A new all-time Lap Record sees the Aprilia rider take pole on home turf, with Bagnaia and Quartararo alongside
Aleix Espargaro (41). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Saturday, 04 June 2022
Aprilia Racing’s Aleix Espargaro reset his own All Time Lap Record to claim pole position for the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, coming out on top in a three-way fight for pole in MotoGP™ Q2 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The Aprilia rider’s 1:38.742 saw him prevail by just 0.031 seconds over Ducati Lenovo Team’s Francesco Bagnaia, with World Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) also set to start from the front row on Sunday afternoon after ending Q2 less than two tenths further back.
Q1
Q1 saw Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) prevail, with the fight going right to the wire and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) snatching second, and the final spot in Q2, from rookie sensation and Mugello front row starter Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team). From there, it was on to Q2 with both Aprilias…
Q2
It was tight at the end of the first runs, with Quartararo top on a 1:39.055, Bagnaia second at just a hundredth of a second off the pace, and Aleix Espargaro only two thousandths slower again in third.
While track temperature was approaching 60 degrees Celsius, the pace was just as hot when riders came back out for their second runs. Bagnaia raised the stakes when he punched out a 1:38.787, only 0.016 seconds away from the lap record which Aleix Espargaro had achieved in FP3, before taking an excursion through the run-off area at Turn 1. The Aprilia rider then snatched provisional pole back with that 1:38.742, while Quartararo consolidated third spot with a 1:38.959.
Aleix Espargaro was still pushing on his final lap when he outbraked himself at Turn 10, and Bagnaia was also continuing to chase time. This was it as the Ducati rider continued to find the pace to challenge, but it wasn’t quite enough as he crossed the line and was forced to settle for second. Quartararo, meanwhile, secured third but two tenths off the top.
The Grid
Behind three of the top four in the Championship as Aleix Espargaro heads Bagnaia and Quartararo, it’s a horde of Bologna bullets on Row 2. Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) finished Q2 with a 1:39.027 to claim fourth, and he was just 0.072 seconds up on Mugello’s sensational rookie polesitter: Fabio Di Giannantonio. ‘Diggia’ impressed once more, taking another top five on the grid.
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) was sixth-quickest courtesy of the 1:39.142 he set on his first run, likewise Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) in seventh on a 1:39.145.
While 0.403 seconds separated first from seventh in qualifying, Viñales was 0.252 seconds further back in eighth spot, with Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) also making it onto Row 3. The fourth row will be headed up by Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team), from Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) and the second of Q1 graduate in Nakagami.
So where’s Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™)? The sole top five title contender out in Q1 lines up in P14, just behind Bezzecchi.
Row 5 is completed by Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who took a detour through the Turn 10 gravel trap on his final lap.
Then it’s Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in 16th, ahead of 2020 Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™). Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) missed the session after a nasty-looking crash in FP4 which saw the Spaniard taken to the medical centre for an x-ray on his left wrist, rider to be reviewed before Warm Up.
That’s a wrap on Saturday, with a title contender showdown sitting on the front row and plenty of challengers looking to move forward and join the party. Can Aleix Espargaro take a second MotoGP™ win? Will Bagnaia and Quartararo have more in the locker on race pace? We’ll find out at 14:00 (GMT +2), so don’t miss it!
Aleix Espargaro: “I have no idea how I broke the lap record. Sincerely, it has been the most difficult lap of the whole season so far. The conditions were super, super tricky. I was talking with the team and I was not sure about going under 39, so then with the first time attack I saw many riders in 39.0, and I said, ‘You have to do 38 if you want the pole position.’ So, it was all or nothing, I did an absolutely crazy lap, sliding everywhere… Actually, I didn’t really enjoy the lap, I was on the limit in every single corner, and when I activated the rear height device on the last straight, I said, ‘You finish, you close the lap, so you are a lucky man,’ and then when I saw 8.7, P1, I was so happy. So, yep, very happy, and let’s see if this can give me some advantage for tomorrow’s race.”
Celestino Vietti (13). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Q1 to pole: Vietti denies Canet at the flag
The Championship leader heads the grid despite a trip through Q1
Mooney VR46 Racing Team’s Celestino Vietti has taken a precious Moto2™ pole position at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya. The Italian has seen his World Championship lead whittled down to a countback in recent rounds, but his last-gasp 1:43.823 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya gives him a great platform to start rebuilding his margin in the points table. Missing out on pole by just 0.008 seconds was Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40), while Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) qualified third despite setting his fastest lap in ‘traffic’.
Q1
Vietti had dropped into Q1 after missing the top 14 by just 0.034 seconds following an ultra-tight FP3 earlier in the day, but safely got himself out of the opening stanza of qualifying with the second-fastest lap time of that session, a 1:44.490. It was Canet, however, who was the early pace-setter in Q2, with a 1:44.210 on his first flyer and a 1:43.831 on his second.
Q2
That was the fastest lap time of the weekend to that point, and it was still the quickest that anyone had gone when the chequered flag started to fly. Roberts had topped FP3 with a 1:44.154 but did even better than that on his final lap of qualifying, logging a 1:44.002 despite coming across considerable traffic as he started the fourth sector of the Catalunya circuit. That put the American onto the middle of the front row, before he was shifted back a spot when Vietti came through with the 1:43.823 which elevated the Italian from ninth on the timing screen to the very top.
The Grid
Vietti, Canet and Roberts head the grid, with plenty more fast faces on the chase. Jake Dixon set good early pace, holding second at one point on a 1:44.045, and he was also content to help fellow Inde GASGAS Aspar Team rider Albert Arenas too. Dixon spread his limbs as wide as he could to enhance the slipstream for Arenas, and the Spaniard clocked a 1:44.049 at the halfway mark of Q2. By the flag, those times putt the Briton and Spaniard fourth and fifth respectively. They will be joined on Row 2 of the grid by Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team).
Row 3 will comprised Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team), Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo), and Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP).
Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), who is behind Vietti in the World Championship only because he has one win, rounded out the top 10 in qualifying, ahead of Q1 pace-setter Alonso Lopez (Lightech Speed Up) and Mugello winner Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo). The latter’s Q2 pace was something of a surprise considering he was only 0.002 seconds away from the top in FP3, yet only got onto Row 4 at the end of his next session with a 1:44.691.
It could be a classic at Catalunya for the intermediate class, with Vietti in the hot seat, Canet fast once again and Roberts showing he’s right back in the mix. Join us at 12:20 (GMT +2) to see who takes the spoils in Barcelona!
Moto2™ FRONT ROW
1 Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) – Kalex – 1’43.823
2 Aron Canet (Flexbox HP 40) – Kalex – +0.008
3 Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) – Kalex – +0.179
Celestino Vietti: “For sure, I think going through Q1 helped us because we made a little set-up change from Q1 to Q2 that helped us a bit with the grip. For sure also, with the windy conditions, it helped us to better understand the situation. So, good work by the team, and we hope to have a good race tomorrow.”
Dennis Foggia (7). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Foggia heads a fast front row in Moto3™
The Leopard rider is joined by Öncü and Guevara on the front row, with Garcia seventh
For only the second time in his career, Leopard Racing’s Dennis Foggia will start a Grand Prix from pole position, taking over on top in the final seconds of Q2 at the Monster Energy Catalan Grand Prix. The Italian will be joined on the front row by Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Deniz Öncü and Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team’s Izan Guevara.
Q2
After setting the fastest lap of the weekend in FP3 earlier on Saturday, Foggia was the favourite and he quickly got to work. As the final runs began, the Leopard rider was three tenths clear of another happy to go it alone: Guevara.
Despite a smattering of red sectors elsewhere, the Italian never looked like being knocked off top spot in the final flurry of fast laps. And he improved again, getting down to a 1:48.290, to secure a second pole of his lightweight class career. Öncü got to within a tenth and a half to secure second, whilst Guevara left it very late to bag the final spot on the front row.
The Grid
Frenchman Lorezno Fellon (SIC58 Squadra Corse) was unlucky to miss out on the front row after Guevara’s late attack but had one of his best Saturdays yet. He’ll be joined on Row 2 of the grid by Q1 graduates Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) and Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse).
World Championship leader Sergio Garcia (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team) heads Row 3 in seventh, ahead of the CIP Green Power duo of Kaito Toba and rookie Australian Joel Kelso. Completing a top ten split by just over half a second was Leopard Racing’s Tatsuki Suzuki.
The stage is set for another classic at Catalunya, so tune in on Sunday at 11:00 (GMT+2)!
Moto3™ FRONT ROW
1 Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) – Honda – 1:48.290
Dennis Foggia: “I’m really happy, and I think we have done good work this weekend. In FP3, I made some modifications to the bike and finally, in qualifying, I’m happy because I got my second pole position, and happy because I did my lap time alone. It was difficult to manage the tyre because the conditions were so hot, so I’m happy. For sure, I think it will be a race with a big group, but I think tomorrow we’ll be ready for the battle, to take the most points possible for the world championship.”
MONSTER ENERGY COMPANY AND YAMAHA FACTORY RACING MOTOGP TEAM ANNOUNCE MULTI-YEAR TITLE SPONSOR RENEWAL
Montmeló (Spain), 4th June 2022
Monster Energy Company and Yamaha Motor continue their global alliance by confirming a second consecutive multi-year agreement. Monster Energy will continue as the Title Sponsor of the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team.
Yamaha is pleased to announce that Monster Energy Company will remain the Title Sponsor of the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team and will therefore continue to race as the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team.
The multi-year agreement sees Monster Energy extend their Title Sponsor contract and further strengthen their long-standing partnership with Yamaha‘s Factory MotoGP Team. Monster Energy have been an Official Sponsor to the team since 2013 and became Title Sponsor in 2019. During this time, the factory Yamaha squad secured the MotoGP Triple Crown in 2015, the Team Title in 2016, and won the 2021 MotoGP World Championship Title.
Both Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli are established Monster Energy athletes. Reigning World Champion Quartararo, who is confirmed to stay with the team for two more years, is in championship contention again. He‘s currently leading the standings by 8 points. Meanwhile, ahead of tomorrow‘s Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, the team is in third position in the team rankings, 10 points from first.
The Title Sponsorship renewal means the iconic Monster Energy ‘claw’ will continue to feature prominently in the coming years on the factory YZR-M1, all the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team‘s assets, and the riders‘ leathers.
The Monster Energy-Yamaha global alliance also extends to other racing disciplines such as Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Motocross, and FIM Motocross World Championships, underlining that Monster Energy and Yamaha are key-players and partners in the motorcycle racing world.
LIN JARVIS
MANAGING DIRECTOR, YAMAHA MOTOR RACING
“The Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya is the perfect occasion to announce the continuation of our team‘s strong partnership with Monster Energy Company. They will be the Title Sponsor of our Factory MotoGP Team for several MotoGP seasons to come.
“Yamaha and Monster Energy have been close partners in various motorsport disciplines for numerous years. Monster Energy have a great understanding of the motorsports industry and MotoGP – the pinnacle activity of the motorcycle racing world – which allows us both to work together very smoothly. They became our team‘s Official Sponsor in 2013 and Title Sponsor in 2019.
“This Title Sponsorship renewal is a testament to the great trust and respect we‘ve built over the years as well as the shared drive of both organisations to continue supporting motorcycle sports and promoting our brand values in the top series of global racing.
“The new Agreement signifies the intention of both Yamaha and Monster Energy to further strengthen our partnership in the years to come.”
RODNEY SACKS
CHAIRMAN AND CO-CEO OF MONSTER ENERGY COMPANY
“Monster Energy and Yamaha have had a long history of racing together at the very pinnacle of motorcycle racing and during that time we have forged a successful partnership both on and off the racetrack.
“Watching Fabio win the MotoGP World Championship last year on board his Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1 was one of many highlights we have enjoyed in our time together, and we look forward to several more years of racing together with Yamaha in MotoGP.
“We are delighted to be able to announce this extension at our title sponsorship round in Barcelona and wish both Franco, Fabio, and the entire team success for the weekend and for the remainder of the season.”
Gagne Snatches Provisional Pole For MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike At Road America
It’s An Action-Packed Friday On Road America’s “Four Miles Of Fun”
Jake Gagne (1). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
ELKHART LAKE, WI (June 3, 2022) – For a few minutes on Friday afternoon it looked as though Cameron Petersen was going to earn a surprise provisional pole position for this weekend’s two MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike races at Road America. Turns out, it was only for a few minutes as his teammate Jake Gagne burst his bubble and snatched the top spot away on his final go-around.
Gagne lapped at 2:11.384 on a sunny but windy day in Elkhart Lake to lead Petersen by .349 of a second with the Yamaha duo putting a little fear in the rest as they have a gap over the field.
Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz was third fastest – 1.2 seconds behind Gagne and almost a second behind Petersen.
Tytlers Cycle Racing’s PJ Jacobsen ended up fourth with his 2:13.4789, set prior to crashing out of the session. He was just a tick faster than Road America first-timer Danilo Petrucci, the Italian ending up with a best of 2:13.514 and struggling with his fitness as well as a new track to learn.
Jacobsen’s teammate Hector Barbera was sixth fastest, some .6 of a second clear of Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim. Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing’s Corey Alexander, Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante and Aftercare Hayes Scheibe Racing’s Ashton Yates rounded out the top 10 on opening day.
Josh Herrin (2). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Supersport – Herrin Gets it Started
Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC’s Josh Herrin led Friday’s Q1 session in the Supersport class, the Ducati Panigale V2 rider lapping at 2:19.805 – the only rider to drop into the 2:19s. That put him .726 of a second faster than Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott with Mesa37 Racing’s Stefano Mesa completing the provisional front row. Mesa ended the day 1.2 seconds off Herrin’s best on the four-mile circuit.
Corey Alexander (23). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Yuasa Stock 1000 – Alexander Bounces Back
Two short weeks ago, Corey Alexander was scratched from the two Yuasa Stock 1000 races at VIRginia International Raceway after suffering a concussion in his crash on Saturday morning. Today, Alexander showed he hasn’t lost any of his swagger as he earned provisional pole position for Saturday’s lone Yuasa Stock 1000 race.
Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim ended the session second with Alexander’s teammate Travis Wyman completing the provisional front row.
Alexander’s best was a 2:14.632, .868 of a second quicker than Gilim’s best. It was also a new lap record for the class.
Twins Cup – Still Barry
Twins Cup Championship leader Jody Barry showed that he may just win a fourth race in a row, at least based on his performance on Friday afternoon at Road America.
Barry and his Veloce Racing Aprilia RS 660 lapped at 2:26.829, a new lap record and .633 of a second faster than his teammate and defending class champion Kaleb De Keyrel. Rodio Racing/Warhorse HSBK Racing’s Anthony Mazziotto ended the day third fastest. The first non-Aprilia on Friday was the BARTCON Racing Yamaha YZF-R7 ridden to the fifth-fastest lap by Dominic Doyle.
SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup – Dreher Rules
Bad Boys Racing’s Avery Dreher led the way in SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Q1 on Friday with his best lap of 2:41.320. That was .951 of a second faster than the next fastest lap set by SportbikeTrackGear.com’s Joe LiMandri Jr. on his SportbikeTrackGear.com Kawasaki Ninja 400. Alpha Omega’s Cody Wyman ended the day third fastest.
Travis Wyman (10). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Mission King Of The Baggers – It’s A Wyman, Travis Wyman
H-D Screamin’ Eagle’s Travis Wyman was fastest on the first day of qualifying for the Mission King Of The Baggers as he led a Harley-Davidson one-two and a one-two for the Wyman clan with brother Kyle ending up second.
Travis Wyman lapped at a best of 2:23.631 to lead Kyle Wyman by .292 of a second with both riders doing their fastest lap on their final lap. Mission Foods/S&S Cycle/Indian Challenger Team’s Jeremy McWilliams ended up third, .671 of a second behind and just a 10th of a second ahead of his teammate Tyler O’Hara. Vance & Hines Racing’s James Rispoli rounded out the top five on Friday.
More, from a press release issued by Ducati North America:
Petrucci Ready to Race After Day One at Road America
The Warhorse HSBK Ducati NYC rider ends the day in P5
Danilo Petrucci (9). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.
Sunnyvale, Calif., June 3, 2022 — Danilo Petrucci ended the first day at Road America, round four of the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, in fifth place. The Warhorse HSBK Ducati NYC team faced its share of challenges, but former MotoGP star Petrucci continued to show his mettle qualifying while injured and learning another new track on the Panigale V4 R superbike.
Petrucci, who’s far from fully fit after crashing at VIR two weeks ago, posted a best time of 2:13.514, some 1.3 seconds faster than his previous best of 2:14.858, clocked during Practice 1.
Petrucci ended the day 2.13 seconds behind than pacesetter and championship rival Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne. Despite a rough track surface and having only two forty-minute sessions to learn the layout, Petrucci is well-placed and believes the team will be dialed in for the weekend.
Qualifying 1 Results—Top 5
P1 – Jake Gagne (Yamaha) 2:11.384
P2 – Cameron Petersen (Yamaha) 2:11.733
P3 – Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha) 2:12.637
P4 – PJ Jacobsen (BMW) 2:13.478
P5 – Danilo Petrucci (Ducati) 2:13.514
Danilo Petrucci (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC – Ducati #9)
“Today has been really tough physically for me. The track is really nice, but I can’t say the same for the tarmac because it’s really old. It’s full of bumps and is broken in some parts, which makes everything more difficult. We’re improving some electronic settings on the bike and tomorrow we’ll be even more competitive.”
Qualifying 2 is scheduled for Saturday, June 4 at 10:50 am EDT ahead of Race 1 at 4:10 pm EDT and Race 2 on Sunday, June 5 at 4:10 pm EDT.
A new all-time Lap Record sees the Aprilia rider take pole on home turf, with Bagnaia and Quartararo alongside
Aleix Espargaro (41). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Saturday, 04 June 2022
Aprilia Racing’s Aleix Espargaro reset his own All Time Lap Record to claim pole position for the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, coming out on top in a three-way fight for pole in MotoGP™ Q2 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The Aprilia rider’s 1:38.742 saw him prevail by just 0.031 seconds over Ducati Lenovo Team’s Francesco Bagnaia, with World Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) also set to start from the front row on Sunday afternoon after ending Q2 less than two tenths further back.
Q1
Q1 saw Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) prevail, with the fight going right to the wire and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) snatching second, and the final spot in Q2, from rookie sensation and Mugello front row starter Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team). From there, it was on to Q2 with both Aprilias…
Q2
It was tight at the end of the first runs, with Quartararo top on a 1:39.055, Bagnaia second at just a hundredth of a second off the pace, and Aleix Espargaro only two thousandths slower again in third.
While track temperature was approaching 60 degrees Celsius, the pace was just as hot when riders came back out for their second runs. Bagnaia raised the stakes when he punched out a 1:38.787, only 0.016 seconds away from the lap record which Aleix Espargaro had achieved in FP3, before taking an excursion through the run-off area at Turn 1. The Aprilia rider then snatched provisional pole back with that 1:38.742, while Quartararo consolidated third spot with a 1:38.959.
Aleix Espargaro was still pushing on his final lap when he outbraked himself at Turn 10, and Bagnaia was also continuing to chase time. This was it as the Ducati rider continued to find the pace to challenge, but it wasn’t quite enough as he crossed the line and was forced to settle for second. Quartararo, meanwhile, secured third but two tenths off the top.
The Grid
Behind three of the top four in the Championship as Aleix Espargaro heads Bagnaia and Quartararo, it’s a horde of Bologna bullets on Row 2. Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) finished Q2 with a 1:39.027 to claim fourth, and he was just 0.072 seconds up on Mugello’s sensational rookie polesitter: Fabio Di Giannantonio. ‘Diggia’ impressed once more, taking another top five on the grid.
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) was sixth-quickest courtesy of the 1:39.142 he set on his first run, likewise Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) in seventh on a 1:39.145.
While 0.403 seconds separated first from seventh in qualifying, Viñales was 0.252 seconds further back in eighth spot, with Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) also making it onto Row 3. The fourth row will be headed up by Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team), from Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) and the second of Q1 graduate in Nakagami.
So where’s Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™)? The sole top five title contender out in Q1 lines up in P14, just behind Bezzecchi.
Row 5 is completed by Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who took a detour through the Turn 10 gravel trap on his final lap.
Then it’s Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in 16th, ahead of 2020 Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™). Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) missed the session after a nasty-looking crash in FP4 which saw the Spaniard taken to the medical centre for an x-ray on his left wrist, rider to be reviewed before Warm Up.
That’s a wrap on Saturday, with a title contender showdown sitting on the front row and plenty of challengers looking to move forward and join the party. Can Aleix Espargaro take a second MotoGP™ win? Will Bagnaia and Quartararo have more in the locker on race pace? We’ll find out at 14:00 (GMT +2), so don’t miss it!
Aleix Espargaro: “I have no idea how I broke the lap record. Sincerely, it has been the most difficult lap of the whole season so far. The conditions were super, super tricky. I was talking with the team and I was not sure about going under 39, so then with the first time attack I saw many riders in 39.0, and I said, ‘You have to do 38 if you want the pole position.’ So, it was all or nothing, I did an absolutely crazy lap, sliding everywhere… Actually, I didn’t really enjoy the lap, I was on the limit in every single corner, and when I activated the rear height device on the last straight, I said, ‘You finish, you close the lap, so you are a lucky man,’ and then when I saw 8.7, P1, I was so happy. So, yep, very happy, and let’s see if this can give me some advantage for tomorrow’s race.”
Celestino Vietti (13). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Q1 to pole: Vietti denies Canet at the flag
The Championship leader heads the grid despite a trip through Q1
Mooney VR46 Racing Team’s Celestino Vietti has taken a precious Moto2™ pole position at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya. The Italian has seen his World Championship lead whittled down to a countback in recent rounds, but his last-gasp 1:43.823 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya gives him a great platform to start rebuilding his margin in the points table. Missing out on pole by just 0.008 seconds was Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40), while Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) qualified third despite setting his fastest lap in ‘traffic’.
Q1
Vietti had dropped into Q1 after missing the top 14 by just 0.034 seconds following an ultra-tight FP3 earlier in the day, but safely got himself out of the opening stanza of qualifying with the second-fastest lap time of that session, a 1:44.490. It was Canet, however, who was the early pace-setter in Q2, with a 1:44.210 on his first flyer and a 1:43.831 on his second.
Q2
That was the fastest lap time of the weekend to that point, and it was still the quickest that anyone had gone when the chequered flag started to fly. Roberts had topped FP3 with a 1:44.154 but did even better than that on his final lap of qualifying, logging a 1:44.002 despite coming across considerable traffic as he started the fourth sector of the Catalunya circuit. That put the American onto the middle of the front row, before he was shifted back a spot when Vietti came through with the 1:43.823 which elevated the Italian from ninth on the timing screen to the very top.
The Grid
Vietti, Canet and Roberts head the grid, with plenty more fast faces on the chase. Jake Dixon set good early pace, holding second at one point on a 1:44.045, and he was also content to help fellow Inde GASGAS Aspar Team rider Albert Arenas too. Dixon spread his limbs as wide as he could to enhance the slipstream for Arenas, and the Spaniard clocked a 1:44.049 at the halfway mark of Q2. By the flag, those times putt the Briton and Spaniard fourth and fifth respectively. They will be joined on Row 2 of the grid by Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team).
Row 3 will comprised Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team), Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo), and Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP).
Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), who is behind Vietti in the World Championship only because he has one win, rounded out the top 10 in qualifying, ahead of Q1 pace-setter Alonso Lopez (Lightech Speed Up) and Mugello winner Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo). The latter’s Q2 pace was something of a surprise considering he was only 0.002 seconds away from the top in FP3, yet only got onto Row 4 at the end of his next session with a 1:44.691.
It could be a classic at Catalunya for the intermediate class, with Vietti in the hot seat, Canet fast once again and Roberts showing he’s right back in the mix. Join us at 12:20 (GMT +2) to see who takes the spoils in Barcelona!
Moto2™ FRONT ROW
1 Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) – Kalex – 1’43.823
2 Aron Canet (Flexbox HP 40) – Kalex – +0.008
3 Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) – Kalex – +0.179
Celestino Vietti: “For sure, I think going through Q1 helped us because we made a little set-up change from Q1 to Q2 that helped us a bit with the grip. For sure also, with the windy conditions, it helped us to better understand the situation. So, good work by the team, and we hope to have a good race tomorrow.”
Dennis Foggia (7). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Foggia heads a fast front row in Moto3™
The Leopard rider is joined by Öncü and Guevara on the front row, with Garcia seventh
For only the second time in his career, Leopard Racing’s Dennis Foggia will start a Grand Prix from pole position, taking over on top in the final seconds of Q2 at the Monster Energy Catalan Grand Prix. The Italian will be joined on the front row by Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Deniz Öncü and Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team’s Izan Guevara.
Q2
After setting the fastest lap of the weekend in FP3 earlier on Saturday, Foggia was the favourite and he quickly got to work. As the final runs began, the Leopard rider was three tenths clear of another happy to go it alone: Guevara.
Despite a smattering of red sectors elsewhere, the Italian never looked like being knocked off top spot in the final flurry of fast laps. And he improved again, getting down to a 1:48.290, to secure a second pole of his lightweight class career. Öncü got to within a tenth and a half to secure second, whilst Guevara left it very late to bag the final spot on the front row.
The Grid
Frenchman Lorezno Fellon (SIC58 Squadra Corse) was unlucky to miss out on the front row after Guevara’s late attack but had one of his best Saturdays yet. He’ll be joined on Row 2 of the grid by Q1 graduates Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) and Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse).
World Championship leader Sergio Garcia (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team) heads Row 3 in seventh, ahead of the CIP Green Power duo of Kaito Toba and rookie Australian Joel Kelso. Completing a top ten split by just over half a second was Leopard Racing’s Tatsuki Suzuki.
The stage is set for another classic at Catalunya, so tune in on Sunday at 11:00 (GMT+2)!
Moto3™ FRONT ROW
1 Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) – Honda – 1:48.290
Dennis Foggia: “I’m really happy, and I think we have done good work this weekend. In FP3, I made some modifications to the bike and finally, in qualifying, I’m happy because I got my second pole position, and happy because I did my lap time alone. It was difficult to manage the tyre because the conditions were so hot, so I’m happy. For sure, I think it will be a race with a big group, but I think tomorrow we’ll be ready for the battle, to take the most points possible for the world championship.”
Fabio Quartararo (20) on his Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1 at Catalunya. Photo courtesy Monster Energy Yamaha.
MONSTER ENERGY COMPANY AND YAMAHA FACTORY RACING MOTOGP TEAM ANNOUNCE MULTI-YEAR TITLE SPONSOR RENEWAL
Montmeló (Spain), 4th June 2022
Monster Energy Company and Yamaha Motor continue their global alliance by confirming a second consecutive multi-year agreement. Monster Energy will continue as the Title Sponsor of the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team.
Yamaha is pleased to announce that Monster Energy Company will remain the Title Sponsor of the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team and will therefore continue to race as the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team.
The multi-year agreement sees Monster Energy extend their Title Sponsor contract and further strengthen their long-standing partnership with Yamaha‘s Factory MotoGP Team. Monster Energy have been an Official Sponsor to the team since 2013 and became Title Sponsor in 2019. During this time, the factory Yamaha squad secured the MotoGP Triple Crown in 2015, the Team Title in 2016, and won the 2021 MotoGP World Championship Title.
Both Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli are established Monster Energy athletes. Reigning World Champion Quartararo, who is confirmed to stay with the team for two more years, is in championship contention again. He‘s currently leading the standings by 8 points. Meanwhile, ahead of tomorrow‘s Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, the team is in third position in the team rankings, 10 points from first.
The Title Sponsorship renewal means the iconic Monster Energy ‘claw’ will continue to feature prominently in the coming years on the factory YZR-M1, all the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team‘s assets, and the riders‘ leathers.
The Monster Energy-Yamaha global alliance also extends to other racing disciplines such as Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Motocross, and FIM Motocross World Championships, underlining that Monster Energy and Yamaha are key-players and partners in the motorcycle racing world.
LIN JARVIS
MANAGING DIRECTOR, YAMAHA MOTOR RACING
“The Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya is the perfect occasion to announce the continuation of our team‘s strong partnership with Monster Energy Company. They will be the Title Sponsor of our Factory MotoGP Team for several MotoGP seasons to come.
“Yamaha and Monster Energy have been close partners in various motorsport disciplines for numerous years. Monster Energy have a great understanding of the motorsports industry and MotoGP – the pinnacle activity of the motorcycle racing world – which allows us both to work together very smoothly. They became our team‘s Official Sponsor in 2013 and Title Sponsor in 2019.
“This Title Sponsorship renewal is a testament to the great trust and respect we‘ve built over the years as well as the shared drive of both organisations to continue supporting motorcycle sports and promoting our brand values in the top series of global racing.
“The new Agreement signifies the intention of both Yamaha and Monster Energy to further strengthen our partnership in the years to come.”
RODNEY SACKS
CHAIRMAN AND CO-CEO OF MONSTER ENERGY COMPANY
“Monster Energy and Yamaha have had a long history of racing together at the very pinnacle of motorcycle racing and during that time we have forged a successful partnership both on and off the racetrack.
“Watching Fabio win the MotoGP World Championship last year on board his Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1 was one of many highlights we have enjoyed in our time together, and we look forward to several more years of racing together with Yamaha in MotoGP.
“We are delighted to be able to announce this extension at our title sponsorship round in Barcelona and wish both Franco, Fabio, and the entire team success for the weekend and for the remainder of the season.”
Gagne Snatches Provisional Pole For MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike At Road America
It’s An Action-Packed Friday On Road America’s “Four Miles Of Fun”
Jake Gagne (1). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
ELKHART LAKE, WI (June 3, 2022) – For a few minutes on Friday afternoon it looked as though Cameron Petersen was going to earn a surprise provisional pole position for this weekend’s two MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike races at Road America. Turns out, it was only for a few minutes as his teammate Jake Gagne burst his bubble and snatched the top spot away on his final go-around.
Gagne lapped at 2:11.384 on a sunny but windy day in Elkhart Lake to lead Petersen by .349 of a second with the Yamaha duo putting a little fear in the rest as they have a gap over the field.
Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz was third fastest – 1.2 seconds behind Gagne and almost a second behind Petersen.
Tytlers Cycle Racing’s PJ Jacobsen ended up fourth with his 2:13.4789, set prior to crashing out of the session. He was just a tick faster than Road America first-timer Danilo Petrucci, the Italian ending up with a best of 2:13.514 and struggling with his fitness as well as a new track to learn.
Jacobsen’s teammate Hector Barbera was sixth fastest, some .6 of a second clear of Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim. Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing’s Corey Alexander, Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Richie Escalante and Aftercare Hayes Scheibe Racing’s Ashton Yates rounded out the top 10 on opening day.
Josh Herrin (2). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Supersport – Herrin Gets it Started
Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC’s Josh Herrin led Friday’s Q1 session in the Supersport class, the Ducati Panigale V2 rider lapping at 2:19.805 – the only rider to drop into the 2:19s. That put him .726 of a second faster than Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott with Mesa37 Racing’s Stefano Mesa completing the provisional front row. Mesa ended the day 1.2 seconds off Herrin’s best on the four-mile circuit.
Corey Alexander (23). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Yuasa Stock 1000 – Alexander Bounces Back
Two short weeks ago, Corey Alexander was scratched from the two Yuasa Stock 1000 races at VIRginia International Raceway after suffering a concussion in his crash on Saturday morning. Today, Alexander showed he hasn’t lost any of his swagger as he earned provisional pole position for Saturday’s lone Yuasa Stock 1000 race.
Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim ended the session second with Alexander’s teammate Travis Wyman completing the provisional front row.
Alexander’s best was a 2:14.632, .868 of a second quicker than Gilim’s best. It was also a new lap record for the class.
Twins Cup – Still Barry
Twins Cup Championship leader Jody Barry showed that he may just win a fourth race in a row, at least based on his performance on Friday afternoon at Road America.
Barry and his Veloce Racing Aprilia RS 660 lapped at 2:26.829, a new lap record and .633 of a second faster than his teammate and defending class champion Kaleb De Keyrel. Rodio Racing/Warhorse HSBK Racing’s Anthony Mazziotto ended the day third fastest. The first non-Aprilia on Friday was the BARTCON Racing Yamaha YZF-R7 ridden to the fifth-fastest lap by Dominic Doyle.
SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup – Dreher Rules
Bad Boys Racing’s Avery Dreher led the way in SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup Q1 on Friday with his best lap of 2:41.320. That was .951 of a second faster than the next fastest lap set by SportbikeTrackGear.com’s Joe LiMandri Jr. on his SportbikeTrackGear.com Kawasaki Ninja 400. Alpha Omega’s Cody Wyman ended the day third fastest.
Travis Wyman (10). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Mission King Of The Baggers – It’s A Wyman, Travis Wyman
H-D Screamin’ Eagle’s Travis Wyman was fastest on the first day of qualifying for the Mission King Of The Baggers as he led a Harley-Davidson one-two and a one-two for the Wyman clan with brother Kyle ending up second.
Travis Wyman lapped at a best of 2:23.631 to lead Kyle Wyman by .292 of a second with both riders doing their fastest lap on their final lap. Mission Foods/S&S Cycle/Indian Challenger Team’s Jeremy McWilliams ended up third, .671 of a second behind and just a 10th of a second ahead of his teammate Tyler O’Hara. Vance & Hines Racing’s James Rispoli rounded out the top five on Friday.
More, from a press release issued by Ducati North America:
Petrucci Ready to Race After Day One at Road America
The Warhorse HSBK Ducati NYC rider ends the day in P5
Danilo Petrucci (9). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Ducati.
Sunnyvale, Calif., June 3, 2022 — Danilo Petrucci ended the first day at Road America, round four of the MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, in fifth place. The Warhorse HSBK Ducati NYC team faced its share of challenges, but former MotoGP star Petrucci continued to show his mettle qualifying while injured and learning another new track on the Panigale V4 R superbike.
Petrucci, who’s far from fully fit after crashing at VIR two weeks ago, posted a best time of 2:13.514, some 1.3 seconds faster than his previous best of 2:14.858, clocked during Practice 1.
Petrucci ended the day 2.13 seconds behind than pacesetter and championship rival Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha Racing’s Jake Gagne. Despite a rough track surface and having only two forty-minute sessions to learn the layout, Petrucci is well-placed and believes the team will be dialed in for the weekend.
Qualifying 1 Results—Top 5
P1 – Jake Gagne (Yamaha) 2:11.384
P2 – Cameron Petersen (Yamaha) 2:11.733
P3 – Mathew Scholtz (Yamaha) 2:12.637
P4 – PJ Jacobsen (BMW) 2:13.478
P5 – Danilo Petrucci (Ducati) 2:13.514
Danilo Petrucci (Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC – Ducati #9)
“Today has been really tough physically for me. The track is really nice, but I can’t say the same for the tarmac because it’s really old. It’s full of bumps and is broken in some parts, which makes everything more difficult. We’re improving some electronic settings on the bike and tomorrow we’ll be even more competitive.”
Qualifying 2 is scheduled for Saturday, June 4 at 10:50 am EDT ahead of Race 1 at 4:10 pm EDT and Race 2 on Sunday, June 5 at 4:10 pm EDT.
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