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WorldSBK : Bulega Heads Friday Practice In France

Mathilde Gasnier
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WorldSBK : Bulega Heads Friday Practice In France

Nicolò Bulega led FIM Superbike World Championship Free Practice Two (FP2) Friday afternoon at Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his Aruba.It Racing – Ducati Panigale V4R on spec Pirelli tires, the Italian rider covered the 2.74-mile (4.41 km) track in 1:35.428 to lead the field of 23 riders.

Sam Lowes was second-best with a 1:35.828 on his ELF Marc VDS Ducati Panigale V4R. 

Andrea Locatelli was third with a 1:35.842 on his Pata Maxus Yamaha YZF R1.

2024 WorldSuperbike Champion, Toprak Razgatlioglu finished the session fourth with a lap time of 1:35.860 on his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR. 

Danilo Petrucci, riding his Barni Spark Racing Ducati Panigale V4R, was fifth with a time of 1:36.103.

American Garrett Gerloff was 13th with a time of 1:36.713 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR. 

 

Results fp2 wsbk

 

More from a press release issued by Dorna: 

Bulega leaves it late to take P1 ahead of Sam Lowes, Razgatlioglu fourth. The Italian rider was fastest in FP2 to claim top spot after the opening day in France, while title rival Razgatlioglu finished P4. 

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed top spot for Friday’s action at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, finishing four tenths clear of nearest rival Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team). Title rival Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) had looked like he would end the day in P1 but lost three places as FP2 came to a close at the French Round.

BULEGA ON TOP: #11 leads Sam Lowes in the combined classification

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) put in a late lap to steal top spot away from title rival Razgatlioglu on the opening day of action in France. ‘Bulegas’ set a 1’35.428s, quicker than the existing pole lap record, as he finished exactly four tenths clear of Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) in second place, while Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) finished in fifth as he looks to strengthen his grip on third in the World Championship standings. One of his rivals, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), was ninth with a 1’36.512s, just over a second behind teammate Bulega, while rookie Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) was 12th. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) was 15th on Friday after setting a 1’36.940s but he didn’t have the Friday he would’ve wanted. Lots of setup changes on the front end of his Panigale V4R machine meant he didn’t get a long run in, before a crash at Turn 13 towards the end of FP2. Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) was 18th with Tarran Mackenzie (MGM BONOVO Action) 19th.

 

 

RAZGATLIOGLU IN FOURTH: ‘El Turco’ tops FP1 but falls to P4 in FP2

It had looked like Razgatlioglu would top both sessions on Friday but he fell down to fourth in the closing stages, and he was unable to improve on his 1’35.680s as he finished P4; 0.432s down on Bulega’s time. Teammate Michael van der Mark narrowly missed out on a spot in the top ten as he finished in 11th with a 1’36.633s.

YAMAHA IN THE TOP THREE: Locatelli claims third, Rea seventh

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) led Yamaha’s charge on the opening day of the action for the French Round, claiming third place with a time of 1’35.842s, just 0.014s away from P2 and just over four tenths from P1. Teammate Jonathan Rea put himself inside the top seven with a 1’36.196s, while three riders on the Yamaha R1 were inside the top ten. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) secured P10 with a 1’36.542s. Dominique Aegerter was just two tenths away from his teammate but found himself down in 14th place, two places ahead of Bahattin Sofuoglu (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team). The Turkish rider’s teammate, Michael Rinaldi, was 20th.

BIMOTA SHOW POTENTIAL: Alex Lowes in the top six

Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) ensured four manufacturers were in the top six as he finished in sixth with a 1’36.172s, 0.744s down on the pace set by Bulega. Teammate Axel Bassani will hope he can move up the order on Saturday after finishing down in 17th place with a 1’37.041s, around nine tenths down on the #22.

STRONG DAY FOR VIERGE: top four in FP1, eighth in FP2 despite crash

Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) had a mixed Friday, after claiming P4 in FP1 but crashing in the early stages of Free Practice 2. He was able to return to the track after the crash to claim eighth overall. His teammate for this weekend, Sergio Garcia, had an electrical issue in FP1 which disrupted his running as he got up to speed on the CBR1000RR-R machine. Honda introduced a concession from France, running with a 0.5kg/h fuel flow rate compared to the prescribed rate. Tito Rabat (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) finished in 21st, one place ahead of Garcia, while the #53’s teammate, Zaqhwan Zaidi (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team), completed the WorldSBK field.

GERLOFF AIMING TO MOVE FORWARD: 13th on Day 1 for the Texan

Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) has often enjoyed strong performances at Magny-Cours and he showed decent speed on Friday. He was inside the top ten throughout the majority of both sessions although he dropped down to 13th at the end of FP2 after posting a 1’36.713s-

 

The top six from Friday at Magny-Cours, full results here:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’35.428s

2. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.400s

3. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +0.414s

4. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.432s

5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.675s

6. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +0.744s

Don’t miss the action on Saturday from 09:00 Local Time (UTC+2) using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now half price!

MotoGP : Binder Cracks Lap Record at Montmelo

Mathilde Gasnier
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MotoGP : Binder Cracks Lap Record at Montmelo

Brad Binder led MotoGP World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing RC16 on spec Michelin tires, Binder turned a lap time of 1:38.141. Not only was that good enough to lead the 24-rider field, it was also good enough to eclipse Aleix Espargaro’s 2024 All-Time Lap Record of 1:38.190.

His teammate, Pedro Acosta was the best of the rest with a 1:38.245.

Alex Marquez was third at 1:38.280 on his BK8 Gresini Ducati Desmosedici GP24.

Six-time MotoGP World Champion, Marc Marquez, finished the session fourth with a 1:38.365 on his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP25.

Marco Bezzecchi crossed the finish line fifth on his Aprilia Racing RS-GP25 with a time of 1:38.403.

Francesco Bagnaia is only 21st with a lap time of 1:39.170 on his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP25.

 

Classification practice motogp

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Binder leads Acosta as KTM set the pace in Barcelona. The Austrian factory enjoy a perfect start to the Catalan GP as big hitters face Q1. 

Not a bad day at the office for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing then! Brad Binder, closely followed by Pedro Acosta, led a competitive and closely fought MotoGP field on Friday at the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalonia. Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) acts as the Austrian factory’s closest challenger in P3, as we see some star names face Q1 in Barcelona – Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) being two of those.

 

A competitive start

With 20 minutes gone, Alex Marquez led the way from FP1 pacesetter Acosta and Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol), with Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) and Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) rounding out that early top five. Binder then slotted into P3 to make it two Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machines inside the top three, with Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) seventh fastest with just over half an hour left on the clock.

Heading into the closing 20 minutes, Bagnaia had work to do. The Italian was P21, 0.9s away from Alex Marquez’s time, and Martin was in a similar situation – the #1 was P23.

 

Time attack mode: engaged

Elsewhere, Bastianini climbed to the Practice summit with 15 minutes to go to kickstart the time attack flurry we were about to enjoy in Barcelona. Bastianini’s 1:38.972 was then smashed out the park by Marc Marquez’s table-topping 1:38.444, and just behind, Zarco moved up to P2 behind the #93.

Third place was where Alex Marquez placed himself, with Acosta P4 after his first time attack effort, before then leapfrogging the #73 into P3 a lap later. Not for long though. Alex Marquez found a healthy chunk of time to rise to P1 by 0.095s, with Binder and Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) now spending some time in the top five as we entered the final 10 minutes.

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) then made his move into the top 10. The Frenchman ascended to P4 to jump ahead of the factory KTMs, meaning all five manufacturers sat in the top seven with under five minutes left to play. The question now was, could Bagnaia find a way to barge into Q2?

Away from that storyline, Bezzecchi improved to P3 as Bastianini and Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) hit the top seven. Then, two KTMs powered to P1 and P2 as Binder led Acosta with a 1:38.141, but there was no 1:38 for Pecco as things stood. The Italian was still P21 and now, crashes for Zarco and Bastianini saw the yellow flags come out. And that meant, unfortunately, Bagnaia was unable to get a final attempt in. The #63 faces Q1 for the second weekend running, as KTM celebrate a perfect Friday at the office.

 

Your friday top 10 in BCN

Marquez heads into Saturday as the fourth fastest rider ahead of Bezzecchi and Bastianini, with Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) collecting P7. Zarco, despite the late tumble, held onto P8 to finish just ahead of fellow HRC star Marini and rookie Ogura, as the Japanese rider earns automatic Q2 promotion in P10.

 

All set for quali 

Bagnaia, Martin, Quartararo… just three of the big names who will be scrapping it out in Q1 on Saturday, as the field chase KTM in Catalonia. See you tomorrow for more.

MotoGP Practice results!

Moto2 : Canet Quickest Friday Afternoon in Barcelona

Mathilde Gasnier
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Moto2 : Canet Quickest Friday Afternoon in Barcelona

Aron Canet led Moto2 World Championship Practice Friday afternoon at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Fantic Racing Lino Sonego Kalex on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard lapped the 2.89-mile road course in 1:42.168, topping the field of 29 riders.

Daniel Holgado was second-best with a time of 1:42.219 on his CFMOTO Impulse Aspar Team Kalex.

Jake Dixon did a third-fastest 1:42.277 on his ELF Marc VDS Racing Team Boscoscuro.

American Joe Roberts finished Friday afternoon’s practice session 8th with a best time of 1:42.375 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.

 

Classification practice moto2

 

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Canet leads Moto2™ Practice, Alonso Q1-bound in Barcelona. The tables turn again in Moto2 on Friday afternoon with stories up and down the field. 

Leading the Moto2 charge, Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) stole the show on Friday in Barcelona, aiming to stay in the title fight in Round 15. Friday’s opening day of action at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was all-important come the afternoon with the top 14 places deciding who is automatically into Q2 and the pole battle on Saturday and who needs to scrap it out in Q1.

Canet’s late lap was enough to slot him nicely into P1, less than a tenth ahead of Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Impulse Aspar Team), who was originally leading going into the closing moments. Behind the pair of Kalex machines, the first Boscoscuro with Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) completing the top three ahead of the ever-impressive Daniel Muñoz (Red Bull KTM Ajo). It was a huge achievement to finish P4 on Friday afternoon by the super-sub, deputising for the injured Deniz Öncü. In the victory fight in Hungary and closing in on the title contenders, Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) rounded out the top five.

Despite a late crash at Turn 1, Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) made sure there were reasons to smile in the box, joining teammate Muñoz into Q2 in P6, ahead of Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – FRINSA – MSI). Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team), Ivan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) and Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) secured spots in Q2 and also in the top ten. A winner last time out and victor in three Moto3™ GPs in Barcelona David Alonso (CFMOTO Impulse Aspar Team) was only 23rddespite showing promise, so expect more hard-charging from the Colombian sensation.

Full Moto2 Practice results from Barcelona!

Moto3 : Perrone Is Best Friday Afternoon in Australia

Mathilde Gasnier
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Moto3 : Perrone Is Best Friday Afternoon in Australia

Valentin Perrone led Moto3 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Perrone used his Pirelli-shod Red Bull KTM Tech3 to lap the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) track in 1:47.584, which led the field of 26 riders.

David Muñoz was second-best with a time of 1:47.680 on his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP KTM.

David Almansa, piloting his Leopard Racing Honda, claimed the third and final spot on the front with a lap time of 1:47.779.

 

Classification practice moto3

 

More from a press release issued by Dorna:

Perrone sets Practice pace as Piqueras misses top 14. The Argentine fronts the Moto3 pack on Friday in Barcelona as a late lap cancellation costs the rider second in the championship.

Valentin Perrone’s (Red Bull KTM Tech3) 1:47.584 saw the Argentine rookie front the Moto3 field in Practice at the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalonia, but it wasn’t by much. A late lap from David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) propelled the Spaniard into P2, 0.096s off Perrone, while David Almansa (Leopard Racing) collected a Friday P3.

Top fives went the way of rookies Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) and Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), with the latter recovering well from a heavy FP1 crash at Turn 13 to jump straight into Q2. Australians Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) were P6 and P7 respectively, while a final lap banker from title chase leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) ensured the #99 kept his 100% Friday top 14 record intact.

However, it wasn’t the same story for his chief title rival Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI). After his fastest lap time was cancelled due to yellow flags after the session, the #36 ended Practice in P15 and will face the unwanted challenge of Q1 at 12:45 local time on Saturday afternoon.

Moto3 Practice results!

MotoAmerica: Aussie Stauffer Racing Yamaha Superbike At COTA

Mathilde Gasnier
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MotoAmerica: Aussie Stauffer Racing Yamaha Superbike At COTA
Superbike Unlimited (SBU) is thrilled to announce the signing of Australian racing sensation Max Stauffer for the upcoming 2025 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at the prestigious Circuit of the Americas (COTA). This race will mark Stauffer’s debut in the highly competitive MotoAmerica Superbike class, where he will go head-to-head with some of the best riders in the world.
 
Stauffer, who has made a name for himself in the Australian Superbike series, is looking forward to showcasing his talent on the American stage. His first appearance in the MotoAmerica Superbike class at COTA in September 2025 is highly anticipated, and fans can expect an exciting race weekend as Stauffer takes on the challenging 3.4-mile circuit.
 
“I’m super excited to make my way over to the MotoAmerica championship with the SBU team, it’s like a dream come true! This is an unreal opportunity for myself and I’m more than excited to get to the States, meet up with the team and get our big weekend of learning and developing underway,” said Stauffer. “Overall, I’m excited to make the most of this opportunity and I can’t extend my gratitude enough to the people that have put this all together.”
 
Freddy Carswell, owner of Superbike Unlimited, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership with Stauffer: “We’re pleased to be able to work with Max for his first appearance in the MotoAmerica Superbike class. It’s an exciting opportunity not only for Max to show American fans his level as a rider, but also for SBU to showcase the level of our program. We’re incredibly thankful for our partners for their continued support in our program. The best is yet to come.”
 
As part of its ongoing commitment to provide fans with an inside look at the team’s journey, Superbike Unlimited is also continuing its documentary series Finding the Limit, which takes viewers behind the scenes of the team’s efforts throughout the 2025 season. The documentary is available on YouTube and MotoAmerica Live Plus, offering exclusive content and insights into the challenges, triumphs, and day-to-day life of the team and riders.
 
Finding the Limit gives fans a front-row seat to the development of both the riders and the team, showcasing the passion and dedication required to compete at the highest levels of motorsport. As Stauffer prepares for his debut race at COTA, fans will be able to follow his journey in real-time, witnessing firsthand the growth and evolution of a rising star in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.
 
With the 2025 season soon coming to a close, Superbike Unlimited is poised for an exciting weekend ahead. Stauffer’s addition to the team brings new energy and potential to an already talented roster, and the team is eager to take on the challenges that lie ahead. The Circuit of the Americas race will be the perfect starting point for this thrilling new chapter.
 
 
About Superbike Unlimited (SBU):
Superbike Unlimited is a premier racing parts distributor & professional race team competing in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship. With a focus on excellence both on and off the track, SBU is dedicated to developing elite-level motorcycles and providing riders with the resources they need to succeed. The team is known for its innovation, commitment to performance, and close-knit group of engineers, mechanics, and partners, all working toward one common goal: victory.
 
 
About Finding the Limit:
Finding the Limit is a documentary series that provides an in-depth look into the world of Superbike Unlimited, offering fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the struggles, triumphs, and day-to-day grind of a professional racing team. Available on YouTube and MotoAmerica Live Plus, the series follows SBU’s riders and team members throughout the season as they push the boundaries of performance and strive for success at the highest level.Superbike Unlimited Racing is proudly partnered with: Yamaha Motor Corporation USA, Bitubo SRL, Evol Technology, Vortex EK, Sprint Filter, TK Dischi, Suter Racing & Domino Racing.

Stefano Mesa Will Race TopPro Motorsports BMW In Stock 1000 At COTA

Mathilde Gasnier
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Stefano Mesa Will Race TopPro Motorsports BMW In Stock 1000 At COTA

TopPro Motorsports and team owner Alex Arango have announced that Stefano Mesa will return to the MotoAmerica paddock next weekend, September 12 through 14, where he will race a TopPro Motorsports BMW M 1000 RR in the final round of the 2025 Stock 1000 Championship at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas.

Mesa, who has 34 all-time career podiums in AMA and MotoAmerica competition, including 11 podium finishes in Stock 1000, is a seasoned veteran in MotoAmerica competition. The fan favorite has unfortuinately been sidelined for the past eight months due to a shoulder injury. Now on the mend, he is eager to get back on track and to make his debut with TopPro Motorsports.

“I’m really excited to be coming back to racing and to join TopPro Motorsports for this event,” said Mesa. “It’s been a long recovery, and I haven’t been on a big bike since the injury. The goal is to get my feet wet again, take it step by step, and see where I stack up. My shoulder is still not 100%, but I’m looking forward to building with this team and enjoying the weekend.”

TopPro Motorsports owner Alex Arango shared his excitement in welcoming Mesa to the team, saying: “I’ve known Stefano since we were kids racing together and have watched him grow up in the racing community. He’s not only talented but also very respected and well-liked. We’re excited to have him on board with TopPro Motorsports, and we can’t wait to see what we can do together.”

Mesa’s return with TopPro Motorsports is also backed by TopPro Colombia and his personal sponsors. The COTA round marks an important step in his comeback as he regains strength and track time within a new team environment. Fans and supporters can look forward to an exciting weekend as Mesa takes on the Texas round in Stock 1000.

WorldSSP : Manzi Quickest In Opening Practice In France

Mathilde Gasnier
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WorldSSP : Manzi Quickest In Opening Practice In France

Stefano Manzi was quickest during FIM Supersport World Championship Free Practice Friday morning at Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his Pata Yamaha Ten Kate YZF R9 on Pirelli control tires, the Italian covered the 2.74-mile (4.41 km) road course in 1:40.193, topping the field of 33 riders.

Filippo Farioli was the best of the rest with a 1:40.602 on his MV Agusta Reparto Corse F3 800 RR.

His teammate, Bo Bendsneyder was third with a lap time of 1:40.758.

Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise was 10th with a 1:41.158 on his Renzi Corse Ducati Panigale V2.

 

Results FP WSSP

MotoGP : Acosta Heads Opening Practice At Montmelo

Mathilde Gasnier
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0
MotoGP : Acosta Heads Opening Practice At Montmelo

Pedro Acosta topped MotoGP World Championship Free Practice 1 Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Michelin-shod Red Bull KTM Factory RC16, the Spaniard turned a lap of 1:38.979 around the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) track and led the 24-rider field.

French sensation, Johann Zarco was second-best with a 1:39.074 on his CASTROL Honda LCR RC213V.

Marc Marquez was third with a lap of 1:39.198 on his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP25.

 

Classification fp1 motogp

 

More from a press release issued by Dorna: 

Acosta powers to P1 in Barcelona FP1. A mega start for the KTM star who headed the manufacturer’s strong start to the Catalan GP.

Recent form provided a solid foundation for Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) to build from in Barcelona as he topped the opening session. A 1’38.979 was enough for him to charge to the top late on but with all four KTMs inside the top ten, there were smiles right across both garages and not just in the #37’s corner.

There were a flurry of late laps, including back-to-back fastest laps for Acosta at the end of the session to go top. The Spaniard’s form of recent rounds has pointed towards a strong showing in Barcelona and that’s how his weekend has started. There was something of a surprise in P2 with Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) moving up late on. There were three manufacturers inside the top three with Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) securing third having led for much of the session. A welcome return for Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) in fourth, splitting MotoGP’s fastest brothers as Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) bagged fifth.

Honda’s late charge was emphasised by Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) in sixth, one place ahead of the third KTM of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). The best of the Aprilias was Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), following on from form in recent rounds by taking P8 on Friday morning in Montmelo, ahead of wildcard Aleix Espargaro (Honda HRC Test Team). Rounding out the top ten, a fourth KTM with Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech 3). The Austrian manufacturer look strong going into the remainder of Friday but the same can’t be said for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), P23 and second-to-last on the leaderboard. Pecco’s not renowned for his Friday pace but he may be a tad more concerned than normal after FP1.

Full results from MotoGP FP1 in Montmelo!

 

 

 

WorldSBK : Razgatlioglu Tops Opening Practice In France

Mathilde Gasnier
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0
WorldSBK : Razgatlioglu Tops Opening Practice In France

Toprak Razgatlioglu was quickest during FIM Superbike World Championship Free Practice 1 Friday morning at Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his Pirelli-shod ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000R  on the 2.74-mile (4.41 km) track, the Turkish rider recorded a 1:36.930 to lead the field of 23 riders.

Sam Lowes was the best of the rest with a 1:37.152 on his ELF Marc VDS Ducati Panigale V4R. Nicolo Bulega was third-fastest with a 1:37.183 on his Aruba.It Racing – Ducati Panigale V4R.

Danilo Petrucci was 5th on his Barni Spark Racing Ducati Panigale V4R with a lap time of 1:37.240. 

American Garrett Gerloff finished the opening session in 7th with a 1:37.374 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR. 

 

Results fp1 WSBK

 

More from a press release issued by Dorna: 

Razgatlioglu tops FP1 at Magny-Cours ahead of Sam Lowes, Bulega P3 as Vierge puts Honda fourth. Less than a second separated the top 17 in FP1 with all six manufacturers inside the top eight after the opening 45-minute session.

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed top spot in Free Practice 1 for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship field as the French Round kicked off at the iconic Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. The reigning Champion was more than two tenths clear of his rivals with Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) claiming second and title rival Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) completing the top three.

Razgatlioglu went P1 in the standings early in the 45-minute session and retained his grip on top spot throughout. Impressively, in FP1 last year on his first lap, he set a 1’37.695s while this year, again on his first lap, it was a 1’37.694s. Times rapidly improved with ‘El Turco’ putting in a 1’36.983s before improving to a 1’36.930s to secure P1; he was the first and only rider to break into the 1’36s bracket. Sam Lowes made a late play for P1, going faster than Razgatlioglu in the first three sectors but losing time in the final one. The #14 finished second with a 1’37.152s. The top three was completed by Bulega who put in a late 1’37.183s to secure P3, although 0.253s down on title rival Razgatlioglu.

Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) enjoyed a strong start to the French Round with fourth after setting a 1’37.208s. The #97 was often inside the top three but was demoted by Bulega in the final minutes of the session. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) was another who found himself in the top three throughout FP1 but dropped down to P5 at the end of the first WorldSBK outing of the weekend; the #9 seemingly had a small technical issue on his Panigale V4R towards the end of FP1. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) was sixth for Yamaha, ensuring four manufacturers were in the top six, as he set a 1’37.251s.

 

 

American star Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) was 0.444s off the pace in FP1 as he put Kawasaki in seventh, finishing 0.013s clear of Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) in eighth; ensuring all six manufacturers featured in the top eight. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was ninth with Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) completing the top ten, 0.567s down on the pace of what was an incredibly close FP1 session.

The top six from WorldSBK FP1, full results here:

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’36.930s

2. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.222s

3. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.253s

4. Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) +0.278s

5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.310s

6. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +0.321s

Don’t miss WorldSBK FP2 from 15:00 Local Time (UTC+2) using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now half price!

Moto2 : Holgado Tops Opening Practice In Barcelona

Mathilde Gasnier
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Moto2 : Holgado Tops Opening Practice In Barcelona

Daniel Holgado was quickest during Moto2 World Championship Free Practice 1 Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Pirelli-shod CFMOTO Impulse Aspar Team Kalex on the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) track, the Spaniard recorded a 1:42.306 to lead the field of 29 riders.

Barry Baltus was the best of the rest with a 1:42.453 on his Fantic Racing Lino Sonego Kalex.

Manuel Gonzalez was third-fastest with a 1:42.473 on his LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex.

American Joe Roberts finished the opening session in 24th with a 1:43.826 on his American Racing Team Kalex.

 

Classification fp1 moto2

WorldSBK : Bulega Heads Friday Practice In France

Nicolo Bulega (11) at Magny-Cours. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Nicolo Bulega (11) at Magny-Cours. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Nicolò Bulega led FIM Superbike World Championship Free Practice Two (FP2) Friday afternoon at Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his Aruba.It Racing – Ducati Panigale V4R on spec Pirelli tires, the Italian rider covered the 2.74-mile (4.41 km) track in 1:35.428 to lead the field of 23 riders.

Sam Lowes was second-best with a 1:35.828 on his ELF Marc VDS Ducati Panigale V4R. 

Andrea Locatelli was third with a 1:35.842 on his Pata Maxus Yamaha YZF R1.

2024 WorldSuperbike Champion, Toprak Razgatlioglu finished the session fourth with a lap time of 1:35.860 on his ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000RR. 

Danilo Petrucci, riding his Barni Spark Racing Ducati Panigale V4R, was fifth with a time of 1:36.103.

American Garrett Gerloff was 13th with a time of 1:36.713 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR. 

 

Results fp2 wsbk

 

More from a press release issued by Dorna: 

Bulega leaves it late to take P1 ahead of Sam Lowes, Razgatlioglu fourth. The Italian rider was fastest in FP2 to claim top spot after the opening day in France, while title rival Razgatlioglu finished P4. 

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed top spot for Friday’s action at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, finishing four tenths clear of nearest rival Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team). Title rival Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) had looked like he would end the day in P1 but lost three places as FP2 came to a close at the French Round.

BULEGA ON TOP: #11 leads Sam Lowes in the combined classification

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) put in a late lap to steal top spot away from title rival Razgatlioglu on the opening day of action in France. ‘Bulegas’ set a 1’35.428s, quicker than the existing pole lap record, as he finished exactly four tenths clear of Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) in second place, while Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) finished in fifth as he looks to strengthen his grip on third in the World Championship standings. One of his rivals, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), was ninth with a 1’36.512s, just over a second behind teammate Bulega, while rookie Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) was 12th. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) was 15th on Friday after setting a 1’36.940s but he didn’t have the Friday he would’ve wanted. Lots of setup changes on the front end of his Panigale V4R machine meant he didn’t get a long run in, before a crash at Turn 13 towards the end of FP2. Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) was 18th with Tarran Mackenzie (MGM BONOVO Action) 19th.

 

 

RAZGATLIOGLU IN FOURTH: ‘El Turco’ tops FP1 but falls to P4 in FP2

It had looked like Razgatlioglu would top both sessions on Friday but he fell down to fourth in the closing stages, and he was unable to improve on his 1’35.680s as he finished P4; 0.432s down on Bulega’s time. Teammate Michael van der Mark narrowly missed out on a spot in the top ten as he finished in 11th with a 1’36.633s.

YAMAHA IN THE TOP THREE: Locatelli claims third, Rea seventh

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) led Yamaha’s charge on the opening day of the action for the French Round, claiming third place with a time of 1’35.842s, just 0.014s away from P2 and just over four tenths from P1. Teammate Jonathan Rea put himself inside the top seven with a 1’36.196s, while three riders on the Yamaha R1 were inside the top ten. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) secured P10 with a 1’36.542s. Dominique Aegerter was just two tenths away from his teammate but found himself down in 14th place, two places ahead of Bahattin Sofuoglu (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team). The Turkish rider’s teammate, Michael Rinaldi, was 20th.

BIMOTA SHOW POTENTIAL: Alex Lowes in the top six

Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) ensured four manufacturers were in the top six as he finished in sixth with a 1’36.172s, 0.744s down on the pace set by Bulega. Teammate Axel Bassani will hope he can move up the order on Saturday after finishing down in 17th place with a 1’37.041s, around nine tenths down on the #22.

STRONG DAY FOR VIERGE: top four in FP1, eighth in FP2 despite crash

Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) had a mixed Friday, after claiming P4 in FP1 but crashing in the early stages of Free Practice 2. He was able to return to the track after the crash to claim eighth overall. His teammate for this weekend, Sergio Garcia, had an electrical issue in FP1 which disrupted his running as he got up to speed on the CBR1000RR-R machine. Honda introduced a concession from France, running with a 0.5kg/h fuel flow rate compared to the prescribed rate. Tito Rabat (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) finished in 21st, one place ahead of Garcia, while the #53’s teammate, Zaqhwan Zaidi (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team), completed the WorldSBK field.

GERLOFF AIMING TO MOVE FORWARD: 13th on Day 1 for the Texan

Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) has often enjoyed strong performances at Magny-Cours and he showed decent speed on Friday. He was inside the top ten throughout the majority of both sessions although he dropped down to 13th at the end of FP2 after posting a 1’36.713s-

 

The top six from Friday at Magny-Cours, full results here:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’35.428s

2. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.400s

3. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +0.414s

4. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.432s

5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.675s

6. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +0.744s

Don’t miss the action on Saturday from 09:00 Local Time (UTC+2) using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now half price!

MotoGP : Binder Cracks Lap Record at Montmelo

Brad Binder (33) and Pedro Acosta (37) during the practice session at Montmelo. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Brad Binder (33) and Pedro Acosta (37) during the practice session at Montmelo. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Brad Binder led MotoGP World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing RC16 on spec Michelin tires, Binder turned a lap time of 1:38.141. Not only was that good enough to lead the 24-rider field, it was also good enough to eclipse Aleix Espargaro’s 2024 All-Time Lap Record of 1:38.190.

His teammate, Pedro Acosta was the best of the rest with a 1:38.245.

Alex Marquez was third at 1:38.280 on his BK8 Gresini Ducati Desmosedici GP24.

Six-time MotoGP World Champion, Marc Marquez, finished the session fourth with a 1:38.365 on his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP25.

Marco Bezzecchi crossed the finish line fifth on his Aprilia Racing RS-GP25 with a time of 1:38.403.

Francesco Bagnaia is only 21st with a lap time of 1:39.170 on his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP25.

 

Classification practice motogp

 

 

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Binder leads Acosta as KTM set the pace in Barcelona. The Austrian factory enjoy a perfect start to the Catalan GP as big hitters face Q1. 

Not a bad day at the office for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing then! Brad Binder, closely followed by Pedro Acosta, led a competitive and closely fought MotoGP field on Friday at the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalonia. Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) acts as the Austrian factory’s closest challenger in P3, as we see some star names face Q1 in Barcelona – Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) being two of those.

 

A competitive start

With 20 minutes gone, Alex Marquez led the way from FP1 pacesetter Acosta and Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol), with Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) and Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) rounding out that early top five. Binder then slotted into P3 to make it two Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machines inside the top three, with Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) seventh fastest with just over half an hour left on the clock.

Heading into the closing 20 minutes, Bagnaia had work to do. The Italian was P21, 0.9s away from Alex Marquez’s time, and Martin was in a similar situation – the #1 was P23.

 

Time attack mode: engaged

Elsewhere, Bastianini climbed to the Practice summit with 15 minutes to go to kickstart the time attack flurry we were about to enjoy in Barcelona. Bastianini’s 1:38.972 was then smashed out the park by Marc Marquez’s table-topping 1:38.444, and just behind, Zarco moved up to P2 behind the #93.

Third place was where Alex Marquez placed himself, with Acosta P4 after his first time attack effort, before then leapfrogging the #73 into P3 a lap later. Not for long though. Alex Marquez found a healthy chunk of time to rise to P1 by 0.095s, with Binder and Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) now spending some time in the top five as we entered the final 10 minutes.

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) then made his move into the top 10. The Frenchman ascended to P4 to jump ahead of the factory KTMs, meaning all five manufacturers sat in the top seven with under five minutes left to play. The question now was, could Bagnaia find a way to barge into Q2?

Away from that storyline, Bezzecchi improved to P3 as Bastianini and Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) hit the top seven. Then, two KTMs powered to P1 and P2 as Binder led Acosta with a 1:38.141, but there was no 1:38 for Pecco as things stood. The Italian was still P21 and now, crashes for Zarco and Bastianini saw the yellow flags come out. And that meant, unfortunately, Bagnaia was unable to get a final attempt in. The #63 faces Q1 for the second weekend running, as KTM celebrate a perfect Friday at the office.

 

Your friday top 10 in BCN

Marquez heads into Saturday as the fourth fastest rider ahead of Bezzecchi and Bastianini, with Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) collecting P7. Zarco, despite the late tumble, held onto P8 to finish just ahead of fellow HRC star Marini and rookie Ogura, as the Japanese rider earns automatic Q2 promotion in P10.

 

All set for quali 

Bagnaia, Martin, Quartararo… just three of the big names who will be scrapping it out in Q1 on Saturday, as the field chase KTM in Catalonia. See you tomorrow for more.

MotoGP Practice results!

Moto2 : Canet Quickest Friday Afternoon in Barcelona

Aron Canet (44) at Montmelo. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Aron Canet (44) at Montmelo. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Aron Canet led Moto2 World Championship Practice Friday afternoon at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Fantic Racing Lino Sonego Kalex on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard lapped the 2.89-mile road course in 1:42.168, topping the field of 29 riders.

Daniel Holgado was second-best with a time of 1:42.219 on his CFMOTO Impulse Aspar Team Kalex.

Jake Dixon did a third-fastest 1:42.277 on his ELF Marc VDS Racing Team Boscoscuro.

American Joe Roberts finished Friday afternoon’s practice session 8th with a best time of 1:42.375 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.

 

Classification practice moto2

 

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Canet leads Moto2™ Practice, Alonso Q1-bound in Barcelona. The tables turn again in Moto2 on Friday afternoon with stories up and down the field. 

Leading the Moto2 charge, Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) stole the show on Friday in Barcelona, aiming to stay in the title fight in Round 15. Friday’s opening day of action at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was all-important come the afternoon with the top 14 places deciding who is automatically into Q2 and the pole battle on Saturday and who needs to scrap it out in Q1.

Canet’s late lap was enough to slot him nicely into P1, less than a tenth ahead of Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Impulse Aspar Team), who was originally leading going into the closing moments. Behind the pair of Kalex machines, the first Boscoscuro with Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) completing the top three ahead of the ever-impressive Daniel Muñoz (Red Bull KTM Ajo). It was a huge achievement to finish P4 on Friday afternoon by the super-sub, deputising for the injured Deniz Öncü. In the victory fight in Hungary and closing in on the title contenders, Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) rounded out the top five.

Despite a late crash at Turn 1, Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) made sure there were reasons to smile in the box, joining teammate Muñoz into Q2 in P6, ahead of Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – FRINSA – MSI). Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team), Ivan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2) and Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) secured spots in Q2 and also in the top ten. A winner last time out and victor in three Moto3™ GPs in Barcelona David Alonso (CFMOTO Impulse Aspar Team) was only 23rddespite showing promise, so expect more hard-charging from the Colombian sensation.

Full Moto2 Practice results from Barcelona!

Moto3 : Perrone Is Best Friday Afternoon in Australia

Valentin Perrone (73). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Valentin Perrone (73) in Montmelo. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Valentin Perrone led Moto3 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Perrone used his Pirelli-shod Red Bull KTM Tech3 to lap the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) track in 1:47.584, which led the field of 26 riders.

David Muñoz was second-best with a time of 1:47.680 on his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP KTM.

David Almansa, piloting his Leopard Racing Honda, claimed the third and final spot on the front with a lap time of 1:47.779.

 

Classification practice moto3

 

More from a press release issued by Dorna:

Perrone sets Practice pace as Piqueras misses top 14. The Argentine fronts the Moto3 pack on Friday in Barcelona as a late lap cancellation costs the rider second in the championship.

Valentin Perrone’s (Red Bull KTM Tech3) 1:47.584 saw the Argentine rookie front the Moto3 field in Practice at the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalonia, but it wasn’t by much. A late lap from David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) propelled the Spaniard into P2, 0.096s off Perrone, while David Almansa (Leopard Racing) collected a Friday P3.

Top fives went the way of rookies Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) and Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), with the latter recovering well from a heavy FP1 crash at Turn 13 to jump straight into Q2. Australians Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) were P6 and P7 respectively, while a final lap banker from title chase leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) ensured the #99 kept his 100% Friday top 14 record intact.

However, it wasn’t the same story for his chief title rival Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI). After his fastest lap time was cancelled due to yellow flags after the session, the #36 ended Practice in P15 and will face the unwanted challenge of Q1 at 12:45 local time on Saturday afternoon.

Moto3 Practice results!

MotoAmerica: Aussie Stauffer Racing Yamaha Superbike At COTA

Max Stauffer will race for Superbike Unlimited at COTA. Photo courtesy courtesy Max Stauffer.
Max Stauffer will race for Superbike Unlimited at COTA. Photo courtesy courtesy Max Stauffer.
Superbike Unlimited (SBU) is thrilled to announce the signing of Australian racing sensation Max Stauffer for the upcoming 2025 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship at the prestigious Circuit of the Americas (COTA). This race will mark Stauffer’s debut in the highly competitive MotoAmerica Superbike class, where he will go head-to-head with some of the best riders in the world.
 
Stauffer, who has made a name for himself in the Australian Superbike series, is looking forward to showcasing his talent on the American stage. His first appearance in the MotoAmerica Superbike class at COTA in September 2025 is highly anticipated, and fans can expect an exciting race weekend as Stauffer takes on the challenging 3.4-mile circuit.
 
“I’m super excited to make my way over to the MotoAmerica championship with the SBU team, it’s like a dream come true! This is an unreal opportunity for myself and I’m more than excited to get to the States, meet up with the team and get our big weekend of learning and developing underway,” said Stauffer. “Overall, I’m excited to make the most of this opportunity and I can’t extend my gratitude enough to the people that have put this all together.”
 
Freddy Carswell, owner of Superbike Unlimited, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership with Stauffer: “We’re pleased to be able to work with Max for his first appearance in the MotoAmerica Superbike class. It’s an exciting opportunity not only for Max to show American fans his level as a rider, but also for SBU to showcase the level of our program. We’re incredibly thankful for our partners for their continued support in our program. The best is yet to come.”
 
As part of its ongoing commitment to provide fans with an inside look at the team’s journey, Superbike Unlimited is also continuing its documentary series Finding the Limit, which takes viewers behind the scenes of the team’s efforts throughout the 2025 season. The documentary is available on YouTube and MotoAmerica Live Plus, offering exclusive content and insights into the challenges, triumphs, and day-to-day life of the team and riders.
 
Finding the Limit gives fans a front-row seat to the development of both the riders and the team, showcasing the passion and dedication required to compete at the highest levels of motorsport. As Stauffer prepares for his debut race at COTA, fans will be able to follow his journey in real-time, witnessing firsthand the growth and evolution of a rising star in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship.
 
With the 2025 season soon coming to a close, Superbike Unlimited is poised for an exciting weekend ahead. Stauffer’s addition to the team brings new energy and potential to an already talented roster, and the team is eager to take on the challenges that lie ahead. The Circuit of the Americas race will be the perfect starting point for this thrilling new chapter.
 
 
About Superbike Unlimited (SBU):
Superbike Unlimited is a premier racing parts distributor & professional race team competing in the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship. With a focus on excellence both on and off the track, SBU is dedicated to developing elite-level motorcycles and providing riders with the resources they need to succeed. The team is known for its innovation, commitment to performance, and close-knit group of engineers, mechanics, and partners, all working toward one common goal: victory.
 
 
About Finding the Limit:
Finding the Limit is a documentary series that provides an in-depth look into the world of Superbike Unlimited, offering fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the struggles, triumphs, and day-to-day grind of a professional racing team. Available on YouTube and MotoAmerica Live Plus, the series follows SBU’s riders and team members throughout the season as they push the boundaries of performance and strive for success at the highest level.Superbike Unlimited Racing is proudly partnered with: Yamaha Motor Corporation USA, Bitubo SRL, Evol Technology, Vortex EK, Sprint Filter, TK Dischi, Suter Racing & Domino Racing.

Stefano Mesa Will Race TopPro Motorsports BMW In Stock 1000 At COTA

TopPro Motorsports owner Alex Arango (left) welcomes veteran rider and good friend Stefano Mesa (right) to the team as Mesa makes his comeback in Stock 1000 next weekend aboard a BMW M 1000 RR. Photo courtesy of Stefano Mesa.
TopPro Motorsports owner Alex Arango (left) welcomes veteran rider and good friend Stefano Mesa (right) to the team as Mesa makes his comeback in Stock 1000 next weekend aboard a BMW M 1000 RR. Photo courtesy of Stefano Mesa.

TopPro Motorsports and team owner Alex Arango have announced that Stefano Mesa will return to the MotoAmerica paddock next weekend, September 12 through 14, where he will race a TopPro Motorsports BMW M 1000 RR in the final round of the 2025 Stock 1000 Championship at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas.

Mesa, who has 34 all-time career podiums in AMA and MotoAmerica competition, including 11 podium finishes in Stock 1000, is a seasoned veteran in MotoAmerica competition. The fan favorite has unfortuinately been sidelined for the past eight months due to a shoulder injury. Now on the mend, he is eager to get back on track and to make his debut with TopPro Motorsports.

“I’m really excited to be coming back to racing and to join TopPro Motorsports for this event,” said Mesa. “It’s been a long recovery, and I haven’t been on a big bike since the injury. The goal is to get my feet wet again, take it step by step, and see where I stack up. My shoulder is still not 100%, but I’m looking forward to building with this team and enjoying the weekend.”

TopPro Motorsports owner Alex Arango shared his excitement in welcoming Mesa to the team, saying: “I’ve known Stefano since we were kids racing together and have watched him grow up in the racing community. He’s not only talented but also very respected and well-liked. We’re excited to have him on board with TopPro Motorsports, and we can’t wait to see what we can do together.”

Mesa’s return with TopPro Motorsports is also backed by TopPro Colombia and his personal sponsors. The COTA round marks an important step in his comeback as he regains strength and track time within a new team environment. Fans and supporters can look forward to an exciting weekend as Mesa takes on the Texas round in Stock 1000.

WorldSSP : Manzi Quickest In Opening Practice In France

Stefano Manzi at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Team.
Stefano Manzi at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Team.

Stefano Manzi was quickest during FIM Supersport World Championship Free Practice Friday morning at Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his Pata Yamaha Ten Kate YZF R9 on Pirelli control tires, the Italian covered the 2.74-mile (4.41 km) road course in 1:40.193, topping the field of 33 riders.

Filippo Farioli was the best of the rest with a 1:40.602 on his MV Agusta Reparto Corse F3 800 RR.

His teammate, Bo Bendsneyder was third with a lap time of 1:40.758.

Former MotoAmerica Supersport regular Valentin Debise was 10th with a 1:41.158 on his Renzi Corse Ducati Panigale V2.

 

Results FP WSSP

MotoGP : Acosta Heads Opening Practice At Montmelo

Pedro Acosta (37) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Team.
Pedro Acosta (37) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Factory Team.

Pedro Acosta topped MotoGP World Championship Free Practice 1 Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Michelin-shod Red Bull KTM Factory RC16, the Spaniard turned a lap of 1:38.979 around the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) track and led the 24-rider field.

French sensation, Johann Zarco was second-best with a 1:39.074 on his CASTROL Honda LCR RC213V.

Marc Marquez was third with a lap of 1:39.198 on his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP25.

 

Classification fp1 motogp

 

More from a press release issued by Dorna: 

Acosta powers to P1 in Barcelona FP1. A mega start for the KTM star who headed the manufacturer’s strong start to the Catalan GP.

Recent form provided a solid foundation for Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) to build from in Barcelona as he topped the opening session. A 1’38.979 was enough for him to charge to the top late on but with all four KTMs inside the top ten, there were smiles right across both garages and not just in the #37’s corner.

There were a flurry of late laps, including back-to-back fastest laps for Acosta at the end of the session to go top. The Spaniard’s form of recent rounds has pointed towards a strong showing in Barcelona and that’s how his weekend has started. There was something of a surprise in P2 with Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) moving up late on. There were three manufacturers inside the top three with Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) securing third having led for much of the session. A welcome return for Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) in fourth, splitting MotoGP’s fastest brothers as Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) bagged fifth.

Honda’s late charge was emphasised by Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) in sixth, one place ahead of the third KTM of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). The best of the Aprilias was Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), following on from form in recent rounds by taking P8 on Friday morning in Montmelo, ahead of wildcard Aleix Espargaro (Honda HRC Test Team). Rounding out the top ten, a fourth KTM with Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech 3). The Austrian manufacturer look strong going into the remainder of Friday but the same can’t be said for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), P23 and second-to-last on the leaderboard. Pecco’s not renowned for his Friday pace but he may be a tad more concerned than normal after FP1.

Full results from MotoGP FP1 in Montmelo!

 

 

 

WorldSBK : Razgatlioglu Tops Opening Practice In France

Toprak Razgatlioglu (1) at Magny-Cours during FP1. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (1) at Magny-Cours during FP1. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Toprak Razgatlioglu was quickest during FIM Superbike World Championship Free Practice 1 Friday morning at Magny-Cours, in France. Riding his Pirelli-shod ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team M1000R  on the 2.74-mile (4.41 km) track, the Turkish rider recorded a 1:36.930 to lead the field of 23 riders.

Sam Lowes was the best of the rest with a 1:37.152 on his ELF Marc VDS Ducati Panigale V4R. Nicolo Bulega was third-fastest with a 1:37.183 on his Aruba.It Racing – Ducati Panigale V4R.

Danilo Petrucci was 5th on his Barni Spark Racing Ducati Panigale V4R with a lap time of 1:37.240. 

American Garrett Gerloff finished the opening session in 7th with a 1:37.374 on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR. 

 

Results fp1 WSBK

 

More from a press release issued by Dorna: 

Razgatlioglu tops FP1 at Magny-Cours ahead of Sam Lowes, Bulega P3 as Vierge puts Honda fourth. Less than a second separated the top 17 in FP1 with all six manufacturers inside the top eight after the opening 45-minute session.

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed top spot in Free Practice 1 for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship field as the French Round kicked off at the iconic Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. The reigning Champion was more than two tenths clear of his rivals with Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) claiming second and title rival Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) completing the top three.

Razgatlioglu went P1 in the standings early in the 45-minute session and retained his grip on top spot throughout. Impressively, in FP1 last year on his first lap, he set a 1’37.695s while this year, again on his first lap, it was a 1’37.694s. Times rapidly improved with ‘El Turco’ putting in a 1’36.983s before improving to a 1’36.930s to secure P1; he was the first and only rider to break into the 1’36s bracket. Sam Lowes made a late play for P1, going faster than Razgatlioglu in the first three sectors but losing time in the final one. The #14 finished second with a 1’37.152s. The top three was completed by Bulega who put in a late 1’37.183s to secure P3, although 0.253s down on title rival Razgatlioglu.

Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) enjoyed a strong start to the French Round with fourth after setting a 1’37.208s. The #97 was often inside the top three but was demoted by Bulega in the final minutes of the session. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) was another who found himself in the top three throughout FP1 but dropped down to P5 at the end of the first WorldSBK outing of the weekend; the #9 seemingly had a small technical issue on his Panigale V4R towards the end of FP1. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) was sixth for Yamaha, ensuring four manufacturers were in the top six, as he set a 1’37.251s.

 

 

American star Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) was 0.444s off the pace in FP1 as he put Kawasaki in seventh, finishing 0.013s clear of Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) in eighth; ensuring all six manufacturers featured in the top eight. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was ninth with Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) completing the top ten, 0.567s down on the pace of what was an incredibly close FP1 session.

The top six from WorldSBK FP1, full results here:

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’36.930s

2. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.222s

3. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.253s

4. Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) +0.278s

5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.310s

6. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +0.321s

Don’t miss WorldSBK FP2 from 15:00 Local Time (UTC+2) using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now half price!

Moto2 : Holgado Tops Opening Practice In Barcelona

Daniel Holgado (27) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Aspar Team.
Daniel Holgado (27) at Balaton Park. Photo courtesy Aspar Team.

Daniel Holgado was quickest during Moto2 World Championship Free Practice 1 Friday morning at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, in Spain. Riding his Pirelli-shod CFMOTO Impulse Aspar Team Kalex on the 2.89-mile (4.66 km) track, the Spaniard recorded a 1:42.306 to lead the field of 29 riders.

Barry Baltus was the best of the rest with a 1:42.453 on his Fantic Racing Lino Sonego Kalex.

Manuel Gonzalez was third-fastest with a 1:42.473 on his LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex.

American Joe Roberts finished the opening session in 24th with a 1:43.826 on his American Racing Team Kalex.

 

Classification fp1 moto2
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