Moto2 FP1
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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.
WorldSBK: Bautista P1, Gerloff P4 On Day One Of Catalunya Test
WorldSBK hits the track with two days of testing in Barcelona
Teams and riders get ready for the first European round of 2023
Current Championship leader Alvaro Bautista was back on track at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Thursday and topped the timesheets with a 1’40.500s.
Iker Lecuona was second on the first day of testing as the Honda rider posted a 1’40.721s. His teammate Xavi Vierge was fifth.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi concluding day one in third place with a 1’40.973s finishing 0.473s behind his teammate.
Garrett Gerloff was the fastest BMW rider on Thursday as he took fourth position with a 1’41.150s posted in the late afternoon.
Toprak Razgatlioglu concluded day one of testing in sixth place 0.933s off Bautista’s fastest time. The Yamaha rider had a crash at Turn 2 which disrupted his running in the morning.
WorldSBK Day 1 Report
The first of two days of testing for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship field got underway at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and it was reigning Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who led the way on Day 1. He was two tenths clear of 2022 polesitter Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) at the end of the day’s running although Bautista’s lap time was set in the morning while Lecuona’s best time came in the final stages of the day’s action.
Bautista’s best time of the day came on his 20th lap in the morning when he posted a 1’40.500s to top the timesheets. It was a strong day for the Bologna-based manufacturer with Bautista’s teammate, Michael Ruben Rinaldi, in third place and around four tenths down on Bautista. Ducati had new parts on rear suspension to try with the aim of improving stability and grip, while there was also development on the front of the bike to achieve faster corner entry.
Both Team HRC riders featured inside the top five at the end of day one with Iker Lecuona in second and Xavi Vierge in fifth place. Honda were mostly comparing the new items tested recently at MotorLand Aragon to ensure they were working at more circuits, with this including chassis bracing and an exhaust. They also continued to test some electronic setting as well as smaller items, while also looking at setup and trying to understand the machine.
Independent rider Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) leading the way for BMW. The American posted a 1’41.150s late in the session to move into fourth place.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) had a disrupted day of running following a crash at Turn 2 in the morning, but he was able to take fifth spot in the classification. The 2021 Champion posted a 1’41.433s to finish in sixth.
Both Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and teammate Alex Lowes opted to not run on Day 1 of 2 at the test.
Read the full report from Day 1 on worldsbk.com
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) was the fastest rider on Day 1 as he searched for a good feeling on his bike, posting a 1’44.846s, to finish ahead of Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) as he returns from injury.
MotoGP: Aleix Espargaro Knows Where He Needs To Improve
APRILIA FLIES TO TERMAS DE RIO HONDO FOR THE SECOND GRAND PRIX OF THE SEASON
MAVERICK CONFIDENT AFTER PODIUM AT PORTIMAO, ALEIX READY FOR A STAR-STUDDED WEEKEND
Although the first answers on the state of the MotoGP grid, coming from Portimao, are still partial and with all due caution, Aprilia can look forward to its 2023 Championship with optimism.
In Maverick’s case, the growing results on Portuguese soil, culminating in a splendid second place in the race, have confirmed his feelings. The new RS-GP is competitive and, after a necessary apprenticeship, also highlighted in the winter tests, the Spanish rider is increasingly in control.
Aleix left Portugal with a more than positive feeling, despite a final score that was not entirely true. He showed speed, he fought, but a less-than-perfect qualifying session precluded better results that were certainly within his reach. The special relationship with the Argentinean circuit, where he took his and Aprilia’s first MotoGP win last year, will certainly provide a confidence boost.
Aleix
“It’s obvious that going back to Argentina brings back wonderful memories, but this is a new season. Anyway, I am confident because in Portugal we got the answers we were looking for, I am satisfied with our level, we need to improve in qualifying to be able to prove it in the two races. Being caught up in the battles in the middle of the group inevitably makes you lose time, so we will have to start further ahead to be able to put our pace to good use”.
Maverick
“It’s only the beginning of the season but I’m feeling good. Aprilia has worked well and I feel more comfortable in the saddle, I can exploit the RS-GP better. Our objective remains to always extract the maximum from our bike, if we do this consistently I am sure the results will come. Argentina and America are two tracks that I like, I arrive there motivated”.
American Shedden Racing In Italy’s CIV Aprilia Sport Production Championship
JESSE JAMES SHEDDEN SIGNS WITH ITALIAN BIERRETI RACING FOR THE CIV APRILIA SPORT PRODUCTION CHAMPIONSHIP
After a successful 2022 North America Talent Cup (NATC) effort, Shedden will compete in Italy on the Aprilia RS250 SP2 for the spec CIV Aprilia series and aim to secure international road racing credentials.
HELENDALE, CA – Jesse James Shedden has signed with the established Italian Bierreti Racing Team to compete in the CIV Aprilia Sport Production Championship Series aboard the Aprilia RS250 SP2. Jesse James notched multiple wins aboard the Aprilia during the NATC, ultimately coming one-point shy of the championship. He looks to carry his winning record overseas to the home of Aprilia, against some of Italy’s top young racers. Signing with the Bierreti Racing team sends a strong message to competitors that Jesse James is focused on winning.
Bierreti Racing has successfully competed in CIV, CEV, and FIM series, with multiple champions racing under the Bierreti Team name. Most recently, the 2021 and 2022 Aprilia Sport Production series champions raced for Bierreti. A premier team in the paddock, Bierreti has years of experience to offer the fourteen-year old American.
When asked about the opportunity to race for a top team in Italy, Jesse James replied, “I’m really excited about the opportunity to race for Bieretti Racing in the CIV Junior Series in Italy. I love travel, I love adventure, and I love a challenge so this should be good.”
Giulia Stibioli, Bierreti’s Team Owner commented: “We are very enthusiastic having an international rider such as Jesse on board, we are sure it is a big opportunity for mutual growth. The Aprilia Sport Production has been for many riders a great way for racing in CIV Moto3 and then to start a high-level international career. We hope it is the beginning of a great collaboration!”
Jesse James Shedden will continue with sponsors who have supported him during national racing in the U.S., including: Atlas Speed Factory, Fresh n Lean, KYT Helmets, Mithos USA, Dunlop Tires, ASV Inventions, TechSpec Tank Grips, Suspension Matters, Yoshimura R&D, Maxima Racing Oils, Bickle Racing, Produkte Designs, RJR Motorsports, Alpinestars, VNM Sport, Galfer USA, and APX AXN Motorsports Solutions.
Aprilia Sport Production Series Championship Schedule:
ROUND 1: 21 May 2023; Vallelunga
ROUND 2: 11 June 2023; Magione
ROUND 3: 2 July 2023; Modena
ROUND 4: 6 August 2023; Cervesina
ROUND 5: 17 September 2023; Varano
For more information on the CIV Aprilia Sport Production Series Championship, please visit: https://www.aprilia.com/en_EN/aprilia-racing/aprilia-sport-production/
MotoGP: Dorna Previews This Weekend’s Races in Argentina
Reset. Reload. Race! Ready for Round 2?
Termas de Rio Hondo gears up to host the second round of a blockbuster 2023
There were thrills, there were spills, and there was some seriously close racing in Portimao. Now, we saddle up to do it all again as Termas de Rio Hondo prepares to host round two for the Gran Premio Michelin® de la Republica Argentina. Ready to get back in the ring?
DUCATI LENOVO TEAM
As one side of the garage enjoyed one of his best weekends ever, the other arguably endured one of his worst – and through no fault of his own. Enea Bastianini is sidelined this weekend due to that broken shoulder blade, so that means reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia will be flying solo – but he’s coming in on quite a high.
Taking the first ever Tissot Sprint win after piling the pressure on Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) was already quite an improvement on the start Bagnaia had last season, and it only got better. In the Grand Prix race there was more sublime speed too, and it proves a warning shot for the field. Bagnaia, and his fellow Ducati riders, also have chance to take the factory’s first win at Termas as it’s one of the three tracks they haven’t yet reigned. But can we expect those rivals from Portugal flip the form book?
APRILIA RACING
Speaking of “those rivals”, Maverick Viñales has now come within a few tenths of that win on a third different machine not once, but twice. He pushed Bagnaia all the way on Sunday and he’s arguably had the upper hand at Aprilia so far, including getting his elbows out in the Sprint with teammate Aleix Espargaro.
Now, we head for Argentina. It’s a venue the bike has already reigned with Espargaro last year as man and machine made history with their first wins – and one where Viñales also has a previous victory, back in 2017. That’s quite a combination. Can Espargaro stamp some authority on the weekend? Or has Viñales got another chance to edge away?
MOONEY VR46 RACING TEAM
The Sprint wasn’t the best start to the season for Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi, with Saturday afternoon proving a somewhat damp squib after strong pre-season showings. That turned round for Bezzecchi on Sunday in some style, however, as the sophomore sliced through to third, escaped the scuffle and didn’t look back – taking a second premier class podium. Is there more in the locker for Argentina? Marini, meanwhile, leaves Portimao with nil points, crashing out of the Sprint and the GP race. As one of three riders who suffered only a single DNF in 2022, his first aim in Argentina is likely to recapture that consistency and get those points.
PRIMA PRAMAC RACING
It was a weekend of two halves for both Johann Zarco and Jorge Martin in Portugal, and both will want a more balanced weekend Argentina. Zarco had a tougher Tissot Sprint before becoming the star of the show in that hard-fought battle for fourth on Sunday, and Martin crashed in the GP race after having lost out in the Marquez-Oliveira incident. On Saturday, however, the number 89 was close to that Sprint win – and was also very close to denying Aleix Espargaro and Aprilia their first Grand Prix win last year in Argentina.
Zarco remains on the hunt for a first MotoGP™ win, Martin has something to prove and the speed to do so… we can expect both at the front again this weekend.
RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING
SURPRISE! Or was it? After ending testing a little down the timesheets, Friday in Portugal felt like Jack Miller ripped the covers off a magic trick, but maybe it shouldn’t have. A lot of work has gone in, a lot of laps have been done and it seems like KTM are on their way. Miller too. What can we expect this weekend at a very different venue? The Austrian factory are missing a top five at Termas so that could be a first target.
Teammate Brad Binder, meanwhile, still somehow managed to stun on Sunday despite ongoing neck pain after a crash in testing. The South African got stuck in in that awesome fight for fourth, and with a few more days will hopefully be a little closer to feeling 100%. Both Miller and Binder at full pelt is quite a force to contend with…
GRESINI RACING MotoGP™
Friday and Saturday were a bit underwhelming for Alex Marquez after pre-season progress on his new Ducati, but Sunday was both a good result and a fantastic battle too. He’ll be buoyed by that and on the hunt for more in Argentina – where he’s won in Moto3™ and Moto2™. Fabio Di Giannantonio, meanwhile, needs to unlock the flashes of pace we’ve seen and take that step forward we’ve seen before.
MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MotoGP™
Fabio Quartararo had a difficult start to 2023. After a tougher qualifying, contact from Mir then hampered his Sprint before he’d really got going, and then that grid position added another hurdle at the start of the Grand Prix race. But he did get in that big group fight late on. With some very different tracks now coming up, starting with Argentina, we’ll likely see Yamaha seriously hunker down on trying to figure out what they’re missing. Franco Morbidelli may well be doing the same himself after a tough opener too.
REPSOL HONDA TEAM
It was a rollercoaster season opener for Repsol Honda, with some glory, some drama and some mistakes. After that stunning Saturday for Marc Marquez, the error that saw him crash into Miguel Oliveira on Sunday leaves the number 93 on the sidelines for Argentina, having sustained a broken bone in his hand. His absence – given incredible speed at the venue in the past – takes one ace out of play.
That leaves Joan Mir heading into his second weekend with the team flying solo. He hasn’t got the best record at Termas but neither has he the worst, so more progress will be the name of the game.
LCR HONDA
The same is true for Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) as he managed to finish top Honda. The mission continues for Rins and Mir to adapt, to learn, and to give quality feedback to Honda as the Japanese giant continue to push towards the front. For Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), the mission is similar – but he also has to try and stay with the new recruits. Can he rediscover some form?
GASGAS FACTORY RACING Tech3
Did someone say first points? Rookie Augusto Fernandez took just those in Portugal, and he’ll want more from Argentina. It’s not a place he’s had much experience though, so that could make the mountain a little bigger this particular weekend. And we’ll be missing Pol Espargaro as he recovers from that Friday crash, with GASGAS also not replacing the injured Spaniard.
CRYPTODATA RNF MotoGP™ TEAM
Promise and then disappointment was RNF’s weekend in Portugal. But Miguel Oliveira certainly put on a great show for the home fans – despite feeling sore all weekend after a highside on Friday – until being crashed out of contention on Sunday. Now, he’ll miss the Argentina GP and Raul Fernandez races solo. The Spaniard had an underwhelming season opener and will need to start banking those points soon as the new bike, new team and second season of MotoGP™ are all opportunities to show that incredible pace we’ve seen in Moto2™.
SHOWTIME
Friday’s two practice sessions decide entrants to Q2, before the MotoGP™ grid qualify on Saturday morning. The Tissot Sprint then gets in gear at 15:00 on Saturday, before Sunday puts on a stunner at 14:00. Don’t miss it!
Tissot Sprint: Saturday 15:00 (GMT -3)
Grand Prix Race: Sunday 14:00 (GMT -3)
See you there!
Can Acosta double down in Argentina?
Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) overcame two kinds of pressure in Portimao to leave with the first win of the season: the pressure of Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) chasing him all the way home, and that of the hype that has already risen to swirl around the number 37 again.
With a little less experience of Termas de Rio Hondo, can he keep the roll going? Can Canet hit back? Or will the very different venue belong to someone else entirely? We’ll find out at 12:15 (GMT -3) on Sunday!
Sophomore success leads Moto3™ into Argentina
The season opener saw Moto3™ sophomores lock out the podium, with Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3), David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) and Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) pipping rookie Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo). Now the likes of veterans Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) and Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) will be looking to hit back… and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) will be aiming for less of a mountain to climb. Tune in for more spectacular Moto3™ at 11:00 (GMT -3) on Sunday!
Isle Of Man TT: Health Concerns Force Hutchinson Out Of 2023 Event
Editorial Note: Ian Hutchinson suffered a stroke recently while riding his bicycle in Spain.
MILWAUKEE BMW AND HUTCHY FORCED TO WITHDRAW FROM 2023 TT
TAS Racing and Ian Hutchinson have been forced to make the tough decision to sit out this year’s Isle of Man TT Races with Milwaukee BMW. In light of Ian’s well documented health scare earlier this month, his racing licence has been revoked for 12 months, which is standard protocol with racing’s governing body.
Ian’s day-to-day health is of paramount importance to all involved and while he is making a remarkable recovery, already given the all clear to drive his car – rules are rules and we must respect them. Ian is obviously bitterly disappointed after putting in the hard yards over the winter months, spinning many laps on a TAS Racing prepared Milwaukee BMW M 1000 RR Superstock specification machine in Spain.
Despite this major set-back, the team will be represented at the TT by our title partner Milwaukee, as they are also a leading event sponsor at the June showpiece. Ian will be on the Island representing both the team and Milwaukee during TT race week, so fans will get the chance to meet him on the Milwaukee stand in the main paddock area.
Milwaukee BMW will be at the International North West 200 in May however with Alastair Seeley, and Hutchy will be on the North Coast for a scheduled visit during race week as part of the team set-up and will no doubt be very well received.
Philip Neill
Milwaukee BMW Team Principal
“First and foremost our concerns are with Ian and we look forward to supporting him on his road to making a full recovery. Clearly we are disappointed to miss our first IOM TT in 23 years – aside from the Covid years of course. Everything was in place for this year’s event together with Milwaukee and our other valued partners. We now look forward to finalising our plans for the NW200 and another BSB season.”
Marc Marquez Penalty Appeal Referred To “MotoGP Court Of Appeal”
DECISION OF THE FIM APPEAL STEWARDS
FIM APPEAL STEWARDS’ DECISION UPON THE APPEAL OF Mr. Marc Marquez and HRC – REPSOL HONDA TEAM on 29/03/2023
Mr. Marc Marquez and the team, HRC – REPSOL HONDA TEAM (Alberto Puig) lodged a written appeal on 29/03/2023 at 02h16 (am) to the FIM Appeal Stewards with the deposit for appeal of 1320 Euros.
The appeal is lodged against the application of the Sanction imposed on Marc Marquez, Rider #93, issued by the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel on 28 March 2023, in connection with the previous “Notification of Sanction”, issued on 26 March 2023.
The penalty notified by the FIM MotoGP- Stewards Panel on 26/03/2023 was a “Double Long Lap Penalty for the GRAN PREMIO MICHELIN® DE LA REPUBLICA ARGENTINA MotoGP- Race”
The application of the sanction imposed on Marc Marquez by the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel (“Application of the Sanction”) issued on 28/03/2023 was a “Double Long Lap Penalty“ to be applied at the next MotoGP Race in which the rider will be able to participate.
1. Composition of the FIM APPEAL STEWARDS
The Panel of the FIM Appeal Stewards is made up of:
• Paul King FIM Appeal Steward
• Armando Marques FIM Appeal Steward (nominated by FMP)
2. Procedure
The appeal was regularly lodged in due form, with the appropriate fee guaranteed and within time deadlines stated by the FIM Administration (within 24 hours counted from the previous e-mail sent by the Repsol Honda Team Manager (ie before 29 March 2023, 07:57 CEST)).
The FIM Appeal Stewards were convened electronically on 29/03/2023.
The following documents were submitted to the FIM Appeal Stewards:
– The notification of the FIM Sanction imposed by the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel on 26 March 2023.
– The “Application of the Sanction” issued by the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel on 28 March 2023.
– The Statement of Appeal edited by Mr. Marc Marquez and HRC – REPSOL HONDA TEAM.
3. The FIM Appeal Stewards’ s considerations:
The 2 elements mentioned by the appellant relate to:
1) The validity of the “Application of the Sanction” stated by the FIM Stewards Panel
2) A request for a stay of the provisional execution of the “Application of the Sanction”
Considering, the circumstances of the case and the legal issues raised by the appeal filed by Mr. Marc Marquez and HRC – REPSOL HONDA TEAM team, the FIM Appeal Stewards decide to refer the case to the MotoGP Court of Appeal for the adequate resolution of the case.
4. The decision
Based upon this information, the FIM Appeal Stewards decide:
• to receive the Appeal (art. 3.3.3.2)
• to refer the case to the MotoGP Court of Appeal (art. 3.3.3.2)
FIM Headquarter, Mies, 29/03/2023.
FIM Appeal Steward
Paul King
FMNR Appeal Steward
Armando Marques
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.
WorldSBK: Bautista P1, Gerloff P4 On Day One Of Catalunya Test
WorldSBK hits the track with two days of testing in Barcelona
Teams and riders get ready for the first European round of 2023
Current Championship leader Alvaro Bautista was back on track at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Thursday and topped the timesheets with a 1’40.500s.
Iker Lecuona was second on the first day of testing as the Honda rider posted a 1’40.721s. His teammate Xavi Vierge was fifth.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi concluding day one in third place with a 1’40.973s finishing 0.473s behind his teammate.
Garrett Gerloff was the fastest BMW rider on Thursday as he took fourth position with a 1’41.150s posted in the late afternoon.
Toprak Razgatlioglu concluded day one of testing in sixth place 0.933s off Bautista’s fastest time. The Yamaha rider had a crash at Turn 2 which disrupted his running in the morning.
WorldSBK Day 1 Report
The first of two days of testing for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship field got underway at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and it was reigning Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who led the way on Day 1. He was two tenths clear of 2022 polesitter Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) at the end of the day’s running although Bautista’s lap time was set in the morning while Lecuona’s best time came in the final stages of the day’s action.
Bautista’s best time of the day came on his 20th lap in the morning when he posted a 1’40.500s to top the timesheets. It was a strong day for the Bologna-based manufacturer with Bautista’s teammate, Michael Ruben Rinaldi, in third place and around four tenths down on Bautista. Ducati had new parts on rear suspension to try with the aim of improving stability and grip, while there was also development on the front of the bike to achieve faster corner entry.
Both Team HRC riders featured inside the top five at the end of day one with Iker Lecuona in second and Xavi Vierge in fifth place. Honda were mostly comparing the new items tested recently at MotorLand Aragon to ensure they were working at more circuits, with this including chassis bracing and an exhaust. They also continued to test some electronic setting as well as smaller items, while also looking at setup and trying to understand the machine.
Independent rider Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) leading the way for BMW. The American posted a 1’41.150s late in the session to move into fourth place.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) had a disrupted day of running following a crash at Turn 2 in the morning, but he was able to take fifth spot in the classification. The 2021 Champion posted a 1’41.433s to finish in sixth.
Both Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and teammate Alex Lowes opted to not run on Day 1 of 2 at the test.
Read the full report from Day 1 on worldsbk.com
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) was the fastest rider on Day 1 as he searched for a good feeling on his bike, posting a 1’44.846s, to finish ahead of Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) as he returns from injury.
MotoGP: Aleix Espargaro Knows Where He Needs To Improve
APRILIA FLIES TO TERMAS DE RIO HONDO FOR THE SECOND GRAND PRIX OF THE SEASON
MAVERICK CONFIDENT AFTER PODIUM AT PORTIMAO, ALEIX READY FOR A STAR-STUDDED WEEKEND
Although the first answers on the state of the MotoGP grid, coming from Portimao, are still partial and with all due caution, Aprilia can look forward to its 2023 Championship with optimism.
In Maverick’s case, the growing results on Portuguese soil, culminating in a splendid second place in the race, have confirmed his feelings. The new RS-GP is competitive and, after a necessary apprenticeship, also highlighted in the winter tests, the Spanish rider is increasingly in control.
Aleix left Portugal with a more than positive feeling, despite a final score that was not entirely true. He showed speed, he fought, but a less-than-perfect qualifying session precluded better results that were certainly within his reach. The special relationship with the Argentinean circuit, where he took his and Aprilia’s first MotoGP win last year, will certainly provide a confidence boost.
Aleix
“It’s obvious that going back to Argentina brings back wonderful memories, but this is a new season. Anyway, I am confident because in Portugal we got the answers we were looking for, I am satisfied with our level, we need to improve in qualifying to be able to prove it in the two races. Being caught up in the battles in the middle of the group inevitably makes you lose time, so we will have to start further ahead to be able to put our pace to good use”.
Maverick
“It’s only the beginning of the season but I’m feeling good. Aprilia has worked well and I feel more comfortable in the saddle, I can exploit the RS-GP better. Our objective remains to always extract the maximum from our bike, if we do this consistently I am sure the results will come. Argentina and America are two tracks that I like, I arrive there motivated”.
American Shedden Racing In Italy’s CIV Aprilia Sport Production Championship
JESSE JAMES SHEDDEN SIGNS WITH ITALIAN BIERRETI RACING FOR THE CIV APRILIA SPORT PRODUCTION CHAMPIONSHIP
After a successful 2022 North America Talent Cup (NATC) effort, Shedden will compete in Italy on the Aprilia RS250 SP2 for the spec CIV Aprilia series and aim to secure international road racing credentials.
HELENDALE, CA – Jesse James Shedden has signed with the established Italian Bierreti Racing Team to compete in the CIV Aprilia Sport Production Championship Series aboard the Aprilia RS250 SP2. Jesse James notched multiple wins aboard the Aprilia during the NATC, ultimately coming one-point shy of the championship. He looks to carry his winning record overseas to the home of Aprilia, against some of Italy’s top young racers. Signing with the Bierreti Racing team sends a strong message to competitors that Jesse James is focused on winning.
Bierreti Racing has successfully competed in CIV, CEV, and FIM series, with multiple champions racing under the Bierreti Team name. Most recently, the 2021 and 2022 Aprilia Sport Production series champions raced for Bierreti. A premier team in the paddock, Bierreti has years of experience to offer the fourteen-year old American.
When asked about the opportunity to race for a top team in Italy, Jesse James replied, “I’m really excited about the opportunity to race for Bieretti Racing in the CIV Junior Series in Italy. I love travel, I love adventure, and I love a challenge so this should be good.”
Giulia Stibioli, Bierreti’s Team Owner commented: “We are very enthusiastic having an international rider such as Jesse on board, we are sure it is a big opportunity for mutual growth. The Aprilia Sport Production has been for many riders a great way for racing in CIV Moto3 and then to start a high-level international career. We hope it is the beginning of a great collaboration!”
Jesse James Shedden will continue with sponsors who have supported him during national racing in the U.S., including: Atlas Speed Factory, Fresh n Lean, KYT Helmets, Mithos USA, Dunlop Tires, ASV Inventions, TechSpec Tank Grips, Suspension Matters, Yoshimura R&D, Maxima Racing Oils, Bickle Racing, Produkte Designs, RJR Motorsports, Alpinestars, VNM Sport, Galfer USA, and APX AXN Motorsports Solutions.
Aprilia Sport Production Series Championship Schedule:
ROUND 1: 21 May 2023; Vallelunga
ROUND 2: 11 June 2023; Magione
ROUND 3: 2 July 2023; Modena
ROUND 4: 6 August 2023; Cervesina
ROUND 5: 17 September 2023; Varano
For more information on the CIV Aprilia Sport Production Series Championship, please visit: https://www.aprilia.com/en_EN/aprilia-racing/aprilia-sport-production/
MotoGP: Dorna Previews This Weekend’s Races in Argentina
Reset. Reload. Race! Ready for Round 2?
Termas de Rio Hondo gears up to host the second round of a blockbuster 2023
There were thrills, there were spills, and there was some seriously close racing in Portimao. Now, we saddle up to do it all again as Termas de Rio Hondo prepares to host round two for the Gran Premio Michelin® de la Republica Argentina. Ready to get back in the ring?
DUCATI LENOVO TEAM
As one side of the garage enjoyed one of his best weekends ever, the other arguably endured one of his worst – and through no fault of his own. Enea Bastianini is sidelined this weekend due to that broken shoulder blade, so that means reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia will be flying solo – but he’s coming in on quite a high.
Taking the first ever Tissot Sprint win after piling the pressure on Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) was already quite an improvement on the start Bagnaia had last season, and it only got better. In the Grand Prix race there was more sublime speed too, and it proves a warning shot for the field. Bagnaia, and his fellow Ducati riders, also have chance to take the factory’s first win at Termas as it’s one of the three tracks they haven’t yet reigned. But can we expect those rivals from Portugal flip the form book?
APRILIA RACING
Speaking of “those rivals”, Maverick Viñales has now come within a few tenths of that win on a third different machine not once, but twice. He pushed Bagnaia all the way on Sunday and he’s arguably had the upper hand at Aprilia so far, including getting his elbows out in the Sprint with teammate Aleix Espargaro.
Now, we head for Argentina. It’s a venue the bike has already reigned with Espargaro last year as man and machine made history with their first wins – and one where Viñales also has a previous victory, back in 2017. That’s quite a combination. Can Espargaro stamp some authority on the weekend? Or has Viñales got another chance to edge away?
MOONEY VR46 RACING TEAM
The Sprint wasn’t the best start to the season for Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi, with Saturday afternoon proving a somewhat damp squib after strong pre-season showings. That turned round for Bezzecchi on Sunday in some style, however, as the sophomore sliced through to third, escaped the scuffle and didn’t look back – taking a second premier class podium. Is there more in the locker for Argentina? Marini, meanwhile, leaves Portimao with nil points, crashing out of the Sprint and the GP race. As one of three riders who suffered only a single DNF in 2022, his first aim in Argentina is likely to recapture that consistency and get those points.
PRIMA PRAMAC RACING
It was a weekend of two halves for both Johann Zarco and Jorge Martin in Portugal, and both will want a more balanced weekend Argentina. Zarco had a tougher Tissot Sprint before becoming the star of the show in that hard-fought battle for fourth on Sunday, and Martin crashed in the GP race after having lost out in the Marquez-Oliveira incident. On Saturday, however, the number 89 was close to that Sprint win – and was also very close to denying Aleix Espargaro and Aprilia their first Grand Prix win last year in Argentina.
Zarco remains on the hunt for a first MotoGP™ win, Martin has something to prove and the speed to do so… we can expect both at the front again this weekend.
RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING
SURPRISE! Or was it? After ending testing a little down the timesheets, Friday in Portugal felt like Jack Miller ripped the covers off a magic trick, but maybe it shouldn’t have. A lot of work has gone in, a lot of laps have been done and it seems like KTM are on their way. Miller too. What can we expect this weekend at a very different venue? The Austrian factory are missing a top five at Termas so that could be a first target.
Teammate Brad Binder, meanwhile, still somehow managed to stun on Sunday despite ongoing neck pain after a crash in testing. The South African got stuck in in that awesome fight for fourth, and with a few more days will hopefully be a little closer to feeling 100%. Both Miller and Binder at full pelt is quite a force to contend with…
GRESINI RACING MotoGP™
Friday and Saturday were a bit underwhelming for Alex Marquez after pre-season progress on his new Ducati, but Sunday was both a good result and a fantastic battle too. He’ll be buoyed by that and on the hunt for more in Argentina – where he’s won in Moto3™ and Moto2™. Fabio Di Giannantonio, meanwhile, needs to unlock the flashes of pace we’ve seen and take that step forward we’ve seen before.
MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MotoGP™
Fabio Quartararo had a difficult start to 2023. After a tougher qualifying, contact from Mir then hampered his Sprint before he’d really got going, and then that grid position added another hurdle at the start of the Grand Prix race. But he did get in that big group fight late on. With some very different tracks now coming up, starting with Argentina, we’ll likely see Yamaha seriously hunker down on trying to figure out what they’re missing. Franco Morbidelli may well be doing the same himself after a tough opener too.
REPSOL HONDA TEAM
It was a rollercoaster season opener for Repsol Honda, with some glory, some drama and some mistakes. After that stunning Saturday for Marc Marquez, the error that saw him crash into Miguel Oliveira on Sunday leaves the number 93 on the sidelines for Argentina, having sustained a broken bone in his hand. His absence – given incredible speed at the venue in the past – takes one ace out of play.
That leaves Joan Mir heading into his second weekend with the team flying solo. He hasn’t got the best record at Termas but neither has he the worst, so more progress will be the name of the game.
LCR HONDA
The same is true for Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) as he managed to finish top Honda. The mission continues for Rins and Mir to adapt, to learn, and to give quality feedback to Honda as the Japanese giant continue to push towards the front. For Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), the mission is similar – but he also has to try and stay with the new recruits. Can he rediscover some form?
GASGAS FACTORY RACING Tech3
Did someone say first points? Rookie Augusto Fernandez took just those in Portugal, and he’ll want more from Argentina. It’s not a place he’s had much experience though, so that could make the mountain a little bigger this particular weekend. And we’ll be missing Pol Espargaro as he recovers from that Friday crash, with GASGAS also not replacing the injured Spaniard.
CRYPTODATA RNF MotoGP™ TEAM
Promise and then disappointment was RNF’s weekend in Portugal. But Miguel Oliveira certainly put on a great show for the home fans – despite feeling sore all weekend after a highside on Friday – until being crashed out of contention on Sunday. Now, he’ll miss the Argentina GP and Raul Fernandez races solo. The Spaniard had an underwhelming season opener and will need to start banking those points soon as the new bike, new team and second season of MotoGP™ are all opportunities to show that incredible pace we’ve seen in Moto2™.
SHOWTIME
Friday’s two practice sessions decide entrants to Q2, before the MotoGP™ grid qualify on Saturday morning. The Tissot Sprint then gets in gear at 15:00 on Saturday, before Sunday puts on a stunner at 14:00. Don’t miss it!
Tissot Sprint: Saturday 15:00 (GMT -3)
Grand Prix Race: Sunday 14:00 (GMT -3)
See you there!
Can Acosta double down in Argentina?
Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) overcame two kinds of pressure in Portimao to leave with the first win of the season: the pressure of Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) chasing him all the way home, and that of the hype that has already risen to swirl around the number 37 again.
With a little less experience of Termas de Rio Hondo, can he keep the roll going? Can Canet hit back? Or will the very different venue belong to someone else entirely? We’ll find out at 12:15 (GMT -3) on Sunday!
Sophomore success leads Moto3™ into Argentina
The season opener saw Moto3™ sophomores lock out the podium, with Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3), David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) and Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) pipping rookie Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo). Now the likes of veterans Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) and Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) will be looking to hit back… and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) will be aiming for less of a mountain to climb. Tune in for more spectacular Moto3™ at 11:00 (GMT -3) on Sunday!
Isle Of Man TT: Health Concerns Force Hutchinson Out Of 2023 Event
Editorial Note: Ian Hutchinson suffered a stroke recently while riding his bicycle in Spain.
MILWAUKEE BMW AND HUTCHY FORCED TO WITHDRAW FROM 2023 TT
TAS Racing and Ian Hutchinson have been forced to make the tough decision to sit out this year’s Isle of Man TT Races with Milwaukee BMW. In light of Ian’s well documented health scare earlier this month, his racing licence has been revoked for 12 months, which is standard protocol with racing’s governing body.
Ian’s day-to-day health is of paramount importance to all involved and while he is making a remarkable recovery, already given the all clear to drive his car – rules are rules and we must respect them. Ian is obviously bitterly disappointed after putting in the hard yards over the winter months, spinning many laps on a TAS Racing prepared Milwaukee BMW M 1000 RR Superstock specification machine in Spain.
Despite this major set-back, the team will be represented at the TT by our title partner Milwaukee, as they are also a leading event sponsor at the June showpiece. Ian will be on the Island representing both the team and Milwaukee during TT race week, so fans will get the chance to meet him on the Milwaukee stand in the main paddock area.
Milwaukee BMW will be at the International North West 200 in May however with Alastair Seeley, and Hutchy will be on the North Coast for a scheduled visit during race week as part of the team set-up and will no doubt be very well received.
Philip Neill
Milwaukee BMW Team Principal
“First and foremost our concerns are with Ian and we look forward to supporting him on his road to making a full recovery. Clearly we are disappointed to miss our first IOM TT in 23 years – aside from the Covid years of course. Everything was in place for this year’s event together with Milwaukee and our other valued partners. We now look forward to finalising our plans for the NW200 and another BSB season.”
Marc Marquez Penalty Appeal Referred To “MotoGP Court Of Appeal”
DECISION OF THE FIM APPEAL STEWARDS
FIM APPEAL STEWARDS’ DECISION UPON THE APPEAL OF Mr. Marc Marquez and HRC – REPSOL HONDA TEAM on 29/03/2023
Mr. Marc Marquez and the team, HRC – REPSOL HONDA TEAM (Alberto Puig) lodged a written appeal on 29/03/2023 at 02h16 (am) to the FIM Appeal Stewards with the deposit for appeal of 1320 Euros.
The appeal is lodged against the application of the Sanction imposed on Marc Marquez, Rider #93, issued by the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel on 28 March 2023, in connection with the previous “Notification of Sanction”, issued on 26 March 2023.
The penalty notified by the FIM MotoGP- Stewards Panel on 26/03/2023 was a “Double Long Lap Penalty for the GRAN PREMIO MICHELIN® DE LA REPUBLICA ARGENTINA MotoGP- Race”
The application of the sanction imposed on Marc Marquez by the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel (“Application of the Sanction”) issued on 28/03/2023 was a “Double Long Lap Penalty“ to be applied at the next MotoGP Race in which the rider will be able to participate.
1. Composition of the FIM APPEAL STEWARDS
The Panel of the FIM Appeal Stewards is made up of:
• Paul King FIM Appeal Steward
• Armando Marques FIM Appeal Steward (nominated by FMP)
2. Procedure
The appeal was regularly lodged in due form, with the appropriate fee guaranteed and within time deadlines stated by the FIM Administration (within 24 hours counted from the previous e-mail sent by the Repsol Honda Team Manager (ie before 29 March 2023, 07:57 CEST)).
The FIM Appeal Stewards were convened electronically on 29/03/2023.
The following documents were submitted to the FIM Appeal Stewards:
– The notification of the FIM Sanction imposed by the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel on 26 March 2023.
– The “Application of the Sanction” issued by the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel on 28 March 2023.
– The Statement of Appeal edited by Mr. Marc Marquez and HRC – REPSOL HONDA TEAM.
3. The FIM Appeal Stewards’ s considerations:
The 2 elements mentioned by the appellant relate to:
1) The validity of the “Application of the Sanction” stated by the FIM Stewards Panel
2) A request for a stay of the provisional execution of the “Application of the Sanction”
Considering, the circumstances of the case and the legal issues raised by the appeal filed by Mr. Marc Marquez and HRC – REPSOL HONDA TEAM team, the FIM Appeal Stewards decide to refer the case to the MotoGP Court of Appeal for the adequate resolution of the case.
4. The decision
Based upon this information, the FIM Appeal Stewards decide:
• to receive the Appeal (art. 3.3.3.2)
• to refer the case to the MotoGP Court of Appeal (art. 3.3.3.2)
FIM Headquarter, Mies, 29/03/2023.
FIM Appeal Steward
Paul King
FMNR Appeal Steward
Armando Marques