The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team with Michael Rinaldi aboard the factory Ducati Panigale V4 R also in the 2023 WorldSBK season
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team is pleased to announce the contract extension of Michael Rinaldi who will ride the official Ducati Panigale V4 R also in the 2023 WorldSBK season
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team thus completes its line-up that will see the Italian rider alongside Alvaro Bautista in the upcoming World Superbike Championship.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi was born in Rimini on 21st December 1995 and started racing with the minimoto when he was 7 years old, winning the Italian championship in 2006. After winning the Italian Sport Production Championship in 2011, in 2014 he faced his first international experience in the European Superstock 600 championship, which closed as runner-up in 2015. In 2016 Rinaldi rode the Ducati Panigale R of the Aruba.it Racing – Junior team in the SuperStock 1000 FIM championship, finishing sixth and then conquering the European Champion title at the end of the following season. With the Aruba.it Racing – Junior team, Michael Ruben Rinaldi also made his WorldSBK debut in the 2018 season, racing only in European rounds and then competing in all events of the 2019 Championship with the Barni Racing Team. In 2020 Rinaldi achieved his first WorldSBK success with the Panigale V4R of the Go Eleven team in Race 1 at Aragon, a weekend that also saw him on the podium in the Superpole Race (P3) and in Race 2 (P2).
The 2021 season saw the Italian rider as the absolute protagonist of Misano round, with two victories ( Race 1 and SPR) and a second place (Race 2). Rinaldi then took his third win in Race 2 in Barcelona, ending the 2021 season in fifth place in the Superbike World Championship standings.
In this season Rinaldi has finished twice on the podium in Misano, and once in the last race held in Magny-Cours: this second place during the French Round got him to the fourth place of the WorldSBK current standings.
Stefano Cecconi (Team Principal – Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
“Michael has the potential to be one of the fastest riders in the World Superbike Championship and he has been able to prove it on several occasions. Our long journey together will be extended at least until the end of 2023, thus giving continuity and preserving the current team set-up that is also allowing us to be first in the manufacturer and team championships. We believe 2023 will be for Michael the year of definitive consecration; at the same time, we are confident that during this second part of the season we’ll reap the benefits of the work done so far, in terms of satisfaction and consistency of results”.
Paolo Ciabatti (Ducati Corse Sporting Director)
“Michael Rinaldi is a young rider who grew up in Superbike with Ducati and has proven time and time again that he is very fast and knows how to make the most of the potential of the Panigale V4 R machine. That’s why we are also happy to count on him for the next Championship. With an extra year of experience with the official Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, we are convinced that he will be able to aspire to even more important results in 2023”
Michael Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
“I am very happy to race again next year for Aruba.it Racing – Ducati because I firmly believe in this project. I am very confident that in 2023 we can reap everything we have sown together with the team. I will be the first to work even harder, both in training and on track, to get better results and have the consistency that has been lacking so far. I want to thank Stefano Cecconi, Claudio Domenicali, Luigi Dall’Igna, Paolo Ciabatti, Serafino Foti, and all the people who trusted in me. I can’t wait to be in Barcelona to get a good result and repay this confidence. And I am sure that 2023 will be a great year for us.”
“I should have been terrified, but being young and dumb blinds you to things. Case in point: Getting caught in a freezing rainstorm on the Grapevine, a mountain pass connecting Central and Southern California, coming back from one of my first long motorcycle rides. Soaked to the bone, riding a decrepit Honda CB550 with bald tires and a chain and sprocket well past their recycle-bin due date, I was riding on the shoulder, watching semi-trailer rigs splash and slide their way past on my left. There were plenty of ways to die in that moment, and I look back and just shake my head.
“I was thinking about that ride on my way to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on Suzuki’s sport-touring 2022 GSX-S1000GT+. Getting caught in a downpour in downtown Portland during morning rush hour brought back those memories—the rain dumped down so hard that visibility was nearly nonexistent. I focused on the less-soaked tire tracks left behind by cars, aiming precisely at the center of the left tire’s narrow footprint and focusing on the taillights of the car ahead.
“The reason I thought about that earlier ride was the difference between then and what I was experiencing at that moment in Portland…”
Editor at Large Michael Gougis rodethe Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ 1,200 miles each way from Los Angeles County to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and back, with a stop at Buttonwillow Raceway Park for an on-track riding impression from racer Jeremy Toye, in five crazy days. Read all about the journey in the latest issue of Roadracing World!
PREVIEW the September 2022 Issue of Roadracing World!
Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine is available in print and digital formats.
Click to SUBSCRIBE NOW ! Or call (909) 654-4779, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.
—
Read the September 2022 issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technologywith your online subscription. Log in HERE
Available at Cycle Gear and other motorcycle retailers.
Visit www.roadracingworld.com daily for breaking news and events.
Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/roadracingworld
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com @roadracingworld
Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com @roadracing_world
NEMRR Round 6 – September 17-18, New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
September in New Hampshire is known for having some of the best “go fast” conditions of the season, and mother nature did not disappoint for NEMRR’s round 6. Saturday featured clear sunny skies and temperatures hovering around 70 degrees, making for a near-perfect combination of bikes that make great power and asphalt that has excellent grip. The result was dozens of riders logging personal-best lap times and some excellent racing to boot!
The top racers in each category nearly all set season-best times. Renee Franco won three feature races on her Kawasaki Ninja 400, setting personal record 1:16.3 in the SportbikeTrackGear.com 500 Supersport class. NEMRR has not seen times like that since MotoAmerica Junior Cup top riders Eli Block and Ben Gloddy were racing at NHMS. The future is bright for this 18-year-old young lady! Also starring in the small division was Adam Muscaro, another up-and-coming teen who ran a personal best 1:17.3 and won the Rising Sun Cycles Moto 3 class.
The top performer of the weekend in the lightweight classes was Brett Guyer and his Aprilia RS 660. The veteran Seacoast Sport Cycle rider won four races over the course of the weekend, highlighted by his season-best 1:14.0 lap time during the Lightweight GP, which is fittingly also sponsored by Seacoast Sport Cycle. The only riders to best Guyer over the weekend were young gun Eli Block on his Manchester Honda KTM 450 in the Robert Pease GTL class, and fellow veteran Tim Hogan on his Superbike Services Ducati 749 in the red-flag-shortened Thunderbike class.
The featured middleweight races were again dominated by the ever fast and smooth Scott Greenwood, who tallied an impressive eight victories. The veteran Argo Cycles Yamaha rider is known for his relaxed riding style, where he has the appearance of going on a Sunday ride while running away from the field. During the feature Michelin-Motorace Middleweight GP $1500, Greenwood ran a season best 1:12.1 to secure his victory. In the feature race, Eli Block grabbed the holeshot and Greenwood got caught up on the inside, leaving Turn One in third place. He passed the resurgent Paul Duval on lap one and visibly set off to chase down the leader. Greenwood made his move on the brakes into the banked Turn Six and ran off a string of mid to low 1:12 lap times. Block held on strong through the halfway point but was unable to match the pace of the veteran as the laps wore on. Greenwood congratulated his young rival during his victory speech and noted that he’ll very likely be pushed by the rising star in the years to come.
The unlimited displacement races featured the Penguin Racing/Woodcraft Kawasaki ZX-10R of Eric Wood, who won four races over the course of the weekend. Wood logged a season -best 1:11.0 during the Superbike Services 44 Unlimited Grand Prix race. This time marked the fastest lap logged at NEMRR since it took over management of the series from New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2020.
Nik Paganis (492). Photo by Martin Hanlon, courtesy NEMRR.
In the Novice ranks, first-year rider Nik Paganis won three classes and ran his personal best 1:22.0 in the Formula Two class class on Saturday. His only runner-up finish of the weekend was in the Formula One event, where he lost a dogfight with Johnathan McCluskey. Both riders may have earned their “bump” into the Amateur class for the final event of the season. The ever popular (and growing) Super Street races were dominated by Josh Stewart on his Aprilia RSV1000. Josh won both Super Street Unlimited races and looks poised to launch an assault on NEMRR Rookie of the Year honors in 2023!
Josh Stewart (932). Photo by Martin Hanlon, courtesy NEMRR.
NEMRR will run the final round of the 2022 series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on October 1-2. For information please go to www.nemrr.com.
DO YOU DARE? THE 2023 KTM 890 ADVENTURE R BREAKS NEW GROUND
MURRIETA, Calif. – For all those who dare to adventure, KTM North America, Inc. introduces the new KTM 890 ADVENTURE R, here to break travel barriers on or off the beaten track. Featuring a host of technical upgrades, this reworked machine enters a new era of rally-inspired aesthetics and performance.
Harnessing attributes of KTM’s pure READY TO RACE legacy, the hyper-focused development goals of the new KTM 890 ADVENTURE R are clear: further offroad excellence, dependability and suitability for whatever lies on the road ahead. Launched in the diverse landscape of western Idaho at the 2022 KTM Adventure Rider Rally, the next-level capability and mettle of the reshaped KTM 890 ADVENTURE R was witnessed in the heart of the Idaho mountains by adventurers from all over the world.
Taking cues from the KTM 450 RALLY setup, the WP suspension package on the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R, with fully-adjustable WP XPLOR forks and a WP XPLOR PDS rear shock, was retuned to provide improved feeling and damping to ensure riders reach the end of each stage with reduce fatigue. Further influence from the Factory Rally bike is evident in the redesigned bodywork with a new fairing, fuel tank and cowling, improving aerodynamics and ergonomics, respectively enhancing protection from the elements and the bike’s already amazing agility. The fact that the 2023 KTM 890 ADVENTURE R is ready for action is also made clear through the new lower windshield, high front fender and engine protector, for those tricky technical moments.
The new 5” TFT display—equipped with USB-C connecters— features a completely new appearance with colored pictograms and intuitive graphics that allow for easy navigation through the menus. In addition, the latest upgrades include a developed turn-by-turn plus navigation system that allows riders to select their preferred destination from the bike’s menu. A new phone call-out function also allows a favorites call option, with a maximum of 10 numbers, or the option to call one of the 10 last numbers called.
To take the software and hardware potential of the electronics suite to new levels, KTM has also included the next generation of ABS control unit that takes readings from the 6D sensor — which continually informs the CMU on the angle, pitch, speed and general behavior of the motorcycle — to apply the correct amount of braking force for any given situation. Riders opting to try the bike’s potential off the beaten track can count on OFFROAD ABS as an integrated element of OFFROAD MODE, or the optional RALLY MODE, without the need to select the OFFROAD ABS separately.
When the trail widens and the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R wants to clock the miles, the 2023 edition provides comfort through the single-piece seat with new colors, which still emphasizes mobility and grip. Adventurers can also be seen with new LED style indicators that complement the revitalized graphic set for 2023.
KTM has taken advantage of the growing electronic capacity of the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R to install a new DEMO MODE, seen for the first time on this 2023 model. The new KTM 890 ADVENTURE R will allow riders to take advantage of all the specs and options for the first 1,500 kilometers, before the rider decides which pack or features to acquire. Thanks to the DEMO MODE setting, adventurers can feel and experience the areas of the bike they prefer or rely on while in the thick of throttle-wringing action.
2023 KTM 890 ADVENTURE R – HIGHLIGHTS
Reworked bodywork and fairing inspired by the KTM 450 RALLY
New windshield offering improved airflow
Reworked suspension settings for reduced long-distance fatigue
Upgraded 5” TFT display with USB connection
Improved ABS components with new modulator (9.3 MP)
OFFROAD ABS linked with OFFROAD MODE and (optional) RALLY MODE
Updated turn-by-turn plus navigation system
Introducing the DEMO MODE functionality
Handlebar switch with hazard warning
New LED indicators
New engine protector
The 2023 KTM 890 ADVENTURE R pushes extremes a little further while inviting riders from across the world to #Dare2ADV.
This new model will be available at authorized KTM dealers from December onward. For further information, go to KTM.com.
Yamaha factory rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga clinched the 2022 MFJ Japanese Superbike (JSB1000) Championship with a convincing victory September 18 at Okayama International Circuit. It is Nakasuga’s 11th Japanese Superbike Championship. Nakasuga, age 41, has won every race so far this season.
The Second Annual Ride To WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Raises Nearly $75,000 For Roadracing World Action Fund
IRVINE, CA (September 19, 2022) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is pleased to announce that the second annual Rainey’s Ride To The Races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca was again a rousing success as it raised nearly $75,000 for the Roadracing World Action Fund.
The 100-mile ride through the scenic backroads of Monterey County sold out for the second year in a row with 35 riders enjoying a grand finish, including two laps of Laguna Seca and a behind-the-scenes question-and-answer session with Hall of Famers Kenny Roberts, Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson, and Bubba Shobert. Nearly $75,000 was raised during the Ride to benefit the Roadracing World Action Fund, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that promotes motorcycle racing safety through the installation of soft barriers at racing events.
“I really appreciate all the riders who made the second annual Rainey’s Ride To The Races a big success,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “The money raised goes to a really good cause as the soft barriers offer racers the best protection from off-track incidents. My thanks also go out to Kenny, Eddie, and Bubba for coming out for the ride and joining in the fun of an incredibly successful Moto America weekend at Laguna Seca.”
The MotoAmerica Superbike field races past several sections of inflatable Alpina soft barriers provided by the Roadracing World Action Fund. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
“Soft barriers made by Airfence and Alpina can save lives and reduce serious injuries by absorbing impact energy when riders crash and slide or fly into hard objects surrounding racetracks,” said John Ulrich, Founder & President, Roadracing World Action Fund, Inc. “MotoAmerica has been great and is fully committed to deploying soft barriers to help protect riders, and to helping the Roadracing World Action Fund (RWAF) raise money to buy and deploy more soft barrier sections. The latest Rainey’s Ride To The Races event demonstrates MotoAmerica’s commitment to rider safety, and RWAF is proud to work with Wayne Rainey, his MotoAmerica partners, and everyone who supports the series and comes to the races.”
About The Roadracing World Action Fund
The Roadracing World Action Fund, Inc. is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to motorcycle racing safety education. Its mission is to help save lives and prevent injuries on the racetrack by encouraging and facilitating soft barrier deployment at racetracks across the U.S.
MV AGUSTA MOTOR S.P.A. APPOINTS MV AGUSTA MALAYSIA SDN BHD AS THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR OF ITS MOTORCYCLES IN MALAYSIA
Varese, September 19th, 2022 – MV Agusta Motor has appointed MV Agusta Malaysia Sdn Bhd as the sole and exclusive distributor of MV Agusta motorcycles, parts, merchandise and special parts in Malaysia. MV Agusta Malaysia Sdn Bhd is a newly formed company that is a subsidiary of AFY Mobility Sdn Bhd (AMI). To support the brand’s competitiveness in Malaysia, all MV Agusta motorcycles distributed in the country will be completely assembled at the AMI assembly and training facility in Glenmarie, Shah Alam.
MV Agusta Motor also wants to take this opportunity to congratulate the Group Executive Chairman of AMI, Ahmad Faez Bin Tan Sri Yahaya and AMI on the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with MARA Malaysia to produce a Malaysian motorcycle brand and to work together towards making Malaysia the global motorcycle assembly hub. The event was attended by The Minister of Rural Development of Malaysia, Yang Berhormat Dato’ Seri Mahdzir Bin Khalid.
Timur Sardarov, CEO of MV Agusta Motor S.p.A. commented “I am particularly thrilled about this new, important partnership marking the consolidation and the expansion of the MV Agusta presence in one of the most dynamic economies in SouthEast Asia. The CKD assembly solutions found with our partners will boost our competitiveness in the region, in line with our global expansion strategy. I wish the newly born MV Agusta Malaysia every success.”
Kyle Wyman returns to MotoAmerica Superbike grid at Barber Motorsports Park
Tytlers Cycle Racing is pleased to announce that they will field a third BMW M 1000 RR in the 2022 MotoAmerica season finale at Barber Motorsports Park this coming weekend.
In addition to superbike regulars PJ Jacobsen and Hector Barbera, the team is delighted to welcome back Kyle Wyman who, after giving the team its first podium earlier in the season, will return to the superbike grid as Tytlers Cycle Racing looks to end the year in style.
In addition to flying the Tytlers Cycle Racing flag, Kyle will be flying the flag for One Cure. One Cure’s founding principle is that cancer affects all creatures and that treatment breakthroughs come through collaborations between scientists and doctors who are working with pets and people. One Cure’s goal is to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer in pets.
On-track action at Barber Motorsports Park gets underway with Free Practice on Friday morning with the penultimate and final races of the season taking place on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, respectively.
Dave Weaver – Team Manager: “The superbike hybrid Larry Pegram rode earlier this year was available and Kyle showed interest to ride at the last round since the King of the Baggers championship had finished. Being that he delivered our team’s first superbike podium, offering him the opportunity to ride was the least we could do to say thank you! We look forward to having him join us again this weekend alongside PJ and Hector.”
Kyle Wyman: “I’d like to thank the Tytlers Cycle Racing team for welcoming me back to the program as a third Superbike entry for them this coming weekend. I enjoyed working with the team earlier in the season for our fill-in appearance, and it’s great to have another opportunity to ride with them again. TCR has been a breakout success in its debut season, and I hope to be able to help them improve even further in the final race of 2022. I will also be racing for One Cure this weekend to bring awareness to the Colorado State University cancer research center. CSU and their studies have shown that the cure for cancer may be walking right beside us in our canine companions, because cancer is the same between the species, down to the cellular level. What works for pets with cancer may work for us, and I’m all about speeding toward One Cure on the BMW M 1000 RR.”
Race report: Viltais Racing Igol takes dramatic win as Bol d’Or centenary serves up an EWC thriller
September 18 2022
*Bol d’Or lives up to its legendary status with a 24-hour race of high drama and attrition
*Late heartbreak for ERC Endurance-Ducati lets in privateer Yamaha team for glory
*F.C.C. TSR Honda France wins FIM Endurance World Championship for Teams
*FIM EWC Superstock World Cup goes to Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers CMS Motostore
*Four different bike manufacturers in the top five highlights EWC’s open competition
*Top two separated by 5.6 seconds after 16 hours of intense endurance racing
Viltaïs Racing Igol won big by winning the 100th-anniversary Bol d’Or but F.C.C. TSR Honda France won bigger still by claiming FIM Endurance World Championship glory after 24 arduous hours of racing at Circuit Paul Ricard this afternoon (Sunday).
F.C.C. TSR Honda France’s title success followed a race of high drama and high attrition in the southern French sunshine and comes at the completion of another action-packed EWC season, which also featured 24-hour races at Le Mans and Spa-Francorchamps, plus a return to Japan for the Suzuka 8 Hours.
In front of packed grandstands, Viltaïs Racing Igol’s maiden EWC victory was dramatic and somewhat unexpected in equal measure but was nevertheless fitting reward for Team Manager Yannick Lucot’s tireless efforts behind the scenes, an impressive display from riding trio Florian Alt (Germany), Erwan Nigon (France) and Steven Odendaal (South Africa), plus important contributions from reserve rider James Westmoreland (Great Britain).
Viltaïs Racing Igol’s Bol d’Or victory meant the four race wins up for grabs in the 2022 EWC were claimed by four different teams, such has been the wide-open nature of the championship this season. And to underline its competitiveness both the EWC qualifying and race lap records at Circuit Paul Ricard were broken by Illya Mykhalchyk (1m51.641s) and Xavi Forés (1m52.979s) respectively.
Late Bol d’Or heartbreak for EWC aces
Up until the final 90 minutes of the Bol d’Or, long-term leader ERC Endurance-Ducati was seemingly on course for victory only to stop with a mechanical failure while comfortably in front. That left Wójcik Racing Team at the head of the pack. But in another late twist, the Polish squad’s Yamaha slowed, forcing Mathieu Gines to push the bike to the pitlane for repairs.
When Dan Linfoot eventually returned the #77 machine to the track, more than five minutes had been lost along with hopes of victory for Gines, Linfoot and Sheridan Morais as France-based Viltaïs Racing Igol, another Yamaha privateer, swept into a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
Meanwhile, Wójcik Racing Team’s eventual second place represented its best finish of the season with Webike SRC Kawasaki France third in what was Gilles Stafler’s final EWC race as team boss before he retires. Webike SRC Kawasaki France had also failed to land a podium in 2022 prior to the Bol d’Or and actually led for a time before dropping back with an engine wiring issue ahead of its charging comeback.
For ERC Endurance-Ducati riders David Checa and Xavi Forés, their late heartbreak was hard to take after they’d shared riding duties for a large part of the race when Chaz Davies hurt his back and couldn’t continue. Despite the highly emotional scenes in the team garage as a near-certain victory slipped away, Checa regained his composure to return to the action for the last hour following rapid repairs by his German outfit. He took fifth behind the F.C.C. TSR Honda France team, which also made another unscheduled pitstop in the closing two hours having been delayed earlier in the race.
MACO Racing finished a strong sixth, Team Bolliger Switzerland was the next best Formula EWC squad in ninth overall despite Nico Thöni crashing two corners into the race. Team LRP Poland finished two places further back, while Motobox Kremer Racing was next up in the headlining category followed by Japanese newcomer TONE RT Syncedge 4413 BMW.
TATI Team Beringer Racing was leading and in contention for the EWC title when it stopped with a technical issue on Sunday morning, much to the disappointment of the French team and its riders Leon Haslam, Grégory Leblanc and Bastien Mackels.
Success in Superstock for RAC41-Chromeburner and Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers CMS Motostore
RAC41-Chromeburner claimed Superstock category honours ahead of BMRT 3D Maxxess Nevers in a reversal of last season’s finishing positions with Pitlane Endurance taking third place. In addition to team regulars Chris Leesch and Wayne Tessels, RAC41-Chromeburner recruited Jonathan Hardt for the final round.
The Frenchman was part of the BMRT 3D Maxxess Nevers team that took top Bol d’Or Superstock honours in 2021 and his inclusion appeared to make the difference to the squad, which overcame a late scare when its Honda’s exhaust failed.
No Limits Motor Team, Falcon Racing, Énergie Endurance, JMA Racing Action Bike, Team 33 Louit April Moto, ADSS 97, Team Aviobike, Team 202 and TRT 27 Bazar 2 La Bécane all finished but there was disappointment for Team LH Racing, National Motos Honda and 3ART Best of Bike.
OG Motorsport by Sarazin led until Alex Plancassagne crashed just before 02h50 to bring out the safety car while trackside barriers were repaired, while late mechanical issues denied Wójcik Racing Team’s pole-setting Superstock squad a class podium nearing the finish.
Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers CMS Motostore took the FIM Endurance World Cup title despite dropping out of contention with a mechanical failure, which took several hours to rectify. However, the Superstock win at Le Mans and a second place at Spa-Francorchamps were enough to secure the title for the Yamaha-powered team, which counted on riders Baptiste Guittet and Hugo Clere from France plus Austrian Philipp Steinmayr.
High five time as F.C.C. TSR Honda France becomes FIM EWC world champion
For F.C.C. TSR Honda France, its FIM Endurance World Championship title success follows on from the 2017-18 season when Josh Hook was partnered by Freddy Foray and Alan Techer to the EWC’s top prize. The Japanese squad was one of five outfits in a firm fight for glory starting the Bol d’Or but prevailed as its four rivals hit trouble. All-season riders Mike Di Meglio and Hook were joined on the #5 Honda for the final event of the year by Alan Techer in place of Gino Rea, who suffered serious head injuries in a crash at Suzuka last month but helped F.C.C. TSR Honda France to podiums in the 24 Heures Motos and the 24H SPA EWC Motos earlier in the campaign. Defending champion Yoshimura SERT Motul placed second in the final championship order with Viltaïs Racing Igol third. All results are subject to final confirmation.
While F.C.C. TSR Honda France celebrated, there was Bol d’Or heartache for several teams, including three EWC title contenders, BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, which qualified on pole, YART – Yamaha Official Team EWC and Yoshimura SERT Motul. Team Moto Ain also failed to finish through technical issues having impressed with fifth fastest in qualifying.
RIDER QUOTES
Steven Odendaal (Viltaïs Racing Igol, Yamaha YZF-R1, winning Bol d’Or Formula EWC team rider): “This race has been incredible. To be in a French team winning on French soil is just something amazing. Yannick Lucot, my team boss, had a really big dream of this day and my team-mates and I, we fulfilled this so we’re really, really happy with this victory. Obviously we did not expect this, we just knew we had to make everything the maximum and we just did this and finally we’ve got this big trophy, which is amazing, and I’m really happy to walk away with my first EWC podium being a victory.”
Josh Hook (F.C.C. TSR Honda France, Honda CB R1000 RR-R, FIM Endurance World Championship winning team rider): “I know from the past never to think the race is over until the chequered flag. We’ve come back from much worse situations and won races in the past. We did run into some dramas as everyone else did it seems. We never gave up on it and just kept chipping away. We did a lot of really good race runs all throughout the night and we were consistently fast all three of us. Basically we were going to see where we were at when the sun came up in the morning but we never counted the win out at all. But it came to a point in time when we had to toss up whether we focused on the championship, which is obviously our main objective, or the race win. We decided to take care of the engine after getting a little nervous and seeing everyone else’s bikes blowing up and there wasn’t many left in the end. We tried to be as conservative as possible and just bring home the championship for our team, Honda and all our partners.”
Wayne Tessels (RAC41-Chromeburner, Honda CB R1000 RR-R, winning Bol d’Or Superstock rider): “For us it was a really good race. The second part was quite difficult for me personally, but I was very happy that the bike worked well and also my colleagues Jonathan [Hardt] and Chris [Leesch] did a hell of a job, a really good job. I’m also really happy we took this win because at Le Mans Grégory Fastre, our team-mate, had an injury, which was pretty bad, and it’s also for him that we finally won and I’m happy to be on the podium here.”
Philipp Steinmayr (Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers CMS Motostore, Yamaha YZF-R1, FIM Endurance World Cup winning team rider): “It was a tough race, like a rollercoaster up and down, up and down. It’s great to win the World Cup, we managed it with the points, we had a good qualification and the team worked perfectly all season. It was a good job by all.”
Fores’ sensational slipstream overtake an early Bol d’Or highlight
The opening laps of the 100th-anniversary delivered more classic FIM Endurance World Championship action with Gregg Black, Mike Di Meglio, Xavi Forés and Markus Reiterberger all taking their turn to lead the EWC season decider. But it was Forés who pulled off the most spectacular pass, overtaking his three rivals on a sensational slipstream move on the Mistral Straight.
Yoshimura SERT Motul Team Director Kato speaks of pride following EWC DNF
Yoshimura SERT Motul Team Director Yohei Kato spoke of his pride after a mechanical failure robbed the Japanese squad of a possible Bol d’Or victory repeat and a second consecutive FIM Endurance World Championship crown. After Gregg Black held the lead during the early stages, Kazuki Watanabe was on board the #1 Suzuki GSX-R1000R when trouble struck on lap 34.
EWC community shows its support for Gino Rea
Gino Rea was a much-missed member of the FIM Endurance World Championship family during the Bol d’Or while he continues his recovery from serious head injuries sustained in a crash while practicing for the Suzuka 8 Hours last month. A GoFundMe appeal launched by his family to help his extensive rehabilitation was promoted on live television coverage of the event and across the EWC’s social media channels. All teams were provided with Keep fighting Gino Rea stickers for use on their bikes in a strong show of support for the popular British rider, who helped F.C.C. TSR Honda France to podium finishes at Le Mans and Spa-Francorchamps earlier this season.
Dramatic MotorLand showdown sees Bastianini depose Bagnaia as Quartararo clashes with Marquez
Just 17 points now cover the top three in the title fight as Bastianini vs Bagnaia goes to the wire, Quartararo hits bad luck early and Aleix Espargaro completes the podium
Enea Bastiani (23) narrowly beat Francesco Bagnaia (behind Bastianini) to the finish line. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Sunday, 18 September 2022
The Gran Premio Animoca Brands de Aragon may well prove a truly pivotal day in the 2022 season, with the headlines overflowing almost from lights out and the top three in the title fight now split by only 17 points. By the flag, Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) had served some Misano-flavoured revenge on Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the two duelled it out on the final lap for the win, and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) was both back on the podium and back in serious Championship contention.
Before all that, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) hit some serious bad luck as he made contact with Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) after a slide for the number 93. The Championship leader crashed out, Marquez continued and then suffered a technical problem from the prior contact that saw Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) caught in the crossfire. From there, the pitboards went out for the other key Championship protagonists – Quartararo out – and the lay of the land after MotorLand is now a whole different story as the paddock heads to Japan.
Where do we start? Bagnaia headed the field into Turn 1 after a dream start off pole position but it was a nightmare for several riders behind him. From 13th on the grid, Marquez was already up to sixth when he then had a moment exiting Turn 3 and closed the throttle, leaving Quartararo with nowhere to go. The Frenchman rammed the back of the RC213V and was thrown off, sliding into the run off. Rider ok, but a 0 on the board. Next the Marquez-Nakagami contact that saw the Japanese rider slide off and a host of riders forced into avoiding action, a second shot of huge drama. Not long after, Marc Marquez would also pit.
After all that, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had jumped from 10th on the grid to fifth and then somehow threaded his way past another three bikes to be running an incredible second midway through Lap 1, ahead of Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team), Bastianini, and Aleix Espargaro. Miller then overtook the South African on Lap 3 at Turn 1 and Bastianini did likewise exactly a lap later, putting the KTM back to fourth, but he wasn’t done yet.
Bastianini wasn’t either and he continued his progress with a move on Miller for second on Lap 6 at Turn 15, before Binder executed an impressive overtake on the Australian through Turn 4 on Lap 7. In the blink of an eye, Miller was all the way back to fifth as Espargaro also got through, at Turn 7.
Bad news for one Ducati rider, then, but the Bologna marque’s future factory pairing was about to engage in combat over first position – just as they did two weeks earlier at Misano. Bastianini got the move done at Turn 1 on Lap 9 and it looked like the Gresini rider might be able to pull away, given the pace advantage he seemed to have over Pecco. Instead, he outbraked himself half a lap later at Turn 12 and went very deep, handing the lead back to Bagnaia and barely holding off Binder through the chicane.
From there, however, Bagnaia and Bastianini started to put the hammer down, their margin over Binder up to one full second on Lap 12, two seconds on Lap 18, and three seconds after just one more. The Bologna bullets were trading quick laps around Aragon, and there was still no certainty over who would prevail. Bastianini twice had looks at Turn 16 and thought better of it, but would there be one last attack?
There sure would be! Bastianini sprung a surprise move on his works counterpart on the final lap at the tight Turn 7 right-hander and he was through, cuing up some sweet revenge for home race defeat at Misano. Bagnaia did give chase and when he got a better run off the final corner, it was still in the balance, but the finish line was close enough to the exit of Turn 17 that Bastianini was just able to cling on by a margin of just 0.042 seconds. Another stunning duel, and in the last two races, that means the total of the gaps between those two at the chequered flag totals a mere 0.076 seconds.
As for the other podium position, that went to Espargaro but it was a late attack as Binder held station for much of the race. The Aprilia and Miller tailed Binder for much of the contest before Aprilia’s ‘Captain’ pulled off the block pass at the start of the penultimate lap, and that was decisive. Espargaro finished six seconds behind the top two but Binder was just 0.240 seconds behind him at the chequered flag, and Miller only another 0.585 seconds in arrears in fifth.
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) took sixth after a late battle with fellow Ducati rider Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), who got home in seventh ahead of Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team). Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) earned 11th, with the rest of the points finishers being Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) – who dusted himself off after a Warm Up crash – Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), Cal Crutchlow (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™ team), and Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team). A total of 20 riders made the chequered flag with Marc Marquez, Quartararo, and Nakagami the only retirements. Nakagami escaped fairly unscathed from the drama but was declared unfit for Japan for a finger injury, so he’ll need to pass a medical ahead of his home race.
And so the paddock says goodbye to MotorLand as we head for Motegi for the first time since 2019. The dust will take some time to settle but it’s a quick turnaround for the paddock heading into the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, and there’s not too much time to catch your breath before actions gets back underway next weekend.
Three riders, 17 points, five races. As Aleix says: LET’S PLAY!
MotoGP™ PODIUM
1 Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) – Ducati – 41:35.462
2 Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – Ducati – +0.042
Enea Bastianini: “Another good race and good battle like in Misano! My start was difficult, when Aleix overtook me I went a bit long and lost some positions compared to where I started but on Lap 9 I was back on top and then made a mistake at turn 10 and went off, but I thought ‘ok, now I have to stay clam to close the gap to Pecco’. He was really fast like Misano and made no mistakes, like Misano, but on the last lap I was closer and I won! It’s amazing for me to be back on top, and I’m happy.
“I didn’t think about which corner to try and make the overtake, but when I saw Pecco really close Turn 5, I thought then was the time to overtake and at Turn 7 I was really strong in this race.”
What makes him and Pecco so strong?
“Pecco, and the other Ducati riders, are so fast, but Pecco has his strongest points like me, we’re riding the same bikes and to overtake him is really difficult but this time I won. 48 points is too much to close the gap, for me, but I want to continue in this direction and be competitive in the last part of the championship. let’s see what happens race by race, but I have a good setup for the future.”
Francesco Bagnaia: “Today was very important to not make mistakes since Fabio was unlucky, it gave us a huge opportunity to recover a lot of points. It was important on the last lap to finish. When I saw Enea was so close to me, I just tried to be relaxed and calm, and I thought if he overtook me I didn’t want to take any risk and jut finish in the best way possible. If I saw an error or mistake I’d try back but he didn’t. I’m happy with the result, I did my best today and I think we made a big difference compared to the others today.”
What makes the difference for the duo?
“For me, we are, like Enea said, we are eight riders and we’re trying every day to raise the level. Step by step we’re growing together and we’re always faster. Enea for sure is motivated like me to win races and be in front, and we’re pushing each other because I know if he’s fast, I can be. It’s like a motivational thing – and we have to use that to improve ourselves.”
On the Championship:
“Now it’s clearer: we’re close. 10 points now is the lowest distance I’ve had since the start of the season so for sure I’ll try to think about the Championship but not too much. I’ll just think about my worr. I know Japan won’t be easy, we have less time to test and improve the bike, it won’t be easy. We know our bike needs more time to be prepared compared to others. But I’m sure we can be competitive and I’ll try to work like we are doing and finish the races like we know to do.”
Aleix Espargaro: “Expectations were high arriving to Aragon because I knew that it was one of the bets tracks of the last pat of the championship so maybe I started a bit hot, crashed twice on Friday and lost my confidence. Saturday was tough, I couldn’t get into the top ten in FP3 and from then on I started to build my confidence again, did a good qualifying, solid third place, and in the race too. I didn’t have the pace to follow Enea and Pecco, I knew that they had something else but in the end third is super good for the Championship and I’m happy to be back on the podium.”
Taking third:
“Brad Binder is extremely good, one of the best riders on the grid without any doubt, he doesn’t have the best bike at all without a doubt this year but he’s always strong, always extracting the best from the bike. The first part of the race it was difficult for me to overtake him, he was able to follow Enea! It was crazy. I decided to stay calm behind and wait for his tyre to drop and then in the last laps when I saw his pace started to drop I decided to overtake. Also knowing that with Fabio out of the game, you couldn’t make a mistake so I was relaxed in the second half of the race and took third as a really good bonus.”
On Enea and Pecco:
“It’s not easy what they are doing and what they are achieving. It’s not just a single thing, it’s not that they just have the best bike, it’s a mix and a package. Pecco and Enea are riding at a really high level, I would say the best levels of their careers, and they have a very strong bike with strong teams and a lot of information. This is MotoGP, Ducati, Enea and Pecco are doing a great job and the results are there. But we’re doing a good job because I’m just seven points form Pecco so it means with Aprilia we’re doing a super job and I’m extremely proud and happy.”
Looking ahead in the title fight:
“I never lost faith, I always believed, even on the most difficult weekends like Silverstone and Austria, I tried to not finish 15th, or crash, not 10th, always in the top five or six. This is what makes me proud of the championship I’m doing. I have 200 points because on bad days I was able to get really good results, so now I’m just trying to enjoy it and do the same in the next races. I know it’s not gonna be easy because now we’re going to completely different circuits far from Europe and these two guys next to me are very, very strong… but let’s play!”
After early drama for habitual top Yamaha Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), and two Ducatis battling for the win, the door of possibility was suddenly open for Ducati to retain the Constructors’ crown impressively early in the season, and that they did. With Bastianini’s win putting another 25 points towards the count, the Borgo Panigale factory are the 2022 Champions with five races remaining!
Pedro Acosta (51). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Acosta aces MotorLand for second rookie Moto2™ win
The Red Bull KTM Ajo rookie puts in another showcase, with Canet second and Fernandez completing the podium
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Pedro Acosta was back on top at the Gran Premio Animoca Brands de Aragon, picking up his second Moto2™ win and the first since breaking his left femur in a training accident in June. Flexbox HP40 rider Aron Canet took the chequered flag 2.612 seconds back in second, just edging out Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – but the number 37 extended his lead by three points as Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) took fourth.
At the start, Fernandez got the jump from pole position and led the Shimoku GASGAS Aspar Team duo of Jake Dixon and Albert Arenas through the opening corners. San Marino GP winner Alonso Lopez (CAG Speed Up) launched well, but then drama hit as he crashed out and mayhem unfolded behind as Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) hit the deck as well, with a number of other riders forced into avoiding action too.
At the front, as Dixon gave chase to Fernandez, Canet passed Arenas on Lap 1, and so did Acosta at the start of Lap 2. Hopes of a fightback were dashed just half a lap later when Arenas crashed at Turn 12 – with both Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) and Jeremy Alcoba (Liqui Moly Intact GP) joining him on the floor there just moments later in a separate incident.
Fernandez had pulled a second clear of Dixon on Lap 3 as Canet and Acosta traded third position amongst themselves. In a flash, Dixon dropped from second to fifth on Lap 4 when Acosta went past at Turn 12, Canet at Turn 14, and Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) through the sweeping Turn 16/Turn 17 left-hander. Ogura – who started eighth – tried to join the party on Lap 6 at Turn 1, and while he could not make the move stick at that point in time, the Japanese rider was not going to let the Briton off the hook.
Meanwhile, Acosta was catching Fernandez, reducing the margin to less than a second on Lap 7. Even when he ran wide exiting the Reverse Corkscrew on Lap 8 and gifted second place to Canet, they were still catching the pole-sitter. Acosta made up for his error by re-passing Canet at the end of Lap 9, but by then both were on the tail of Fernandez.
On Lap 10, Acosta blazed past his team-mate Fernandez as they ran up the back straight, while it was Arbolino’s Turn to get into a battle with Canet over third . That would ultimately be resolved when ‘Tiger Tony’ ran wide through the Turn 16/Turn 17 sweeper on Lap 11 and let Canet back through.
Acosta was a full second clear of Fernandez on Lap 14, and two seconds up on the World Championship leader after just three laps more, but Canet was stalking Fernandez. He made his move into the Reverse Corkscrew on Lap 19, and never looked back. Forward of him, however, was three seconds’ worth of fresh air with just a handful of kilometres remaining and that was the podium places settled.
Far from settled was the battle for fourth. Ogura had finally passed Dixon for good at Turn 16 back on Lap 15, and set about throwing down the challenge to Arbolino. They chopped and changed position in the final laps, with Ogura going down the inside yet again at Turn 12 on Lap 21. As he did so, Dixon threw away sixth when he slid out, but the Ogura-Arbolino duel raged on. Into the Turn 16/Turn 17 left-hander at the end of the lap, the Italian sent his Marc VDS entry down the inside but could not make the move stick and had to settle for fifth, just 0.067 seconds behind the Japanese rider.
Sixth went to Fermin Aldeguer (CAG Speed Up), from Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), Jorge Navarro (Flexbox HP40), Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team), and Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), the latter of whom inherited 10th as a result of Dixon’s late spill. The rest of the points finishers, from 11th onwards, were Cameron Beaubier (American Racing), Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans Racing Team), Barry Baltus (RW Racing GP), Alessandro Zaccone (Gresini Racing Moto2™), and Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team).
Fernandez might have missed out on victory, but a MotoGP™ contract to ride for GASGAS Factory Racing, a Moto2™ pole position, and a podium which built his World Championship lead is not bad. His margin over Ogura is now seven points, with Canet third at another 30 points behind. Vietti faded further into fourth, with the Italian’s deficit blowing out to 52 points with just five rounds to go.
The next of those is the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, which takes place at Mobility Resort Motegi just next weekend – so make sure to come back for more!
Pedro Acosta: “Finally! Finally, after the injury we’re here. Austria wasn’t so bad, Misano was more difficult but here, when I started I said ‘ah, we can do it’. I can only thank the team, my girlfriend who is here, and all the people who support me every day.
“The difference today was to manage the tyre, maybe. Augusto was super strong in the beginning and it was a bit difficult but I stayed calm, thanks to the team. They give me the comfort to say ‘ok, if today isn’t the day, it isn’t the day’. We have to be calm and not be so good on the good days and not so bad on the bad days.
“At the beginning of the season everyone was like ‘ah, Pedro Acosta will be the Moto2 World Champion’, you know? And maybe that wasn’t the best way to start the season. Ok the first races weren’t so bad, then some zeros in a row and we made a drop. But after Le Mans where we were fast, and Mugello, I think we started on a good way. From Mugello to here we finished all the races I’ve ridden in the top six. The team help me to be calm, more than in my style. To be calm and say ‘if today isn’t the day, it’s not the day, and nothing happens. We’re here to learn and don’t have to do anything crazy to try to win. If today we have to finish fifth, we finish fifth, no problem’. This is maybe the key the team gave me to be calm.”
Izan Guevara (28). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Masterclass! Guevara outpaces Sasaki to increase his gap at the top
The number 28 is undefeated on home turf after another masterclass at MotorLand – giving him a 33 point lead
Izan Guevara (Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team) remains undefeated on home turf in 2022 after the Championship leader put in an imperious performance at MotorLand Aragon. With only Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) able to stay in the same postcode, it became a duel for the win before Guevara pulled clear for those valuable 25 points and a 33 point lead. Sasaki took second and another MotorLand podium, moving him closer to the top three overall, with Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completing the rostrum for his first ever Grand Prix podium.
Off the line it was as-you-were at the front, with Guevara leading Sasaki and Holgado away and the trio building a gap, too. John McPhee (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) was on the charge leading a chasing quintet, along with Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) and Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing), before another gap back to a group that included Sergio Garcia (Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team) and Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing).
By 10 to go, the top trio pounded on but the group behind had closed up. Öncü was leading it but continuing to lose ground, with David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) next up and starting to make some moves. That gaggle was a classic freight train battle, but one of Muñoz’ moves was deemed too much as he got a Long Lap for a move making contact with Adrian Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Tech3) a few laps later.
Meanwhile at the front, Guevara and Sasaki had got the hammer down. Holgado started to lose touch with the duo as the gap grew to over a second and then beyond that, with the fight for the win quickly becoming a duel.
Onto the last lap though, Guevara had some time in hand, turning the screw even further to pull out a few tenths. The last final kilometers of racing saw Sasaki shadow the number 28 but find no answer for his pace, leaving Guevara to cross the line with just under a second of advantage for an imperious win – and a big advantage in the standings. Sasaki takes second and gains points on all his key rivals except the rider just ahead, with Holgado putting in an impressive ride to take his first ever GP podium in third.
Öncü was able to pull away from the freight train fight to take a comfortable fourth, leaving the battle behind to get decided on the drag to the line. Despite getting pushed off earlier in the race by Muñoz, Fernandez came back to take fifth place and his best ever result, just ahead of Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) as the rookie likewise took his best finish. Muñoz was just a tenth behind them, with Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in eighth, Carlos Tatay (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) and McPhee completing the top ten.
Xavier Artigas (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) pipped Suzuki to P11, with Garcia struggling in the latter stages to move forward and the former points leader finishing the race in P13 – just ahead of Foggia after tough day for two key protagonists in the fight for the crown.
The final point went to Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) despite a Long Lap for track limits.
Guevara now leads the field to Motegi with a 33-point lead as Garcia and Foggia are left licking their wounds after a tough start to the triple-header. Sasaki moves up to 13 behind Foggia before his first race on home soil since 2019, and with his experience that could prove crucial too. Tune in for more next weekend!
Izan Guevara: “Incredible race for me, pole helped me for this race. In the first moments I pushed, with my pace alone from Practice… it was an incredible race, incredible work with my team, I lead the Championship with 33 points to Sergio… amazing race and I enjoyed it! Now I’m going to new tracks for me and I’ll push in these circuits!”
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team with Michael Rinaldi aboard the factory Ducati Panigale V4 R also in the 2023 WorldSBK season
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team is pleased to announce the contract extension of Michael Rinaldi who will ride the official Ducati Panigale V4 R also in the 2023 WorldSBK season
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team thus completes its line-up that will see the Italian rider alongside Alvaro Bautista in the upcoming World Superbike Championship.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi was born in Rimini on 21st December 1995 and started racing with the minimoto when he was 7 years old, winning the Italian championship in 2006. After winning the Italian Sport Production Championship in 2011, in 2014 he faced his first international experience in the European Superstock 600 championship, which closed as runner-up in 2015. In 2016 Rinaldi rode the Ducati Panigale R of the Aruba.it Racing – Junior team in the SuperStock 1000 FIM championship, finishing sixth and then conquering the European Champion title at the end of the following season. With the Aruba.it Racing – Junior team, Michael Ruben Rinaldi also made his WorldSBK debut in the 2018 season, racing only in European rounds and then competing in all events of the 2019 Championship with the Barni Racing Team. In 2020 Rinaldi achieved his first WorldSBK success with the Panigale V4R of the Go Eleven team in Race 1 at Aragon, a weekend that also saw him on the podium in the Superpole Race (P3) and in Race 2 (P2).
The 2021 season saw the Italian rider as the absolute protagonist of Misano round, with two victories ( Race 1 and SPR) and a second place (Race 2). Rinaldi then took his third win in Race 2 in Barcelona, ending the 2021 season in fifth place in the Superbike World Championship standings.
In this season Rinaldi has finished twice on the podium in Misano, and once in the last race held in Magny-Cours: this second place during the French Round got him to the fourth place of the WorldSBK current standings.
Stefano Cecconi (Team Principal – Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
“Michael has the potential to be one of the fastest riders in the World Superbike Championship and he has been able to prove it on several occasions. Our long journey together will be extended at least until the end of 2023, thus giving continuity and preserving the current team set-up that is also allowing us to be first in the manufacturer and team championships. We believe 2023 will be for Michael the year of definitive consecration; at the same time, we are confident that during this second part of the season we’ll reap the benefits of the work done so far, in terms of satisfaction and consistency of results”.
Paolo Ciabatti (Ducati Corse Sporting Director)
“Michael Rinaldi is a young rider who grew up in Superbike with Ducati and has proven time and time again that he is very fast and knows how to make the most of the potential of the Panigale V4 R machine. That’s why we are also happy to count on him for the next Championship. With an extra year of experience with the official Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, we are convinced that he will be able to aspire to even more important results in 2023”
Michael Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
“I am very happy to race again next year for Aruba.it Racing – Ducati because I firmly believe in this project. I am very confident that in 2023 we can reap everything we have sown together with the team. I will be the first to work even harder, both in training and on track, to get better results and have the consistency that has been lacking so far. I want to thank Stefano Cecconi, Claudio Domenicali, Luigi Dall’Igna, Paolo Ciabatti, Serafino Foti, and all the people who trusted in me. I can’t wait to be in Barcelona to get a good result and repay this confidence. And I am sure that 2023 will be a great year for us.”
“I should have been terrified, but being young and dumb blinds you to things. Case in point: Getting caught in a freezing rainstorm on the Grapevine, a mountain pass connecting Central and Southern California, coming back from one of my first long motorcycle rides. Soaked to the bone, riding a decrepit Honda CB550 with bald tires and a chain and sprocket well past their recycle-bin due date, I was riding on the shoulder, watching semi-trailer rigs splash and slide their way past on my left. There were plenty of ways to die in that moment, and I look back and just shake my head.
“I was thinking about that ride on my way to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on Suzuki’s sport-touring 2022 GSX-S1000GT+. Getting caught in a downpour in downtown Portland during morning rush hour brought back those memories—the rain dumped down so hard that visibility was nearly nonexistent. I focused on the less-soaked tire tracks left behind by cars, aiming precisely at the center of the left tire’s narrow footprint and focusing on the taillights of the car ahead.
“The reason I thought about that earlier ride was the difference between then and what I was experiencing at that moment in Portland…”
Editor at Large Michael Gougis rodethe Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ 1,200 miles each way from Los Angeles County to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and back, with a stop at Buttonwillow Raceway Park for an on-track riding impression from racer Jeremy Toye, in five crazy days. Read all about the journey in the latest issue of Roadracing World!
PREVIEW the September 2022 Issue of Roadracing World!
Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine is available in print and digital formats.
Click to SUBSCRIBE NOW ! Or call (909) 654-4779, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.
—
Read the September 2022 issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technologywith your online subscription. Log in HERE
Available at Cycle Gear and other motorcycle retailers.
Visit www.roadracingworld.com daily for breaking news and events.
Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/roadracingworld
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com @roadracingworld
Follow us on Instagram https://instagram.com @roadracing_world
Eli Block (9) leads Scott Greenwood (4) in the Michelin-Motorace Middleweight GP at NHMS. Greenwood won the race. Photo by Martin Hanlon, courtesy NEMRR.
NEMRR Round 6 – September 17-18, New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
September in New Hampshire is known for having some of the best “go fast” conditions of the season, and mother nature did not disappoint for NEMRR’s round 6. Saturday featured clear sunny skies and temperatures hovering around 70 degrees, making for a near-perfect combination of bikes that make great power and asphalt that has excellent grip. The result was dozens of riders logging personal-best lap times and some excellent racing to boot!
The top racers in each category nearly all set season-best times. Renee Franco won three feature races on her Kawasaki Ninja 400, setting personal record 1:16.3 in the SportbikeTrackGear.com 500 Supersport class. NEMRR has not seen times like that since MotoAmerica Junior Cup top riders Eli Block and Ben Gloddy were racing at NHMS. The future is bright for this 18-year-old young lady! Also starring in the small division was Adam Muscaro, another up-and-coming teen who ran a personal best 1:17.3 and won the Rising Sun Cycles Moto 3 class.
The top performer of the weekend in the lightweight classes was Brett Guyer and his Aprilia RS 660. The veteran Seacoast Sport Cycle rider won four races over the course of the weekend, highlighted by his season-best 1:14.0 lap time during the Lightweight GP, which is fittingly also sponsored by Seacoast Sport Cycle. The only riders to best Guyer over the weekend were young gun Eli Block on his Manchester Honda KTM 450 in the Robert Pease GTL class, and fellow veteran Tim Hogan on his Superbike Services Ducati 749 in the red-flag-shortened Thunderbike class.
The featured middleweight races were again dominated by the ever fast and smooth Scott Greenwood, who tallied an impressive eight victories. The veteran Argo Cycles Yamaha rider is known for his relaxed riding style, where he has the appearance of going on a Sunday ride while running away from the field. During the feature Michelin-Motorace Middleweight GP $1500, Greenwood ran a season best 1:12.1 to secure his victory. In the feature race, Eli Block grabbed the holeshot and Greenwood got caught up on the inside, leaving Turn One in third place. He passed the resurgent Paul Duval on lap one and visibly set off to chase down the leader. Greenwood made his move on the brakes into the banked Turn Six and ran off a string of mid to low 1:12 lap times. Block held on strong through the halfway point but was unable to match the pace of the veteran as the laps wore on. Greenwood congratulated his young rival during his victory speech and noted that he’ll very likely be pushed by the rising star in the years to come.
The unlimited displacement races featured the Penguin Racing/Woodcraft Kawasaki ZX-10R of Eric Wood, who won four races over the course of the weekend. Wood logged a season -best 1:11.0 during the Superbike Services 44 Unlimited Grand Prix race. This time marked the fastest lap logged at NEMRR since it took over management of the series from New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2020.
Nik Paganis (492). Photo by Martin Hanlon, courtesy NEMRR.
In the Novice ranks, first-year rider Nik Paganis won three classes and ran his personal best 1:22.0 in the Formula Two class class on Saturday. His only runner-up finish of the weekend was in the Formula One event, where he lost a dogfight with Johnathan McCluskey. Both riders may have earned their “bump” into the Amateur class for the final event of the season. The ever popular (and growing) Super Street races were dominated by Josh Stewart on his Aprilia RSV1000. Josh won both Super Street Unlimited races and looks poised to launch an assault on NEMRR Rookie of the Year honors in 2023!
Josh Stewart (932). Photo by Martin Hanlon, courtesy NEMRR.
NEMRR will run the final round of the 2022 series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on October 1-2. For information please go to www.nemrr.com.
An upgraded 2023 KTM 890 Adventure R in action. Photo courtesy KTM.
DO YOU DARE? THE 2023 KTM 890 ADVENTURE R BREAKS NEW GROUND
MURRIETA, Calif. – For all those who dare to adventure, KTM North America, Inc. introduces the new KTM 890 ADVENTURE R, here to break travel barriers on or off the beaten track. Featuring a host of technical upgrades, this reworked machine enters a new era of rally-inspired aesthetics and performance.
Harnessing attributes of KTM’s pure READY TO RACE legacy, the hyper-focused development goals of the new KTM 890 ADVENTURE R are clear: further offroad excellence, dependability and suitability for whatever lies on the road ahead. Launched in the diverse landscape of western Idaho at the 2022 KTM Adventure Rider Rally, the next-level capability and mettle of the reshaped KTM 890 ADVENTURE R was witnessed in the heart of the Idaho mountains by adventurers from all over the world.
Taking cues from the KTM 450 RALLY setup, the WP suspension package on the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R, with fully-adjustable WP XPLOR forks and a WP XPLOR PDS rear shock, was retuned to provide improved feeling and damping to ensure riders reach the end of each stage with reduce fatigue. Further influence from the Factory Rally bike is evident in the redesigned bodywork with a new fairing, fuel tank and cowling, improving aerodynamics and ergonomics, respectively enhancing protection from the elements and the bike’s already amazing agility. The fact that the 2023 KTM 890 ADVENTURE R is ready for action is also made clear through the new lower windshield, high front fender and engine protector, for those tricky technical moments.
The new 5” TFT display—equipped with USB-C connecters— features a completely new appearance with colored pictograms and intuitive graphics that allow for easy navigation through the menus. In addition, the latest upgrades include a developed turn-by-turn plus navigation system that allows riders to select their preferred destination from the bike’s menu. A new phone call-out function also allows a favorites call option, with a maximum of 10 numbers, or the option to call one of the 10 last numbers called.
To take the software and hardware potential of the electronics suite to new levels, KTM has also included the next generation of ABS control unit that takes readings from the 6D sensor — which continually informs the CMU on the angle, pitch, speed and general behavior of the motorcycle — to apply the correct amount of braking force for any given situation. Riders opting to try the bike’s potential off the beaten track can count on OFFROAD ABS as an integrated element of OFFROAD MODE, or the optional RALLY MODE, without the need to select the OFFROAD ABS separately.
When the trail widens and the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R wants to clock the miles, the 2023 edition provides comfort through the single-piece seat with new colors, which still emphasizes mobility and grip. Adventurers can also be seen with new LED style indicators that complement the revitalized graphic set for 2023.
KTM has taken advantage of the growing electronic capacity of the KTM 890 ADVENTURE R to install a new DEMO MODE, seen for the first time on this 2023 model. The new KTM 890 ADVENTURE R will allow riders to take advantage of all the specs and options for the first 1,500 kilometers, before the rider decides which pack or features to acquire. Thanks to the DEMO MODE setting, adventurers can feel and experience the areas of the bike they prefer or rely on while in the thick of throttle-wringing action.
2023 KTM 890 ADVENTURE R – HIGHLIGHTS
Reworked bodywork and fairing inspired by the KTM 450 RALLY
New windshield offering improved airflow
Reworked suspension settings for reduced long-distance fatigue
Upgraded 5” TFT display with USB connection
Improved ABS components with new modulator (9.3 MP)
OFFROAD ABS linked with OFFROAD MODE and (optional) RALLY MODE
Updated turn-by-turn plus navigation system
Introducing the DEMO MODE functionality
Handlebar switch with hazard warning
New LED indicators
New engine protector
The 2023 KTM 890 ADVENTURE R pushes extremes a little further while inviting riders from across the world to #Dare2ADV.
This new model will be available at authorized KTM dealers from December onward. For further information, go to KTM.com.
Katsuyuki Nakasuga in action at Okayama International Circuit. Photo by Kohei Hirota.
Yamaha factory rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga clinched the 2022 MFJ Japanese Superbike (JSB1000) Championship with a convincing victory September 18 at Okayama International Circuit. It is Nakasuga’s 11th Japanese Superbike Championship. Nakasuga, age 41, has won every race so far this season.
MotoAmerica racer Avery Dreher (99) slides into inflatable Alpina soft barriers provided by the Roadracing World Action Fund. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
2022 Rainey’s Ride To The Races A Success
The Second Annual Ride To WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Raises Nearly $75,000 For Roadracing World Action Fund
IRVINE, CA (September 19, 2022) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is pleased to announce that the second annual Rainey’s Ride To The Races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca was again a rousing success as it raised nearly $75,000 for the Roadracing World Action Fund.
The 100-mile ride through the scenic backroads of Monterey County sold out for the second year in a row with 35 riders enjoying a grand finish, including two laps of Laguna Seca and a behind-the-scenes question-and-answer session with Hall of Famers Kenny Roberts, Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson, and Bubba Shobert. Nearly $75,000 was raised during the Ride to benefit the Roadracing World Action Fund, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that promotes motorcycle racing safety through the installation of soft barriers at racing events.
“I really appreciate all the riders who made the second annual Rainey’s Ride To The Races a big success,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “The money raised goes to a really good cause as the soft barriers offer racers the best protection from off-track incidents. My thanks also go out to Kenny, Eddie, and Bubba for coming out for the ride and joining in the fun of an incredibly successful Moto America weekend at Laguna Seca.”
The MotoAmerica Superbike field races past several sections of inflatable Alpina soft barriers provided by the Roadracing World Action Fund. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
“Soft barriers made by Airfence and Alpina can save lives and reduce serious injuries by absorbing impact energy when riders crash and slide or fly into hard objects surrounding racetracks,” said John Ulrich, Founder & President, Roadracing World Action Fund, Inc. “MotoAmerica has been great and is fully committed to deploying soft barriers to help protect riders, and to helping the Roadracing World Action Fund (RWAF) raise money to buy and deploy more soft barrier sections. The latest Rainey’s Ride To The Races event demonstrates MotoAmerica’s commitment to rider safety, and RWAF is proud to work with Wayne Rainey, his MotoAmerica partners, and everyone who supports the series and comes to the races.”
About The Roadracing World Action Fund
The Roadracing World Action Fund, Inc. is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to motorcycle racing safety education. Its mission is to help save lives and prevent injuries on the racetrack by encouraging and facilitating soft barrier deployment at racetracks across the U.S.
MV AGUSTA MOTOR S.P.A. APPOINTS MV AGUSTA MALAYSIA SDN BHD AS THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR OF ITS MOTORCYCLES IN MALAYSIA
Varese, September 19th, 2022 – MV Agusta Motor has appointed MV Agusta Malaysia Sdn Bhd as the sole and exclusive distributor of MV Agusta motorcycles, parts, merchandise and special parts in Malaysia. MV Agusta Malaysia Sdn Bhd is a newly formed company that is a subsidiary of AFY Mobility Sdn Bhd (AMI). To support the brand’s competitiveness in Malaysia, all MV Agusta motorcycles distributed in the country will be completely assembled at the AMI assembly and training facility in Glenmarie, Shah Alam.
MV Agusta Motor also wants to take this opportunity to congratulate the Group Executive Chairman of AMI, Ahmad Faez Bin Tan Sri Yahaya and AMI on the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with MARA Malaysia to produce a Malaysian motorcycle brand and to work together towards making Malaysia the global motorcycle assembly hub. The event was attended by The Minister of Rural Development of Malaysia, Yang Berhormat Dato’ Seri Mahdzir Bin Khalid.
Timur Sardarov, CEO of MV Agusta Motor S.p.A. commented “I am particularly thrilled about this new, important partnership marking the consolidation and the expansion of the MV Agusta presence in one of the most dynamic economies in SouthEast Asia. The CKD assembly solutions found with our partners will boost our competitiveness in the region, in line with our global expansion strategy. I wish the newly born MV Agusta Malaysia every success.”
Kyle Wyman on the podium following Superbike Race Two at Road Atlanta. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Tytlers Cycle Racing.
Kyle Wyman returns to MotoAmerica Superbike grid at Barber Motorsports Park
Tytlers Cycle Racing is pleased to announce that they will field a third BMW M 1000 RR in the 2022 MotoAmerica season finale at Barber Motorsports Park this coming weekend.
In addition to superbike regulars PJ Jacobsen and Hector Barbera, the team is delighted to welcome back Kyle Wyman who, after giving the team its first podium earlier in the season, will return to the superbike grid as Tytlers Cycle Racing looks to end the year in style.
In addition to flying the Tytlers Cycle Racing flag, Kyle will be flying the flag for One Cure. One Cure’s founding principle is that cancer affects all creatures and that treatment breakthroughs come through collaborations between scientists and doctors who are working with pets and people. One Cure’s goal is to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer in pets.
On-track action at Barber Motorsports Park gets underway with Free Practice on Friday morning with the penultimate and final races of the season taking place on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, respectively.
Dave Weaver – Team Manager: “The superbike hybrid Larry Pegram rode earlier this year was available and Kyle showed interest to ride at the last round since the King of the Baggers championship had finished. Being that he delivered our team’s first superbike podium, offering him the opportunity to ride was the least we could do to say thank you! We look forward to having him join us again this weekend alongside PJ and Hector.”
Kyle Wyman: “I’d like to thank the Tytlers Cycle Racing team for welcoming me back to the program as a third Superbike entry for them this coming weekend. I enjoyed working with the team earlier in the season for our fill-in appearance, and it’s great to have another opportunity to ride with them again. TCR has been a breakout success in its debut season, and I hope to be able to help them improve even further in the final race of 2022. I will also be racing for One Cure this weekend to bring awareness to the Colorado State University cancer research center. CSU and their studies have shown that the cure for cancer may be walking right beside us in our canine companions, because cancer is the same between the species, down to the cellular level. What works for pets with cancer may work for us, and I’m all about speeding toward One Cure on the BMW M 1000 RR.”
Race report: Viltais Racing Igol takes dramatic win as Bol d’Or centenary serves up an EWC thriller
September 18 2022
*Bol d’Or lives up to its legendary status with a 24-hour race of high drama and attrition
*Late heartbreak for ERC Endurance-Ducati lets in privateer Yamaha team for glory
*F.C.C. TSR Honda France wins FIM Endurance World Championship for Teams
*FIM EWC Superstock World Cup goes to Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers CMS Motostore
*Four different bike manufacturers in the top five highlights EWC’s open competition
*Top two separated by 5.6 seconds after 16 hours of intense endurance racing
Viltaïs Racing Igol won big by winning the 100th-anniversary Bol d’Or but F.C.C. TSR Honda France won bigger still by claiming FIM Endurance World Championship glory after 24 arduous hours of racing at Circuit Paul Ricard this afternoon (Sunday).
F.C.C. TSR Honda France’s title success followed a race of high drama and high attrition in the southern French sunshine and comes at the completion of another action-packed EWC season, which also featured 24-hour races at Le Mans and Spa-Francorchamps, plus a return to Japan for the Suzuka 8 Hours.
In front of packed grandstands, Viltaïs Racing Igol’s maiden EWC victory was dramatic and somewhat unexpected in equal measure but was nevertheless fitting reward for Team Manager Yannick Lucot’s tireless efforts behind the scenes, an impressive display from riding trio Florian Alt (Germany), Erwan Nigon (France) and Steven Odendaal (South Africa), plus important contributions from reserve rider James Westmoreland (Great Britain).
Viltaïs Racing Igol’s Bol d’Or victory meant the four race wins up for grabs in the 2022 EWC were claimed by four different teams, such has been the wide-open nature of the championship this season. And to underline its competitiveness both the EWC qualifying and race lap records at Circuit Paul Ricard were broken by Illya Mykhalchyk (1m51.641s) and Xavi Forés (1m52.979s) respectively.
Late Bol d’Or heartbreak for EWC aces
Up until the final 90 minutes of the Bol d’Or, long-term leader ERC Endurance-Ducati was seemingly on course for victory only to stop with a mechanical failure while comfortably in front. That left Wójcik Racing Team at the head of the pack. But in another late twist, the Polish squad’s Yamaha slowed, forcing Mathieu Gines to push the bike to the pitlane for repairs.
When Dan Linfoot eventually returned the #77 machine to the track, more than five minutes had been lost along with hopes of victory for Gines, Linfoot and Sheridan Morais as France-based Viltaïs Racing Igol, another Yamaha privateer, swept into a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
Meanwhile, Wójcik Racing Team’s eventual second place represented its best finish of the season with Webike SRC Kawasaki France third in what was Gilles Stafler’s final EWC race as team boss before he retires. Webike SRC Kawasaki France had also failed to land a podium in 2022 prior to the Bol d’Or and actually led for a time before dropping back with an engine wiring issue ahead of its charging comeback.
For ERC Endurance-Ducati riders David Checa and Xavi Forés, their late heartbreak was hard to take after they’d shared riding duties for a large part of the race when Chaz Davies hurt his back and couldn’t continue. Despite the highly emotional scenes in the team garage as a near-certain victory slipped away, Checa regained his composure to return to the action for the last hour following rapid repairs by his German outfit. He took fifth behind the F.C.C. TSR Honda France team, which also made another unscheduled pitstop in the closing two hours having been delayed earlier in the race.
MACO Racing finished a strong sixth, Team Bolliger Switzerland was the next best Formula EWC squad in ninth overall despite Nico Thöni crashing two corners into the race. Team LRP Poland finished two places further back, while Motobox Kremer Racing was next up in the headlining category followed by Japanese newcomer TONE RT Syncedge 4413 BMW.
TATI Team Beringer Racing was leading and in contention for the EWC title when it stopped with a technical issue on Sunday morning, much to the disappointment of the French team and its riders Leon Haslam, Grégory Leblanc and Bastien Mackels.
Success in Superstock for RAC41-Chromeburner and Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers CMS Motostore
RAC41-Chromeburner claimed Superstock category honours ahead of BMRT 3D Maxxess Nevers in a reversal of last season’s finishing positions with Pitlane Endurance taking third place. In addition to team regulars Chris Leesch and Wayne Tessels, RAC41-Chromeburner recruited Jonathan Hardt for the final round.
The Frenchman was part of the BMRT 3D Maxxess Nevers team that took top Bol d’Or Superstock honours in 2021 and his inclusion appeared to make the difference to the squad, which overcame a late scare when its Honda’s exhaust failed.
No Limits Motor Team, Falcon Racing, Énergie Endurance, JMA Racing Action Bike, Team 33 Louit April Moto, ADSS 97, Team Aviobike, Team 202 and TRT 27 Bazar 2 La Bécane all finished but there was disappointment for Team LH Racing, National Motos Honda and 3ART Best of Bike.
OG Motorsport by Sarazin led until Alex Plancassagne crashed just before 02h50 to bring out the safety car while trackside barriers were repaired, while late mechanical issues denied Wójcik Racing Team’s pole-setting Superstock squad a class podium nearing the finish.
Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers CMS Motostore took the FIM Endurance World Cup title despite dropping out of contention with a mechanical failure, which took several hours to rectify. However, the Superstock win at Le Mans and a second place at Spa-Francorchamps were enough to secure the title for the Yamaha-powered team, which counted on riders Baptiste Guittet and Hugo Clere from France plus Austrian Philipp Steinmayr.
High five time as F.C.C. TSR Honda France becomes FIM EWC world champion
For F.C.C. TSR Honda France, its FIM Endurance World Championship title success follows on from the 2017-18 season when Josh Hook was partnered by Freddy Foray and Alan Techer to the EWC’s top prize. The Japanese squad was one of five outfits in a firm fight for glory starting the Bol d’Or but prevailed as its four rivals hit trouble. All-season riders Mike Di Meglio and Hook were joined on the #5 Honda for the final event of the year by Alan Techer in place of Gino Rea, who suffered serious head injuries in a crash at Suzuka last month but helped F.C.C. TSR Honda France to podiums in the 24 Heures Motos and the 24H SPA EWC Motos earlier in the campaign. Defending champion Yoshimura SERT Motul placed second in the final championship order with Viltaïs Racing Igol third. All results are subject to final confirmation.
While F.C.C. TSR Honda France celebrated, there was Bol d’Or heartache for several teams, including three EWC title contenders, BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, which qualified on pole, YART – Yamaha Official Team EWC and Yoshimura SERT Motul. Team Moto Ain also failed to finish through technical issues having impressed with fifth fastest in qualifying.
RIDER QUOTES
Steven Odendaal (Viltaïs Racing Igol, Yamaha YZF-R1, winning Bol d’Or Formula EWC team rider): “This race has been incredible. To be in a French team winning on French soil is just something amazing. Yannick Lucot, my team boss, had a really big dream of this day and my team-mates and I, we fulfilled this so we’re really, really happy with this victory. Obviously we did not expect this, we just knew we had to make everything the maximum and we just did this and finally we’ve got this big trophy, which is amazing, and I’m really happy to walk away with my first EWC podium being a victory.”
Josh Hook (F.C.C. TSR Honda France, Honda CB R1000 RR-R, FIM Endurance World Championship winning team rider): “I know from the past never to think the race is over until the chequered flag. We’ve come back from much worse situations and won races in the past. We did run into some dramas as everyone else did it seems. We never gave up on it and just kept chipping away. We did a lot of really good race runs all throughout the night and we were consistently fast all three of us. Basically we were going to see where we were at when the sun came up in the morning but we never counted the win out at all. But it came to a point in time when we had to toss up whether we focused on the championship, which is obviously our main objective, or the race win. We decided to take care of the engine after getting a little nervous and seeing everyone else’s bikes blowing up and there wasn’t many left in the end. We tried to be as conservative as possible and just bring home the championship for our team, Honda and all our partners.”
Wayne Tessels (RAC41-Chromeburner, Honda CB R1000 RR-R, winning Bol d’Or Superstock rider): “For us it was a really good race. The second part was quite difficult for me personally, but I was very happy that the bike worked well and also my colleagues Jonathan [Hardt] and Chris [Leesch] did a hell of a job, a really good job. I’m also really happy we took this win because at Le Mans Grégory Fastre, our team-mate, had an injury, which was pretty bad, and it’s also for him that we finally won and I’m happy to be on the podium here.”
Philipp Steinmayr (Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers CMS Motostore, Yamaha YZF-R1, FIM Endurance World Cup winning team rider): “It was a tough race, like a rollercoaster up and down, up and down. It’s great to win the World Cup, we managed it with the points, we had a good qualification and the team worked perfectly all season. It was a good job by all.”
Fores’ sensational slipstream overtake an early Bol d’Or highlight
The opening laps of the 100th-anniversary delivered more classic FIM Endurance World Championship action with Gregg Black, Mike Di Meglio, Xavi Forés and Markus Reiterberger all taking their turn to lead the EWC season decider. But it was Forés who pulled off the most spectacular pass, overtaking his three rivals on a sensational slipstream move on the Mistral Straight.
Yoshimura SERT Motul Team Director Kato speaks of pride following EWC DNF
Yoshimura SERT Motul Team Director Yohei Kato spoke of his pride after a mechanical failure robbed the Japanese squad of a possible Bol d’Or victory repeat and a second consecutive FIM Endurance World Championship crown. After Gregg Black held the lead during the early stages, Kazuki Watanabe was on board the #1 Suzuki GSX-R1000R when trouble struck on lap 34.
EWC community shows its support for Gino Rea
Gino Rea was a much-missed member of the FIM Endurance World Championship family during the Bol d’Or while he continues his recovery from serious head injuries sustained in a crash while practicing for the Suzuka 8 Hours last month. A GoFundMe appeal launched by his family to help his extensive rehabilitation was promoted on live television coverage of the event and across the EWC’s social media channels. All teams were provided with Keep fighting Gino Rea stickers for use on their bikes in a strong show of support for the popular British rider, who helped F.C.C. TSR Honda France to podium finishes at Le Mans and Spa-Francorchamps earlier this season.
Dramatic MotorLand showdown sees Bastianini depose Bagnaia as Quartararo clashes with Marquez
Just 17 points now cover the top three in the title fight as Bastianini vs Bagnaia goes to the wire, Quartararo hits bad luck early and Aleix Espargaro completes the podium
Enea Bastiani (23) narrowly beat Francesco Bagnaia (behind Bastianini) to the finish line. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Sunday, 18 September 2022
The Gran Premio Animoca Brands de Aragon may well prove a truly pivotal day in the 2022 season, with the headlines overflowing almost from lights out and the top three in the title fight now split by only 17 points. By the flag, Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) had served some Misano-flavoured revenge on Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the two duelled it out on the final lap for the win, and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) was both back on the podium and back in serious Championship contention.
Before all that, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) hit some serious bad luck as he made contact with Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) after a slide for the number 93. The Championship leader crashed out, Marquez continued and then suffered a technical problem from the prior contact that saw Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) caught in the crossfire. From there, the pitboards went out for the other key Championship protagonists – Quartararo out – and the lay of the land after MotorLand is now a whole different story as the paddock heads to Japan.
Where do we start? Bagnaia headed the field into Turn 1 after a dream start off pole position but it was a nightmare for several riders behind him. From 13th on the grid, Marquez was already up to sixth when he then had a moment exiting Turn 3 and closed the throttle, leaving Quartararo with nowhere to go. The Frenchman rammed the back of the RC213V and was thrown off, sliding into the run off. Rider ok, but a 0 on the board. Next the Marquez-Nakagami contact that saw the Japanese rider slide off and a host of riders forced into avoiding action, a second shot of huge drama. Not long after, Marc Marquez would also pit.
After all that, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had jumped from 10th on the grid to fifth and then somehow threaded his way past another three bikes to be running an incredible second midway through Lap 1, ahead of Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team), Bastianini, and Aleix Espargaro. Miller then overtook the South African on Lap 3 at Turn 1 and Bastianini did likewise exactly a lap later, putting the KTM back to fourth, but he wasn’t done yet.
Bastianini wasn’t either and he continued his progress with a move on Miller for second on Lap 6 at Turn 15, before Binder executed an impressive overtake on the Australian through Turn 4 on Lap 7. In the blink of an eye, Miller was all the way back to fifth as Espargaro also got through, at Turn 7.
Bad news for one Ducati rider, then, but the Bologna marque’s future factory pairing was about to engage in combat over first position – just as they did two weeks earlier at Misano. Bastianini got the move done at Turn 1 on Lap 9 and it looked like the Gresini rider might be able to pull away, given the pace advantage he seemed to have over Pecco. Instead, he outbraked himself half a lap later at Turn 12 and went very deep, handing the lead back to Bagnaia and barely holding off Binder through the chicane.
From there, however, Bagnaia and Bastianini started to put the hammer down, their margin over Binder up to one full second on Lap 12, two seconds on Lap 18, and three seconds after just one more. The Bologna bullets were trading quick laps around Aragon, and there was still no certainty over who would prevail. Bastianini twice had looks at Turn 16 and thought better of it, but would there be one last attack?
There sure would be! Bastianini sprung a surprise move on his works counterpart on the final lap at the tight Turn 7 right-hander and he was through, cuing up some sweet revenge for home race defeat at Misano. Bagnaia did give chase and when he got a better run off the final corner, it was still in the balance, but the finish line was close enough to the exit of Turn 17 that Bastianini was just able to cling on by a margin of just 0.042 seconds. Another stunning duel, and in the last two races, that means the total of the gaps between those two at the chequered flag totals a mere 0.076 seconds.
As for the other podium position, that went to Espargaro but it was a late attack as Binder held station for much of the race. The Aprilia and Miller tailed Binder for much of the contest before Aprilia’s ‘Captain’ pulled off the block pass at the start of the penultimate lap, and that was decisive. Espargaro finished six seconds behind the top two but Binder was just 0.240 seconds behind him at the chequered flag, and Miller only another 0.585 seconds in arrears in fifth.
Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) took sixth after a late battle with fellow Ducati rider Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), who got home in seventh ahead of Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team). Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) earned 11th, with the rest of the points finishers being Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) – who dusted himself off after a Warm Up crash – Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), Cal Crutchlow (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™ team), and Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team). A total of 20 riders made the chequered flag with Marc Marquez, Quartararo, and Nakagami the only retirements. Nakagami escaped fairly unscathed from the drama but was declared unfit for Japan for a finger injury, so he’ll need to pass a medical ahead of his home race.
And so the paddock says goodbye to MotorLand as we head for Motegi for the first time since 2019. The dust will take some time to settle but it’s a quick turnaround for the paddock heading into the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, and there’s not too much time to catch your breath before actions gets back underway next weekend.
Three riders, 17 points, five races. As Aleix says: LET’S PLAY!
MotoGP™ PODIUM
1 Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) – Ducati – 41:35.462
2 Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – Ducati – +0.042
Enea Bastianini: “Another good race and good battle like in Misano! My start was difficult, when Aleix overtook me I went a bit long and lost some positions compared to where I started but on Lap 9 I was back on top and then made a mistake at turn 10 and went off, but I thought ‘ok, now I have to stay clam to close the gap to Pecco’. He was really fast like Misano and made no mistakes, like Misano, but on the last lap I was closer and I won! It’s amazing for me to be back on top, and I’m happy.
“I didn’t think about which corner to try and make the overtake, but when I saw Pecco really close Turn 5, I thought then was the time to overtake and at Turn 7 I was really strong in this race.”
What makes him and Pecco so strong?
“Pecco, and the other Ducati riders, are so fast, but Pecco has his strongest points like me, we’re riding the same bikes and to overtake him is really difficult but this time I won. 48 points is too much to close the gap, for me, but I want to continue in this direction and be competitive in the last part of the championship. let’s see what happens race by race, but I have a good setup for the future.”
Francesco Bagnaia: “Today was very important to not make mistakes since Fabio was unlucky, it gave us a huge opportunity to recover a lot of points. It was important on the last lap to finish. When I saw Enea was so close to me, I just tried to be relaxed and calm, and I thought if he overtook me I didn’t want to take any risk and jut finish in the best way possible. If I saw an error or mistake I’d try back but he didn’t. I’m happy with the result, I did my best today and I think we made a big difference compared to the others today.”
What makes the difference for the duo?
“For me, we are, like Enea said, we are eight riders and we’re trying every day to raise the level. Step by step we’re growing together and we’re always faster. Enea for sure is motivated like me to win races and be in front, and we’re pushing each other because I know if he’s fast, I can be. It’s like a motivational thing – and we have to use that to improve ourselves.”
On the Championship:
“Now it’s clearer: we’re close. 10 points now is the lowest distance I’ve had since the start of the season so for sure I’ll try to think about the Championship but not too much. I’ll just think about my worr. I know Japan won’t be easy, we have less time to test and improve the bike, it won’t be easy. We know our bike needs more time to be prepared compared to others. But I’m sure we can be competitive and I’ll try to work like we are doing and finish the races like we know to do.”
Aleix Espargaro: “Expectations were high arriving to Aragon because I knew that it was one of the bets tracks of the last pat of the championship so maybe I started a bit hot, crashed twice on Friday and lost my confidence. Saturday was tough, I couldn’t get into the top ten in FP3 and from then on I started to build my confidence again, did a good qualifying, solid third place, and in the race too. I didn’t have the pace to follow Enea and Pecco, I knew that they had something else but in the end third is super good for the Championship and I’m happy to be back on the podium.”
Taking third:
“Brad Binder is extremely good, one of the best riders on the grid without any doubt, he doesn’t have the best bike at all without a doubt this year but he’s always strong, always extracting the best from the bike. The first part of the race it was difficult for me to overtake him, he was able to follow Enea! It was crazy. I decided to stay calm behind and wait for his tyre to drop and then in the last laps when I saw his pace started to drop I decided to overtake. Also knowing that with Fabio out of the game, you couldn’t make a mistake so I was relaxed in the second half of the race and took third as a really good bonus.”
On Enea and Pecco:
“It’s not easy what they are doing and what they are achieving. It’s not just a single thing, it’s not that they just have the best bike, it’s a mix and a package. Pecco and Enea are riding at a really high level, I would say the best levels of their careers, and they have a very strong bike with strong teams and a lot of information. This is MotoGP, Ducati, Enea and Pecco are doing a great job and the results are there. But we’re doing a good job because I’m just seven points form Pecco so it means with Aprilia we’re doing a super job and I’m extremely proud and happy.”
Looking ahead in the title fight:
“I never lost faith, I always believed, even on the most difficult weekends like Silverstone and Austria, I tried to not finish 15th, or crash, not 10th, always in the top five or six. This is what makes me proud of the championship I’m doing. I have 200 points because on bad days I was able to get really good results, so now I’m just trying to enjoy it and do the same in the next races. I know it’s not gonna be easy because now we’re going to completely different circuits far from Europe and these two guys next to me are very, very strong… but let’s play!”
After early drama for habitual top Yamaha Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), and two Ducatis battling for the win, the door of possibility was suddenly open for Ducati to retain the Constructors’ crown impressively early in the season, and that they did. With Bastianini’s win putting another 25 points towards the count, the Borgo Panigale factory are the 2022 Champions with five races remaining!
Pedro Acosta (51). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Acosta aces MotorLand for second rookie Moto2™ win
The Red Bull KTM Ajo rookie puts in another showcase, with Canet second and Fernandez completing the podium
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Pedro Acosta was back on top at the Gran Premio Animoca Brands de Aragon, picking up his second Moto2™ win and the first since breaking his left femur in a training accident in June. Flexbox HP40 rider Aron Canet took the chequered flag 2.612 seconds back in second, just edging out Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – but the number 37 extended his lead by three points as Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) took fourth.
At the start, Fernandez got the jump from pole position and led the Shimoku GASGAS Aspar Team duo of Jake Dixon and Albert Arenas through the opening corners. San Marino GP winner Alonso Lopez (CAG Speed Up) launched well, but then drama hit as he crashed out and mayhem unfolded behind as Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) hit the deck as well, with a number of other riders forced into avoiding action too.
At the front, as Dixon gave chase to Fernandez, Canet passed Arenas on Lap 1, and so did Acosta at the start of Lap 2. Hopes of a fightback were dashed just half a lap later when Arenas crashed at Turn 12 – with both Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) and Jeremy Alcoba (Liqui Moly Intact GP) joining him on the floor there just moments later in a separate incident.
Fernandez had pulled a second clear of Dixon on Lap 3 as Canet and Acosta traded third position amongst themselves. In a flash, Dixon dropped from second to fifth on Lap 4 when Acosta went past at Turn 12, Canet at Turn 14, and Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) through the sweeping Turn 16/Turn 17 left-hander. Ogura – who started eighth – tried to join the party on Lap 6 at Turn 1, and while he could not make the move stick at that point in time, the Japanese rider was not going to let the Briton off the hook.
Meanwhile, Acosta was catching Fernandez, reducing the margin to less than a second on Lap 7. Even when he ran wide exiting the Reverse Corkscrew on Lap 8 and gifted second place to Canet, they were still catching the pole-sitter. Acosta made up for his error by re-passing Canet at the end of Lap 9, but by then both were on the tail of Fernandez.
On Lap 10, Acosta blazed past his team-mate Fernandez as they ran up the back straight, while it was Arbolino’s Turn to get into a battle with Canet over third . That would ultimately be resolved when ‘Tiger Tony’ ran wide through the Turn 16/Turn 17 sweeper on Lap 11 and let Canet back through.
Acosta was a full second clear of Fernandez on Lap 14, and two seconds up on the World Championship leader after just three laps more, but Canet was stalking Fernandez. He made his move into the Reverse Corkscrew on Lap 19, and never looked back. Forward of him, however, was three seconds’ worth of fresh air with just a handful of kilometres remaining and that was the podium places settled.
Far from settled was the battle for fourth. Ogura had finally passed Dixon for good at Turn 16 back on Lap 15, and set about throwing down the challenge to Arbolino. They chopped and changed position in the final laps, with Ogura going down the inside yet again at Turn 12 on Lap 21. As he did so, Dixon threw away sixth when he slid out, but the Ogura-Arbolino duel raged on. Into the Turn 16/Turn 17 left-hander at the end of the lap, the Italian sent his Marc VDS entry down the inside but could not make the move stick and had to settle for fifth, just 0.067 seconds behind the Japanese rider.
Sixth went to Fermin Aldeguer (CAG Speed Up), from Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), Jorge Navarro (Flexbox HP40), Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team), and Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), the latter of whom inherited 10th as a result of Dixon’s late spill. The rest of the points finishers, from 11th onwards, were Cameron Beaubier (American Racing), Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Italtrans Racing Team), Barry Baltus (RW Racing GP), Alessandro Zaccone (Gresini Racing Moto2™), and Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team).
Fernandez might have missed out on victory, but a MotoGP™ contract to ride for GASGAS Factory Racing, a Moto2™ pole position, and a podium which built his World Championship lead is not bad. His margin over Ogura is now seven points, with Canet third at another 30 points behind. Vietti faded further into fourth, with the Italian’s deficit blowing out to 52 points with just five rounds to go.
The next of those is the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, which takes place at Mobility Resort Motegi just next weekend – so make sure to come back for more!
Pedro Acosta: “Finally! Finally, after the injury we’re here. Austria wasn’t so bad, Misano was more difficult but here, when I started I said ‘ah, we can do it’. I can only thank the team, my girlfriend who is here, and all the people who support me every day.
“The difference today was to manage the tyre, maybe. Augusto was super strong in the beginning and it was a bit difficult but I stayed calm, thanks to the team. They give me the comfort to say ‘ok, if today isn’t the day, it isn’t the day’. We have to be calm and not be so good on the good days and not so bad on the bad days.
“At the beginning of the season everyone was like ‘ah, Pedro Acosta will be the Moto2 World Champion’, you know? And maybe that wasn’t the best way to start the season. Ok the first races weren’t so bad, then some zeros in a row and we made a drop. But after Le Mans where we were fast, and Mugello, I think we started on a good way. From Mugello to here we finished all the races I’ve ridden in the top six. The team help me to be calm, more than in my style. To be calm and say ‘if today isn’t the day, it’s not the day, and nothing happens. We’re here to learn and don’t have to do anything crazy to try to win. If today we have to finish fifth, we finish fifth, no problem’. This is maybe the key the team gave me to be calm.”
Izan Guevara (28). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Masterclass! Guevara outpaces Sasaki to increase his gap at the top
The number 28 is undefeated on home turf after another masterclass at MotorLand – giving him a 33 point lead
Izan Guevara (Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team) remains undefeated on home turf in 2022 after the Championship leader put in an imperious performance at MotorLand Aragon. With only Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) able to stay in the same postcode, it became a duel for the win before Guevara pulled clear for those valuable 25 points and a 33 point lead. Sasaki took second and another MotorLand podium, moving him closer to the top three overall, with Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completing the rostrum for his first ever Grand Prix podium.
Off the line it was as-you-were at the front, with Guevara leading Sasaki and Holgado away and the trio building a gap, too. John McPhee (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) was on the charge leading a chasing quintet, along with Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) and Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing), before another gap back to a group that included Sergio Garcia (Autosolar GASGAS Aspar Team) and Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing).
By 10 to go, the top trio pounded on but the group behind had closed up. Öncü was leading it but continuing to lose ground, with David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) next up and starting to make some moves. That gaggle was a classic freight train battle, but one of Muñoz’ moves was deemed too much as he got a Long Lap for a move making contact with Adrian Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Tech3) a few laps later.
Meanwhile at the front, Guevara and Sasaki had got the hammer down. Holgado started to lose touch with the duo as the gap grew to over a second and then beyond that, with the fight for the win quickly becoming a duel.
Onto the last lap though, Guevara had some time in hand, turning the screw even further to pull out a few tenths. The last final kilometers of racing saw Sasaki shadow the number 28 but find no answer for his pace, leaving Guevara to cross the line with just under a second of advantage for an imperious win – and a big advantage in the standings. Sasaki takes second and gains points on all his key rivals except the rider just ahead, with Holgado putting in an impressive ride to take his first ever GP podium in third.
Öncü was able to pull away from the freight train fight to take a comfortable fourth, leaving the battle behind to get decided on the drag to the line. Despite getting pushed off earlier in the race by Muñoz, Fernandez came back to take fifth place and his best ever result, just ahead of Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) as the rookie likewise took his best finish. Muñoz was just a tenth behind them, with Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in eighth, Carlos Tatay (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) and McPhee completing the top ten.
Xavier Artigas (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) pipped Suzuki to P11, with Garcia struggling in the latter stages to move forward and the former points leader finishing the race in P13 – just ahead of Foggia after tough day for two key protagonists in the fight for the crown.
The final point went to Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) despite a Long Lap for track limits.
Guevara now leads the field to Motegi with a 33-point lead as Garcia and Foggia are left licking their wounds after a tough start to the triple-header. Sasaki moves up to 13 behind Foggia before his first race on home soil since 2019, and with his experience that could prove crucial too. Tune in for more next weekend!
Izan Guevara: “Incredible race for me, pole helped me for this race. In the first moments I pushed, with my pace alone from Practice… it was an incredible race, incredible work with my team, I lead the Championship with 33 points to Sergio… amazing race and I enjoyed it! Now I’m going to new tracks for me and I’ll push in these circuits!”
A “press release” is promotional text issued by a rider, team, company or organization to inform
the public about an event, product, or service from the issuer’s own point of view, and if deemed
to have news value, may be placed on roadracingworld.com as a service to our readers.
A press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers. When a post is labeled with the words “press release”, it means that Roadracingworld.com is not responsible for its content and that Roadracingworld.com makes no guarantee that it is accurate. Not all press releases are posted and Roadracingworld.com may reject press releases if the content is too heavy on commercial promotion with little or no news value or if the press release contains obvious errors.
Accessibility
Accessibility modes
Epilepsy Safe Mode
Dampens color and removes blinks
This mode enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode
Improves website's visuals
This mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode
Helps to focus on specific content
This mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode
Reduces distractions and improve focus
This mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode
Allows using the site with your screen-reader
This mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Online Dictionary
Readable Experience
Content Scaling
Default
Text Magnifier
Readable Font
Dyslexia Friendly
Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Font Sizing
Default
Line Height
Default
Letter Spacing
Default
Left Aligned
Center Aligned
Right Aligned
Visually Pleasing Experience
Dark Contrast
Light Contrast
Monochrome
High Contrast
High Saturation
Low Saturation
Adjust Text Colors
Adjust Title Colors
Adjust Background Colors
Easy Orientation
Mute Sounds
Hide Images
Hide Emoji
Reading Guide
Stop Animations
Reading Mask
Highlight Hover
Highlight Focus
Big Dark Cursor
Big Light Cursor
Cognitive Reading
Virtual Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Voice Navigation
Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
November 14, 2026
Compliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience,
regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible
to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific
disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML,
adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive
a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements,
alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
