Aprilia vs Ducati: Aleix Espargaro and Bagnaia split by just 0.049 on Friday
A duel on Day 1 sees the Noale factory upset the Ducati lock out in the top six
Aleix Espargaro (41). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Friday, 27 May 2022
Less than half a tenth decided the top spot on Day 1 at a scorching Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, with Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) just edging out home hero Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the two ended Friday split by just 0.049. Third went the way of Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team), with Aprilia and Espargaro the only presence able to break a Ducati stranglehold on the top six as the two Italia factories came out fighting on Friday.
FP1
LCR Honda Idemitsu’s Takaaki Nakagami dominated the final FP1 timesheets, four tenths clear, but it had been much closer than that. The Japanese rider was already fastest in a top four covered by just 0.031 seconds when he bolted on new medium compound Michelin slick tyres, front and rear, and put in a 1:46.662.
Francesco Bagnaia (63). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Before Nakagami’s rise, Bagnaia had been quickest on home soil for both rider and factory. He had clocked a 1:47.070 which Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) came so very close to matching when the Spaniard set a 1:47.071. Then, just before the half-hour mark, Aleix Espargaro did match it – a 1:47.070 exactly – before Nakagami moved the goal posts.
Le Mans winner Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was fifth with a 1:47.186, with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) only 0.005 further adrift and Miller next up in seventh after an early tour through the gravel, too.
Enea Bastianini (23). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) and Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) also set identical times in P8 and P9 respectively, with Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) in 10th, just edging out World Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™)…
Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) ran across the grass on the way to San Donato when he had a close call with Aleix Espargaro, also notable was Espargaro’s Aprilia team-mate Lorenzo Savadori, the Noale manufacturer’s test rider running with a REAR wing on his RS-GP…
FP2
It wasn’t long until Nakagami’s 1:46.662 from FP1 was bettered by Zarco, who set a 1:46.381 on his Ducati, and Bagnaia would move into second spot at the halfway mark with a 1:46.604 and 1:46.538 on consecutive laps.
When the time attacks came in the final minutes, Bagnaia punched out a 1:45.940 to go to the very top, with Miller following him across the line to set a 1:46.313 and Zarco also in tow as he rolled out a 1:46.349. They were first, second, and third, with more Ducati riders also in fourth, fifth and sixth, but Aleix Espargaro had other ideas – he moved the marker to a 1:45.891 in the final three minutes, thanks in part to a slipstream from team-mate Viñales.
Bagnaia had run off at San Donato as soon as he’d set that high-1:45, but regrouped and almost reclaimed the mantle of fastest lap as he clocked a 1:45.957 with the chequered flag out. He would stay second though, ahead of Miller and Zarco, with Marini fifth thanks to a 1:46.362, and Bastianini sixth.
Lorenzo Savadori (32) used a new aero package on his Aprilia on Friday. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Zarco was also in the thick of the action for different reasons over the course of the session. His early flyer was still the benchmark when he tucked the front of his Desmosedici at Materassi, an incident which would not only scuff Pramac’s new purple livery but also caused a brief red flag period to clean up the gravel which had been dragged onto the track, rider ok.
Rins later had a similar crash to the Frenchman, before Zarco went down again in the final minute of the session at Correntaio – rider ok once again.
Provisional Q2 places
Behind that top six of an Aprilia leading five Ducatis, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder was the only other rider in the top eight who wasn’t on Borgo Panigale machinery, the South African slotting into seventh on a 1:46.439. Rookie Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) impressed once more in P8, while points leader Quartararo was ninth. For now, Pol Espargaro is the other rider into Q2 as it stands.
With forecasts of possible rain on Saturday at Mugello, there will be eyes to the skies overnight as the likes of Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) in 11th and Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) in 12th wait it out. Marquez was 0.767 seconds off Aleix Espargaro’s pace but just 0.040 seconds outside the top 10, having apparently finished the session on the new RC213V chassis. Rins and fellow Suzuki rider Joan Mir both also have work to do if they are to get into Q2…
Will the rain ruin their plans, or can they fight their way into the top 10? Make sure you tune in to FP3 on Saturday from 09:55 (GMT +2), before qualifying from 14:10!
Jake Dixon (96). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Dixon pulls clear of Fernandez on Friday
The Brit ends Day 1 three tenths clear of Fernandez and Canet
Jake Dixon is in the box seat to get through to Q2 at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley after the Inde GASGAS Aspar Team rider was fastest on the opening day of action in Moto2™. While he was unable to improve in FP2 on his 1:51.966 from earlier on Friday at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, the mercury was climbing well into the 30s, and few riders did go quicker in the afternoon. Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was second quickest, with Aron Canet (Flexbox HP 40) completing the top three, also from FP1.
FP1
Dixon reigned the morning session, and the Brit enjoyed those three tenths in hand to bounce back from a tough end to the French GP. Fernandez was his closest company followed by Canet, and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was next up in fourth as the rookie’s leap forward in Le Mans seems to have carried forward. Filip Salač (Gresini Racing Moto2™) also impressed as he took fifth to open his weekend on the right foot.
Sean Dylan Kelly (American Racing) had an early spill when he ran through the gravel at Casanova and while there was a nervous moment with his bike stopped in the middle of the track, the American was able to scamper away. Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) also went down in the latter stages at Arrabbiata 2, and went to the Medical Centre for a check up, declared fit.
FP2
Chantra had an FP1 to forget thanks to that crash and was ninth with a 1:52.899, a time which would not have been good enough to get him into the all-important combined top 14. However, the Indonesian GP winner would set the very fastest lap of FP2, a 1:52.350, which puts him fourth overall too. It was close in the session top three though, with Fernandez second within 0.021 and Acosta third only 0.057 off the top.
Provisional Q2 places
The FP1 trio of Dixon, Fernandez and Canet top the combined times, ahead of Chantra, Acosta and Salač. Albert Arenas (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team), Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and teammate Tony Arbolino are up next. Completing the top ten overall after a huge leap up the timesheets is Niccolo Antonelli (Monney VR46 Racing Team).
His teammate, World Championship leader Celestino Vietti, is also into Q2 for now in P12, with Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team), Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) and Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors Speed Up) the last set to move through.
Jerez winner and Idemitsu Honda Team Asia rider Ai Ogura is one left on the outside looking in, with P17 against his name. Can he move forward in FP3? Will the skies stay dry? We’ll find out at 10:55 before qualifying from 15:10 (GMT +2).
Dennis Foggia (7). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Foggia sets the benchmark on Friday
The home hero heads Masia and McPhee at Mugello
Day 1 at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley was Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) vs Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo), with the former setting the benchmark in FP1, a time that wasn’t beaten, and Masia taking FP2 to end the day second overall. Third went to another FP1 lap from John McPhee (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), the Brit completing the top three on Friday.
FP1
Foggia made his statement lap in FP1, quick throughout the session when running on his own and with a best lap of 1:56.916 near the end to top the session.
The Italian was over three and a half tenths quicker than either of the Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max team-mates, John McPhee and Ayumu Sasaki, who took second and third, respectively. Their best laps came in the slipstream and with both tucked into the same group, with McPhee setting a 1:57.283 and Sasaki a 1:57.394. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) finished fourth on a 1:57.850, another impressive showing from the rookie.
Kaito Toba (CIP – Green Power) was the only faller, rider ok.
FP2
Considering he and Foggia are tied for second in the World Championship, it was fittingly Masia who set the pace in FP2, clocking a 1:57.134 right at the end of the session which would earn him second-fastest on the combined times. It also put him a whopping six tenths clear of Sasaki and Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing), who made an improvement to a 1:57.775.
That was the theme of the second practice session, with only Matteo Bertelle (QJMotor Avintia Racing Team) causing a change to the combined top 14 until the time attacks in the closing minutes.
Toba crashed again, and there was a big crash for Sasaki. The number 71 highsided riding in a group with Masia and Elia Bartolini (QJMotor Avintia Racing Team), with contact made by those following. Taken to hospital in Borgo San Lorenzo, Sasaki was subsequently diagnosed with left and right collarbone fractures and concussion, so he’ll under observation for at least another 12 hours and not take any further part in the race weekend.
Provisional Q2 places
Behind Foggia from FP1, Masia from FP2, McPhee, Sasaki; now out, and Suzuki, Moreira is also into Q2, as it stands, in sixth. World Championship leader Sergio Garcia (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team) took seventh with a 1:57.921 at the end of the afternoon, and rounding out the combined top 10 are Bertelle on a 1:58.004, from Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team). Izan Guevara (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team), who is fourth in the World Championship, will be looking to strengthen his grip on a spot in Q2 tomorrow in FP3 considering he is currently 12th, just ahead of Mario Aji (Honda Team Asia) and Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo).
Tune in for Moto3™ FP3 on Saturday morning, before qualifying from 12:35 (GMT +2).
In addition to other injuries, Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC rider Danilo Petrucci said he broke his right fibula in his 174 mph crash at the end of MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Race Two at VIRginia International Raceway.
Petrucci reported the previously unknown injury in a statement he issued Thursday via Twitter. (See his most recent Tweets below.)
Petrucci did not mention anything about the possibility of picking his Ducati up and riding off track where he could have taken advantage of the expansive run-off area. That’s what former Superbike World Champion Neil Hodgson did when he and his Corona Honda CBR1000RR Superbike got blown off line at VIR’s kink in 2009. Hodgson left the track at 165 mph and managed to slow down in the grassy run-off area without injury. “Thank God it’s a safe track,” Hodgson said at the time. “Thank God. Because if there were anything like a wall or anything I wouldn’t be talking about it now, I’d be dead.”
There was at least one eyewitness to Petrucci’s incident, and that was Steve Scheibe, owner of the Aftercare Hayes Scheibe Racing Team.
“I was standing right there against the rail,” Scheibe wrote to Roadracingworld.com in a text message, “and seeing how hard he [Petrucci] tried to pass Mat [Scholtz] the lap before and knowing that he hadn’t passed him yet I thought he would make one more chance and probably on the outside, which is virtually impossible there. I saw them come into sight and I could see that he went about halfway around Mat and his trajectory wasn’t favorable for his outcome. And then there’s a pretty good size cloud of smoke and slowly he fell over to the inside and went into the grass.”
Later, Scheibe went out on the front straightaway, found a black tire skid mark that looked like it matched Petrucci’s position on the course, and took the photo seen below.
A long, single tire skid mark seen just past the finish line on the kinked front straightaway at VIRginia International Raceway. Eyewitness Steve Scheibe saw smoke and believes it was from the front tire on Danilo Petrucci’s Ducati.
Scheibe didn’t want to speculate what Petrucci may have or have not done to produce the smoke he saw and mark he photographed, but he knows that his own rider, Ashton Yates, was in a very similar situation in exactly the same spot at the end of Superbike Race One. In that instance, Yates touched his front brake and lost the front, but luckily, Yates did not crash.
“On the last lap [of Superbike Race One] I was right there behind PJ [Jacobsen] and Hector [Barbera],” said Yates. “I think they kind of rolled off right there. There’s a dip right there at the finish line, and they kind of rolled off.
“When I saw that I pulled in the front brake a little bit because it spooked me, and I tucked the front for a half-second or second. I saved it, but it was pretty scary. I didn’t realize what had happened until like a few seconds later because it happened so fast.”
Asked if he thinks Petrucci used his front brake, causing him to lose the front, Yates said, “People are saying [Petrucci] was around the outside of Mathew [Scholtz], so he probably had more lean angle than I did and he was going wide open. I don’t know. It’s a sketchy spot. When you’re around the outside of somebody right there you’re kind of leaning on them and you kind of have to go where they go and you’re running out of track sometimes. So, if Mathew had sat up at all, then he would have responded maybe by touching the brake. I don’t know.”
Petrucci’s latest comments indicate surprise that his crash was not recorded on “safety cameras.” Some venues used by MotoAmerica, including Road America and Barber Motorsports Park, have state-of-the-art surveillance camera systems covering the entire track. But at some venues MotoAmerica Race Direction relies on radioed cornerworker reports and the TV broadcast cameras to get information about incidents on the course.
The prognosis for Petrucci’s broken leg is not known; the next MotoAmerica event is scheduled for June 3-5 at Road America.
The Swiss rider takes pole ahead of Zannoni and Casadei as MotoE™ qualifies at Mugello for the first time
Friday, 27 May 2022
Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) has marked himself as the rider to beat in the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup’s first ever round at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello. He took the lead in the World Cup with a win in Race 2 at Le Mans a fortnight ago and now has pole position for the two races at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, having also set the pace in both practice sessions.
Joining the Swiss rider on the front row in Italy will be two home heroes, with Kevin Zannoni (Ongetta Sic58 Squadracorse) qualifying second-fastest and Mattia Casadei (Pons Racing 40) third, the latter making it a clean sweep of front row starts in 2022.
Q1
It was Marc Alcoba (Openbank Aspar Team) and Kevin Manfredi (Octo Pramac MotoE) who made it through, with Hikari Okubo (Avant Ajo MotoE™) and Hector Garzo (Tech3 E-Racing) arguably surprises left behind, given both are solidly top 10 in the World Cup standings. However, they still earnt spots on Row 4 of the grid, with Okubo 11th and Garzo 12th.
Q2
Casadei was fastest after the first flyers of Q2 on a 1:59.535, but he was not able to extract any more time as the 10-minute session played out in hot conditions. Zannoni, on the other hand, was through with a 1:59.473 on his second flyer, only to be knocked off his perch by Aegerter’s 1:59.406.
Aegerter was not willing to settle, either, clocking a 1:59.205 next time around which moved him to 0.268 seconds clear of Zannoni. Beyond that, the margins were close, with Casadei 0.062 seconds away from second place, and Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) missing the front row by only 0.002 seconds. A winner of both races at Jerez just a few weeks ago, Granado is set to line up in fourth for the two Mugello encounters, with Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE™) fifth and Q1 graduate Manfredi sixth.
The Grid
From there, it’s Le Mans podium finisher Niccolo Canepa (WithU GRT RNF MotoE™ Team) in seventh and would have been Miquel Pons (LCR E-Team) in P8 but the Spaniard’s best lap was cancelled after he was found to have low tyre pressures. Andrea Mantovani (WithU GRT RNF MotoE™ Team) therefore moves up, with Alcoba 10th.
That’s the grid for both races this weekend, so tune in for the first on Saturday at 16:25 (GMT +2), before Race 2 on Sunday at 15:30!
Dominique Aegerter: “I’m very happy that I can start from pole position. Last time in Le Mans, it was very, very close, but we started perfectly this weekend, first in both practice sessions and we have strong pace. It’s six laps tomorrow and Sunday, and the conditions are really hot outside, the track temperature is really hot, but the Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE team has done a fantastic job. They have made a nice set-up for Mugello, our first time here, and I love to ride here. I hope many fans come from Italy and also Switzerland, and I will try to get a good result for them.”
The four-time World Champion is inducted into the Hall of Fame at Mugello
Friday, 27 May 2022
Max Biaggi is now officially a MotoGP™ Legend! The four-time 250cc World Champion was inducted into the MotoGP™ Hall of Fame at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, with the spectacular Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello proving the perfect backdrop. Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta presented Biaggi with his MotoGP™ Legend Medal at the ceremony on Friday, with plenty of famous faces from the paddock in attendance – and a very special video message sent in from HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, too.
A video message from HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco was played during the press conference. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Incredibly – given the career he would go on to build – Biaggi started racing late, first competing at the age of 18. From there, his rise was stratospheric as 1991 saw his first Grand Prix races and points in the 250cc class, 1992 heralded his first win and by 1994, the “Roman Emperor” was a World Champion for the first time – also taking Aprilia’s first title in the 250cc class. The glory didn’t stop there, as Biaggi took the 250cc crown an incredible four times in a row and with two different factories, reigning the category from 1994 until 1997 inclusive and reserving his place in history as one of the best ever to race in the class.
Max Biaggi (1) on his Aprilia 250, circa 1995. Photo courtesy Dorna.
In 1998 Biaggi moved up to the premier class and, incredibly, he won on his 500cc debut – something not repeated since. He came runner up that year and began another run of impressive performances, never finishing outside the top five in the Championship in any premier class season between 1998 and 2005, his final hurrah in MotoGP™.
Max Biaggi (3), on a Yamaha YZR-M1, leading longtime rival Valentino Rossi (46), on a Honda RC212V, during a MotoGP race. Photo courtesy Dorna.
By the time Biaggi departed the Grand Prix paddock he had accrued 42 victories, of which 13 were in the premier class, and 111 podiums and 56 pole positions overall. But his motorcycle racing career was far from over, as he moved to WorldSBK and took 21 wins and 71 podiums, crowning himself Champion in 2010 and 2012 – therefore the first MotoGP™ Legend to also be a WorldSBK Champion.
QUOTES
Max Biaggi: “First of all, thanks everybody for coming. This is a very special day for me and, first of all, I need to thank Carmelo and Dorna, who make this happen, because without them, nothing was possible, so thank you very much, Carmelo. Secondly, I want to say thanks simply to everyone who makes this happen; all the manufacturers’ work in the past, starting from Aprilia, Honda, Yamaha, and all the people that are here are basically the ones that supported me all the time, in different teams and different situations, in the good days and the bad days. So, I’m proud that everybody came; for me, this means a lot, because life still goes on after racing.
“I’m proud also that my family really encouraged me in the bad days to still do it and never give up, and they supported me all the time. Today, they’re here, my son and my daughter are here, so this is a very emotional moment because they can say now, ‘Hey, my dad is a Legend,’ so this is something cool! Twenty years ago, I didn’t even think about that, so as a man, this is important too.
“Lastly, now I’m going in the third phase of my life, and of course I’m team owner. I want to thank Husqvarna and Sterilgarda, who make this dream come true, so now I use my experience to hopefully create the new riders for the future, hopefully the champions; who knows? I want to thank again Dorna, Carlos as well, because they have done an impeccable job over the years and MotoGP now is just fantastic, so thanks a lot.”
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports: “It was two years ago when we decided to nominate Max as a MotoGP Legend, but unfortunately the pandemic and the rest of the things didn’t allow us to do it in a proper manner. This is a ceremony we do without restrictions masks, with everybody happy, and I think the time we waited to do it has been reasonable. Max has clearly been a big legend of MotoGP. I was telling him, I have a fairing of this bike in my office in Madrid, which was given by Carlo Pernat to me with the number 4. I always remember the start of MotoGP.
“When we started, really the situation was different, we have been lucky to improve all together these possibilities, and now MotoGP is something very, very important. For us to nominate Max as a MotoGP Legend, is something not just important for him but also important for us. He has been a true legend, he has been racing very hard, he has a team today and is successful and is teaching the people to do that. For all of these reasons, I think it’s very important today to nominate Max as a MotoGP Legend, and I’m very proud about that. Thank you.”
STATS
– 42 Grand Prix wins: 29 wins x 250cc, 13 wins x 500cc/MotoGP™ (5 x MotoGP™, 8 x 500cc)
– 111 GP podiums: Biaggi is one of 10 riders who reached the milestone of 100 podiums in GP racing, of which 53 are in the 250cc class and 58 in 500cc/MotoGP™. He is the Italian rider with the third most GP podiums, behind only Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini
– 56 pole positions: one of only five riders with more than 50 poles in GP racing: 33 x 250cc, 23 x 500cc/MotoGP™
– Biaggi won at least once across seven successive premier class seasons from 1998 to 2004. He also took at least one pole position per premier class season from 1998 to 2004
– Biaggi is one of only two riders who have clinched a title in both GP racing and World Superbike along with John Kocinski (250cc/1990 and WorldSBK/1997)
APRILIA RACING AND RNF RACING TOGETHER FOR THE NEXT MOTOGP SEASONS FROM 2023 THERE WILL BE FOUR APRILIA RS-GP BIKES ON TRACK
AFTER PROVING ITS COMPETITIVENESS, THE ITALIAN PROJECT TAKES ANOTHER STEP IN ITS YOUNG HISTORY
MASSIMO RIVOLA: “WITH RNF TO ENHANCE AND VALORISE APRILIA RACING’S HERITAGE OF TECHNICAL AND SPORTING KNOWLEDGE”
As of the 2023 season there will be four Aprilia RS-GPs competing in the MotoGP class of the World Championship.
Aprilia Racing and the RNF Racing team have signed an agreement valid for two seasons, renewable for a further two years. For the first time in its young history in MotoGP, Aprilia will have a satellite team.
Following the positive start to the 2022 season and the confirmation of factory team riders Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Viñales for the next two years, the agreement that will see Aprilia’s bikes on track doubled is a further step along the path of growth, both technical and organisational, that the Noale-based racing department has set as its goal.
The philosophy with which Aprilia is approaching this opportunity is in line with what has been done so far. The collaboration with RNF Racing will not be limited to the sale of the bikes but will involve a strong synergy that will lead Aprilia Racing to invest in the partnership for the training of engineers, technicians, managers and, of course, riders.
A multi-year programme that, it is hoped, will lead to the expansion, consolidation and enhancement of a technical and management culture that represents the heritage of the Italian factory.
RNF Racing, despite being a relatively young team, has demonstrated great solidity and professionalism, achieving important results and rightfully entering the MotoGP stage. These results are the result of passion, but also of a technical and organisational ability that will be a valuable ally for Aprilia Racing in the future.
Massimo Rivola
“I am happy to announce the agreement with RNF Racing. We have always reasoned in small steps and as we demonstrate the competitiveness of our RS-GP, a natural part of the journey is to see two more on track. The Noale racing department is a true heritage of knowledge, of technical culture applied to high performance motorbikes as well as sports management. With RNF Racing we find a partner to enhance and valorise this extraordinary heritage. We are thinking, of course, of the riders and the best competitiveness, but also of raising new generations of engineers, technicians and managers. To continue and improve the extraordinary, all-Italian tradition of Aprilia Racing”.
Razlan Razali
“We are absolutely thrilled for this long term partnership with Aprilia Racing. Our philosophy remains to work together with the factory team to develop riders that will one day become Aprilia factory riders. We will assist them in development to ensure that we continue to be competitive and ultimately win with Aprilia Racing. The proposal by Aprilia Racing fulfils our long term plans, strategies and security for the next two plus two years and I must thank Aprilia Racing for its trust, confidence and faith in us. We are absolutely looking forward to the season next year and this new partnership. At the same time, we want to express our gratitude to Yamaha for these past years working together and growing together. We will, though, maintain our focus on working hard this season in order to improve our results together with Yamaha and eventually conclude 2022 on a high note.”
Aprilia vs Ducati: Aleix Espargaro and Bagnaia split by just 0.049 on Friday
A duel on Day 1 sees the Noale factory upset the Ducati lock out in the top six
Aleix Espargaro (41). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Friday, 27 May 2022
Less than half a tenth decided the top spot on Day 1 at a scorching Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, with Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) just edging out home hero Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the two ended Friday split by just 0.049. Third went the way of Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team), with Aprilia and Espargaro the only presence able to break a Ducati stranglehold on the top six as the two Italia factories came out fighting on Friday.
FP1
LCR Honda Idemitsu’s Takaaki Nakagami dominated the final FP1 timesheets, four tenths clear, but it had been much closer than that. The Japanese rider was already fastest in a top four covered by just 0.031 seconds when he bolted on new medium compound Michelin slick tyres, front and rear, and put in a 1:46.662.
Francesco Bagnaia (63). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Before Nakagami’s rise, Bagnaia had been quickest on home soil for both rider and factory. He had clocked a 1:47.070 which Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) came so very close to matching when the Spaniard set a 1:47.071. Then, just before the half-hour mark, Aleix Espargaro did match it – a 1:47.070 exactly – before Nakagami moved the goal posts.
Le Mans winner Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was fifth with a 1:47.186, with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) only 0.005 further adrift and Miller next up in seventh after an early tour through the gravel, too.
Enea Bastianini (23). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) and Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) also set identical times in P8 and P9 respectively, with Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) in 10th, just edging out World Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™)…
Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) ran across the grass on the way to San Donato when he had a close call with Aleix Espargaro, also notable was Espargaro’s Aprilia team-mate Lorenzo Savadori, the Noale manufacturer’s test rider running with a REAR wing on his RS-GP…
FP2
It wasn’t long until Nakagami’s 1:46.662 from FP1 was bettered by Zarco, who set a 1:46.381 on his Ducati, and Bagnaia would move into second spot at the halfway mark with a 1:46.604 and 1:46.538 on consecutive laps.
When the time attacks came in the final minutes, Bagnaia punched out a 1:45.940 to go to the very top, with Miller following him across the line to set a 1:46.313 and Zarco also in tow as he rolled out a 1:46.349. They were first, second, and third, with more Ducati riders also in fourth, fifth and sixth, but Aleix Espargaro had other ideas – he moved the marker to a 1:45.891 in the final three minutes, thanks in part to a slipstream from team-mate Viñales.
Bagnaia had run off at San Donato as soon as he’d set that high-1:45, but regrouped and almost reclaimed the mantle of fastest lap as he clocked a 1:45.957 with the chequered flag out. He would stay second though, ahead of Miller and Zarco, with Marini fifth thanks to a 1:46.362, and Bastianini sixth.
Lorenzo Savadori (32) used a new aero package on his Aprilia on Friday. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Zarco was also in the thick of the action for different reasons over the course of the session. His early flyer was still the benchmark when he tucked the front of his Desmosedici at Materassi, an incident which would not only scuff Pramac’s new purple livery but also caused a brief red flag period to clean up the gravel which had been dragged onto the track, rider ok.
Rins later had a similar crash to the Frenchman, before Zarco went down again in the final minute of the session at Correntaio – rider ok once again.
Provisional Q2 places
Behind that top six of an Aprilia leading five Ducatis, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder was the only other rider in the top eight who wasn’t on Borgo Panigale machinery, the South African slotting into seventh on a 1:46.439. Rookie Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) impressed once more in P8, while points leader Quartararo was ninth. For now, Pol Espargaro is the other rider into Q2 as it stands.
With forecasts of possible rain on Saturday at Mugello, there will be eyes to the skies overnight as the likes of Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) in 11th and Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) in 12th wait it out. Marquez was 0.767 seconds off Aleix Espargaro’s pace but just 0.040 seconds outside the top 10, having apparently finished the session on the new RC213V chassis. Rins and fellow Suzuki rider Joan Mir both also have work to do if they are to get into Q2…
Will the rain ruin their plans, or can they fight their way into the top 10? Make sure you tune in to FP3 on Saturday from 09:55 (GMT +2), before qualifying from 14:10!
Jake Dixon (96). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Dixon pulls clear of Fernandez on Friday
The Brit ends Day 1 three tenths clear of Fernandez and Canet
Jake Dixon is in the box seat to get through to Q2 at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley after the Inde GASGAS Aspar Team rider was fastest on the opening day of action in Moto2™. While he was unable to improve in FP2 on his 1:51.966 from earlier on Friday at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, the mercury was climbing well into the 30s, and few riders did go quicker in the afternoon. Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was second quickest, with Aron Canet (Flexbox HP 40) completing the top three, also from FP1.
FP1
Dixon reigned the morning session, and the Brit enjoyed those three tenths in hand to bounce back from a tough end to the French GP. Fernandez was his closest company followed by Canet, and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was next up in fourth as the rookie’s leap forward in Le Mans seems to have carried forward. Filip Salač (Gresini Racing Moto2™) also impressed as he took fifth to open his weekend on the right foot.
Sean Dylan Kelly (American Racing) had an early spill when he ran through the gravel at Casanova and while there was a nervous moment with his bike stopped in the middle of the track, the American was able to scamper away. Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) also went down in the latter stages at Arrabbiata 2, and went to the Medical Centre for a check up, declared fit.
FP2
Chantra had an FP1 to forget thanks to that crash and was ninth with a 1:52.899, a time which would not have been good enough to get him into the all-important combined top 14. However, the Indonesian GP winner would set the very fastest lap of FP2, a 1:52.350, which puts him fourth overall too. It was close in the session top three though, with Fernandez second within 0.021 and Acosta third only 0.057 off the top.
Provisional Q2 places
The FP1 trio of Dixon, Fernandez and Canet top the combined times, ahead of Chantra, Acosta and Salač. Albert Arenas (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team), Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and teammate Tony Arbolino are up next. Completing the top ten overall after a huge leap up the timesheets is Niccolo Antonelli (Monney VR46 Racing Team).
His teammate, World Championship leader Celestino Vietti, is also into Q2 for now in P12, with Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team), Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) and Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors Speed Up) the last set to move through.
Jerez winner and Idemitsu Honda Team Asia rider Ai Ogura is one left on the outside looking in, with P17 against his name. Can he move forward in FP3? Will the skies stay dry? We’ll find out at 10:55 before qualifying from 15:10 (GMT +2).
Dennis Foggia (7). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Foggia sets the benchmark on Friday
The home hero heads Masia and McPhee at Mugello
Day 1 at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley was Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) vs Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo), with the former setting the benchmark in FP1, a time that wasn’t beaten, and Masia taking FP2 to end the day second overall. Third went to another FP1 lap from John McPhee (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), the Brit completing the top three on Friday.
FP1
Foggia made his statement lap in FP1, quick throughout the session when running on his own and with a best lap of 1:56.916 near the end to top the session.
The Italian was over three and a half tenths quicker than either of the Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max team-mates, John McPhee and Ayumu Sasaki, who took second and third, respectively. Their best laps came in the slipstream and with both tucked into the same group, with McPhee setting a 1:57.283 and Sasaki a 1:57.394. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) finished fourth on a 1:57.850, another impressive showing from the rookie.
Kaito Toba (CIP – Green Power) was the only faller, rider ok.
FP2
Considering he and Foggia are tied for second in the World Championship, it was fittingly Masia who set the pace in FP2, clocking a 1:57.134 right at the end of the session which would earn him second-fastest on the combined times. It also put him a whopping six tenths clear of Sasaki and Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing), who made an improvement to a 1:57.775.
That was the theme of the second practice session, with only Matteo Bertelle (QJMotor Avintia Racing Team) causing a change to the combined top 14 until the time attacks in the closing minutes.
Toba crashed again, and there was a big crash for Sasaki. The number 71 highsided riding in a group with Masia and Elia Bartolini (QJMotor Avintia Racing Team), with contact made by those following. Taken to hospital in Borgo San Lorenzo, Sasaki was subsequently diagnosed with left and right collarbone fractures and concussion, so he’ll under observation for at least another 12 hours and not take any further part in the race weekend.
Provisional Q2 places
Behind Foggia from FP1, Masia from FP2, McPhee, Sasaki; now out, and Suzuki, Moreira is also into Q2, as it stands, in sixth. World Championship leader Sergio Garcia (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team) took seventh with a 1:57.921 at the end of the afternoon, and rounding out the combined top 10 are Bertelle on a 1:58.004, from Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team). Izan Guevara (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team), who is fourth in the World Championship, will be looking to strengthen his grip on a spot in Q2 tomorrow in FP3 considering he is currently 12th, just ahead of Mario Aji (Honda Team Asia) and Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo).
Tune in for Moto3™ FP3 on Saturday morning, before qualifying from 12:35 (GMT +2).
Danilo Petrucci standing and walking under his own power less than 56 seconds after he crashed at the end of MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Race Two at VIR. Video still image courtesy MotoAmerica Live+.
In addition to other injuries, Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC rider Danilo Petrucci said he broke his right fibula in his 174 mph crash at the end of MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Race Two at VIRginia International Raceway.
Petrucci reported the previously unknown injury in a statement he issued Thursday via Twitter. (See his most recent Tweets below.)
Petrucci did not mention anything about the possibility of picking his Ducati up and riding off track where he could have taken advantage of the expansive run-off area. That’s what former Superbike World Champion Neil Hodgson did when he and his Corona Honda CBR1000RR Superbike got blown off line at VIR’s kink in 2009. Hodgson left the track at 165 mph and managed to slow down in the grassy run-off area without injury. “Thank God it’s a safe track,” Hodgson said at the time. “Thank God. Because if there were anything like a wall or anything I wouldn’t be talking about it now, I’d be dead.”
There was at least one eyewitness to Petrucci’s incident, and that was Steve Scheibe, owner of the Aftercare Hayes Scheibe Racing Team.
“I was standing right there against the rail,” Scheibe wrote to Roadracingworld.com in a text message, “and seeing how hard he [Petrucci] tried to pass Mat [Scholtz] the lap before and knowing that he hadn’t passed him yet I thought he would make one more chance and probably on the outside, which is virtually impossible there. I saw them come into sight and I could see that he went about halfway around Mat and his trajectory wasn’t favorable for his outcome. And then there’s a pretty good size cloud of smoke and slowly he fell over to the inside and went into the grass.”
Later, Scheibe went out on the front straightaway, found a black tire skid mark that looked like it matched Petrucci’s position on the course, and took the photo seen below.
A long, single tire skid mark seen just past the finish line on the kinked front straightaway at VIRginia International Raceway. Eyewitness Steve Scheibe saw smoke and believes it was from the front tire on Danilo Petrucci’s Ducati.
Scheibe didn’t want to speculate what Petrucci may have or have not done to produce the smoke he saw and mark he photographed, but he knows that his own rider, Ashton Yates, was in a very similar situation in exactly the same spot at the end of Superbike Race One. In that instance, Yates touched his front brake and lost the front, but luckily, Yates did not crash.
“On the last lap [of Superbike Race One] I was right there behind PJ [Jacobsen] and Hector [Barbera],” said Yates. “I think they kind of rolled off right there. There’s a dip right there at the finish line, and they kind of rolled off.
“When I saw that I pulled in the front brake a little bit because it spooked me, and I tucked the front for a half-second or second. I saved it, but it was pretty scary. I didn’t realize what had happened until like a few seconds later because it happened so fast.”
Asked if he thinks Petrucci used his front brake, causing him to lose the front, Yates said, “People are saying [Petrucci] was around the outside of Mathew [Scholtz], so he probably had more lean angle than I did and he was going wide open. I don’t know. It’s a sketchy spot. When you’re around the outside of somebody right there you’re kind of leaning on them and you kind of have to go where they go and you’re running out of track sometimes. So, if Mathew had sat up at all, then he would have responded maybe by touching the brake. I don’t know.”
Petrucci’s latest comments indicate surprise that his crash was not recorded on “safety cameras.” Some venues used by MotoAmerica, including Road America and Barber Motorsports Park, have state-of-the-art surveillance camera systems covering the entire track. But at some venues MotoAmerica Race Direction relies on radioed cornerworker reports and the TV broadcast cameras to get information about incidents on the course.
The prognosis for Petrucci’s broken leg is not known; the next MotoAmerica event is scheduled for June 3-5 at Road America.
The Swiss rider takes pole ahead of Zannoni and Casadei as MotoE™ qualifies at Mugello for the first time
Friday, 27 May 2022
Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) has marked himself as the rider to beat in the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup’s first ever round at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello. He took the lead in the World Cup with a win in Race 2 at Le Mans a fortnight ago and now has pole position for the two races at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, having also set the pace in both practice sessions.
Joining the Swiss rider on the front row in Italy will be two home heroes, with Kevin Zannoni (Ongetta Sic58 Squadracorse) qualifying second-fastest and Mattia Casadei (Pons Racing 40) third, the latter making it a clean sweep of front row starts in 2022.
Q1
It was Marc Alcoba (Openbank Aspar Team) and Kevin Manfredi (Octo Pramac MotoE) who made it through, with Hikari Okubo (Avant Ajo MotoE™) and Hector Garzo (Tech3 E-Racing) arguably surprises left behind, given both are solidly top 10 in the World Cup standings. However, they still earnt spots on Row 4 of the grid, with Okubo 11th and Garzo 12th.
Q2
Casadei was fastest after the first flyers of Q2 on a 1:59.535, but he was not able to extract any more time as the 10-minute session played out in hot conditions. Zannoni, on the other hand, was through with a 1:59.473 on his second flyer, only to be knocked off his perch by Aegerter’s 1:59.406.
Aegerter was not willing to settle, either, clocking a 1:59.205 next time around which moved him to 0.268 seconds clear of Zannoni. Beyond that, the margins were close, with Casadei 0.062 seconds away from second place, and Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) missing the front row by only 0.002 seconds. A winner of both races at Jerez just a few weeks ago, Granado is set to line up in fourth for the two Mugello encounters, with Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE™) fifth and Q1 graduate Manfredi sixth.
The Grid
From there, it’s Le Mans podium finisher Niccolo Canepa (WithU GRT RNF MotoE™ Team) in seventh and would have been Miquel Pons (LCR E-Team) in P8 but the Spaniard’s best lap was cancelled after he was found to have low tyre pressures. Andrea Mantovani (WithU GRT RNF MotoE™ Team) therefore moves up, with Alcoba 10th.
That’s the grid for both races this weekend, so tune in for the first on Saturday at 16:25 (GMT +2), before Race 2 on Sunday at 15:30!
Dominique Aegerter: “I’m very happy that I can start from pole position. Last time in Le Mans, it was very, very close, but we started perfectly this weekend, first in both practice sessions and we have strong pace. It’s six laps tomorrow and Sunday, and the conditions are really hot outside, the track temperature is really hot, but the Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE team has done a fantastic job. They have made a nice set-up for Mugello, our first time here, and I love to ride here. I hope many fans come from Italy and also Switzerland, and I will try to get a good result for them.”
MotoGP Legend Max Biaggi (left) with Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta (right), Photo courtesy Dorna.
Max Biaggi becomes a MotoGP™ Legend
The four-time World Champion is inducted into the Hall of Fame at Mugello
Friday, 27 May 2022
Max Biaggi is now officially a MotoGP™ Legend! The four-time 250cc World Champion was inducted into the MotoGP™ Hall of Fame at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley, with the spectacular Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello proving the perfect backdrop. Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta presented Biaggi with his MotoGP™ Legend Medal at the ceremony on Friday, with plenty of famous faces from the paddock in attendance – and a very special video message sent in from HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, too.
A video message from HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco was played during the press conference. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Incredibly – given the career he would go on to build – Biaggi started racing late, first competing at the age of 18. From there, his rise was stratospheric as 1991 saw his first Grand Prix races and points in the 250cc class, 1992 heralded his first win and by 1994, the “Roman Emperor” was a World Champion for the first time – also taking Aprilia’s first title in the 250cc class. The glory didn’t stop there, as Biaggi took the 250cc crown an incredible four times in a row and with two different factories, reigning the category from 1994 until 1997 inclusive and reserving his place in history as one of the best ever to race in the class.
Max Biaggi (1) on his Aprilia 250, circa 1995. Photo courtesy Dorna.
In 1998 Biaggi moved up to the premier class and, incredibly, he won on his 500cc debut – something not repeated since. He came runner up that year and began another run of impressive performances, never finishing outside the top five in the Championship in any premier class season between 1998 and 2005, his final hurrah in MotoGP™.
Max Biaggi (3), on a Yamaha YZR-M1, leading longtime rival Valentino Rossi (46), on a Honda RC212V, during a MotoGP race. Photo courtesy Dorna.
By the time Biaggi departed the Grand Prix paddock he had accrued 42 victories, of which 13 were in the premier class, and 111 podiums and 56 pole positions overall. But his motorcycle racing career was far from over, as he moved to WorldSBK and took 21 wins and 71 podiums, crowning himself Champion in 2010 and 2012 – therefore the first MotoGP™ Legend to also be a WorldSBK Champion.
QUOTES
Max Biaggi: “First of all, thanks everybody for coming. This is a very special day for me and, first of all, I need to thank Carmelo and Dorna, who make this happen, because without them, nothing was possible, so thank you very much, Carmelo. Secondly, I want to say thanks simply to everyone who makes this happen; all the manufacturers’ work in the past, starting from Aprilia, Honda, Yamaha, and all the people that are here are basically the ones that supported me all the time, in different teams and different situations, in the good days and the bad days. So, I’m proud that everybody came; for me, this means a lot, because life still goes on after racing.
“I’m proud also that my family really encouraged me in the bad days to still do it and never give up, and they supported me all the time. Today, they’re here, my son and my daughter are here, so this is a very emotional moment because they can say now, ‘Hey, my dad is a Legend,’ so this is something cool! Twenty years ago, I didn’t even think about that, so as a man, this is important too.
“Lastly, now I’m going in the third phase of my life, and of course I’m team owner. I want to thank Husqvarna and Sterilgarda, who make this dream come true, so now I use my experience to hopefully create the new riders for the future, hopefully the champions; who knows? I want to thank again Dorna, Carlos as well, because they have done an impeccable job over the years and MotoGP now is just fantastic, so thanks a lot.”
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports: “It was two years ago when we decided to nominate Max as a MotoGP Legend, but unfortunately the pandemic and the rest of the things didn’t allow us to do it in a proper manner. This is a ceremony we do without restrictions masks, with everybody happy, and I think the time we waited to do it has been reasonable. Max has clearly been a big legend of MotoGP. I was telling him, I have a fairing of this bike in my office in Madrid, which was given by Carlo Pernat to me with the number 4. I always remember the start of MotoGP.
“When we started, really the situation was different, we have been lucky to improve all together these possibilities, and now MotoGP is something very, very important. For us to nominate Max as a MotoGP Legend, is something not just important for him but also important for us. He has been a true legend, he has been racing very hard, he has a team today and is successful and is teaching the people to do that. For all of these reasons, I think it’s very important today to nominate Max as a MotoGP Legend, and I’m very proud about that. Thank you.”
STATS
– 42 Grand Prix wins: 29 wins x 250cc, 13 wins x 500cc/MotoGP™ (5 x MotoGP™, 8 x 500cc)
– 111 GP podiums: Biaggi is one of 10 riders who reached the milestone of 100 podiums in GP racing, of which 53 are in the 250cc class and 58 in 500cc/MotoGP™. He is the Italian rider with the third most GP podiums, behind only Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini
– 56 pole positions: one of only five riders with more than 50 poles in GP racing: 33 x 250cc, 23 x 500cc/MotoGP™
– Biaggi won at least once across seven successive premier class seasons from 1998 to 2004. He also took at least one pole position per premier class season from 1998 to 2004
– Biaggi is one of only two riders who have clinched a title in both GP racing and World Superbike along with John Kocinski (250cc/1990 and WorldSBK/1997)
Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola (left) and RNF Racing Principal Razlan Razali (right). Photo courtesy Aprilia.
APRILIA RACING AND RNF RACING TOGETHER FOR THE NEXT MOTOGP SEASONS FROM 2023 THERE WILL BE FOUR APRILIA RS-GP BIKES ON TRACK
AFTER PROVING ITS COMPETITIVENESS, THE ITALIAN PROJECT TAKES ANOTHER STEP IN ITS YOUNG HISTORY
MASSIMO RIVOLA: “WITH RNF TO ENHANCE AND VALORISE APRILIA RACING’S HERITAGE OF TECHNICAL AND SPORTING KNOWLEDGE”
As of the 2023 season there will be four Aprilia RS-GPs competing in the MotoGP class of the World Championship.
Aprilia Racing and the RNF Racing team have signed an agreement valid for two seasons, renewable for a further two years. For the first time in its young history in MotoGP, Aprilia will have a satellite team.
Following the positive start to the 2022 season and the confirmation of factory team riders Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Viñales for the next two years, the agreement that will see Aprilia’s bikes on track doubled is a further step along the path of growth, both technical and organisational, that the Noale-based racing department has set as its goal.
The philosophy with which Aprilia is approaching this opportunity is in line with what has been done so far. The collaboration with RNF Racing will not be limited to the sale of the bikes but will involve a strong synergy that will lead Aprilia Racing to invest in the partnership for the training of engineers, technicians, managers and, of course, riders.
A multi-year programme that, it is hoped, will lead to the expansion, consolidation and enhancement of a technical and management culture that represents the heritage of the Italian factory.
RNF Racing, despite being a relatively young team, has demonstrated great solidity and professionalism, achieving important results and rightfully entering the MotoGP stage. These results are the result of passion, but also of a technical and organisational ability that will be a valuable ally for Aprilia Racing in the future.
Massimo Rivola
“I am happy to announce the agreement with RNF Racing. We have always reasoned in small steps and as we demonstrate the competitiveness of our RS-GP, a natural part of the journey is to see two more on track. The Noale racing department is a true heritage of knowledge, of technical culture applied to high performance motorbikes as well as sports management. With RNF Racing we find a partner to enhance and valorise this extraordinary heritage. We are thinking, of course, of the riders and the best competitiveness, but also of raising new generations of engineers, technicians and managers. To continue and improve the extraordinary, all-Italian tradition of Aprilia Racing”.
Razlan Razali
“We are absolutely thrilled for this long term partnership with Aprilia Racing. Our philosophy remains to work together with the factory team to develop riders that will one day become Aprilia factory riders. We will assist them in development to ensure that we continue to be competitive and ultimately win with Aprilia Racing. The proposal by Aprilia Racing fulfils our long term plans, strategies and security for the next two plus two years and I must thank Aprilia Racing for its trust, confidence and faith in us. We are absolutely looking forward to the season next year and this new partnership. At the same time, we want to express our gratitude to Yamaha for these past years working together and growing together. We will, though, maintain our focus on working hard this season in order to improve our results together with Yamaha and eventually conclude 2022 on a high note.”
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Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
