Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Pedro Acosta led Moto2 Free Practice Two (FP2) in the heat of the afternoon Friday at Jerez, in Spain.
Americans Sean Dylan Kelly and Joe Roberts were 25th and 27th, respectively, in the session.
Moto2 FP2
Spaniard Jaume Masia, riding his Leopard Racing Honda, finished on top in Moto3 Free Practice Two (FP2) Friday afternoon at Circuit de Jerez – Angel Nieto.
Moto3 FP2
Former racer-turned-test-rider Dani Pedrosa, riding a Red Bull KTM RC16 as a wild card, was quickest in MotoGP Free Practice One (FP1) Friday at Jerez.
MotoGP FP1
British racer Sam Lowes, riding his Elf Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex, was under the Race Lap Record during Moto2 Free Practice One (FP1) Friday at Jerez.
Lowes did a lap time of 1:41.170, which was quicker than the Race Lap Record of 1:41.313.
Americans Joe Roberts and Sean Dylan Kelly were 12th and 26th, respectively, in the session.
Moto2 FP1
Turkish racer Deniz Öncü, riding his Red Bull KTM Ajo machine, topped Moto3 Free Practice One (FP1), Friday morning at Jerez, in Spain.
Moto3 FP1
Kawasaki Celebrates Powersports Pioneer in the U.S.
Foothill Ranch, CA (April 27, 2023) – Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. is saddened to share the news that former Kawasaki executive Yoji “George” Hamawaki passed away on April 18, 2023. Mr. Hamawaki established the Kawasaki brand in the United States, brought Kawasaki production to America and helped shape models for the US marketplace including the iconic Kawasaki H2 and Z1.
In 1966, Mr. Hamawaki established American Kawasaki Motors Corp. and began working closely with Alan Masek to develop the Kawasaki dealer network across America with comprehensive policies, advertising materials and service training. While building the dealership and sales network, Hamawaki and Masek also studied the consumer needs and model features and communicated that information back to Japan. That feedback was instrumental in Kawasaki launching the 1969 Kawasaki H1 and later, the iconic “New York Steak” 1973 Kawasaki Z1 900, which solidified Kawasaki as a superbike brand not only in America, but across the globe.
To further differentiate the Kawasaki brand from its competition, Mr. Hamawaki worked closely with his American team including Masek and Paul Collins to increase the brand’s marketing, promotion, and advertising. Kawasaki debuted the “Let the Good Times Roll®” advertising campaign and tagline, a theme that remains integral to the DNA of the Kawasaki brand.
In addition to establishing the Kawasaki brand to the U.S. customer, Mr. Hamawaki also established Kawasaki as the first Japanese manufacturer to bring an assembly plant to the United States creating Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing (KMM) in Lincoln, Nebraska. Kawasaki became the first foreign motor vehicle manufacturing/assembly factory on U.S. soil with leading production and factory standards, low turnover and competitive wage rates. KMM began with production of the Kawasaki KZ400, Z1 and Jet Ski. KMM remains one of the largest private employers in Lincoln, Nebraska today.
Mr. Hamawaki was the foundation for the Kawasaki brand we know today, having pioneered the brand as the Good Times Company. Mr. Hamawaki departed Kawasaki in 1978 and went on to become President of BMW Japan, President of Japan’s Digital Equipment Company and was inducted into the Japan Automotive Hall of Fame.
“The atmosphere is fantastic!”: Thursday talking points in Jerez
Hear from Bezzecchi, Bagnaia, Rins, Viñales, Marini, Quartararo, Alex Marquez, Martin and… Bastianini!
Thursday, 27 April 2023
We are BACK! Jerez hosts as we gear up for the Gran Premio MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn de España, and three press conferences kicked us off on Thursday. The first comprised Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol), the second Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), and the third Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) and the returning Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team). Here are some key quotes!
How important were the two top 6s in COTA?
MARCO BEZZECCHI: “Yeah, as you said Texas for me was not easy. I had some issues on Friday and then I was outside of qualifying two, so I had to pass through qualifying one. But anyway, I was able to recover in a normal way and bring home a decent race. Of course, it wasn’t the best, but it also wasn’t the worst, I hope. In the end I got some points, even if I was struggling, so it was important to make it better than last year in Texas, which is what I needed, so it was OK.”
Do you expect do be as strong here as you were in Portimao and Termas?
“Well, honestly I don’t know what to expect. It’s a track that I really like and it’s a fantastic track. All the atmosphere and the weather are fantastic as well, so I’m really looking forward to riding the Ducati here and also with this new bike. I’ve never tried it at this track so now I can do it. I’ve studied a lot, I’ve studied Pecco’s lap from last year, but also every Ducati rider as well, so I can’t wait.”
These are special times for the team…
“Yeah, the team is really working well. The atmosphere in the team is fantastic. We also eat very well because our hospitality guys are fantastic as well. So yeah, everything’s nice at the moment. My crew personally is really putting a lot of effort into what they’re doing, but also Vale from home and also all the other VR46 Academy guys. So yeah, we are now in a positive trend and we hope to continue like this and continue to fight for some more races!”
Do you have a clear understanding of what caused the crash?
FRANCESCO BAGNAIA: “Sincerely I think not just the Saturday but all weekend in terms of performance it was one of my best in MotoGP. We were so competitive, we were going very very fast in the Sprint and in the race on the Sunday. I think after seeing the data and checking everything, I think I maybe underestimated the conditions at Turn 2 because it was a corner where all weekend I was faster than all the Ducatis, and I followed doing the fastest there in the race and maybe it wasn’t the conditions. But I want to remain with the positives, I think we were so competitive so I think for the race we were there fighting again like Saturday, but that’s it. We have to take the positives and remain at the same level this weekend, it’s one of my favourite races, favourite weekends, favourite tracks, so I’m confident and happy to start a new weekend.”
Where do you think the new bike will be strong in Jerez?
“In terms of handling this track is one of the more technical, you have to be very precise and the new bike is a bit better on handling. We have three strong brake points where you have to be very competitive and it’s a point where I think we can be strong, but let’s see. Every year the conditions are changing and it looks like it will be very very hot like 2020. So let’s see.”
What are Ducati bringing to the test?
“Sincerely we don’t have many things to try because the season started one month, two months ago. It’s something where we can improve the feeling on the bike but nothing too big.”
How do you assess your start to 2023?
ALEX RINS: “Well for sure, as you mention, more than the race, we had a very good weekend. Starting on Friday, going direct to Q2 then in QP, for some moments I had pole and then Pecco arrived. Starting second, we finished second in the Sprint, and then in the race it was unbelievable, when I was trying to follow Pecco, and when he crashed, I was never in that position with the Honda. That lap I did some small mistakes but then I was trying to focus on myself and my way. The pace was super nice, and super-fast and I was able to get the victory. For this GP, we haven’t made any bet yet with the team members, but you know, here we start from zero. It’s my first time with Honda here. It’s a track, as Marco mentioned, that many riders like. It’s quite different to the previous tracks. This is quite small, less wide than COTA for example. We will try to be at the maximum as always starting from Friday and we will try to go to Q2 and then let’s see what we can do!”
What are the expectations in Jerez?
“We got the victory in Texas but the target is the same. We need to improve the bike. We need to find a good base and try to be close to the top guys. There two with the Ducati are going super-fast. So, the target, whether winning in COTA or finishing ninth in Argentina, is the same.”
Is there a change of status after a win?
“Maybe yes, maybe no. Every time I jump on the bike I give my best. Every time I go back to the box I try to be clear, to give them my experience to improve the bike. If they want me to test something, I’ll test it. I want to improve the bike. This morning my crew chief told me they’ll give me the chassis to try that Joan is using for this race, but with the schedule, we don’t have too much time to test. I prefer to stay focused this GP with the two bikes at the same level, same chassis and everything, and on Monday we will test.”
Is there more to come?
MAVERICK VIÑALES: “Yes, the feeling is that we have a good speed. Still we have to improve in a few areas. There are a few points where we will suffer here in Jerez. As last year it was easier, we had the tests and we had time to work on it, but this year we have a tight Grand Prix schedule. But yes, somehow I feel the potential is really high. Every time I feel like I have more speed and I feel better on the bike. Austin, on paper, wasn’t the best track for Aprilia. But yeah, I rode as fast as the front guys and I feel like we could have achieved better in Austin. We missed the start on the two starts and I let some points slip. But I feel like we could have done a good result and we could have been on the podium, especially on Sunday. So it’s a matter of putting everything together. I feel really ready, I feel motivated, I feel as happy as ever and honestly I want to start the weekend because I know if we do well, we’re going to be able to fight for the victory. So qualifying is something that we always try to be very concentrated on but it’s an important thing that we are improving on. I had bad luck in Austin when I had the yellow flag because we could have gotten onto the front row, but overall I think everything is very positive. I feel every time I can push more and more. So yeah I want to start pushing here a little bit more.”
Is there anything you’re going to try differently on the starts?
“Yes, somehow we need to find the thing we need to improve which is the bite on the clutch. The way I was always used to starting was in a different way, so we are working more. But it’s clear that as a manufacturer we are not the best for starts, so it’s something that we must improve. For me, honestly, it’s a shame because I always feel like I have an amazing potential, especially in Portimao I started in the front, I did my own race, and I was closing the gap to Pecco at the end, so somehow I feel if we can make clear that point, our objectives can be the ones we are fighting for, so we must push for that.”
How do you think the weekend will pan out?
“Yeah, the chances are there and they’re high. I must have a good weekend. I think this is one of the tracks where the bike works in a good way and I feel like we have a good potential. Last year I was struggling but the lap times were really good, so this year now that I come here with a lot of motivation and a different feeling with the bike, and especially the team has changed quite a lot. I think we have a lot of possibilities to have a fantastic weekend.”
Must be really satisfied after the start to the season?
LUCA MARINI: “Yeah exactly it’s like this. I have now very good memories from Austin which I’ve never had good results there but now it’s the past and I need to focus on this race. I think this race will be even more difficult because everyone is really strong here, every manufacturer has done a lot of tests here and has a lot of data, so it won’t be easy. For sure the qualifying is the key to have two good races here.
Studying other riders: have you learnt from Rossi or is it natural?
“I think everybody more or less does the same thing. You want to watch the best rider in that moment, looking at the data if it’s the same manufacturer and you try to improve what you did. So it’s just something natural, Alex is really strong in Austin and I would like to understand where he can make the difference with two different manufacturers.”
Will you have anything to test in Jerez?
“Nothing!”
Is that a worry?
“No, I’m just focused on myself and what I can do with my team. I think that it will be a very important weekend, if the weekend isn’t so good it will be bad, maybe my lap time is bad or my pace in the race isn’t strong we can work a little bit, but if everything is good as in the past races I think on Monday we don’t have to ride so much!”
On having Valentino Rossi in the paddock:
“It’s amazing, fantastic to have him here. I hope he can give me some good advice!”
Was it the perfect time for a podium?
FABIO QUARTARARO: “Well yeah, we had great pace in Austin. Of course, the podium felt great but the goa lis to be up there for many more races and this is a good place to do it so let’s see how it’s going.
You have a great record here. It suits the Yamaha, or do you really like it?
“Both. We do many laps on the track, a track I really like. I’ve always been fast…in Moto3™, in Moto2™, well I’ve never been fast at all tracks but in MotoGP™ I’ve always been fast. It’s been to be great, we just need to focus and be clear about… and set our target in qualifying because this year has been pretty tough.”
What’s the importance of the test and any new toys to bring?
“Basically, I’ve heard nothing big about the problem. We know where it is but we cannot sort it for this year so…. We will have some items, but nothing crazy.
“To be honest I don’t know. I report clearly after all three race where is the problem, where we can improve, considering we can’t touch the engine. It’s up to them to find the solution and find me something in this area especially at tracks like Austin.”
Is it acceleration?
“It’s many things, not just acceleration. We cannot use the power because we have wheelie and this is the main problem right now and we have to fix it but we can’t put wings because on the straights we are not that fast, so we can’t put bigger wings. In the end, it’s one problem that brings many more.”
Fitness update:
ALEX MARQUEZ: “Yeah, we were really unlucky, unfortunately at the weekend in Austin with the Sprint race and later in the big race. We lost a really great opportunity to have my first win in MotoGP. But anyway, I think the potential that we showed during the weekend was really good. You know, the crash was really, at one point I was going towards the wall between both bikes and I was really scared. But I’m quite OK, I just have a small fracture on my muscle, on the external muscle, and a little bit in the ligaments, but in the end I’m quite fine. I’m not 100%. I’m about 95% I would say, but we are here to again keep our progression going because we’re coming quite good after Austin.”
Do you expect to be battling for the podium?
“Yeah, I mean, for sure we will try. It’s true that we are coming to a track that’s really different compared to Argentina and compared to Austin, but we’ve come back to Europe and now the tracks and the layouts will be really different compared to them too. We need to keep going on like we have done, we are in a better position than how I expected to start the season, unfortunately like you said, we have two DNFs in Austin and so it’s really important to achieve points and go up in the championship. But anyway, we need to keep going. I’m really happy about how I’m feeling on the bike and with the team and we will try to do our best things step by step.”
How special would it be to get your first MotoGP™ win here in Jerez?
“Yeah, I mean for sure it’s a dream for all the Spanish riders. It’s a dream to win here in MotoGP. I had the opportunity to win my first Moto2 race here in Jerez and it was really special so i can’t imagine how it would be to win the MotoGP one. But it’s not our targer we need honestly more to arrive and be able to come and fight for a win in normal conditions. It’s true that in Austin we were not really far compared to Pecco, who was the maximum opponent for us, he was really fast and really consistent. But anyway, I think as we said, we start again here and everyone starts from zero so we need to keep the mentality cold to achieve points for the championship.”
How much you looking forward to Jerez?
JORGE MARTIN: “First of all I’m happy to see Enea back after his injury because I know it’s never easy to have an injury and to see Alex is ok. About the season it’s been a rollercoaster but it’s been like this in all the races. I had a good opportunity in Austin on Sunday, I felt super strong, I had a good start and then I made this big mistake but anyway I feel we are strong, we have a good package and I am fast. This is the main thing, now the important thing is to put everything together and finish races.
Expect the Sprint to be a crazy fight?
“Let’s see. It will be important to understand which tyre to use in the Sprint, I remember last year here with the soft you couldn’t do a lot of laps so maybe it’s the first time we can use the medium, it’s important to understand well. Depending on the tyre, depends on the type of race but I think we will all push a lot, and yeah it will be a fast race for sure.”
Areas to work on in testing?
“It will be a difficult test, we don’t have a lot of things to try so that’s why it will be difficult, you need to try things but not lose the way. I think we need to find a bit of rear grip, this is the main thing, but the rest I’m quite happy and I don’t need to change the bike a lot.”
How is the shoulder?
ENEA BASTIANINI: “I’m very happy to be here again. It’s difficult to watch the Grands Prix from home but now it’s better. On Monday I tried to get back on the bike with the Panigale, the feeling was quite good. I know the situation, I’m not 100% but it’s important for me to get the confidence with the bike again and try to bring up some points, no? I’m not here to win this event, but I have to try 100% and will be important to gain my confidence back. That is my idea for this weekend!”
How long will it take to get up to speed?
“Depends on the shoulder recovery. I want to arrive at Mugello at 99%, this is possible. From that race, my Championship starts. Right now, I’m not in a situation to be strongest for all the race distance but maybe in Mugello I can be ok.”
Thoughts on 2023 so far?
“It’s very strange the first part of the Championship. Strange situation and this new format is different and for some riders it can be a bit strange. I saw Pecco is competitive but made some mistakes. I saw Alex is very fast, but he crashed with Jorge in the last one. Marco Bezzecchi is also really fast and won his first Grand Prix and is quite consistent and this is important for the Championship. But there is a long list, all the MotoGP riders are fast! Let’s see how it is at the halfway point of the season.”
Medallia Returns With MotoAmerica Superbike Championship Title Sponsorship
Global Leader In Customer And Employee Experience Ready For Third Year As Series Partner, Second Year As Superbike Title Sponsor
IRVINE, CA (April 27, 2023) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is pleased to announce that Medallia, a global leader in customer and employee experience, will be a series partner of MotoAmerica for a third season while also continuing its title sponsorship of the 2023 MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship for a second season.
Medallia is the pioneer and market leader in customer, employee, citizen, and patient experience. The company’s award-winning SaaS platform, Medallia Experience Cloud, is becoming the experience system of record that makes all other applications customer and employee aware. The platform captures billions of experience signals across interactions including all voice, video, digital, IoT, social media and corporate messaging tools. Medallia uses proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning technology to automatically reveal predictive insights that drive powerful business actions and outcomes.
Medallia came onboard as a sponsor of the MotoAmerica Championship round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in July of 2021. That sponsorship went to the next level a month later when Medallia became the official feedback partner of the championship for the remainder of the 2021 MotoAmerica series. In 2022, Medallia stepped up again to be the title sponsor of the Medallia Superbike Series.
“We greatly value our relationship with Medallia and welcome them back for 2023,” said MotoAmerica COO Chuck Aksland. “Utilizing the Customer Feedback tools and expertise that Medallia has available to us helps us analyze how to bring a better MotoAmerica experience to our fans, sponsors, and competitors. It’s a resource we greatly appreciate along with the continued support of the Medallia Superbike class.”
“We are proud to return as the title sponsor for the MotoAmerica Superbike series for the second full season,” said Tim Duranleau, Medallia’s Senior Vice President of Marketing. “At Medallia we are all about providing the fastest insights, fastest action, and fastest ROI for our customers. With MotoAmerica’s focus on elevating fan experience, this partnership has proven to be a differentiator in creating world-class experiences.”
The next round of the 2023 MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship will be held at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, May 19-21.
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube.
“It’s A Big Year For Me…”
By Michael Gougis
Sean Dylan Kelly knows he has to step it up. His career is on the line. “It’s a big year for me. It’s my second year in Moto2, and as of right now I only have a contract until the end of this season. What the future holds for me depends on how I do this year,” Kelly, 20, said in an interview with Roadracing World in Portugal at the 2023 Grand Prix season opener.
Kelly got his first taste of the Moto2 World Championship in 2019, running as a wildcard with the new American Racing Team at the season-ending race in Valencia. He went back to the United States, won the MotoAmerica Superstock Championship, then returned to Europe to race full-time in one of the most competitive classes in the world.
So far the results have not been what Kelly wanted–his best finish so far was 11th place at a rain-lashed Thailand Grand Prix last year. He knew that in 2022, the learning curve would be steep. And there were unexpected challenges, difficulties he never had faced in his career. This year, he says, he knows he has to put it all together and get the finishes he wants.
“Last year was a very, very tough season,” Kelly says. “On the technical side, a Moto2 bike is a different story. It does not compare to what I was riding. I definitely had some troubles getting to understand this bike. It’s a GP chassis–it’s so stiff, so rigid. And at the beginning of the season I had some crashes that really knocked my confidence. I felt like I was in a bit of a hole that I struggled to get out of. I struggled to get the most out of myself.
“I had other riders hit me off the track. I got injured. It was the first time I’d had to ride with a broken bone. I broke my foot and I raced just 10 days after. And last year was my first year away from home without my family. When you’re born and raised with family, this goes a long way. Being here was the first time I was living on my own. Just a bunch of situations, but they added up. I feel like getting through all of that made me stronger. I digested all of that during the off-season, and I feel like I’ve had the best off-season I’ve ever had.”
Kelly has made some changes for 2023. He’s living in Spain full-time with his girlfriend, American racer Max Toth, and former racer-turned-cinematographer Gray Pham. He has a new crew chief and a new mechanic. And after struggling with arm pump at the 2022 Malaysian Grand Prix, Kelly underwent surgery to relieve the condition a week after the season-ender in Valencia.
“(Malaysia) was really bad for me–I almost didn’t finish that race. After that, I was like, ‘I don’t want to continue this way.’ I had the surgery a week after Valencia. It was nice–I was able to get through the off-season just going through my recovery in the right way, and I was able to train hard,” Kelly says.
Kelly went into the opening round of the 2023 season fully fit and feeling better on the Kalex/Triumph Moto2 machine than he ever had.
“We had five days of testing, and I feel like we did a really solid job building a good, structured way of working. I feel a lot better on the bike. I have more understanding of it, and I have more confidence. I feel like every time out–the gap is close. I think it puts me in a good spot. I’m riding more naturally. The more natural I feel on the bike, the more I can show what I can do with the bike,” he says.
“I’m strongest on the brakes. They are actually telling me to take a chill pill on the brakes and focus more on the gas. I think the biggest thing with this bike is getting an understanding of the front tire. I think that’s why we see so many crashes in Moto2–it’s definitely difficult. You can carry so much grip and so much momentum, but sometimes it just does not talk to you. You know it’s there until it isn’t. And I think to get past that is tough. A Supersport bike, talks to you a lot more. This is completely different. To get that trust is extremely important, but you almost never have that full trust.”
Being out of contract at the end of the season focuses a rider’s attention, but for Kelly, it goes beyond wanting to secure his next ride. “Last year there were a lot of new things on the plate. Going into this season, there’s so much more that I know, that I feel I’ll be able to put together,” Kelly says. “I really do feel that there’s so much that I learned on so many levels. I learned a lot on the personal level. I learned a lot on the technical level. I learned things on the business side, working with the team.
“I want to be at the front. I want to be fighting at the front. I don’t know how soon I’ll be able to fight for a podium, but I want to be up front. I didn’t come here for anything less than that. I feel like I still have more to show.”
Introducing: MotoGP™ Guru!
It’s the fans for the win in 2023, so says the MotoGP™ Guru
As the biggest season of MotoGP™ ever gets in gear, a whole new fan experience just landed: MotoGP™ Guru. MotoGP™ Guru is a game giving fans the chance to predict who they think will prevail in 11 different events over a race weekend, ranging from P1 in Practice 1 to the podium positions in the race. Correct answers score points, and those with the most points ascend the leaderboard each weekend – and throughout the season. MotoGP™ Guru began to roll out at the season opening Grande Premio Tissot de Portugal, and is now available at www.motogpguru.com.
Accompanying the platform is a new weekly video series, Guru Speak. Nick Harris, a legendary voice of MotoGP™, is the host of Guru Speak, while the co-host is none other than Jorge Lorenzo, the outspoken five-time World Champion and an undisputed Guru of the sport. Together, Nick and Jorge welcome guest Gurus to the show each week as they cast and discuss their predictions for the weekend’s sessions. The show will feature on motogp.com on Thursday’s before each race weekend, and on motogpguru.com.
A foundational feature of MotoGP™ Guru is the league creation tool, which enables fans to create and invite their friends to a league where they can compete each race weekend to see who amongst them is the MotoGP™ Guru. In the paddock Private Leagues amongst the riders themselves, teams and sponsors create a fascinating look inside the thinking of those closest to the sport.
Prizes for fans are a cornerstone of MotoGP™ Guru and for the first time ever, one lucky winner will take home the Gresini Racing 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 R, which was used in 2022 by now factory Ducati Lenovo Team rider, Enea Bastianini. This amazing prize will be delivered at the end of the season to a random fan who creates a MotoGP Guru account and shares their predictions for the win.
At every Grand Prix, those in attendance at the track will also have the chance to win the MotoGP™ Guru Paddock Experience with Gresini Racing MotoGP™ and the MotoGP™ Guru team. They will be notified by text and email after completing their MotoGP™ Guru account and sharing who they’ve predicted for victory. 12 lucky winners each weekend will enjoy a day of hospitality with Gresini, meet the riders, visit the box, receive an exclusive bag of merch and be hosted in the paddock for an unforgettable day with the Gurus of MotoGP™ racing.
As if that isn’t enough awesomeness, MotoGP™ Guru also offers fans the chance to win some team and rider merchandise every weekend. Furthermore, fans who share their predictions For The Win on social media also have the chance to be plucked from the crowd by the MotoGP™ Guru to win some incredible prizes, become part of the show and join the illustrious list of Gurus.
The team behind MotoGP™ Guru may be familiar: Animoca Brands and Gryfyn sponsored last year’s Grands Prix in San Marino, Aragon and Phillip Island, and this year they continue their support of MotoGP™ with the sponsorship of the Spanish and Australian Grands Prix.
Their presence in the paddock also includes sponsorship of Gresini Racing MotoGP™ and riders such as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder. Animoca Brands also publishes the incredibly popular MotoGP™ game MotoGP™ Championship Quest, available on the App Store and Google Play, as well as MotoGP™ Ignition. MotoGP™ Ignition Manager, a new fantasy sports game where you manage the race team, is also coming soon.
As part of Animoca Brands’ REVV Motorsport ecosystem, these MotoGP™ experiences enjoy the benefits of collaboration and expertise across multiple motorsports and entertainment brands, contributing to and sharing in the growth of the REVV token, available on most crypto exchanges worldwide.2023: the year of the Guru! Head to www.motogpguru.com now and get involved!
About Animoca Brands
Animoca Brands, a Deloitte Tech Fast winner and ranked in the Financial Times list of High Growth Companies Asia-Pacific 2023, is a leader in digital entertainment, blockchain, and gamification that is working to advance digital property rights and contribute to the establishment of the open metaverse. The company develops and publishes a broad portfolio of products including the REVV token and SAND token; original games including The Sandbox, Crazy Kings, and Crazy Defense Heroes; and products utilizing popular intellectual properties including Disney, WWE, Snoop Dogg, The Walking Dead, Power Rangers, MotoGP™, and Formula E. It has multiple subsidiaries, including The Sandbox, Blowfish Studios, Quidd, GAMEE, nWay, Pixowl, Forj, Lympo, Animoca Brands Japan, Grease Monkey Games, Eden Games, Darewise Entertainment, Notre Game, TinyTap, Be Media, PIXELYNX, and WePlay Media. Animoca Brands has a growing portfolio of more than 380 Web3 investments, including Colossal, Axie Infinity, OpenSea, Dapper Labs (NBA Top Shot), Yield Guild Games, Harmony, Alien Worlds, Star Atlas, and others. For more information visit www.animocabrands.com or follow on Twitter or Facebook.
About Gryfyn
Gryfyn is a joint venture between Animoca Brands and Hex Trust to provide a custodial crypto wallet that allows anyone anywhere to easily and safely access digital experiences, own and handle digital assets, and connect with their favorite brands. Hex Trust provides its fully licensed bank-grade security and custody infrastructure to connect seamlessly to the rapidly expanding Web3 ecosystem. Gryfyn offers a secure, reliable and stress-free environment to store, interact with, and acquire digital assets. People around the world use Gryfyn as a digital passport to engage with events, entertainment, and each other. For more information, visit gryfyn.io.
Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Pedro Acosta led Moto2 Free Practice Two (FP2) in the heat of the afternoon Friday at Jerez, in Spain.
Americans Sean Dylan Kelly and Joe Roberts were 25th and 27th, respectively, in the session.
Moto2 FP2
Spaniard Jaume Masia, riding his Leopard Racing Honda, finished on top in Moto3 Free Practice Two (FP2) Friday afternoon at Circuit de Jerez – Angel Nieto.
Moto3 FP2
Former racer-turned-test-rider Dani Pedrosa, riding a Red Bull KTM RC16 as a wild card, was quickest in MotoGP Free Practice One (FP1) Friday at Jerez.
MotoGP FP1
British racer Sam Lowes, riding his Elf Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex, was under the Race Lap Record during Moto2 Free Practice One (FP1) Friday at Jerez.
Lowes did a lap time of 1:41.170, which was quicker than the Race Lap Record of 1:41.313.
Americans Joe Roberts and Sean Dylan Kelly were 12th and 26th, respectively, in the session.
Moto2 FP1
Turkish racer Deniz Öncü, riding his Red Bull KTM Ajo machine, topped Moto3 Free Practice One (FP1), Friday morning at Jerez, in Spain.
Moto3 FP1
Kawasaki Celebrates Powersports Pioneer in the U.S.
Foothill Ranch, CA (April 27, 2023) – Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. is saddened to share the news that former Kawasaki executive Yoji “George” Hamawaki passed away on April 18, 2023. Mr. Hamawaki established the Kawasaki brand in the United States, brought Kawasaki production to America and helped shape models for the US marketplace including the iconic Kawasaki H2 and Z1.
In 1966, Mr. Hamawaki established American Kawasaki Motors Corp. and began working closely with Alan Masek to develop the Kawasaki dealer network across America with comprehensive policies, advertising materials and service training. While building the dealership and sales network, Hamawaki and Masek also studied the consumer needs and model features and communicated that information back to Japan. That feedback was instrumental in Kawasaki launching the 1969 Kawasaki H1 and later, the iconic “New York Steak” 1973 Kawasaki Z1 900, which solidified Kawasaki as a superbike brand not only in America, but across the globe.
To further differentiate the Kawasaki brand from its competition, Mr. Hamawaki worked closely with his American team including Masek and Paul Collins to increase the brand’s marketing, promotion, and advertising. Kawasaki debuted the “Let the Good Times Roll®” advertising campaign and tagline, a theme that remains integral to the DNA of the Kawasaki brand.
In addition to establishing the Kawasaki brand to the U.S. customer, Mr. Hamawaki also established Kawasaki as the first Japanese manufacturer to bring an assembly plant to the United States creating Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing (KMM) in Lincoln, Nebraska. Kawasaki became the first foreign motor vehicle manufacturing/assembly factory on U.S. soil with leading production and factory standards, low turnover and competitive wage rates. KMM began with production of the Kawasaki KZ400, Z1 and Jet Ski. KMM remains one of the largest private employers in Lincoln, Nebraska today.
Mr. Hamawaki was the foundation for the Kawasaki brand we know today, having pioneered the brand as the Good Times Company. Mr. Hamawaki departed Kawasaki in 1978 and went on to become President of BMW Japan, President of Japan’s Digital Equipment Company and was inducted into the Japan Automotive Hall of Fame.
“The atmosphere is fantastic!”: Thursday talking points in Jerez
Hear from Bezzecchi, Bagnaia, Rins, Viñales, Marini, Quartararo, Alex Marquez, Martin and… Bastianini!
Thursday, 27 April 2023
We are BACK! Jerez hosts as we gear up for the Gran Premio MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn de España, and three press conferences kicked us off on Thursday. The first comprised Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol), the second Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), and the third Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) and the returning Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team). Here are some key quotes!
How important were the two top 6s in COTA?
MARCO BEZZECCHI: “Yeah, as you said Texas for me was not easy. I had some issues on Friday and then I was outside of qualifying two, so I had to pass through qualifying one. But anyway, I was able to recover in a normal way and bring home a decent race. Of course, it wasn’t the best, but it also wasn’t the worst, I hope. In the end I got some points, even if I was struggling, so it was important to make it better than last year in Texas, which is what I needed, so it was OK.”
Do you expect do be as strong here as you were in Portimao and Termas?
“Well, honestly I don’t know what to expect. It’s a track that I really like and it’s a fantastic track. All the atmosphere and the weather are fantastic as well, so I’m really looking forward to riding the Ducati here and also with this new bike. I’ve never tried it at this track so now I can do it. I’ve studied a lot, I’ve studied Pecco’s lap from last year, but also every Ducati rider as well, so I can’t wait.”
These are special times for the team…
“Yeah, the team is really working well. The atmosphere in the team is fantastic. We also eat very well because our hospitality guys are fantastic as well. So yeah, everything’s nice at the moment. My crew personally is really putting a lot of effort into what they’re doing, but also Vale from home and also all the other VR46 Academy guys. So yeah, we are now in a positive trend and we hope to continue like this and continue to fight for some more races!”
Do you have a clear understanding of what caused the crash?
FRANCESCO BAGNAIA: “Sincerely I think not just the Saturday but all weekend in terms of performance it was one of my best in MotoGP. We were so competitive, we were going very very fast in the Sprint and in the race on the Sunday. I think after seeing the data and checking everything, I think I maybe underestimated the conditions at Turn 2 because it was a corner where all weekend I was faster than all the Ducatis, and I followed doing the fastest there in the race and maybe it wasn’t the conditions. But I want to remain with the positives, I think we were so competitive so I think for the race we were there fighting again like Saturday, but that’s it. We have to take the positives and remain at the same level this weekend, it’s one of my favourite races, favourite weekends, favourite tracks, so I’m confident and happy to start a new weekend.”
Where do you think the new bike will be strong in Jerez?
“In terms of handling this track is one of the more technical, you have to be very precise and the new bike is a bit better on handling. We have three strong brake points where you have to be very competitive and it’s a point where I think we can be strong, but let’s see. Every year the conditions are changing and it looks like it will be very very hot like 2020. So let’s see.”
What are Ducati bringing to the test?
“Sincerely we don’t have many things to try because the season started one month, two months ago. It’s something where we can improve the feeling on the bike but nothing too big.”
How do you assess your start to 2023?
ALEX RINS: “Well for sure, as you mention, more than the race, we had a very good weekend. Starting on Friday, going direct to Q2 then in QP, for some moments I had pole and then Pecco arrived. Starting second, we finished second in the Sprint, and then in the race it was unbelievable, when I was trying to follow Pecco, and when he crashed, I was never in that position with the Honda. That lap I did some small mistakes but then I was trying to focus on myself and my way. The pace was super nice, and super-fast and I was able to get the victory. For this GP, we haven’t made any bet yet with the team members, but you know, here we start from zero. It’s my first time with Honda here. It’s a track, as Marco mentioned, that many riders like. It’s quite different to the previous tracks. This is quite small, less wide than COTA for example. We will try to be at the maximum as always starting from Friday and we will try to go to Q2 and then let’s see what we can do!”
What are the expectations in Jerez?
“We got the victory in Texas but the target is the same. We need to improve the bike. We need to find a good base and try to be close to the top guys. There two with the Ducati are going super-fast. So, the target, whether winning in COTA or finishing ninth in Argentina, is the same.”
Is there a change of status after a win?
“Maybe yes, maybe no. Every time I jump on the bike I give my best. Every time I go back to the box I try to be clear, to give them my experience to improve the bike. If they want me to test something, I’ll test it. I want to improve the bike. This morning my crew chief told me they’ll give me the chassis to try that Joan is using for this race, but with the schedule, we don’t have too much time to test. I prefer to stay focused this GP with the two bikes at the same level, same chassis and everything, and on Monday we will test.”
Is there more to come?
MAVERICK VIÑALES: “Yes, the feeling is that we have a good speed. Still we have to improve in a few areas. There are a few points where we will suffer here in Jerez. As last year it was easier, we had the tests and we had time to work on it, but this year we have a tight Grand Prix schedule. But yes, somehow I feel the potential is really high. Every time I feel like I have more speed and I feel better on the bike. Austin, on paper, wasn’t the best track for Aprilia. But yeah, I rode as fast as the front guys and I feel like we could have achieved better in Austin. We missed the start on the two starts and I let some points slip. But I feel like we could have done a good result and we could have been on the podium, especially on Sunday. So it’s a matter of putting everything together. I feel really ready, I feel motivated, I feel as happy as ever and honestly I want to start the weekend because I know if we do well, we’re going to be able to fight for the victory. So qualifying is something that we always try to be very concentrated on but it’s an important thing that we are improving on. I had bad luck in Austin when I had the yellow flag because we could have gotten onto the front row, but overall I think everything is very positive. I feel every time I can push more and more. So yeah I want to start pushing here a little bit more.”
Is there anything you’re going to try differently on the starts?
“Yes, somehow we need to find the thing we need to improve which is the bite on the clutch. The way I was always used to starting was in a different way, so we are working more. But it’s clear that as a manufacturer we are not the best for starts, so it’s something that we must improve. For me, honestly, it’s a shame because I always feel like I have an amazing potential, especially in Portimao I started in the front, I did my own race, and I was closing the gap to Pecco at the end, so somehow I feel if we can make clear that point, our objectives can be the ones we are fighting for, so we must push for that.”
How do you think the weekend will pan out?
“Yeah, the chances are there and they’re high. I must have a good weekend. I think this is one of the tracks where the bike works in a good way and I feel like we have a good potential. Last year I was struggling but the lap times were really good, so this year now that I come here with a lot of motivation and a different feeling with the bike, and especially the team has changed quite a lot. I think we have a lot of possibilities to have a fantastic weekend.”
Must be really satisfied after the start to the season?
LUCA MARINI: “Yeah exactly it’s like this. I have now very good memories from Austin which I’ve never had good results there but now it’s the past and I need to focus on this race. I think this race will be even more difficult because everyone is really strong here, every manufacturer has done a lot of tests here and has a lot of data, so it won’t be easy. For sure the qualifying is the key to have two good races here.
Studying other riders: have you learnt from Rossi or is it natural?
“I think everybody more or less does the same thing. You want to watch the best rider in that moment, looking at the data if it’s the same manufacturer and you try to improve what you did. So it’s just something natural, Alex is really strong in Austin and I would like to understand where he can make the difference with two different manufacturers.”
Will you have anything to test in Jerez?
“Nothing!”
Is that a worry?
“No, I’m just focused on myself and what I can do with my team. I think that it will be a very important weekend, if the weekend isn’t so good it will be bad, maybe my lap time is bad or my pace in the race isn’t strong we can work a little bit, but if everything is good as in the past races I think on Monday we don’t have to ride so much!”
On having Valentino Rossi in the paddock:
“It’s amazing, fantastic to have him here. I hope he can give me some good advice!”
Was it the perfect time for a podium?
FABIO QUARTARARO: “Well yeah, we had great pace in Austin. Of course, the podium felt great but the goa lis to be up there for many more races and this is a good place to do it so let’s see how it’s going.
You have a great record here. It suits the Yamaha, or do you really like it?
“Both. We do many laps on the track, a track I really like. I’ve always been fast…in Moto3™, in Moto2™, well I’ve never been fast at all tracks but in MotoGP™ I’ve always been fast. It’s been to be great, we just need to focus and be clear about… and set our target in qualifying because this year has been pretty tough.”
What’s the importance of the test and any new toys to bring?
“Basically, I’ve heard nothing big about the problem. We know where it is but we cannot sort it for this year so…. We will have some items, but nothing crazy.
“To be honest I don’t know. I report clearly after all three race where is the problem, where we can improve, considering we can’t touch the engine. It’s up to them to find the solution and find me something in this area especially at tracks like Austin.”
Is it acceleration?
“It’s many things, not just acceleration. We cannot use the power because we have wheelie and this is the main problem right now and we have to fix it but we can’t put wings because on the straights we are not that fast, so we can’t put bigger wings. In the end, it’s one problem that brings many more.”
Fitness update:
ALEX MARQUEZ: “Yeah, we were really unlucky, unfortunately at the weekend in Austin with the Sprint race and later in the big race. We lost a really great opportunity to have my first win in MotoGP. But anyway, I think the potential that we showed during the weekend was really good. You know, the crash was really, at one point I was going towards the wall between both bikes and I was really scared. But I’m quite OK, I just have a small fracture on my muscle, on the external muscle, and a little bit in the ligaments, but in the end I’m quite fine. I’m not 100%. I’m about 95% I would say, but we are here to again keep our progression going because we’re coming quite good after Austin.”
Do you expect to be battling for the podium?
“Yeah, I mean, for sure we will try. It’s true that we are coming to a track that’s really different compared to Argentina and compared to Austin, but we’ve come back to Europe and now the tracks and the layouts will be really different compared to them too. We need to keep going on like we have done, we are in a better position than how I expected to start the season, unfortunately like you said, we have two DNFs in Austin and so it’s really important to achieve points and go up in the championship. But anyway, we need to keep going. I’m really happy about how I’m feeling on the bike and with the team and we will try to do our best things step by step.”
How special would it be to get your first MotoGP™ win here in Jerez?
“Yeah, I mean for sure it’s a dream for all the Spanish riders. It’s a dream to win here in MotoGP. I had the opportunity to win my first Moto2 race here in Jerez and it was really special so i can’t imagine how it would be to win the MotoGP one. But it’s not our targer we need honestly more to arrive and be able to come and fight for a win in normal conditions. It’s true that in Austin we were not really far compared to Pecco, who was the maximum opponent for us, he was really fast and really consistent. But anyway, I think as we said, we start again here and everyone starts from zero so we need to keep the mentality cold to achieve points for the championship.”
How much you looking forward to Jerez?
JORGE MARTIN: “First of all I’m happy to see Enea back after his injury because I know it’s never easy to have an injury and to see Alex is ok. About the season it’s been a rollercoaster but it’s been like this in all the races. I had a good opportunity in Austin on Sunday, I felt super strong, I had a good start and then I made this big mistake but anyway I feel we are strong, we have a good package and I am fast. This is the main thing, now the important thing is to put everything together and finish races.
Expect the Sprint to be a crazy fight?
“Let’s see. It will be important to understand which tyre to use in the Sprint, I remember last year here with the soft you couldn’t do a lot of laps so maybe it’s the first time we can use the medium, it’s important to understand well. Depending on the tyre, depends on the type of race but I think we will all push a lot, and yeah it will be a fast race for sure.”
Areas to work on in testing?
“It will be a difficult test, we don’t have a lot of things to try so that’s why it will be difficult, you need to try things but not lose the way. I think we need to find a bit of rear grip, this is the main thing, but the rest I’m quite happy and I don’t need to change the bike a lot.”
How is the shoulder?
ENEA BASTIANINI: “I’m very happy to be here again. It’s difficult to watch the Grands Prix from home but now it’s better. On Monday I tried to get back on the bike with the Panigale, the feeling was quite good. I know the situation, I’m not 100% but it’s important for me to get the confidence with the bike again and try to bring up some points, no? I’m not here to win this event, but I have to try 100% and will be important to gain my confidence back. That is my idea for this weekend!”
How long will it take to get up to speed?
“Depends on the shoulder recovery. I want to arrive at Mugello at 99%, this is possible. From that race, my Championship starts. Right now, I’m not in a situation to be strongest for all the race distance but maybe in Mugello I can be ok.”
Thoughts on 2023 so far?
“It’s very strange the first part of the Championship. Strange situation and this new format is different and for some riders it can be a bit strange. I saw Pecco is competitive but made some mistakes. I saw Alex is very fast, but he crashed with Jorge in the last one. Marco Bezzecchi is also really fast and won his first Grand Prix and is quite consistent and this is important for the Championship. But there is a long list, all the MotoGP riders are fast! Let’s see how it is at the halfway point of the season.”
Medallia Returns With MotoAmerica Superbike Championship Title Sponsorship
Global Leader In Customer And Employee Experience Ready For Third Year As Series Partner, Second Year As Superbike Title Sponsor
IRVINE, CA (April 27, 2023) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is pleased to announce that Medallia, a global leader in customer and employee experience, will be a series partner of MotoAmerica for a third season while also continuing its title sponsorship of the 2023 MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship for a second season.
Medallia is the pioneer and market leader in customer, employee, citizen, and patient experience. The company’s award-winning SaaS platform, Medallia Experience Cloud, is becoming the experience system of record that makes all other applications customer and employee aware. The platform captures billions of experience signals across interactions including all voice, video, digital, IoT, social media and corporate messaging tools. Medallia uses proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning technology to automatically reveal predictive insights that drive powerful business actions and outcomes.
Medallia came onboard as a sponsor of the MotoAmerica Championship round at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in July of 2021. That sponsorship went to the next level a month later when Medallia became the official feedback partner of the championship for the remainder of the 2021 MotoAmerica series. In 2022, Medallia stepped up again to be the title sponsor of the Medallia Superbike Series.
“We greatly value our relationship with Medallia and welcome them back for 2023,” said MotoAmerica COO Chuck Aksland. “Utilizing the Customer Feedback tools and expertise that Medallia has available to us helps us analyze how to bring a better MotoAmerica experience to our fans, sponsors, and competitors. It’s a resource we greatly appreciate along with the continued support of the Medallia Superbike class.”
“We are proud to return as the title sponsor for the MotoAmerica Superbike series for the second full season,” said Tim Duranleau, Medallia’s Senior Vice President of Marketing. “At Medallia we are all about providing the fastest insights, fastest action, and fastest ROI for our customers. With MotoAmerica’s focus on elevating fan experience, this partnership has proven to be a differentiator in creating world-class experiences.”
The next round of the 2023 MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Championship will be held at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, May 19-21.
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube.
“It’s A Big Year For Me…”
By Michael Gougis
Sean Dylan Kelly knows he has to step it up. His career is on the line. “It’s a big year for me. It’s my second year in Moto2, and as of right now I only have a contract until the end of this season. What the future holds for me depends on how I do this year,” Kelly, 20, said in an interview with Roadracing World in Portugal at the 2023 Grand Prix season opener.
Kelly got his first taste of the Moto2 World Championship in 2019, running as a wildcard with the new American Racing Team at the season-ending race in Valencia. He went back to the United States, won the MotoAmerica Superstock Championship, then returned to Europe to race full-time in one of the most competitive classes in the world.
So far the results have not been what Kelly wanted–his best finish so far was 11th place at a rain-lashed Thailand Grand Prix last year. He knew that in 2022, the learning curve would be steep. And there were unexpected challenges, difficulties he never had faced in his career. This year, he says, he knows he has to put it all together and get the finishes he wants.
“Last year was a very, very tough season,” Kelly says. “On the technical side, a Moto2 bike is a different story. It does not compare to what I was riding. I definitely had some troubles getting to understand this bike. It’s a GP chassis–it’s so stiff, so rigid. And at the beginning of the season I had some crashes that really knocked my confidence. I felt like I was in a bit of a hole that I struggled to get out of. I struggled to get the most out of myself.
“I had other riders hit me off the track. I got injured. It was the first time I’d had to ride with a broken bone. I broke my foot and I raced just 10 days after. And last year was my first year away from home without my family. When you’re born and raised with family, this goes a long way. Being here was the first time I was living on my own. Just a bunch of situations, but they added up. I feel like getting through all of that made me stronger. I digested all of that during the off-season, and I feel like I’ve had the best off-season I’ve ever had.”
Kelly has made some changes for 2023. He’s living in Spain full-time with his girlfriend, American racer Max Toth, and former racer-turned-cinematographer Gray Pham. He has a new crew chief and a new mechanic. And after struggling with arm pump at the 2022 Malaysian Grand Prix, Kelly underwent surgery to relieve the condition a week after the season-ender in Valencia.
“(Malaysia) was really bad for me–I almost didn’t finish that race. After that, I was like, ‘I don’t want to continue this way.’ I had the surgery a week after Valencia. It was nice–I was able to get through the off-season just going through my recovery in the right way, and I was able to train hard,” Kelly says.
Kelly went into the opening round of the 2023 season fully fit and feeling better on the Kalex/Triumph Moto2 machine than he ever had.
“We had five days of testing, and I feel like we did a really solid job building a good, structured way of working. I feel a lot better on the bike. I have more understanding of it, and I have more confidence. I feel like every time out–the gap is close. I think it puts me in a good spot. I’m riding more naturally. The more natural I feel on the bike, the more I can show what I can do with the bike,” he says.
“I’m strongest on the brakes. They are actually telling me to take a chill pill on the brakes and focus more on the gas. I think the biggest thing with this bike is getting an understanding of the front tire. I think that’s why we see so many crashes in Moto2–it’s definitely difficult. You can carry so much grip and so much momentum, but sometimes it just does not talk to you. You know it’s there until it isn’t. And I think to get past that is tough. A Supersport bike, talks to you a lot more. This is completely different. To get that trust is extremely important, but you almost never have that full trust.”
Being out of contract at the end of the season focuses a rider’s attention, but for Kelly, it goes beyond wanting to secure his next ride. “Last year there were a lot of new things on the plate. Going into this season, there’s so much more that I know, that I feel I’ll be able to put together,” Kelly says. “I really do feel that there’s so much that I learned on so many levels. I learned a lot on the personal level. I learned a lot on the technical level. I learned things on the business side, working with the team.
“I want to be at the front. I want to be fighting at the front. I don’t know how soon I’ll be able to fight for a podium, but I want to be up front. I didn’t come here for anything less than that. I feel like I still have more to show.”
Introducing: MotoGP™ Guru!
It’s the fans for the win in 2023, so says the MotoGP™ Guru
As the biggest season of MotoGP™ ever gets in gear, a whole new fan experience just landed: MotoGP™ Guru. MotoGP™ Guru is a game giving fans the chance to predict who they think will prevail in 11 different events over a race weekend, ranging from P1 in Practice 1 to the podium positions in the race. Correct answers score points, and those with the most points ascend the leaderboard each weekend – and throughout the season. MotoGP™ Guru began to roll out at the season opening Grande Premio Tissot de Portugal, and is now available at www.motogpguru.com.
Accompanying the platform is a new weekly video series, Guru Speak. Nick Harris, a legendary voice of MotoGP™, is the host of Guru Speak, while the co-host is none other than Jorge Lorenzo, the outspoken five-time World Champion and an undisputed Guru of the sport. Together, Nick and Jorge welcome guest Gurus to the show each week as they cast and discuss their predictions for the weekend’s sessions. The show will feature on motogp.com on Thursday’s before each race weekend, and on motogpguru.com.
A foundational feature of MotoGP™ Guru is the league creation tool, which enables fans to create and invite their friends to a league where they can compete each race weekend to see who amongst them is the MotoGP™ Guru. In the paddock Private Leagues amongst the riders themselves, teams and sponsors create a fascinating look inside the thinking of those closest to the sport.
Prizes for fans are a cornerstone of MotoGP™ Guru and for the first time ever, one lucky winner will take home the Gresini Racing 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 R, which was used in 2022 by now factory Ducati Lenovo Team rider, Enea Bastianini. This amazing prize will be delivered at the end of the season to a random fan who creates a MotoGP Guru account and shares their predictions for the win.
At every Grand Prix, those in attendance at the track will also have the chance to win the MotoGP™ Guru Paddock Experience with Gresini Racing MotoGP™ and the MotoGP™ Guru team. They will be notified by text and email after completing their MotoGP™ Guru account and sharing who they’ve predicted for victory. 12 lucky winners each weekend will enjoy a day of hospitality with Gresini, meet the riders, visit the box, receive an exclusive bag of merch and be hosted in the paddock for an unforgettable day with the Gurus of MotoGP™ racing.
As if that isn’t enough awesomeness, MotoGP™ Guru also offers fans the chance to win some team and rider merchandise every weekend. Furthermore, fans who share their predictions For The Win on social media also have the chance to be plucked from the crowd by the MotoGP™ Guru to win some incredible prizes, become part of the show and join the illustrious list of Gurus.
The team behind MotoGP™ Guru may be familiar: Animoca Brands and Gryfyn sponsored last year’s Grands Prix in San Marino, Aragon and Phillip Island, and this year they continue their support of MotoGP™ with the sponsorship of the Spanish and Australian Grands Prix.
Their presence in the paddock also includes sponsorship of Gresini Racing MotoGP™ and riders such as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder. Animoca Brands also publishes the incredibly popular MotoGP™ game MotoGP™ Championship Quest, available on the App Store and Google Play, as well as MotoGP™ Ignition. MotoGP™ Ignition Manager, a new fantasy sports game where you manage the race team, is also coming soon.
As part of Animoca Brands’ REVV Motorsport ecosystem, these MotoGP™ experiences enjoy the benefits of collaboration and expertise across multiple motorsports and entertainment brands, contributing to and sharing in the growth of the REVV token, available on most crypto exchanges worldwide.2023: the year of the Guru! Head to www.motogpguru.com now and get involved!
About Animoca Brands
Animoca Brands, a Deloitte Tech Fast winner and ranked in the Financial Times list of High Growth Companies Asia-Pacific 2023, is a leader in digital entertainment, blockchain, and gamification that is working to advance digital property rights and contribute to the establishment of the open metaverse. The company develops and publishes a broad portfolio of products including the REVV token and SAND token; original games including The Sandbox, Crazy Kings, and Crazy Defense Heroes; and products utilizing popular intellectual properties including Disney, WWE, Snoop Dogg, The Walking Dead, Power Rangers, MotoGP™, and Formula E. It has multiple subsidiaries, including The Sandbox, Blowfish Studios, Quidd, GAMEE, nWay, Pixowl, Forj, Lympo, Animoca Brands Japan, Grease Monkey Games, Eden Games, Darewise Entertainment, Notre Game, TinyTap, Be Media, PIXELYNX, and WePlay Media. Animoca Brands has a growing portfolio of more than 380 Web3 investments, including Colossal, Axie Infinity, OpenSea, Dapper Labs (NBA Top Shot), Yield Guild Games, Harmony, Alien Worlds, Star Atlas, and others. For more information visit www.animocabrands.com or follow on Twitter or Facebook.
About Gryfyn
Gryfyn is a joint venture between Animoca Brands and Hex Trust to provide a custodial crypto wallet that allows anyone anywhere to easily and safely access digital experiences, own and handle digital assets, and connect with their favorite brands. Hex Trust provides its fully licensed bank-grade security and custody infrastructure to connect seamlessly to the rapidly expanding Web3 ecosystem. Gryfyn offers a secure, reliable and stress-free environment to store, interact with, and acquire digital assets. People around the world use Gryfyn as a digital passport to engage with events, entertainment, and each other. For more information, visit gryfyn.io.
