Follow MP13 Racing Team Owner Melissa Paris, and young riders Aiden Sneed and Kayla Yaakov as they take on the 2023 MotoAmerica motorcycle racing season.
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MotoGP: Folger Filling In For Pol Espargaro Starting At COTA
JONAS FOLGER TO STEP IN FOR GASGAS FACTORY RACING TECH3 AS POL ESPARGARO CONTINUES RECOVERY
2023 Motorsport news
GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 are counting the days until Pol Espargaro is ready to return to his RC16 but in the meantime, and from the Grand Prix of the Americas at COTA in mid-April, the team and brand will count on the speed and experience of former MotoGP podium finisher Jonas Folger.
The 29-year-old German will make his first MotoGP appearance since 2017 and since stepping into the role as an official test rider. Jonas previously represented the Tech3 setup – scoring a thrilling runner-up result at his home Grand Prix – so knows the crew and the culture.
Pol Espargaro travelled back to Barcelona last weekend where he had surgery on his jaw. The procedure was performed on Tuesday at the Dexeus Hospital. He’ll remain under observation for a couple of days and is hopeful of being home soon when he’ll be able to step-up his physiotherapy and define a timeframe to get back in the saddle.
GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 will power into this weekend’s Gran Premio Michelin de la Republica Argentina with Augusto Fernandez looking to attack the time sheets at Termas de Rio Hondo.
Jonas Folger: “First of all I really hope Pol is doing well and getting back on his feet as soon as possible. I’m sure he has the right people around him. From my side I’m looking forward to racing again and arriving to Texas to see all the guys from my old team! I hope we can do a decent job and I know it will be a big challenge for me since testing has only just started. However, this will be a great opportunity to get up to speed and learn more about the bike. I’m thankful and now looking to Texas.”
Nicolas Goyon, GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 Team Manager: “It’s clear Pol needs time to make a full recovery and our thoughts are still with him and we are in contact all the time. Until he is ready though Jonas’ testing role together with his recent MotoGP experience meant he is the perfect fill-in. We had some good memories with him a few years ago and he tested with us in Sepang this pre-season. He’s a great guy and we’re delighted to welcome him back.”
MotoAmerica: Paasch Breaks His Back Training On Motocross Bike (Updated)
Two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch broke his back Thursday morning while training on his motocross bike at Orlando MX Park in central Florida.
“It’s a local track I’ve been training at all winter on my KTM 250,” Paasch exclusively told Roadracingworld.com. “Obviously, I know the layout pretty well. When I usually go there it’s all deep and rutted up, but when I went there today, it was all freshly prepped. I also had a new sand tire on the back compared to what I’ve been running.
“I went out first lap and rolled everything just like I always do to check everything out and make sure nothing’s changed. Second lap, coming around I hit the big double in the middle the same as I always do. It’s usually the top of fourth gear wide open.
“As soon as I took off I looked down and was like, ‘Oh, f***!’ I knew I was overshooting it. I landed flat from probably 50 feet in the air. I rode it out. I rode back to my van and pretty much slung my leg over the bike and laid down because I couldn’t stand up or sit up or anything and just waited for the ambulance to show up and take me to the hospital.”
At the hospital, Paasch was diagnosed with a compression fracture of his L3 vertebra in his lower back.
“I’m still in the hospital right now,” said Paasch. “I don’t think it’s going to require surgery. So that’s a positive. And I still have feeling in my legs and I can move my feet everything. So, I got pretty lucky, I guess. I’m just waiting for one more X-ray and hopefully get a back brace, and they’re potentially going to send me home tonight if everything checks out.
“Obviously, I’m sad and a bit down about it because it’s something so stupid. It could have easily been avoided and it should have been avoided. But sh*t happens. I made a mistake.
“Now, it’s full focus on recovery and figuring out what we need to do to get back and when we can race again. That was my first thought. As soon as I was getting put into the ambulance, ‘Where does this leave us for Road Atlanta? How long is it going to take recovery-wise?’ That’s where my head’s at. I’m keeping it positive and looking toward the future in a good way and hoping we can come back stronger and still fight for some race wins this year.”
After unsuccessfully defending his 2022 Daytona 200 crown on a TOBC Racing Triumph 765 earlier in March, Paasch has been preparing for his second season racing an Altus Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R1000R in the 2023 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship and Superbike Cup.
MotoGP: Quartararo Says “Termas Is Not My Best Track, But…”
MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MOTOGP GEAR UP FOR MOTOGP ROUND 2 IN ARGENTINA
Termas de Río Hondo (Argentina)
Straight after the Portuguese GP, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team packed their YZR-M1s and flew them across the Atlantic Ocean to get back into action at the Autodromo do Termas de Río Hondo for the Gran Premio de la República Argentina this weekend.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli have safely arrived in Argentina and are ready to battle for points again. Having had a first experience with the new GP weekend format, the duo are looking forward to making a comeback at the Autodromo do Termas de Río Hondo and climb the leader board.
Though he didn’t end the first Sprint and Race of the season in as high a position as he would have liked, Quartararo took the positives from the first GP and is keen to show good race pace again this weekend in Argentina.
The Frenchman only rode at the Termas track twice before in the premier class, both times securing eighth place in the race. He is keen to improve on this result this weekend to make up some places in the overall rankings. El Diablo is currently 10th in the championship standings.
Morbidelli finished both the first-ever Sprint and the Portuguese GP race in P14. The Italian is pleased that the back-to-back opening MotoGP rounds offer a chance for him to battle more towards the front this Saturday and Sunday. He is currently in 17th place in the overall standings.
Morbido is hugely popular in Latin America, thanks to his Brazilian roots. He can expect the support of the local fans, who will be cheering him on this weekend. The number-21 rider aims to do them proud like he did in 2017 when he secured the victory in the Moto2 class.
The 4.8km long Termas de Río Hondo circuit was added to the MotoGP calendar in 2014. A devastating fire in February 2021 destroyed a large part of the paddock, but it has been rebuilt since then. With an exciting lay-out that includes a mixture of fast corners (five left, nine right) and a 1076m longest straight, the fans can be assured that they will see plenty of racing and overtaking action in Argentina again.
Those who are wondering “What are the key points to a hot lap at the Termas track?” can watch our latest eSport video.
The Grand Prix of Argentina is held in the GMT -3 time zone. P1 will take place on Friday from 10:45 – 11:30 local track time, followed by P2 from 15:00 – 16:00. On Saturday, FP will be held from 10:10 – 10:40, the qualifying sessions from 10:50 – 11:30, and the Sprint starts at 15:00. On Sunday, Warm Up is held from 09:45 – 09:55, and the race starts at 14:00.
MASSIMO MEREGALLI
TEAM DIRECTOR
We travelled to the Termas de Río Hondo circuit immediately after the Portuguese GP. It was a long journey after the first round, but we are excited to be here and to be racing again this weekend. Last week‘s results show we have work to do, so this will be a busy week for us. In Portimao we were able to prepare the set-up for the Sprint and the Race already during the test. Here it will be trickier with the new GP weekend format. We have to make the most of every single session, especially P2. It’s the session that will likely be the most similar to the Sprint and the Race in terms of conditions. This is important for the tyre choice and, furthermore, P2 grants access into Q2. We’ll be very focused on improving our qualifying, because the outcome of both the Sprint and Race highly depends on the starting position. The local fans have a lot of passion for motorsport, so we know they will enjoy the extra racing action that the Sprint provides on Saturday, and we look forward to seeing them enjoy the show.
FABIO QUARTARARO
Considering my position after the opening lap of the Portuguese race, I did a pretty good job getting eighth place and still scoring points. With no points in the Sprint, we are already a bit behind in the standings – but the season is still very long, and we already have an opportunity to climb up in the rankings this weekend! Termas is not my best track, but I think we can do a good job. We know there‘s not a lot of grip here though, so we have to work around that.
FRANCO MORBIDELLI
The positive thing about opening the season with back-to-back GP weekends is that we immediately have another chance to improve at the next track. Last year‘s tyre puncture in the Argentina GP ended my race early. It‘s nice that this year we have a Sprint and a Race, so in a way I can make up for it by racing twice this year. We are working hard on finding something to improve our performance level.
Video: “Agony To Ecstasy” Episode Two, Daytona
Follow MP13 Racing Team Owner Melissa Paris, and young riders Aiden Sneed and Kayla Yaakov as they take on the 2023 MotoAmerica motorcycle racing season.
MotoGP: Aleix Espargaro Under Race Lap Record In FP2 In Argentina
Moto2: Arbolino Leads FP2 In Argentina
MotoGP: Folger Filling In For Pol Espargaro Starting At COTA
JONAS FOLGER TO STEP IN FOR GASGAS FACTORY RACING TECH3 AS POL ESPARGARO CONTINUES RECOVERY
2023 Motorsport news
GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 are counting the days until Pol Espargaro is ready to return to his RC16 but in the meantime, and from the Grand Prix of the Americas at COTA in mid-April, the team and brand will count on the speed and experience of former MotoGP podium finisher Jonas Folger.
The 29-year-old German will make his first MotoGP appearance since 2017 and since stepping into the role as an official test rider. Jonas previously represented the Tech3 setup – scoring a thrilling runner-up result at his home Grand Prix – so knows the crew and the culture.
Pol Espargaro travelled back to Barcelona last weekend where he had surgery on his jaw. The procedure was performed on Tuesday at the Dexeus Hospital. He’ll remain under observation for a couple of days and is hopeful of being home soon when he’ll be able to step-up his physiotherapy and define a timeframe to get back in the saddle.
GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 will power into this weekend’s Gran Premio Michelin de la Republica Argentina with Augusto Fernandez looking to attack the time sheets at Termas de Rio Hondo.
Jonas Folger: “First of all I really hope Pol is doing well and getting back on his feet as soon as possible. I’m sure he has the right people around him. From my side I’m looking forward to racing again and arriving to Texas to see all the guys from my old team! I hope we can do a decent job and I know it will be a big challenge for me since testing has only just started. However, this will be a great opportunity to get up to speed and learn more about the bike. I’m thankful and now looking to Texas.”
Nicolas Goyon, GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 Team Manager: “It’s clear Pol needs time to make a full recovery and our thoughts are still with him and we are in contact all the time. Until he is ready though Jonas’ testing role together with his recent MotoGP experience meant he is the perfect fill-in. We had some good memories with him a few years ago and he tested with us in Sepang this pre-season. He’s a great guy and we’re delighted to welcome him back.”
MotoGP: Aprilia’s Vinales, Espargaro 1-2 In FP1 In Argentina
Moto2: Gonzalez Goes To The Top In FP1 In Argentina
MotoAmerica: Paasch Breaks His Back Training On Motocross Bike (Updated)
Two-time Daytona 200 winner Brandon Paasch broke his back Thursday morning while training on his motocross bike at Orlando MX Park in central Florida.
“It’s a local track I’ve been training at all winter on my KTM 250,” Paasch exclusively told Roadracingworld.com. “Obviously, I know the layout pretty well. When I usually go there it’s all deep and rutted up, but when I went there today, it was all freshly prepped. I also had a new sand tire on the back compared to what I’ve been running.
“I went out first lap and rolled everything just like I always do to check everything out and make sure nothing’s changed. Second lap, coming around I hit the big double in the middle the same as I always do. It’s usually the top of fourth gear wide open.
“As soon as I took off I looked down and was like, ‘Oh, f***!’ I knew I was overshooting it. I landed flat from probably 50 feet in the air. I rode it out. I rode back to my van and pretty much slung my leg over the bike and laid down because I couldn’t stand up or sit up or anything and just waited for the ambulance to show up and take me to the hospital.”
At the hospital, Paasch was diagnosed with a compression fracture of his L3 vertebra in his lower back.
“I’m still in the hospital right now,” said Paasch. “I don’t think it’s going to require surgery. So that’s a positive. And I still have feeling in my legs and I can move my feet everything. So, I got pretty lucky, I guess. I’m just waiting for one more X-ray and hopefully get a back brace, and they’re potentially going to send me home tonight if everything checks out.
“Obviously, I’m sad and a bit down about it because it’s something so stupid. It could have easily been avoided and it should have been avoided. But sh*t happens. I made a mistake.
“Now, it’s full focus on recovery and figuring out what we need to do to get back and when we can race again. That was my first thought. As soon as I was getting put into the ambulance, ‘Where does this leave us for Road Atlanta? How long is it going to take recovery-wise?’ That’s where my head’s at. I’m keeping it positive and looking toward the future in a good way and hoping we can come back stronger and still fight for some race wins this year.”
After unsuccessfully defending his 2022 Daytona 200 crown on a TOBC Racing Triumph 765 earlier in March, Paasch has been preparing for his second season racing an Altus Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R1000R in the 2023 MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Championship and Superbike Cup.
MotoGP: Quartararo Says “Termas Is Not My Best Track, But…”
MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MOTOGP GEAR UP FOR MOTOGP ROUND 2 IN ARGENTINA
Termas de Río Hondo (Argentina)
Straight after the Portuguese GP, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team packed their YZR-M1s and flew them across the Atlantic Ocean to get back into action at the Autodromo do Termas de Río Hondo for the Gran Premio de la República Argentina this weekend.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli have safely arrived in Argentina and are ready to battle for points again. Having had a first experience with the new GP weekend format, the duo are looking forward to making a comeback at the Autodromo do Termas de Río Hondo and climb the leader board.
Though he didn’t end the first Sprint and Race of the season in as high a position as he would have liked, Quartararo took the positives from the first GP and is keen to show good race pace again this weekend in Argentina.
The Frenchman only rode at the Termas track twice before in the premier class, both times securing eighth place in the race. He is keen to improve on this result this weekend to make up some places in the overall rankings. El Diablo is currently 10th in the championship standings.
Morbidelli finished both the first-ever Sprint and the Portuguese GP race in P14. The Italian is pleased that the back-to-back opening MotoGP rounds offer a chance for him to battle more towards the front this Saturday and Sunday. He is currently in 17th place in the overall standings.
Morbido is hugely popular in Latin America, thanks to his Brazilian roots. He can expect the support of the local fans, who will be cheering him on this weekend. The number-21 rider aims to do them proud like he did in 2017 when he secured the victory in the Moto2 class.
The 4.8km long Termas de Río Hondo circuit was added to the MotoGP calendar in 2014. A devastating fire in February 2021 destroyed a large part of the paddock, but it has been rebuilt since then. With an exciting lay-out that includes a mixture of fast corners (five left, nine right) and a 1076m longest straight, the fans can be assured that they will see plenty of racing and overtaking action in Argentina again.
Those who are wondering “What are the key points to a hot lap at the Termas track?” can watch our latest eSport video.
The Grand Prix of Argentina is held in the GMT -3 time zone. P1 will take place on Friday from 10:45 – 11:30 local track time, followed by P2 from 15:00 – 16:00. On Saturday, FP will be held from 10:10 – 10:40, the qualifying sessions from 10:50 – 11:30, and the Sprint starts at 15:00. On Sunday, Warm Up is held from 09:45 – 09:55, and the race starts at 14:00.
MASSIMO MEREGALLI
TEAM DIRECTOR
We travelled to the Termas de Río Hondo circuit immediately after the Portuguese GP. It was a long journey after the first round, but we are excited to be here and to be racing again this weekend. Last week‘s results show we have work to do, so this will be a busy week for us. In Portimao we were able to prepare the set-up for the Sprint and the Race already during the test. Here it will be trickier with the new GP weekend format. We have to make the most of every single session, especially P2. It’s the session that will likely be the most similar to the Sprint and the Race in terms of conditions. This is important for the tyre choice and, furthermore, P2 grants access into Q2. We’ll be very focused on improving our qualifying, because the outcome of both the Sprint and Race highly depends on the starting position. The local fans have a lot of passion for motorsport, so we know they will enjoy the extra racing action that the Sprint provides on Saturday, and we look forward to seeing them enjoy the show.
FABIO QUARTARARO
Considering my position after the opening lap of the Portuguese race, I did a pretty good job getting eighth place and still scoring points. With no points in the Sprint, we are already a bit behind in the standings – but the season is still very long, and we already have an opportunity to climb up in the rankings this weekend! Termas is not my best track, but I think we can do a good job. We know there‘s not a lot of grip here though, so we have to work around that.
FRANCO MORBIDELLI
The positive thing about opening the season with back-to-back GP weekends is that we immediately have another chance to improve at the next track. Last year‘s tyre puncture in the Argentina GP ended my race early. It‘s nice that this year we have a Sprint and a Race, so in a way I can make up for it by racing twice this year. We are working hard on finding something to improve our performance level.