Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Complete Pre-Season Test In Portugal

David Swarts

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March 16, 2023

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Complete Pre-Season Test In Portugal

Future stars ready for Rookies Cup better Portimão record

Two record-breaking days of testing in perfect conditions at Portimão have prepared 26 of the world’s fastest teenagers for the 17th season of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.

Aerodynamic updates on the KTM RC 250 Rs, taking details pioneered in the KTM MotoGP program and developed for the Moto3 World Championship bikes, perhaps helped the fastest of the Rookies break the lap record.

It was not just the returning gladiators who were on the pace, scotching any notion that there is any predictability about who will be battling for this year’s Cup. That will be decided over 14 races, starting at the Portuguese Grand Prix on March 25th.

Auinger impressed

“I must be getting old,” laughed rider coach Gustl Auinger. “I am just so impressed with these guys. It was wonderful to have a Selection Event again last year after we missed a couple of years. I was hopeful that we had seen some fast riders but I was sure it would take a few races before they got up to speed.”

“In the first session yesterday you could pick out the newcomers but by the second session, they were right there, looking as strong and running as fast as the second and third-year Rookies. Then at the end of the day, they are kicking a soccer ball around together and you know we’ve got another cool group of kids.”

American Alexander Enriquez (25) in action in Portugal. Photo courtesy Red Bull.

Ribalta sees improvement

“I’m very pleased with the test,” stated rider coach Dani Ribalta. “Firstly I am impressed that we got here, the technical staff did an amazing job preparing all the bikes, completely overhauled, refreshed engines, new mapping with a stronger bottom-end and the riders can feel the improvement.”

“Several are under the lap record and some of the new guys are already very fast. We have been a lot luckier than we were last year with the dry weather and lack of wind. It gives us a great start to the season.”

Quiles as fast as last year

Màximo Quiles was 3rd in last year’s Cup and the highest-placed rider to return. “It’s great to be back on the KTM, I really enjoy it. You can feel that the bike is a little stronger than last year, the way it pulls over the hills here and wheelies out of the corners.”

“I took it easy at the start yesterday, got used to the bike again and pushed a bit harder today with new tyres. There are a lot of fast riders, it’s always the same in Rookies Cup.”

Races

1&2 March 25-26 – Portimão (Portugal)

3&4 April 29-30 – Jerez (Spain)

5&6 May 13-14 – Le Mans (France)

7&8 June 10-11 – Mugello (Italy)

9&10 June 24-25 – Assen (Netherlands)

11&12 August 19-20 – Spielberg (Austria)

13&14 September 9-10 – Misano (Italy)

Entry List

2 Amaury Mizera (France)

5 Leo Rammerstorfer (Austria)

8 Eddie O‘Shea (Great Britain)

11 Ruché Moodley (South Africa)

12 Jacob Roulstone (Australia)

13 Hakim Danish (Malaysia)

14 Cormac Buchanan (New Zealand)

18 Angel Piqueras (Spain)

23 Rhys Stephenson (Great Britain)

25 Alexander Enriquez (United States)

27 Rico Salmela (Finland)

28 Máximo Quiles (Spain)

47 Edoardo Boggio (Italy)

50 Carter Thompson (Australia)

54 Alberto Ferrandez (Spain)

56 Kevin Farkas (Hungary)

57 Danial Shahril (Malaysia)

67 Casey O’Gorman (Ireland)

69 Marcos Ruda (Spain)

78 Jakob Rosenthaler (Austria)

81 Lorenz Luciano (Belgium)

83 Alvaro Carpe (Spain)

88 Shinya Ezawa (Japan)

93 Arbi Aditama (Indonesia)

94 Guido Pini (Italy)

95 Marco Chincolla (Argentina)

Moto2: Three-Day Official Test Starts March 17 In Portugal

David Swarts

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March 16, 2023

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Moto2: Three-Day Official Test Starts March 17 In Portugal

Moto2™ and Moto3™ prepare to saddle up at Portimao

A three-day Official Test gives the intermediate and lightweight classes their last chance to prep for a blockbuster 2023

Thursday, 16 March 2023

Pre-season may be over for the MotoGP™ class, but there is still official track action left for the Moto2™ and Moto3™ fields. After both have had their own private tests at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto, they now head for Portugal for their official outing over three days of activity.

WHERE AND WHEN?

Where? The Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, the venue for the season opener, hosts on Friday the 17th, Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th of March.

HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE ACTION?

There will be Live Timing on motogp.com and a host of content from the track to keep you up to date, including reports, interviews and more. A round up covering the three days will provide plenty of content on its conclusion too, including photos and the combined timesheets.

So where were we? Below is a rundown of some expected contenders – from the top ten returners in each class – as we get ready to glimpse the lay of the land for 2023.

Moto2™: meet the contenders

Ogura, Canet, Arbolino, Acosta… the list goes on!

With the reigning Champion moving up to MotoGP™, there’s chance for a new name to take the throne. First on the list of hopefuls is 2022 challenger Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), but with some injury struggles in pre-season it might take a little longer to see his hand, and he won’t be at the test. Once back up to speed, however, we can be very sure the Japanese rider has plenty in the locker… and teammate Somkiat Chantra is far from a slouch either, the Thai rider already a Grand Prix winner. That makes two… so who else can we expect to fight at the front in 2023?

Canet vs the top step

It’s an ongoing tussle: Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) vs the top step in Moto2™. And only in Moto2™, because the Spaniard is a winner in the lightweight class six times over. So that will be a key goal for 2023 after some stunning performances last season, but he’ll also want to retain his consistency. With his injury struggles – and ironclad ability to ride through them – teaching him a lot about pressure, or more about how to free himself from it, he’ll be an interesting one to watch. And so will Sergio Garcia, his new teammate fresh from fighting for the title in Moto3™…

Tiger Tony

When Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) is on it, he’s on it. With some impressive performances in Moto2™ already, we can be confident of more but his focus will also be on creating a more consistent season to really challenge for the crown. Teammate Sam Lowes has also got proven speed, and he’ll also want more consistency… as well as a dash more luck.

Shark Attack: Acosta vs 2023

The wonder rookie of Moto3™ was wonder rookie of Moto2™ more than a few times last season, including in Valencia to close out 2022 on the top step, but a mid-year injury derailed Pedro Acosta’s (Red Bull KTM Ajo) assault on the top. He won races though – as well as taking Rookie of the Year – and that pace was backed up in private testing at Jerez just this week. We can expect much, and with quick new teammate Albert Arenas in the box, both the Ajo garage and the dynamic inside it are sure to deserve some serious spotlight in 2023.

GASGAS Aspar’s double threat

Jake Dixon (GASGAS Aspar Team) is now a multiple podium finisher, but that isn’t a Grand Prix win and doesn’t taste like it. He wants victories and more consistency, and he has a very interesting new teammate: Izan Guevara. The reigning Moto3™ World Champion was in a class of his own last season in the lightweight category… what has he got on the next step of the ladder?

Vietti vying for redemption

If you’d told the world after the Catalan GP – in which Celestino Vietti (Fantic Racing) took a stunning win to put a tougher couple of races behind him – that by the end of the season he’d be seventh overall, no one would likely have believed it… including the rider. There’s talent, ability and serious speed in the Italian, so can he pull that magic back out of the hat in 2023 – and more consistently?

Magic Alonso

Alonso Lopez (SpeedUp Racing) only became a full time rider at the Italian GP, and my oh my did he go about making his presence felt. With more than just an ace up his sleeve at Phillip Island, the number 21 was a (somewhat) surprise challenger last season but he’ll be looking for much more than a win or two this year to make sure that magic moniker, shared with a certain two-time F1 champion, only gains ground. Teammate Fermin Aldeguer will also want to redress the balance of power too, having been the first to impress when the two were paired in the Moto2™ European Championship.

The American dreamer

Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) took some big steps in 2022. He became a Grand Prix winner and took a subsequent podium, and the American gives the feeling he’s on the cusp of making everything really fit together. He’ll be aiming to do just that in 2023 as he remains with the proven Italtrans squad, and gets a new teammate too: perennial Moto3™ challenger Dennis Foggia.

Meet the rookies!

It’s not just Guevara, Garcia and Foggia moving up from Moto3™ who will fight for Rookie of the Year. One interesting addition will be Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) as he moves from MotoGP™ – and a respectable job of it too – into the intermediate class he previously skipped. Part of the new(er) Triumph era of Moto2™ was to make it fit into the middle between Moto3™ and MotoGP™ a little better, and Binder will be interesting to watch.

Rory Skinner (American Racing) is another with a different path, arriving from some stunners in BSB to take on intermediate class Grand Prix racing. But we’ve seen that work before. Kohta Nozane (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Team), meanwhile, arrives from WorldSBK and experience on bigger bikes too.

Alex Escrig (Forward Team) comes to Moto2™ having gone from European Stock glory to European Moto2™ frontrunner – and MotoE™ competitor – in the last couple of seasons, although he crashed in private testing so he’s a question mark for the Portimao test. Borja Gomez (Fantic Racing), meanwhile, arrives from runner up in ESBK after scoring points in Valencia on a second appearance as a replacement rider in Moto2™ too. How will they fare?

Moto3™: who will rule the class of 2023?

Sasaki, Öncü, Masia… Fenati? A reminder of some familiar names and an introduction to the newcomers

The top three may have moved to Moto2™, but they were the top three by just eight points – with Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) hot on the heels of both Garcia and Foggia by the close of 2022. And my oh my did Sasaki put in some performances, including that incredible victory in Austria despite two Long Lap penalties. The pre-season favourite? Likely for many.

Öncü lands at Ajo

Deniz Öncü wanted so badly to sign off from Tech3 with a first win, but it wasn’t quite to be in Valencia. Now his new adventure is already underway at Red Bull KTM Ajo, and that first win will be a serious target – as will the crown. Multiple podiums and some serious speed mean it won’t be a surprise to see the Turkish rider fighting right at the front from the off.

Leopard field the veterans

Jaume Masia returns to Leopard Racing in 2023, and he’s partnered with Tatsuki Suzuki to make a formidable force. Both have speed, experience and past success, and both will want a lot more of both.

Moreira wants more

Rookie of the Year in 2022, Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) already had some buzz before that as Maverick Viñales picked him as a pre-season favourite. That first podium evaded him but the Brazilian took consistent, considerable points and he’ll want to visit parc ferme on Sunday this season – as often as possible.

Migno & Fenati shoot for glory

Both veterans, both Grand Prix winners, and both very different riders. Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) won a race in 2022 before consistency proved tougher, and he’ll want to show he’s got more in the locker. Romano Fenati, meanwhile, returns to Moto3™ on the other side of the garage… having shown some serious pace last time he raced in the class.

Holgado heads for Tech3

After a rookie season with Ajo, Daniel Holgado moves to Red Bull KTM Tech3 in 2023. Moreira beat him on consistency last season, but Holgado does arrive having already taking his first Grand Prix podium – of which he’ll want many more.

Meet the rookies!

The headline act in the newcomers must be Jose Antonio Rueda, who joins Red Bull KTM Ajo. The first rider to win the title in both JuniorGP™ and Red Bull Rookies in the same season, and in style, the Spaniard arrives from that incredible 2022 with some hype. Fellow Rookies champion – but in 2021 – David Alonso will be another to watch as the Colombian joins the fray full time with GASGAS Aspar. He’s already made a few appearances in Moto3™ but now it’s full time and with eyes on that Rookie of the Year prize.

Some familiar faces from the Red Bull Rookies and the Finetwork FIM JuniorGP™ World Championship join the grid too: Rookies runner up Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Intact GP), JuniorGP™ runner up David Salvador (CIP Green Power), third in JuniorGP™ Filippo Farioli (Red Bull KTM Tech3), and JuniorGP™ race winner and frontrunner Syarifuddin Azman (MT Helmets – MSI). Veijer, however, is a question mark for this particular test, having crashed in Jerez.

Ducati Surpasses 1 Billion Euro In Revenue For The First Time

David Swarts

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March 16, 2023

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Ducati Surpasses 1 Billion Euro In Revenue For The First Time

Ducati overcomes 1 billion euros revenue for the first time in its history

Ducati posts the numbers of its record 2022: more than 1 billion euros revenue, record operating profit of 109 million euros and record sales performance of 61,562 motorcycles delivered

Profitability also grows, reaching a double-digit margin of 10 percent

Claudio Domenicali: “2022 was the best year ever for Ducati in several aspects, starting from the great sales and financial performance to the successes in MotoGP and WorldSBK.”

Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 16 March 2023 – Ducati closes a year full of successes posting record figures for sales, revenue and operating profit that add to the exceptional triumphs achieved by Ducati in the racing world, which has seen the Bologna-based motorcycle manufacturer win all titles in MotoGP and WorldSBK.

For the first time in its history, Ducati’s revenue overcame 1 billion euros figure (1,089 million euros), marking an increase of 24 percent over 2021 (878 million euros), thanks to an attractive product portfolio that resulted in higher volumes in sales. Operating profit is also remarkable with a record 109 million euros, corresponding to a massive growth of 77 percent compared to 2021 (61 million euros). As a result, the profitability level also increased reaching a double-digit margin of 10 percent.

2022 was also exceptional in terms of commercial results. Ducati closed the year with a record of 61,562 motorcycles delivered to enthusiasts around the world, scoring a 3.6 percent growth over 2021.

Claudio Domenicali, CEO Ducati: “For the first time in our history, we passed the 60,000-bikes mark and we overtook 1 billion euros in revenue. This establishes 2022 as the best year ever for Ducati in several aspects, starting from the great sales and financial performance to the successes in MotoGP and WorldSBK. We are on a positive trend that in the last years has seen Ducati grow and establish itself as an increasingly solid company. As a brand that is an expression of Made in Italy, innovation, design and technology, we keep our focus on delivering exciting experiences on and off motorcycles to passionate Ducatisti all over the world.”

Henning Jens, CFO Ducati: “I am glad that for the second year in a row we are able to announce a record financial performance and a growth in the profitability level for Ducati. Reaching such results despite the supply chain disruption that has heavily affected the automotive sector during the course of 2022 is a remarkable achievement of the whole Ducati Group. We were also able to pursue the self-financed investments plan in R&D, infrastructures and digitalization that was in our agenda for 2022.”

The Sales network continued to grow over the past year, getting closer to Ducatisti around the world. At the end of 2022, there are 821 Ducati dealerships, the highest number ever, which, with the addition of the new markets Brunei, Ecuador, El Salvador and Mongolia, represent Ducati in as many as 96 markets.

For 2023, Ducati has presented to the public eight new models to complete its wide range, able to offer all Ducatisti the most suitable bike to express their passion for two wheels.

Among the most awaited models there are certainly the Multistrada V4 Rally, the bike for great travelers and the new Diavel V4, the model that won the “Most Beautiful Bike of the Show” award at EICMA fair in Milan. Also the brand new second generation of Scrambler Ducati, which confirms the simplicity and authenticity that have always represented essential values for all Scrambler Ducati enthusiasts, and becomes more contemporary, colorful and endowed with an even more lively personality.

Starting from 2023 and until 2026, Ducati will be the sole supplier of motorcycles for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship, which officially begins on May 13, 2023 at the French Grand Prix. With this project, Ducati is thoroughly studying the technologies for the future of the world of motorcycling, investing and experimenting to build expertise to be ready when battery technology should allow the creation of an exciting electric road bike with the weight, performance and range that enthusiasts expect from a Ducati.

In December 2022, Ducati opened the new “Finitura e Delibera Estetica” manufacturing that will host the last phase of the production cycle, which consists of the final dressing of the bikes carried out by Ducati with a sartorial approach and meticulous attention to detail. The new building is the result of a significant infrastructure investment completely self-financed. Investments in the headquarters’ infrastructure will continue also in the course of next years.

Army of Darkness: The River Rolls On, Part Three, In The March Issue

Trudy Ulrich

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March 16, 2023

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Army of Darkness: The River Rolls On, Part Three, In The March Issue

Featured In The March 2023 Issue:

“Three rounds in we had scored three second places but, because the other teams had each had some tough races, we found ourselves in the points lead for both class (Heavyweight) and Overall for the first time in the season, with two events to go.

“Cody Wyman, in addition to contesting the WERA National Endurance series with us, was also competing in MotoAmerica Twins Cup and Junior Cup classes. He would end up being the Junior Cup Champion for 2022 but also broke his heel. He was walking on it again at Road (Atlanta) and could ride but, in an abundance of caution, we recruited Geoff May to join us for the race.

“Geoff May is a talented, experienced and very methodical rider who knows Road A very well. He also runs number 99 so he seemed like a natural fit…”

“Army Of Darkness: Racing River Rolls On,” by Sam Q. Fleming

When the chips are down, no one currently racing endurance in the United States is better at wrestling the Championship into its grasp than Army Of Darkness. Read how the team came back to win yet again in the 2022 season—all in the latest issue of Roadracing World!

Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine is available in print and digital formats.

PREVIEW the March 2023 Issue of Roadracing World!

Click to SUBSCRIBE NOW ! Or call (909) 654-4779, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.

Read the March 2023 issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology with your online subscription. Log in HERE

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Available at Cycle Gear and other motorcycle retailers.

Visit www.roadracingworld.com daily for breaking news and events.

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MotoGP Analysis: Moto2 Crew Chief Massimo Branchini, In The March Issue

Trudy Ulrich

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March 15, 2023

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MotoGP Analysis: Moto2 Crew Chief Massimo Branchini, In The March Issue

Featured In The March 2023 Issue:

On paper, Moto2 looks like it should be the most competitive class in the Grand Prix racing universe. Identical engines, extremely limited choice of chassis, restricted suspension components, standardized rudimentary electronics. According to the FIM rulebook, teams even have to use the stock oil filter. Rules don’t get tighter than that.

And yet, for the past two seasons, it seems as though one team has cracked the code. Red Bull KTM Ajo Racing is at the front of the field more often than not. Winners of the Moto2 World Championship two years running, the Red Bull-liveried machines are competitive on any given day, and on some days, it seems as though they are the only bikes with a chance to win…

—Moto2 World Championship-Winning Crew Chief Massimo Branchini, by Michael Gougis

There’s no place to hide in Moto2—spec engines, spec chassis, spec suspension. Everything has to be perfect for that moment in time when the lights go out. Moto2 World Championship-winning Crew Chief Massimo Branchini has made a career of making things as perfect as possible. Learn his method of getting his riders across the line first—it’s in the latest issue of Roadracing World!

Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine is available in print and digital formats.

PREVIEW the March 2023 Issue of Roadracing World!

Click to SUBSCRIBE NOW ! Or call (909) 654-4779, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.

Read the March 2023 issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology with your online subscription. Log in HERE

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Available at Cycle Gear and other motorcycle retailers.

Visit www.roadracingworld.com daily for breaking news and events.

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Canadian Superbike: Szoke Fastest At Official Tire Test At Jennings GP

David Swarts

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March 15, 2023

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Canadian Superbike: Szoke Fastest At Official Tire Test At Jennings GP

Szoke tops Bridgestone Winter Test after final day at Jennings

Jennings, FL – The last day of official preseason testing wrapped up with a familiar name atop the Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship leaderboard, as Jordan Szoke exited the Winter Test at Jennings GP as the man to beat in the feature Pro Superbike ranks.

Szoke’s return to Superbike action for the first time in over a year went as smoothly as anyone could have expected on Tuesday, leading day one at the north Florida circuit as the grid adjusted to the new Bridgestone spec tires.

His time of 1:17.732 seemed like a decent benchmark for the event, given how much the track surface has worsened since the previous test at Jennings in 2011. Instead, Szoke repeatedly topped the field in sessions four, five, and six, lowering the top time to a blistering 1:16.386 lap aboard his LDS Consultants Kawasaki.

It seemed like everything went right for Szoke in his return to Jennings and the Bridgestone CSBK series, showing zero signs of rust as he approaches his 26th season in the feature Pro Superbike class.

Defending champion Ben Young will exit a long Florida trip as the second-fastest rider overall, pacing majority of day one before eventually settling in behind Szoke with a time of 1:16.741, only 0.355 seconds slower.

The Van Dolder’s Home Team BMW rider fought through a previous test at Jennings, the famed Daytona 200, and now the official Winter Test all in the last two weeks, but won’t take much time to rest as he aims to put his #1 plate back at the front for round one in nine weeks.

Completing the top trio was unsurprisingly Alex Dumas, with the former champion battling through a number of problems during the course of the test before ultimately topping the final session with a competitive 1:17.281 lap aboard his Purple Skull/Liqui Moly Suzuki.

Dumas used all the track time to his advantage with 62 laps completed in two days – the most of anyone in the top-seven riders – as he eventually weeded out some issues to bring himself within 0.895 seconds of Szoke.

Alex Dumas (23) made steady progress aboard his Purple Skull/Liqui Moly Suzuki, but still finds himself third through pre-season testing. Photo by Colin Fraser, courtesy CSBK.

The surprise of the test was rookie Pierre Simard in fourth, who continued to hang with the “usual suspects” at the front of day two aboard his D1C Suzuki. The former top Amateur was the only other rider to break into the 1:17’s, sitting 0.645 seconds off fellow Suzuki rider Dumas.

Rounding out the top five in the combined times was another “returning rookie” in Trevor Dion, who made more progress with his new LDS Consultants Kawasaki and continued to learn from teammate Szoke before posting a strong time of 1:18.141.

Sam Guerin was notably sixth, with the former championship runner-up breaking in a new EFC Group BMW machine of his own. The fan favourite managed a 1:18.531 lap, and seemed on course to be the “iron man” of the event with 54 laps completed in the first day and a half before sitting out the final two sessions.

That title ultimately went to rookie Alex Michel instead, who completed a staggering 67 laps across two days, placing himself 18th in the combined timesheets.

While the Pro’s were all combined at the Winter Test, the early Liqui Moly Pro Sport Bike rider to beat was Vincent Levillain, who rebounded from a hectic Daytona 200 to finish eleventh overall and tops amongst the 600cc riders.

The SpeedFactory67 rider wound up just 0.040 seconds faster than title favourite David MacKay, who struggled early on in his adjustment to the Bridgestone tires but eventually put his ODH Snow City Kawasaki closer to where many expected.

Third-fastest of the group was Matt Simpson, who made up a ton of time in day two to put his Evans Racing Yamaha only 0.294 seconds off the top Sport Bike spot and 14th overall heading into the season.

Cooney continues to stun Amateur ranks

As if Andrew Cooney’s first day as a Scorpion Amateur Sport Bike rider wasn’t impressive enough, the Fast Company Honda competitor made absolutely sure his pace wouldn’t go unnoticed on day two.

Already leading the way with a 1:20.625 lap time on Tuesday, Cooney blitzed the Amateur group to a new benchmark of 1:19.883 in session five – an incredible lap that would have made him the top Pro Sport Bike rider and 11th amongst the Pro’s overall.

Somehow a distant second despite a strong lap of his own, Mack Weil managed to place himself in the rear-gunner spot of the Amateur ranks behind a time of 1:20.952, confirming the MotorcycleCourse Yamaha’s status as one of the lone title threats to Cooney this season.

Completing the lead triad of Amateurs was fellow teenager Maverick Cyr, who posted an improved 1:22.175 lap to place his Triumph firmly in the podium mix entering round one at Shannonville Motorsport Park.

The lead Lightweight rider continued to be 14-year-old sensation Vincent Lalande, who stormed to a ridiculous 1:26.620 in only his second ever day as a national rider. The reigning Mini Superbike Ohvale Cup champion has thus far cemented himself as one of the future stars of the sport, clearing the next Lightweight rider by over 1.5 seconds.

That proved to be former title winner Harvey Renaud, who paced a tighter battle for second just marginally ahead of Justin Marshall, with the main challenger to Lalande still unclear entering the campaign.

The Bridgestone Canadian Superbike Championship will now sit and wait for a lengthy nine weeks before returning for round one in late May, with an eleven-race, five-round slate upcoming in 2023.

Full results from the two-day test at Jennings GP can be found on the series’ official website at csbk.ca.

Moto2: Acosta Quickest, Roberts P9, SDK P18 In Testing At Jerez

David Swarts

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March 15, 2023

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Moto2: Acosta Quickest, Roberts P9, SDK P18 In Testing At Jerez

FIM Moto2 World Championship Private Testing

Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, Spain

March 14-15, 2023

Unofficial Combined Times (all using Dunlop tires and Triumph engines):

Pedro Acosta, Spain (Kalex), 1:41.309
Aron Canet, Spanish (Kalex), 1:41.575
Alonso Lopez, Spain (Boscoscuro), 1:41.575
Tony Arbolino, Italy (Kalex), 1:41.732
Sam Lowes, UK (Kalex), 1:41.851
Albert Arenas, Spain (Kalex), 1:41.852
Lukas Tulovic, Germany (Kalex), 1:42.078
Somkiat Chantra, Thailand (Kalex), 1:42.093
Joe Roberts, USA (Kalex), 1:42.174
Barry Baltus, The Netherlands (Kalex) 1:42.190
Jake Dixon, UK (Kalex), 1:42.238
Manuel Gonzalez, Spain (Kalex), 1:42.307
Be Bendsneyder, The Netherlands (Kalex), 1:42.401
Fermin Aldeguer, Spain (Boscoscuro), 1:42.473
Filip Salac, Czech Republic (Kalex), 1:42.566
Jeremy Alcoba, Spain (Kalex), 1:42.567
Darryn Binder, South Africa (Kalex), 1:42.622
Sean Dylan Kelly, USA (Kalex), 1:42.832
Dennis Foggia, Italy (Kalex), 1:42.870
Zonta van der Goorbergh, The Netherlands (Kalex), 1:42.902
Sergio Garcia, Spain (Kalex), 1:42.911
Celestino Vietti, Italy (Kalex), 1:43.023
Marcos Ramirez, Spain (MV Agusta), 1:43.130
Lorenzos Dalla Porta, Italy (Kalex), 1:43.173
Rory Skinner, UK (Kalex), 1:43.174
Borja Gomez (Kalex), 1:43.254
Izan Guevara, Spain (Kalex), 1:43.596
Kohta Nozane, Japan (Kalex), 1:44.241
Alex Escrig, Spain (MV Agusta), 1:44.371
David Sanchis (Kalex), 1:44.622

More, from a press release issued by Marc VDS Racing Team:

Elf Marc VDS Racing Team kick off 2023 Moto2 preparations in Jerez

Less than two weeks away from the start of the 2023 Moto2 World Championship, Sam Lowes and Tony Arbolino stepped up their pre-season preparations with a successful two-day test session at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto in the Andalusia region of Spain.

The pair completed a mammoth 284 laps between them as sunny and warm conditions helped the pair reacquaint themselves with their Triumph-powered Kalex machinery after the long winter break.
Lowes and Arbolino begin their final winter test outing this Friday with a three-day session at the Algarve International Circuit in Portugal, which hosts the opening round of an intense 21-round season on March 26.

Sam Lowes (22). Photo courtesy Marc VDS Racing Team.

Sam Lowes

4th, 1’41.851, 146 laps

Fully recovered from the serious left shoulder injury that badly disrupted the final nine races of the 2022 campaign, Lowes tested his physical condition to the maximum with 146 laps completed during the test.

The main focus for the 32-year-old was to understand the performance of the new Triumph 765cc three-cylinder engine, which features an upgrade from 14,000 to 14,400 revs for the forthcoming season.

The Briton was also able to assess the new 2023 Kalex chassis and he showed excellent speed and consistency on Dunlop’s soft and hard rear tyre options to finish fourth on the timesheets with a quickest lap of 1:41.851.

“I don’t think this test could have gone much better”

“I’m so happy with how the test has gone, particularly from a physical point of view. I’ve worked really hard in the off-season on the shoulder, and everything feels normal on the bike. I was able to do a lot of laps on both days with some long runs, so from a physical perspective it was only positives. I haven’t been able to ride a bike properly since I first got the injury in early August last year, so it was a great feeling. The second day here has been very important because we got to assess the new engine and chassis together and obviously they are hugely important components that we need to fully understand. I also had some suspension parts from Ohlins, so it has been an intense test but a successful one. I would say 90 per cent of what we tried felt like an improvement, so we have finished the test in a good way. We now move to Portimao for the final test and that is a completely different track to Jerez, so it will be good to understand how well the new parts work there. But I had a good rhythm with no real issues in Jerez, so I don’t think this test could have gone much better.”

Tony Arbolino (14). Photo courtesy Marc VDS Racing Team.

Tony Arbolino

2nd, 1’41.732, 138 laps

A hot streak of three podiums in the last four races of 2022, including two wins in Thailand and Malaysia, meant Arbolino was relishing the opportunity to get back to work at the Jerez test in readiness for the 2023 campaign.

Initially getting back up to speed on last year’s Kalex machine, Arbolino spent the whole of the second day on track in Jerez working on the upgraded Triumph engine and revised Kalex frame.

Constant progress was made throughout the test in terms of front feeling and Arbolino was once again one of the main protagonists with a best lap of 1:41.732 placing him in a superb second place.

“I’m positive we’ll be strong from the first race”

“It has been a very good test for me, and it felt great to be back with my crew again. The first day we worked a lot on myself getting back into the rhythm and being as best prepared as we can be for the first race in Portugal. The second day was very positive because it was the first chance for me to try the complete new package for 2023 and I was very happy with the performance we found. I felt comfortable with the race pace, and I think there is definitely some margin for us to improve with the time attack. We understand we can find more improvements with more time on the bike but this first test has gone very well. I’m positive we are going to be strong from the first race.”

More, from a press release issued by QJMotor Gresini Racing:

GOOD FEELINGS ON THE FIRST MOTO2 TEST OF THE SEASON IN JEREZ

The Team Moto2 QJMOTOR GRESINI RACING is finally back on track after three months of winter break. The sun was shining bright in Jerez, giving the riders the perfect conditions to regain the confidence on their bikes.

Positive feelings in both sides of the box, with Filip Salač 15th, only 0,001secs faster than his new teammate Jeremy Alcoba, in 16th position. The Czech rider was able to set a good pace on day two despite a crash with luckily no consequences on the rider. Official debut in the other side of the box for the rider #52, who used this first test to find the feeling with the new bike (he also tried the new engine) and the best way to work together with his new team.

The Team Moto2 QJMOTOR GRESINI RACING will now drive to Portimao, ready to set-up for there more days of test, from Friday to Sunday in the Portuguese track: the last chance to find the perfect set-up before the first race of the season.

Filip Salac (12). Photo courtesy Gresini Racing.

15th – FILIP SALAČ #12 (1:42.566s – 110 laps)

“I’m so happy that we were finally back on track after the long winter brake. We worked hard in these two days but also enjoyed a lot! In the first day we tried most of all to get back the confidence with my bike and it was not easy as I haven’t ridden this bike for more than three months, but I really enjoyed it. On the second day we did immediately a good lap-time, but in the second exit I made a “beginners” kind of mistake and I crashed. Luckily I’m ok, the team did a perfect job repairing the bike, making me able to go back on track and have a good pace. We did’t try the soft tires as we’re still missing a step. In these two days we didn’t show our real potential, so I can’t wait to do it in Portimao!”

Jeremy Alcoba (52). Photo courtesy Gresini Racing.

16th – JEREMY ALCOBA #52 (1:42.567s – 128 laps)

“It was amazing to feel the power of the Moto2 bike again. In this first test of the season I was able to find good feelings, especially in the morning sessions: in the afternoons was more difficult for me to be fast, we still need to ride more km to improve, and to understand how to work together with the team in the best way. I think we’ll be able to get where we want, our pace is good with the used tire, we have to improve instead with the new tire: this was a problem I used to have last year too, but in these days the feeling was better and the pace too. We have to work some more to take off one second on the fast-lap. We decided not to use the soft tire as we preferred to work on the bike rather than looking for the best lap-time but we’re not far from the first riders. I’m happy about the progress we made, now one day of brake and then off to Portimao: a track I like even if I had some trouble there last year, but it’s a chance to finish the work we began in these days.”

North West 200: 2023 Event To Take Place As Planned

David Swarts

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March 15, 2023

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North West 200: 2023 Event To Take Place As Planned

The Coleraine and District Motor Club is delighted to announce this year’s fonaCAB and Nicholl Oils North West 200 will take place as planned on May 7-13.

As has been well documented over the past month, this year’s event had been thrown into jeopardy by a huge increase in the cost of public liability insurance. A new insurance deal has finally been secured and the crucial intervention of Co. Tyrone businessman, Derek Keys, with a generous donation from his company, Euro Auctions, has ensured the 2023 NW200 can go ahead.

“March 2023 represents the 25th anniversary of Euro Auctions and helping the North West 200 gives us the ideal chance to thank all of those people who have supported us over that 25 year journey,” Mr. Keys said, “The event sees over 195,000 people visit the region and many businesses, both large and small, depend upon events like this to bring trade and prosperity into the North West area. This event is part of our region’s heritage and I am delighted that with a little help from Euro Auctions, the event can now proceed this year.”

“We are very grateful to Derek Keys and Euro Auctions for this very generous support,” the NW200’s Mervyn Whyte said. “In the absence of any financial assistance from government, the sport has been left to its own devices to deal with the insurance crisis. Mr Keys intervention has been crucial in saving this year’s North West 200. We also wish to express our gratitude to the many members of the motorcycle racing community who donated so generously to the crowd funding initiative launched by the Motorcycle Union of Ireland, Ulster Centre.”

Moto2: American Racing Team Partners With Website

David Swarts

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March 15, 2023

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Moto2: American Racing Team Partners With Website

The American Racing Team is delighted to announce its collaboration with the subscription social platform OnlyFans for 2023.

OnlyFans already boasts a vast array of celebrities showcasing their content from artists such as Iggy Azalea and comedian Whitney Cummings along with familiar faces from American motorsport like MotoAmerica’s Josh Herrin and Supercross rider, Logan Karnow.

Giving fans an exclusive, behind-the-scenes experience both at and away from the track, American Racing and its riders will take fans around the world via the OnlyFans platform; showing them the inner workings of the team, life on the road and what it takes to be a world championship rider as well as offering fans exclusive competitions and subscriber-only opportunities.

Rory Skinner (33) on his Only Fans-branded Moto2 racebike. Photo courtesy American Racing Team. — Rory Skinner (33) on his OnlyFans-branded Moto2 racebike. Photo courtesy American Racing Team.

Eitan Butbul, Team Owner –

I’m thrilled to announce our collaboration with OnlyFans for the 2023 season. They are an enormous brand with a huge online presence across the world and it makes me very proud that the American Racing Team has grown to the point of attracting partners of this size.

This collaboration goes far beyond just a sticker on the bike and a patch on the leathers, it allows us to bring fans closer than ever before to a team in the MotoGP World Championship through content creation. We’ve seen what a real focus on content production has done for other sports and we couldn’t be more excited to take this to the next level in motorcycle racing through this platform.

Ami Gan, CEO of OnlyFans –

We are enthusiastic to welcome American Racing to OnlyFans. This collaboration will truly give MotoGP fans an inside look at what it’s like to race around the world, as the team and its riders showcase exclusive content on the platform.

OnlyFans continues to attract athletes to the platform who are looking for the best way to connect with their fans and share exclusive content.

MotoGP: NBC Sports Broadcasting All 21 Rounds To The U.S.

David Swarts

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March 15, 2023

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MotoGP: NBC Sports Broadcasting All 21 Rounds To The U.S.

NBC Sports announces 2023 MotoGP™ season schedule

All 21 Races to be Presented on NBC and CNBC, including LIVE coverage of the Americas GP

Wednesday, 15 March 2023

NBC Sports has announced its schedule for the blockbuster 2023 MotoGP™ season on NBC and CNBC, beginning with the Portuguese Grand Prix from Portimao on Sunday, March 26, at 1:30 p.m. ET on CNBC.

All 21 races will be presented on either NBC or CNBC, with timeslots designed to showcase the best of the sport. The Grand Prix of the Americas from Circuit of the Americas will be presented live for a second consecutive year on Sunday, April 16, at 2:30 p.m. ET on CNBC. NBC will air an hour-long encore on Saturday, April 22, at 3 p.m. ET.

NBC will present coverage of the following five MotoGP™ Grand Prix races, including three consecutive events in September, this season:

• British Grand Prix on Sunday, Aug. 6, at 1:30 p.m. ET

• Catalan Grand Prix on Sunday, Sept. 3, at 1:30 p.m. ET

• San Marino Grand Prix on Sunday, Sept. 10, at 1 p.m. ET

• Indian Grand Prix on Sunday, Sept. 24, at 1:30 p.m. ET

• Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday, Nov. 12, at 1:30 p.m. ET

Ahead of the 2023 season, NBC Sports’ Leigh Diffey spoke with reigning MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia and 2021 MotoGP champion Fabio Quartararo.

2023 marks NBC Sports’ fourth season as the exclusive television home of MotoGP™ in the United States. All race coverage presented on NBC and CNBC will stream on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.

In addition to weekend telecasts on NBC and CNBC, live and on-demand coverage of all races will be available to stream on MotoGP™ VideoPass, in addition to every session of MotoGP™, Moto2™ and Moto3™, and races and qualifying for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship.

Below is the full MotoGP schedule on NBC and CNBC (subject to change).

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Complete Pre-Season Test In Portugal

March 16, 2023

2023 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup participants testing at Algarve International Circuit, in Portugal. Photo courtesy Red Bull.

Future stars ready for Rookies Cup better Portimão record

Two record-breaking days of testing in perfect conditions at Portimão have prepared 26 of the world’s fastest teenagers for the 17th season of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.

Aerodynamic updates on the KTM RC 250 Rs, taking details pioneered in the KTM MotoGP program and developed for the Moto3 World Championship bikes, perhaps helped the fastest of the Rookies break the lap record.

It was not just the returning gladiators who were on the pace, scotching any notion that there is any predictability about who will be battling for this year’s Cup. That will be decided over 14 races, starting at the Portuguese Grand Prix on March 25th.

Auinger impressed

“I must be getting old,” laughed rider coach Gustl Auinger. “I am just so impressed with these guys. It was wonderful to have a Selection Event again last year after we missed a couple of years. I was hopeful that we had seen some fast riders but I was sure it would take a few races before they got up to speed.”

“In the first session yesterday you could pick out the newcomers but by the second session, they were right there, looking as strong and running as fast as the second and third-year Rookies. Then at the end of the day, they are kicking a soccer ball around together and you know we’ve got another cool group of kids.”

Ribalta sees improvement

“I’m very pleased with the test,” stated rider coach Dani Ribalta. “Firstly I am impressed that we got here, the technical staff did an amazing job preparing all the bikes, completely overhauled, refreshed engines, new mapping with a stronger bottom-end and the riders can feel the improvement.”

“Several are under the lap record and some of the new guys are already very fast. We have been a lot luckier than we were last year with the dry weather and lack of wind. It gives us a great start to the season.”

Quiles as fast as last year

Màximo Quiles was 3rd in last year’s Cup and the highest-placed rider to return. “It’s great to be back on the KTM, I really enjoy it. You can feel that the bike is a little stronger than last year, the way it pulls over the hills here and wheelies out of the corners.”

“I took it easy at the start yesterday, got used to the bike again and pushed a bit harder today with new tyres. There are a lot of fast riders, it’s always the same in Rookies Cup.”

Races

1&2 March 25-26 – Portimão (Portugal)

3&4 April 29-30 – Jerez (Spain)

5&6 May 13-14 – Le Mans (France)

7&8 June 10-11 – Mugello (Italy)

9&10 June 24-25 – Assen (Netherlands)

11&12 August 19-20 – Spielberg (Austria)

13&14 September 9-10 – Misano (Italy)

Entry List

2 Amaury Mizera (France)

5 Leo Rammerstorfer (Austria)

8 Eddie O‘Shea (Great Britain)

11 Ruché Moodley (South Africa)

12 Jacob Roulstone (Australia)

13 Hakim Danish (Malaysia)

14 Cormac Buchanan (New Zealand)

18 Angel Piqueras (Spain)

23 Rhys Stephenson (Great Britain)

25 Alexander Enriquez (United States)

27 Rico Salmela (Finland)

28 Máximo Quiles (Spain)

47 Edoardo Boggio (Italy)

50 Carter Thompson (Australia)

54 Alberto Ferrandez (Spain)

56 Kevin Farkas (Hungary)

57 Danial Shahril (Malaysia)

67 Casey O’Gorman (Ireland)

69 Marcos Ruda (Spain)

78 Jakob Rosenthaler (Austria)

81 Lorenz Luciano (Belgium)

83 Alvaro Carpe (Spain)

88 Shinya Ezawa (Japan)

93 Arbi Aditama (Indonesia)

94 Guido Pini (Italy)

95 Marco Chincolla (Argentina)

Moto2: Three-Day Official Test Starts March 17 In Portugal

March 16, 2023

Moto2™ and Moto3™ prepare to saddle up at Portimao

A three-day Official Test gives the intermediate and lightweight classes their last chance to prep for a blockbuster 2023

Thursday, 16 March 2023

Pre-season may be over for the MotoGP™ class, but there is still official track action left for the Moto2™ and Moto3™ fields. After both have had their own private tests at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto, they now head for Portugal for their official outing over three days of activity.

WHERE AND WHEN?

Where? The Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, the venue for the season opener, hosts on Friday the 17th, Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th of March.

HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE ACTION?

There will be Live Timing on motogp.com and a host of content from the track to keep you up to date, including reports, interviews and more. A round up covering the three days will provide plenty of content on its conclusion too, including photos and the combined timesheets.

So where were we? Below is a rundown of some expected contenders – from the top ten returners in each class – as we get ready to glimpse the lay of the land for 2023.

Moto2™: meet the contenders

Ogura, Canet, Arbolino, Acosta… the list goes on!

With the reigning Champion moving up to MotoGP™, there’s chance for a new name to take the throne. First on the list of hopefuls is 2022 challenger Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), but with some injury struggles in pre-season it might take a little longer to see his hand, and he won’t be at the test. Once back up to speed, however, we can be very sure the Japanese rider has plenty in the locker… and teammate Somkiat Chantra is far from a slouch either, the Thai rider already a Grand Prix winner. That makes two… so who else can we expect to fight at the front in 2023?

Canet vs the top step

It’s an ongoing tussle: Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) vs the top step in Moto2™. And only in Moto2™, because the Spaniard is a winner in the lightweight class six times over. So that will be a key goal for 2023 after some stunning performances last season, but he’ll also want to retain his consistency. With his injury struggles – and ironclad ability to ride through them – teaching him a lot about pressure, or more about how to free himself from it, he’ll be an interesting one to watch. And so will Sergio Garcia, his new teammate fresh from fighting for the title in Moto3™…

Tiger Tony

When Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) is on it, he’s on it. With some impressive performances in Moto2™ already, we can be confident of more but his focus will also be on creating a more consistent season to really challenge for the crown. Teammate Sam Lowes has also got proven speed, and he’ll also want more consistency… as well as a dash more luck.

Shark Attack: Acosta vs 2023

The wonder rookie of Moto3™ was wonder rookie of Moto2™ more than a few times last season, including in Valencia to close out 2022 on the top step, but a mid-year injury derailed Pedro Acosta’s (Red Bull KTM Ajo) assault on the top. He won races though – as well as taking Rookie of the Year – and that pace was backed up in private testing at Jerez just this week. We can expect much, and with quick new teammate Albert Arenas in the box, both the Ajo garage and the dynamic inside it are sure to deserve some serious spotlight in 2023.

GASGAS Aspar’s double threat

Jake Dixon (GASGAS Aspar Team) is now a multiple podium finisher, but that isn’t a Grand Prix win and doesn’t taste like it. He wants victories and more consistency, and he has a very interesting new teammate: Izan Guevara. The reigning Moto3™ World Champion was in a class of his own last season in the lightweight category… what has he got on the next step of the ladder?

Vietti vying for redemption

If you’d told the world after the Catalan GP – in which Celestino Vietti (Fantic Racing) took a stunning win to put a tougher couple of races behind him – that by the end of the season he’d be seventh overall, no one would likely have believed it… including the rider. There’s talent, ability and serious speed in the Italian, so can he pull that magic back out of the hat in 2023 – and more consistently?

Magic Alonso

Alonso Lopez (SpeedUp Racing) only became a full time rider at the Italian GP, and my oh my did he go about making his presence felt. With more than just an ace up his sleeve at Phillip Island, the number 21 was a (somewhat) surprise challenger last season but he’ll be looking for much more than a win or two this year to make sure that magic moniker, shared with a certain two-time F1 champion, only gains ground. Teammate Fermin Aldeguer will also want to redress the balance of power too, having been the first to impress when the two were paired in the Moto2™ European Championship.

The American dreamer

Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) took some big steps in 2022. He became a Grand Prix winner and took a subsequent podium, and the American gives the feeling he’s on the cusp of making everything really fit together. He’ll be aiming to do just that in 2023 as he remains with the proven Italtrans squad, and gets a new teammate too: perennial Moto3™ challenger Dennis Foggia.

Meet the rookies!

It’s not just Guevara, Garcia and Foggia moving up from Moto3™ who will fight for Rookie of the Year. One interesting addition will be Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) as he moves from MotoGP™ – and a respectable job of it too – into the intermediate class he previously skipped. Part of the new(er) Triumph era of Moto2™ was to make it fit into the middle between Moto3™ and MotoGP™ a little better, and Binder will be interesting to watch.

Rory Skinner (American Racing) is another with a different path, arriving from some stunners in BSB to take on intermediate class Grand Prix racing. But we’ve seen that work before. Kohta Nozane (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Team), meanwhile, arrives from WorldSBK and experience on bigger bikes too.

Alex Escrig (Forward Team) comes to Moto2™ having gone from European Stock glory to European Moto2™ frontrunner – and MotoE™ competitor – in the last couple of seasons, although he crashed in private testing so he’s a question mark for the Portimao test. Borja Gomez (Fantic Racing), meanwhile, arrives from runner up in ESBK after scoring points in Valencia on a second appearance as a replacement rider in Moto2™ too. How will they fare?

Moto3™: who will rule the class of 2023?

Sasaki, Öncü, Masia… Fenati? A reminder of some familiar names and an introduction to the newcomers

The top three may have moved to Moto2™, but they were the top three by just eight points – with Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) hot on the heels of both Garcia and Foggia by the close of 2022. And my oh my did Sasaki put in some performances, including that incredible victory in Austria despite two Long Lap penalties. The pre-season favourite? Likely for many.

Öncü lands at Ajo

Deniz Öncü wanted so badly to sign off from Tech3 with a first win, but it wasn’t quite to be in Valencia. Now his new adventure is already underway at Red Bull KTM Ajo, and that first win will be a serious target – as will the crown. Multiple podiums and some serious speed mean it won’t be a surprise to see the Turkish rider fighting right at the front from the off.

Leopard field the veterans

Jaume Masia returns to Leopard Racing in 2023, and he’s partnered with Tatsuki Suzuki to make a formidable force. Both have speed, experience and past success, and both will want a lot more of both.

Moreira wants more

Rookie of the Year in 2022, Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) already had some buzz before that as Maverick Viñales picked him as a pre-season favourite. That first podium evaded him but the Brazilian took consistent, considerable points and he’ll want to visit parc ferme on Sunday this season – as often as possible.

Migno & Fenati shoot for glory

Both veterans, both Grand Prix winners, and both very different riders. Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) won a race in 2022 before consistency proved tougher, and he’ll want to show he’s got more in the locker. Romano Fenati, meanwhile, returns to Moto3™ on the other side of the garage… having shown some serious pace last time he raced in the class.

Holgado heads for Tech3

After a rookie season with Ajo, Daniel Holgado moves to Red Bull KTM Tech3 in 2023. Moreira beat him on consistency last season, but Holgado does arrive having already taking his first Grand Prix podium – of which he’ll want many more.

Meet the rookies!

The headline act in the newcomers must be Jose Antonio Rueda, who joins Red Bull KTM Ajo. The first rider to win the title in both JuniorGP™ and Red Bull Rookies in the same season, and in style, the Spaniard arrives from that incredible 2022 with some hype. Fellow Rookies champion – but in 2021 – David Alonso will be another to watch as the Colombian joins the fray full time with GASGAS Aspar. He’s already made a few appearances in Moto3™ but now it’s full time and with eyes on that Rookie of the Year prize.

Some familiar faces from the Red Bull Rookies and the Finetwork FIM JuniorGP™ World Championship join the grid too: Rookies runner up Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Intact GP), JuniorGP™ runner up David Salvador (CIP Green Power), third in JuniorGP™ Filippo Farioli (Red Bull KTM Tech3), and JuniorGP™ race winner and frontrunner Syarifuddin Azman (MT Helmets – MSI). Veijer, however, is a question mark for this particular test, having crashed in Jerez.

Ducati Surpasses 1 Billion Euro In Revenue For The First Time

March 16, 2023

Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali on the Ducati factory floor. Photo courtesy Ducati.