MotoAmerica: Gagne Fastest, Near Race Pace During Testing At Laguna Seca (Updated)

David Swarts

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July 4, 2023

MotoAmerica: Gagne Fastest, Near Race Pace During Testing At Laguna Seca (Updated)

Two-time and defending MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne was the fastest rider during an invitation-only Dunlop test Tuesday morning at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, but more importantly Gagne was close to his 2022 race pace on the freshly repaved circuit.

Riding his Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha YZF-R1, Gagne lapped the 2.2-mile course in 1:24.920 during the short test, which ended at 1:15 p.m. local time.

Gagne’s fastest lap on his way to winning both Superbike races at Laguna Seca in 2022 was a 1:23.443.

That 1.5-second difference is promising considering the new surface is only 22 days old and has only had 1.5 days of activity on it prior to Tuesday.

Other riders at the test were 1.5-2.0 seconds off their fastest race lap times from 2022.

According to Dunlop Tire Technician Tony Romo, all compounds of Sportmax Slicks that were tried were working well once the track temperature reached 40°C and Dunlop is continuing with its plan to supply only R7 and R8 tire compounds for the race weekend.

Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Josh Herrin rode only a few untimed laps on a Ducati Panigale V4 streetbike because he is nursing injuries, including a broken right ankle, he suffered in a crash at Ridge Motorsports Park.

Joe Roberts also did not record a lap time on the temporary timing and scoring system as he was riding what appeared to be a Yamaha YZF-R1 with only basic track preparation.

MotoAmerica is considering scheduling extra unofficial practice sessions for the Superbike and Supersport classes on the afternoon of Thursday, July 6, to help further improve track conditions. Tire stickers will not be required for these sessions, 50 minutes for each class, but plans are still being finalized and will be announced by MotoAmerica via a competitor bulletin.

We will update this post with more details and comments from riders as they become available.

Unofficial Lap Times (all on Dunlop tires):

Jake Gagne (Yam YZF-R1), Superbike, 1:24.920
Cameron Petersen (Yam YZF-R1), Superbike, 1:25.594
Mathew Scholtz (Yam YZF-R1), Superbike, 1:25.804
Richie Escalante (Suz GSX-R1000R), Superbike, 1:25.859
Cameron Beaubier (BMW M 1000 RR), Superbike, 1:25.959
Brandon Paasch (Suz GSX-R1000RR), Superbike, 1:26.418
Bryce Prince (Yam YZF-R1), Stock 1000, 1:27.439
Gabriel Da Silva (Yam YZF-R1), Stock 1000, 1:29.352
Josh Herrin (Duc Panigale V4), streetbike, no time recorded
Joe Roberts (Yam YZF-R1), Stock 1000, no time recorded

Update:

“When it started out, the track was pretty green and we were ripping up tires left and right,” said Beaubier. “At the beginning of the day the R5s were shredding. I tried an R3 on my second session, but it shredded up in two laps. Then the track started coming in. It got quite a bit better. The rear tires were hanging in there pretty decent, then I started shredding the fronts a little bit. We were on softer tires than we’ll be on during the weekend, so it should be good. I’m curious to try the harder options, because I think they will be good for the weekend.”

Social media posts from people who attended the SCCA event at Laguna Seca this past weekend reported that sections of the track’s new surface were “failing,” so we asked Beaubier about the condition of the track.

“They had some paint down here and there just on some of the problem areas that they’re going to patch, I think, before the [MotoAmerica] weekend starts,” the five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion said. “I think they’re going to take care some of those problem areas, but they were all offline for us. There are a couple of bumps and stuff from the cars that were out last weekend, but other than that I’d say it’s in pretty good shape.”

For Paasch, helping assess and put rubber on the track was secondary to his career-first ride on a Superbike.

“I’m pretty happy with how everything went [for my] first day on the Superbike and my first time riding a 1000 in seven or eight months. I’m just excited to be here,” said Paasch, who finished fourth in the 2022 Stock 1000 Championship on an Altus Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R1000R. “Honestly, the Superbike just kind of does everything that I wanted the Stock bike to do [but] just a little easier, so it’s a little bit less physical for me. But, dude, the thing is such a beast! It’s definitely hard to control, but it’s also a little easier to ride at the same time, if that makes any sense. The thing is it’s pretty awesome. I’m loving it and I’m excited to keep riding the thing and keep chipping away at it.”

MotoAmerica: Top Riders Testing For Dunlop Today At Laguna Seca (Updated)

David Swarts

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July 4, 2023

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MotoAmerica: Top Riders Testing For Dunlop Today At Laguna Seca (Updated)

Several top riders are participating in a last-minute test for Dunlop and MotoAmerica today at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, in Monterey, California, ahead of the MotoAmerica event July 7-9 at the newly repaved track.

Riders invited to the test include BPR Tuning Yamaha’s Bryce Prince, Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha’s Jake Gagne and Cameron Petersen, Steel Commander Racing Yamaha’s Gabriel Da Silva, Tytlers Cycle Racing BMW’s Cameron Beaubier, Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante and Brandon Paasch, Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Josh Herrin, and Westby Racing Yamaha’s Mathew Scholtz. Joe Roberts, who rides for the Italtrans Racing team in the Moto2 World Championship, is also expected to ride at the invitation of Dunlop.

Originally, only Prince, a former MotoAmerica Stock 600 Champion and Stock 1000 podium finisher who lives in nearby Bakersfield, was going to ride to gather information for Dunlop because he is a qualified rider and is not a regular on the MotoAmerica series.

When problems arose with the track’s 22-day-old new surface during an SCCA racing event over the weekend, however, more riders were called in on short notice to help gather tire data, put rubber down on the track, and assess the racing surface ahead of the MotoAmerica event.

A maximum of eight riders can be on the track at one time, according to Dunlop and MotoAmerica, which is a stipulation presumed to be due to the track’s insurance coverage.

Filmmaker, TV Producer, Author, Racer Peter Starr, R.I.P.

David Swarts

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July 4, 2023

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Filmmaker, TV Producer, Author, Racer Peter Starr, R.I.P.

Filmmaker, author, racer, motorcycle enthusiast Peter Starr died from cancer at the home of a friend in Colorado on July 3. He was 80.

He is survived by sister Lynn Greer, and nephews Stuart Greer and Richard Greer.

Starr fell in love with motorcycles while still a schoolboy in Coventry, England, where he was born November 2, 1942. He moved to the United States in the 1960s and worked as a radio DJ and record producer, before creating his first film. “Bad Rock” was a documentary about an International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) qualifier in Oregon that was funded by Hodaka and Penzoil, that originally aired on network TV in Los Angeles, and was later distributed all across America.

Starr is most famous for his award-winning motorcycle movie “Take it to the Limit,” which broke ground as the first documentary produced in Dolby Stereo and the first documentary to include current hit songs on its soundtrack. The film also featured several top riders of the day, including Roger De Coster, Mike Hailwood, and Barry Sheene.

Starr produced and directed over 40 TV programs and commercials, many about motorcycling and motorsports, that have been seen on ABC Sports, BBC, ESPN, History Channel, PBS, TNN, and USA Network. During these productions, Starr broke more ground by being the first to mount a film camera to a motorcycle during an AMA National road race at Laguna Seca in 1980 and the first to produce live video from a motorcycle in a race at the AMA Du Quoin Mile in 1985. He also rode motorcycles as a stunt performer in TV commercials and major motion pictures, including “Apollo 13,” “Batman and Robin,” and “Lethal Weapon 3.”

He authored two large-format autobiographical books, “Taking It To The Limit, 20 Years Of Making Motorcycle Movies” and “Motorcycle Traveler,” and has written articles for several motorcycle magazines.

In more recent times, Starr spent time traveling by motorcycle and promoting motorcycling. He also produced MotoStarr, a podcast/YouTube video series interviewing some of the greats of motorcycling.

He was inducted into the Trailblazers Hall of Fame in 2011 and into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2017.

Learn more about Peter Starr on the bio page on his MotoStarr website and from his AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame biography.

MotoAmerica: Paasch Riding Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Superbike

David Swarts

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July 3, 2023

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MotoAmerica: Paasch Riding Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Superbike

BRANDON PAASCH JOINS TEAM HAMMER FOR REMAINDER OF 2023 MOTOAMERICA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP

Team Hammer is pleased to announce that Brandon Paasch will compete for the team aboard a Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R for the remainder of the 2023 MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship, beginning with the event July 7-9 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Despite his youth, at 22, Paasch has a long record of success on a diverse collection of machinery in professional road racing. In 2016, Paasch won the MotoAmerica KTM RC Cup and finished third in the KTM RC Cup World Final. He then spent the majority of the next three seasons racing a Moto3 machine in England and Europe, winning the 2019 British MotoStar Championship.

In 2020, Paasch finished third in the MotoAmerica Supersport Championship with 13 podium finishes. After winning the 2021 Daytona 200, he spent the rest of the year racing for a factory team in British Supersport.

Paasch started 2022 by winning the Daytona 200 for a second straight year, before riding an Altus Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R1000R to six victories and a second in the MotoAmerica Superbike Cup Championship, and to four podium finishes on his way to fourth in the Stock 1000 Championship.

A back injury has kept Paasch from riding in MotoAmerica so far in 2023, but now fully recovered and fresh from a competitive run at the 100^th Loudon Classic, Paasch is ready to take on his new challenge.

“Obviously, I’m super excited and grateful for this opportunity,” said Paasch. “This was a great surprise for me. My goal has always been to get into Superbike, but coming off an injury some may have been skeptical of me. Doing the Loudon Classic allowed me to prove that I’m still the same guy before I got hurt.

“I’ve been working hard every day to return to fitness, probably more than before Daytona, but I also know that I’m playing catch up. I also know I have a bit of a transition ahead of me as far as learning to ride the Superbike, but I’m ready for it. My only goal is to get a little faster and a little more competitive each time I go on track.”

ABOUT TEAM HAMMER

The 2023 season marks Team Hammer’s 43rd consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 129 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 350 times and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport). The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles, and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.

ABOUT VISION WHEEL

Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.

ABOUT SUZUKI

Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automotive Parts, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.

MotoAmerica: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Confirms Event

David Swarts

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July 3, 2023

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MotoAmerica: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Confirms Event

MotoAmerica Superbike SpeedFest Confirmed for July 7-9 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

MONTEREY, Calif., July 3, 2023—Coming this weekend, July 7 – 9, MotoAmerica Superbike SpeedFest will race on the 2.238-mile WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca road course. All participants are excited to have this competitive event running on the newly resurfaced track.

Laguna Seca closed during last weekend’s SCCA club race when an incident occurred on track. No injuries were reported, but given it was the opening day of the resurfaced track and weather was excessively warm, track management canceled the final two days. Granite Construction performed the repairs. All other areas of the track were unharmed.

“After the standard and approved curing time, the track was ready,” said John Narigi, president, and general manager of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. “It’s unfortunate that a track incident occurred on opening day. We are pleased, however, that the subsequent repair meets all safety guidelines.”

The weekend kicks off Friday, July 7 at 8:45 a.m. for the REV’IT! Twins Cup practice. To stay abreast of all the racing action or to purchase tickets, visit MotoAmerica.com or follow WeatherTech Raceway on social media.

AHRMA Announces Classic MotoFest Triple Crown Of Monterey

David Swarts

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July 3, 2023

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AHRMA Announces Classic MotoFest Triple Crown Of Monterey

AHRMA Announces 2023 AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ Triple Crown Award

MONTEREY, Calif., July 3, 2023 – Racers who go fast on pavement and off-road will be honored during the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) Classic MotoFest™ of Monterey..

The multi-discipline event will be held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (WRLS), July 14-16, 2023.

Our MotoFest of Monterey is a celebration of on and off-road motorcycle competition which includes road racing, cross country, trials and motocross offered all at one venue. In addition to the diverse forms of competition, swap meet, bike show and family fun activities, AHRMA is proud to announce the AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ Triple Crown of Monterey.

Devised in the spirit of awarding a title like the illustrious Grand National Champion, The AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ Triple Crown Championship will be presented to the racer that competes and acquires the most points across three of the racing classes offered by AHRMA at WRLS.

To be eligible to contend for the Triple Crown at WRLS, a racer must compete in three different vintage racing classes at the Classic MotoFest. It is mandatory for a participant to race in one or two Road Racing vintage classes on Saturday and round out their total entries to three by choosing from one or two off-road events offered on Saturday and Sunday including Trials, Cross Country and Motocross.

As many of our members like to road race and go bar to bar off-road and vice versa, the AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ of Monterey is a rare chance to compete on and off-road at a national event over the same weekend with bragging rights and a one-of-a-kind Triple Crown Champion Trophy offered up by Toad Town Racing. For questions, please contact Gary Swan at 818-675-5625.

Be sure to make room in your van or trailer for more bikes and register at www.ahrma.org/schedules-results!

About Toad Town Racing

Toad Town Racing, located in San Fernando Valley, CA, specializes in vintage Honda and British motorcycle repair and parts. Owned and run by Gary Swan, the shop offers complete motorcycle servicing including tune-ups, valve jobs, engine rebuilds, and brake jobs. Race engine work includes increasing the cc’s of your engine to your application.

About WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is a world-renowned 2.238-mile traditional road course that was built in 1957 and was known at the time as Laguna Seca Raceway. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is owned by the County of Monterey and operated by A&D Narigi Consulting, LLC.

The 2023 premier event schedule includes the MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest July 7-9, the AHRMA Classic MotoFest™ of Monterey July 14-16, the Monterey Pre-Reunion August 12-13, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion August 16-19, Corkscrew Hillclimb & Community Day August 20, the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey September 8-10 and the Porsche Rennsport Reunion 7 September 28 – October 1.

ABOUT AHRMA

American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving, restoring, and competing on historic motorcycles. With more than 3,000 members, AHRMA is the leading historic motorcycle racing group in North America and one of the largest in the world. The association’s enthusiastic membership reflects this country’s strong interest in classic bikes.

MotoGP: Previews Of The Goodwood Festival Of Speed

David Swarts

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July 3, 2023

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MotoGP: Previews Of The Goodwood Festival Of Speed

GASGAS FACTORY RACING TECH3 TO HIT THE HILL AT GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED

MotoGP™ will rip around one of the largest and most prestigious annual motorsport ‘meets’ from July 13th to 16th with a hefty presence at the ‘Festival of Speed’ near the southern coast of England, and GASGAS have never turned down the chance to get lively with a throttle. For star rider Pol Espargaro the event will mean a ‘reunion’ with the #44 GASGAS RC16.

GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 will join some of their paddock peers to parade up the famous Goodwood hill and meet fans of what is expected to be an attendance well over 200,000 from Thursday to Sunday. Tickets have flown as quickly as the wide 2023 display of cars, bikes and other legendary motorsport icons once did around racetracks across the world.

Augusto Fernandez (37). Photo courtesy GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3.

The 30th running of the Festival of Speed comes only a couple of weeks before MotoGP™ emerges from a summer break with the British Grand Prix at Silverstone – another track as historic as they come – during the first weekend of August. To mark the occasion and for the special celebration of Grand Prix, GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 will run the GASGAS RC16s along the Goodwood climb with Pol Espargaro making his long-awaited return to the saddle on Thursday and Friday and then star rookie, Augusto Fernandez, donning the leathers on Saturday and Sunday.

More, from a press release issued by KTM Factory Racing:

RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING AIM TO ADD MOTOGP™ PACE TO ’23 GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED

The historic and popular Goodwood Festival of Speed, one of the UK’s busiest gatherings of iconic motorsport machinery and heroes, will count on an enlarged MotoGP presence for the 30th edition of the show in mid-July and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will be adding some ‘orange’ to proceedings.

Established in 1993 by the Duke of Richmond at the Goodwood Estate in southern England, the Festival of Speed has developed into an immensely revered annual event where legends of motorsport past and present have lined up to meet fans and also make the famous hill climb run. The 2023 incarnation has almost sold-out across the four days from Thursday 13th July to Sunday 16th.

KTM test rider Mika Kallio (82). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will join the festivities with Mika Kallio throwing his leg over the KTM RC16 on Thursday and Friday and then Brad Binder, currently 4th in the 2023 MotoGP world championship standings, appearing on the bike through Saturday and Sunday.

The appeal of the Festival of Speed means over 200,000 visitors are expected to walk through the doors of the site for the duration. The expanded focus on MotoGP serves as a tantalising appetiser for the British public only three weeks before the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on August 4-6th that will constitute round nine of the season.

MRA: 14th Annual Endurance Race Scheduled July 15 At High Plains Raceway

David Swarts

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July 3, 2023

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MRA: 14th Annual Endurance Race Scheduled July 15 At High Plains Raceway

MRA’s 14th Annual Endurance Race Running At High Plains Raceway July 15th

Byers, CO – The Motorcycle Roadracing Association (MRA) is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated round four of their championship series at High Plains Raceway on July 15th and 16th. This event promises to be a must-attend for motorcycle racing enthusiasts with the 14th Annual 4-hour endurance race taking place on Saturday.

The full weekend schedule includes MRA sprint races on Saturday and Sunday utilizing the full course configuration of HPR. The 4-hour endurance race will start at approximately 3pm on Saturday afternoon. This year, three classes will run simultaneously – True Endurance (one bike, multiple riders), Pony Express (multiple bikes, multiple riders), and Titanium Butt (one bike, one rider). Not only will racers finishing on the podium receive trophies and well-deserved bragging rights, there will also be a cash payout for each class!

Racers can register online for all sprint and endurance events until Monday night, July 10th, by visiting https://www.mra-racing.org/racers/4-hour-endurance-race-information/. We invite racers and fans alike to join us for this thrilling annual event.

The MRA is committed to organizing exciting, competitive, and safe motorcycle racing events for enthusiasts in Colorado and the surrounding areas. For more information about the MRA and its activities, please visit our website at https://www.mra-racing.org/.

WorldSBK: Race Two Results From Donington Park (Updated)

David Swarts

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July 2, 2023

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WorldSBK: Race Two Results From Donington Park (Updated)

Defending Champion Alvaro Bautista won World Superbike Race Two Sunday afternoon at Donington Park, in England. Bautista rode his Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale V4 R to a 2.650-second margin of victory in the 22-lap race. It was the Spaniard’s 12th full-length race victory of the season.

Pata Yamaha Prometeon’s Toprak Razgatlioglu was the runner-up, and Danilo Petrucci got his career-best finish, third, on his Barni Spark Racing Team Ducati.

American Garrett Gerloff got ninth on his Bonovo Action BMW M 1000 RR.

WSBK R2
WSBK points after R2

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Bautista holds off Razgatlioglu for victory, Petrucci celebrates maiden podium in Race 2

Alvaro Bautista (1) leads the field into the first corner at Donington Park. Photo courtesy Dorna.

An action-packed event, WorldSBK Race 2 at Donington Park started with a red flag due to a crash involving Tom Sykes, Michael Ruben Rinaldi, and Loris Baz*.

After the restart, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team) battled fiercely with Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) for the lead. Bautista eventually emerged victorious, securing a second feature race win at Donington Park. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) claimed his maiden WorldSBK podium with a strong third-place finish. Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) achieved his best result of the season, finishing in fourth place after a late fight with Rea and Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), who finished fifth and sixth respectively.

*Sykes was diagnosed with a thoracic injury, rib fractures on his right-hand side and a left ankle injury; he was transported to Queen’s Medical Centre for further assessment. Rinaldi was diagnosed with a mild concussion and a right ankle injury.

Alvaro Bautista (1) celebrates at Donington Park. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Bautista’s dominant performance secured him victory in WorldSBK Race 2, extending his championship lead with 357 points and a comfortable advantage in the standings.

P1 | Alvaro Bautista | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati

“If you had told me before coming here that we were going to finish first – second – first, I wouldn’t have believed it because we usually struggle at this track. Fortunately, my feeling with the bike was amazing, it was just like at the other tracks. In Race 2, the pace was amazing, really fast. Toprak was very strong. I thought that I could be a couple of tenths faster than him and I tried to escape in front, but he knew it, and he tried to not let me leave. But in the end, I was able to get some more tenths and get some advantage. I’m really happy with the feeling with the bike, with the weekend – let’s try to keep this feeling.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu (54) beat everyone except Alvaro Bautista in Race Two. Photo courtesy Dorna.

After battling with Bautista, Toprak Razgatlioglu secured second place in Race 2, bringing his total points in the Championship standings to 264.

Danilo Petrucci got his career-first World Superbike podium. Photo courtesy Dorna.

Danilo Petrucci shined with a strong weekend performance, claiming his maiden WorldSBK podium at Donington Park after an impressive ride.

P3 | Danilo Petrucci | Barni Spark Racing Team

“I’m so happy especially for my team and for myself. Just two rounds ago, in Barcelona, I said ‘this is tougher than I thought’. We did a good job. After the Superpole Race, I wasn’t feeling so good. I was quite far away in the middle part of Race 2 but then I found a really good rhythm. I was really fast in the flowing part but then, in the chicane and hairpin, I was not really good, and this is where you can pass other riders. It was difficult for me. I did not expect to reach my first podium today.”

Scott Redding (45). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Scott Redding showcased his determination by overtaking both Kawasaki riders on his way to securing a fourth-place finish in Race 2, marking his best result of the season so far.

JuniorGP: Report And Race Results From Portimao

David Swarts

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July 2, 2023

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JuniorGP: Report And Race Results From Portimao

Editorial Notes: Canadian Torin Collins, riding his AGR Team KTM, DNS JuniorGP Race One and finished 23rd in Race Two. American Max Toth, riding his MMR Kalex, finished 16th in Moto2 Race One and 13th in Moto2 Race Two. American Kristian Daniel Jr., riding his MRE Talent Honda, finished 26th in the sole European Talent Cup (ETC) race.

The Finetwork FIM JuniorGP™ Championship was back in action in Algarve

The Finetwork FIM JuniorGP™ Championship was back in action on Sunday, with the Algarve International Circuit playing host to Round 4 of the campaign. In the JuniorGP™ class, Xabier Zurutuza (MTA Junior Team) and Joel Esteban (Aspar Junior Team) put in outstanding rides to take the wins on offer, while it was Portimao perfection for Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP Junior Team) who did the double in the Moto2™ European Championship..

Dodo Boggio (Aspar Junior Team) and Daniel Muñoz (SP57 Racing Team) clocked memorable victories in the south of Portugal, as they stood on the top step in the European Talent Cup and Stock European Championship races respectively.

The opening race of the day saw JuniorGP™ notch up a century of winners in fine fashion, with Xabier Zurutuza pulling off a miracle ride to take a last gasp victory. The MTA Junior Rider overcame a back of the grid penalty, which saw him launch 24th, and a Long Lap penalty, to edge out Tatchakorn Buasri (Honda Racing Thailand) at the final corner. Luca Lunetta (AC Racing Team) also overcame pre-race problems to get himself among the podium places having had to start further down the grid despite qualifying on pole.

In the second race of the day, Joel Esteban put in a showstopping performance to take victory. The Aspar Junior Team rider recovered from a Turn 1 error to reel in Angel Piqueras (Estrella Galicia 0,0) and David Almansa (Finetwork Mir Racing Team) who had a 1.5s advantage out front. Having caught up with the two front runners, Esteban produced a sensational final lap to bat off the advance of Piqueras, who claimed second, while Almansa claimed his second podium of the campaign.

In the opening Moto2™ European Championship race, Senna Agius bounced back from his Jerez blip in style, taking a comfortable win in Portimao with an 11.788s advantage, extending the Australian’s lead atop the standing. Alberto Surra (Team Ciatti – Boscoscuro) conquered the Long Lap penalty loop to claim a maiden podium of the campaign in P2, holding off a hard charging Xavi Cardelus (Promoracing) on the line with the Andorran securing his second podium of the year.

There was also major disappointment for title contender Carlos Tatay (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) who crashed out of the contest in the opening stages, and after a visit to the medical centre, he was ruled out of Race 2.

That left the door open for Agius to extend his title advantage, something which he did emphatically with the young Australian having the perfect day in Portimao and doing the double. Xavi Cardelus went one better in the afternoon for his second rostrum of the day, coming home in second while Roberto Garcia (Cardoso – Fantic Racing) debuted on the box in the south of Portugal.

Portimao held just one European Talent Cup race on Sunday, but there was more than enough drama to keep fans happy. Dodo Boggio took the win in sensational fashion, profiting from Aspar teammate Maximo Quiles’ last lap crash to steal the win on the final corner. Having experienced a barren podium run in 2023 to date, including for P4 finishes in a row, the Italian was back on the top step, while Casey O’Gorman (SuperHugo44 Team), who came from 30th on the grid, and reigning Champion Guido Pini (AC Racing Team) joined him on the box. The late drama also ensured the absent Brian Uriarte didn’t lose any ground in the title race, with the Spaniard still trailing Quiles by a solitary point, with a Catalunya double awaiting in just a couple weeks time.

Rounding out the day’s action was the Stock ECh race, and it proved a Muñoz masterclass. The Championship leader romped home without any other rider managing to lay a glove on him. Eric Fernandez (FAU55 TEY Racing), Muñoz’ main opposition in the title fight, started at the back of the grid but wasted little to no time in scything his way through the pack, and he came home second in what proved a successful exercise in damage control. The fight for the final podium place went down to the wire, but Marco Garcia (EasyRace Team) held off the threat of Archie McDonald (MRE Talent) and Alex Millan (Fifty Motorsport) on the line to take his second top three of the year.

That’s a wrap then from the Algarve, and the next installment of the Finetwork FIM JuniorGP™ Championship isn’t far away, with Catalunya calling on July 16th!
You can also find all the results, videos, photos and information regarding the championship on the official website: www.fimjuniorgp.com

JuniorGP R1
JuniorGP R2
Moto2 R1
Moto2 R2
ETC Race
Stock Race

MotoAmerica: Gagne Fastest, Near Race Pace During Testing At Laguna Seca (Updated)

July 4, 2023

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Photo courtesy WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. — WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, as seen in 2021. Photo courtesy WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.