarra, in Spain. Sanchez won the eight-lap race by 2.4 seconds.
Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola, in Italy. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Spaniard Alvaro Bautista won FIM Superbike World Championship Race One Saturday afternoon at the Imola circuit, in Italy. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, Bautista won the 19-lap race by 3.672 seconds. It was Bautista’s 13th consecutive full-length race win and his 17th overall race win in 2023.
Turkish rider Toprak Razgatlioglu rode his Pata Yamaha Prometeon YZF-R1 to second place, and Northern Irishman Jonathan Rea was third on his Kawasaki Racing Team Ninja ZX-10RR.
American Garrett Gerloff finished 13th on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR.
Bautista triumphs in intense battle with Razgatlioglu to secure Race 1 victory at Imola
Alvaro Bautista (1). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) showcased his dominance in WorldSBK Race 1 at Imola, clinching his 17th win of the season and inching closer to the record for most victories in a single campaign. The race witnessed a thrilling battle, with Bautista emerging victorious ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), who celebrated his 100th WorldSBK podium and extended his impressive streak of 16 consecutive rostrum finishes. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) secured a solid third place, further adding to his extensive collection of 252 career podiums.
Meanwhile, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) put up a remarkable performance, leading the race initially and eventually finishing in fourth place. The Italian rider displayed excellent pace, battling against fierce competition. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) showcased his tenacity as he fought his way to fifth place while Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) demonstrated resilience and skill, crossing the line in sixth position after a hard-fought race.
With his triumph, Bautista not only solidified his lead in the championship standings with 382 points but also equaled the record for most wins in a season, tying with Doug Polen in 1991 and Jonathan Rea in 2018 and 2019. Bautista’s performance highlights his unwavering determination to etch his name in WorldSBK history.
Read the full report from Race 1 on worldsbk.com
Bautista dominated at Imola, securing his first victory at the circuit. With a strong performance, he solidifies his position at the top of the championship standings with 382 points, extending his lead over his rivals.
P1 | Alvaro Bautista | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
“Honestly, I didn’t expect to win. It was only my second time here at Imola. Today, we made a small change to the bike, and I felt much better in the morning. It started to feel like it did at the other tracks. The race was really tough because it was hot and very slippery. In the beginning, I didn’t feel much confidence to push in the opening laps. I saw several riders with more confidence than me. I started to, step by step, push more. We were missing some grip. I thought it was maybe because I don’t have clean air and the front is struggling a bit. I had some laps with clean air. The feeling with the front was improving so I tried to stay in front and, at least, the front was better.”
Razgatlioglu secured second place in Race 1 and reached a milestone with his 100th career podium in WorldSBK.
Jonathan Rea claims third place in Race 1, reducing the gap to Andrea Locatelli to 13 points in their battle for third position in the WorldSBK championship standings.
Andrea Locatelli finished fourth and maintaining his position ahead of Jonathan Rea in the WorldSBK championship standings.
Kawasaki Racing Team React To New Rev Limits In WorldSBK
Following the announcement by the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO) that rev limits will be changed following analysis of the relative performance of the machines over the most recent six rounds, the maximum rev limit for Kawasaki will be increased by 250 rpm more from the Imola round onwards; a total of 500 rpm since the season started.
According to point 2.4.3.1 of the FIM rules that define functionality of “Concession and Super Concession” Points – and according to the list of Concession parts allowed 2.4.3.3 c – KRT asked for 250 rpm in the 2 check points (500 rpm in total), after the Motorland race and the Donington race according to the parts nominated in point 2.4.3.3.c.iii in the rule book.
KRT are currently not using those 500rpm and are waiting to introduce at the third check point the items nominated in point 2.4.3.3.c.i
From the beginning of the season, Kawasaki is the manufacturer with less rpm allowed as per how the rules are constructed around mass production machinery. (1,500 rpm less than Ducati for example).
The set of items requested by KRT using concession points, are the same items the FIM did not allow Kawasaki to homologate in the 2021 ZX-10RR iteration due to a difference in interpretation of a “redesigned engine”.
KRT hopes this clarifies the situation and any doubts of the many people not deeply involved in this complex rule, created to help manufacturers improve the performance of their bike during the season.
Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola, in Italy. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Italian Stefano Manzi won FIM Supersport World Championship Race One Saturday afternoon at the Imola circuit, in Italy. Manzi won the 16-lap red-flag-shortened race on his Ten Kate Racing Yamaha YZF-R6.
German Marcel Schroetter was the runner-up on his Reparto Corse MV Agusta F3 RR 800, and Italian Nicolo Bulega, the Championship point leader, was third on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V2.
Former MotoAmerica regular Valentin Debise, who ride a GMT94 Yamaha, retired from the race and DNF.
Toprak Razgatlioglu was fastest in World Superbike Superpole qualifying Saturday at the Imola circuit, in Italy. Riding his Pata Yamaha Prometeon YZF-R1, the Turkish rider lapped the 3.0-mile track in 1:45.959 to top the field of 25 riders.
Razgatlioglu’s Italian teammate Andrea Locatelli was second-best with a 1:46.017, and Axel Bassani, another Italian, earned the third and final spot on the front row with a time of 1:46.062 on his Motocorsa Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R.
American Garrett Gerloff qualified 14th with a time of 1:47.241 on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR.
Many riders in the session had lap times cancelled due to waving yellow flags.
Italian Federico Caricasulo captured pole position during World Supersport Superpole qualifying Saturday morning at the Imola circuit, in Italy. Riding his Althea Racing Team Ducati Panigale V2, Caricasulo lapped the 3.0-mile (4.9 km) circuit in 1:50.779 to lead the field of 31 riders.
Former MotoAmerica regular Valentin Debise qualified 14th with a time of 1:52.719 on his GMT94 Yamaha YZF-R6.
Jesse Janisch (77) and Shane Narbonne (1) in action during the Bagger Racing League event at PittRace in 2023. Photo courtesy Trask Performance.
Exciting News! Bagger Racing League is offering FREE live streaming of the thrilling Drag Specialties Battle of the Baggers Blackhawk. Get ready to witness all the heart-pounding action from the comfort of your own screen!
As the official home of all bagger racing, BRL is your go-to destination for the most epic race series featuring custom and performance Harley and Indian motorcycles. And now, you can watch Rounds 1 & 2 races from Pittsburgh on YouTube, with Rounds 2 & 3 races at Blackhawk Farms streamed live.
Bagger Racing League is taking the motorcycle world by storm, breaking attendance records and captivating fans everywhere. Don’t miss the premiere of the Pittsburgh race on www.baggerracingleague.com and BRL’s YouTube channel this Thursday, July 13th. And mark your calendars for the thrilling live coverage of the Drag Specialties Baggers Blackhawk races on July 15th and 16th.
“We’ve heard the demands of our fans, and we’re thrilled to bring our race series online,” exclaimed Rob Buydos, the founder and president of Bagger Racing League. “By broadcasting our races for free, we’re taking our business to new heights and giving our fans direct access to all the action. This is a game-changer that will help grow our fan base and elevate this sport to new heights.”
Get ready for non-stop excitement and stay up to date with all the latest news, airtimes, and race information on Bagger Racing League’s social media and official website. Don’t miss a moment of the adrenaline-fueled action on www.baggerracingleague.com
Rain slowed down the action on Day Two of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, but some different stars brightened the day. Photo courtesy Dorna.
More MotoGP™ machinery and Legends take on The Hill at Goodwood Festival of Speed
The likes of Stoner and Schwantz join the fray as the unique event continues to showcase the best of motorsport
Friday, 14 July 2023
Rain on Friday didn’t dampen spirits at the Goodwood Festival of Speed as the unique event continued to provide plenty to celebrate, and MotoGP™ was in the thick of the action. As on Thursday, Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3), Michele Pirro (Ducati Lenovo Team), Mika Kallio (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing) headed up The Hill on their 2023 machines fresh from the track, joined by Dakota Mamola riding the LCR Honda Castrol-liveried Honda, and even more famous faces joined the Legend contingent too.
One big draw on Friday was 1993 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz, with the American cutting a legendary figure as he made his way up the hillclimb on his Championship-winning bike, joined by the likes of 1987 500cc World Champion Wayne Gardner and their fellow MotoGP™ Legends Randy Mamola and Kenny Roberts Jr. As well as, of course, the flotilla of 2023 machinery – and more!
The Legends corner also boasted another familiar face used to visiting the top step: Casey Stoner. The Australian is no stranger to Goodwood either and returns to the event in 2023 as part of the extra-special MotoGP™ contingent, riding his bike from 2008 sporting that number 1.
Casey Stoner (1) on his 2008 MotoGP World Championship-winning Ducati. Photo courtesy Dorna.
STILL TO COME
Reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and teammate Enea Bastianini are ready to roll over the weekend, as well as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder. Binder was already at the event on Friday soaking in the atmosphere, and he’ll be suited and booted to head up The Hill on Saturday and Sunday.
BRAD BINDER: “It looks awesome, it’s so cool to walk around here and see all the amazing machines of the present and the past. It’s been super cool so far, managed to see quite a lot already and I’m definitely looking forward to taking my KTM up The Hill. There are so may cool things around, I think it’s hard to choose one. But when I have a couple of hours off tomorrow or in between, I’m going to go and have a walk round and look, go incognito!”
At GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, Pol Espargaro hands over to Augusto Fernandez, and CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team’s Miguel Oliveira joins the fray for Aprilia on Saturday. More Legends are yet to saddle up too, including Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan and Alex Crivillé.
Kevin Schwantz (1) celebrated the 30th anniversary of his 1993 500cc GP World Championship with a run up the hill at Goodwood. Photo courtesy Dorna.
WHERE TO FIND US & HOW TO WATCH
On site, the MotoGP™ delegation is based in the Ballroom Paddock near the Drivers’ Club – the perfect showcase to allow fans an awesome overview of the teams prepping the machines. And if you can’t make it? We have incredible coverage of the event.
MotoGP™’s hillclimb action is live streamed on motogp.com, making sure fans around the world can get involved in this unique celebration of the sport. There’s also a selection of photos and round-ups of the action each day of the festival, so make sure to come back for more tomorrow!
QUOTES
CASEY STONER: “I’ve been coming here since 2006, I think it’s my fifth or sixth time here. So we’ve experienced this many times! For me, it’s an incredible event. There aren’t many places in the world that you can come to one area and see so much history as well as all the new products. And not only that, you get to see most of the cars and bikes all going up The Hill and actually being started, not just on display. I think it’s a fantastic event with so many people under one roof – well, there’s no roof. In one place! As a fan, I would definitely be coming to this event.
Casey Stoner. Photo courtesy Dorna.
“It’s a bit slippery when it’s wet but overall it’s a great way to give the crowd something they normally don’t get to see. To see the range of bikes from the 1900s all the way through to what we have currently and the latest MotoGP bikes. It’s a really special event for it. Same with the cars! It can a little tricky, this track, but overall it’s always enjoyable and it’s great to catch up with friends.”
KEVIN SCHWANTZ: “Goodwood is always such a great experience. The weather’s taken a little bit away from it today, you know the ride up is a bit more fun when it’s dry! But still, the experience of being here, the house and driveway, all the people, the fans, there’s so much going on and there are so many special people here, whether it’s guys I’ve raced against, new generations of racers, previous generations to me. And so many four wheel guys, all kinds of really special people and it’s a real honour to be here. It’s a pretty special year for all of us, and it’s my 30th anniversary of my Championship.
“I get to get back on my old bike, I was just talking about it with my crew chief. Some of the races we did, ‘92, ’93, ‘94, he was my crew chief, and getting back on that bike you start to think about some of the stuff we did on it. Some of the great accomplishments, some of the great failures, the crashes, just all the different places that racing has taken us throughout the years. The experience of starting the Grand Prix season… I think in ’88 we had 12 or 13 races, to 15 or 16 when we finished. And so many places throughout the world we got to see, people we got to meet. And fans all over the world.”
About the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard
First staged in 1993, the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard is the world’s largest automotive garden party; set against the spectacular backdrop of Goodwood House in West Sussex, UK. Over 600 cars and motorcycles spanning the phenomenal history of motoring and motorsport take part along with legendary figures from the automotive world. Highlights include Future Lab presented by Randox, Electric Avenue presented by bp pulse, Forest Rally Stage, Michelin Supercar Paddock, Michelin Supercar Run, F1 Pit Lane presented by Sky, Drivers’ Club, GAS Arena, Cartier Style et Luxe Concours d’Elegance and Bonhams Auction.
About MotoGP™ & Dorna Sports
The FIM Grand Prix World Championship, MotoGP™, is the world’s most exciting motorsport. 22 of the fastest riders compete on purpose-built prototype motorcycles on some of the world’s greatest racetracks, creating one of the most thrilling shows on Earth. Since it was inaugurated in 1949, the sport has grown to comprise 20 Grands Prix across five continents, with the television broadcast reaching hundreds of millions around the world.
Dorna Sports became the sole commercial and television rights holder of the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship in 1991. Based in Madrid, Spain, with premises in Barcelona and a subsidiary in Rome, the Dorna Group is a leader in sports management, marketing and media, and has seen continued growth over the years; expanding from solely MotoGP™ to include other leading motorcycle racing championships across the globe.
A “press release” is promotional text issued by a rider, team, company or organization to inform
the public about an event, product, or service from the issuer’s own point of view, and if deemed
to have news value, may be placed on roadracingworld.com as a service to our readers.
A press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers. When a post is labeled with the words “press release”, it means that Roadracingworld.com is not responsible for its content and that Roadracingworld.com makes no guarantee that it is accurate. Not all press releases are posted and Roadracingworld.com may reject press releases if the content is too heavy on commercial promotion with little or no news value or if the press release contains obvious errors.
Accessibility
Accessibility modes
Epilepsy Safe Mode
Dampens color and removes blinks
This mode enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode
Improves website's visuals
This mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode
Helps to focus on specific content
This mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode
Reduces distractions and improve focus
This mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode
Allows using the site with your screen-reader
This mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Online Dictionary
Readable Experience
Content Scaling
Default
Text Magnifier
Readable Font
Dyslexia Friendly
Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Font Sizing
Default
Line Height
Default
Letter Spacing
Default
Left Aligned
Center Aligned
Right Aligned
Visually Pleasing Experience
Dark Contrast
Light Contrast
Monochrome
High Contrast
High Saturation
Low Saturation
Adjust Text Colors
Adjust Title Colors
Adjust Background Colors
Easy Orientation
Mute Sounds
Hide Images
Hide Emoji
Reading Guide
Stop Animations
Reading Mask
Highlight Hover
Highlight Focus
Big Dark Cursor
Big Light Cursor
Cognitive Reading
Virtual Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Voice Navigation
Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
April 11, 2026
Compliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience,
regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible
to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific
disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML,
adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive
a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements,
alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
