Arbolino tames the Island in shortened showdown as drama hits for Acosta
Tony Arbolino (14). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Tony Arbolino (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team) went a stunning 15 seconds clear in a shortened and rain-soaked Moto2™ race at the MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. The red flags came out with 14 laps remaining as conditions worsened and half points were awarded, but the drama had already hit for Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) as the number 37 crashed on the sighting lap and had to start the race from the back of the grid. Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) and Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) took second and third , the former aiming for a top three overall in 2023 and the latter taking back to back podiums for the first time.
The race got underway and it was Canet that led the charge into Turn 1, but not long after the Pons machine dropped to fourth after the two Boscoscuro riders of Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) and Aldeguer pushed their way through, with Arbolino also on an early charge.
It was a short-lived story for Lopez however, who crashed out of the race lead not long after, rider ok but out of the race at the venue he’d reigned in 2022 in the dry. He rejoined but was ultimately four laps down.
That gave the race lead to rookie Sergio Garcia (Pons Wegow Los40), with Arbolino and Filip Salač (QJMOTOR Gresini Racing Moto2™) rounding out the top three early doors.
The order quickly changed once again though, and this time it was Garcia who crashed out of the race lead, with Salač going down nearly simultaneously from third.
The laps ticked away as the riders braved the tricky conditions, but Arbolino had checked out already as he stretched out a 15-second lead. That was ahead of Canet and Aldeguer after crashes for Sam Lowes (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team) and Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) reshuffled the order in the chasing pack once more.
With 14 laps to go, however, the conditions were worsening and the Red Flag came out. The race was initially set to be restarted as a six-lap dash but with the conditions failing to improve, the result was declared and half points awarded. Arbolino, Canet and Aldeguer took the rostrum, with Jeremy Alcoba (QJMOTOR Gresini Racing Moto2™) and Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) completing the top five ahead of rookie Izan Guevara (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team).
Acosta made a fair charge from the back, but with ninth position and half points the advantage is down to 56 points. Still, that’s enough for the number 37 to have his first shot at the crown in Buriram! Tune in for match point Acosta at the OR Thailand Grand Prix!
Deniz Oncu won the Moto3 World Championship race Sunday in cold and rainy conditions at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, in Australia. Riding his Red Bull KTM Ajo machine, the Turkish star won the 21-lap race by 0.407 second.
Ayumu Sasaki was the runner-up on his Liqui Moly Intact GP Husqvarna, and Joel Kelso finished third on his CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP machine.
Editorial Note: The full-length MotoGP feature race was moved up from Sunday to Saturday afternoon due to inclement weather forecast to hit Phillip Island on Sunday.
CHAPEAU! Zarco takes maiden MotoGP™ win after an unbelievable finish at Phillip Island
Johann Zarco celebrates his maiden MotoGP race victory. Photo courtesy Dorna.
The Frenchman catches Martin in a last lap rush, with Bagnaia slicing through to extend his lead to 27 points as the number 89 plummets to fifth
The backflip is back! Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) took a stunning maiden MotoGP™ win at the MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, stalking his way onto the rear wheel of teammate and title contender Jorge Martin before making a brutal, clean and perfectly-judged move to take the lead on the very last lap. He also opened the door for a perfectly-judged lunge from Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) too, with Pecco picking Martin’s pocket and the Pramac on the soft rear tyre then finding himself mobbed by both Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) late on.
Brad Binder (33), Johann Zarco (5), Fabio Di Giannantonio (49), Jorge Martin (89), and Francesco Bagnaia (1) fight for the lead Saturday at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy Dorna.
As the dust settles and some more history is made, Zarco gives away his record as the rider with the most MotoGP™ podiums without a win, Martin licks his wounds as he faces down a 27-point deficit in the Championship, Bagnaia celebrates another stylish bounce back from Q1 to the podium… and ‘Diggia’ enjoys that sweet Prosecco of a first ever premier class podium.
Before all that, Binder threatened the holeshot with a great start but Martin held firm from pole, immediately getting the hammer down as the two shot off into the lead and the shuffle began just behind. And that was that. Except this time, it wasn’t.
Martin’s strategy was clear: the number 89, an incredible four tenths clear on pole, had gambled on the soft rear hanging on as he escaped at the front and nursed it home. And the strategy was absolutely perfect until the very last handful of laps, when the Jaws music really began and Martin’s odds dropped off a cliff as the chasing group closed in.
The gap was over three seconds when it was Binder trying to keep tabs, and after an impressive start from an impressive qualifying, next came Diggia, and then Bagnaia at the head of a serious battle for fourth. The reigning Champion led Zarco, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), with elbows out all over the shop in the first third of the race.
Prima Pramac Racing Ducati teammates Johan Zarco (5) and Jorge Martin (89). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Bit by bit as Martin edged clear in the lead, however, Binder held onto second but Diggia homed in on the KTM – and Bagnaia and Zarco started to create their own daylight to the duels behind them.
By 16 laps to go, Di Giannantonio had Binder well within a second and was only continuing to close in, but Bagnaia and Zarco had been able to go with the number 49. The gap kept see-sawing, however, with the Gresini machine homing in on the KTM and Bagnaia losing ground before another few laps would see it close back up. By nine laps to go, Di Giannantonio then made his move and pulled alongside the KTM on the Gardner straight, taking over in second.
The chase was on and the gap to Martin started to come down, but the number 49 wasn’t making the charge alone. Binder, Bagnaia AND Zarco were all locked together on the simple but difficult mission of catching the race leader, and that they started to do. But was it enough? When Binder attacked back with five laps to go, the group ran the risk of losing time in the battle but the gap was still coming down – just over two seconds across the start-finish line.
On the third to last lap, Martin’s advantage started to really tumble in tenths, with Binder still on the chase and Zarco now next in line as he’d taken over in third. Over the line with two to go it was 1.2 seconds, but Turn 4 saw another huge shuffle and another risk of losing time. But it was Zarco who went for a dress rehearsal and equally well-judged attack, snatching second place and quickly setting off after Martin.
Over the line for the last lap the number 89 had just four tenths left in hand ahead of his teammate, Bagnaia was now the bike behind Zarco and Binder had dropped to fifth. And again, it came at Turn 4. The number 5 slammed up the inside of Martin to take the lead, Bagnaia cut back in in a flash to also demote the number 89, and suddenly everything had changed: Zarco was just corners from a maiden MotoGP™ win, Bagnaia was on the verge of a huge change in momentum, and Martin was left trying to fend off Di Giannantonio and Binder.
That he could not. As Zarco crossed the finish line to take that first ever premier class win, Bagnaia took second and Di Giannantonio was more than able to grab third and his first MotoGP™ podium, with Binder ultimately also demoting Martin right on the finish line.
Johan Zarco (5) beat Francesco Bagnaia (1) to the finish line to take his first-ever MotoGP race win. Photo courtesy Dorna.
The battle behind was no slouch either. After elbows earlier in the race there were plenty more, with Bezzecchi slicing through to take sixth from Miller. Aleix Espargaro was even closer behind in eighth, ahead of a seriously impressive charge from the still-recovering Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™). Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) completed the top ten ahead of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) after Top Gun was shuffled down the order in a Turn 1 shuffle, and Marc Marquez, another gambler on the soft rear tyre, ultimately finished P15.
That’s that from a historic, unique and instantly iconic Saturday Grand Prix race at Phillip Island, and it’s Johann Zarco who writes his name into the historic books with a maiden MotoGP™ win. Bagnaia proved once again he can’t be written off, but Martin showed yet more pure speed. Now we look to the skies as we wait for Sunday, with races all set to start an hour early and fingers crossed for more awesome action Down Under if the weather holds out. See you on Sunday!
Aldeguer unstoppable in Australia to take pole ahead of Canet and Lopez, Acosta fifth
Following his incredible form in Practice, Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) did not disappoint in qualifying Down Under. The Spaniard set a new record to take pole position in the intermediate category with a scintillating 1:31.888, and joining him on the front row will be Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) after the Valencian put in a stellar performance to take P2. The polesitter’s teammate Alonso Lopez, winner last year at Phillip Island, made it two Boscoscuros in the top three as Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is set to start fifth.
Joe Roberts (16). Photo courtesy Italtrans Racing.
Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) just missed out on a front-row start by only 0.012s as he took P4, just ahead of Acosta. The pair will be joined by Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) on the outside of Row 2 after he bagged 6th place. The third row of the grid went to rookie Sergio Garcia (Pons Wegow Los40), second in the Championship Tony Arbolino (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team), and Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husqvarna IntactGP) in that order, with Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp) rounding out the top ten.
Make sure not to miss any of the Moto2™ action set to commence on Sunday at 11:15 local time (GMT +11)… with Acosta really starting to home in on that crown. Can he gain himself a first match point for Buriram?
Sasaki bounces back for stunning pole as Masia starts P13
Qualifying at the MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix went the way of Championship hopeful Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) as the Japanese rider grabbed the honours from home hero Joel Kelso (CFMoto Racing PruestelGP). The home hero made it onto the front row with his home crowd cheering him on, ahead of Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team) in third. Championship leader Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) will start from down in P13, with challenger Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) only two places further ahead on the grid.
Winner last time out, Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) missed out on the front row by 0.105s as he’s set to head Row 2 ahead of Matteo Bertelle (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP). Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) fronts Row 3 in seventh place as he’s joined by David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team), who also crashed in Q2, rider ok, and Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing). Replacement rider Vicente Perez (BOE Motorsports) rounds out the top 10 ahead of Holgado, with Masia in P13.
The Moto3™ riders’ attention now turns to the race on Sunday, make sure not to miss any of the action as it commences at the earlier time of 10:00 local time (GMT +11).
Jorge Martin earned pole position during MotoGP World Championship qualifying Saturday at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, in Australia. Riding his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati, the Spaniard lapped the 2.6-mile (4.5 km) course in 1:27.246, shattering his own All-Time Lap Record of 1:27.767 set in 2022.
Brad Binder was the best of the rest with a 1:27.662 on his Red Bull KTM RC16, and defending World Champion Francesco Bagnaia advanced from Qualifying One (Q1) to post the third-fastest time, a 1:27.714, on his Lenovo Ducati in Qualifying Two (Q2).
Martin, Binder, Bagnaia: qualifying sets the scene for an Island classic
Binder splits the top two in the Championship, with Bagnaia making it through Q1 but Martin unstoppable in Q2 with a searing new lap record
Jorge Martin (89). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Saturday, 21 October 2023
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) remained eye-wateringly fast at Phillip Island to take a lap record pole on Saturday morning, with the title challenger in a prime position and over four tenths clear as he looks to grab back that Championship lead both found and lost in Indonesia. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), fastest on Friday, takes second on the grid with some ominous speed, with Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) completing the front row after a successful and impressive rescue mission coming through Q1.
Q1
After the first runs it was Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) leading the way ahead of Bagnaia, with Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) just a single thousandth off the number 93’s time in a close, close contest.
On the second time of asking, Bagnaia’s first hot lap saw him take over on top by 0.275. But the red sectors kept coming, from both the reigning Champion and the eight-time Champion looking to move through with him. In the final seconds the two flew across the line and Bagnaia improved his own fastest lap to stay top, with Marc Marquez moving up to second and heading through to Q2 – just 0.077 off the Ducati.
Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) also made a late charge and was just another 0.010 back, pipping Augusto Fernandez to P13 on the grid but neither quite making it out of Q1.
Q2
The first runs saw a familiar name take over on top: Martin. The number 89 was nearly a quarter of a second clear of Binder, with Bagnaia bouncing back early to a provisional front row.
On attack two, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) was tucked in behind Martin, and Marc Marquez was tucked in behind Bagnaia – including for a trip through the run off to rejoin. But once the gas was open, the red sectors began to come in.
Martin’s lap was a stunner and a new lap record, seeing him hammer that advantage home on provisional pole by over four tenths. Aleix Espargaro moved up into second and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) into third, with Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) also edging out his teammate initially.
The next attack from Binder saw him hit back and nab second though, and Bagnaia then slotted in just behind the South African to get back on the provisional front row. That’s how it stayed, with no one else able to challenge and a tantalising trio ready to head the grid for our Saturday Grand Prix race.
THE GRID
Behind Martin, Binder and Bagnaia as the KTM gets ready to stir it up for the top two in the title fight, Aleix Espargaro heads Row 2. Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) takes P5 to pip Diggia late on.
Marc Marquez heads Row 3 ahead of home hero Miller, with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) in P9 after improving late on but proving unable to quite make those first two rows. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) is down in P10 ahead of Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3), with Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) having a tougher session in P12.
The top two contenders on the front row split by a Red Bull KTM ready to pay their battle no heed promises much as the lights go out Down Under. So make sure to tune in for a SUPER Saturday:
Join us for the GRAND PRIX RACE at 15:10 (GMT +11)!
Marvin Fritz and Karel Hanika, the newly crowned 2023 FIM Endurance World Champions, rode their Bridgestone-shod YART Yamaha YZF-R6 to the overall victory in the ASRA Team Challenge Friday at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Florida.
After riding on the 3.51-mile infield road course for the first time on Friday morning, Fritz started the race and moved YART Yamaha up from seventh on the grid to third. Fritz then pitted at the end of lap 19 for fuel, a new Medium-compound rear Bridgestone slick, and to hand off to Hanika.
With no quick-change wheels or quick-fill fuel tank on their borrowed YZF-R6, YART Yamaha’s pit stop was much longer than they were used to, and they slipped back to seventh. Then just past the halfway point of the race, a red flag stopped the race temporarily.
Matt Truelove was fourth and moving forward through the field on his new Truelove Brothers Racing Suzuki GSX-R750 Next-Generation Supersport machine when his rear Pirelli lost a huge section of its tread and threw him down while running through NASCAR Turn Four at an estimated 155 mph.
The rear Pirelli on Matt Truelove’s crashed Suzuki GSX-R750 as seen in the paddock at Daytona International Speedway.
Truelove was battered and bruised but was expected to make a full recovery, according to his brother Harry Truelove.
After a 30-minute stoppage, the two-hour race was restarted.
Hanika took the restart on the YART Yamaha and raced for the overall lead with Max Angles on his Dunlop-backed Kawasaki ZX-6R and MotoAmerica Stock 1000 podium finisher Diego Garcia on his Bridgestone-equipped BPM Yamaha YZF-R6. But Garcia said he made two mistakes that relegated him to third and left Hanika and Angles to duel for the victory.
Hanika led the race at the start/finish for the last 10 laps and then played the infamous Daytona drafting game perfectly to overtake Angles on the final lap and win the race.
“All the guys told me to be careful about this, to make the tactics,” Hanika told Roadracingworld.com. “Also, I watched last year’s race. So, I tried to understand how it works. We knew we were losing a little bit [off] the corners with the power, so I had to take a bigger gap to be able to draft him at the end. Actually, I was closing the throttle all the way in the banking corner to pass him in the last part of the track at the finish line. It went pretty well. It was good experience for the Daytona 200. I just want to be here in the same place [Victory Lane] in six months.”
Angles had to settle for second place, 0.109 second behind YART Yamaha. BPM’s Garcia held on to take third.
ASRA Team Challenge
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Florida
October 20, 2023
Provisional Overall Race Results:
YART Yamaha (Marvin Fritz/Karel Hanika), Yam YZF-R6, Bridgestone, 42 laps
Max Angles (Max Angles), Kaw ZX-6R, Dunlop, -0.109 second
YART Yamaha Official EWC Team’s Marvin Fritz and Karel Hanika, the newly crowned 2023 FIM Endurance World Champions, are at the ASRA Race of Champions this weekend at Daytona International Speedway preparing for an all-out assault on the 2024 Daytona 200.
“This year in March we went testing, and in the evening at dinner we were watching the Daytona 200,” Fritz exclusively told Roadracingworld.com in the paddock on Friday. “Then we stood up and said to Mandy [Kainz, Team Manager], ‘Mandy, if we win the World Championship, we will do Daytona?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, of course we will do it.’
“He didn’t believe we would win the World Championship, and now we are here. It’s an amazing present from the team, and we are grateful for this. It’s always been a dream to come here and do this special race, and even better to come here and have a test before to know the track, the tires, and the bike. I haven’t ridden for 10 years on an R6, so it’s new for me again.”
On Friday, Fritz and Hanika are sharing a Bridgestone-shod Next-Generation-spec Yamaha YZF-R6 built by N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto and supplied by GiaccMoto’s Chuck Giacchetto, who will prepare three Yamahas for the team’s Daytona 200 project.
“It’s nice to come here with this big grandstand and this amazing place. It’s beautiful,” continued Fritz. “I just did three laps. It’s very nice, especially the banking. It’s unbelievable. It’s a long time flat out, especially with the R6, and playing with the slipstream. It’s amazing. I can’t wait for the race.”
Fritz and Hanika will participate in Friday’s ASRA Team Challenge two-hour endurance race, but their Yamaha is not equipped with quick wheel change hardware or a quick-fill fuel tank, so the race will be treated as a test, said Fritz.
Fritz said he and Hanika will be joined at the Daytona 200 by their teammate Niccolo Canepa, who could not make this test due to a prior commitment.
Binder beats Miller to top honours as Bagnaia faces Q1
The KTM duo topped the timesheets in Practice with Bagnaia in the danger zone once again
Brad Binder (33). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing enjoyed a perfect start to their weekend at the MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix as Brad Binder topped the Practice timesheets with a 1:27.943 to lead second place and home hero Jack Miller on a Friday that saw more title drama unfold. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) claimed a solid P3 as Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) – the chaser – safely negotiated his way into Q2, but Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – the leader – faces Q1 for the second weekend in a row.
Jack Miller (43). Photo courtesy Dorna.
A fast and furious end to Practice
The importance of Friday afternoon’s hour-long session was as evident as ever and as usual, the soft-rear tyre time attacks began to flood in with around 15 minutes of play left of the clock.
The Aprilia Racing duo of Viñales and Aleix Espargaro sprung to the summit but that would change quickly with the likes of Martin and his teammate Johann Zarco leading the Ducati charge.
Maverick Vinales (12). Photo courtesy Dorna.
However, it was soon KTM’s turn to lead the pack as Binder set a glorious sub-1:28 lap – the only one of the day – to lead Australia’s Miller in P1 and P2. Attention then turned to Bagnaia – who had Martin and the Repsol Honda Team machines of Marc Marquez and Joan Mir for company – in the closing seconds as the Italian needed to find a decent chunk of time. He found some, but not enough to propel the #1 into the all-important top 10.
Advantage Martin ahead of a super, super Saturday
Martin may have suffered a devastating blow to his title chances last weekend, but he’s bounced back well so far at Phillip Island – the #89 sits P4 at the end of Day 1, one place ahead of an upbeat Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) in P5.
Francesco Bagnaia (1) and Jorge Martin (89). Photo courtesy Dorna.
A tired but fast Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) heads into qualifying in P6 and keeping the Italian company inside the top 10 are Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team), Aleix Espargaro and Zarco.
More Friday woes for the reigning Champion
As mentioned, Bagnaia finds himself in Q1 again. The Italian finished 0.182s adrift of the top 10 in P11, as we get set for another fascinating first qualifying session to take place at the phenomenal Phillip Island circuit.
With the announced schedule change, Saturday on the Island is massive. Qualifying starts at 10:50 local time (GMT+11), before the main Grand Prix race kicks off at 15:10. A huge day awaits in the title chase so TUNE IN.
SHOWTIME
The stage is set for Qualifying and the GRAND PRIX RACE! Make sure you tune in and check out the new schedule. More on the re-shuffle can be found below.
Schedule changes announced for MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix
Due to inclement weather forecast for Sunday the 22nd of October, the schedule for the MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix has been updated. This decision has been taken proactively in order to guarantee the best and safest possible show for all competitors and fans attending Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this weekend.
The MotoGP™ Grand Prix race will now take place on Saturday the 21st of October at 15:10 local time (GMT +11).
The Tissot Sprint is now scheduled to begin at 14:00 on Sunday the 22nd of October, weather permitting.
Fridays don’t get much better than that for Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) as the Spaniard dominated Moto2™’s Day 1 proceedings at the MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. The #54 set an impressive 1:32.548 to finish 0.138s clear of second place Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) on the combined timesheets, as both the latter and Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo), third overall, suffered late crashes at Turn 4.
After a fearless pair of geese put a brief halt to Moto2™ Practice 2 on a fine Phillip Island afternoon, most of the fast lap action came towards the end of the second session. Acosta’s small tumble came inside the final five minutes at Miller Corner as the title-hunting Spaniard went in search of a personal best time, and a couple of minutes later, Canet suffered the same fate. Both riders were perfectly okay.
In the end though, Aldeguer remained unchallenged as the top three head into Saturday’s action 0.455s apart. Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) is P4 after the opening day in Australia, the Briton just over half a second shy of Aldeguer’s pace, with Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Team) fifth.
Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team), Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), Sergio Garcia (Pons Wegow Los40), Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) and Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) are inside the top 10, while Izan Guevara (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team), Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), Marcos Ramirez (American Racing) and Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team’s Bo Bendsneyder currently occupy provisional Q2 spots in the top 14.
Moto2™ will be back in action on Saturday for Practice 3 at 9:25 and qualifying at 13:45 local (GMT +11).
Arbolino tames the Island in shortened showdown as drama hits for Acosta
Tony Arbolino (14). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Tony Arbolino (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team) went a stunning 15 seconds clear in a shortened and rain-soaked Moto2™ race at the MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. The red flags came out with 14 laps remaining as conditions worsened and half points were awarded, but the drama had already hit for Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) as the number 37 crashed on the sighting lap and had to start the race from the back of the grid. Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) and Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) took second and third , the former aiming for a top three overall in 2023 and the latter taking back to back podiums for the first time.
The race got underway and it was Canet that led the charge into Turn 1, but not long after the Pons machine dropped to fourth after the two Boscoscuro riders of Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) and Aldeguer pushed their way through, with Arbolino also on an early charge.
It was a short-lived story for Lopez however, who crashed out of the race lead not long after, rider ok but out of the race at the venue he’d reigned in 2022 in the dry. He rejoined but was ultimately four laps down.
That gave the race lead to rookie Sergio Garcia (Pons Wegow Los40), with Arbolino and Filip Salač (QJMOTOR Gresini Racing Moto2™) rounding out the top three early doors.
The order quickly changed once again though, and this time it was Garcia who crashed out of the race lead, with Salač going down nearly simultaneously from third.
The laps ticked away as the riders braved the tricky conditions, but Arbolino had checked out already as he stretched out a 15-second lead. That was ahead of Canet and Aldeguer after crashes for Sam Lowes (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team) and Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) reshuffled the order in the chasing pack once more.
With 14 laps to go, however, the conditions were worsening and the Red Flag came out. The race was initially set to be restarted as a six-lap dash but with the conditions failing to improve, the result was declared and half points awarded. Arbolino, Canet and Aldeguer took the rostrum, with Jeremy Alcoba (QJMOTOR Gresini Racing Moto2™) and Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) completing the top five ahead of rookie Izan Guevara (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team).
Acosta made a fair charge from the back, but with ninth position and half points the advantage is down to 56 points. Still, that’s enough for the number 37 to have his first shot at the crown in Buriram! Tune in for match point Acosta at the OR Thailand Grand Prix!
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Deniz Oncu won the Moto3 World Championship race Sunday in cold and rainy conditions at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, in Australia. Riding his Red Bull KTM Ajo machine, the Turkish star won the 21-lap race by 0.407 second.
Ayumu Sasaki was the runner-up on his Liqui Moly Intact GP Husqvarna, and Joel Kelso finished third on his CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP machine.
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Editorial Note: The full-length MotoGP feature race was moved up from Sunday to Saturday afternoon due to inclement weather forecast to hit Phillip Island on Sunday.
CHAPEAU! Zarco takes maiden MotoGP™ win after an unbelievable finish at Phillip Island
Johann Zarco celebrates his maiden MotoGP race victory. Photo courtesy Dorna.
The Frenchman catches Martin in a last lap rush, with Bagnaia slicing through to extend his lead to 27 points as the number 89 plummets to fifth
The backflip is back! Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) took a stunning maiden MotoGP™ win at the MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, stalking his way onto the rear wheel of teammate and title contender Jorge Martin before making a brutal, clean and perfectly-judged move to take the lead on the very last lap. He also opened the door for a perfectly-judged lunge from Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) too, with Pecco picking Martin’s pocket and the Pramac on the soft rear tyre then finding himself mobbed by both Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) late on.
Brad Binder (33), Johann Zarco (5), Fabio Di Giannantonio (49), Jorge Martin (89), and Francesco Bagnaia (1) fight for the lead Saturday at Phillip Island. Photo courtesy Dorna.
As the dust settles and some more history is made, Zarco gives away his record as the rider with the most MotoGP™ podiums without a win, Martin licks his wounds as he faces down a 27-point deficit in the Championship, Bagnaia celebrates another stylish bounce back from Q1 to the podium… and ‘Diggia’ enjoys that sweet Prosecco of a first ever premier class podium.
Before all that, Binder threatened the holeshot with a great start but Martin held firm from pole, immediately getting the hammer down as the two shot off into the lead and the shuffle began just behind. And that was that. Except this time, it wasn’t.
Martin’s strategy was clear: the number 89, an incredible four tenths clear on pole, had gambled on the soft rear hanging on as he escaped at the front and nursed it home. And the strategy was absolutely perfect until the very last handful of laps, when the Jaws music really began and Martin’s odds dropped off a cliff as the chasing group closed in.
The gap was over three seconds when it was Binder trying to keep tabs, and after an impressive start from an impressive qualifying, next came Diggia, and then Bagnaia at the head of a serious battle for fourth. The reigning Champion led Zarco, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), with elbows out all over the shop in the first third of the race.
Prima Pramac Racing Ducati teammates Johan Zarco (5) and Jorge Martin (89). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Bit by bit as Martin edged clear in the lead, however, Binder held onto second but Diggia homed in on the KTM – and Bagnaia and Zarco started to create their own daylight to the duels behind them.
By 16 laps to go, Di Giannantonio had Binder well within a second and was only continuing to close in, but Bagnaia and Zarco had been able to go with the number 49. The gap kept see-sawing, however, with the Gresini machine homing in on the KTM and Bagnaia losing ground before another few laps would see it close back up. By nine laps to go, Di Giannantonio then made his move and pulled alongside the KTM on the Gardner straight, taking over in second.
The chase was on and the gap to Martin started to come down, but the number 49 wasn’t making the charge alone. Binder, Bagnaia AND Zarco were all locked together on the simple but difficult mission of catching the race leader, and that they started to do. But was it enough? When Binder attacked back with five laps to go, the group ran the risk of losing time in the battle but the gap was still coming down – just over two seconds across the start-finish line.
On the third to last lap, Martin’s advantage started to really tumble in tenths, with Binder still on the chase and Zarco now next in line as he’d taken over in third. Over the line with two to go it was 1.2 seconds, but Turn 4 saw another huge shuffle and another risk of losing time. But it was Zarco who went for a dress rehearsal and equally well-judged attack, snatching second place and quickly setting off after Martin.
Over the line for the last lap the number 89 had just four tenths left in hand ahead of his teammate, Bagnaia was now the bike behind Zarco and Binder had dropped to fifth. And again, it came at Turn 4. The number 5 slammed up the inside of Martin to take the lead, Bagnaia cut back in in a flash to also demote the number 89, and suddenly everything had changed: Zarco was just corners from a maiden MotoGP™ win, Bagnaia was on the verge of a huge change in momentum, and Martin was left trying to fend off Di Giannantonio and Binder.
That he could not. As Zarco crossed the finish line to take that first ever premier class win, Bagnaia took second and Di Giannantonio was more than able to grab third and his first MotoGP™ podium, with Binder ultimately also demoting Martin right on the finish line.
Johan Zarco (5) beat Francesco Bagnaia (1) to the finish line to take his first-ever MotoGP race win. Photo courtesy Dorna.
The battle behind was no slouch either. After elbows earlier in the race there were plenty more, with Bezzecchi slicing through to take sixth from Miller. Aleix Espargaro was even closer behind in eighth, ahead of a seriously impressive charge from the still-recovering Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™). Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) completed the top ten ahead of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) after Top Gun was shuffled down the order in a Turn 1 shuffle, and Marc Marquez, another gambler on the soft rear tyre, ultimately finished P15.
That’s that from a historic, unique and instantly iconic Saturday Grand Prix race at Phillip Island, and it’s Johann Zarco who writes his name into the historic books with a maiden MotoGP™ win. Bagnaia proved once again he can’t be written off, but Martin showed yet more pure speed. Now we look to the skies as we wait for Sunday, with races all set to start an hour early and fingers crossed for more awesome action Down Under if the weather holds out. See you on Sunday!
Aldeguer unstoppable in Australia to take pole ahead of Canet and Lopez, Acosta fifth
Following his incredible form in Practice, Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) did not disappoint in qualifying Down Under. The Spaniard set a new record to take pole position in the intermediate category with a scintillating 1:31.888, and joining him on the front row will be Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) after the Valencian put in a stellar performance to take P2. The polesitter’s teammate Alonso Lopez, winner last year at Phillip Island, made it two Boscoscuros in the top three as Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is set to start fifth.
Joe Roberts (16). Photo courtesy Italtrans Racing.
Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) just missed out on a front-row start by only 0.012s as he took P4, just ahead of Acosta. The pair will be joined by Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) on the outside of Row 2 after he bagged 6th place. The third row of the grid went to rookie Sergio Garcia (Pons Wegow Los40), second in the Championship Tony Arbolino (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team), and Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husqvarna IntactGP) in that order, with Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp) rounding out the top ten.
Make sure not to miss any of the Moto2™ action set to commence on Sunday at 11:15 local time (GMT +11)… with Acosta really starting to home in on that crown. Can he gain himself a first match point for Buriram?
Sasaki bounces back for stunning pole as Masia starts P13
Qualifying at the MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix went the way of Championship hopeful Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) as the Japanese rider grabbed the honours from home hero Joel Kelso (CFMoto Racing PruestelGP). The home hero made it onto the front row with his home crowd cheering him on, ahead of Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team) in third. Championship leader Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) will start from down in P13, with challenger Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) only two places further ahead on the grid.
Winner last time out, Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) missed out on the front row by 0.105s as he’s set to head Row 2 ahead of Matteo Bertelle (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP). Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) fronts Row 3 in seventh place as he’s joined by David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team), who also crashed in Q2, rider ok, and Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing). Replacement rider Vicente Perez (BOE Motorsports) rounds out the top 10 ahead of Holgado, with Masia in P13.
The Moto3™ riders’ attention now turns to the race on Sunday, make sure not to miss any of the action as it commences at the earlier time of 10:00 local time (GMT +11).
Jorge Martin earned pole position during MotoGP World Championship qualifying Saturday at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, in Australia. Riding his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati, the Spaniard lapped the 2.6-mile (4.5 km) course in 1:27.246, shattering his own All-Time Lap Record of 1:27.767 set in 2022.
Brad Binder was the best of the rest with a 1:27.662 on his Red Bull KTM RC16, and defending World Champion Francesco Bagnaia advanced from Qualifying One (Q1) to post the third-fastest time, a 1:27.714, on his Lenovo Ducati in Qualifying Two (Q2).
Martin, Binder, Bagnaia: qualifying sets the scene for an Island classic
Binder splits the top two in the Championship, with Bagnaia making it through Q1 but Martin unstoppable in Q2 with a searing new lap record
Jorge Martin (89). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Saturday, 21 October 2023
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) remained eye-wateringly fast at Phillip Island to take a lap record pole on Saturday morning, with the title challenger in a prime position and over four tenths clear as he looks to grab back that Championship lead both found and lost in Indonesia. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), fastest on Friday, takes second on the grid with some ominous speed, with Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) completing the front row after a successful and impressive rescue mission coming through Q1.
Q1
After the first runs it was Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) leading the way ahead of Bagnaia, with Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) just a single thousandth off the number 93’s time in a close, close contest.
On the second time of asking, Bagnaia’s first hot lap saw him take over on top by 0.275. But the red sectors kept coming, from both the reigning Champion and the eight-time Champion looking to move through with him. In the final seconds the two flew across the line and Bagnaia improved his own fastest lap to stay top, with Marc Marquez moving up to second and heading through to Q2 – just 0.077 off the Ducati.
Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) also made a late charge and was just another 0.010 back, pipping Augusto Fernandez to P13 on the grid but neither quite making it out of Q1.
Q2
The first runs saw a familiar name take over on top: Martin. The number 89 was nearly a quarter of a second clear of Binder, with Bagnaia bouncing back early to a provisional front row.
On attack two, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) was tucked in behind Martin, and Marc Marquez was tucked in behind Bagnaia – including for a trip through the run off to rejoin. But once the gas was open, the red sectors began to come in.
Martin’s lap was a stunner and a new lap record, seeing him hammer that advantage home on provisional pole by over four tenths. Aleix Espargaro moved up into second and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) into third, with Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) also edging out his teammate initially.
The next attack from Binder saw him hit back and nab second though, and Bagnaia then slotted in just behind the South African to get back on the provisional front row. That’s how it stayed, with no one else able to challenge and a tantalising trio ready to head the grid for our Saturday Grand Prix race.
THE GRID
Behind Martin, Binder and Bagnaia as the KTM gets ready to stir it up for the top two in the title fight, Aleix Espargaro heads Row 2. Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) takes P5 to pip Diggia late on.
Marc Marquez heads Row 3 ahead of home hero Miller, with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) in P9 after improving late on but proving unable to quite make those first two rows. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) is down in P10 ahead of Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3), with Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) having a tougher session in P12.
The top two contenders on the front row split by a Red Bull KTM ready to pay their battle no heed promises much as the lights go out Down Under. So make sure to tune in for a SUPER Saturday:
Join us for the GRAND PRIX RACE at 15:10 (GMT +11)!
YART Yamaha's Marvin Fritz (second from left) and Karel Hanika (second from right), runner-up Max Angles (far left), and third-place finisher Diego Garcia (far right) in Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway. Photo by David Swarts.
Marvin Fritz and Karel Hanika, the newly crowned 2023 FIM Endurance World Champions, rode their Bridgestone-shod YART Yamaha YZF-R6 to the overall victory in the ASRA Team Challenge Friday at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Florida.
After riding on the 3.51-mile infield road course for the first time on Friday morning, Fritz started the race and moved YART Yamaha up from seventh on the grid to third. Fritz then pitted at the end of lap 19 for fuel, a new Medium-compound rear Bridgestone slick, and to hand off to Hanika.
With no quick-change wheels or quick-fill fuel tank on their borrowed YZF-R6, YART Yamaha’s pit stop was much longer than they were used to, and they slipped back to seventh. Then just past the halfway point of the race, a red flag stopped the race temporarily.
Matt Truelove was fourth and moving forward through the field on his new Truelove Brothers Racing Suzuki GSX-R750 Next-Generation Supersport machine when his rear Pirelli lost a huge section of its tread and threw him down while running through NASCAR Turn Four at an estimated 155 mph.
The rear Pirelli on Matt Truelove’s crashed Suzuki GSX-R750 as seen in the paddock at Daytona International Speedway.
Truelove was battered and bruised but was expected to make a full recovery, according to his brother Harry Truelove.
After a 30-minute stoppage, the two-hour race was restarted.
Hanika took the restart on the YART Yamaha and raced for the overall lead with Max Angles on his Dunlop-backed Kawasaki ZX-6R and MotoAmerica Stock 1000 podium finisher Diego Garcia on his Bridgestone-equipped BPM Yamaha YZF-R6. But Garcia said he made two mistakes that relegated him to third and left Hanika and Angles to duel for the victory.
Hanika led the race at the start/finish for the last 10 laps and then played the infamous Daytona drafting game perfectly to overtake Angles on the final lap and win the race.
“All the guys told me to be careful about this, to make the tactics,” Hanika told Roadracingworld.com. “Also, I watched last year’s race. So, I tried to understand how it works. We knew we were losing a little bit [off] the corners with the power, so I had to take a bigger gap to be able to draft him at the end. Actually, I was closing the throttle all the way in the banking corner to pass him in the last part of the track at the finish line. It went pretty well. It was good experience for the Daytona 200. I just want to be here in the same place [Victory Lane] in six months.”
Angles had to settle for second place, 0.109 second behind YART Yamaha. BPM’s Garcia held on to take third.
ASRA Team Challenge
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Florida
October 20, 2023
Provisional Overall Race Results:
YART Yamaha (Marvin Fritz/Karel Hanika), Yam YZF-R6, Bridgestone, 42 laps
Max Angles (Max Angles), Kaw ZX-6R, Dunlop, -0.109 second
YART Yamaha's newly crowned FIM Endurance World Champions Karel Hanika (seated far left) and Marvin Fritz (seated second from left) are at Daytona International Speedway testing ahead of an assault on the 2024 Daytona 200. Photo by David Swarts.
YART Yamaha Official EWC Team’s Marvin Fritz and Karel Hanika, the newly crowned 2023 FIM Endurance World Champions, are at the ASRA Race of Champions this weekend at Daytona International Speedway preparing for an all-out assault on the 2024 Daytona 200.
“This year in March we went testing, and in the evening at dinner we were watching the Daytona 200,” Fritz exclusively told Roadracingworld.com in the paddock on Friday. “Then we stood up and said to Mandy [Kainz, Team Manager], ‘Mandy, if we win the World Championship, we will do Daytona?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, of course we will do it.’
“He didn’t believe we would win the World Championship, and now we are here. It’s an amazing present from the team, and we are grateful for this. It’s always been a dream to come here and do this special race, and even better to come here and have a test before to know the track, the tires, and the bike. I haven’t ridden for 10 years on an R6, so it’s new for me again.”
On Friday, Fritz and Hanika are sharing a Bridgestone-shod Next-Generation-spec Yamaha YZF-R6 built by N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto and supplied by GiaccMoto’s Chuck Giacchetto, who will prepare three Yamahas for the team’s Daytona 200 project.
“It’s nice to come here with this big grandstand and this amazing place. It’s beautiful,” continued Fritz. “I just did three laps. It’s very nice, especially the banking. It’s unbelievable. It’s a long time flat out, especially with the R6, and playing with the slipstream. It’s amazing. I can’t wait for the race.”
Fritz and Hanika will participate in Friday’s ASRA Team Challenge two-hour endurance race, but their Yamaha is not equipped with quick wheel change hardware or a quick-fill fuel tank, so the race will be treated as a test, said Fritz.
Fritz said he and Hanika will be joined at the Daytona 200 by their teammate Niccolo Canepa, who could not make this test due to a prior commitment.
Binder beats Miller to top honours as Bagnaia faces Q1
The KTM duo topped the timesheets in Practice with Bagnaia in the danger zone once again
Brad Binder (33). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing enjoyed a perfect start to their weekend at the MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix as Brad Binder topped the Practice timesheets with a 1:27.943 to lead second place and home hero Jack Miller on a Friday that saw more title drama unfold. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) claimed a solid P3 as Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) – the chaser – safely negotiated his way into Q2, but Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – the leader – faces Q1 for the second weekend in a row.
Jack Miller (43). Photo courtesy Dorna.
A fast and furious end to Practice
The importance of Friday afternoon’s hour-long session was as evident as ever and as usual, the soft-rear tyre time attacks began to flood in with around 15 minutes of play left of the clock.
The Aprilia Racing duo of Viñales and Aleix Espargaro sprung to the summit but that would change quickly with the likes of Martin and his teammate Johann Zarco leading the Ducati charge.
Maverick Vinales (12). Photo courtesy Dorna.
However, it was soon KTM’s turn to lead the pack as Binder set a glorious sub-1:28 lap – the only one of the day – to lead Australia’s Miller in P1 and P2. Attention then turned to Bagnaia – who had Martin and the Repsol Honda Team machines of Marc Marquez and Joan Mir for company – in the closing seconds as the Italian needed to find a decent chunk of time. He found some, but not enough to propel the #1 into the all-important top 10.
Advantage Martin ahead of a super, super Saturday
Martin may have suffered a devastating blow to his title chances last weekend, but he’s bounced back well so far at Phillip Island – the #89 sits P4 at the end of Day 1, one place ahead of an upbeat Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) in P5.
Francesco Bagnaia (1) and Jorge Martin (89). Photo courtesy Dorna.
A tired but fast Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) heads into qualifying in P6 and keeping the Italian company inside the top 10 are Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team), Aleix Espargaro and Zarco.
More Friday woes for the reigning Champion
As mentioned, Bagnaia finds himself in Q1 again. The Italian finished 0.182s adrift of the top 10 in P11, as we get set for another fascinating first qualifying session to take place at the phenomenal Phillip Island circuit.
With the announced schedule change, Saturday on the Island is massive. Qualifying starts at 10:50 local time (GMT+11), before the main Grand Prix race kicks off at 15:10. A huge day awaits in the title chase so TUNE IN.
SHOWTIME
The stage is set for Qualifying and the GRAND PRIX RACE! Make sure you tune in and check out the new schedule. More on the re-shuffle can be found below.
Schedule changes announced for MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix
Due to inclement weather forecast for Sunday the 22nd of October, the schedule for the MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix has been updated. This decision has been taken proactively in order to guarantee the best and safest possible show for all competitors and fans attending Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this weekend.
The MotoGP™ Grand Prix race will now take place on Saturday the 21st of October at 15:10 local time (GMT +11).
The Tissot Sprint is now scheduled to begin at 14:00 on Sunday the 22nd of October, weather permitting.
Fridays don’t get much better than that for Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) as the Spaniard dominated Moto2™’s Day 1 proceedings at the MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. The #54 set an impressive 1:32.548 to finish 0.138s clear of second place Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) on the combined timesheets, as both the latter and Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo), third overall, suffered late crashes at Turn 4.
After a fearless pair of geese put a brief halt to Moto2™ Practice 2 on a fine Phillip Island afternoon, most of the fast lap action came towards the end of the second session. Acosta’s small tumble came inside the final five minutes at Miller Corner as the title-hunting Spaniard went in search of a personal best time, and a couple of minutes later, Canet suffered the same fate. Both riders were perfectly okay.
In the end though, Aldeguer remained unchallenged as the top three head into Saturday’s action 0.455s apart. Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) is P4 after the opening day in Australia, the Briton just over half a second shy of Aldeguer’s pace, with Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Team) fifth.
Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team), Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), Sergio Garcia (Pons Wegow Los40), Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) and Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) are inside the top 10, while Izan Guevara (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team), Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), Marcos Ramirez (American Racing) and Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team’s Bo Bendsneyder currently occupy provisional Q2 spots in the top 14.
Moto2™ will be back in action on Saturday for Practice 3 at 9:25 and qualifying at 13:45 local (GMT +11).
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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
