MotoGP: Dorna Reports Significant Spectator And Viewer Growth So Far In 2023

David Swarts

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October 2, 2023

MotoGP: Dorna Reports Significant Spectator And Viewer Growth So Far In 2023

MotoGP™ global audiences sustain 20% growth

Broadcast numbers and fans in the grandstands continue to impress as the world’s most exciting sport makes a big impression on audiences around the world

Monday, 02 October 2023

As MotoGP™ heads into an action-packed, pivotal part of the season across Asia and Oceania, the broadcast audience and attendance figures for the first 12 Grands Prix of 2023 are in – and they make for excellent reading once again. The upward trend from the very first events of 2023 has only continued, with weekend television audiences maintaining a more than 20% increase on 2022.

Increases across the board

The Tissot Sprint had a notable impact when it landed, not only increasing Saturday figures but also proving a driving force behind augmented audiences on Sunday and overall. That trend has only continued: the impressive 51% increase in audiences on Saturday has been maintained throughout the first 12 Grands Prix.

Sunday figures also retain a strong average increase on the same races in 2022. In key markets, the weekend broadcast audience has increased for every single one of the first 12 Grands Prix of 2023.

The fans in the stands

In the grandstands, crowd numbers also continue to impress. After the huge challenge posed by the Covid-19 pandemic for sporting properties across the globe, MotoGP™ attendance has not only recovered by 2023, but has also increased on 2019.

The surge in weekend attendance between 2022 and the first 12 Grands Prix of 2023 is even more notable. Of the 11 Grands Prix for which data is available, all but one saw a significant increase in attendance, with highlights of more than 80% and 60% for some events. Nearly half are up by more than 30%.

For its part, the headline-grabbing all-time record attendance set at Le Mans, where nearly 280,000 fans flocked to the venue across the weekend, was a 23.9% increase on 2022 – and that prefaced another record. Just a few weeks later, the German GP was once again the highest-attended sporting event in Germany, but this year it made a little more history with an all-time record crowd for MotoGP™ at the Sachsenring. Nearly a quarter of a million people attended across the weekend, throwing down the gauntlet to see which venue can repeat the feat in 2024.

The total fans who have come to see MotoGP™ trackside during the first half of 2023 is an all-time record for the sport too, with the available data showing more than 1.6 million spectators had flocked through the gates by the half way point.

Now we’re heading across Asia and Oceania in a stunning crescendo to the 2023 season, with millions of fans waiting to welcome MotoGP™ to some of its biggest and fastest-growing markets. Make sure to tune in for more as the world’s most exciting sport continues to break records – on and off track!

NEMRR: Block Wins Big, Doucette Captures #1 Plate At Season Finale

David Swarts

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October 2, 2023

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NEMRR: Block Wins Big, Doucette Captures #1 Plate At Season Finale

NEMRR ended the 2023 season with the strongest rider turnout the organization has had for a standard (non-Loudon Classic) event since it took the reins over from New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2020. Participation was excellent across all divisions of racing, with particularly strong fields in the popular lightweight and ultralight classes. NEMRR’s stated goal of making the series a family-friendly organization was on full display on Saturday night when the traditional Saturday night barbeque turned into an early Halloween trick-or-treat, costume contest, and scavenger hunt across the paddock. Near perfect weather on both days provided a fantastic backdrop for both the double-points finale and the NEMM races that followed the conclusion of racing on Sunday. NEMM, which is run by NEMRR regular Sergio Dimoffetta, offered is focused on youth riders and gave free entries in 2023 to kids as young as four years old who wanted to experience riding at NHMS.

With the MotoAmerica season now over, the growing group of NEMRR riders who have sampled racing at the highest level in the US were showcasing their skills and putting on a show. Only Teagg Hobbs, a multi-time MotoAmerica race winner who carded several podium finishes in the ultra-competitive Supersport class in 2023, was absent as he was working to recover from minor injuries. Fellow MotoAmerica race winner podium finisher Ben Gloddy took most of the 2023 season off after an injury at Daytona, but finished the pro season with a fourth-place finish at NJMP and spends the NEMRR weekends racing a relatively stock Honda CRF450 in the Ultralight classes. Ben was in podium battles all weekend long and carded a win after a race-long battle with Trase Boudreau in the Lightweight Sportsman class to close out the weekend.

MotoAmerica top 10 finisher Jacob Crossman split time between his Twins Cup Aprilia RS 660 machine and his Husqvarna FS 450 machine over the course of the weekend. On the Aprilia Crossman finished on the podium in the highly competitive LW Grand Prix Class and was knocking on the door of a top five finish in the NEMRR feature Dash for Cash MW Grand Prix class before missing Turn One on the final lap and losing several positions.

Adam Muscaro, who tested the waters with two appearances in MotoAmerica Junior Cup in 2023, clinched the NEMRR 500 Superbike Expert Championship after a race-long battle with fellow Ninja 400 rider Ryan Imbeault. Muscaro also clinched the Moto 3 championship with a hard-earned win over Ty Fazekas and NEMRR #1 plate holder Rick Doucette. Although Doucette finished second in the Moto 3 Championship, the veteran racer secured championships in the Middleweight Superbike and 300 Superbike classes and in the process carded his record-breaking 13th NEMRR #1 plate in 2023. The “King” will reign for another season!

Rick Doucette (1) earned the NEMRR number-one plate for the 12th time. Photo by Martin Hanlon, courtesy NEMRR. — Rick Doucette (1) earned the NEMRR number-one plate for the 13th time. Photo by Martin Hanlon, courtesy NEMRR.

After pulling off a double win at the MotoAmerica Junior Cup races at NJMP, Eli Block displayed his diverse riding talents while winning races on three different motorcycles over the course of the weekend. On his trusty KTM 450, Block battled fiercely with multi-time NEMRR champion Gunnar Oulette in three of the classes that typically feature the popular motard machines. Both riders reeled off incredibly fast times all the way down into the 1:15 range (times that could almost win some middleweight classes), with Block taking the Motard and Super Singles classes and Oulette winning the Ultralight Superbike class. In addition, Block won a nail-biter over MotoAmerica rookie (and top 10 finisher Renee Franco) as the pair battled on a pair of Kawasaki Ninja 400 machines. Franco used her incredible roll speed in Turns One and Three to close in on Block and set the fastest lap time of the race in the process. In the end, Block used his prowess in the famous Turn Six “bowl” and his skill in navigating through traffic at NHMS to hold on to the victory.

In the feature Michelin/Motorace Dash for Cash, Triumph-mounted Ian Beam held a 16-point advantage over Block and Harlan Hildebrand, who were tied for second place. With double points on the line, Beam would have to finish third for either Block or Hildebrand to have a mathematical chance at the title. As the green flag dropped Beam rocketed to the lead, followed closely by the Yamaha R6s of Block and rising star Micheal Lee. The lead group was six riders deep and had the crowd on the edge of their seats until the three-cylinder Triumph of Beam came down the front straightaway sounding like a twin on lap five. After pulling off, Beam somehow got the bike to re-fire and rejoined the fray in 15th place, only to retire a lap later. This left the Championship wide open.

Block won the race – and with it the Middleweight Grand Prix Championship, holding off the charging Paul Duval, who had cured the mechanical gremlins that plagued his Yamaha R6 for much of the season and had moved his way from fifth to second in the closing laps. Lee rounded out the podium with another strong finish, and will surely be someone to watch for the 2024 season at NEMRR.

The 2024 NEMRR season schedule has already been announced with the series showcasing six rounds of competition at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The premier event of the season will be the 101st running of the Loudon Classic, which will be a three-day event that will again have the distinction of offering a record $250,000 purse for the feature Classic and (new for 2024) a $50,000 purse for a Pro Bagger class. For information/sponsorship opportunities for both NEMRR and the Classic, please visit www.nemrr.com or email [email protected].

Sánchez Appointed CEO Of Dainese Group

David Swarts

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October 2, 2023

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Angel Sánchez Appointed CEO of Dainese Group

Vicenza (Italy) – Dainese Group, a leader in outdoor sports apparel and equipment, is pleased to announce the appointment of Angel Sánchez as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective from 2nd of November. Sánchez has previously held CEO and senior leadership roles at leading international groups including Keter, ABM Italia and Conserve Italia. At the same time, Cristiano Silei, CEO of Dainese since 2015, becomes non-executive Chairman of the company.

Sánchez brings with him deep knowledge and experience with a track record of leading Consumer companies through periods of accelerated growth. Prior to joining Dainese, Sánchez was CEO of Conserve Italia, one of the largest Food and Beverage cooperatives in Europe, which includes brands such as Cirio, Yoga and Valfrutta, where the businesses doubled EBITDA during his time at the helm. He has also previously held the position of CEO of ABM Italia, a European leader in the manufacturing of cabinets, shelving and other storage products, until the company was successfully sold to Keter, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality consumer plastic products. At Keter, Sánchez was Chief Marketing Officer before his promotion to deputy CEO and Head of Europe.

Supported by majority shareholder Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG), the global investment firm, Dainese Group, is a leader in the outdoor sports apparel and equipment, and brings together the Dainese, AGV and TCX brands, as well as the recently signed license with Momo Design. Since partnering with Carlyle, Dainese has continued its trajectory of double-digit growth reaching c. €300m of topline in 2022 and maintaining best-in-class profitability. The Group is investing to support its expansion strategy and in 2022 established a direct presence in China and opened a new production facility in Vietnam. As CEO, Sánchez will be responsible for leading the company into its next stage of growth, including continuing the international expansion of the Group, development of its multi-channel proposition and its shift toward an increasingly Direct-To-Consumer distribution strategy.

“I am excited to join Dainese, a company and a brand I have admired for many years,” commented Angel Sánchez. “I look forward to harnessing the power of the respective brands of the Group and capturing the multiple growth opportunities that lie ahead, including continuing to expand its direct-to-consumer channels and growing its presence in high potential markets, such as China.”

Massimiliano Caraffa, Managing Director and Partner leading Consumer & Retail for the Carlyle Europe Partners advisory team, said: “We are pleased that Angel has joined Dainese at this important moment in the Group’s history. I have known Angel for years, and he brings with him a wealth of experience and an exceptional track record that make him the ideal candidate to lead Dainese as it embarks on this next phase of growth. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Cristiano for his leadership of Dainese, and I am delighted that the company will continue to benefit from his considerable industry expertise and knowledge as he takes on his new role as non-executive Chairman.”

Commenting on the appointment of Sánchez, Cristiano Silei, said: “It has been an honor to lead Dainese for the past 9 years. Dainese is a phenomenal business with significant growth potential, and I am truly excited to welcome Angel and support him as we continue to consolidate the company’s leadership positioning in R&D, innovation and technical excellence, whilst accelerating our international expansion.”

KYT Americas Riders Won Three MotoAmerica Championships

David Swarts

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October 2, 2023

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KYT Americas Riders Won Three MotoAmerica Championships

KYT Americas Sponsored Riders Win Three of Five Class Championships in MotoAmerica 2023 Series

KYT Americas proudly congratulates Xavi Fores, Blake Davis, and Avery Dreher on their 2023 championships. Xavi Fores demonstrated exceptional talent, skill, and determination throughout the season, ultimately securing the championship title in his first full year racing MotoAmerica’s Supersport class. Blake Davis, last year’s Twins Cup champion, retains his number one plate due to his consistent podiums and front-running pace throughout the season. Avery Dreher was a tactician and master in the draft against the extremely tight competition of the Junior Cup class.

This achievement underscores the incredible skill, dedication, and unwavering commitment of these athletes. KYT Americas has long been a leader in safety and performance in motorsports, and we are honored to support these racers in their pursuit of championships.

The champions and their respective classes are as follows:

Xavi Fores – Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati

Moto America Supersport

Blake Davis – N2 Racing / BobbleHeadMoto

MotoAmerica Twins Cup

Avery Dreher – MotoAmerica Junior Cup

MotoAmerica Junior Cup

Brandon Cretu, CEO at KYT Americas, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “Going into 2023, KYT Americas was looking forward to supporting these guys. We knew they were talented, even world class, but it’s so hard to predict how a season will turn out. Having three riders we sponsored win their respective class championships is very exciting for us. We look forward to continuing to support their journey and witnessing their future successes.”

KYT Americas remains steadfast in its mission to provide the highest quality safety equipment and support to racers around the world, ensuring they can perform at their best while staying safe on the track. We appreciate the trust our athletes put in us.

For more information about KYT and its commitment to motorsport safety, please visit www.kytamericas.com.

About KYT:
At KYT, we incorporate over two decades of experience in world-class competition into sleek, race-engineered helmets designed to protect and perform. Our designs offer optimal ventilation and aerodynamics while maintaining the highest level of crash protection. Since 1998, KYT’s intense focus on the competitive environment allows us to produce a helmet with quality and function designed to perform at the highest level of motorsports and performance. KYT America now brings its industry leading safety, style, and service to one of the most innovative motorcycle markets in the world.

Visit www.kytamericas.com.

British Superbike: Race Two And Race Three Results From Donington Park

David Swarts

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October 1, 2023

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British Superbike: Race Two And Race Three Results From Donington Park

Editorial Note: Americans Julian Correa and Eli Banish finished sixth and 14th, respectively, in R&G British Talent Cup Race Two Sunday at Donington Park, in England.

SBK R2
SBK R3
SBK Points after R3

More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing (MSVR):

Code red: Bridewell and Irwin clash as title chase intensifies ahead of Brands Hatch

The Bennetts British Superbike field heads into Turn One Sunday at Donington Park. Photo courtesy MSVR.

The fight to become the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Champion intensified at the penultimate round of the season at Donington Park as the BeerMonster Ducati teammates clashed in the second race, both crashing out of the action. Tommy Bridewell regained the lead at the top of the standings at the end of the weekend, but there are still just 7.5 points separating the pair ahead of the Brands Hatch title decider (13/14/15 October).

In the second race of the weekend, there was a seven-way battle for the lead, but the rivalry between the BeerMonster teammates boiled over and ended with Bridewell colliding with Irwin into Melbourne and the pair both crashing out.

As the race continued, Kyle Ryde sought to take advantage and he did just that, winning the race for defending Champions LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha to continue to claw back the advantage in the standings. Despite a difficult race three for Ryde, finishing in twelfth place, he almost halved the advantage to Bridewell in the standings, with now just 35 points the deficit ahead of Brands Hatch.

Ryde’s fifth win came when the race was red flagged for rain on lap 17, but it was also more success for Leon Haslam and the ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team as he also capitalised on the BeerMonster Ducati riders’ non-points score.

However, it could have been more for Haslam as his weekend ended with heartache, he was holding another strong second position in the final race when a technical problem ended his charge spectacularly and caused a red flag.

The ‘Pocket Rocket’ has a 41-point deficit to Bridewell, but will arrive at the final round knowing that in 2017 his 32-point advantage in the standings ahead of the season finale was decimated, losing the title to Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne by six points.

The BeerMonster Ducati pairing couldn’t rebound in race three either as Irwin was instantly out of the race with a technical problem after the opening corner of the first lap and Bridewell struggled, dropping down the order to ninth.

As the leading title contenders had a disastrous Donington Park, Jason O’Halloran returned to winning ways in race three, whilst Oxford Products Racing Ducati’s Christian Iddon was the only rider to score a double podium in today’s two races. FHO Racing BMW Motorrad’s Josh Brookes also was back on the podium in race three to show his pace in wet conditions.

Three races now remain in the battle to become Bennetts British Superbike Champion at Brands Hatch, with a maximum of 105 points available at the final Showdown.

Eight riders remain within 105 points of Bridewell at the top of the standings, with Irwin still his closest rival. Ryde and Haslam lead the chasing pack, 35 points and a further six points respectively adrift, with Lee Jackson 2.5 points down on Haslam. Meanwhile O’Halloran, Brookes and Iddon remain in mathematical contention.

British Superbike Championship front runners and teammates Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) battled Sunday at Donington Park. Photo courtesy MSVR. — British Superbike Championship front runners and teammates Glenn Irwin (2) and Tommy Bridewell (46) clashed Sunday at Donington Park. Photo courtesy MSVR.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Donington Park, Race 2 result:

Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha)
Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) +0.224s
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +1.489s
Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) +1.755s
Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +2.138s
Ryan Vickers (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) +3.791s
Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda by Hawk Racing) +6.387s
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +6.678s
Max Cook (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) +9.655s
Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +10.938s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Donington Park, Race 3 result:

Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha)
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +6.936s
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +10.884s
Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda by Hawk Racing) +13.561s
Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Racing Yamaha) +16.183s
Storm Stacey (Starline Racing Kawasaki) +16.414s
Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +16.797s
Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) +17.368s
Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) +17.862s
Davey Todd (Milwaukee BMW Motorrad) +19.937s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:

Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) 368
Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 360.5
Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 333
Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) 327
Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) 324.5
Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 317.5
Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team) 292
Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 264

For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com

Tommy Bridewell

BeerMonster Ducati

Championship leader

“I’m sore after today’s crash and worn out emotionally after the weekend. Without doubt it’s been a tough day and a rollercoaster of a meeting. I apologised to Glenn and his team as it was obviously disappointing for both of us.

“I felt so strong on the bike and to come from last on the grid to lead after eight laps is almost unheard of in BSB so it’s a real shame it happened.

“In the final race, I had a few visibility issues, but I came here half a point behind in the championship standings and I’m leaving 7.5pts in the lead so I’m feeling positive going into the final round at Brands Hatch.”

Supersport 300 World Championship: Race Two Results From Portugal

David Swarts

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October 1, 2023

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Supersport 300 World Championship: Race Two Results From Portugal

SSP 300 R2
SSP 300 Points

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Buis clinches historic title as Gennai seals Race 2 win

Mirko Gennai won FIM Supersport 300 World Championship Race Two in Portugal. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki) made history by becoming the first-ever two-time WorldSSP300 Champion, securing the title with an 11th-place finish.

The race featured an intense battle between title contender Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing GBR) and Mirko Gennai (Team BrCorse). Gennai emerged victorious after a dramatic last lap where Perez Gonzalez briefly led but was penalized for irresponsible riding, dropping him to second place.

Dirk Geiger (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) finished third, leading a tightly contested group that included Daniel Mogeda (ProGP Racing) in fourth and Matteo Vannucci (AG Motorsport Italia Yamaha) in fifth. Indonesia’s Galang Hendra Pratama (Sublime Racing by MS Racing) claimed the sixth position, with these riders separated by just four tenths of a second at the end of the 13-lap race.

Gennai took his second race win at the Portuguese Round and securing third place in the Championship.

P1 | Mirko Gennai | Team BrCorse

“I finished first in Race 1 and Race 2, and I’m very happy. Perez Gonzalez and I worked together to escape at the front. We were able to break away, and I knew he would try to overtake me at the exit from the last corner, but he received a penalty. So, I got lucky. When I arrived at the parc fermé, I realized I had won when I saw my team. I want to thank them for the great job this week.”

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Jeffrey Buis makes history: a double triumph in WorldSSP300

Jeffrey Buis won his second FIM Supersport 300 World Championship. Photo courtesy Dorna.

In the heart-pounding 2023 WorldSSP300 season, Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki), clinched the coveted WorldSSP300 title in Race 2 of the Pirelli Portuguese Round. This achievement marks his second WorldSSP300 Championship crown, making him the first and only rider to secure two titles in this fiercely competitive series. Buis first made waves in 2020 when he claimed his inaugural title, announcing his arrival as a force to be reckoned with in the WorldSSP300 series.

Buis’s incredible journey in the 2023 season showcased his determination. His standout moments included a victory at Barcelona marking a pivotal moment in his 2023 campaign, a double win in Magny-Cours when he took the Championship standings lead, and a victory at MotorLand Aragon allowing him to open his advantage to 30 points ahead of the season finale at Portimao. With a total of 7 podium finishes, including 4 thrilling victories to his name, Buis’s statistics for the season underscore his dominance in the series. Additionally, he became the first rider to amass an incredible 11 WorldSSP300 victories, cementing his legacy as one of the series’ best performers. However, the season also saw him facing formidable competition from his primary title rivals, including Jose Luis Perez Gonzalez (Accolade Smrz Racing BGR), Mirko Gennai (Team BrCorse), Dirk Geiger (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing), Matteo Vannucci (AG Motorsport Italia Yamaha), and Petr Svoboda (Fusport – RT Motorsport by SKM – Kawasaki).

In 2024, Jeffrey Buis will continue his journey in WorldSSP300 switching manufacturer as he will move to the Freudenberg KTM-PALIGO Racing team.

Jeffrey Buis biography

Jeffrey Buis began his motorcycle racing journey in 2018, debuting in the Yamaha R3 Cup and securing victory in his very first race. His early success continued with a second-place finish at the Oschersleben track during the same season. In December 2018, Buis joined the MTM Kawasaki team to compete in the 2019 FIM Supersport 300 World Championship. Despite being a newcomer to World Championship racing, Buis made steady progress in his debut season, achieving his best result with an eighth-place finish at Magny-Cours.

He continued to compete in WorldSSP300 in 2020, remaining with the MTM Kawasaki team. The 2020 season concluded with Buis clinching his first World Championship. He remained with the MTM Kawasaki team in 2021 to defend his title ultimately finishing third in the standings. In 2022, he moved up to the WorldSSP class with the MTM Kawasaki team but returned to WorldSSP300 for the 2023 season. His comeback was successful, with the Dutch rider claiming his second title in the series.

2023 WorldSSP300 Champion | Jeffrey Buis | MTM Kawasaki

“After Aragon, the gap was so big, and I started to think about the title. In this race, I just needed to finish in the top 13, and that’s what I did. I didn’t want to risk anything, especially when you’re in a group; anything can happen. I was afraid that another rider might make me crash, so that’s why I took a little space from the group and just finished the race. MTM Kawasaki is like a family to me. I’ve been here since 2019, and to have won two World Championships with them is incredible. I want to especially thank Ludo for that! In 2024, I will face a new challenge, and I’m very happy for this new chance. But first, let’s celebrate this title!”

World Championship Career:

2019 – 2021: FIM World Supersport 300 Championship

2020: WorldSSP300 Champion

2022: FIM World Supersport Championship

2023: FIM World Supersport 300 Championship

2023: WorldSSP300 Champion

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup: Three Americans Invited To 2024 Tryouts In Spain

David Swarts

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October 1, 2023

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Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup: Three Americans Invited To 2024 Tryouts In Spain

Guadix is the place – Rookies Cup Selection for 2024

It’s that very special time of year, no not Christmas yet, but for young racers around the world it is even bigger, it’s time for the Selection Event for the 2024 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.

This is the way that Brad Binder, Jorge Martín, Pedro Acosta and more than 200 other riders have made the step into the Cup. 112 Rookies Cup riders have started in GPs, 30 of whom have won 179 GPs and 10 World Championships. Currently, they lead the Moto3 and Moto2 World Championships and Martín is 3 points off the lead in MotoGP after winning the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend.

111 riders from across the globe, from 30 different nations, are expected to attend this year’s Selection event in Guadix, near Granada in southern Spain for 3 days of track action starting on Monday.

Roughly half the assembled riders take to the track on Day 1, the other half on Day 2. Those who are considered to have the best chance of being invited to join the Cup are offered the possibility of riding again on Day 3.

At the end of Day 3, the Selection Committee will draw up a list of 10 riders invited to join the Cup for 2024.

Show your support for your favourite rider by voting for them to wear the Golden Bib. It will encourage them even though it does not directly affect the outcome of the Selection. Vote here – https://www.facebook.com/groups/redbullrookiescup/permalink/24211665175113822/

Riders expected at the Selection Event

Leonardo Abruzzo (Italy)

Luca Agostinelli (Vietnam)

Julius Ahrenkiel-Frellsen (Denmark)

Pedro Alomar Bover (Spain)

Hamad Khamis Alsahouti (Qatar)

Pau Alsina Sanchez (Spain)

Emanuele Andrenacci (Italy)

Evan Belford (Great Britain)

Enzo Bellon-Hoarau (France)

Edoardo Bertola (Italy)

Mohammed Abdalaziz Binladin (Saudi Arabia)

Lucie Boudesseul (France)

Amanuel Brinton (Great Britain)

Lucas Brown (Great Britain)

Josephine Bruno (Italy)

Benjamin Caillet (France)

Lorenzo Cavalletto (Italy)

Yvonne Cerpa (Spain)

Julian Correa (United States)

Adrian Covarrubias (Spain)

Adrian Cruces Serrano (Spain)

David Da costa (Portugal)

Enzo Dahmani (France)

Kristian Daniel Jr (United States)

Diego-Troy de Ponte (Portugal)

Kadir Erbay (Turkey)

Or Farhi (Israel)

Beñat Fernandez (Spain)

Alejandra Fernandez Garcia (Spain)

Ryan Frost (Great Britain)

Juan Pablo Galvis Quintero (Colombia)

Luana Giuliani (Italy)

Quentin Godefroy (France)

Nazareno Leonel Gomez Arrieta (Argentina)

David Gonzalez Perez (Spain)

Angus Grenfell (Australia)

Tony Guerrero (France)

Eduardo Gutierrez Cobo (Spain)

Valentino Herrlich (Germany)

Uriel Hidalgo Mimbrero (Spain)

Elliot Kassigian (France)

Denis Kiesewetter (Austria)

Tyler King (New Zealand)

Daniel Krabacher (Austria)

Ryan Larkin (New Zealand)

Edoardo Liguori (Italy)

Marco Ludeña Navarro (Spain)

Keiran Mair (New Zealand)

Quentin Mandine (France)

Carolina Manzano Afonso (Spain)

Hodei Martinez (Spain)

Gabriele Masarati (Italy)

Harley McCabe (Great Britain)

Valdemar Mellgren (Sweden)

Erik Michielon (Italy)

Gun Mie (Japan)

Henri Mignot Kokora (France)

Kevin Milani (Italy)

Livio Mirabel (France)

Lucas Mohedano Hernandez (Spain)

Lorenzo Mohedano Hernandez (Spain)

Mateusz Molik (Poland)

Kgomotso Mononyane (South Africa)

Sullivan Mounsey (Great Britain)

Marianos Nikolis (Australia)

Filip Novotny (Czech Republic)

Pablo Olivares Rodriguez (Spain)

Francisco Javier Palomera Ibañez (Spain)

Vasilis Panteleakis (Greece)

Milan Pawelec (Poland)

Justine Pedemonte (France)

Tobias Pedersen (Denmark)

Gonzalo Perez Alvarez (Spain)

Valentin Perrone Canton (Argentina)

Levin Quentin Phommara (Switzerland)

Ilnoxx Phommara (Switzerland)

Joel Pons Llubes (Spain)

Guillem Planques (France)

Giulio Pugliese (Italy)

Leandro Quintans Sans (France)

Martim Marco Ramos Reis (Portugal)

Geoffrey Reviven (India)

Jesus Rios Maldonado (Spain)

Natalia Rivera Resel (Spain)

Cayden Robert (South Africa)

Matteo Roman (France)

Matthias Rostagni (France)

Mario Salles (Brazil)

Max Sanchez Quesada (Spain)

Rémy Sanjuan (France)

Dustin Schneider (Germany)

Jesse James Shedden (United States)

Valentino Sponga (Italy)

Filip Surowiak (Poland)

Gabriel Tesini (San Marino)

Jesús Torres (Spain)

Antonio Torres Dominguez (Spain)

Owen Trigt (Netherlands)

Jean Turner (Japan)

Kotaro Uchiumi (Japan)

Brian Uriarte (Spain)

Jurrien Van Crugten (Netherlands)

Tibor Varga (Hungary)

Kiyano Veijer (Netherlands)

Pierfrancesco Venturini (Italy)

Ollie Walker (Great Britain)

Niklas Wannenmacher (Austria)

Alexander Weizel (Germany)

Finnan Wherity (Ireland)

Jeremiasz Wojciechowski (Poland)

Leonardo Alessandro Zanni (Italy)

WorldSBK: Race Two Results From Portugal

David Swarts

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October 1, 2023

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WorldSBK: Race Two Results From Portugal

Defending World Champion Alvaro Bautista won FIM Superbike World Championship Race Two Sunday at Algarve International Circuit, in Portimao, Portugal. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, Bautista won the 20-lap race by just 0.126 second.

Toprak Razgatlioglu was the runner-up on his Pata Yamaha Prometeon YZF-R1, and Bautista’s teammate Michael Rinaldi was a very close third.

American Garrett Gerloff finished a close fourth, just 2.854 seconds behind Bautista, on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR.

SBK R2
SBK Points after R2

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Bautista pips Razgatlioglu to victory, inches closer to the title

Alvaro Baustia (1) edged out Toprak Razgatlioglu (54) to win Race Two. Photo courtesy Dorna.

In a gripping WorldSBK Race 2 at Portimao, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) etched his name in the record books once again. The reigning champion clinched his 56th victory on a Ducati, surpassing the legendary Carl Fogarty’s win tally with the Italian manufacturer.

However, this historic achievement didn’t come easy, as Bautista engaged in a breathtaking duel with Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), where the first position changed hands throughout the race. Bautista briefly took the lead on several occasions, only for Razgatlioglu to respond with remarkable moves of his own. In the end, it was Bautista who managed to secure the victory in a dramatic drag race to the finish line, edging out Razgatlioglu by a mere 0.126 seconds. Bautista’s triumph marked another milestone for Ducati, but it fell just short of securing him a second riders’ title.

Meanwhile, Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) mounted a spirited charge from the second row to claim the final spot on the podium. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) continued his impressive form with a solid fourth-place finish, followed closely by Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) and Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) in fifth and sixth.

Bautista secured his 56th Ducati win, pushing ahead of Carl Fogarty’s record.

P1 | Alvaro Bautista | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati

“It was amazing! It was a great battle between Toprak and me and I’m so proud to fight with him. He did his best and he had nothing to lose, so he tried every time, everywhere. It didn’t matter which corner or how he tried the pass. I’m proud to fight with him. I also tried my best. I tried to overtake him and close the corners, but he always tried. We were very close to touching many, many times! For me, it was a very enjoyable race. In the end, at the last corner because I was strong there, I tried to pass him but he learnt about the pass after the morning overtake and he closed the last part of the corner. At the moment, I thought if I couldn’t go inside, go outside because it’s the only chance you have. I opened the gas, the bike started to accelerate, and I went to the kerb. I could pass him. I think it was a great move! It was like instinct.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu (54). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Razgatlioglu fought valiantly in the epic duel with Bautista, finishing a close second in the race.

P2 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK

“We kept fighting in the race because I’m just focused on winning because I was very angry after the Superpole Race. I saw Alvaro wasn’t very strong and I was better in the last corner than in the Superpole Race but in the race, I fought with him. I said ‘this race is mine’ because he wasn’t very strong and whilst I was on the limit, it was easier to attack. I said, ‘I need to win’ and, especially on the last lap, the feeling was good, and every corner was better than before. At the last corner, I tried something different, but it didn’t work; when I picked up the bike, there’s no acceleration and this was the biggest problem. Alvaro went outside but I don’t understand how his rear tyre grips better than me, but his bike’s acceleration is unbelievable, and it was possible to come back. I’m really angry and I did everything to win. Anyway, we finished second, but I don’t care for this; we lost, and I’m just focused on winning.”

Michael Rinaldi (21) leads Andrea Locatelli (55), Iker Lecuona (7), and Garrett Gerloff (31). Photo courtesy Dorna. — Michael Rinaldi (21) leads Andrea Locatelli (55), Iker Lecuona (7), Remy Gardner (behind Lecuona), and Garrett Gerloff (31). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Rinaldi delivered a strong performance, claiming the final spot on the podium in Race 2.

Garrett Gerloff (31). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Gerloff continued his impressive form with a solid 4th place, missing the podium for 1.100s.

Andrea Locatelli (55) leads Garrett Gerloff (31), Iker Lecuona (7), and Remy Gardner (87). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Locatelli finished 5th in Race 2 and currently holds 4th place in the championship.

World Supersport: Race Two Results From Portugal

David Swarts

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October 1, 2023

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World Supersport: Race Two Results From Portugal

Stefano Manzi won FIM Supersport World Championship Race Two Sunday at Algarve International Circuit, in Portimao, Portugal. Riding his Ten Kate Racing Yamaha YZF-R6, the Italian won the 17-lap race by 0.084 second.

Newly crowned 2023 World Champion Nicolo Canepa was the runner-up on his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V2, and Yari Montella placed third on his Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati.

Former MotoAmerica Supersport front-runner Valentin Debise retired with a technical problem on his GMT94 Yamaha and Did Not Finish (DNF).

SSP R2
SSP Points After R2

WorldSBK: Superpole Race Results From Portugal

David Swarts

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October 1, 2023

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WorldSBK: Superpole Race Results From Portugal

Defending World Champion Alvaro Bautista won the World Superbike Superpole race Sunday at Algarve International Circuit, in Portimao, Portugal. Riding his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R, the Spaniard won the 10-lap race by just 0.142 second. It was Bautista’s fifth Superpole race win of the season.

Turkish star Toprak Razgatlioglu was the runner-up on his Pata Yamaha Prometeon YZF-R1, and Razgatlioglu’s teammate Andrea Locatelli placed third.

American Garrett Gerloff went from starting 12th on the grid to finishing eighth on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR, improving his grid spot for Race Two.

SBK SP Race
SBK Points after SP Race

MotoGP: Dorna Reports Significant Spectator And Viewer Growth So Far In 2023

October 2, 2023

Dorna reports significant spectator and viewer growth so far in the 2023 MotoGP World Championship. Photo courtesy Dorna. — TNT Sports is the new U.S. broadcast home of MotoGP races. Photo courtesy Dorna.

MotoGP™ global audiences sustain 20% growth

Broadcast numbers and fans in the grandstands continue to impress as the world’s most exciting sport makes a big impression on audiences around the world

Monday, 02 October 2023

As MotoGP™ heads into an action-packed, pivotal part of the season across Asia and Oceania, the broadcast audience and attendance figures for the first 12 Grands Prix of 2023 are in – and they make for excellent reading once again. The upward trend from the very first events of 2023 has only continued, with weekend television audiences maintaining a more than 20% increase on 2022.

Increases across the board

The Tissot Sprint had a notable impact when it landed, not only increasing Saturday figures but also proving a driving force behind augmented audiences on Sunday and overall. That trend has only continued: the impressive 51% increase in audiences on Saturday has been maintained throughout the first 12 Grands Prix.

Sunday figures also retain a strong average increase on the same races in 2022. In key markets, the weekend broadcast audience has increased for every single one of the first 12 Grands Prix of 2023.

The fans in the stands

In the grandstands, crowd numbers also continue to impress. After the huge challenge posed by the Covid-19 pandemic for sporting properties across the globe, MotoGP™ attendance has not only recovered by 2023, but has also increased on 2019.

The surge in weekend attendance between 2022 and the first 12 Grands Prix of 2023 is even more notable. Of the 11 Grands Prix for which data is available, all but one saw a significant increase in attendance, with highlights of more than 80% and 60% for some events. Nearly half are up by more than 30%.

For its part, the headline-grabbing all-time record attendance set at Le Mans, where nearly 280,000 fans flocked to the venue across the weekend, was a 23.9% increase on 2022 – and that prefaced another record. Just a few weeks later, the German GP was once again the highest-attended sporting event in Germany, but this year it made a little more history with an all-time record crowd for MotoGP™ at the Sachsenring. Nearly a quarter of a million people attended across the weekend, throwing down the gauntlet to see which venue can repeat the feat in 2024.

The total fans who have come to see MotoGP™ trackside during the first half of 2023 is an all-time record for the sport too, with the available data showing more than 1.6 million spectators had flocked through the gates by the half way point.

Now we’re heading across Asia and Oceania in a stunning crescendo to the 2023 season, with millions of fans waiting to welcome MotoGP™ to some of its biggest and fastest-growing markets. Make sure to tune in for more as the world’s most exciting sport continues to break records – on and off track!

NEMRR: Block Wins Big, Doucette Captures #1 Plate At Season Finale

October 2, 2023

Eli Block (9). Photo by Martin Hanlon, courtesy NEMRR.