Miller, Bagnaia, Quartararo and Aleix Espargaro split by 0.068 at Motegi
Miller tops the title rivals, Marquez fifth in a top ten covered by 0.288 on Friday
Friday, 23 September 2022
Jack Miller set the pace in a Ducati Lenovo Team one-two in an extended opening practice session at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, but it could hardly have been closer at the top as Miller headed the three closest in the title fight: Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) – and all four were split by just 0.068. Aragon GP winner Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), on the other hand, was just 14th-fastest after a late crash and he’ll be looking for more on Saturday.
With a special timetable in place for the Japanese GP, the premier class’s sole Friday practice session was an extended, 75-minute affair. While that gave teams and riders plenty of flexibility to work on race runs, the threat of rain in Saturday morning’s FP2 session, the only other running before the starting order for Q1 is set, meant that there was always going to be a big emphasis on single-lap pace. Even the appearance of the rain flag, 30 minutes in, for some very light showers was not enough to dissuade anyone, with riders coming on for fresh Michelin slicks at regular intervals.
Miller had a very brief spell at the top inside the first quarter-hour of the session, but it was not until his final run that he really laid down a marker. The ‘Thriller’ leapt from 17th to first with a 1:44.660 as he lapped Motegi with a brand-new soft front tyre and soft rear. Then, despite seemingly being held up by Team Suzuki Ecstar replacement Takuya Tsuda through the Hairpin, he went quicker again with the 1:44.509 which would not be beaten. Just for good measure, Miller clocked a 1:44.549 next time through which would be bettered only by Bagnaia.
By the time everyone had completed their time attacks, Miller was back on top, Bagnaia just behind, and Quartararo moved up with a 1:44.558. Aleix Espargaro, who was only 14th with a minute to go before the chequered flag came out, then pulled out a great lap to end the session fourth and just 0.068 seconds off the very best pace.
Fifth was also a fair bit to write home about as Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), who has never ridden around Motegi on a MotoGP™ bike before, rounded out the top five on a 1:44.645 and was top Independent Team rider to boot.
Then comes Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). At Honda’s home track, the number 93 claimed sixth with a 1:44.656 after also proving the initial pace-setter very early in the session. It was an encouraging result for the eight-time World Champion despite displaying obvious shoulder soreness when he got off his RC213V at the end of one run, in what is his second round back following surgery on his right arm. There was one mishap for MM93 though, when he got his leathers snagged on the onboard camera as a crew member wheeled his bike back into the Honda box. Teammate Pol Espargaro finished seventh on a 1:44.678.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing duo Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira took eighth and ninth, respectively, while Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) rounded out the top 10.
Those who will be hoping weather forecasts of rain on Saturday morning don’t come true include Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) in 11th and Bastianini in 14th. Both had late crashes, Zarco at Turn 7 after Bastianini had gone down at Turn 5, and for the latter it could prove to be a big blow to the title hopes which he had breathed life back into with his win just five days ago at Aragon. Splitting them in 13th was Alex Rins, who debuted some eye-catching new aerodynamic pieces (pictured below) on the tail unit of his Team Suzuki Ecstar entry.
There’s just one more session before we find out for sure who is going straight into Q2 and who will be fighting to get out of Q1. Don’t miss FP2 on Saturday from 10:50 (GMT +9), before qualifying then gets underway at the later local time of 15:05. 3 riders within 17 points make grid positions more vital than ever…
FRIDAY: TOP 3
1 Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) – Ducati – 1’44.509
2 Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – Ducati – +0.028
Fernandez pips Chantra by less than a tenth on Friday
The Championship leader opens the weekend on top, but Ogura is close in P4
Moto2™ World Championship leader Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) got his Motul Grand Prix of Japan off to the right start as he went fastest in FP1, putting in a 1:50.493 to finish just 0.084 ahead of Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) as light rain disrupted the day for the intermediate class. Their teammates were next up: Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Aragon winner Pedro Acosta was P3 and Fernandez’ key title rival Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) took P4 on home turf.
Ogura was first to get into the 1:51s and at one point he and Fernandez had identical fastest laps, before Fernandez was first into the 1:50s with less than eight minutes to go – except he wasn’t. That lap was outside of track limits, and it was instead Ogura who put in a 1:50.885. Chantra then set a 1:50.577 before Fernandez hit back with the 1:50.493, and that remained the fastest lap of the session. Acosta earned third with a late 1:50.783, and Filip Salac (Gresini Racing Moto2™) also joined the party with a 1:50.967 before more rain meant the pace dropped again.
Despite rain spitting, conditions improving and then worsening again over the course of the session, there wasn’t too much drama for the intermediate class. Sean Dylan Kelly (American Racing) crashed twice, Simone Corsi (MV Agusta Forward Racing) slid out and Keminth Kubo (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp) was the first off, riders all ok.
Two key headlines heading into Saturday see Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) in 15th and former World Championship leader Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) in 21st on a 1:52.573, putting them both outside the top 14. They’ll have a nervous wait to find out whether there will be more rain on Saturday morning as Moto2™ head back out for FP2 from 9:55 (GMT +9), before qualifying from 13:30!
Moreira fastest as Moto3™ get first taste of Motegi
The rookie heads the field, with Foggia and Sasaki on the chase as the lightweight class avoid the rain
MT Helmets – MSI’s Diogo Moreira set the pace in FP1 for the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, putting in a 1:57.252 in the first 40-minute session around the Mobility Resort Motegi. Leopard Racing’s Dennis Foggia was second on Honda home turf, with Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max’s Ayumu Sasaki third and the quickest home hero as he looks to take another GP victory.
World Championship leader Izan Guevara sits inside the top 14 cut-off for Q2 as it stands in P7, but fellow Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team rider – and closest title rival – Sergio Garcia went 17th-quickest in FP1 and needs to find more on Saturday morning.
Despite overnight rain and grey clouds hanging overhead, it was a dry for start to the Friday afternoon session for the lightweight class, allowing some solid running. There were five crashers: Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), Elia Bartolini (QJMotor Avintita Racing Team) and teammate Nicola Carraro, Scott Ogden (VisionTrack Racing Team) and Lorenzo Fellon (SIC58 Squadra Corse). Fellon headed to the Medical Centre and will be reviewed before FP2 after suffering pain in his foot.
FP2 begins on Saturday morning at 9:00 (GMT +9), before qualifying begins at 12:35.
More, from a press release issued by WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team:
Strong times by WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team duo on opening day in Japan
Cal Crutchlow and Darryn Binder had a decent Free Practice one in Motegi today.
Friday at the Mobility Resort Motegi saw just one session for the MotoGP class. To ensure all the material will arrive in time for all teams straight from Aragon, the Japanese GP started late on Friday with an FP1, which was extended to 75 minutes. Although the circuit was overcast all day and it drizzled a bit in some sectors of the track, the practice remained mainly dry and gave riders and teams a good opportunity to arrive back in Motegi after the last two Grand Prix’ in the land of the rising sun had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
It was a great comeback by Cal Crutchlow, who though had been testing at the Japanese venue some weeks ago but on the newly developed Yamaha, he now is riding the actual YZR-M1 for this weekend. Yet, he showed some fantastic speed from the word go. He ended Friday in P17, but was missing out on the top by just 0.678 seconds.
Meanwhile Darryn Binder was impressive as well. Riding his big machine for the first time at Motegi today, he quickly found confidence and did one very fast lap straight behind his teammate. The South African MotoGP rookie concluded Free Practice one just 0.179 seconds behind Crutchlow in P18, although he unfortunately registered a small crash at the end of the session.
Saturday will see a normal program for the premier class. Both WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team riders might have a chance to improve tomorrow from Free Practice two at 10:50 local time (03:50 CET), followed by FP3 at 14:25 local time (07:25 CET) and the Qualifyings from 15:05 local time (08:05 CET), yet the weather forecast doesn’t look too promising.
CAL CRUTCHLOW
“Today was a strange day. Waiting around until 3 o’clock to ride is not ideal, but I think all MotoGP riders have just been waiting to go out on track today. The lap times were very impressive for the first session. There was a little bit of drizzle in the session as well, so everyone was pushing to be in the top 10 because it looks like it’s going to rain tomorrow. Me being competitive, but disappointed not to be in the top 10 because at one point I thought we had a chance. I just didn’t have a good feeling with the rear tyre on the last run. I did a good banker lap of 1:44.2 and knew where I could improve, but we struggled with the rear tyre, it was not feeling great in the last run. I went a tiny bit faster, I made this in the corners. But the team did a good job today. I’m happy with how we performed, but we need to understand the braking, because I struggled in the braking zone with the performance of the brakes at the moment to be able to stop the bike. Let’s see if we can improve, if we get some dry sessions tomorrow, but it looks unlikely. Overall, the team did a good job, thanks to them for today.”
DARRYN BINDER
“Today has been a bit of a strange day with starting so late and having only one Free Practice. Luckily the weather held out, although there were some slight drops during the session, but fortunately, it stayed dry. We had a 75 minutes session, so a lot of time to spin some laps and get used to the track. It was so nice to be back here in Motegi after three years. I really enjoy riding this circuit and I had a lot of fun on the MotoGP bike. Unfortunately, I had a little crash at the end of the session, which is an unfortunate way to end the day. But overall, it has been a really positive Free Practice and I’m just 0.8 seconds from the first one, so I’m very happy about the work we’ve done today and I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.”
More, from a press release issued by Mooney VR46 Racing Team:
POSITIVE RETURN AT MOTEGI WITH LUCA MARINI IN THE TOP5
A unique 75-minute free practice session for the riders of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team with Luca in the slipstream of the very first guys and Marco Bezzecchi in P19
Motegi (Japan), September 23rd 2022 – After three years, first more than positive approach, as a rookie in MotoGP on the Japanese track of the Mobility Resort in Motegi, for Luca Marini who closes today’s session just a tenth behind the P1 (Miller, 1:44.509) in fifth place overall. 19th, in a very short standings with 19 riders in a gap of a second, Marco Bezzecchi.
Working to adapt himself as soon as possible to the demanding Japanese track riding the Ducati Desmosedici GP, Luca is the protagonist of a good step forward in the final run of the day and scores a lap time of 1:44.645, a time which means the momentary access into the Q2 (tomorrow, 03.30 pm local time, 08.30 am CET).
Six tenths of a second from the qualifying for the second round of the QP, instead for Marco (1:45.426) who uses the 75-minute session to gain as much confidence as possible and thus bring the Top10 closer.
Luca Marini
I am very satisfied with this first session at Motegi, I did not expect to be immediately there with the very first ones, just a tenth from the P1, to be my first time with MotoGP. There is really a lot to do, we have not been riding here for three years and we have made great improvements in terms of electronics and tires in recent seasons. Let’s try to understand where to work, what to do for another jump and to improve ourselves for the race. The weather will be crucial: if it doesn’t rain we could continue to work more easily for the race.
Marco Bezzecchi
It was not a very easy day: the track is beautiful, but demanding with the MotoGP. The single session did not help me, we had a lot of tests to do and the management was particularly complex. In the time attack I was not perfect, I tried again a second time, I was improving my lap time, but I saw the yellow flags and I had to slow down. We know where to work for tomorrow, I hope there will be good weather, but I’m not too worried about the rain.
Pablo Nieto, Team Manager
I am happy with Luca’s start on a very demanding track like this one. He is continuing on his way and has managed the 75 minute shift well. Marco certainly has room of improvements; the ranking is very short with 19 riders in a second. Let’s hope for the weather for tomorrow, it would be very useful for him to be able to continue working in dry conditions.
More, from a press release issued by Gresini Racing:
JAPANESE GP BEGINS FOR TEAM GRESINI MOTOGP AT MOTEGI
It was not the best start to the Asian trip for Team Gresini Racing MotoGP, who at the moment is far from the top positions with both standard bearers. Luck was not on the riders’ side in what was an unusual first day with only one session of free practice: Enea Bastianini found himself in the gravel trap at turn five with few minutes left while Fabio Di Giannantonio’s performance was halted first by a technical problem and then by a yellow flag situation during his final quick-lap attempt.
The schedule will get ‘back to normal’ tomorrow, with two more FP sessions aside from Q1 and Q2, but adverse weather conditions may play a big role. With 20mm of rain forecast (almost 0.8 inches) predicted, the #23 and the #49 may have their fate sealed and be forced to go through Q1.
14th – ENEA BASTIANINI #23 (1’44.978s)
“We had a good pace today; I started with the idea of understanding the track on a MotoGP bike and we did immediately well with new tyres. I then tucked the front at turn five during my second time attack and we ended up kind of throwing the session away. It’s clear that with one session, things are much more complicated, and we must have made the most of it given the rain expected for tomorrow. We’re hoping for a dry qualifying session, because we’re competitive.”
24th – FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49 (1’46.365s)
“We were expecting things to be a lot different in the first session because we had prepared it well strategy-wise, but from the very opening lap I had felt that there was an issue that kind of affected the whole session. When time-attack came, yellow flags were deployed due to a crash by another rider, so we can only think about tomorrow now.”
More, from a press release issued by Repsol Honda:
Strong opening day at home for Repsol Honda Team in Motegi
The Japanese and Honda fans provided a welcome boost as Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro powered into the top ten on a unique Friday in Motegi.
A busy Thursday saw the Repsol Honda Team work diligently to prepare everything just a few days after action concluded in Aragon. Due to the schedule of the events, just a single afternoon Free Practice 1 session of 75 minutes awaited the Repsol Honda Team on the opening day of the Japanese Grand Prix. Despite near constant threats of rain throughout the day, the track remained dry for the entirety of the extra-long session.
Returning to the circuit in which he has claimed three of his six premier class titles, Marc Marquez was immediately on the pace. Ending Friday in sixth with a best time of 1’44.656 provided positive reinforcement that both Marquez himself and the RC213V are making steps in the right direction since his recent return to competition. There was no relenting for the #93 who immediately went about setting a quick lap time to beat Saturday’s looming weather. With 75 minutes of track time, Marquez was also able to continue assessing his right arm in more intense scenarios.
After several difficult races, Pol Espargaro’s Grand Prix weekend started on the correct foot as he ended Friday seventh fastest. 0.022s back from his teammate and within 0.2s of the fastest time, the #44 was able to continually improve the setup of his RC213V over the course of the session. The 4.8-kilometre-long track had Espargaro return to his early season form of consistently running in the top ten as the RC213V immediately gelled with its home circuit. An evening of deep analysis for Espargaro and his team is scheduled as they aim to take the data gathered today and apply it to all remaining races.
Both riders’ performance on Friday puts the Repsol Honda Team pair in a strong position to advance directly into Q2 with heavy rain predicted on Saturday morning. Saturday’s schedule begins with Free Practice 2 at 10:50 Local Time with Free Practice 3 becoming the untimed session just ahead of Qualifying.
Marc Marquez
SIXTH 1’44.656
“From when I first went out I was feeling quite good. It seems the areas where we are usually suffering a bit and less here and we can manage everything. Today I went full attack because there was just one session and I knew it might rain tomorrow so getting into the top ten was important. Let’s see what happens tomorrow but I am hoping for rain honestly because then we are already in the top ten. I am feeling very good with the new tyre, but also my feeling with the old tyre is quite good.”
Pol Espargaro
SEVENTH 1’44.678
“I am quite surprised because with the medium at other tracks, we were suffering a lot but here we are able to take a lot of profit from it. Everything worked really well with a lot of edge grip and traction and I was able to ride how I want. Today has been very good and with the weather that is predicted for the rest of the weekend, I think we can keep this speed up. It is a really nice boost to be back to feeling competitive again, and to do it in front of Honda’s home fans is even better. Let’s analyse everything well and come back ready tomorrow.”
More, from a press release issued by Tech3 KTM Factory Racing:
Tech3 KTM Factory Racing Begins Action in Japan
New continent, new schedule…The MotoGP action kicked off at Motegi Mobility Resort on Friday for the first day of the Grand Prix of Japan, in a slightly different way than we are used to. Raul Fernandez and Remy Gardner went on track for only one session (FP1) for one hour and fifteen minutes.
Spaniard Raul Fernandez was heading to Japan for the second time of his career, the last time being when he was still in Moto3. A lot has happened since then for the MotoGP rookie! Raul set off at 15:05 local time (GMT+9) for the FP1, out for the discovery of the layout on a MotoGP engine in front of Japanese fans. Whilst the first half of the session was about adaptation, the second half was about trying to get in a consistent rhythm. Raul did so and his best lap in 1’45.739 placed him twenty-first at the end of Friday.
Remy Gardner was in a similar situation than his teammate. With a session split in five runs, Remy managed to get his fastest lap towards the end in 1’45.991, a lap he could have improved had he not been shown the yellow flag due to the few crashes occurring towards the end of the session. He finished the day in P23, and will aim to improve tomorrow in order to start the Grand Prix of Japan in the best conditions possible.
Raul Fernandez
Position: 21th
Time: 1’45.739
Laps: 27
“I have to say…1h15 on the bike with the jet lag, it is tough! But I am happy to be back in Motegi for the second time. The first time was in Moto3 and it feels like ages ago. About today, I am quite happy with the work done, we had a good pace. Unfortunately I was disturbed by another rider during the final time attack but I could have done a better lap otherwise. Tomorrow we will continue the work, hopefully without rain because it can complicate things.”
Remy Gardner
Position: 23rd
Time: 1’45.991
Laps: 27
“Long session today at the end of which we started to feel better. Unfortunately, I had another yellow flag which bothered me as I had a good rhythm, but I have to accept it. We will continue to work tonight, get ready for tomorrow and try to do a good qualifying day here in Motegi.”
More, from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Racing:
JAPANESE GP – JAPANESE GP – Zarco P11 and Martin P15 after the first day of free practice at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The first day of free practice at the Japanese Grand Prix ended with Johann Zarco in 11th and Jorge Martin in 15th position. For the first time on Friday there was only one 1hr 15min session, in which it was crucial to try and get into the top ten and consequently into a hypothetical Q2 given the weather forecast for tomorrow. A crash on the last lap without any consequences did not allow the Frenchman to set the time, he remained outside the top ten by a thousandth (1:44.798). For the Spanish rider it was his first time on the Japanese track in the premier class, so team 89 focused on familiarising himself with the track, finishing with his best time of 1:45.009.
Jorge Martín
I like this new format, I like the idea of having longer sessions. Today we focused on trying to get familiar with the track and tried to change something on the front. Tomorrow hopefully it won’t rain we will try to get into Q2.
Johann Zarco
I had a very good start, it’s a track I like a lot and where I have many references. It’s a shame about the crash on the last lap because I was going very fast and would have made a good time. We have to hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow because otherwise it will be difficult to get into Q2.
More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki ECSTAR:
MOTEGI BRINGS THE MADNESS FROM DAY ONE WITH TIGHT TIMES
Alex Rins: 13th – 1’44.913 (+ 0.404)
Takuya Tsuda: 22nd – 1’46.718 (+ 2.209)
The MotoGP paddock has finally returned to Japan for the 16th round of the 2022 season, and the race weekend is already promising close racing and unpredictable climatic conditions.
A scheduling change put in place to allow extra time for containers to arrive from Aragon meant that there was just one session for the riders on Friday, although it was extended to 75 minutes.
Alex Rins made the most of his time on track, setting the early pace, trying out a new rear aero device and getting a total of 31 laps in – the highest number of any rider.
Despite the constant threat of rain, Rins was able to set times within the Top 3 and he topped the timesheet several times, setting his best lap with around 10 minutes left on the clock. But the MotoGP field proved to be as close as ever, with just tiny margins separating the riders, and Rins slipped to 13th at close of play after catching two yellow flags on his final flying laps. Despite his position, he was just four tenths of a second down.
Suzuki Test Rider, Takuya Tsuda, is standing in for Joan Mir in Motegi and the experienced Japanese rider was just 2.2 seconds off the pace today. He was less than two tenths of a second from his personal lap record at the track.
Alex Rins:
“I finished today just outside the Top 10, but everything had been going well until the last few minutes. I was able to set the quickest time, and then stay within the Top 3, but when I put fresh tyres on and went for my final push I got caught out by yellow flags and I couldn’t improve. It seems that it will be raining a lot tomorrow morning, so the likelihood is that I’ll be in Q1, but I want to be competitive in the wet conditions and find a good spot for the grid on Sunday.”
Takuya Tsuda:
“I know this track well, but the conditions were quite difficult today because there was light rain falling in some sectors and we couldn’t tell if it was going to get heavier at any moment. Other parts of the track were completely dry, and we did the whole session on slicks, but caution was needed. I’m going to study the data tonight and try to improve my time a bit more tomorrow; I want to make the most of this opportunity given to me at my home race – to enjoy it and to give my absolute best.”
Livio Suppo – Team Manager:
“Alex showed very good rhythm and pace, but unfortunately his last time attack laps were affected by two yellow flags. But anyway, let’s see what he can do in qualifying tomorrow, because Alex has already shown great speed, but the weather could make a difference. Tsuda-san is riding with us this weekend, and his priority is just to enjoy this last chance to ride the MotoGP bike.”
More, from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MOTOGP SHOW HOT RACE PACE ON MOTEGI DAY 1
Motegi (Japan), 23rd September 2022
The lap times were hot this afternoon at the Mobility Resort Motegi track. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP‘s Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli were on the pace early on in the extended MotoGP FP1 session, the only track time for the premier class on the Friday. A time attack at the end had Quartararo take 3rd, while Morbidelli finished the day in 16th.
3rd FABIO QUARTARARO 1‘44.558 / 30 LAPS
16th FRANCO MORBIDELLI 1‘45.065 / 28 LAPS
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP riders Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli had to push right from the start of the 75-minute FP1 session. The duo were keen to secure a place in the provisional top 10 as weather conditions are unsure for tomorrow‘s FP2. Quartararo completed the extended Friday free practice session in 3rd place. Morbidelli showed great early pace but in the end wasn‘t able to capitalise on the soft rear tyre in the closing minutes due to yellow flags on his final stint. He ended the day in 16th place.
You wouldn‘t have guessed Quartararo had abrasions on his chest, judging by his strong performance at the Motegi track this morning. He was quick to find a top-3 pace and with 55 minutes to go in the extended FP1 session, he hit the top spot with a 1‘45.807s. He held first place until about half an hour before the end, when the shoot-out started. El Diablo was putting in one hot lap after another to remain in the top 3. He knew it might not be enough and geared up for one final push. He set a 1‘44.558 on lap 28/30 that earned him third place, 0.049s from the top.
Morbidelli steadily improved his pace and climbed up to a fourth place early on in the 1h15m session. The Italian and his crew had been putting in the work since the Aragon GP, and the Yamaha rider was feeling visibly happier on his M1 compared to a week ago. When the times dropped, he initially responded by setting the sixth fastest time of the session thus far. With the pace getting even hotter, the number-21 rider dug even deeper and pulled a 1‘45.065s out of the bag for fifth, but it was brief. With three minutes to go, charging riders pushed Morbidelli down the rankings. Unable to respond due to yellow flags on his final run, he ended the session in 16th place, though he was only 0.556s from first.
MASSIMO MEREGALLI
TEAM DIRECTOR
Today‘s session was 1 hour and 15 minutes long. We tried to make the most of this extended session, gathering as much information as possible on tyre options and settings in case Sunday’s race will be dry. Both riders were quite comfortable from the start. Fabio is feeling a bit sore after FP1, which is to be expected. He‘s experiencing some discomfort whilst riding, but he is able to cope with it, as shown by the times he set. Both Fabio and Franky have a solid race pace, and that‘s something we‘re quite satisfied about after this first day. Everyone wanted to get in a time attack today in case of rain tomorrow, as expected. Franky was very unlucky. When we was trying to do a final time attack, he ran into two yellow flags on separate laps. It’s a real shame because his pace so far is good enough to run at the front. We hope for a dry FP2 session tomorrow so he can have another go at getting to Q2.
FABIO QUARTARARO
Today was intense, but it was good. Our pace doesn’t look too bad, but I was on the limit from the first lap. Our margin for improvement is not a lot, but we did our best, and it was quite okay. The abrasions didn’t affect my riding today. It was a bit strange at the beginning because it burns a little bit, but after a few laps you adapt to it. It was okay, even with the extra-long session. And the jet lag also didn’t bother me, because I don’t suffer from going to this side of the world. We need to analyse well which tyre we’ll use. The front is clear, but the rear isn’t yet. But our pace seems quite okay, so I’m ready.
FRANCO MORBIDELLI
I’m quite pleased with the speed I had today, but not with my final result. Unfortunately, in my second time attack I got two yellow flags, so I couldn’t make even one fast lap. I found myself in 16th place when I felt I could have been much higher than that. Anyway, during the practice the pace looked really decent, and I felt quite good. I knew that this track, with this lay-out, suits my latest style a bit more. We also made a step forward with the bike, and that let me do another step. That was really good and interesting to feel. The programme went smoothly and well until the second time attack.
More, from a press release issued by HRC:
Nagashima enjoys Motegi MotoGP debut
HRC Test Rider Tetsuta Nagashima realised his dream as he made his premier class debut in Motegi. Working on improving his time and comparing himself to the rest of the MotoGP field.
A best time of 1’45.845 saw Nagashima end Friday in 22nd, just 1.336 seconds behind Jack Miller.
Tetsuta Nagashima 45
Rider – MotoGP
“It was a really great feeling to make MotoGP debut today at home in Motegi. But wow, you arrive here and you are alongside everyone and you see that the level is so high. Speaking honestly, I was a little bit nervous because it has always been my dream to ride in MotoGP and today I achieved it. Like this I wasn’t riding exactly as I want, but Marquez gave me some advice that I will try to use tomorrow. Let’s keep on pushing and improving this weekend.”
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia:
FIRST PRACTICE SESSION AT MOTEGI
20 RIDERS WITHIN ONE SECOND, CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE CONTENDERS WITHIN 40 THOUSANDTHS, AND APRILIA IS IN THE MIX!
ALEIX FOURTH AND MAVERICK TENTH FOR DIBS ON A SPOT IN Q2
The Friday practice format changed at Motegi, but the extremely balanced competition typical of MotoGP 2022 was the same. At the end of the single 75-minute session, 20 riders were all within one second of one another, with those in the top 10 all within 3 tenths.
In any case, the Aprilias shone throughout, with Aleix and Maverick working skilfully in preparation for the race (in what could be the only dry practice session) without missing a beat when it was time to push to the limit for a time attack. Espargaró, despite two yellow flags during his flying laps, stopped the clock at an outstanding 1’44.577, which earns him a provisional fourth place and a time that basically overlaps those of the riders at the top.
Viñales had no trouble finding confidence on a track that he is tackling for the first time astride the RS-GP, demonstrating a good pace and reporting good sensations. There is room for improvement, especially on the flying lap, but his tenth place today means that he’ll be able to focus on tomorrow’s sessions with peace of mind.
ALEIX ESPARGARÓ
“I’m happy to be back racing on this track in a country that I absolutely love. The atmosphere is fantastic and I must say that the session also went well. We struggled a bit at the beginning because the only points of reference we had for the settings were from 2019 when I was riding an extremely different RS-GP, but everyone on the team did a great job, quickly finding the right direction we needed to go. I was also lucky on the last time attack because only one of my three attempts wasn’t cancelled by a yellow flag, but it was enough to get me fourth place. There are a few places on this track where I lose a bit of ground and I’m very fast at others, but the bike is working pretty well and that makes us optimistic.”
MAVERICK VIÑALES
“After so many top-10 spots slipping through my fingers by a matter of a few thousandths, my luck finally changed this time! Given the weather forecast, doing a good lap today was important and I managed to do just that. The bike is working well here. I think that the base settings are already at a promising level but we have a few ideas that will help us improve further. I’m pleased with the pace I maintained in race configuration. We were able to work well, taking full advantage of the single, long session.”
More, from a press release issued by LCR Honda Idemitsu:
BRAVE TAKA JUST OUTSIDE TOP 10 AT MOTEGI
Taka Nakagami narrowly missed a top 10 spot after a courageous performance in Friday’s sole free practice session at his home GP at Motegi. Suffering with the hand injury he sustained in Aragon, the LCR Honda IDEMITSU star rode through the pain barrier in front of his fans and was unfortunate not to claim an automatic spot in tomorrow’s Q2.
With a reduced schedule today and rain forecast all day on Saturday, the extended FP1 session effectively became a shoot-out for Q2. Taka showed impressive pace throughout an ultra-competitive 75 minutes, forcing his way into the top-10 on a couple of occasions, but had to settle for 12th position in the end, despite being just three tenths off early pacesetter Jack Miller.
Takaaki Nakagami – 12th
(1’44.886)
“It was a tough session, but my speed potential was good. We were able to get into the top 10, then at the end we dropped some places and ended P12, but just three tenths from the top. The performance was incredible, really, really good, to be honest I didn’t expect that speed. Of course, I felt a little bit uncomfortable with my fingers, but all my fans gave me a lot of energy during the session which was good. Now I will try to rest as much as possible for the second day.”
More, from a press release issued by LCR Honda Castrol:
CHALLENGING FIRST DAY FOR ÁLEX MÁRQUEZ AT MOTEGI
Álex Márquez has set his sights on improvement after a tough opening day at the Grand Prix of Japan at Motegi. With the premier class returning to the venue for the first time in three years, the LCR Honda CASTROL rider got his first taste of the track on MotoGP machinery and ended in 20th position on the timesheets.
With only one extended free practice session on Friday, there was added pressure on the teams to produce a lap time, especially with rain dominating Saturday’s forecast. Álex gave his all and, although he struggled to find his best rhythm in overcast conditions, was only a second off the leading time.
Álex Márquez – 20th
(1’45.600)
“First day in Japan and it was a new track for me and it wasn’t easy. We focused a little too much on race pace and the tyres, with just an hour and a quarter it wasn’t easy to understand everything. Also, I wasn’t happy with the set-up of the bike, I was uncomfortable and had a lot of front-end problems. I tried my best, I wasn’t able to make a good lap time, but I feel I have margin to improve so we’ll see. It looks like it will rain all day tomorrow, so we need to be focused and, if we get the chance to ride in the dry, we’ll need to improve a lot and make a step forward. We have a lot of information now to use if it’s dry on Sunday.”
More, from a press release issued by Ducati Lenovo Team:
Jack Miller sets the quickest time in the first free practice session for the Japanese GP at Motegi. Second Pecco Bagnaia
Jack Miller ended on top on the first day of free practice for the Japanese GP, the sixteenth round of the 2022 MotoGP season, held this weekend at Motegi. Compared to a typical Friday, today saw had a different timetable to allow the teams’ material to arrive in Japan after the last Grand Prix held at Aragón last Sunday.
Riders took part in a single 75-minute session this afternoon, during which they were able to reacquaint themselves with the Japanese track, which had been missing from the MotoGP calendar for three years, following the last edition held in 2019. In a first session characterised by dry track conditions despite a few light drops of rain, Jack Miller was immediately quick, setting the fastest time of the day in 1:44.509 in the final minutes of the session. Just 28 thousandths behind closed teammate Pecco Bagnaia. Even for the Italian rider, the first day at Motegi has reserved positive sensations that make him confident ahead of tomorrow’s qualifying, despite the weather forecasting rain.
Jack Miller (#43 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1st (1:44.509)
“I’m satisfied with this first day at Motegi. Even though we haven’t raced here for three years, we were able to be fast right from the start. Having a longer session allowed us to try some things with the setting we don’t usually have time to do, and I really liked the changes we made to the bike towards the end of the session. Our Desmosedici GP works well here, and I’m enjoying riding it. Rain is forecast for tomorrow, but, usually, the grip on this track is good even with the wet asphalt, so I’m confident I can do well in any condition.”
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 2nd (1:44.537)
“I struggled a little at the start, but together with my team, we managed to do a great job, and in the last two runs, I’ve found a good feeling with the bike, so I’m very happy. It’s nice to be back racing here at Motegi, which is one of my favourite tracks because as well as having places where you have to brake hard, it also has some very fast corners. Compared to three years ago, my feeling has improved a lot, and I think I already have a good base setup for the race. The goal for tomorrow’s qualifying session will be to place in the first two rows: it won’t be easy since it will probably rain, but we’ll try”.
The Ducati Lenovo Team riders will be back on track tomorrow at 10:50am local time for FP2, while qualifying for the Japanese GP will be held from 3:05pm local time at the end of FP3.
AFM Laguna Registration opens tonight 8PM for AFM license holders (9-26 for reciprocity). It’s gonna be a GASSER!
Note: if purchasing a license while registering, you WILL be able to register during the AFM license holder period (today).
On behalf of the AFM BOD:
Finally. FINALLY, it’s here…AFM Registration opens today for the final round of our 2022 season at none other, than historic Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey! Ever since joining the AFM on my first race weekend, March 2002, I’ve heard the whispers, quips, pleadings, rumors, wants, “what-ifs”, and conspiracies about the AFM and Laguna Seca Raceway. Why we won’t go back, why we haven’t gone back, and why we left. The quips were ok though…we had Sonoma and we had LOTS of Sonoma back then. Gradually, we moved to less Sonoma rounds and eventually made the decision to cut Sonoma until the track surface was upgraded. That decision was hard. Very hard. Losing a world class facility robbed the club of its heritage. During that period of scaling back @ Sonoma, we reached out to Laguna every single year, asking for a date. We never received so much as a call back. Nothing, just dead air. In 2022, under new management, we finally received a call back with the exclusive help of one of our long-standing event vendors. Once a connection was made, we pushed aggressively for dates and bugged and bugged and bugged. The (new) decision makers at Laguna Seca finally replied …and after almost 40 years of hiatus, The AFM will be returning to race at Laguna Seca once again. This event is truly historic. The amount of work, effort, thought, and worry that’s gone into our final round has been immeasurable. At our BOD meeting, we solidified final details. We all left the meeting with the “starting line” butterflies.
1961 Appears to be one of the earliest races the AFM held at Laguna Seca in conjunction with the SCCA. The history of the place and the AFM is long founded. The June 10th, 1961, newsletter still speaks to us today. “Should be a ‘gasser’ for motorycles”. “Please send in the entry form for this one as SOON as this newsletter arrives…” Back then (and even until around mid 2000’s), entry forms were mailed and later, faxed. A racer noted their first, second and third race choices; a homage to entries so aplenty that getting two races in a weekend in itself was a “win”.
The AFM board, corner workers, race control, tech, timing, registration, and licensing are all very proud and very excited to present the AFM’s return to Laguna Seca to the membership. AFM members, first and foremost, will have an exclusive entry before entry for the event is opened to reciprocity licensed racers. Exclusive AFM licensed riders can begin registering September 22ndh. On September 26th, we’ll open registration to non-AFM racing members as well. Registrations will be prioritized on a first come, first served basis and top 10 in points for all classes will be guaranteed a grid spot if registered before registration is opened to reciprocity riders . While we haven’t an idea on what total attendance will be, there is a finite limit to how many racers can be on track at one time and our total racers will be limited due to that constraint. This is the only time we’ve had to work through a limit of riders-on-track in modern AFM times. The board worked hard on pricing for the event over the course of several months arriving upon a minimum event charge of $700 for three classes with two full days of racing. Three classes result in 6 races over two days. Our event is a 3-day event with practice taking place on Friday, October 7th and racing on both days, October 8th and 9th. The focus on our return to Laguna Seca is practice, racing, racing. With that in mind, a two-day racing schedule was built with a small amount of morning warmup each weekend race day and a full day of 105db free practice on Friday and 105db limit racing. We’ll have qualifying for all formula classes on Friday. Formula races will all run at the end of the day, both days and may be scheduled for more laps than sprint races if we don’t have any large undue delays The trophies look to be a neat effort for Eagle Awards. These rare AFM Laguna Seca trophies are going to make this a fight for these historic podiums in all classes and I can imagine the feeling in achievement of putting an AFM Laguna Seca trophy on display like the founders of the club did when Laguna opened its doors to them in the late 50’s .
Pricing for the 105db Friday practice is $450 per rider. We WILL have AFM T&S active and timing during Friday and formula classes qualifying Friday. Saturday / Sunday races are priced at $700 for 3 race classes. Additional classes are $150. We haven’t much insight into how many racers will enter, but we suspect this will be likely be the fullest AFM event of the season. Those who purchase garages will need to load in Thursday PM/ Friday AM. Those who choose to practice on Friday will get priority pit choice over those who are not practicing Friday.
Bullet points
First 3 entries (minimum): $700. Two days of racing, Saturday/ Sunday.
ALL days are 105db days.
Both race days ARE FULL POINTS DAYS
Friday Practice is $450. Priority pit access for those who are practicing Friday
No Pets allowed per Laguna’s policy except those allowed by law
We’re hoping to have a podium celebration for all races on both days
We have 18 garages available for rent. Like Sonoma’s garages, multiple bikes can fit and sharing garages is encouraged
AFM current license holders will have exclusive priority registration from 8pm 9-22 to 8pm 9-26. Licenses CAN be purchased to enter during this time period.
Non-AFM license holders (reciprocity) will be able to register from 8pm 9-26 to close of registration, 10-6.
Top 10 in class points are guaranteed spots in class if entered during the AFM priority period
Formula classes will hold qualifying during Friday practice. Friday practice must be entered to participate in qualifying
There is NO KFG rule. Classes will be gridded by points unless otherwise noted
Paddock quiet hours are 10pm – 6am
The American Federation of Motorcyclists BOD, Workers, Race Control, Timing & Scoring, Tech, Registration, Licensing, Trophies, and all of your competition thanks you for attending The AFM’s return to Laguna Seca! The return to Laguna Seca will be historic, memorable, and triumphant! Thanks so much for coming out and racing with the American Federation of Motorcyclists!
Thanks all, look forward to seeing all of you at our historic AFM event!
Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC and Dunlop have teamed up to raise $6,000 for the Roadracing World Action Fund.
The Roadracing World Action Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes motorcycle racetrack safety education, helping prevent racetrack injuries by encouraging, facilitating, and funding the deployment of life-saving soft barriers (made by Airfence and Alpina) at motorcycle road races and track days nationwide.
Dunlop donated 100% of the proceeds from the sale of 20 sets of brand-new Sportmax Q5 track day tires, and Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC exclusively sold and mounted the tires in the days leading up to a special track day August 29 at Pocono Raceway.
On September 11 during the MotoAmerica weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park, members of the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC race team and Dunlop’s MotoAmerica staff presented a check for $6,000 to Roadracing World Action Fund Founder John Ulrich and Roadracing World Action Fund Ambassador Chris Ulrich.
FINAL NORTH AMERICA TALENT CUP ROUND TO TAKE PLACE WITH MOTOAMERICA
The final round of the 2022 North America Talent Cup, an official Road to MotoGP™ project, will run alongside MotoAmerica™ at Barber Motorsports Park.
BIRMINGHAM, AL – The inaugural North America Talent Cup season has been a wild ride! The young competitors have matured and developed into seasoned racers, not afraid to rub elbows or make the aggressive pass as they put it all on the line race after race.
For the final round of the season, the NATC will race at Barber Motorsports Park during the conclusion of the MotoAmerica series. Just as two heavyweights fight for top honors in the MotoAmerica Superbike series, the top two NATC competitors will decide who earns the first North America Talent Cup championship title.
Current points leader Alessandro Di Mario will need to finish strong to secure his chance at being crowned champion. Fifteen points adrift, Jesse James Shedden will not be counted out. Shedden will need to rely on the talent that has seen him on the podium in almost every race this season. The results between Di Mario and Shedden are almost identical, with each on the podium nine times and each with four wins. A DQ for Shedden in race one of round six has given him something to prove and put his back against the wall for the final two races. Di Mario will not take his advantage for granted.
Alexander Enriquez sits in third place in the championship. After being accepted into the 2023 Red Bull Rookies Cup, as the only American, Enriquez will be looking to leave his mark on a series that helped sharpen his skills. He may not be in a position to win the number one plate, but he is a fierce competitor that could pose a challenge to Di Mario and Shedden.
As the final round after a challenging season, all the NATC racers will be looking to end on a high note and apply all they’ve learned. Teams and racers have traveled to every corner of the continental U.S., testing, tuning, tweaking, training, and wrenching in their quest to move up the road racing ladder. Several competitors have emerged as America’s top prospects, others have taken a step in their development, while others still have shown they have what it takes and will be back to race again. All who have competed in the NATC are winners in their own right.
“All of us at MotoAmerica have worked hard since 2015 to present opportunities for young racers to showcase their talents and one day compete internationally,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “Both the Mini Cup by Motul series and the North America Talent Cup now offer young racers the opportunity to battle each other on equal machinery. I’m super excited that MotoAmerica is supporting the North America Talent Cup as part of the official Road to MotoGP. Being able to race at the final MotoAmerica event of the season at the fantastic Barber Motorsports Park is a great chance for these young racers to challenge for the championship.”
About the North America Talent Cup
The NATC is a one-make spec-series of teams and riders, using the successful Northern Talent Cup as a blueprint. The limit on entries is 20 riders aged between 13 and 16 in 2022. The spec-motorcycle will be the Aprilia RS250 SP2; a machine developed by Aprilia in partnership with Ohvale and proven to offer a competitive platform for developing talent. The NATC is designed to create close competition in a cost-effective manner. In its first year, the NATC has raced throughout the continental U.S., with seven designated rounds taking place alongside MotoGP™, MotoAmerica™, WERA, and MRA.
The new North America Talent Cup aims to provide riders across the continent with a vital link on the Road to MotoGP™, creating the stepping-stone between the FIM MiniGP North America Series, MotoAmerica, and the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup or FIM Moto3™ Junior World Championship.
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is the North American road racing series created in 2014 that is home to the AMA Superbike Championship. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership that includes three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey, ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland, motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges, and businessman Richard Varner. For more information on MotoAmerica, visit www.MotoAmerica.com. Also make sure to follow MotoAmerica on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About the FIM North America
FIM North America is one of six Continental Unions (CONUs) recognized as geographical subdivisions and accountable to the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). It was founded in 1998. The national federations who are members of FIM North America are, by virtue of their geographical area and their membership in the FIM, the American Motorcyclist Association and the Canadian Motorcycle Association. FIM North America establishes an annual calendar of Continental Championship events and other activities and declares champions in designated disciplines and classes. Its member federations issue CONU licenses to riders participating in FIM NA events as well as those who are participating in Continental Championship events organized in other CONUs. For more information, visit fim-northamerica.com.
Titles Are There For The Taking As MotoAmerica Concludes 2022 Season At Barber
Five Titles Up For Grabs And Josh Hayes Can Make History In Season Finale
IRVINE, CA (September 22, 2022) – In addition to the premier Medallia Superbike Championship, five support-class titles will go the wire at Barber Motorsports Park, September 23-25, with the outcome likely not decided until Sunday afternoon as the curtain goes down on the 2022 MotoAmerica Championship.
The titles up for grabs? REV’IT! Twins Cup, SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup, Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. and two of the three Mini Cup By Motul classes.
And if that’s not enough to whet the appetite, there’s also a good chance of watching history in the making if four-time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes can muster up another victory in the Supersport class. A win in either of the two Supersport races will give Hayes 87 victories across all classes of AMA racing, and that will move him to the top of the heap as the winningest rider in AMA road racing history.
REV’IT! Twins Cup – Davis, Mazziotto Or Barry?
N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto’s Blake Davis started the 2022 REV’IT! Twins Cup Championship with a bang with a victory on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway. Then he sort of disappeared with seven straight races without a podium finish. So how is the 16-year-old Virginian leading the championship? A late season tear is how.
When Davis finished second in July at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca round, his season suddenly took off and he won two of the next five races and finished second in the other three. That combined with Jody Barry’s and Anthony Mazziotto’s late-season woes sees Davis with a 15-point lead heading into the season finale.
Rodio Racing’s Mazziotto, with two wins and three additional podiums, trails Davis by 15 points while leading Barry by just two points. Barry was the man to beat early in the season when he ripped off four wins in a row, but it’s been a ride on the struggle bus ever since. Still, both Mazziotto and Barry are capable of having spectacular weekends when at the top of their games.
They will need to do just that if they strive to catch Davis with just one 14-lap race remaining on Sunday afternoon at 12:40 p.m.
SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup – Wyman On Top
Cody Wyman and his Alpha Omega Kawasaki Ninja 400 roll into Barber Motorsports Park with a 20-point lead in the championship with two races and 50 points up for grabs in Alabama.
Wyman’s road to the title could have been made much easier if not for a crash in Saturday’s race one at New Jersey Motorsports Park that allowed Rodio Racing’s Gus Rodio to pull back 25 points on Wyman with his victory. In Sunday’s race two, it was Altus Motorsports’ Kayla Yaakov who came away with a rain-sodden victory with Rodio second and Wyman third.
And just like that, things got a lot more interesting.
Still, it is Wyman in the catbird seat with six wins on the season and the points lead. Wyman has three additional podiums to his credit, but two non-finishes and a seventh-place finish in the Ridge Motorsports Park round have put him in the position of needing a strong finish to take the crown.
Rodio, meanwhile, has just two wins on the year, but he has seven additional podium finishes and just one non-finish on his scorecard.
The third rider to have a legitimate shot at the title should Wyman falter is three-time race winner Yaakov, who became the first female MotoAmerica race winner back in June at Ridge Motorsports Park. Yaakov has been both fast and consistent with six podium finishes in addition to her three victories.
Just another three points behind Yaakov is Bauce Racing/JL62 Team’s Joe LiMandri Jr., the New Yorker coming into the final round with two wins and seven additional podiums (six of which were second-place finishes) on his 2022 resume.
One of the four – Wyman, Rodio, Yaakov and LiMandri – will be crowned this weekend at Barber. The first of two SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup races will run on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. with race two on Sunday at 1:20 p.m.
Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. – Anybody’s Guess
Sixteen points separate the top three in the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. program with Kayleigh Buyck leading Crystal Martinez by 10 points and Chloe Peterson by 16.
On paper, Buyck would appear to have a hand on the trophy with wins in four of the five races (she was docked her championship points from her Road America win for ignoring a red flag). However, Jennifer Chancellor was beating Buyck at Pitt Race until crashing out on the final lap and it was Martinez who stopped Buyck’s winning streak with a victory two weeks ago at New Jersey Motorsports Park. NJMP also marked the first time that Buyck wasn’t on the podium as she finished fourth,
Thus, it is Martinez with her victory at NJMP and her two other podium finishes who is the closest to Buyck. Then comes Peterson, a further six points behind in third place.
The top three in the point standings all suffered the same penalty at Road America when all three failed to adhere to the red flag and were stripped of their championship points.
The Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. race will close the weekend of action at Barber Motorsports Park with a 4:10 p.m. start on Sunday afternoon.
Supersport – Can Hayes Do It?
With Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC’s Josh Herrin wrapping up the 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship at New Jersey Motorsports Park, the focus on the Barber finale will be on Josh Hayes.
With his double victory at NJMP a few weeks ago, Hayes moved into a tie with Miguel Duhamel at the top of the list for all-time AMA race winners across all classes with 86. Now Hayes has one last chance in 2022 to break the record and will do so with a victory in either of the two Supersport races at Barber on his Squid Hunter Yamaha YZF-R6.
The man most likely to stand in his way of doing just that is Herrin. With eight wins and 14 total podiums in 16 races, Herrin made the 2022 season his own. And he’d probably like to be the one that keeps his old nemesis Hayes from taking the wins record on his watch.
Meanwhile, the class is filled with hungry young “kids,” led by Landers Racing’s Rocco Landers, who is a comfortable second in the championship after a three-win, 11-podium season thus far. Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott, the class rookie also earned a victory in his debut season of Supersport racing. Scott also has eight podiums on the season and is in no danger of losing third in the championship.
North East Cycle Outlet Racing’s Benjamin Smith is in danger of losing fourth in the championship to Hayes, despite the fact that Hayes only competed in half of the 16 races. In those eight races, however, Hayes had three wins, a second and two thirds. His only “off” weekend saw him finish fifth and sixth at Pitt Race. Thus, Smith and his two podium finishes leads Hayes by just two points.
The two Supersport races will take place at 2:10 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
Yuasa Stock 1000 – All Wrapped Up
Although Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing’s Corey Alexander wrapped up the Yuasa Stock 1000 Championship at his home round in New Jersey a few weeks ago, the finale promises to be a thrill-fest. Why? Because they have been all year.
With his seven wins on the season, a relaxed and newly crowned Alexander will be trying to end his stellar season on a high at Barber, but he’s sure to find the going difficult as it has been all year. The man who gave Alexander the most to deal with in 2022 is Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim – the only rider other than Alexander to win a race in the class this season.
Gillim and his four wins is second in the title chase, an insurmountable 25 points behind Alexander, who owns the tie-breaker if Gillim were to win the finale while Alexander failed to score a point. Second place is still up for grabs as Gillim is 11 points ahead of Alexander’s teammate Travis Wyman.
The Yuasa Stock 1000 race is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. and it will be the first race of the weekend at Barber.
Mini Cup By Motul – Just. Nine. Points.
Just nine points separate first from second in two of the three Mini Cup by Motul class championships as MotoAmerica’s youngest riders are set to fight it out on Saturday afternoon beginning at 4:30 p.m.
In the 160 class, it’s Nathan Gouker Racing’s Nathan Gouker with the upper hand and a nine-point lead over Xtreme Autoglass Pros’ Ryder Davis heading into the season finale on the purpose-built mini track at Barber Motorsports Park. Both riders have won two races in 2022 with Gouker earning four total podiums while Davis has five podiums to his credit. The difference comes down to race two at Ridge Motorsports Park where Gouker won while Davis struggled to a seventh-place finish.
In the 110 class, it’s again Gouker at the top of the standings, but this time it’s Anthony Lupo Jr. Racing’s Anthony Lupo Jr. giving chase. Again, the points lead is nine with both riders being on the podium in each of the six races thus far in the season. Gouker, though, has three wins to Lupo’s two.
Macc Racing/Broward Motorsports Tequesta’s Mac MacClugage, meanwhile, is third in both the 160 and 190 championships with the youngster earning his career-first victories this year when he won race two of the 160 class at Road America and race one of the 110 class at Ridge Motorsports Park.
It will be difficult to dislodge American Racing Team’s Kensei Matsudaira from the top of the 190-class championship as he leads Jesse James Racing’s Jesse James Shedden by 21 points heading into the finale. Shedden has more wins than Matsudaira, but Matsudaira has been on the podium in every race while Shedden has a non-score to his credit from race one at Pitt Race.
Pre-Barber Support Class Notes…
Last year’s two Supersport races were won by Sean Dylan Kelly and Gabriel Da Silva. For Kelly, it was win number 12 of his championship-winning season; for Da Silva it was his first career MotoAmerica victory as he topped Kelly in a driving rainstorm.
Jake Lewis won last year’s lone Stock 1000 race over Michael Gilbert and Travis Wyman. It was Lewis’s sixth victory of the season with the Kentuckian earning the 2021 Stock 1000 Championship.
The finale Twins Cup race of the season at Barber last year was won by class champion Kaleb De Keyrel over Jody Barry and Hayden Schultz.
The SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup class featured two races and one winner in the finale with champion Tyler Scott taking a pair of victories, his 10th and 11th wins of the season.
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is the North American road racing series created in 2014 that is home to the AMA Superbike Championship. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership that includes three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey, ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland, motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges, and businessman Richard Varner. For more information on MotoAmerica, visit www.MotoAmerica.com. Also make sure to follow MotoAmerica on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Attack Racing’s Richard Stanboli talks to Roadracing World Editor-at-Large Michael Gougis about what it takes to convert his MotoAmerica Championship-winning Superbikes to WorldSBK specifications and to ship their equipment to Portugal for a World Superbike wild card entry at Algarve International Circuit.
From a carry-over of Magny-Cours’ drama to differing outlooks on team orders and fighting hard ahead of Barcelona’s big weekend, juicy gossip was aplenty in the pre-round debriefs
The penultimate European round of the 2022 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is on the horizon as the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with the paddock set for another monumental weekend of action. As usual, there was plenty of chatter amongst rivals in their pre-weekend interviews, with rivals continuing to be at odds, riders stating bold claims and discussing whether or not team orders will come into play if necessary.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “Not the best friends of the paddock, so the relationship will stay the same!”
“There’s no special relationship; he told me his point of view and I told him mine, but that’s all. Races are races and the past is the past. Jonathan and I were not the best friends of the paddock so the relationship will stay the same! Sincerely, the approach for the final part of the season doesn’t change for Toprak’s points gap; I know the last three rounds have been the most difficult tracks. I have to be focused, try and do my best and I think the next tracks will be nice for us. I’m quite calm and focussed on the bike and my work. For Michael staying, I’m so happy for him. He’s a very talented rider, he’s very young and improving a lot during this season. He had a difficult start but then began being more consistent and competitive; we have a similar riding style which is easier for the engineers, so I am happy for him, and I look forward to fighting in the next races and next year for victories with him.”
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK): “The atmosphere has soured…”
“I view Barcelona as a bit of a difficult circuit to be honest, but I have some incredible memories. When WorldSBK came here in 2020, I won the first ever race. I have the nice Barcelona trophy on display at home, so great memories from then. On the incident with Bautista, from my side, nothing will change because I have to fight so hard to be there in this incredible battle right now with two other strong rivals, but of course the atmosphere has soured a bit with a lot of things being said in the aftermath in the heat of the moment. There’s a point when you’re overtaking a rider and in this kind of instance, there’s a point of impact and you have to brace as the guy on the inside; this was the clear movement, not an intentional punt. He knows this. Right now, the Championship is so competitive with different manufacturers that we need to step up; the team know that and we’re working really hard to try and do that.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK): “The Championship is very strange this year… I’m very surprised!”
“This weekend is very important, and we need good points. I’ll focus on this race and then Portimao, because I think San Juan won’t be easy because the Ducati is very fast, especially in the straights with Alvaro. I watched the video of the incident between Alvaro and Jonny and Jonny makes a mistake, but this is racing. The Championship is strange this year; every weekend we are fighting and the points situation changes. I’m very surprised! The season is long, and we have many races.”
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “If I need to follow team orders, I will”
“Well, we arrive to Barcelona which is a track I really like and after a podium at Magny-Cours, so a positive feeling and positive vibes. I’m happy about the new contract and for sure, it gives us a little bit of calm, and I want to stay with the hunger and positive pressure; when I’m under these circumstances, I perform better. I think Axel is doing a great job for an Independent team but I think the best choice for our team was to remain the same, so we can fight in the next races and so that we can try and bring the title once again to Bologna. Next year, I think Alvaro and I can fight for the podium. I will try to win races but the main goal this year is to win the Championship. If I was in his position in the future, I’d like that a younger teammate who is not fighting for the title can be smart. I will use my brain and if I need to make a team decision and follow team orders, I will do it as I really believe in that.”
Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing): “If I have the opportunity to pass Michael or Alvaro, I’ll do it”
“I hope it will be a good round and we’ll try to repeat the result of Magny-Cours. I like the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya a lot, also the city of Barcelona is cool, so I feel good, and I hope to repeat the best results. My goal continues to be to try and be in front of the factory guys, and that hasn’t changed. I hope to continue to try and beat Michael but also Bautista if it’s possible and then to try and have a factory seat for 2024. In the next weeks, I’ll tell the WorldSBK paddock about what happens for next year! I think when we’re on track, we have the possibility to do what we want. I don’t like team orders so when I attack, I put all of myself to try and win. I don’t want to make mistakes, to crash with others, but if I have the possibility to pass Michael or Alvaro, I will do it.”
Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW): “Never a doubt that I’d continue with the team and BMW”
“Super delighted to announce the plans for 2023; there was never a doubt that I’d continue with the team and with BMW. We started the project at the beginning of the year, bearing in mind we needed a long time and I wanted to stay for a long time, with the same team and the same guys. I have been changing around a lot. BMW are putting a lot of effort to achieve our goals; we are improving a lot this year and next year looks good. I know how fast Garrett is and he’s a nice guy, and I know how important that is for the team. Even if he’s having harder races lately, you don’t lose your talent. I’m already excited for 2023, even if we still have a lot of races this year!”
Garrett Gerloff (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team): “It’s good to change things up… BMW are working hard behind the scenes”
“I’m really excited. BMW are working hard behind the scenes! They have the desire to keep pushing the bike to the front of the field and that’s where I want to be. Sometimes, it is good to change things up, for me specifically, and we will see how it goes. I really appreciated that they were excited to work with me and I really appreciate the opportunity. Remy Gardner joining the team in 2023 is something I didn’t expect to see and I’m glad he had the opportunity. I think he’s going to get along really well with the team, it’s a great group of people and that will be good for him. The R1 Yamaha is a great bike and Toprak’s been showing that in the last few years! It’ll be figuring out how to adapt to a different bike and the tyres will be interesting for him to get used to. Obviously, the bike and team are capable and if he can get it all sorted out, I hope to see him fighting close to the front.”
Miller, Bagnaia, Quartararo and Aleix Espargaro split by 0.068 at Motegi
Miller tops the title rivals, Marquez fifth in a top ten covered by 0.288 on Friday
Friday, 23 September 2022
Jack Miller set the pace in a Ducati Lenovo Team one-two in an extended opening practice session at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, but it could hardly have been closer at the top as Miller headed the three closest in the title fight: Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) – and all four were split by just 0.068. Aragon GP winner Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), on the other hand, was just 14th-fastest after a late crash and he’ll be looking for more on Saturday.
With a special timetable in place for the Japanese GP, the premier class’s sole Friday practice session was an extended, 75-minute affair. While that gave teams and riders plenty of flexibility to work on race runs, the threat of rain in Saturday morning’s FP2 session, the only other running before the starting order for Q1 is set, meant that there was always going to be a big emphasis on single-lap pace. Even the appearance of the rain flag, 30 minutes in, for some very light showers was not enough to dissuade anyone, with riders coming on for fresh Michelin slicks at regular intervals.
Miller had a very brief spell at the top inside the first quarter-hour of the session, but it was not until his final run that he really laid down a marker. The ‘Thriller’ leapt from 17th to first with a 1:44.660 as he lapped Motegi with a brand-new soft front tyre and soft rear. Then, despite seemingly being held up by Team Suzuki Ecstar replacement Takuya Tsuda through the Hairpin, he went quicker again with the 1:44.509 which would not be beaten. Just for good measure, Miller clocked a 1:44.549 next time through which would be bettered only by Bagnaia.
By the time everyone had completed their time attacks, Miller was back on top, Bagnaia just behind, and Quartararo moved up with a 1:44.558. Aleix Espargaro, who was only 14th with a minute to go before the chequered flag came out, then pulled out a great lap to end the session fourth and just 0.068 seconds off the very best pace.
Fifth was also a fair bit to write home about as Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), who has never ridden around Motegi on a MotoGP™ bike before, rounded out the top five on a 1:44.645 and was top Independent Team rider to boot.
Then comes Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). At Honda’s home track, the number 93 claimed sixth with a 1:44.656 after also proving the initial pace-setter very early in the session. It was an encouraging result for the eight-time World Champion despite displaying obvious shoulder soreness when he got off his RC213V at the end of one run, in what is his second round back following surgery on his right arm. There was one mishap for MM93 though, when he got his leathers snagged on the onboard camera as a crew member wheeled his bike back into the Honda box. Teammate Pol Espargaro finished seventh on a 1:44.678.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing duo Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira took eighth and ninth, respectively, while Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) rounded out the top 10.
Those who will be hoping weather forecasts of rain on Saturday morning don’t come true include Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) in 11th and Bastianini in 14th. Both had late crashes, Zarco at Turn 7 after Bastianini had gone down at Turn 5, and for the latter it could prove to be a big blow to the title hopes which he had breathed life back into with his win just five days ago at Aragon. Splitting them in 13th was Alex Rins, who debuted some eye-catching new aerodynamic pieces (pictured below) on the tail unit of his Team Suzuki Ecstar entry.
There’s just one more session before we find out for sure who is going straight into Q2 and who will be fighting to get out of Q1. Don’t miss FP2 on Saturday from 10:50 (GMT +9), before qualifying then gets underway at the later local time of 15:05. 3 riders within 17 points make grid positions more vital than ever…
FRIDAY: TOP 3
1 Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) – Ducati – 1’44.509
2 Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – Ducati – +0.028
Fernandez pips Chantra by less than a tenth on Friday
The Championship leader opens the weekend on top, but Ogura is close in P4
Moto2™ World Championship leader Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) got his Motul Grand Prix of Japan off to the right start as he went fastest in FP1, putting in a 1:50.493 to finish just 0.084 ahead of Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) as light rain disrupted the day for the intermediate class. Their teammates were next up: Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Aragon winner Pedro Acosta was P3 and Fernandez’ key title rival Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) took P4 on home turf.
Ogura was first to get into the 1:51s and at one point he and Fernandez had identical fastest laps, before Fernandez was first into the 1:50s with less than eight minutes to go – except he wasn’t. That lap was outside of track limits, and it was instead Ogura who put in a 1:50.885. Chantra then set a 1:50.577 before Fernandez hit back with the 1:50.493, and that remained the fastest lap of the session. Acosta earned third with a late 1:50.783, and Filip Salac (Gresini Racing Moto2™) also joined the party with a 1:50.967 before more rain meant the pace dropped again.
Despite rain spitting, conditions improving and then worsening again over the course of the session, there wasn’t too much drama for the intermediate class. Sean Dylan Kelly (American Racing) crashed twice, Simone Corsi (MV Agusta Forward Racing) slid out and Keminth Kubo (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp) was the first off, riders all ok.
Two key headlines heading into Saturday see Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) in 15th and former World Championship leader Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) in 21st on a 1:52.573, putting them both outside the top 14. They’ll have a nervous wait to find out whether there will be more rain on Saturday morning as Moto2™ head back out for FP2 from 9:55 (GMT +9), before qualifying from 13:30!
Moreira fastest as Moto3™ get first taste of Motegi
The rookie heads the field, with Foggia and Sasaki on the chase as the lightweight class avoid the rain
MT Helmets – MSI’s Diogo Moreira set the pace in FP1 for the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, putting in a 1:57.252 in the first 40-minute session around the Mobility Resort Motegi. Leopard Racing’s Dennis Foggia was second on Honda home turf, with Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max’s Ayumu Sasaki third and the quickest home hero as he looks to take another GP victory.
World Championship leader Izan Guevara sits inside the top 14 cut-off for Q2 as it stands in P7, but fellow Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team rider – and closest title rival – Sergio Garcia went 17th-quickest in FP1 and needs to find more on Saturday morning.
Despite overnight rain and grey clouds hanging overhead, it was a dry for start to the Friday afternoon session for the lightweight class, allowing some solid running. There were five crashers: Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), Elia Bartolini (QJMotor Avintita Racing Team) and teammate Nicola Carraro, Scott Ogden (VisionTrack Racing Team) and Lorenzo Fellon (SIC58 Squadra Corse). Fellon headed to the Medical Centre and will be reviewed before FP2 after suffering pain in his foot.
FP2 begins on Saturday morning at 9:00 (GMT +9), before qualifying begins at 12:35.
More, from a press release issued by WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team:
Strong times by WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team duo on opening day in Japan
Cal Crutchlow and Darryn Binder had a decent Free Practice one in Motegi today.
Friday at the Mobility Resort Motegi saw just one session for the MotoGP class. To ensure all the material will arrive in time for all teams straight from Aragon, the Japanese GP started late on Friday with an FP1, which was extended to 75 minutes. Although the circuit was overcast all day and it drizzled a bit in some sectors of the track, the practice remained mainly dry and gave riders and teams a good opportunity to arrive back in Motegi after the last two Grand Prix’ in the land of the rising sun had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
It was a great comeback by Cal Crutchlow, who though had been testing at the Japanese venue some weeks ago but on the newly developed Yamaha, he now is riding the actual YZR-M1 for this weekend. Yet, he showed some fantastic speed from the word go. He ended Friday in P17, but was missing out on the top by just 0.678 seconds.
Meanwhile Darryn Binder was impressive as well. Riding his big machine for the first time at Motegi today, he quickly found confidence and did one very fast lap straight behind his teammate. The South African MotoGP rookie concluded Free Practice one just 0.179 seconds behind Crutchlow in P18, although he unfortunately registered a small crash at the end of the session.
Saturday will see a normal program for the premier class. Both WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team riders might have a chance to improve tomorrow from Free Practice two at 10:50 local time (03:50 CET), followed by FP3 at 14:25 local time (07:25 CET) and the Qualifyings from 15:05 local time (08:05 CET), yet the weather forecast doesn’t look too promising.
CAL CRUTCHLOW
“Today was a strange day. Waiting around until 3 o’clock to ride is not ideal, but I think all MotoGP riders have just been waiting to go out on track today. The lap times were very impressive for the first session. There was a little bit of drizzle in the session as well, so everyone was pushing to be in the top 10 because it looks like it’s going to rain tomorrow. Me being competitive, but disappointed not to be in the top 10 because at one point I thought we had a chance. I just didn’t have a good feeling with the rear tyre on the last run. I did a good banker lap of 1:44.2 and knew where I could improve, but we struggled with the rear tyre, it was not feeling great in the last run. I went a tiny bit faster, I made this in the corners. But the team did a good job today. I’m happy with how we performed, but we need to understand the braking, because I struggled in the braking zone with the performance of the brakes at the moment to be able to stop the bike. Let’s see if we can improve, if we get some dry sessions tomorrow, but it looks unlikely. Overall, the team did a good job, thanks to them for today.”
DARRYN BINDER
“Today has been a bit of a strange day with starting so late and having only one Free Practice. Luckily the weather held out, although there were some slight drops during the session, but fortunately, it stayed dry. We had a 75 minutes session, so a lot of time to spin some laps and get used to the track. It was so nice to be back here in Motegi after three years. I really enjoy riding this circuit and I had a lot of fun on the MotoGP bike. Unfortunately, I had a little crash at the end of the session, which is an unfortunate way to end the day. But overall, it has been a really positive Free Practice and I’m just 0.8 seconds from the first one, so I’m very happy about the work we’ve done today and I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.”
More, from a press release issued by Mooney VR46 Racing Team:
POSITIVE RETURN AT MOTEGI WITH LUCA MARINI IN THE TOP5
A unique 75-minute free practice session for the riders of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team with Luca in the slipstream of the very first guys and Marco Bezzecchi in P19
Motegi (Japan), September 23rd 2022 – After three years, first more than positive approach, as a rookie in MotoGP on the Japanese track of the Mobility Resort in Motegi, for Luca Marini who closes today’s session just a tenth behind the P1 (Miller, 1:44.509) in fifth place overall. 19th, in a very short standings with 19 riders in a gap of a second, Marco Bezzecchi.
Working to adapt himself as soon as possible to the demanding Japanese track riding the Ducati Desmosedici GP, Luca is the protagonist of a good step forward in the final run of the day and scores a lap time of 1:44.645, a time which means the momentary access into the Q2 (tomorrow, 03.30 pm local time, 08.30 am CET).
Six tenths of a second from the qualifying for the second round of the QP, instead for Marco (1:45.426) who uses the 75-minute session to gain as much confidence as possible and thus bring the Top10 closer.
Luca Marini
I am very satisfied with this first session at Motegi, I did not expect to be immediately there with the very first ones, just a tenth from the P1, to be my first time with MotoGP. There is really a lot to do, we have not been riding here for three years and we have made great improvements in terms of electronics and tires in recent seasons. Let’s try to understand where to work, what to do for another jump and to improve ourselves for the race. The weather will be crucial: if it doesn’t rain we could continue to work more easily for the race.
Marco Bezzecchi
It was not a very easy day: the track is beautiful, but demanding with the MotoGP. The single session did not help me, we had a lot of tests to do and the management was particularly complex. In the time attack I was not perfect, I tried again a second time, I was improving my lap time, but I saw the yellow flags and I had to slow down. We know where to work for tomorrow, I hope there will be good weather, but I’m not too worried about the rain.
Pablo Nieto, Team Manager
I am happy with Luca’s start on a very demanding track like this one. He is continuing on his way and has managed the 75 minute shift well. Marco certainly has room of improvements; the ranking is very short with 19 riders in a second. Let’s hope for the weather for tomorrow, it would be very useful for him to be able to continue working in dry conditions.
More, from a press release issued by Gresini Racing:
JAPANESE GP BEGINS FOR TEAM GRESINI MOTOGP AT MOTEGI
It was not the best start to the Asian trip for Team Gresini Racing MotoGP, who at the moment is far from the top positions with both standard bearers. Luck was not on the riders’ side in what was an unusual first day with only one session of free practice: Enea Bastianini found himself in the gravel trap at turn five with few minutes left while Fabio Di Giannantonio’s performance was halted first by a technical problem and then by a yellow flag situation during his final quick-lap attempt.
The schedule will get ‘back to normal’ tomorrow, with two more FP sessions aside from Q1 and Q2, but adverse weather conditions may play a big role. With 20mm of rain forecast (almost 0.8 inches) predicted, the #23 and the #49 may have their fate sealed and be forced to go through Q1.
14th – ENEA BASTIANINI #23 (1’44.978s)
“We had a good pace today; I started with the idea of understanding the track on a MotoGP bike and we did immediately well with new tyres. I then tucked the front at turn five during my second time attack and we ended up kind of throwing the session away. It’s clear that with one session, things are much more complicated, and we must have made the most of it given the rain expected for tomorrow. We’re hoping for a dry qualifying session, because we’re competitive.”
24th – FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49 (1’46.365s)
“We were expecting things to be a lot different in the first session because we had prepared it well strategy-wise, but from the very opening lap I had felt that there was an issue that kind of affected the whole session. When time-attack came, yellow flags were deployed due to a crash by another rider, so we can only think about tomorrow now.”
More, from a press release issued by Repsol Honda:
Strong opening day at home for Repsol Honda Team in Motegi
The Japanese and Honda fans provided a welcome boost as Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro powered into the top ten on a unique Friday in Motegi.
A busy Thursday saw the Repsol Honda Team work diligently to prepare everything just a few days after action concluded in Aragon. Due to the schedule of the events, just a single afternoon Free Practice 1 session of 75 minutes awaited the Repsol Honda Team on the opening day of the Japanese Grand Prix. Despite near constant threats of rain throughout the day, the track remained dry for the entirety of the extra-long session.
Returning to the circuit in which he has claimed three of his six premier class titles, Marc Marquez was immediately on the pace. Ending Friday in sixth with a best time of 1’44.656 provided positive reinforcement that both Marquez himself and the RC213V are making steps in the right direction since his recent return to competition. There was no relenting for the #93 who immediately went about setting a quick lap time to beat Saturday’s looming weather. With 75 minutes of track time, Marquez was also able to continue assessing his right arm in more intense scenarios.
After several difficult races, Pol Espargaro’s Grand Prix weekend started on the correct foot as he ended Friday seventh fastest. 0.022s back from his teammate and within 0.2s of the fastest time, the #44 was able to continually improve the setup of his RC213V over the course of the session. The 4.8-kilometre-long track had Espargaro return to his early season form of consistently running in the top ten as the RC213V immediately gelled with its home circuit. An evening of deep analysis for Espargaro and his team is scheduled as they aim to take the data gathered today and apply it to all remaining races.
Both riders’ performance on Friday puts the Repsol Honda Team pair in a strong position to advance directly into Q2 with heavy rain predicted on Saturday morning. Saturday’s schedule begins with Free Practice 2 at 10:50 Local Time with Free Practice 3 becoming the untimed session just ahead of Qualifying.
Marc Marquez
SIXTH 1’44.656
“From when I first went out I was feeling quite good. It seems the areas where we are usually suffering a bit and less here and we can manage everything. Today I went full attack because there was just one session and I knew it might rain tomorrow so getting into the top ten was important. Let’s see what happens tomorrow but I am hoping for rain honestly because then we are already in the top ten. I am feeling very good with the new tyre, but also my feeling with the old tyre is quite good.”
Pol Espargaro
SEVENTH 1’44.678
“I am quite surprised because with the medium at other tracks, we were suffering a lot but here we are able to take a lot of profit from it. Everything worked really well with a lot of edge grip and traction and I was able to ride how I want. Today has been very good and with the weather that is predicted for the rest of the weekend, I think we can keep this speed up. It is a really nice boost to be back to feeling competitive again, and to do it in front of Honda’s home fans is even better. Let’s analyse everything well and come back ready tomorrow.”
More, from a press release issued by Tech3 KTM Factory Racing:
Tech3 KTM Factory Racing Begins Action in Japan
New continent, new schedule…The MotoGP action kicked off at Motegi Mobility Resort on Friday for the first day of the Grand Prix of Japan, in a slightly different way than we are used to. Raul Fernandez and Remy Gardner went on track for only one session (FP1) for one hour and fifteen minutes.
Spaniard Raul Fernandez was heading to Japan for the second time of his career, the last time being when he was still in Moto3. A lot has happened since then for the MotoGP rookie! Raul set off at 15:05 local time (GMT+9) for the FP1, out for the discovery of the layout on a MotoGP engine in front of Japanese fans. Whilst the first half of the session was about adaptation, the second half was about trying to get in a consistent rhythm. Raul did so and his best lap in 1’45.739 placed him twenty-first at the end of Friday.
Remy Gardner was in a similar situation than his teammate. With a session split in five runs, Remy managed to get his fastest lap towards the end in 1’45.991, a lap he could have improved had he not been shown the yellow flag due to the few crashes occurring towards the end of the session. He finished the day in P23, and will aim to improve tomorrow in order to start the Grand Prix of Japan in the best conditions possible.
Raul Fernandez
Position: 21th
Time: 1’45.739
Laps: 27
“I have to say…1h15 on the bike with the jet lag, it is tough! But I am happy to be back in Motegi for the second time. The first time was in Moto3 and it feels like ages ago. About today, I am quite happy with the work done, we had a good pace. Unfortunately I was disturbed by another rider during the final time attack but I could have done a better lap otherwise. Tomorrow we will continue the work, hopefully without rain because it can complicate things.”
Remy Gardner
Position: 23rd
Time: 1’45.991
Laps: 27
“Long session today at the end of which we started to feel better. Unfortunately, I had another yellow flag which bothered me as I had a good rhythm, but I have to accept it. We will continue to work tonight, get ready for tomorrow and try to do a good qualifying day here in Motegi.”
More, from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Racing:
JAPANESE GP – JAPANESE GP – Zarco P11 and Martin P15 after the first day of free practice at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The first day of free practice at the Japanese Grand Prix ended with Johann Zarco in 11th and Jorge Martin in 15th position. For the first time on Friday there was only one 1hr 15min session, in which it was crucial to try and get into the top ten and consequently into a hypothetical Q2 given the weather forecast for tomorrow. A crash on the last lap without any consequences did not allow the Frenchman to set the time, he remained outside the top ten by a thousandth (1:44.798). For the Spanish rider it was his first time on the Japanese track in the premier class, so team 89 focused on familiarising himself with the track, finishing with his best time of 1:45.009.
Jorge Martín
I like this new format, I like the idea of having longer sessions. Today we focused on trying to get familiar with the track and tried to change something on the front. Tomorrow hopefully it won’t rain we will try to get into Q2.
Johann Zarco
I had a very good start, it’s a track I like a lot and where I have many references. It’s a shame about the crash on the last lap because I was going very fast and would have made a good time. We have to hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow because otherwise it will be difficult to get into Q2.
More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki ECSTAR:
MOTEGI BRINGS THE MADNESS FROM DAY ONE WITH TIGHT TIMES
Alex Rins: 13th – 1’44.913 (+ 0.404)
Takuya Tsuda: 22nd – 1’46.718 (+ 2.209)
The MotoGP paddock has finally returned to Japan for the 16th round of the 2022 season, and the race weekend is already promising close racing and unpredictable climatic conditions.
A scheduling change put in place to allow extra time for containers to arrive from Aragon meant that there was just one session for the riders on Friday, although it was extended to 75 minutes.
Alex Rins made the most of his time on track, setting the early pace, trying out a new rear aero device and getting a total of 31 laps in – the highest number of any rider.
Despite the constant threat of rain, Rins was able to set times within the Top 3 and he topped the timesheet several times, setting his best lap with around 10 minutes left on the clock. But the MotoGP field proved to be as close as ever, with just tiny margins separating the riders, and Rins slipped to 13th at close of play after catching two yellow flags on his final flying laps. Despite his position, he was just four tenths of a second down.
Suzuki Test Rider, Takuya Tsuda, is standing in for Joan Mir in Motegi and the experienced Japanese rider was just 2.2 seconds off the pace today. He was less than two tenths of a second from his personal lap record at the track.
Alex Rins:
“I finished today just outside the Top 10, but everything had been going well until the last few minutes. I was able to set the quickest time, and then stay within the Top 3, but when I put fresh tyres on and went for my final push I got caught out by yellow flags and I couldn’t improve. It seems that it will be raining a lot tomorrow morning, so the likelihood is that I’ll be in Q1, but I want to be competitive in the wet conditions and find a good spot for the grid on Sunday.”
Takuya Tsuda:
“I know this track well, but the conditions were quite difficult today because there was light rain falling in some sectors and we couldn’t tell if it was going to get heavier at any moment. Other parts of the track were completely dry, and we did the whole session on slicks, but caution was needed. I’m going to study the data tonight and try to improve my time a bit more tomorrow; I want to make the most of this opportunity given to me at my home race – to enjoy it and to give my absolute best.”
Livio Suppo – Team Manager:
“Alex showed very good rhythm and pace, but unfortunately his last time attack laps were affected by two yellow flags. But anyway, let’s see what he can do in qualifying tomorrow, because Alex has already shown great speed, but the weather could make a difference. Tsuda-san is riding with us this weekend, and his priority is just to enjoy this last chance to ride the MotoGP bike.”
More, from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MOTOGP SHOW HOT RACE PACE ON MOTEGI DAY 1
Motegi (Japan), 23rd September 2022
The lap times were hot this afternoon at the Mobility Resort Motegi track. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP‘s Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli were on the pace early on in the extended MotoGP FP1 session, the only track time for the premier class on the Friday. A time attack at the end had Quartararo take 3rd, while Morbidelli finished the day in 16th.
3rd FABIO QUARTARARO 1‘44.558 / 30 LAPS
16th FRANCO MORBIDELLI 1‘45.065 / 28 LAPS
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP riders Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli had to push right from the start of the 75-minute FP1 session. The duo were keen to secure a place in the provisional top 10 as weather conditions are unsure for tomorrow‘s FP2. Quartararo completed the extended Friday free practice session in 3rd place. Morbidelli showed great early pace but in the end wasn‘t able to capitalise on the soft rear tyre in the closing minutes due to yellow flags on his final stint. He ended the day in 16th place.
You wouldn‘t have guessed Quartararo had abrasions on his chest, judging by his strong performance at the Motegi track this morning. He was quick to find a top-3 pace and with 55 minutes to go in the extended FP1 session, he hit the top spot with a 1‘45.807s. He held first place until about half an hour before the end, when the shoot-out started. El Diablo was putting in one hot lap after another to remain in the top 3. He knew it might not be enough and geared up for one final push. He set a 1‘44.558 on lap 28/30 that earned him third place, 0.049s from the top.
Morbidelli steadily improved his pace and climbed up to a fourth place early on in the 1h15m session. The Italian and his crew had been putting in the work since the Aragon GP, and the Yamaha rider was feeling visibly happier on his M1 compared to a week ago. When the times dropped, he initially responded by setting the sixth fastest time of the session thus far. With the pace getting even hotter, the number-21 rider dug even deeper and pulled a 1‘45.065s out of the bag for fifth, but it was brief. With three minutes to go, charging riders pushed Morbidelli down the rankings. Unable to respond due to yellow flags on his final run, he ended the session in 16th place, though he was only 0.556s from first.
MASSIMO MEREGALLI
TEAM DIRECTOR
Today‘s session was 1 hour and 15 minutes long. We tried to make the most of this extended session, gathering as much information as possible on tyre options and settings in case Sunday’s race will be dry. Both riders were quite comfortable from the start. Fabio is feeling a bit sore after FP1, which is to be expected. He‘s experiencing some discomfort whilst riding, but he is able to cope with it, as shown by the times he set. Both Fabio and Franky have a solid race pace, and that‘s something we‘re quite satisfied about after this first day. Everyone wanted to get in a time attack today in case of rain tomorrow, as expected. Franky was very unlucky. When we was trying to do a final time attack, he ran into two yellow flags on separate laps. It’s a real shame because his pace so far is good enough to run at the front. We hope for a dry FP2 session tomorrow so he can have another go at getting to Q2.
FABIO QUARTARARO
Today was intense, but it was good. Our pace doesn’t look too bad, but I was on the limit from the first lap. Our margin for improvement is not a lot, but we did our best, and it was quite okay. The abrasions didn’t affect my riding today. It was a bit strange at the beginning because it burns a little bit, but after a few laps you adapt to it. It was okay, even with the extra-long session. And the jet lag also didn’t bother me, because I don’t suffer from going to this side of the world. We need to analyse well which tyre we’ll use. The front is clear, but the rear isn’t yet. But our pace seems quite okay, so I’m ready.
FRANCO MORBIDELLI
I’m quite pleased with the speed I had today, but not with my final result. Unfortunately, in my second time attack I got two yellow flags, so I couldn’t make even one fast lap. I found myself in 16th place when I felt I could have been much higher than that. Anyway, during the practice the pace looked really decent, and I felt quite good. I knew that this track, with this lay-out, suits my latest style a bit more. We also made a step forward with the bike, and that let me do another step. That was really good and interesting to feel. The programme went smoothly and well until the second time attack.
More, from a press release issued by HRC:
Nagashima enjoys Motegi MotoGP debut
HRC Test Rider Tetsuta Nagashima realised his dream as he made his premier class debut in Motegi. Working on improving his time and comparing himself to the rest of the MotoGP field.
A best time of 1’45.845 saw Nagashima end Friday in 22nd, just 1.336 seconds behind Jack Miller.
Tetsuta Nagashima 45
Rider – MotoGP
“It was a really great feeling to make MotoGP debut today at home in Motegi. But wow, you arrive here and you are alongside everyone and you see that the level is so high. Speaking honestly, I was a little bit nervous because it has always been my dream to ride in MotoGP and today I achieved it. Like this I wasn’t riding exactly as I want, but Marquez gave me some advice that I will try to use tomorrow. Let’s keep on pushing and improving this weekend.”
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia:
FIRST PRACTICE SESSION AT MOTEGI
20 RIDERS WITHIN ONE SECOND, CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE CONTENDERS WITHIN 40 THOUSANDTHS, AND APRILIA IS IN THE MIX!
ALEIX FOURTH AND MAVERICK TENTH FOR DIBS ON A SPOT IN Q2
The Friday practice format changed at Motegi, but the extremely balanced competition typical of MotoGP 2022 was the same. At the end of the single 75-minute session, 20 riders were all within one second of one another, with those in the top 10 all within 3 tenths.
In any case, the Aprilias shone throughout, with Aleix and Maverick working skilfully in preparation for the race (in what could be the only dry practice session) without missing a beat when it was time to push to the limit for a time attack. Espargaró, despite two yellow flags during his flying laps, stopped the clock at an outstanding 1’44.577, which earns him a provisional fourth place and a time that basically overlaps those of the riders at the top.
Viñales had no trouble finding confidence on a track that he is tackling for the first time astride the RS-GP, demonstrating a good pace and reporting good sensations. There is room for improvement, especially on the flying lap, but his tenth place today means that he’ll be able to focus on tomorrow’s sessions with peace of mind.
ALEIX ESPARGARÓ
“I’m happy to be back racing on this track in a country that I absolutely love. The atmosphere is fantastic and I must say that the session also went well. We struggled a bit at the beginning because the only points of reference we had for the settings were from 2019 when I was riding an extremely different RS-GP, but everyone on the team did a great job, quickly finding the right direction we needed to go. I was also lucky on the last time attack because only one of my three attempts wasn’t cancelled by a yellow flag, but it was enough to get me fourth place. There are a few places on this track where I lose a bit of ground and I’m very fast at others, but the bike is working pretty well and that makes us optimistic.”
MAVERICK VIÑALES
“After so many top-10 spots slipping through my fingers by a matter of a few thousandths, my luck finally changed this time! Given the weather forecast, doing a good lap today was important and I managed to do just that. The bike is working well here. I think that the base settings are already at a promising level but we have a few ideas that will help us improve further. I’m pleased with the pace I maintained in race configuration. We were able to work well, taking full advantage of the single, long session.”
More, from a press release issued by LCR Honda Idemitsu:
BRAVE TAKA JUST OUTSIDE TOP 10 AT MOTEGI
Taka Nakagami narrowly missed a top 10 spot after a courageous performance in Friday’s sole free practice session at his home GP at Motegi. Suffering with the hand injury he sustained in Aragon, the LCR Honda IDEMITSU star rode through the pain barrier in front of his fans and was unfortunate not to claim an automatic spot in tomorrow’s Q2.
With a reduced schedule today and rain forecast all day on Saturday, the extended FP1 session effectively became a shoot-out for Q2. Taka showed impressive pace throughout an ultra-competitive 75 minutes, forcing his way into the top-10 on a couple of occasions, but had to settle for 12th position in the end, despite being just three tenths off early pacesetter Jack Miller.
Takaaki Nakagami – 12th
(1’44.886)
“It was a tough session, but my speed potential was good. We were able to get into the top 10, then at the end we dropped some places and ended P12, but just three tenths from the top. The performance was incredible, really, really good, to be honest I didn’t expect that speed. Of course, I felt a little bit uncomfortable with my fingers, but all my fans gave me a lot of energy during the session which was good. Now I will try to rest as much as possible for the second day.”
More, from a press release issued by LCR Honda Castrol:
CHALLENGING FIRST DAY FOR ÁLEX MÁRQUEZ AT MOTEGI
Álex Márquez has set his sights on improvement after a tough opening day at the Grand Prix of Japan at Motegi. With the premier class returning to the venue for the first time in three years, the LCR Honda CASTROL rider got his first taste of the track on MotoGP machinery and ended in 20th position on the timesheets.
With only one extended free practice session on Friday, there was added pressure on the teams to produce a lap time, especially with rain dominating Saturday’s forecast. Álex gave his all and, although he struggled to find his best rhythm in overcast conditions, was only a second off the leading time.
Álex Márquez – 20th
(1’45.600)
“First day in Japan and it was a new track for me and it wasn’t easy. We focused a little too much on race pace and the tyres, with just an hour and a quarter it wasn’t easy to understand everything. Also, I wasn’t happy with the set-up of the bike, I was uncomfortable and had a lot of front-end problems. I tried my best, I wasn’t able to make a good lap time, but I feel I have margin to improve so we’ll see. It looks like it will rain all day tomorrow, so we need to be focused and, if we get the chance to ride in the dry, we’ll need to improve a lot and make a step forward. We have a lot of information now to use if it’s dry on Sunday.”
More, from a press release issued by Ducati Lenovo Team:
Jack Miller sets the quickest time in the first free practice session for the Japanese GP at Motegi. Second Pecco Bagnaia
Jack Miller ended on top on the first day of free practice for the Japanese GP, the sixteenth round of the 2022 MotoGP season, held this weekend at Motegi. Compared to a typical Friday, today saw had a different timetable to allow the teams’ material to arrive in Japan after the last Grand Prix held at Aragón last Sunday.
Riders took part in a single 75-minute session this afternoon, during which they were able to reacquaint themselves with the Japanese track, which had been missing from the MotoGP calendar for three years, following the last edition held in 2019. In a first session characterised by dry track conditions despite a few light drops of rain, Jack Miller was immediately quick, setting the fastest time of the day in 1:44.509 in the final minutes of the session. Just 28 thousandths behind closed teammate Pecco Bagnaia. Even for the Italian rider, the first day at Motegi has reserved positive sensations that make him confident ahead of tomorrow’s qualifying, despite the weather forecasting rain.
Jack Miller (#43 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1st (1:44.509)
“I’m satisfied with this first day at Motegi. Even though we haven’t raced here for three years, we were able to be fast right from the start. Having a longer session allowed us to try some things with the setting we don’t usually have time to do, and I really liked the changes we made to the bike towards the end of the session. Our Desmosedici GP works well here, and I’m enjoying riding it. Rain is forecast for tomorrow, but, usually, the grip on this track is good even with the wet asphalt, so I’m confident I can do well in any condition.”
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 2nd (1:44.537)
“I struggled a little at the start, but together with my team, we managed to do a great job, and in the last two runs, I’ve found a good feeling with the bike, so I’m very happy. It’s nice to be back racing here at Motegi, which is one of my favourite tracks because as well as having places where you have to brake hard, it also has some very fast corners. Compared to three years ago, my feeling has improved a lot, and I think I already have a good base setup for the race. The goal for tomorrow’s qualifying session will be to place in the first two rows: it won’t be easy since it will probably rain, but we’ll try”.
The Ducati Lenovo Team riders will be back on track tomorrow at 10:50am local time for FP2, while qualifying for the Japanese GP will be held from 3:05pm local time at the end of FP3.
AFM Laguna Registration opens tonight 8PM for AFM license holders (9-26 for reciprocity). It’s gonna be a GASSER!
Note: if purchasing a license while registering, you WILL be able to register during the AFM license holder period (today).
On behalf of the AFM BOD:
Finally. FINALLY, it’s here…AFM Registration opens today for the final round of our 2022 season at none other, than historic Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey! Ever since joining the AFM on my first race weekend, March 2002, I’ve heard the whispers, quips, pleadings, rumors, wants, “what-ifs”, and conspiracies about the AFM and Laguna Seca Raceway. Why we won’t go back, why we haven’t gone back, and why we left. The quips were ok though…we had Sonoma and we had LOTS of Sonoma back then. Gradually, we moved to less Sonoma rounds and eventually made the decision to cut Sonoma until the track surface was upgraded. That decision was hard. Very hard. Losing a world class facility robbed the club of its heritage. During that period of scaling back @ Sonoma, we reached out to Laguna every single year, asking for a date. We never received so much as a call back. Nothing, just dead air. In 2022, under new management, we finally received a call back with the exclusive help of one of our long-standing event vendors. Once a connection was made, we pushed aggressively for dates and bugged and bugged and bugged. The (new) decision makers at Laguna Seca finally replied …and after almost 40 years of hiatus, The AFM will be returning to race at Laguna Seca once again. This event is truly historic. The amount of work, effort, thought, and worry that’s gone into our final round has been immeasurable. At our BOD meeting, we solidified final details. We all left the meeting with the “starting line” butterflies.
1961 Appears to be one of the earliest races the AFM held at Laguna Seca in conjunction with the SCCA. The history of the place and the AFM is long founded. The June 10th, 1961, newsletter still speaks to us today. “Should be a ‘gasser’ for motorycles”. “Please send in the entry form for this one as SOON as this newsletter arrives…” Back then (and even until around mid 2000’s), entry forms were mailed and later, faxed. A racer noted their first, second and third race choices; a homage to entries so aplenty that getting two races in a weekend in itself was a “win”.
The AFM board, corner workers, race control, tech, timing, registration, and licensing are all very proud and very excited to present the AFM’s return to Laguna Seca to the membership. AFM members, first and foremost, will have an exclusive entry before entry for the event is opened to reciprocity licensed racers. Exclusive AFM licensed riders can begin registering September 22ndh. On September 26th, we’ll open registration to non-AFM racing members as well. Registrations will be prioritized on a first come, first served basis and top 10 in points for all classes will be guaranteed a grid spot if registered before registration is opened to reciprocity riders . While we haven’t an idea on what total attendance will be, there is a finite limit to how many racers can be on track at one time and our total racers will be limited due to that constraint. This is the only time we’ve had to work through a limit of riders-on-track in modern AFM times. The board worked hard on pricing for the event over the course of several months arriving upon a minimum event charge of $700 for three classes with two full days of racing. Three classes result in 6 races over two days. Our event is a 3-day event with practice taking place on Friday, October 7th and racing on both days, October 8th and 9th. The focus on our return to Laguna Seca is practice, racing, racing. With that in mind, a two-day racing schedule was built with a small amount of morning warmup each weekend race day and a full day of 105db free practice on Friday and 105db limit racing. We’ll have qualifying for all formula classes on Friday. Formula races will all run at the end of the day, both days and may be scheduled for more laps than sprint races if we don’t have any large undue delays The trophies look to be a neat effort for Eagle Awards. These rare AFM Laguna Seca trophies are going to make this a fight for these historic podiums in all classes and I can imagine the feeling in achievement of putting an AFM Laguna Seca trophy on display like the founders of the club did when Laguna opened its doors to them in the late 50’s .
Pricing for the 105db Friday practice is $450 per rider. We WILL have AFM T&S active and timing during Friday and formula classes qualifying Friday. Saturday / Sunday races are priced at $700 for 3 race classes. Additional classes are $150. We haven’t much insight into how many racers will enter, but we suspect this will be likely be the fullest AFM event of the season. Those who purchase garages will need to load in Thursday PM/ Friday AM. Those who choose to practice on Friday will get priority pit choice over those who are not practicing Friday.
Bullet points
First 3 entries (minimum): $700. Two days of racing, Saturday/ Sunday.
ALL days are 105db days.
Both race days ARE FULL POINTS DAYS
Friday Practice is $450. Priority pit access for those who are practicing Friday
No Pets allowed per Laguna’s policy except those allowed by law
We’re hoping to have a podium celebration for all races on both days
We have 18 garages available for rent. Like Sonoma’s garages, multiple bikes can fit and sharing garages is encouraged
AFM current license holders will have exclusive priority registration from 8pm 9-22 to 8pm 9-26. Licenses CAN be purchased to enter during this time period.
Non-AFM license holders (reciprocity) will be able to register from 8pm 9-26 to close of registration, 10-6.
Top 10 in class points are guaranteed spots in class if entered during the AFM priority period
Formula classes will hold qualifying during Friday practice. Friday practice must be entered to participate in qualifying
There is NO KFG rule. Classes will be gridded by points unless otherwise noted
Paddock quiet hours are 10pm – 6am
The American Federation of Motorcyclists BOD, Workers, Race Control, Timing & Scoring, Tech, Registration, Licensing, Trophies, and all of your competition thanks you for attending The AFM’s return to Laguna Seca! The return to Laguna Seca will be historic, memorable, and triumphant! Thanks so much for coming out and racing with the American Federation of Motorcyclists!
Thanks all, look forward to seeing all of you at our historic AFM event!
Members of the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC race team and Dunlop’s MotoAmerica staff present a check for $6,000 to the Roadracing World Action Fund (RWAF) September 11 at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Pictured (from left) are Warhorse Racing Ducati NYC race team members Maurizio Perlini, Michael Castro, Giovanni Crupi, Bobby Shek, David Behrend, Simone Toso, Eraldo Ferracci, Cody Chesebrough, Louis Denaples III, Marco Vilaro, RWAF Ambassador Chris Ulrich, RWAF Founder John Ulrich, and Dunlop’s Hunter Juico, Anthony Romo, Tom McMannis, and Cori Maynard behind Josh Herrin's Ducati Panigale V2 Supersport racebike and the Dunlop ECSTAR Suzuki GSX-R1000R two-seat Superbike, a fund-raising tool of the Roadracing World Action Fund. Photo courtesy Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC and Dunlop.
Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC and Dunlop have teamed up to raise $6,000 for the Roadracing World Action Fund.
The Roadracing World Action Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes motorcycle racetrack safety education, helping prevent racetrack injuries by encouraging, facilitating, and funding the deployment of life-saving soft barriers (made by Airfence and Alpina) at motorcycle road races and track days nationwide.
Dunlop donated 100% of the proceeds from the sale of 20 sets of brand-new Sportmax Q5 track day tires, and Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC exclusively sold and mounted the tires in the days leading up to a special track day August 29 at Pocono Raceway.
On September 11 during the MotoAmerica weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park, members of the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC race team and Dunlop’s MotoAmerica staff presented a check for $6,000 to Roadracing World Action Fund Founder John Ulrich and Roadracing World Action Fund Ambassador Chris Ulrich.
North America Talent Cup competitors in action at Circuit of The Americas in 2022. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy NATC.
FINAL NORTH AMERICA TALENT CUP ROUND TO TAKE PLACE WITH MOTOAMERICA
The final round of the 2022 North America Talent Cup, an official Road to MotoGP™ project, will run alongside MotoAmerica™ at Barber Motorsports Park.
BIRMINGHAM, AL – The inaugural North America Talent Cup season has been a wild ride! The young competitors have matured and developed into seasoned racers, not afraid to rub elbows or make the aggressive pass as they put it all on the line race after race.
For the final round of the season, the NATC will race at Barber Motorsports Park during the conclusion of the MotoAmerica series. Just as two heavyweights fight for top honors in the MotoAmerica Superbike series, the top two NATC competitors will decide who earns the first North America Talent Cup championship title.
Current points leader Alessandro Di Mario will need to finish strong to secure his chance at being crowned champion. Fifteen points adrift, Jesse James Shedden will not be counted out. Shedden will need to rely on the talent that has seen him on the podium in almost every race this season. The results between Di Mario and Shedden are almost identical, with each on the podium nine times and each with four wins. A DQ for Shedden in race one of round six has given him something to prove and put his back against the wall for the final two races. Di Mario will not take his advantage for granted.
Alexander Enriquez sits in third place in the championship. After being accepted into the 2023 Red Bull Rookies Cup, as the only American, Enriquez will be looking to leave his mark on a series that helped sharpen his skills. He may not be in a position to win the number one plate, but he is a fierce competitor that could pose a challenge to Di Mario and Shedden.
As the final round after a challenging season, all the NATC racers will be looking to end on a high note and apply all they’ve learned. Teams and racers have traveled to every corner of the continental U.S., testing, tuning, tweaking, training, and wrenching in their quest to move up the road racing ladder. Several competitors have emerged as America’s top prospects, others have taken a step in their development, while others still have shown they have what it takes and will be back to race again. All who have competed in the NATC are winners in their own right.
“All of us at MotoAmerica have worked hard since 2015 to present opportunities for young racers to showcase their talents and one day compete internationally,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “Both the Mini Cup by Motul series and the North America Talent Cup now offer young racers the opportunity to battle each other on equal machinery. I’m super excited that MotoAmerica is supporting the North America Talent Cup as part of the official Road to MotoGP. Being able to race at the final MotoAmerica event of the season at the fantastic Barber Motorsports Park is a great chance for these young racers to challenge for the championship.”
About the North America Talent Cup
The NATC is a one-make spec-series of teams and riders, using the successful Northern Talent Cup as a blueprint. The limit on entries is 20 riders aged between 13 and 16 in 2022. The spec-motorcycle will be the Aprilia RS250 SP2; a machine developed by Aprilia in partnership with Ohvale and proven to offer a competitive platform for developing talent. The NATC is designed to create close competition in a cost-effective manner. In its first year, the NATC has raced throughout the continental U.S., with seven designated rounds taking place alongside MotoGP™, MotoAmerica™, WERA, and MRA.
The new North America Talent Cup aims to provide riders across the continent with a vital link on the Road to MotoGP™, creating the stepping-stone between the FIM MiniGP North America Series, MotoAmerica, and the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup or FIM Moto3™ Junior World Championship.
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is the North American road racing series created in 2014 that is home to the AMA Superbike Championship. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership that includes three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey, ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland, motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges, and businessman Richard Varner. For more information on MotoAmerica, visit www.MotoAmerica.com. Also make sure to follow MotoAmerica on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About the FIM North America
FIM North America is one of six Continental Unions (CONUs) recognized as geographical subdivisions and accountable to the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). It was founded in 1998. The national federations who are members of FIM North America are, by virtue of their geographical area and their membership in the FIM, the American Motorcyclist Association and the Canadian Motorcycle Association. FIM North America establishes an annual calendar of Continental Championship events and other activities and declares champions in designated disciplines and classes. Its member federations issue CONU licenses to riders participating in FIM NA events as well as those who are participating in Continental Championship events organized in other CONUs. For more information, visit fim-northamerica.com.
Will Josh Herrin win for the ninth time? Will Rocco Landers beat the veterans again? Will Josh Hayes make history? The answers to those questions will come this weekend in the MotoAmerica Supersport season finale at Barber Motorsports Park. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy MotoAmerica.
Titles Are There For The Taking As MotoAmerica Concludes 2022 Season At Barber
Five Titles Up For Grabs And Josh Hayes Can Make History In Season Finale
IRVINE, CA (September 22, 2022) – In addition to the premier Medallia Superbike Championship, five support-class titles will go the wire at Barber Motorsports Park, September 23-25, with the outcome likely not decided until Sunday afternoon as the curtain goes down on the 2022 MotoAmerica Championship.
The titles up for grabs? REV’IT! Twins Cup, SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup, Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. and two of the three Mini Cup By Motul classes.
And if that’s not enough to whet the appetite, there’s also a good chance of watching history in the making if four-time AMA Superbike Champion Josh Hayes can muster up another victory in the Supersport class. A win in either of the two Supersport races will give Hayes 87 victories across all classes of AMA racing, and that will move him to the top of the heap as the winningest rider in AMA road racing history.
REV’IT! Twins Cup – Davis, Mazziotto Or Barry?
N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto’s Blake Davis started the 2022 REV’IT! Twins Cup Championship with a bang with a victory on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway. Then he sort of disappeared with seven straight races without a podium finish. So how is the 16-year-old Virginian leading the championship? A late season tear is how.
When Davis finished second in July at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca round, his season suddenly took off and he won two of the next five races and finished second in the other three. That combined with Jody Barry’s and Anthony Mazziotto’s late-season woes sees Davis with a 15-point lead heading into the season finale.
Rodio Racing’s Mazziotto, with two wins and three additional podiums, trails Davis by 15 points while leading Barry by just two points. Barry was the man to beat early in the season when he ripped off four wins in a row, but it’s been a ride on the struggle bus ever since. Still, both Mazziotto and Barry are capable of having spectacular weekends when at the top of their games.
They will need to do just that if they strive to catch Davis with just one 14-lap race remaining on Sunday afternoon at 12:40 p.m.
SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup – Wyman On Top
Cody Wyman and his Alpha Omega Kawasaki Ninja 400 roll into Barber Motorsports Park with a 20-point lead in the championship with two races and 50 points up for grabs in Alabama.
Wyman’s road to the title could have been made much easier if not for a crash in Saturday’s race one at New Jersey Motorsports Park that allowed Rodio Racing’s Gus Rodio to pull back 25 points on Wyman with his victory. In Sunday’s race two, it was Altus Motorsports’ Kayla Yaakov who came away with a rain-sodden victory with Rodio second and Wyman third.
And just like that, things got a lot more interesting.
Still, it is Wyman in the catbird seat with six wins on the season and the points lead. Wyman has three additional podiums to his credit, but two non-finishes and a seventh-place finish in the Ridge Motorsports Park round have put him in the position of needing a strong finish to take the crown.
Rodio, meanwhile, has just two wins on the year, but he has seven additional podium finishes and just one non-finish on his scorecard.
The third rider to have a legitimate shot at the title should Wyman falter is three-time race winner Yaakov, who became the first female MotoAmerica race winner back in June at Ridge Motorsports Park. Yaakov has been both fast and consistent with six podium finishes in addition to her three victories.
Just another three points behind Yaakov is Bauce Racing/JL62 Team’s Joe LiMandri Jr., the New Yorker coming into the final round with two wins and seven additional podiums (six of which were second-place finishes) on his 2022 resume.
One of the four – Wyman, Rodio, Yaakov and LiMandri – will be crowned this weekend at Barber. The first of two SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup races will run on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. with race two on Sunday at 1:20 p.m.
Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. – Anybody’s Guess
Sixteen points separate the top three in the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. program with Kayleigh Buyck leading Crystal Martinez by 10 points and Chloe Peterson by 16.
On paper, Buyck would appear to have a hand on the trophy with wins in four of the five races (she was docked her championship points from her Road America win for ignoring a red flag). However, Jennifer Chancellor was beating Buyck at Pitt Race until crashing out on the final lap and it was Martinez who stopped Buyck’s winning streak with a victory two weeks ago at New Jersey Motorsports Park. NJMP also marked the first time that Buyck wasn’t on the podium as she finished fourth,
Thus, it is Martinez with her victory at NJMP and her two other podium finishes who is the closest to Buyck. Then comes Peterson, a further six points behind in third place.
The top three in the point standings all suffered the same penalty at Road America when all three failed to adhere to the red flag and were stripped of their championship points.
The Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. race will close the weekend of action at Barber Motorsports Park with a 4:10 p.m. start on Sunday afternoon.
Supersport – Can Hayes Do It?
With Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC’s Josh Herrin wrapping up the 2022 MotoAmerica Supersport Championship at New Jersey Motorsports Park, the focus on the Barber finale will be on Josh Hayes.
With his double victory at NJMP a few weeks ago, Hayes moved into a tie with Miguel Duhamel at the top of the list for all-time AMA race winners across all classes with 86. Now Hayes has one last chance in 2022 to break the record and will do so with a victory in either of the two Supersport races at Barber on his Squid Hunter Yamaha YZF-R6.
The man most likely to stand in his way of doing just that is Herrin. With eight wins and 14 total podiums in 16 races, Herrin made the 2022 season his own. And he’d probably like to be the one that keeps his old nemesis Hayes from taking the wins record on his watch.
Meanwhile, the class is filled with hungry young “kids,” led by Landers Racing’s Rocco Landers, who is a comfortable second in the championship after a three-win, 11-podium season thus far. Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott, the class rookie also earned a victory in his debut season of Supersport racing. Scott also has eight podiums on the season and is in no danger of losing third in the championship.
North East Cycle Outlet Racing’s Benjamin Smith is in danger of losing fourth in the championship to Hayes, despite the fact that Hayes only competed in half of the 16 races. In those eight races, however, Hayes had three wins, a second and two thirds. His only “off” weekend saw him finish fifth and sixth at Pitt Race. Thus, Smith and his two podium finishes leads Hayes by just two points.
The two Supersport races will take place at 2:10 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
Yuasa Stock 1000 – All Wrapped Up
Although Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing’s Corey Alexander wrapped up the Yuasa Stock 1000 Championship at his home round in New Jersey a few weeks ago, the finale promises to be a thrill-fest. Why? Because they have been all year.
With his seven wins on the season, a relaxed and newly crowned Alexander will be trying to end his stellar season on a high at Barber, but he’s sure to find the going difficult as it has been all year. The man who gave Alexander the most to deal with in 2022 is Disrupt Racing’s Hayden Gillim – the only rider other than Alexander to win a race in the class this season.
Gillim and his four wins is second in the title chase, an insurmountable 25 points behind Alexander, who owns the tie-breaker if Gillim were to win the finale while Alexander failed to score a point. Second place is still up for grabs as Gillim is 11 points ahead of Alexander’s teammate Travis Wyman.
The Yuasa Stock 1000 race is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. and it will be the first race of the weekend at Barber.
Mini Cup By Motul – Just. Nine. Points.
Just nine points separate first from second in two of the three Mini Cup by Motul class championships as MotoAmerica’s youngest riders are set to fight it out on Saturday afternoon beginning at 4:30 p.m.
In the 160 class, it’s Nathan Gouker Racing’s Nathan Gouker with the upper hand and a nine-point lead over Xtreme Autoglass Pros’ Ryder Davis heading into the season finale on the purpose-built mini track at Barber Motorsports Park. Both riders have won two races in 2022 with Gouker earning four total podiums while Davis has five podiums to his credit. The difference comes down to race two at Ridge Motorsports Park where Gouker won while Davis struggled to a seventh-place finish.
In the 110 class, it’s again Gouker at the top of the standings, but this time it’s Anthony Lupo Jr. Racing’s Anthony Lupo Jr. giving chase. Again, the points lead is nine with both riders being on the podium in each of the six races thus far in the season. Gouker, though, has three wins to Lupo’s two.
Macc Racing/Broward Motorsports Tequesta’s Mac MacClugage, meanwhile, is third in both the 160 and 190 championships with the youngster earning his career-first victories this year when he won race two of the 160 class at Road America and race one of the 110 class at Ridge Motorsports Park.
It will be difficult to dislodge American Racing Team’s Kensei Matsudaira from the top of the 190-class championship as he leads Jesse James Racing’s Jesse James Shedden by 21 points heading into the finale. Shedden has more wins than Matsudaira, but Matsudaira has been on the podium in every race while Shedden has a non-score to his credit from race one at Pitt Race.
Pre-Barber Support Class Notes…
Last year’s two Supersport races were won by Sean Dylan Kelly and Gabriel Da Silva. For Kelly, it was win number 12 of his championship-winning season; for Da Silva it was his first career MotoAmerica victory as he topped Kelly in a driving rainstorm.
Jake Lewis won last year’s lone Stock 1000 race over Michael Gilbert and Travis Wyman. It was Lewis’s sixth victory of the season with the Kentuckian earning the 2021 Stock 1000 Championship.
The finale Twins Cup race of the season at Barber last year was won by class champion Kaleb De Keyrel over Jody Barry and Hayden Schultz.
The SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup class featured two races and one winner in the finale with champion Tyler Scott taking a pair of victories, his 10th and 11th wins of the season.
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is the North American road racing series created in 2014 that is home to the AMA Superbike Championship. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership that includes three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey, ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland, motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges, and businessman Richard Varner. For more information on MotoAmerica, visit www.MotoAmerica.com. Also make sure to follow MotoAmerica on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Richard Stanboli (second from left) with Cameron Peterson (far left), Jake Gagne (second from right) and Matthew Scholtz (far right) on the MotoAmerica Superbike podium after Race One at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Attack Racing’s Richard Stanboli talks to Roadracing World Editor-at-Large Michael Gougis about what it takes to convert his MotoAmerica Championship-winning Superbikes to WorldSBK specifications and to ship their equipment to Portugal for a World Superbike wild card entry at Algarve International Circuit.
Garrett Gerloff on the grid at Magny-Cours. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Outspoken in Barcelona
From a carry-over of Magny-Cours’ drama to differing outlooks on team orders and fighting hard ahead of Barcelona’s big weekend, juicy gossip was aplenty in the pre-round debriefs
The penultimate European round of the 2022 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is on the horizon as the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with the paddock set for another monumental weekend of action. As usual, there was plenty of chatter amongst rivals in their pre-weekend interviews, with rivals continuing to be at odds, riders stating bold claims and discussing whether or not team orders will come into play if necessary.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “Not the best friends of the paddock, so the relationship will stay the same!”
“There’s no special relationship; he told me his point of view and I told him mine, but that’s all. Races are races and the past is the past. Jonathan and I were not the best friends of the paddock so the relationship will stay the same! Sincerely, the approach for the final part of the season doesn’t change for Toprak’s points gap; I know the last three rounds have been the most difficult tracks. I have to be focused, try and do my best and I think the next tracks will be nice for us. I’m quite calm and focussed on the bike and my work. For Michael staying, I’m so happy for him. He’s a very talented rider, he’s very young and improving a lot during this season. He had a difficult start but then began being more consistent and competitive; we have a similar riding style which is easier for the engineers, so I am happy for him, and I look forward to fighting in the next races and next year for victories with him.”
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK): “The atmosphere has soured…”
“I view Barcelona as a bit of a difficult circuit to be honest, but I have some incredible memories. When WorldSBK came here in 2020, I won the first ever race. I have the nice Barcelona trophy on display at home, so great memories from then. On the incident with Bautista, from my side, nothing will change because I have to fight so hard to be there in this incredible battle right now with two other strong rivals, but of course the atmosphere has soured a bit with a lot of things being said in the aftermath in the heat of the moment. There’s a point when you’re overtaking a rider and in this kind of instance, there’s a point of impact and you have to brace as the guy on the inside; this was the clear movement, not an intentional punt. He knows this. Right now, the Championship is so competitive with different manufacturers that we need to step up; the team know that and we’re working really hard to try and do that.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK): “The Championship is very strange this year… I’m very surprised!”
“This weekend is very important, and we need good points. I’ll focus on this race and then Portimao, because I think San Juan won’t be easy because the Ducati is very fast, especially in the straights with Alvaro. I watched the video of the incident between Alvaro and Jonny and Jonny makes a mistake, but this is racing. The Championship is strange this year; every weekend we are fighting and the points situation changes. I’m very surprised! The season is long, and we have many races.”
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati): “If I need to follow team orders, I will”
“Well, we arrive to Barcelona which is a track I really like and after a podium at Magny-Cours, so a positive feeling and positive vibes. I’m happy about the new contract and for sure, it gives us a little bit of calm, and I want to stay with the hunger and positive pressure; when I’m under these circumstances, I perform better. I think Axel is doing a great job for an Independent team but I think the best choice for our team was to remain the same, so we can fight in the next races and so that we can try and bring the title once again to Bologna. Next year, I think Alvaro and I can fight for the podium. I will try to win races but the main goal this year is to win the Championship. If I was in his position in the future, I’d like that a younger teammate who is not fighting for the title can be smart. I will use my brain and if I need to make a team decision and follow team orders, I will do it as I really believe in that.”
Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing): “If I have the opportunity to pass Michael or Alvaro, I’ll do it”
“I hope it will be a good round and we’ll try to repeat the result of Magny-Cours. I like the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya a lot, also the city of Barcelona is cool, so I feel good, and I hope to repeat the best results. My goal continues to be to try and be in front of the factory guys, and that hasn’t changed. I hope to continue to try and beat Michael but also Bautista if it’s possible and then to try and have a factory seat for 2024. In the next weeks, I’ll tell the WorldSBK paddock about what happens for next year! I think when we’re on track, we have the possibility to do what we want. I don’t like team orders so when I attack, I put all of myself to try and win. I don’t want to make mistakes, to crash with others, but if I have the possibility to pass Michael or Alvaro, I will do it.”
Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW): “Never a doubt that I’d continue with the team and BMW”
“Super delighted to announce the plans for 2023; there was never a doubt that I’d continue with the team and with BMW. We started the project at the beginning of the year, bearing in mind we needed a long time and I wanted to stay for a long time, with the same team and the same guys. I have been changing around a lot. BMW are putting a lot of effort to achieve our goals; we are improving a lot this year and next year looks good. I know how fast Garrett is and he’s a nice guy, and I know how important that is for the team. Even if he’s having harder races lately, you don’t lose your talent. I’m already excited for 2023, even if we still have a lot of races this year!”
Garrett Gerloff (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team): “It’s good to change things up… BMW are working hard behind the scenes”
“I’m really excited. BMW are working hard behind the scenes! They have the desire to keep pushing the bike to the front of the field and that’s where I want to be. Sometimes, it is good to change things up, for me specifically, and we will see how it goes. I really appreciated that they were excited to work with me and I really appreciate the opportunity. Remy Gardner joining the team in 2023 is something I didn’t expect to see and I’m glad he had the opportunity. I think he’s going to get along really well with the team, it’s a great group of people and that will be good for him. The R1 Yamaha is a great bike and Toprak’s been showing that in the last few years! It’ll be figuring out how to adapt to a different bike and the tyres will be interesting for him to get used to. Obviously, the bike and team are capable and if he can get it all sorted out, I hope to see him fighting close to the front.”
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