Editorial Note: Danilo Petrucci, who was recently confirmed to ride for the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC team in the 2022 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, will also be testing at Algarve International Circuit this week. Petrucci will ride a factory Ducati Panigale V4 R Superbike on MotoAmerica-spec Dunlop slicks.
Important Portimao Test Next Up For KRT
KRT’s WorldSBK pairing of Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes are eager to get back into testing action at the undulating Autodromo Internacional do Algarve for a two-day track session on 8 and 9 February.
After two winter tests at the Spanish circuit of Jerez, utilising new parts and settings for the 2022 Ninja ZX-10RR, the forthcoming on-track action in Portugal will be useful to make comparisons with all the data gathered so far at a very different circuit design.
After posting some astounding lap times, despite only riding for half a day in the previous Jerez test in January, six times world champion Rea has already demonstrated his sheer pace on the 2022 Ninja ZX-10RR. He also had the opportunity to complete a long run on which delivered pleasing results and valuable information to his team; information which has already been fed back to the KMC engineers in Japan.
Lowes has been working hard on his physical conditioning after a 2021 season affected by injury throughout. Like Rea, he has also found the two post-2021 season winter tests held so far confidence-building and useful in terms of settling on a final direction for race set-up in 2022.
The 4.592km long Algarve circuit – commonly know as Portimao – is a very popular testing and racing venue and features some of the most dramatic changes of incline and highest numbers of blind corner entries of any circuit on the WorldSBK calendar. It is scheduled as the ninth round of the forthcoming season, between 7-9 October.
After this Portimao test the team should have all the data in requires to make any adjustments and improvements before the next KRT test at Montmelo in Catalunya on March 25 and 26.
Jonathan Rea testing at Jerez in January. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “It is nice to get back on the bike, especially at Portimao, which a track I enjoy. After our shakedown test recently in Jerez our biggest target is to reconfirm the positive items we have tested during December and January. That will give us good info, because if we can confirm these items at a couple of circuits, it means we are on the right way. The idea is just to keep building the package. I feel we have definitely improved the bike since last year. I was able to make a long run in Jerez and we found some positives with the bike and my riding style, so it is important to try and maybe focus on getting some information on how the tyres behave and the new items after many laps. Hopefully the weather is consistent and we can continue to build the package to start the season. There will also be more bikes on track at Portimao and a lot of the key manufacturers will be there testing. This is the first real test where everyone is together – which is always nice to draw some comparisons.”
Alex Lowes testing at Jerez in January. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Alex Lowes, stated: “The recent Jerez test for me was very much a technical test, ticking off new parts. My crew chief Marcel is very technical so I had new stuff to try – just trying to analyse what is definitely better. Portimao is a track that I have always had a good feeling with on the Kawasaki and we have a good base set-up with our 2021 bike. So, to compare new parts will be quite good, because we already have a good feeling. If we can improve that with the new stuff then it should set us up well for the year. Trying stuff at two different tracks means that if it is positive at both tracks then you are a lot more confident committing to that base set-up going into a new season. It is going to be a busy test! I would like to ride as much as possible just to get back into it. I have been working really hard on my physical condition since the end of the season. That has been the biggest focus of mine because I know if I am going to be healthy it is going to make the biggest difference, no matter what changes we make on the bike. We will make a plan with Marcel in terms of how many days we are going to ride. After this test we have a big break so we are really going to have to be clear with the feedback to all the guys in Japan, and to all the engineers within the teams, so we can work hard in the break before the Montmelo test at the end of March. Portimao will be an important test and I am looking forward to getting out and seeing where we are compared to a few of our rivals.”
Guim Roda, KRT Team Manager, stated: “Initially we didn’t have a plan to test in Portimao, because we were considering to make a test in the middle of the year. But, because we had a few points to check on the bike, we would like to compare them on different tracks. Portimao and Jerez are quite different. Also, we have a gap of one month to keep working before the next Montmelo test, ten days before the first race of the year. So, we considered this opportunity at Portimao was a good point to test again. So we joined with Ducati, who had rented the track, to make this test. For us, this is a kind of continuation of the items we tested at Jerez, to double check and confirm the direction of the bike set-up and the performance of the items we have received so far. We will do this so that we can have the best possible bike set-up, in combination with the riders.”
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Yamaha Outlines Test Plan Ahead of 2022 WorldSBK Season
Pata Yamaha’s garage in Portugal. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK’s pre-season preparations get underway this week at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, serving as the first of four tests for reigning WorldSBK Champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and last year’s rookie sensation Andrea Locatelli to gear up for the 2022 FIM Superbike World Championship.
Returning to the track for the first time since claiming the WorldSBK “Triple Crown” in Indonesia, the team is unloading its Yamaha R1 WorldSBK bikes in Portugal today to set up for two days of running on 8-9 February. Acting as a first shakedown for the upcoming season, the Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK squad and Yamaha staff will evaluate 2022 technical updates, both mechanical and electronic, with their focus on development confirmations rather than outright performance.
Razgatlıoğlu and Locatelli will then be back in action at a private MotorLand Aragon test on 3-4 March, alongside the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team who will complete their first outing of 2022 with riders Garrett Gerloff and Kohta Nozane.
The target for Aragon will be to re-confirm the development plan completed over the winter and find a strong base set-up at a track that hasn’t often played to the Yamaha R1 WorldSBK’s strengths. It will also be a key opportunity for “rookie-no-more” Locatelli to ride at Aragon again, this time with a lot more experience, four podiums and a plethora of top-five results since his debut at the circuit in 2021.
March weather can be unpredictable in the Teruel region, so Misano (16-17 March), where GRT Yamaha is set to continue its pre-season preparations, has also been penciled in as a back-up option for the championship-winning Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK crew.
Then it’s back to Spain to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where both Yamaha teams will officially unveil their colours for the 2022 season. Fans will also be excited to see Razgatlıoğlu take to the track with the coveted #1 on his Yamaha R1 WorldSBK for the first time from 25-26 March! But most importantly, both teams will look to finalise their full race packages with just a week to spare prior to the WorldSBK Official Test at Aragon on 4-5 April. These two tests will also give Yamaha a chance to square up the competition before the first races of the season.
Finally, Yamaha and the Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK team will begin its much-awaited title defense campaign at the opening round of the 2022 FIM Superbike World Championship at MotorLand Aragon from 8-10 April.
Pre-Season Test Dates:
Portimão – 8-9 February (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK only)
Aragon – 3-4 March
Misano – 16-17 March (GRT Yamaha only – back-up option for Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK)
In 2008, Ryan Fleming recognized that youth motorcycle road racing in the U.S. was going through a seriously bad period and decided to do something about it. He founded NJminiGP and trademarked the name MiniGP. That phrase now represents a limited liability company based in New Jersey. Under that company’s umbrella, franchisees currently operate six mini road racing organizations in the eastern United States.
The NJminiGP logo. Used with permission.
Imagine Fleming’s surprise when the FIM and Dorna Sports, owners of the commercial rights to the MotoGP and Superbike World Championships, announced in early 2021 the establishment of the FIM MiniGP World Series, with national series operating around the world. Fleming believes that Dorna’s name for its organization infringes on his company’s trademark.
The FIM MiniGP World Series logo.
“We have spent over a decade working to build a program that this sport is in dire need of,” Fleming told Roadracing World. “We have worked to create a sustainable instructional and developmental program that supplies top talent for the highest level of motorcycle racing. We have franchised this product up and down the East Coast successfully. Our name is everything that we are. We can’t lose our name. It’s who we are.”
Roadracing World asked Dorna in early December to respond to allegations that it was violating the MiniGP trademark. To date, Dorna has not responded.
Trademark law is a relatively well-settled area of jurisprudence. There are tests that are applied by a finder of fact to determine whether a trademark has been infringed upon. The United States Patent and Trademark Office grants U.S. patents and registers trademarks. According to that office, there are two key factors that determine whether a trademark infringement has occurred.
The first is the degree of similarity between the marks in question. Obviously, both the U.S.-based organization and Dorna use the word “mini” and the abbreviation “GP” run together as one word. The second key factor is the similarity between what is being advertised and marketed. Or, as the Patent and Trademark Office states, “whether the parties’ goods and/or services are sufficiently related that consumers are likely to assume (mistakenly) that they come from a common source.” Obviously, both the New Jersey organization and the FIM organization operate mini road racing series.
Minor factors a court may consider, according to the patent office, include:
How and where the parties’ goods or services are advertised, marketed, and sold. MotoAmerica’s Mini Cup series is part of the FIM MiniGP World Series, and in 2021 races were held on the East Coast of the U.S., in the same geographic area where the U.S.-based MiniGP organizations operate.
The range of prospective purchasers of the goods or services. The geographic areas of MotoAmerica Mini Cup/FIM MiniGP World Series and the New Jersey organization clearly overlap, meaning that riders who participate in one could, geographically at least, participate in the other. And in the world of the Internet, news releases aren’t posted “anywhere,” but exist as part of the World Wide Web, meaning that the potential audience of readers is literally, well, world-wide.
Whether there is any evidence of actual confusion caused by the allegedly infringing mark.
The defendant’s intent in adopting its mark.
The strength of the plaintiff’s mark. This is something that Fleming’s organization has worked to protect and grow over the years.
“Countless organizations have attempted to operate under our name, hoping to grab on to the coattails of our success,” Fleming says. “Most times a simple request to cease and desist gets them to stop utilizing the MiniGP name. In some cases, it took multiple emails and phone calls.
“We’ve contacted social media outlets to assist in taking down company pages that infringe on our trademark successfully. In some cases, organizations have continued to use our name based on a technicality like spelling (out the words ‘Grand Prix’).”
There are areas where there are differences, although it would be up to a finder of fact to determine whether they are significant.
First, while there is similarity between the marks in question, they are clearly not identical. The U.S. company has an established format for the name, with the geographic region first and the “GP” at the end. For example, the South Florida franchise is identified as SFLminiGP. Dorna’s phrase starts with the sanctioning body – FIM – and ends with the geographic identifier. For the U.S., the series is officially known as the FIM MiniGP North America Championship. In addition, the logos for the series look nothing alike. However, it is hard to get around the fact that the phrase “MiniGP” is at the core of both names.
Second, on a detailed level, the series are very different. The age requirements for riders are different. The FIM series requires a spec motorcycle (an Ohvale GP-0 160) and spec Pirelli tires. The New Jersey operation caters to a much wider variety of machines, tires, and rider ages. The products, in other words, have significant differences. A machine, rider, and tires that are all legal in the U.S.-based series may not be allowed into the FIM events. However, again, it is hard to ignore that both are youth-based motorcycle road racing series.
The range of prospective customers. Currently, the FIM MiniGP World Series operates in numerous countries, and it would be hard to argue that riders in those countries would confuse the FIM operation with the New Jersey-based operation. But in the U.S., the entire population of racers who qualify for the FIM events would be eligible to race with the New Jersey-based organization. Obviously, the prospective customers for each series would be pulled from the same pool in the eastern U.S.
From a common sense viewpoint, it’s hard to believe that a court in the United States would look kindly on what appears to be an international sanctioning body (FIM) and an international racing series promoter (Dorna) simply appropriating an American company’s trademark.
Roadracing World will follow up with any response received from Dorna Sports, and will report on any legal challenges as they develop.
Bridgestone Motorcycle Celebrates the 80th Running of the Daytona 200 With Enhanced Contingency Program
Bridgestone is proud to announce that it is raising its contingency offering for the 2022 Daytona 200 in celebration of the 80th running of the race.
For those riders racing on Bridgestone motorcycle tires, Bridgestone will offer cash prizes starting at $1,500 for the highest non-podium finish and up to $5,000 for a first-place finish.
Thrilled to showcase the performance of its Bridgestone motorcycle tires at an event that has challenged racers for over seven decades.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (February 7, 2022) – Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) today announced its new Daytona 200 Contingency program in celebration of the event’s 80th running. The Daytona 200 will take place on March 10-12, 2022, at Daytona International Speedway, the “World Center of Racing.”
The Daytona 200 has challenged the world’s best motorcycle racers for over seven decades. This year, Bridgestone has raised its contingency offering to support racers riding on Bridgestone motorcycle tires.
For those riders racing on Bridgestone motorcycle tires, Bridgestone is proud to offer:
DAYTONA 200 CONTINGENCY*
First-Place Finish – $5,000
Second-Place Finish – $3,000
Third-Place Finish – $2,000
Highest Non-Podium Finish – $1,500
* For additional information, see your tech inspection representative during race registration.
“The Daytona 200 features some of the best racers in the world, and we want to reward those who ride on Bridgestone,” said Jared Williams, general manager, Bridgestone Motorcycle Tire Business in the United States and Canada. “We can’t wait to be a part of the excitement at the 80th running!”
To find the nearest Bridgestone race tire sub-distributor, call 1-800-828-9143 or email [email protected].
About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:
Bridgestone Americas, Inc. is the U.S.-based subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader in tires and rubber, building on its expertise to provide solutions for safe and sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Bridgestone Americas employs more than 50,000 people across its worldwide operations. Bridgestone offers a diverse product portfolio of premium tires and advanced solutions backed by innovative technologies, improving the way people around the world move, live, work and play.
The Ducati Lenovo Team is ready to embark on its 20th MotoGP season
For the first time in MotoGP, the livery of the factory team’s Desmosedici GP 22 bikes will be in the original “Ducati red” colour
Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding: “The new Ducati Red livery of the Desmosedici GP 22 bikes is a testimony of the ever-closer bond between the bikes we develop for track racing and the ones that every Ducatista can buy”.
Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller, in their second year with the factory Ducati team, aim to clinch the MotoGP World Championship title in 2022
The Ducati Lenovo Team has officially launched its new racing season, presenting the team that will participate in the 2022 MotoGP World Championship, the 20th season for the Borgo Panigale based squad in the premier class. The video has been shared on Ducati and Ducati Corse’s social media platforms and broadcasted simultaneously on the official Ducati and MotoGP websites and YouTube channels.
In the video, the voice narrating is that of passion which, combined with talent, skill, dedication and determination, is one of the secret ingredients of the team that has been flying the Italian flag proudly at circuits around the world for 20 years. In addition, the video also retraces last year’s best moments, like the teams’ and manufacturers’ titles victories and the successes achieved by Francesco Bagnaia (2021 MotoGP runner-up with nine podiums and four wins) and Jack Miller (fourth in the Championship last year with five podiums including two wins). Both riders will continue to wear the colours of the factory Ducati team in 2022 for the second consecutive season.
The video also shows the behind-the-scenes images of the painting process of the 2022 bikes fairings, which will be in a new shade this year. For the first time since joining the MotoGP grid, the Desmosedici GP machines will be painted in the iconic “Ducati red”, the same colour that distinguishes the production bikes made by the Borgo Panigale based manufacturer. The new liveries were unveiled on 31st January, ahead of the bikes’ debut on the track, which took place on 5th and 6th February during the pre-season testing in Malaysia.
In 2022, the Ducati Lenovo Team will continue to benefit from the valuable support of its title partner Lenovo, a global technology leader in devices, services, infrastructure and solutions. Thanks to its smarter technologies, Lenovo has been fundamental in enabling the team to achieve last season’s success. In 2022, Lenovo will continue to work closely with the Ducati Corse technical staff to consolidate and advance the “Remote Garage” project that allows engineers to receive data from the bike in real-time and interact with the garage while working remotely.
After Sepang, the Ducati Lenovo Team riders will return to the track from 11th-13th February for three days of testing at the brand new Mandalika Street Circuit in Lombok (Indonesia). The first race of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship, which now sees twenty-one GPs confirmed, will be held from 4th-6th March – as usual at night – at the Losail International Circuit in Doha (Qatar).
Claudio Domenicali (CEO of Ducati Motor Holding)
“There is great excitement for the start of this MotoGP season. After winning our second consecutive Constructors’ World Title, the desire to put ourselves to the test is great. Last season, we decided to focus on a new strategy that has given us great satisfaction, with young and energetic riders who have matured this year, strengthened by the experience gained, and ready to be even more competitive. Two more of our bikes will be added in 2022, bringing the number of Ducati bikes on track worldwide to eight. For the first time in our MotoGP history, the factory team’s Desmosedici GP bikes will have a new Ducati red livery, the same colour as the bikes we sell to our passionate customers. It is a sign and testimony of the ever-closer bond between the bikes we develop for racing and those that every Ducatista can buy. Lenovo is also by our side. In addition to being the title partner of the factory team, it is also an important technology partner with whom we have achieved important goals such as speeding up data collection and analysis that have allowed us to improve decision-making processes on the track. We can’t wait for 6th March to start the season in Qatar and be back cheering all together with the Ducatisti #ForzaDucati!”
Luigi Dall’Igna (General Manager of Ducati Corse)
“We are thrilled to start this new season. In 2021, we achieved important goals by winning our third constructors’ title, our second teams’ title and closing the riders’ Championship in second place with Francesco Bagnaia. Pecco grew a lot during the last Grands Prix of last year, scoring four wins and nine podiums. We are sure that he will be one of the main contenders in the Championship this season. Alongside him will be Jack Miller, who showed his talent on several occasions last year, scoring five podiums, including two thrilling victories, and who, like Pecco, has the potential to challenge for the title. It will not be easy, and we know that the fight in the Championship will be even fiercer. There are several strong riders, and the other manufacturers have certainly worked during the winter to make their package even more competitive. However, we have also been working hard over the past few months to give Pecco and Jack a Desmosedici GP 22 bike that will allow them to be main contenders in every race and any condition. It’s going to be a very challenging season with twenty-one Grands Prix currently confirmed, but we’re ready and looking forward to getting on track to reap the benefits of our hard work.”
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team)
“I’m happy for the start of this new season. We’ve ended 2021 on a high, and I hope to continue 2022 from where we left off last year. My team and I have grown a lot since then. I feel good with my team, and I’m sure that we can do great things together. The Desmosedici GP in this new colour is even more beautiful, and I can’t wait to get back to racing with it. The goal for this season will be, as always, to constantly improve and be competitive in every race. We’ll aim to bring the MotoGP riders’ title, as well as the teams’ and manufacturers’ titles, back to Borgo Panigale”.
Jack Miller (#43 Ducati Lenovo Team)
“The Championship is finally about to start, and I feel ready more than ever to face this new season. Having another year of experience in MotoGP under my belt definitely makes me feel stronger, and I feel I have improved a lot, both physically and mentally, compared to 2021. It will be my second year with the Ducati Lenovo Team, a group of people who are really passionate about motorsports, and I feel lucky to be part of it. Being a factory Ducati rider is a source of pride, and it means having the support of many fans, not only in Italy but also all over the world. I can’t wait for March and be able to head out on track for the first race of the year in Qatar!”
2022 KTM 890 DUKE R – THE SUPER SCALPEL GETS A SHARP NEW LOOK
The KTM 890 DUKE R slices into the new model year with the all-new Atlantic Blue base color lifted directly from its big brother, the KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R EVO.
Cutting up chicanes since 2020, the KTM 890 DUKE R has proven itself to be the undisputed champion in the middleweight segment. Boasting impressive power and torque figures, it represents a serious option for race-centric riders looking for agility, punch and poise.
A 2022-model KTM 890 Duke R. Photo by Philip Platzer, courtesy KTM.
The KTM 890 DUKE R is dubbed THE SUPER SCALPEL because of its lightning-fast steering geometry. Thanks to the load-bearing design of its tubular steel chassis and adjustable WP APEX suspension, it remains a no-compromise middleweight naked bike, equally at home on twisty mountain passes as it is on the racetrack, delivering more power, more torque and more intense asphalt-carving agility than any other parallel twin in the segment.
While its forward momentum and agility are exemplary, the KTM 890 DUKE R also excels when slowing down. Front monoblock Brembo Stylema calipers grabbing meaty 320 mm discs on the front, along with an adjustable Brembo MCS master cylinder, mean that THE SUPER SCALPEL stops as quickly and precisely as it attacks apexes. A set of sticky Michelin Power Cup 2 tires provides reliable grip on all asphalt surfaces in a range of weather conditions.
A 2022-model KTM 890 Duke R. Photo by Philip Platzer, courtesy KTM.
In terms of electronic wizardry, the KTM 890 DUKE R makes use of Cornering ABS and Cornering MTC (Motorcycle Traction Control) with a 6D lean angle sensor that not only detects the side-to-side (roll) and forward and backward (pitch) movements of the bike, but also the rotation of the bike on its vertical axis (yaw). This translates into comprehensive traction control management, accomplished by the use of a wheel slip control sensor and a pitch angle control sensor.
A selection of ride modes – namely RAIN, STREET, SPORT and optional TRACK mode – ensure full rider customization, nine levels of adjustable traction control slip, anti-wheelie on/off and the additional throttle control setting.
The biggest difference is obvious: the KTM 890 DUKE R now features a premium hue of matte paint. Called ‘Atlantic Blue’, the color is reminiscent of the palette used on the KTM RC16 GP racer and recently the KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R EVO, adding to THE SUPER SCALPEL’s READY TO RACE demeanor. Typical of all KTM ‘R’ models, the signature orange frame continues to provide the perfect contrast of colors, while strengthening its READY TO RACE presence.
With a new look to match its performance and character, the KTM 890 DUKE R once again promises to be a track-ready machine you’ll want to ride every day.
As always, a full range of specially created KTM PowerParts has been developed to personalize and further intensify your ride. A range of KTM PowerWear ensures the rider gets the most out of themself and boosts their READY TO RACE performance.
The 2022 KTM 890 DUKE R will arrive on authorized KTM dealer floors from February 2022 onwards. For more information, visit KTM.COM.
Escalante and Lewis Bring Championship Experience to Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
BREA, Calif., February 7, 2022 — Suzuki Motor USA, LLC announces the return of Team Hammer as its official road racing partner for the 2022 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Series. Team Hammer will field premier Superbike, Supersport, and Stock 1000 class athletes in 2022, all on Suzuki GSX-Rs. The team welcomes new 2022 title sponsor Vision Wheel and will compete as Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki.
Riding for Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki in 2022 will be 2020 MotoAmerica Supersport champion Richie Escalante, and 2021 Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup champion Jake Lewis in Superbike. Competing in the Superport class will be Sam Lochoff and Liam Grant, and Wyatt Farris will do battle for the team in Stock 1000.
Joining the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Superbike team is 2020 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion Richie Escalante. Hailing from Tizayuca, Mexico, Escalante earned himself a spot on the team’s GSX-R1000R Superbike with his impressive 2021 results. Escalante finished a strong runner-up to Team Hammer in the 2021 Supersport Championship with multiple victories and consistent podiums. Escalante looks to contend for the championship and strives towards the top of the field for the 2022 season.
“First off, I am very happy to work with Team Hammer, so thanks to (team owners) John and Chris Ulrich for this opportunity,” said Escalante. “My goal is to contend for the Superbike championship, and I am ready to start working towards this goal. I am eager to apply my skills to the Superbike class. I am also excited to see how my aggressive style works on the Suzuki. I like to push hard and slide under braking and the Suzuki GSX-R will be a great bike for my riding style.”
Veteran road racer Jake Lewis rejoins Team Hammer on a Suzuki Superbike for 2022. Lewis is the reigning Stock 1000 champion and won the MotoAmerica Superbike Cup on a Team Hammer-built Altus Racing GSX-R1000R in 2021. “I’m so excited to be back with Team Hammer, this year on a Superbike. I couldn’t be more pleased,” said Lewis.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki retains ultra-fast South African Sam Lochoff in Supersport for 2022. Lochoff looks to continue to build on the momentum of his spectacular rookie Supersport campaign and fight once more for this season’s MotoAmerica Supersport title aboard a Suzuki GSX-R.
Joining the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Supersport team is Liam Grant. A Boulder, Colorado native, Grant has advanced quickly through the ranks, kicking off his road racing career just five years ago. After establishing himself as a championship-winner at the club level with the Chuckwalla Valley Motorcycle Association and Utah Sport Bike Association, the fast-rising Grant made his MotoAmerica debut in 2019. The second-generation racer then finished his first full MotoAmerica campaign in 2020 ranked fifth in Junior Cup competition – scoring a pole and four top-fives along the way – before stepping up to Supersport in 2021.
“I’m really excited for this opportunity, and first I want to thank Team Hammer and Suzuki for offering me this chance,” Grant said. “We know the bike is very good and the team has had a lot of success. One thing for sure is that I will be giving it my all this season. I’ve been training and working very hard in the gym to be ready. The goal is to be competitive and earn some strong results this year while I learn and improve. I’m really happy.”
Wyatt Farris returns to the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team for 2022 competing in the Stock 1000. With very consistent finishes in 2021, the veteran Farris rounds out a strong team of athletes, all focused on class-leading race performances.
ABOUT SUZUKI
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automotive Parts, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2022 season will mark Team Hammer’s 42nd consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 128 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 332 times and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport.) The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol and won four F-USA Championships.
ABOUT VISION WHEEL
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
MotoAmerica racer and race technician Jason Aguilar, age 25, is on life support in a Southern California hospital after suffering a serious crash while riding his mountain bike on Saturday, February 5.
Aguilar was with friends, who immediately called for help, and he was airlifted to Providence Mission Hospital, in Mission Viejo, California.
“He was rushed into surgery to relieve bleeding in his brain,” Bob Aguilar, Jason’s father posted on Facebook February 6. “While the surgery was successful in stopping the bleeding, he went without oxygen to his brain for too long before the surgery. As a result of the lack of oxygen, he suffered catastrophic brain damage that is irreversible.
“Jason is an organ donor, so the hospital is making arrangements for (the) donation of his organs and for recipients of those organs. Once that is complete, Jason will be taken off life support. We hope that Jason will live on in your memories and ours, and that the donation of his organs will allow his memory to live on in others.”
Jason Aguilar started road racing and winning at a young age. He won mini road racing Championships with M1GP and SCminiGP before winning more club racing titles with MotoWestGP and WERA.
In 2014, then-17-year-old Aguilar took third-place in AMA Pro Supersport Race Two at Road America and finished sixth in that Championship. In 2015, Aguilar got another podium finish in MotoAmerica Superstock 600 and reached the podium three more times in 2016.
In 2017, Aguilar, riding a Yamaha for his own team, won six races and the MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Championship.
Aguilar stepped up to the MotoAmerica Supersport class, and riding for his own team again, he finished fourth in the 2020 Championship with three podiums and a total of 11 top-five finishes.
The Californian had planned to move up to the MotoAmerica Superbike class in 2021, but a sponsor backed out at the last minute, forcing him to abandon all plans of racing that season.
When not racing, Aguilar worked full-time as a technician for FTECU and sometimes as a crew chief for other MotoAmerica racers. He was an avid mountain biker, and he had recently moved in with his girlfriend Mehgan McDonald with their dog Finn. He had planned on returning to MotoAmerica racing full-time in 2022.
“It is likely he will be taken off life support tomorrow (February 8),” Bob Aguilar wrote in a message to Roadracingworld.com. “In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer that donations be made to the Roadracing World Action Fund to help prevent others from severe injury.”
Editorial Notes: The all-time lap record at Sepang International Circuit is 1:58.303 set by Fabio Quartararo in 2019, the last time MotoGP raced at Sepang. Alex Rins and Maverick Vinales turned identical best lap times, 1:58.261, on Sunday, but Rins was listed higher because he did his lap time before Vinales.
FIM MotoGP World Championship Test
Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia
February 6, 2022
Day Two Lap Times (all on Michelin tires):
Enea Bastianini, Italy (Ducati), 1:58.131
Aleix Espargaro, Spain (Aprilia), 1:58.157
Jorge Martin, Spain (Ducati), 1:58.243
Alex Rins, Spain (Suzuki), 1:58.261
Maverick Vinales, Spain (Aprilia), 1:58.261
Francesco Bagnaia, Italy (Ducati), 1:58.265
Fabio Quartararo, France (Yamaha), 1:58.313
Marc Marquez, Spain (Honda), 1:58.332
Johann Zarco, France (Ducati), 1:58.413
Pol Espargaro, Spain (Honda), 1:58.420
Luca Marini, Italy (Ducati), 1:58.430
Joan Mir, Spain (Suzuki), 1:58.529
Takaaki Nakagami, Japan (Honda), 1:58.607
Jack Miller, Australia (Ducati), 1:58.645
Miguel Oliveira, Portugal (KTM), 1:58.701
Marco Bezzecchi, Italy (Ducati), 1:58.710
Alex Marquez, Spain (Honda), 1:58.800
Brad Binder, South Africa (KTM), 1:59.016
Raul Fernandez, Spain (KTM), 1:59.180
Fabio Di Giannantonio, Italy (Ducati), 1:59.197
Cal Crutchlow, UK (Yamaha), 1:59.262*
Andrea Dovizioso, Italy (Yamaha), 1:59.284
Remy Gardner, Australia (KTM), 1:59.348
Franco Morbidelli, Italy (Yamaha), 1:59.365
Darryn Binder, South Africa (Yamaha), 1:59.857
Sylvain Guintoli, France (Suzuki), 1:59.996*
Takuya Tsuda, Japan (Suzuki), 2:05.678*
*=test rider
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
#SepangTest: Bastianini hits back with fastest ever lap of Sepang
The ‘Beast’ bests Aprilia on Day 2, with 20 riders within a second on Sunday
Sunday, 06 February 2022
Enea Bastianini (23). Photo courtesy Dorna.
The two-day Official MotoGP™ Sepang Test concluded on Sunday, and with a new searing fastest ever lap of the venue. Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), on only his second day riding a MotoGP™ bike at Sepang International Circuit, set a scorching 1:58.131 to beat Day 1’s quickest rider Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) by just 0.026 – and the two were both under the previous fastest lap of the track. We saw 20 riders within 1.066 by the end of play, with Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) third quickest and only 0.112 off the top.
However, heavy afternoon rain did disrupt the action. Some riders ventured out in the wet conditions, but as expected, the timing screens remained unchanged from the early flurry of rapid laps.
DUCATI
Francesco Bagnaia (63). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Bastianini was the top Ducati on Day 2 – on the GP21 – as the ‘Beast’ hit back to topple Aprilia’s Saturday dominance. Martin, the rider who duelled and beat Bastianini in the fight for Rookie of the Year last season, leapt up the timesheets too – the Spaniard slotting into third and just 0.112 off the top. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) made a big move up the timesheets into sixth on Sunday, 0.134 off Bastianini, with Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) in ninth. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) was P14.
On rookie watch, Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) came out on top once again, despite a crash. Just over half a second off the fastest ever lap of the track is a feat in itself, and the number 72 ends the test in P16. Teammate Luca Marini also had a good day and was P11 by the end of play. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was P20, the number 49 having missed two days of the Shakedown but still able to get within 1.066 of his teammate’s record-breaker at the top.
MotoGP™ pitlane reporter Simon Crafar reported a concern shared with him by Ducati Lenovo Team Manager Davide Tardozzi: the throttle connection, and rideability. The new engine has made gains in top speed and at Jerez the feedback was all positive, but Sepang has shown there remains margin for improvement. Martin, as he begins his sophomore season, framed that more in terms of still having a big margin to improve the new bike – so pausing the ‘Jaws’ music may prove premature.
The GP22 machines appear to have settled with the new aero and updated air intake, and the updated ride-height device continues to make a splash as Borgo Panigale push the boundaries of innovation.
APRILIA
Maverick Vinales. Photo courtesy Dorna.
After taking a fantastic 1-2 on the opening day, Aprilia Racing end the Sepang Test in P2 and P5 thanks to the efforts of Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales. The new 2022 bike – with updates across the board – has been very well received by both riders. Aleix Espargaro has praised the turning and corner speed improvements, although the Spaniard does remain undecided on which chassis is best.
Technical Director Romano Albesiano explained that Aprilia’s longer runs at the Sepang Test, which included a 12-lap run for Espargaro, have been “to measure the temperature of the working components,” not seeing how fast Espargaro and Viñales can go. Whichever way you look at things, Noale have started 2022 on the front foot. Both Espargaro and Viñales are within 0.130s of Bastianini’s quickest time, so three more days in Mandalika should be enough time to iron out any remaining issues they have before the Qatar GP.
SUZUKI
Joan Mir. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Suzuki confirmed they had “significantly improved the engine”, which was a real key for the Hamamatsu factory as the inline-four machines – Suzuki and Yamaha – look to gain top speed without compromising elsewhere. There was more mixed feedback for aero and chassis updates but plenty that did work, making for some more good news.
Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was the fastest Suzuki once again, slotting into fourth and less than a tenth and a half off the top. 2020 MotoGP™ Champion Joan Mir was P12, still within four tenths of Bastianini as the timesheets were split more often by hundredths and thousandths. Mir also crashed, rider ok.
YAMAHA
Franco Morbidelli (21). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Yamaha’s engine has been a talking point for a few seasons now and after winning the World Championship in 2021, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) wanted more top speed. There has been a small step, but both Quartararo and Team Manager Maio Meregalli explained they expected a bigger improvement, so they’re focusing hard on other areas – mainly aerodynamics – to get the best out of the updated YZR-M1.
“We didn’t make any revolution, we tried to improve the bike we used last year and we mainly focused on aerodynamics, we started to compare two chassis and in my opinion the ‘real test’ will be in Mandalika, where the riders have their speed and confidence back,” said Meregalli to MotoGP™’s Jack Appleyard and Simon Crafar. “There we will spend three days working and testing all the items we’ve tested here. To take a decision on which way we can go is too early, we would prefer to wait in one weeks’ time to have a better overview of what is working better.”
Quartararo’s best time at the end of the test was a 1:58.313, 0.182s down on Bastianini’s effort, but he sounded pleased with his pace. The Frenchman also saved a couple of sets of tyres for the afternoon, but rain put a stop to him heading out to try and go faster. Overall, it was an upbeat Quartararo by the end of the Sepang Test though. His lap time put him in seventh place, with the next best Yamaha down in P22. Andrea Dovizioso (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™ Team) completed 55 laps as he continues his adaptation to the latest-spec Yamaha, with Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and rookie Darryn Binder (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™ Team) 24th and 25th respectively. Test Rider Cal Crutchlow was on track too, and we’ll be seeing more of the British rider in Mandalika.
Darryn Binder was able to get some wet weather laps under his belt in the afternoon on Day 2 as well, and finished 1.7s away from the fastest time at the Test. Very respectable from the South African, who now has three more days to get acquainted with his new bike in Mandalika.
HONDA
Pol Espargaro (44). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Work on the completely new RC213V continued on Day 2 for the HRC quartet of Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda teammate Pol Espargaro, Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), with the number 93 ending the Test as the quickest Honda.
Marc Marquez ended the Test with a 1:58.332 in P8 as the Spaniard got an important 101 laps under his belt overall. The new bike is a “big change” from the previous RC213V and Marc Marquez admitted he needs time to find the limits with the new bike, and at the end of Day 1 he was “very tired”. However, he did feel good with the package. Two crashes on Day 1 didn’t affect his preparations for the new season, and the three days coming up in Indonesia will be vital for the eight-time Champion.
Pol Espargaro was into the top 10 with a 1:58.420 to finish a couple of tenths away from the best pace, with Nakagami and Alex Marquez also in the 1:58 bracket. All three riders have been testing the 2022 RC213V from the get-go in Sepang and the signs are positive from the Japanese manufacturer.
KTM
Miguel Oliveira (88). Photo courtesy Dorna.
For KTM it remained a more muted test on the timesheets, but new Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager Francesco Guidotti said the focus for now, after a tougher 2021, is getting a good base to begin the season, and one from which the Austrian factory can then further develop. Guidotti said they’d had a lot of work to do and plenty of new parts, as well as a lot from 2021 to evaluate better. Some parts were “much better than expected”, and some things “so-so”, according to the Italian.
Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the fastest of the Mattighofen contingent in 15th but still within 0.570 of the fastest ever lap of the track, and Brad Binder was only a few places and a few tenths behind his teammate. On rookie watch, Raul Fernandez (Tech 3 KTM Factory Racing) was right behind Brad Binder and got down to a 1:59.180, 0.164 off the South African. 2021 Moto2™ Champion Remy Gardner, still pushing through the pain barrier after breaking his wrist in training, put in a best lap of 1:59.348.
That’s it from Sepang until the paddock returns later in the season to go racing. Now it’s time to pack up and head for the new Pertamina Mandalika Circuit for the second and final pre-season Official Test, with three days of action on the cards in Indonesia. In the meantime, stay ahead of the game on motogp.com and across social media as we digest everything from the #SepangTest!
More, from a press release issued by Gresini Racing:
#SEPANGTEST DAY2: BASTIANINI ON RECORD PACE, DIGGIA ONE SECOND AWAY
It was surely a positive Sepang test for Team Gresini Racing MotoGP as the Italian squad was among the protagonists in the two-day Malaysian outing that drew to a close today.
Enea Bastianini was simply superb: with only one quick-lap attempt in the morning, he was able to log the quickest-ever lap-time on two wheels at the Sepang International Circuit. A last-turn mistake prevented him from breaking the 1’58s barrier, but it matters very little: the most significant thing was his ability to ‘easily’ put together a ‘qualifying lap’, which was his Achille’s last year.
Fabio Di Giannantonio also did very well, as he finished one second away from his teammate while continuing his learning curve ahead of next week’s test at Lombok’s Mandalika International Circuit. Too bad for the rain that came in the afternoon and took away from Diggia some precious track-time.
1st – ENEA BASTIANINI #23 – (1’58.131s – 25 laps)
“It was very exciting to get back on the bike. We were very quick both yesterday and today: if yesterday we had to shake some rust off, today we worked on speed. Due to the rain we only managed to do one time attack, but it went quite well. We also had a look at our race pace these two days as we made a few set-up changes, and we improved a lot despite starting already from an excellent base. Now we need to test a new track – we will all start from zero and we will work for the race: we want to be quick there, too.”
“These two days have been very important, and we managed to do some significant steps forward towards being competitive. Yesterday things went smooth, while today we experienced some issues, which we were still able to fix with the team. Lap after lap I’m getting to know the bike a little bit better, and at every stop at the garage I’m getting to know the team better. Now we’ll have another three days at the Mandalika circuit, where we’ll work almost exclusively on myself and my riding style. We will also try to understand the tyres better.”
More, from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MOTOGP CONTINUE POSITIVE FEELINGS ON DAY 2 IN SEPANG
Sepang (Malaysia), 6th February 2022
SEPANG OFFICIAL MOTOGP TEST
TEST
Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli‘s second day of testing at the Sepang International Circuit was repeatedly halted by rain. Still, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP teammates put in numerous laps and took 7th and 24th place respectively in today‘s and the combined timesheets.
7th FABIO QUARTARARO 1’58.313 / 54 LAPS
24th FRANCO MORBIDELLI 1’59.365 / 38 LAPS
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP‘s Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli were back on track today at the Sepang International Circuit for a second and final day of testing in Malaysia. They continued to work through a number of different items, taking 7th and 24th place respectively in today‘s and the combined testing rankings.
Quartararo had hoped to get more laps in at the Sepang circuit, but various sudden rain showers altered his schedule. Still, the Frenchman was able to conclude the first official 2022 IRTA test with a good feeling. His best time of 1’58.313s, set in the dry on lap 12 of 54, put him in seventh place, 0.182s from first.
After a solid first day of testing, Morbidelli was motivated to resume his work on getting back the feeling with the bike. He didn’t take long to improve on his time from yesterday, bettering it by 0.742s on only his eighth lap of the day. As with his teammate, rain disrupted the testing plans but he still got some wet laps in. He ended the day in 24th place with a 1.234s margin to the top.
MASSIMO MEREGALLI
TEAM DIRECTOR
First of all, it was great to be back on track. Especially here, after two years. But I have to say that two days of testing, after the riders not having touched the bike for two months, was probably not enough. Luckily, we are now moving on to Indonesia, where for sure the test will be more productive. We spent the first day getting the riders back up to the speed they were on before the winter stop and having them get back their confidence on the bike. This second day was the most important one. It‘s impossible to make a solid decision already, because we need to test all the items at another track. Luckily, we have the Mandalika Test next week. We tried two chassis specs and different aerodynamic items. We are now going to analyse and study all the information we gathered and compare it with the feedback of the riders. In Mandalika we will try to confirm everything, and there is where we will make our final decision on how we will start the season.
FABIO QUARTARARO
I‘m really happy about my pace. Unfortunately, I kept two tyres to do a time attack, and then it was raining. But this morning I did a great lap! I‘m quite happy because I came from a really old rear tyre, and let‘s say that the gap between them was too big. I couldn‘t really take the benefit from the new rear tyre, but I‘m super happy. I think that we have some margin on one lap, and I think it was a good test. We can be satisfied. In Mandalika we will test again what we have tried at this test, and we‘ll see if there are any positive outcomes.
FRANCO MORBIDELLI
We made good steps also today. We wanted to improve on new tyres, and we did that. We wanted to improve our pace, and we did that too. Unfortunately, we were not able to do the time attack, because in our programme it was scheduled in the late afternoon, but with the rain it wasn‘t possible to do it. The feeling is getting better and better. Every time it‘s getting better with the bike. We‘re setting it up well to be fast and consistent. There is this time attack doubt that I wanted to take away. Unfortunately, we will have to wait until Indonesia for that, but so far, so good. I‘m quite happy.
More, from a press release issued by Tech3 KTM Factory Racing:
Fernandez and Gardner both make improvements on final day of Sepang Test
Tech3 KTM Factory Racing’s duo went on track for the fifth and final day of the week today at Sepang International Circuit. Following an intensive week of testing here in Malaysia with three days of Shakedown and the Official Sepang Test, Raul Fernandez and Remy Gardner slowed down the intensity on Sunday and completed 24 and 35 laps respectively.
Just like the rest of the MotoGP class, Raul Fernandez got an early start at 10:00 local time this morning to take advantage of the lower track temperatures. All the riders started the day very fast, and Raul rapidly improved his lap-time from yesterday (1’59.258) on his thirteenth lap, and then registered 1’59.180 a few laps later, placing him in nineteenth position at the end of the first two hours of the day. A heavy rain throughout the afternoon stopped the action on track for a while, but the Spaniard showed his willingness to ride on a wet track and he was the first to come out of the box to get a few laps in. The rookie finishes the Official Test only 1.049 seconds from the top position.
It was an early start too for Remy Gardner who also managed to improve his lap-time from yesterday just five laps after leaving the box. He continued to improve progressively throughout the morning, crossing the line on lap 17 in 1’59.697. Towards the end of the morning, he reached his best lap-time of the week with 1’59.348 on his thirty-fourth lap, just before calling it a day for the Test week here in Malaysia. After a very intensive week, the Australian was struggling with his injured wrist and decided to get some rest in order to take care of his physical condition. The Tech3 KTM Factory Racing is now headed to a new destination, Indonesia, to participate in another three days of testing at the new Pertamina Mandalika Circuit.
Raul Fernandez
Position: 19th
Time: 1’59.180
Laps: 24
“We end the test with only one second from the first position, it is incredible how close the MotoGP category is. All the manufacturer riders were here on track and it is going to be an amazing championship. KTM did an excellent job this week and I am really happy with all the work done here in Sepang. Step by step, I learn and I get closer to the factory riders, so this is what matters for me at the moment. During the tests, everybody is fast, but it will be different during the races, and I am well aware of that. For now, I think that we did a very good job here in Malaysia.”
Remy Gardner
Position: 23rd
Time: 1’59.348
Laps: 35
“It has been a very busy week of testing. Malaysia was fun but I did roughly two hundred laps here, so I have to admit that I look forward to changing the track and going to Mandalika. We tried a lot of different things this week, especially during the Official Test, and we managed to find some interesting points with the bike. Halfway through the day today, we decided to stop because I was struggling with my physical condition and especially with my wrist, after four full days on track, and it is important for me to focus on my injury’s recovery. I still managed to go faster this morning and I improved my lap-time, which I am happy with. We are still a bit far away from the top positions, but considering the circumstances, it is not bad at all.”
More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki ECSTAR:
RAIN STOPS PLAY IN SEPANG BUT SUZUKI REMAINS UPBEAT Alex Rins: 4th – 1’58.261 (+ 0.130)
Joan Mir: 12th – 1’58.529 (+ 0.398)
Sylvain Guintoli: 26th – 1’59.996 (+ 1.865)
The second day of testing at the Sepang International Circuit saw the familiar late afternoon rain storms arrive, cutting short the riders’ track time. However, Team Suzuki Ecstar still managed to carry out the majority of their testing plan.
One of the main areas of focus for both Joan Mir and Alex Rins was the cowlings. Then each rider took their own path to fine-tune other things; Mir working on the swingarm and Rins on the suspensions. Neither rider had planned to do a long run, and conditions also did not allow for this either.
Rins completed a total of 37 laps. He reported improvements compared to yesterday’s outing and he was satisfied with his pace.
Mir put in 35 laps. He was able to feel the potential of the engine more clearly than the previous day and he felt happy with the progress made.
Team Suzuki Ecstar will now move onto Mandalika Circuit in Indonesia, a brand new track, for another three days of testing next weekend; February 11th-13th.
Alex Rins:
“We’ve concluded the Sepang test, and a bit earlier than expected, but it’s been great to be back on the bike. The first part of today felt like qualifying, we were all out there trying to get laps in before the rain came! We learned a lot during these two days about what works well for us, and what still needs some improvement, but overall we’re going to Mandalika with a very good bike. I’m going to watch some Superbike races to try and understand how the Mandalika circuit is, and I’m really excited to arrive there because my supporters there are amazing.”
Joan Mir:
“Overall I’m really happy about the last two days here. The bike is working well and my feeling is good. Today felt better than yesterday but we couldn’t put it all together to push for a lap time, anyway, our pace is strong. I understood the potential of the new bike and the new engine and I have no complaints. Both Alex and I feel that we’ve made a step forward, and that’s an important thing. I’m really excited and interested to go to Mandalika next week – the fans there are so supportive and kind, and I’m waiting to discover the track!”
Sylvain Guintoli:
“Over the past five days – including the shakedown – I’ve done about 250 laps, and it was really good to be back on the bike again, and back in Sepang because I really like this place. The testing programme was quite intense because the team brought many items, but everything seems to be working well so far, especially the engine spec. I also worked on the chassis, the suspension, the aerodynamics, and the ride height device. I managed to set a new personal best lap around here and overall the bike feels really well balanced, it also looks great!”
Shinichi Sahara – Project Leader and Team Director:
“We came here with 2022 spec. bikes, which we’d already seen promising signs from last year, and we brought some new items to try. Our test riders and race riders found some of the new items were working in good way, but we couldn’t finish checking a few things due to rain this afternoon – we will try them in Mandalika next week. But the overall feeling is that we are more competitive. Our riders and all the team are feeling very positive and motivated to start another test in Indonesia, and to be ready for the first round in Qatar. I would like to say thank you to everyone for giving their all in these tests, and for their help launching our new bike.”
Ken Kawauchi – Technical Manager:
“We are pretty satisfied, we brought many items here and we were able to try almost all of them. The weather did disturb our plans a bit and it meant we couldn’t finish everything we wanted to, so we’ll continue the work in Mandalika. The important thing is that the 2022 engine spec. seems to be working well for us, and the riders are feeling quite happy.”
More, from a press release issued by KTM Factory Racing:
KTM GATHER FIRST TRACK MILEAGE OF 2022 MOTOGP™ AT SEPANG TEST
2022 MotoGP news
The 2022 KTM MotoGP effort swung into action for the first time this year with a comprehensive week of work at the Sepang International Circuit. The opening appointment of the racing calendar represented the first of two pre-season tests before the Grand Prix of Qatar on March 6th.
KTM accumulated almost 380 laps through Saturday and Sunday between the four riders. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder (18th on combined times) and Miguel Oliveira (15th) assessed new parts and ideas for the 2022 RC16 and further development after the final test outing of 2021 at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto in Spain. Tech3 KTM Factory Racing had an even busier schedule: rookies Raul Fernandez (19th) and Remy Gardner (23rd) filled a three-day ‘shakedown’ prior to the two official days at the fast and hot Sepang layout. Sunday was curtailed prematurely due to the typically unstable Malaysian climate. Heavy rainfall marked the end of the session by mid-afternoon but both Binder and Oliveira completed a few circulations in the wet.
MotoGP now moves onto the new Pertamina Mandalika Circuit in Indonesia for a three-day test from February 11th and the final chance to work on configuration before the Losail International Circuit beckons next month.
Brad Binder: “These last two days have been a challenge. We needed some more time to make the most out of the package. We have some small changes to the bike and we have the same performance as last year so now we need to explore, try different set-ups and balances to see what works further. Yesterday was about getting up the speed after the break and then we didn’t have that much time this morning before the weather cut things short. I did a few laps in the wet and everything felt good. Overall, I feel we have a lot of potential. We need to work more to extract it.”
Miguel Oliveira: “Progress was there. For sure our pace could have been a bit better but we were still trying things out to maximise what we have. We still feel there is room to improve and that’s important for us. It was good to have the half day today and we made the lap we had here two years ago, without any risk. Positive feelings, and now we move onto a new track. The package is there. We have to take advantage of what we have. This is the focus and what pushes us.”
Raul Fernandez: “We end the test only one second from first position: it is incredible how close the MotoGP category is. All the riders were here on track and it is going to be an amazing championship. KTM did an excellent job this week and I am really happy with all the work done here in Sepang. Step by step, I learn and I get closer to the others so this is what matters for me at the moment. During the tests, everybody is fast, but it will be different during the races, and I am well aware of that. For now, I think that we did a very good job here in Malaysia.”
Remy Gardner: “It has been a very busy week of testing. Malaysia was fun but I did roughly two hundred laps here, so I have to admit that I look forward to changing the track and going to Mandalika. We tried a lot of different things this week, especially during the Official Test, and we managed to find some interesting points with the bike. Halfway through the day today, we decided to stop because I was struggling with my physical condition and especially with my wrist after four full days on track. it is important for me to focus on my recovery. I still managed to go faster this morning and I improved my lap-time, which I am happy with. We are still a bit far away from the top positions but considering the circumstances, it is not bad at all.”
Francesco Guidotti, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “We had a productive one-and-a-half days here. We collected a lot of information between the four MotoGP riders – as well as our test riders Dani and Mika – and we tested different aero packs and the new engine spec was delivered. There were a few other important items. We have three more days of work in Mandalika next week and those will be important to evolve our ideas in different circumstances to be ready for the first race. A lot of comments from the riders here matched and that’s important in terms of finding the right direction. Hopefully that will be enough to make the ideal combo for the start of the season.”
Sebastian Risse, Red Bull KTM Technical Manager MotoGP: “Some intensive and productive days for us. First, we blew away the cobwebs from the winter and then focussed on the elements we have to homologate for the season. These are obviously important decisions and we have only two tracks at which to make them. We know Sepang and it’s a place where if something works then it can be transferred quite well to other tracks. It was important to understand the packages we had at our disposal here. We had several different aerodynamic options and we also worked on the engine and then the bike setting. It all had to fit together, and we had a few directions. Finally, we have a bike that is different for the riders, it does not have the same character as before and it is already a step faster and still with some areas to explore.”
More, from a press release issued by Repsol Honda:
Rain cuts into promising second day of Sepang Test
Dark clouds broke just after the lunch break and soaked the Malaysian track, Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro still able to profit from a busy morning.
Sepang’s legendary afternoon rain showers finally hit the MotoGP paddock after almost an entire week of uninterrupted running on Sunday, the final day of the first pre-season test. Hitting just as the Repsol Honda Team were returning from their mid-test break, the rain meant there was little to learn in the final afternoon and the squad began to prepare for the trip to Mandalika, Indonesia. Even with the rain, both Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro are content with what they’ve been able to accomplish in a day and a half.
Marc Marquez finishes the second day of the Sepang test in eighth place, a 1’58.332 on his seventh lap of 49 putting him just 0.201s behind Enea Bastianini – fastest on the day. Although unable to do a planned long run due to the weather, Marquez and his side of the Repsol Honda Team garage were able to continue exploring the new Honda RC213V and gaining important knowledge. The coming Mandalika test will allow Marquez to further unlock the potential of the package Honda HRC have prepared over the winter.
Less than a tenth of a second behind his Repsol Honda Team team-mate, Pol Espargaro completed the second day rounding out the top ten. Returning to the circuit after the afternoon rain, his best time was set in the morning on lap nine of 50. Across the two days Espargaro completed 114 laps aboard his 2022 machine. Long runs during the test showed promise for the RC213V and the #44, he and his team excited to confirm their findings next week in Indonesia.
The final three days of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship pre-season will begin on February 11 at the new Mandalika Circuit in Indonesia. These three days will be crucial for the Repsol Honda Team as they aim to prepare the new 2022 RC213V for the first race under the Qatari floodlights.
Marc Marquez
8TH 1’58.332
“I am happy about these two days in Sepang, but also tired! It’s true that it is very positive for us to be here even if I suffered a little bit physically, but we suffer now to enjoy in the season. When I push with the bike, the speed is there, and we are learning a lot about this bike after trying some big things. The bike certainly has potential and today we understood the front feeling better after some changes we made. Pol and Alex were fast in the long ran which is encouraging. I did a few laps in the damp and felt good too.”
Pol Espargaro
10TH 1’58.420
“In general I’m pretty happy with how the test has gone, of course it would have been good to do a few more laps but the weather is what it is. We are close to the front with a new bike and this is positive. There’s still some time to find over one fast lap and I made a small mistake on my fastest lap, but on the longer runs we are working well. It will be important to improve the one lap speed because we have seen how tight Saturdays are in MotoGP. We were able to gather good data here and now we have a bit of homework to do before the next test.”
More, from a press release issued by Mooney VR46 Racing Team:
STEP FORWARD FOR LUCA MARINI AND MARCO BEZZECCHI AT SEPANG
On the last day of testing, important chronometric improvements for Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi, 11th and 16th in the combined standings of the two days
Sepang (Malaysia), February 6th 2022 – First act of 2022 in archive for the riders of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team at Sepang where the official MotoGP test ended today. Good sensations on the track with the Ducati Desmosedici GPs for both with Luca Marini in 11th place in the combined standings of the two days and Marco Bezzecchi in P16.
An uphill start for Luca yesterday, forced into the garage for a long time, but a very convincing Day2 and a final lap time of 1.58.430 signed just before a heavy storm hit the Sepang International Circuit area. Opportunity to test the GP22 even in wet conditions and complete a total of 37 laps during the day.
Marco Bezzecchi (1.58.701) also closes the long week of testing in crescendo, very fast and under the wall of 1.59, the fastest rookie. Also for him the first laps in the wet on the MotoGP bike at the end of the day.
Transfer time now for the Mooney VR46 Racing Team which will leave Malaysia in the next few hours for Indonesia. Next appointment scheduled: MotoGP test, 11-13 February, at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit.
Luca Marini #10
I am happy with this second day of testing: I am satisfied with the base I found, we are not at 100%, considering that I was forced into the garage yesterday, but it is okay. Today both bikes were perfect, I was fast right away from the pit lane exit and I had a good feeling. To be only the second day in Sepang, we made a nice step on the lap time and we tried something on the setting. In the afternoon the plan included a qualifying simulation, but the storm was unexpected. A pity,, but it’s not the priority at the moment and I’m happy to have been able to ride in the wet at the end of the day. Marco Bezzecchi #72
I honestly didn’t expect a lap time like this, I’m happy, we did a great job with the Team, the technicians and Ducati. A shame about this morning: just before my fastest lap, I was long on the last corner, I entered the gravel and I crashed. I went back to the garage and with different tires I did my best lap time. An impressive time, built step by step from the shakedown. Compared to the first days, I feel better on the bike, at the beginning I was missing something on the front in terms of riding style, then we checked all the data and we managed to make a nice step forward. I can’t wait to get back at work in Mandalika.
Pablo Nieto
Team Manager
I am satisfied with what has been done in this long week here in Malaysia. Well done Luca who found the feeling after a complicated day y. He worked on the set up and things went better. Marco worked hard in the shakedown and collected a lot of data that was then really useful for this second test where he was able to try the new bike even in the wet. We are a young Team, but I am very happy with the whole group, we can’t wait to get back on track in Indonesia.
More, from a press release issued by WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team:
Dovizioso and Binder progressing on final day in Malaysia
WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team concludes the first test of the year with noticeable improvements of lap times.
Sunday saw the MotoGP field hitting the Sepang International Circuit for a second and final official test day. While conditions proved to be ideal once again in the first hours, rain interrupted proceedings after lunchtime. Yet, both WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team riders managed to step forward already in the morning.
Following a first day full of work, Andrea Dovizioso aimed to find clearer directions aboard his 2022 Yamaha YZR-M1 today. The Italian set his fastest time on lap 12 and went more than one second quicker compared to day one. Due to the weather conditions, he was unable to chase faster lap times in the afternoon, but still went out and did a total of 115 laps throughout the two days of action.
At the same time, Darryn Binder advanced significantly. The premier class rookie broke the 2-minutes mark already on his first run and was 0.961 seconds quicker than on day one of the official test. Compared to his first day on track this Monday, he even went over two seconds faster and did 55 further laps today. This afternoon, the South African even used the conditions to go out in the wet for the very first time.
The WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team is now ready to pack and fly over to Indonesia, where the entire paddock is excited to get to know the Mandalika Circuit, which is a new addition to the MotoGP World Championship calendar in 2022.
ANDREA DOVIZIOSO
“We made some progress for sure but I can’t be happy about where we’re at because there are still too many things I don’t have under control. The way I ride the bike is not good enough. I can be faster for sure because this morning I wasn’t able to use the potential of the soft tyre. Apart from that, I’m still not feeling that good. These two days have been very difficult but like always in Malaysia, I think it’s the best track to test some high turns but the condition is over the limit, the grip changes and you don’t have enough tyres to compare. Anyway, I’m very happy to go on a different new track, and I will continue my work with the team to do better.”
DARRYN BINDER
“Yesterday we worked really hard but didn’t get the results we wanted. Today, we came back fresh and used everything we worked on yesterday and put it straight into play immediately. After that I was looking forward to just working throughout the day, trying to perfect everything, learn and keep trying but unfortunately it started to rain. But being a rookie that was great as it gave me a chance to go out on the wet with the bike. In my eyes, it’s been a positive two days.”
Razlan Razali, Founder and Team Principal WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team
“In general the last two days has been a positive test for both our riders, both have improved in terms of time. It is still early days and we wait and see for the final test in Mandalika and finally in Qatar. But overall, we are very happy with the first test. We must congratulate Sepang International Circuit (SIC) for being able to allow the MotoGP paddock to come and test here this weekend.”
Wilco Zeelenberg, Team Manager WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team
“It has been a very good test, we learned a lot. Of course we are not in the spot and place we want to be, but we have to respect the level of the group. Darryn for sure improved today and again did a step, which was our aim every day to be better and we have been doing that. Today he learned a lot in the rain with the soft and medium rain tyres, going out on half intermediate track conditions that will help in the season when he’s on the grid and it starts to rain. For Andrea, we have been trying to improve the bike, especially on rear grip and traction and we reached a limit, where we need to make more steps in that area. Over the two days, we made a lot of laps and gained a lot of information and now we’re ready to go to Mandalika.”
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia:
GOOD START FOR THE NEW 2022 APRILIA RS-GP
ALEIX AND MAVERICK FAST STRAIGHT AWAY BUT IT’S THE FEELING THAT GIVES THEM MORE CONFIDENCE
AFTER SEPANG, THE SECOND AND FINAL PRE-SEASON TEST WILL BE INDONESIA
Even with all the caution demanded by the circumstances, this is definitely a good début for the new Aprilia RS-GP in 2022 version. On the track in Sepang (Malaysia) for the first tests of the season, the new Italian bike provided immediate positive feedback in the able hands of tester Lorenzo Savadori, sensations which were then confirmed when Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Viñales tested it.
After three days dedicated to the shakedown (the first real test of the new prototypes), it was time for the entire MotoGP class to have two days of official testing. It was clear by the end of the sessions that the competition is still extremely fierce, with 19 riders all within one second of one another. In any case, the stopwatch confirmed that Aprilia is on the right path, with Aleix second, just 26 thousandths of a second behind the leader and beating the track record. Maverick was also fast straight away, just 130 thousandths of a second behind, riding his RS-GP to fifth place.
However, although the times may not provide the most accurate picture of the situation, since they were achieved by all during true time attacks on soft tyres, feedback on the feeling is a different story. And this is why Aprilia is confident as they head to the new Indonesian Mandalika track for the second and final pre-season tests.
Aleix Espargaró
“I must thank the staff in Noale. Albesiano and all the engineers did a good job. From the first time I swung a leg over, during a photo shoot, I noticed how sleek and compact the new RS-GP is, and I know how hard it is to achieve this result. The ergonomics, the frame and all the new features make it extremely agile, letting me improve on cornerspeed, especially in fast turns. However, we still need to consider that this is just the first test and that we are all extremely close. The current level of MotoGP is absolutely incredible. We’ll keep working and I can’t wait to turn laps on the new Mandalika circuit too.”
Maverick Viñales
“I’m pleased with this first test. I felt extremely comfortable on the bike. I was especially surprised by our race pace, with used tyres, whereas on the flying lap, I am still unable to fully exploit the bike’s potential. When you try to find the limit, and you have to do that often in MotoGP today, the feeling has to be more than perfect, but I am still making a few mistakes. I need to get used to the way this bike behaves when I’m looking for maximum performance and that’s a process we’re working on.”
Lorenzo Savadori
“The 2022 bike seems like a clear step forward. I did some tests here aimed specifically at setting up Aleix and Maverick’s work, since this is the first shakedown of a new project. I can’t wait to get start on the actual testing programme, which will let us grow the RS-GP even further. The base is there. They did a great job and you can tell straight away.”
More, from a press release issued by Pramac Racing:
SEPANG TEST – SECOND AND FINAL DAY OF TESTING IN SEPANG ENDS WITH MARTIN AND ZARCO FINISHING THIRD AND NINTH RESPECTIVELY.
Jorge Martin put in an excellent performance to take the third fastest time of 1:58.243. Johann Zarco focused more on development work with the main objective of being able to fully exploit all the characteristics of his Desmosedici GP22, finishing the test day in ninth position with his best time of 1:58.413. It was a positive two days of testing, ending with a clear improvement and gaining knowledge of the bike’s potential. The Indonesia test will give us the right push to start the championship in the best possible way.
Jorge Martín
It was a positive second day, we brought home a lot of information that we will need in a few days in Indonesia. Unfortunately it rained in the afternoon and we didn’t get the most out of the day, but I am very satisfied with this first test.
Johann Zarco
Another positive day for us, I am happy with how we have worked and how I feel on the bike, we also did a wet run to see the feeling and I felt really good. There are still some areas where we can improve but we will make the most of next week’s test to be ready for Qatar.
More, from a press release issued by LCR Honda Castrol:
ÁLEX MÁRQUEZ PUTS IN THE HARD YARDS AT SEPANG TEST
6 February 2022 | Sepang Test
Álex Márquez got through a busy schedule as the first official MotoGP pre-season test finished in hot, muggy conditions at Sepang International Circuit on Sunday. The LCR Honda CASTROL rider took the opportunity to put in some hard yards on the 2022 RC213V prototype as he ramped up preparations for the new World Championship season.
The Spaniard enjoyed plenty of track time on both days – despite rain disrupting proceedings on Sunday afternoon – as he racked up the most laps of any rider at the two-day session. On Saturday, Álex completed 65 as he went 15th fastest, before adding another 57 on Sunday as he gathered valuable data in all conditions.
The second and final pre-season test will take place at Indonesia’s new Mandalika circuit from February 11-13.
Álex Márquez – 17th
(1’58.800)
“Second day here in Malaysia and I think we did a really good job overall. The most important thing for us at this test was to get to know the bike, do many laps and gather information for the future. We are getting to know the bike more and more and we’re not doing badly. There is still room for improvement, but the base is really good, in terms of set-up and performance.
Today we were able to do nearly race distance with a simulation of 15 laps and the pace wasn’t bad, it was really constant. Unfortunately, the only thing we missed today was a time attack as, when I tried to make one, I had a really small crash, but the most important thing this weekend was the feeling. I want to thank my team for all their work on these two days, now we go to Mandalika with a clear plan of what we need to improve.”
More, from a press release issued by LCR Honda Idemitsu:
TAKA ENJOYS PRODUCTIVE TEST SESSION AT SEPANG
6 February 2022 | Sepang Test
The first official pre-season test ahead of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship wrapped up at a typically humid Sepang on Sunday. The two-day session at the Sepang International Circuit provided the premier class teams with a crucial chance to fine-tune their machinery for the new season with LCR Honda IDEMITSU rider Takaaki Nakagami putting the revamped RC213V through its paces.
The Japanese star was able to amass lots of useful data as he clocked up over 100 laps across the two days, 62 on Saturday and 41 on Sunday when rain interrupted the riders in the afternoon. Taka looked comfortable on the 2022 prototype as he continued working for the duration of both sessions, finishing in 12th fastest on the timesheets on day one and 13th on day two.
Takaaki Nakagami – 13th
(1’58.607)
“We had a really good two-day test here in Sepang and I’m very happy with the step forward we’ve made. From yesterday we were able to improve our confidence on the bike and find a solution. This new bike has really great potential so I’m really happy about that. I want to say a big thanks to my team because these two days for the mechanics are really hard, but they did a great job. I’m looking forward to the next test at Mandalika as it’s a new country and new circuit for us, so I’m really excited”.
More, from a press release issued by Ducati Lenovo Team:
The Ducati Lenovo Team concludes MotoGP pre-season testing at Sepang with Bagnaia sixth and Miller fourteenth
Enea Bastianini is the fastest (new unofficial Sepang record) with the Desmosedici GP bike of the Gresini Racing team
Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller concluded the first MotoGP pre-season test of 2022 at Sepang International Circuit (Malaysia). Over the two days, the Ducati Lenovo Team riders could lap again at the Malaysian track (which had been absent from the MotoGP calendar for the past two years) with their Desmosedici GP bikes in 2022 configuration.
Despite the scorching temperatures, the Borgo Panigale team’s riders found good conditions to ride, except for the last few hours of the second day, which were disturbed by rain. During the Sepang test, both Bagnaia and Miller continued the testing program they began last November in Spain, at Jerez de la Frontera, testing the new solutions developed by the Ducati Corse engineers over the winter.
With 110 laps under his belt and a best time of 1:58.265, Pecco closed the test in sixth position, while Jack, who completed 92 laps, finished fourteenth with a best time of 1:58.645, 380 thousandths behind his teammate. Enea Bastianini topped the Sepang test with the Ducati Desmosedici GP of the Gresini Racing team, thanks to a lap in 1:58.131, 172 thousandths faster than the current circuit record.
After these first two days on track for 2022, the Ducati Lenovo Team riders will have another three days of testing next weekend. From 11th-13th February, MotoGP will make its debut at the brand new Mandalika Street Circuit in Lombok, Indonesia, for the final official test before the season opener scheduled on 6th March in Qatar.
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1:58.265 (6th)
“I am happy with how this second day of testing went. We are definitely not at the level I aim for yet, but I know we will get there soon. In just two days of working with the new bike, we have taken a big step forward, and with each session, we continued to improve. Now we have to keep working in this direction to be ready for the start of the Championship. These days, I did not concentrate on finding the best time. My priority now is to work on developing the bike, which has shown to have really great potential. I am satisfied and can’t wait to get on track for another three days of testing next week in Indonesia”.
Jack Miller (#43 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1:58.645 (14th)
“Thanks to the data we gathered on the first day, we were able to take a big step forward today, and I also felt more comfortable on the bike. Unfortunately, we missed the afternoon because of the rain, but we could still carry out most of our program. I have been busy testing some new components, and maybe if we had pushed harder, we could have been even faster, but we are still not far off the front. In general, I’m satisfied with these first two days of work, and I can’t wait to get back on track in a few days at Mandalika”.
Editorial Note: To learn more about all of the activities being planned in Italy to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Moto Guzzi co-founder, aviation pioneer, and entrepreneur Giorgio Parodi, go HERE.
The GP Days program is enriched with new events; three days dedicated to Giorgio Parodi from Genoa, the founder of Moto Guzzi, which has just scored 100 years of intense history.
The fundraising for the Medicine and Rehabilitation Pavilion of the Giannina Gaslini Institute in Genoa is proceeding thanks to the generous contribution of the great heart of the “Guzzisti” people.
In addition to the already rich program, “MondoMotoGuzzi,” the international review of the Brand Clubs, will take place in the Porto Antico area near the renowned Aquarium of Genoa. The event is promoted by the Moto Guzzi World Club, thanks to the operational and organizational support of the local Moto Guzzi Club Genova.
“Every year MondoMotoGuzzi takes place in a different European location, but for the Centenary it couldn’t have been in any other place than the town where the legal act was signed back in 1921,” said Mario Arosio, President of the Moto Guzzi World Club.
“After the success of ‘MondoMotoGuzzi2011’ held in Genoa for the 90th birthday of the Eagle of Mandello, the official event of the Moto Guzzi World Club is back in Genoa to celebrate 100 candles and its founder. Rescheduled in 2022 because of the pandemic emergency, the 100+1 show will be so much more interesting and awaited in the wonderful frame of the Porto Antico with the chance to be part of the ‘Eagles parade’ through the most beautiful ways of our enchanting town,” said Andrea Natale, President of the Moto Guzzi Club Genova.
“Thanks to MondoMotoGuzzi our program for the 30th Anniversary of Porto Antico is enriched with a prestigious event,” said Mauro Ferrando, President of Porto Antico S.p.A. “I’m sure that all enthusiasts, tourists and the Genoese will not miss this opportunity to celebrate Moto Guzzi in such an enchanting venus.”
Talking about eagles and engines, the exhibition of one of the queens of Italian motorcycle history will be repeated at Palazzo Tursi. After the now legendary GP (Guzzi-Parodi), the first prototype of 1919, this year many visitors and guests in town will be able to admire a true jewel of mechanical engineering: the “eight cylinders,” which represented a solid cutting-edge technology motorbike, back in 1955 with its 285 KM/h. Giorgio Parodi strongly believed in this masterpiece and supported the historic designer of the Moto Guzzi racing team, the engineer Giulio Cesare Carcano, with his idea from the first draft up to its roll out.
The eight-cylinder Moto Guzzi that went 285 kph (177 mph) in 1955. Photo courtesy Giorgio Parodi Association.
The Doge’s Palace will be the backdrop to “The Moto Guzzi and the People of its Time,” a chronological review of the motorcycles produced since the beginning, telling the stories of men and motorbikes through anecdotes and curiosities. Those men who designed, built, and used those bikes, because a motorcycle without a man is a not living object and leaves no trace.
The location for the gala dinner organized by UNUCI Rapallo will be soon revealed.
In the same period of GP Days, the well-known Rolli Days will take place in town, and it will be possible to book guided tours in the magnificent buildings such as the Diocesan Museum, the medieval cloister full of frescoes and built on an ancient Roman “domus” with its magnificent, frescoed rooms, including the 16th-century “drapes of the Passion” on denim canvas, unique in the world.
It will also be possible to follow Giorgio’s passions for flying and feel the emotions of the great aviator, booking a trip on a seaplane, thanks to the Sea Flight School, which will be in the beautiful Santa Margherita Ligure with its ultralight on Saturday and Sunday, with the main purpose of spreading aeronautical culture.
For more information on scheduled events, reservations, accommodation, registrations and gadgets, please remember to visit the website www.giorgioparodi.it, where it will also be possible to follow in the footsteps of the founder of our well-known motorcycle manufacturer through the interesting itineraries proposed by the TeA (Tourism and Environment Association). TeA President Mauro Baldassarri explains: “We have geo-referenced many Genoese places linked to the history of Moto Guzzi and to Giorgio Parodi, providing them with images, information and curiosities. Therefore, we give the opportunity to whom comes to Genoa, to study his own itinerary ‘in Giorgio’s footsteps’ or to follow what we have already prepared. The ones who will not be in the city will be still able to see the places either from a PC or from a smartphone or tablet.”
For MondoMotoGuzzi, the reference platform is that of the Moto Guzzi Club Genova, www.motoguzziclubgenova.it.
We invite you all to come and enjoy what promises to be the “motorcycle & aviation” event of the year: the GP Days and Moto Guzzi Jubilee, supported by the Air Force Association in Genoa, are the perfect bridge that leads to 2023 when the Italian Air Force will celebrate its hundred years of history, on March the 28th. ‘Lattuga’, Parodi’s in-flight nickname, has been a prominent institutional testimonial of his time. He’s been impeccable citizen, with his generous commitment, he was able to pair his profile of valiant highly decorated aviator in three wars with that, equally brilliant, of successful entrepreneur and passionate flight and motorbike sportsman.
Two Jubilees linked together by a golden eagle with open wings.
Editorial Note: The all-time lap record at Sepang International Circuit is 1:58.303 set by Fabio Quartararo in 2019, the last time MotoGP raced at Sepang.
FIM MotoGP World Championship Test
Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia
February 5, 2022
Day One Lap Times (all on Michelin tires):
Aleix Espargaro, Spain (Aprilia), 1:58.371
Maverick Vinales, Spain (Aprilia), 1:58.384
Alex Rins, Spain (Suzuki), 1:58.471
Enea Bastianini, Italy (Ducati), 1:58.638
Johann Zarco, France (Ducati), 1:58.946
Fabio Quartararo, France (Yamaha), 1:59.002
Joan Mir, Spain (Suzuki), 1:59.067
Marc Marquez, Spain (Honda), 1:59.287
Pol Espargaro, Spain (Honda), 1:59.353
Marco Bezzecchi, Italy (Ducati), 1:59.468
Cal Crutchlow, UK (Yamaha), 1:59.558*
Takaaki Nakagami, Japan (Honda), 1:59.634
Raul Fernandez, Spain (KTM), 1:59.682
Brad Binder, South Africa (KTM), 1:59.784
Alex Marquez, Spain (Honda), 1:59.913
Miguel Oliveira, Portugal (KTM), 1:59.945
Jorge Martin, Spain (Ducati), 1:59.949
Luca Marini, Italy (Ducati), 1:59.966
Francesco Bagnaia, Italy (Ducati), 2:00.027
Fabio Di Giannantonio, Italy (Ducati), 2:00.047
Franco Morbidelli, Italy (Yamaha), 2:00.107
Jack Miller, Australia (Ducati), 2:00.177
Andrea Dovizioso, Italy (Yamaha), 2:00.342
Remy Gardner, Australia (KTM), 2:00.470
Darryn Binder, South Africa (Yamaha), 2:00.818
Sylvain Guintoli, France (Suzuki), 2:01.390*
Lorenzo Savadori, Italy (Aprilia), 2:04.385*
*=test rider
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
#SepangTest: Aprilia steal the headlines with a 1-2 on Day 1
The Noale factory blast out the blocks to the top, with Suzuki on the chase
Saturday, 05 February 2022
2022 pre-season testing couldn’t have started any better for Aprilia Racing. Aleix Espargaro put in a 1:58.371 to take the honours on Day 1 at the Sepang Test, and then teammate Maverick Viñales shot up into second, just 0.013s off his compatriot. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was third quickest on a busy opening day in Malaysia, with plenty of updated parts making an appearance.
Aleix Espargaro (41). Photo courtesy Dorna.
APRILIA
During the Shakedown Test, Aprilia Racing Technical Director Romano Albesiano explained how the 2022 RS-GP is like “moving a building two metres away. It’s not a big change, but you have to move everything.” Basically, the bike is a completely new machine, albeit similar to the one we saw return to fighting at the front in 2021. And early indications suggest that both Aleix Espargaro and Viñales are enjoying themselves, with Viñales especially enjoying that the new RS-GP is narrower.
On the ninth lap of the day, Aleix Espargaro slammed in his 1:58.371, one of the fastest-ever laps of Sepang International Circuit on two wheels, with Viñales’ best lap just 0.013 in arrears coming at the end of the day as the Noale factory bookended the action with a show of force each. 98 laps were completed between the pair.
Alex Rins (42). Photo courtesy Dorna.
SUZUKI
For Suzuki, the day started well and ended well on the timesheets as Rins and Team Suzuki Ecstar teammate Joan Mir were joined on duty by test rider Sylvain Guintoli. Between them, the three put in over 180 laps. Rins crashed early on at Turn 9, rider ok, but the number 42 ended the day in third overall – starting there, dropping down a couple of places and then catapulting himself back ahead of Enea Bastianini (Gresini MotoGP Team).
Mir joined Rins in the top five early on before the 2020 Champion dropped down to seventh on the timesheets. With Suzuki looking for a little more power, the new engine has already been put through a good few paces and that work continued for the Hamamatsu factory. The ride height device – debuted half way through 2021 – is a key focus too, and the GSX-RR was spotted with the carbon reinforced chassis already seen on track during testing at Misano and Jerez last year.
Johann Zarco (5). Photo courtesy Dorna.
DUCATI
At Ducati, it was a more muted day on the timesheets for some of the more established riders, but that could speak to a sense of serenity in not yet going for a time attack. The fastest Borgo Panigale machine was Bastianini as he settles into life at Gresini and on the GP21, the ‘Beast’ shooting straight out the blocks into second for much of the day with a 1:58.638. He was fourth by the end of play with that laptime, with Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) for close company in fifth.
The next Ducati on the timesheets was a stunning performance from Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) in P10. The Italian’s 1:59.468 was no mean feat and sees him end Day 1 as the fastest rookie.
For those testing more than settling in, focus remained on the engine and the interesting exhaust evolutions brought by the Borgo Panigale factory. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and teammate Jack Miller had the new tail exhaust on both machines, as did Zarco. Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin had one to try too, and he was the fastest of the four in P17 just ahead of Mooney VR46 Racing Team’s Luca Marini. Bagnaia was P19 ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP) as the rookie got back out… and Miller ended the day in P22. Ducati time attacks will be a huge point of interest on Day 2!
Fabio Quartararo (20). Photo courtesy Dorna.
YAMAHA
The biggest talking point regarding the 2022 Yamaha YZR-M1 is the engine. We know the Iwata factory are trying to squeeze some more top speed from their package, so five days of pre-season testing are vital for them to see if work over the winter has paid off. Elsewhere, though, there’s plenty of external updates to have a look at.
There’s some new front aero, similar to the one seen on the Aprilia, while Yamaha have also been testing an additional set of wings that sit further down on the side fairings. Knee supports have been spotted, too, as have some silver wheels. These were seen on Ducatis at some Grands Prix in 2021, and it is aimed at keeping the tyre a bit cooler.
Reigning World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was the leading Yamaha rider on Day 1 with a 1:59.002, the history-making Frenchman 0.6s from Aleix Espargaro’s effort. Test Rider Cal Crutchlow was back on track and completed 47 laps. A best of a 1:59.558 put the British rider 11th on the timesheets.
Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Andrea Dovizioso (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™ Team), both running 2022 YZR-M1s, were unable to dip into the 1:59s, while rookie Darryn Binder’s (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™ Team) best was a 2:00.818 after another 45 laps for the South African.
Marc Marquez (93). Photo courtesy Dorna.
HONDA
The main talking point heading into the Sepang Test was the return of eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). After recovering from a second bout of diplopia, the number 93 was back on an RC213V for the first time since October 2021 and headed out on last year’s bike first to reacquaint himself with MotoGP™. It wasn’t long before Marc Marquez was out on Honda’s 2022 package though, and despite a small crash at Turn 9 in the morning, followed by another small tumble towards the end of the day at Turn 15, all seemed well with the Spaniard. A 1:59.287 and 62 laps put Marc Marquez in eighth place on the timesheets, a solid day at the office.
Factory teammate Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) got straight down to business with the 2022 model, the latest spec Honda that has been updated from the Jerez Test, with one of Takaaki Nakagami’s (LCR Honda Idemitsu) machines running a never-before-seen chassis. Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) was lapping on the 2022 Honda as all four riders put in the work on Day 1.
The tail unit, the exhaust that runs past the tail unit, some aero, and a new engine were also on the checklist for the Japanese giants, as well as more than four chassis. It’s Honda’s biggest change within the same set of rules in MotoGP™ and the early signs are very much positive. Pol Espargaro ended the day in ninth, less than a tenth off Marc Marquez, and Nakagami and Alex Marquez ventured into the 1:59s.
Raul Fernandez (25). Photo courtesy Dorna.
KTM
Brad Binder led the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing ranks on Day 1. The South African ended the day in P14, with teammate Miguel Oliveira in P16 – both within the high 1:59s. The two factory riders took over from the test line-up of Mika Kallio and MotoGP™ Legend Dani Pedrosa as KTM were focused on their new engine and a different air intake, as well as different aero. Both Binder and Oliveira crashed, both ok.
Aside from the technical novelties – and the arrival of new Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager Francesco Guidotti – there’s an all-new line-up at Tech 3 KTM Factory Racing too. And the fastest KTM on Day 1 was in fact Tech 3’s rookie sensation Raul Fernandez. He put in a 1:59.682 to end the day in P13. Moto2™ World Champion Remy Gardner, fighting through the pain barrier after breaking his wrist in training, put in a 2:00.470 and managed 60 laps.
That’s a wrap on Day 1 but come back for more on Sunday! The field put in another 10:00-18:00 (GMT+8) shift at Sepang, with updates on motogp.com and across social media before another After the Flag from 17:30!
More, from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
KICK OFF 2022 TESTING PROGRAMME IN MALAYSIA
Sepang (Malaysia), 5th February 2022
SEPANG OFFICIAL MOTOGP TEST
Today, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team got back into action after the winter break. Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli rode 57 and 61 laps respectively, ending the first day of the Sepang MotoGP Official Test in 6th and 21st place.
6th FABIO QUARTARARO 1’59.002 / 57 LAPS
21st FRANCO MORBIDELLI 2’00.107 / 61 LAPS
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP‘s Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli were happy to be back aboard their YZR-M1s on the first official IRTA MotoGP testing day of 2022. They worked tirelessly in the typical Sepang International Circuit heat and ended in 6th and 21st place respectively in the Day-1 timesheets.
The duo wasted no time starting their 2022 testing programme. They both headed out just after 10am local track time and didn‘t finish until the clock hit 6pm. They followed this up by ten minutes of practising starts.
Quartararo was greatly motivated to ride at the Sepang circuit again for the first time since 2020. He used this opportunity to collect valuable data. He completed 57 laps in total, securing 6th place with a 1’59.002s lap, 0.631s from first, and ended the day with positive feelings.
After spending the winter break working on leg rehabilitation, Morbidelli was reaping the rewards. Overall, he had a positive first day back at the office. He rode 61 laps over the course of eight hours of high-temperature testing and set a best time of 2’00.107s. He took 21st place, 1.736s from the top.
FABIO QUARTARARO
Tomorrow I want to work a bit more on the bike. So far, I’m happy with the pace, but not with the time attack. Just before the time attack, I was doing laps on a medium tyre that had 26 laps on it. To make the step from that tyre to a new soft, I didn’t take the full benefit of the soft. But tomorrow we will have another chance to do a time attack, and in general I need to improve my riding, because after three months I was not carrying enough corner speed and that’s our bike‘s strong point.
FRANCO MORBIDELLI
It‘s great to be back on the MotoGP bike. Malaysia is tough. The first day in Malaysia is always tricky: hot conditions. But we went through it quite well. The performance was good, really good in some parts of the day and less in some other parts. But it feels right to only bring the good things to the track tomorrow.
More, from a press release issued by WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team:
WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team duo picks up official test work in Sepang
Andrea Dovizioso and Darryn Binder got back in the saddle of their Yamaha YZR-M1 today in Malaysia.
Common hot and humid conditions welcomed the MotoGP World Championship at their return to the Sepang International Circuit for the first official day of testing in 2022, whereby the WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team pair of Andrea Dovizioso and Darryn Binder kicked off and continued their pre-season preparations.
Following the winter break, Dovizioso eventually was back on track today trying his brand-new 2022 machine. The Italian did 60 laps around one of his favorite tracks and was happy not just to be back in action, but also to be back at the place where he celebrated two victories in the premier class already. He did a fastest lap of 2’00.342 minutes.
On his side, Binder already did his fourth full day of testing in Malaysia, after the rookie had the chance to fruitfully use three days of shakedown test earlier this week. The South African, who steps up from Moto3 to MotoGP directly this year, made further progress aboard the Yamaha YZR-M1 and clocked a personal best of 2:00.818 minutes today after 45 laps.
Before the WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team is heading over to the newly added Mandalika Circuit in Indonesia next week, they will have a second and final day of testing at the 5.543-kilometer venue to further explore the potential of bikes and riders in preparation of the 2022 season.
ANDREA DOVIZIOSO
“Today has been a very strange day. Everybody is stressed, because we have only two days here in Malaysia, so everyone is doing a lot of laps. We did the same and started with a good feeling this morning. We tried a lot of things, but unfortunately, it wasn’t really clear which direction to take and I couldn’t improve my feeling. I don’t think today is the day to understand the real situation of everybody. I don’t know how much the soft tyre can improve things, because I didn’t try and we don’t have enough tyres here to do all the comparisons of material we want, so it’s pretty tricky to program the two days. But anyway, tomorrow we have to confirm something and try to be a bit faster.”
DARRYN BINDER
“Today we finished the first day of the official test here in Sepang. We worked hard today, I was working in a lot of different areas and tried some different things compared to the shakedown test. The end result was very similar to the final day of the shakedown test, which I wish I could have improved a lot more. I felt like we worked quite a lot during the day and I thought this is really going to reflect at the end of the day, but anyway, this is testing. I felt a little bit faster step by step, especially with the used tyres. We will try again tomorrow and see what happens. We’ll just keep on working, keep on trying to learn and slowly but surely understand how everything works and see in which direction to go.”
More, from a press release issued by Tech3 KTM Factory Racing:
2022 is finally here:
Rookies Fernandez and Gardner enter MotoGP playground
Following three days of a Shakedown Test in Sepang earlier this week aiming to give newcomers additional track time to adapt to their new machinery, Tech3 KTM Factory Racing’s rookies Raul Fernandez and Remy Gardner were joined today by the entire MotoGP class at the Sepang Test in Malaysia, kicking off the official 2022 pre-season. They concluded the day in thirteenth and twenty-fourth positions respectively.
After a positive Shakedown with impressive lap times, the Spaniard continued to adapt to the category while taking experience of riding alongside MotoGP world class riders. He registered an early good lap-time this morning of 2’00.547 before dedicating the day to the trial of different settings in the search of the bike that will suit perfectly his riding style. He eventually found some good information as he managed to do his best lap-time, 1’59.682, on lap 66 out of 69, only 1.311 seconds behind the top.
Under very hot and humid weather conditions, Moto2 World Champion Remy Gardner also continued his discovery work on the 2022 KTM RC16 in order to get ready for his first MotoGP race in Qatar. The Australian started the day early and fresh at 10:00 local time with the goal of trying many different parts and things on the bike throughout the day. Remy completed 60 laps today, and also managed to get his best lap-time, 2’00.470, at the end of the day, on lap 59, finishing the day in the office on a positive note.
Raul Fernandez
Position: 13th
Time: 1’59.682
Laps: 69
“Today has been a positive day again with a lot of hardwork. I think that we took a step further in the right direction and this is the most important to me. Without repeating myself too much, I am very happy and I want to continue to learn, continue my progression, and enjoy myself on the bike.”
Remy Gardner
Position: 24th
Time: 2’00.470
Laps: 60
“Today has been a good day and we did a lot of laps. We struggled a little bit more compared to the three previous days of Shakedown because we tested some different parts and things compared to the settings used earlier this week. However, we have a clear direction of what we need to do so I am happy with that. Tomorrow, we will continue the work and push a bit more.”
More, from a press release issued by Gresini Racing:
#SEPANGTEST DAY1: DIGGIA BOUNCES BACK, ENEA IMMEDIATELY UP TO SPEED
It was the first official outing for Team Gresini Racing MotoGP as well as the maiden outing for both Fabio Di Giannantonio and Enea Bastianini aboard the Ducati Desmosedici machine at the Sepang International Circuit.
If on paper it is true that Rome-born Di Giannantonio had a three-day shakedown available before this test, a debilitating gastroenteritis prevented him from taking to the track in two out of three days earlier this week. The #49 rider showed up at the track 2kgs lighter, but still left a positive mark in this day one while giving important indications regarding his stamina. He completed more than 40 laps (already more than the overall number of laps in the first test) and a quickest lap-time of 2’00.047s, more than two seconds quicker than the one logged few days go.
Enea Bastianini did not waste any time and after only 23 he recorded an extremely competitive lap-time (1’58.638), only two tenths away from today’s quickest time set by Espargaró. The lap came with a medium tyre option as Bastianini was the quickest Ducati rider and only three tenths shy of the track record.
4th – ENEA BASTIANINI #23 – (1’58.638s – 44 laps)
“After two tests, one at Jerez and another at Sepang, I have a clearer idea about my bike. After only one day in Malaysia, I’m more aware of the Desmosedici’s potential. It’s more stable and you can hit the brakes a lot later. With the new rear tyre on, I can open the throttle much more aggressively compared to the 2019 bike. With the new engine, Sepang becomes a fantastic circuit, one where I can push really hard.”
20th – FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49 – (2’00.047s– 42 laps)
“The good news is that we’re back in shape. We needed it, because these past days have been tough. I’m quite happy with how today went: we lapped a lot and Sepang has always been a circuit that I like. It’s really crazy to lap here with the MotoGP: we had a good impression and we made quite a good step forward compared to few days ago. We’re working on the direction to follow together with Manuel (Poggiali) and my super team, as well as on some set-up changes to make.”
More, from a press release issued by Mooney VR46 Racing Team:
MARCO BEZZECCHI BEST ROOKIE OF THE DAY1 IN SEPANG ON THE DAY OF LUCA MARINI’S DEBUT WITH THE GP22
At the first official MotoGP test of the 2022, Top10 at the end of the day for the rookie of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team. Debut on the Ducati Desmosedici GP22 for Luca Marini
Sepang (Malaysia), February 5th 2022 – The official MotoGP test starts at the Sepang International Circuit with the Mooney VR46 Racing Team riders working on the Ducati Desmosedici GPs. Marco Bezzecchi closes the combined standings of the Day1 in tenth place, first rookie, while Luca Marini is 18th.
49 laps to continue to take the measurements of the new category and the best personal lap time of the week for Marco who signs a good 1’59.468 and is just over a second from the very first riders (A. Espargaro, 1’58.371).
On the other hand, Luca made his debut as he brought the Ducati GP22 to the track for the first time today (52 laps). Some technical issue forced him into the garage in the morning, before finding the right set up and ending the day in crescendo with a positive 1’59.966.
The last day of testing in Malaysia is scheduled for tomorrow for both, before flying to Indonesia to discover the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit.
Luca Marini
A difficult day today, a more uphill start than we could expected. It was not easy, mentally above all, to sit for such a long time in the garage to understand exactly what was happening on the bikes. These are things that can happen with a new bike on the first day of testing of the new season. We will continue to work to be ready and make the most of tomorrow sessions. I have only been able ride in the last two hours, I don’t know what kind of sensations I have on the new Ducati, it is too early and we need to consider that for me it is the first time in Sepang with the MotoGP. My 2022 will start tomorrow.
Marco Bezzecchi
I am very happy, we have continued the work started during the shakedown and I certainly cannot complain about today. At the end, with the new soft tire, I also set a very good lap time. We are doing a good job with the whole Team and I feel better every day on the bike, it is more and more mine. Compared to Moto2, there is more power to manage, a different style and even the tires are completely different. However, a day to remember: riding on track with the riders that until now I had only seen on TV was exciting.
Pablo Nieto
Team Manager
We have closed the first real day of testing of the 2022, for the first time on track together with all the MotoGP riders. We had an uphill start this morning, we had some technical problems at the beginning, things that can happen with a new bike, but we have finished positively. The riders and the whole Team are doing a good job and tomorrow we can make another step forward. Marco arrives from three days of testing here in Sepang, he certainly already has more pace than the others and today he was very fast, just one second from the new track record. Luca was forced into the garage by some technical issues, but he did well in the second half of the afternoon.
More, from a press release issued by Pramac Racing:
SEPANG TEST – FIRST DAY OF TESTING BRINGS POSITIVE FEELINGS FOR BOTH RIDERS
Today marks the official start of the 2022 MotoGP season with the first day of testing at Sepang International Circuit. There was great excitement for the long-awaited return to the track after the winter break. The day started on a positive note and the riders immediately had a good feeling with the new bike. Johann completed 47 laps, with the fastest lap at 1:58.946 while Jorge finished the day with 49 laps, with the fastest lap at 1:59.949. The first day of testing was certainly more than satisfactory.
Jorge Martín
I am satisfied with this first day of testing, the first day after the winter break is not always easy but we are working hard. I had a very good start this morning and then struggled a little bit more in the afternoon because of the high temperatures. I am sure we will improve tomorrow.
Johann Zarco
I had a good feeling from the beginning and I was able to be fast all day. In the afternoon we improved, I became more aware of the bike and I finished in the top five. Tomorrow will be another important day to try new solutions.
More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki ECSTAR:
SUZUKI SATISFIED AS 2022 SEASON KICKS OFF IN SEPANG Alex Rins: 3rd – 1’58.471 (+ 0.100)
Joan Mir: 7th – 1’59.067 (+ 0.696)
Sylvain Guintoli: 26th – 2’01.390 (+ 3.019)
A day after Team Suzuki Ecstar launched their stylish 2022 GSX-RR it was time to put it to the test at the scorching Sepang International Circuit.
With this being the first time that Joan Mir and Alex Rins had taken to the track since the last test in Jerez in November, there were plenty of new things to try, as well as fine-tuning parts already tried.
The engine received some further improvements over the winter, and early feedback from the riders on this finalised version was very positive. It was necessary, with this new engine in the bike, to adapt and adjust several other parts such as chassis, swingarm, and electronics. Team Suzuki Ecstar also brought a new version of the ride height adjuster first seen last season. Overall, Mir and Rins felt satisfied with the work done on the first day, especially as they both placed close to the top time.
Rins completed a whopping 72 laps – the highest number of any rider – taking time to feel the improvements in the engine of his GSX-RR.
He reported positive feelings overall but is looking to work on aerodynamics tomorrow.
Mir put in 68 laps and he also tried many new items. His feedback was good and he felt he could improve his lap time tomorrow, when he also hopes to work on electronics.
Team Suzuki Ecstar will be back on track tomorrow for the second, and final, test day in Sepang.
Alex Rins:
“I’ve been waiting for this test for a long time, so I think this could be why I was fast early on – I was so keen to be back on track! Overall, I’m happy because my pace was strong, and I was able to test many different things. It’s always interesting and important to find what the strongest parts are, and what still needs improvement. I can already feel that the engine is more powerful, and the data reflects that, so let’s see what we can do tomorrow.”
Joan Mir:
“It’s the first day back at school! The feelings are positive so far, even though the heat here is unbelievable. We tried many items, especially the chassis parts, and it’s a bit early to take solid conclusions but my feelings were good today. I’m pleased with how everything is going so far and tomorrow we’ll continue to learn how to get the maximum out of the bike. We need to work a bit more on the electronics, because we didn’t have enough time to get everything ‘on point’ yet. My lap time was OK today, pretty solid, but I know I can do more.”
Sylvain Guintoli:
“I’ve been here in Sepang for a few days longer than Alex and Joan because we had the three-day shakedown test. This allowed me to test a lot of the items already; the new engine, the aero packages, the new rear ride height adjuster. So there was a lot going on during the shakedown. Today I turned my attention to the electronics side, and I tried some new evolution items there; I also tried some new front suspension options. I’m happy because we completed the programme for today, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Ken Kawauchi – Technical Manager:
“Today we could try many items, some were good and some still need some work, but this is normal in testing. For the first day of the season, we’re satisfied, because the riders need time to adjust to being back on the bike and to discover the improvements. Tomorrow we’ll brush up on a few things and we hope to have another good day.”
More, from a press release issued by Repsol Honda:
Stealth mode begins 2022 for Repsol Honda Team
Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro were on track for the first time in 2022 as the Sepang Test began, the Repsol Honda Team sporting a striking black and white testing livery.
The Repsol Honda Team wasted no time in getting their 2022 preparations underway as Pol Espargaro was one of the first riders to leave his garage when the track opened at 10:00 Local Time, Marc Marquez just a few minutes behind. Dressed in a special black and white testing livery ahead of the launch of the Repsol Honda Team on February 08 at 12:00 CET, the pair completed a comprehensive first day under the oppressive Sepang sun.
Marquez suffered a small fall at Turn 9 in the opening hours of running, able to return to the Repsol Honda Team garage and avoiding any injury. He soon returned to the circuit and was sitting comfortably in sixth place when he and his team paused for lunch around 13:00 Local Time. A second harmless crash occurred at Turn 15 in the final half an hour of the day as Marquez continued to find the limits of his new RC213V. Eighth place and a best time of 1’59.287 was Marquez’s reward after 62 laps around the 5.5-kilometre-long circuit. The time put Marquez 0.916s off the best lap of the day.
Pol Espargaro’s progress was steady across the opening day as he got up to speed with the 2022 Honda RC213V. Inside the top five and under the 2’00 barrier just before the lunch break, the #44 completed a total of 64 laps on his first day back on track. Ultimately ending the day in ninth place with a best time of 1’59.353, 0.066s behind team-mate Marc Marquez as they begin the season. All involved are pleased with the work done and preparations are underway for the second and final day in Sepang. Espargaro is under no illusions about the amount of work that needs to be done in just five days of pre-season testing but is focused and motivated for what’s to come.
Action resumes at the Malaysian circuit tomorrow, Sunday, February 06, for the final day of the Sepang Test. Both Repsol Honda Team riders will continue to work through the remainder of their test plans as they assess Honda’s latest MotoGP machine.
Marc Marquez
8TH 1’59.287
“To return to the track after the period we have lived through was very rewarding, but it was a long and hard day. I feel good with the bike and most of all, it was a normal day after a long time. Good, fast, some small mistakes – today had everything! The new bike is better but we still have a lot to understand because this is a very big change to the bike. Now the character is different and I need to understand the limits, this is what the pre-season is for. Tomorrow will be important to do a longer run to keep learning and understanding.”
Pol Espargaro
9TH 1’59.353
“It feels great to be back riding and especially on this bike. It’s amazing to see the effort of Honda, not just bringing two new bikes for the factory riders but four bikes for all the Honda riders. Honda has made a huge effort to do this and it’s going to help us a lot. But we have a lot of work to do, with just five days of testing we have to use all the time we can. We’ve had a good first day on a new bike but the best is yet to come and hopefully we can continue to improve and show the potential tomorrow. I spent the day working on mediums, not chasing a fast time as today we were trying many things. Tomorrow we’ll look for a lap time.”
Danilo Petrucci (9), as seen in 2020. Photo courtesy Ducati.
Editorial Note: Danilo Petrucci, who was recently confirmed to ride for the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC team in the 2022 MotoAmerica Superbike Championship, will also be testing at Algarve International Circuit this week. Petrucci will ride a factory Ducati Panigale V4 R Superbike on MotoAmerica-spec Dunlop slicks.
Important Portimao Test Next Up For KRT
KRT’s WorldSBK pairing of Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes are eager to get back into testing action at the undulating Autodromo Internacional do Algarve for a two-day track session on 8 and 9 February.
After two winter tests at the Spanish circuit of Jerez, utilising new parts and settings for the 2022 Ninja ZX-10RR, the forthcoming on-track action in Portugal will be useful to make comparisons with all the data gathered so far at a very different circuit design.
After posting some astounding lap times, despite only riding for half a day in the previous Jerez test in January, six times world champion Rea has already demonstrated his sheer pace on the 2022 Ninja ZX-10RR. He also had the opportunity to complete a long run on which delivered pleasing results and valuable information to his team; information which has already been fed back to the KMC engineers in Japan.
Lowes has been working hard on his physical conditioning after a 2021 season affected by injury throughout. Like Rea, he has also found the two post-2021 season winter tests held so far confidence-building and useful in terms of settling on a final direction for race set-up in 2022.
The 4.592km long Algarve circuit – commonly know as Portimao – is a very popular testing and racing venue and features some of the most dramatic changes of incline and highest numbers of blind corner entries of any circuit on the WorldSBK calendar. It is scheduled as the ninth round of the forthcoming season, between 7-9 October.
After this Portimao test the team should have all the data in requires to make any adjustments and improvements before the next KRT test at Montmelo in Catalunya on March 25 and 26.
Jonathan Rea testing at Jerez in January. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “It is nice to get back on the bike, especially at Portimao, which a track I enjoy. After our shakedown test recently in Jerez our biggest target is to reconfirm the positive items we have tested during December and January. That will give us good info, because if we can confirm these items at a couple of circuits, it means we are on the right way. The idea is just to keep building the package. I feel we have definitely improved the bike since last year. I was able to make a long run in Jerez and we found some positives with the bike and my riding style, so it is important to try and maybe focus on getting some information on how the tyres behave and the new items after many laps. Hopefully the weather is consistent and we can continue to build the package to start the season. There will also be more bikes on track at Portimao and a lot of the key manufacturers will be there testing. This is the first real test where everyone is together – which is always nice to draw some comparisons.”
Alex Lowes testing at Jerez in January. Photo courtesy Kawasaki.
Alex Lowes, stated: “The recent Jerez test for me was very much a technical test, ticking off new parts. My crew chief Marcel is very technical so I had new stuff to try – just trying to analyse what is definitely better. Portimao is a track that I have always had a good feeling with on the Kawasaki and we have a good base set-up with our 2021 bike. So, to compare new parts will be quite good, because we already have a good feeling. If we can improve that with the new stuff then it should set us up well for the year. Trying stuff at two different tracks means that if it is positive at both tracks then you are a lot more confident committing to that base set-up going into a new season. It is going to be a busy test! I would like to ride as much as possible just to get back into it. I have been working really hard on my physical condition since the end of the season. That has been the biggest focus of mine because I know if I am going to be healthy it is going to make the biggest difference, no matter what changes we make on the bike. We will make a plan with Marcel in terms of how many days we are going to ride. After this test we have a big break so we are really going to have to be clear with the feedback to all the guys in Japan, and to all the engineers within the teams, so we can work hard in the break before the Montmelo test at the end of March. Portimao will be an important test and I am looking forward to getting out and seeing where we are compared to a few of our rivals.”
Guim Roda, KRT Team Manager, stated: “Initially we didn’t have a plan to test in Portimao, because we were considering to make a test in the middle of the year. But, because we had a few points to check on the bike, we would like to compare them on different tracks. Portimao and Jerez are quite different. Also, we have a gap of one month to keep working before the next Montmelo test, ten days before the first race of the year. So, we considered this opportunity at Portimao was a good point to test again. So we joined with Ducati, who had rented the track, to make this test. For us, this is a kind of continuation of the items we tested at Jerez, to double check and confirm the direction of the bike set-up and the performance of the items we have received so far. We will do this so that we can have the best possible bike set-up, in combination with the riders.”
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Yamaha Outlines Test Plan Ahead of 2022 WorldSBK Season
Pata Yamaha’s garage in Portugal. Photo courtesy Yamaha.
Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK’s pre-season preparations get underway this week at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, serving as the first of four tests for reigning WorldSBK Champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and last year’s rookie sensation Andrea Locatelli to gear up for the 2022 FIM Superbike World Championship.
Returning to the track for the first time since claiming the WorldSBK “Triple Crown” in Indonesia, the team is unloading its Yamaha R1 WorldSBK bikes in Portugal today to set up for two days of running on 8-9 February. Acting as a first shakedown for the upcoming season, the Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK squad and Yamaha staff will evaluate 2022 technical updates, both mechanical and electronic, with their focus on development confirmations rather than outright performance.
Razgatlıoğlu and Locatelli will then be back in action at a private MotorLand Aragon test on 3-4 March, alongside the GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team who will complete their first outing of 2022 with riders Garrett Gerloff and Kohta Nozane.
The target for Aragon will be to re-confirm the development plan completed over the winter and find a strong base set-up at a track that hasn’t often played to the Yamaha R1 WorldSBK’s strengths. It will also be a key opportunity for “rookie-no-more” Locatelli to ride at Aragon again, this time with a lot more experience, four podiums and a plethora of top-five results since his debut at the circuit in 2021.
March weather can be unpredictable in the Teruel region, so Misano (16-17 March), where GRT Yamaha is set to continue its pre-season preparations, has also been penciled in as a back-up option for the championship-winning Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK crew.
Then it’s back to Spain to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where both Yamaha teams will officially unveil their colours for the 2022 season. Fans will also be excited to see Razgatlıoğlu take to the track with the coveted #1 on his Yamaha R1 WorldSBK for the first time from 25-26 March! But most importantly, both teams will look to finalise their full race packages with just a week to spare prior to the WorldSBK Official Test at Aragon on 4-5 April. These two tests will also give Yamaha a chance to square up the competition before the first races of the season.
Finally, Yamaha and the Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK team will begin its much-awaited title defense campaign at the opening round of the 2022 FIM Superbike World Championship at MotorLand Aragon from 8-10 April.
Pre-Season Test Dates:
Portimão – 8-9 February (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK only)
Aragon – 3-4 March
Misano – 16-17 March (GRT Yamaha only – back-up option for Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK)
Kensei Matsudaira (74) leads Jesse James Shedden (99) en route to victory in the Mini Cup by Motul 160 class at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
By Michael Gougis
In 2008, Ryan Fleming recognized that youth motorcycle road racing in the U.S. was going through a seriously bad period and decided to do something about it. He founded NJminiGP and trademarked the name MiniGP. That phrase now represents a limited liability company based in New Jersey. Under that company’s umbrella, franchisees currently operate six mini road racing organizations in the eastern United States.
The NJminiGP logo. Used with permission.
Imagine Fleming’s surprise when the FIM and Dorna Sports, owners of the commercial rights to the MotoGP and Superbike World Championships, announced in early 2021 the establishment of the FIM MiniGP World Series, with national series operating around the world. Fleming believes that Dorna’s name for its organization infringes on his company’s trademark.
The FIM MiniGP World Series logo.
“We have spent over a decade working to build a program that this sport is in dire need of,” Fleming told Roadracing World. “We have worked to create a sustainable instructional and developmental program that supplies top talent for the highest level of motorcycle racing. We have franchised this product up and down the East Coast successfully. Our name is everything that we are. We can’t lose our name. It’s who we are.”
Roadracing World asked Dorna in early December to respond to allegations that it was violating the MiniGP trademark. To date, Dorna has not responded.
Trademark law is a relatively well-settled area of jurisprudence. There are tests that are applied by a finder of fact to determine whether a trademark has been infringed upon. The United States Patent and Trademark Office grants U.S. patents and registers trademarks. According to that office, there are two key factors that determine whether a trademark infringement has occurred.
The first is the degree of similarity between the marks in question. Obviously, both the U.S.-based organization and Dorna use the word “mini” and the abbreviation “GP” run together as one word. The second key factor is the similarity between what is being advertised and marketed. Or, as the Patent and Trademark Office states, “whether the parties’ goods and/or services are sufficiently related that consumers are likely to assume (mistakenly) that they come from a common source.” Obviously, both the New Jersey organization and the FIM organization operate mini road racing series.
Minor factors a court may consider, according to the patent office, include:
How and where the parties’ goods or services are advertised, marketed, and sold. MotoAmerica’s Mini Cup series is part of the FIM MiniGP World Series, and in 2021 races were held on the East Coast of the U.S., in the same geographic area where the U.S.-based MiniGP organizations operate.
The range of prospective purchasers of the goods or services. The geographic areas of MotoAmerica Mini Cup/FIM MiniGP World Series and the New Jersey organization clearly overlap, meaning that riders who participate in one could, geographically at least, participate in the other. And in the world of the Internet, news releases aren’t posted “anywhere,” but exist as part of the World Wide Web, meaning that the potential audience of readers is literally, well, world-wide.
Whether there is any evidence of actual confusion caused by the allegedly infringing mark.
The defendant’s intent in adopting its mark.
The strength of the plaintiff’s mark. This is something that Fleming’s organization has worked to protect and grow over the years.
“Countless organizations have attempted to operate under our name, hoping to grab on to the coattails of our success,” Fleming says. “Most times a simple request to cease and desist gets them to stop utilizing the MiniGP name. In some cases, it took multiple emails and phone calls.
“We’ve contacted social media outlets to assist in taking down company pages that infringe on our trademark successfully. In some cases, organizations have continued to use our name based on a technicality like spelling (out the words ‘Grand Prix’).”
There are areas where there are differences, although it would be up to a finder of fact to determine whether they are significant.
First, while there is similarity between the marks in question, they are clearly not identical. The U.S. company has an established format for the name, with the geographic region first and the “GP” at the end. For example, the South Florida franchise is identified as SFLminiGP. Dorna’s phrase starts with the sanctioning body – FIM – and ends with the geographic identifier. For the U.S., the series is officially known as the FIM MiniGP North America Championship. In addition, the logos for the series look nothing alike. However, it is hard to get around the fact that the phrase “MiniGP” is at the core of both names.
Second, on a detailed level, the series are very different. The age requirements for riders are different. The FIM series requires a spec motorcycle (an Ohvale GP-0 160) and spec Pirelli tires. The New Jersey operation caters to a much wider variety of machines, tires, and rider ages. The products, in other words, have significant differences. A machine, rider, and tires that are all legal in the U.S.-based series may not be allowed into the FIM events. However, again, it is hard to ignore that both are youth-based motorcycle road racing series.
The range of prospective customers. Currently, the FIM MiniGP World Series operates in numerous countries, and it would be hard to argue that riders in those countries would confuse the FIM operation with the New Jersey-based operation. But in the U.S., the entire population of racers who qualify for the FIM events would be eligible to race with the New Jersey-based organization. Obviously, the prospective customers for each series would be pulled from the same pool in the eastern U.S.
From a common sense viewpoint, it’s hard to believe that a court in the United States would look kindly on what appears to be an international sanctioning body (FIM) and an international racing series promoter (Dorna) simply appropriating an American company’s trademark.
Roadracing World will follow up with any response received from Dorna Sports, and will report on any legal challenges as they develop.
The starting grid of the Daytona 200 in 2017. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Bridgestone Motorcycle Celebrates the 80th Running of the Daytona 200 With Enhanced Contingency Program
Bridgestone is proud to announce that it is raising its contingency offering for the 2022 Daytona 200 in celebration of the 80th running of the race.
For those riders racing on Bridgestone motorcycle tires, Bridgestone will offer cash prizes starting at $1,500 for the highest non-podium finish and up to $5,000 for a first-place finish.
Thrilled to showcase the performance of its Bridgestone motorcycle tires at an event that has challenged racers for over seven decades.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (February 7, 2022) – Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone) today announced its new Daytona 200 Contingency program in celebration of the event’s 80th running. The Daytona 200 will take place on March 10-12, 2022, at Daytona International Speedway, the “World Center of Racing.”
The Daytona 200 has challenged the world’s best motorcycle racers for over seven decades. This year, Bridgestone has raised its contingency offering to support racers riding on Bridgestone motorcycle tires.
For those riders racing on Bridgestone motorcycle tires, Bridgestone is proud to offer:
DAYTONA 200 CONTINGENCY*
First-Place Finish – $5,000
Second-Place Finish – $3,000
Third-Place Finish – $2,000
Highest Non-Podium Finish – $1,500
* For additional information, see your tech inspection representative during race registration.
“The Daytona 200 features some of the best racers in the world, and we want to reward those who ride on Bridgestone,” said Jared Williams, general manager, Bridgestone Motorcycle Tire Business in the United States and Canada. “We can’t wait to be a part of the excitement at the 80th running!”
To find the nearest Bridgestone race tire sub-distributor, call 1-800-828-9143 or email [email protected].
About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:
Bridgestone Americas, Inc. is the U.S.-based subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader in tires and rubber, building on its expertise to provide solutions for safe and sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Bridgestone Americas employs more than 50,000 people across its worldwide operations. Bridgestone offers a diverse product portfolio of premium tires and advanced solutions backed by innovative technologies, improving the way people around the world move, live, work and play.
Ducati Lenovo Team riders Francesco Bagnaia (left) and Jack Miller (right). Photo courtesy Ducati.
The 2022 Ducati Lenovo Team presented online
The Ducati Lenovo Team is ready to embark on its 20th MotoGP season
For the first time in MotoGP, the livery of the factory team’s Desmosedici GP 22 bikes will be in the original “Ducati red” colour
Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding: “The new Ducati Red livery of the Desmosedici GP 22 bikes is a testimony of the ever-closer bond between the bikes we develop for track racing and the ones that every Ducatista can buy”.
Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller, in their second year with the factory Ducati team, aim to clinch the MotoGP World Championship title in 2022
The Ducati Lenovo Team has officially launched its new racing season, presenting the team that will participate in the 2022 MotoGP World Championship, the 20th season for the Borgo Panigale based squad in the premier class. The video has been shared on Ducati and Ducati Corse’s social media platforms and broadcasted simultaneously on the official Ducati and MotoGP websites and YouTube channels.
In the video, the voice narrating is that of passion which, combined with talent, skill, dedication and determination, is one of the secret ingredients of the team that has been flying the Italian flag proudly at circuits around the world for 20 years. In addition, the video also retraces last year’s best moments, like the teams’ and manufacturers’ titles victories and the successes achieved by Francesco Bagnaia (2021 MotoGP runner-up with nine podiums and four wins) and Jack Miller (fourth in the Championship last year with five podiums including two wins). Both riders will continue to wear the colours of the factory Ducati team in 2022 for the second consecutive season.
The video also shows the behind-the-scenes images of the painting process of the 2022 bikes fairings, which will be in a new shade this year. For the first time since joining the MotoGP grid, the Desmosedici GP machines will be painted in the iconic “Ducati red”, the same colour that distinguishes the production bikes made by the Borgo Panigale based manufacturer. The new liveries were unveiled on 31st January, ahead of the bikes’ debut on the track, which took place on 5th and 6th February during the pre-season testing in Malaysia.
In 2022, the Ducati Lenovo Team will continue to benefit from the valuable support of its title partner Lenovo, a global technology leader in devices, services, infrastructure and solutions. Thanks to its smarter technologies, Lenovo has been fundamental in enabling the team to achieve last season’s success. In 2022, Lenovo will continue to work closely with the Ducati Corse technical staff to consolidate and advance the “Remote Garage” project that allows engineers to receive data from the bike in real-time and interact with the garage while working remotely.
After Sepang, the Ducati Lenovo Team riders will return to the track from 11th-13th February for three days of testing at the brand new Mandalika Street Circuit in Lombok (Indonesia). The first race of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship, which now sees twenty-one GPs confirmed, will be held from 4th-6th March – as usual at night – at the Losail International Circuit in Doha (Qatar).
Claudio Domenicali (CEO of Ducati Motor Holding)
“There is great excitement for the start of this MotoGP season. After winning our second consecutive Constructors’ World Title, the desire to put ourselves to the test is great. Last season, we decided to focus on a new strategy that has given us great satisfaction, with young and energetic riders who have matured this year, strengthened by the experience gained, and ready to be even more competitive. Two more of our bikes will be added in 2022, bringing the number of Ducati bikes on track worldwide to eight. For the first time in our MotoGP history, the factory team’s Desmosedici GP bikes will have a new Ducati red livery, the same colour as the bikes we sell to our passionate customers. It is a sign and testimony of the ever-closer bond between the bikes we develop for racing and those that every Ducatista can buy. Lenovo is also by our side. In addition to being the title partner of the factory team, it is also an important technology partner with whom we have achieved important goals such as speeding up data collection and analysis that have allowed us to improve decision-making processes on the track. We can’t wait for 6th March to start the season in Qatar and be back cheering all together with the Ducatisti #ForzaDucati!”
Luigi Dall’Igna (General Manager of Ducati Corse)
“We are thrilled to start this new season. In 2021, we achieved important goals by winning our third constructors’ title, our second teams’ title and closing the riders’ Championship in second place with Francesco Bagnaia. Pecco grew a lot during the last Grands Prix of last year, scoring four wins and nine podiums. We are sure that he will be one of the main contenders in the Championship this season. Alongside him will be Jack Miller, who showed his talent on several occasions last year, scoring five podiums, including two thrilling victories, and who, like Pecco, has the potential to challenge for the title. It will not be easy, and we know that the fight in the Championship will be even fiercer. There are several strong riders, and the other manufacturers have certainly worked during the winter to make their package even more competitive. However, we have also been working hard over the past few months to give Pecco and Jack a Desmosedici GP 22 bike that will allow them to be main contenders in every race and any condition. It’s going to be a very challenging season with twenty-one Grands Prix currently confirmed, but we’re ready and looking forward to getting on track to reap the benefits of our hard work.”
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team)
“I’m happy for the start of this new season. We’ve ended 2021 on a high, and I hope to continue 2022 from where we left off last year. My team and I have grown a lot since then. I feel good with my team, and I’m sure that we can do great things together. The Desmosedici GP in this new colour is even more beautiful, and I can’t wait to get back to racing with it. The goal for this season will be, as always, to constantly improve and be competitive in every race. We’ll aim to bring the MotoGP riders’ title, as well as the teams’ and manufacturers’ titles, back to Borgo Panigale”.
Jack Miller (#43 Ducati Lenovo Team)
“The Championship is finally about to start, and I feel ready more than ever to face this new season. Having another year of experience in MotoGP under my belt definitely makes me feel stronger, and I feel I have improved a lot, both physically and mentally, compared to 2021. It will be my second year with the Ducati Lenovo Team, a group of people who are really passionate about motorsports, and I feel lucky to be part of it. Being a factory Ducati rider is a source of pride, and it means having the support of many fans, not only in Italy but also all over the world. I can’t wait for March and be able to head out on track for the first race of the year in Qatar!”
A 2022-model KTM 890 Duke R at speed. Photo by Philip Platzer, courtesy KTM.
2022 KTM 890 DUKE R – THE SUPER SCALPEL GETS A SHARP NEW LOOK
The KTM 890 DUKE R slices into the new model year with the all-new Atlantic Blue base color lifted directly from its big brother, the KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R EVO.
Cutting up chicanes since 2020, the KTM 890 DUKE R has proven itself to be the undisputed champion in the middleweight segment. Boasting impressive power and torque figures, it represents a serious option for race-centric riders looking for agility, punch and poise.
A 2022-model KTM 890 Duke R. Photo by Philip Platzer, courtesy KTM.
The KTM 890 DUKE R is dubbed THE SUPER SCALPEL because of its lightning-fast steering geometry. Thanks to the load-bearing design of its tubular steel chassis and adjustable WP APEX suspension, it remains a no-compromise middleweight naked bike, equally at home on twisty mountain passes as it is on the racetrack, delivering more power, more torque and more intense asphalt-carving agility than any other parallel twin in the segment.
While its forward momentum and agility are exemplary, the KTM 890 DUKE R also excels when slowing down. Front monoblock Brembo Stylema calipers grabbing meaty 320 mm discs on the front, along with an adjustable Brembo MCS master cylinder, mean that THE SUPER SCALPEL stops as quickly and precisely as it attacks apexes. A set of sticky Michelin Power Cup 2 tires provides reliable grip on all asphalt surfaces in a range of weather conditions.
A 2022-model KTM 890 Duke R. Photo by Philip Platzer, courtesy KTM.
In terms of electronic wizardry, the KTM 890 DUKE R makes use of Cornering ABS and Cornering MTC (Motorcycle Traction Control) with a 6D lean angle sensor that not only detects the side-to-side (roll) and forward and backward (pitch) movements of the bike, but also the rotation of the bike on its vertical axis (yaw). This translates into comprehensive traction control management, accomplished by the use of a wheel slip control sensor and a pitch angle control sensor.
A selection of ride modes – namely RAIN, STREET, SPORT and optional TRACK mode – ensure full rider customization, nine levels of adjustable traction control slip, anti-wheelie on/off and the additional throttle control setting.
The biggest difference is obvious: the KTM 890 DUKE R now features a premium hue of matte paint. Called ‘Atlantic Blue’, the color is reminiscent of the palette used on the KTM RC16 GP racer and recently the KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R EVO, adding to THE SUPER SCALPEL’s READY TO RACE demeanor. Typical of all KTM ‘R’ models, the signature orange frame continues to provide the perfect contrast of colors, while strengthening its READY TO RACE presence.
With a new look to match its performance and character, the KTM 890 DUKE R once again promises to be a track-ready machine you’ll want to ride every day.
As always, a full range of specially created KTM PowerParts has been developed to personalize and further intensify your ride. A range of KTM PowerWear ensures the rider gets the most out of themself and boosts their READY TO RACE performance.
The 2022 KTM 890 DUKE R will arrive on authorized KTM dealer floors from February 2022 onwards. For more information, visit KTM.COM.
The Vision Wheel M4 Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike of Jake Lewis. Photo courtesy Suzuki Motor USA.
Suzuki and Team Hammer Announce 2022 Riders
Escalante and Lewis Bring Championship Experience to Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki
BREA, Calif., February 7, 2022 — Suzuki Motor USA, LLC announces the return of Team Hammer as its official road racing partner for the 2022 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Series. Team Hammer will field premier Superbike, Supersport, and Stock 1000 class athletes in 2022, all on Suzuki GSX-Rs. The team welcomes new 2022 title sponsor Vision Wheel and will compete as Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki.
Riding for Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki in 2022 will be 2020 MotoAmerica Supersport champion Richie Escalante, and 2021 Stock 1000 and Superbike Cup champion Jake Lewis in Superbike. Competing in the Superport class will be Sam Lochoff and Liam Grant, and Wyatt Farris will do battle for the team in Stock 1000.
Joining the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Superbike team is 2020 MotoAmerica Supersport Champion Richie Escalante. Hailing from Tizayuca, Mexico, Escalante earned himself a spot on the team’s GSX-R1000R Superbike with his impressive 2021 results. Escalante finished a strong runner-up to Team Hammer in the 2021 Supersport Championship with multiple victories and consistent podiums. Escalante looks to contend for the championship and strives towards the top of the field for the 2022 season.
“First off, I am very happy to work with Team Hammer, so thanks to (team owners) John and Chris Ulrich for this opportunity,” said Escalante. “My goal is to contend for the Superbike championship, and I am ready to start working towards this goal. I am eager to apply my skills to the Superbike class. I am also excited to see how my aggressive style works on the Suzuki. I like to push hard and slide under braking and the Suzuki GSX-R will be a great bike for my riding style.”
Veteran road racer Jake Lewis rejoins Team Hammer on a Suzuki Superbike for 2022. Lewis is the reigning Stock 1000 champion and won the MotoAmerica Superbike Cup on a Team Hammer-built Altus Racing GSX-R1000R in 2021. “I’m so excited to be back with Team Hammer, this year on a Superbike. I couldn’t be more pleased,” said Lewis.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki retains ultra-fast South African Sam Lochoff in Supersport for 2022. Lochoff looks to continue to build on the momentum of his spectacular rookie Supersport campaign and fight once more for this season’s MotoAmerica Supersport title aboard a Suzuki GSX-R.
Joining the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Supersport team is Liam Grant. A Boulder, Colorado native, Grant has advanced quickly through the ranks, kicking off his road racing career just five years ago. After establishing himself as a championship-winner at the club level with the Chuckwalla Valley Motorcycle Association and Utah Sport Bike Association, the fast-rising Grant made his MotoAmerica debut in 2019. The second-generation racer then finished his first full MotoAmerica campaign in 2020 ranked fifth in Junior Cup competition – scoring a pole and four top-fives along the way – before stepping up to Supersport in 2021.
“I’m really excited for this opportunity, and first I want to thank Team Hammer and Suzuki for offering me this chance,” Grant said. “We know the bike is very good and the team has had a lot of success. One thing for sure is that I will be giving it my all this season. I’ve been training and working very hard in the gym to be ready. The goal is to be competitive and earn some strong results this year while I learn and improve. I’m really happy.”
Wyatt Farris returns to the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki team for 2022 competing in the Stock 1000. With very consistent finishes in 2021, the veteran Farris rounds out a strong team of athletes, all focused on class-leading race performances.
ABOUT SUZUKI
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automotive Parts, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2022 season will mark Team Hammer’s 42nd consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 128 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 332 times and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport.) The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol and won four F-USA Championships.
ABOUT VISION WHEEL
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
Jason Aguilar (96), on his way to winning the 2017 MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Championship. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
MotoAmerica racer and race technician Jason Aguilar, age 25, is on life support in a Southern California hospital after suffering a serious crash while riding his mountain bike on Saturday, February 5.
Aguilar was with friends, who immediately called for help, and he was airlifted to Providence Mission Hospital, in Mission Viejo, California.
“He was rushed into surgery to relieve bleeding in his brain,” Bob Aguilar, Jason’s father posted on Facebook February 6. “While the surgery was successful in stopping the bleeding, he went without oxygen to his brain for too long before the surgery. As a result of the lack of oxygen, he suffered catastrophic brain damage that is irreversible.
“Jason is an organ donor, so the hospital is making arrangements for (the) donation of his organs and for recipients of those organs. Once that is complete, Jason will be taken off life support. We hope that Jason will live on in your memories and ours, and that the donation of his organs will allow his memory to live on in others.”
Jason Aguilar started road racing and winning at a young age. He won mini road racing Championships with M1GP and SCminiGP before winning more club racing titles with MotoWestGP and WERA.
In 2014, then-17-year-old Aguilar took third-place in AMA Pro Supersport Race Two at Road America and finished sixth in that Championship. In 2015, Aguilar got another podium finish in MotoAmerica Superstock 600 and reached the podium three more times in 2016.
In 2017, Aguilar, riding a Yamaha for his own team, won six races and the MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Championship.
Aguilar stepped up to the MotoAmerica Supersport class, and riding for his own team again, he finished fourth in the 2020 Championship with three podiums and a total of 11 top-five finishes.
The Californian had planned to move up to the MotoAmerica Superbike class in 2021, but a sponsor backed out at the last minute, forcing him to abandon all plans of racing that season.
When not racing, Aguilar worked full-time as a technician for FTECU and sometimes as a crew chief for other MotoAmerica racers. He was an avid mountain biker, and he had recently moved in with his girlfriend Mehgan McDonald with their dog Finn. He had planned on returning to MotoAmerica racing full-time in 2022.
“It is likely he will be taken off life support tomorrow (February 8),” Bob Aguilar wrote in a message to Roadracingworld.com. “In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer that donations be made to the Roadracing World Action Fund to help prevent others from severe injury.”
Editorial Notes: The all-time lap record at Sepang International Circuit is 1:58.303 set by Fabio Quartararo in 2019, the last time MotoGP raced at Sepang. Alex Rins and Maverick Vinales turned identical best lap times, 1:58.261, on Sunday, but Rins was listed higher because he did his lap time before Vinales.
FIM MotoGP World Championship Test
Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia
February 6, 2022
Day Two Lap Times (all on Michelin tires):
Enea Bastianini, Italy (Ducati), 1:58.131
Aleix Espargaro, Spain (Aprilia), 1:58.157
Jorge Martin, Spain (Ducati), 1:58.243
Alex Rins, Spain (Suzuki), 1:58.261
Maverick Vinales, Spain (Aprilia), 1:58.261
Francesco Bagnaia, Italy (Ducati), 1:58.265
Fabio Quartararo, France (Yamaha), 1:58.313
Marc Marquez, Spain (Honda), 1:58.332
Johann Zarco, France (Ducati), 1:58.413
Pol Espargaro, Spain (Honda), 1:58.420
Luca Marini, Italy (Ducati), 1:58.430
Joan Mir, Spain (Suzuki), 1:58.529
Takaaki Nakagami, Japan (Honda), 1:58.607
Jack Miller, Australia (Ducati), 1:58.645
Miguel Oliveira, Portugal (KTM), 1:58.701
Marco Bezzecchi, Italy (Ducati), 1:58.710
Alex Marquez, Spain (Honda), 1:58.800
Brad Binder, South Africa (KTM), 1:59.016
Raul Fernandez, Spain (KTM), 1:59.180
Fabio Di Giannantonio, Italy (Ducati), 1:59.197
Cal Crutchlow, UK (Yamaha), 1:59.262*
Andrea Dovizioso, Italy (Yamaha), 1:59.284
Remy Gardner, Australia (KTM), 1:59.348
Franco Morbidelli, Italy (Yamaha), 1:59.365
Darryn Binder, South Africa (Yamaha), 1:59.857
Sylvain Guintoli, France (Suzuki), 1:59.996*
Takuya Tsuda, Japan (Suzuki), 2:05.678*
*=test rider
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
#SepangTest: Bastianini hits back with fastest ever lap of Sepang
The ‘Beast’ bests Aprilia on Day 2, with 20 riders within a second on Sunday
Sunday, 06 February 2022
Enea Bastianini (23). Photo courtesy Dorna.
The two-day Official MotoGP™ Sepang Test concluded on Sunday, and with a new searing fastest ever lap of the venue. Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), on only his second day riding a MotoGP™ bike at Sepang International Circuit, set a scorching 1:58.131 to beat Day 1’s quickest rider Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) by just 0.026 – and the two were both under the previous fastest lap of the track. We saw 20 riders within 1.066 by the end of play, with Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) third quickest and only 0.112 off the top.
However, heavy afternoon rain did disrupt the action. Some riders ventured out in the wet conditions, but as expected, the timing screens remained unchanged from the early flurry of rapid laps.
DUCATI
Francesco Bagnaia (63). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Bastianini was the top Ducati on Day 2 – on the GP21 – as the ‘Beast’ hit back to topple Aprilia’s Saturday dominance. Martin, the rider who duelled and beat Bastianini in the fight for Rookie of the Year last season, leapt up the timesheets too – the Spaniard slotting into third and just 0.112 off the top. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) made a big move up the timesheets into sixth on Sunday, 0.134 off Bastianini, with Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) in ninth. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) was P14.
On rookie watch, Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) came out on top once again, despite a crash. Just over half a second off the fastest ever lap of the track is a feat in itself, and the number 72 ends the test in P16. Teammate Luca Marini also had a good day and was P11 by the end of play. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was P20, the number 49 having missed two days of the Shakedown but still able to get within 1.066 of his teammate’s record-breaker at the top.
MotoGP™ pitlane reporter Simon Crafar reported a concern shared with him by Ducati Lenovo Team Manager Davide Tardozzi: the throttle connection, and rideability. The new engine has made gains in top speed and at Jerez the feedback was all positive, but Sepang has shown there remains margin for improvement. Martin, as he begins his sophomore season, framed that more in terms of still having a big margin to improve the new bike – so pausing the ‘Jaws’ music may prove premature.
The GP22 machines appear to have settled with the new aero and updated air intake, and the updated ride-height device continues to make a splash as Borgo Panigale push the boundaries of innovation.
APRILIA
Maverick Vinales. Photo courtesy Dorna.
After taking a fantastic 1-2 on the opening day, Aprilia Racing end the Sepang Test in P2 and P5 thanks to the efforts of Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales. The new 2022 bike – with updates across the board – has been very well received by both riders. Aleix Espargaro has praised the turning and corner speed improvements, although the Spaniard does remain undecided on which chassis is best.
Technical Director Romano Albesiano explained that Aprilia’s longer runs at the Sepang Test, which included a 12-lap run for Espargaro, have been “to measure the temperature of the working components,” not seeing how fast Espargaro and Viñales can go. Whichever way you look at things, Noale have started 2022 on the front foot. Both Espargaro and Viñales are within 0.130s of Bastianini’s quickest time, so three more days in Mandalika should be enough time to iron out any remaining issues they have before the Qatar GP.
SUZUKI
Joan Mir. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Suzuki confirmed they had “significantly improved the engine”, which was a real key for the Hamamatsu factory as the inline-four machines – Suzuki and Yamaha – look to gain top speed without compromising elsewhere. There was more mixed feedback for aero and chassis updates but plenty that did work, making for some more good news.
Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was the fastest Suzuki once again, slotting into fourth and less than a tenth and a half off the top. 2020 MotoGP™ Champion Joan Mir was P12, still within four tenths of Bastianini as the timesheets were split more often by hundredths and thousandths. Mir also crashed, rider ok.
YAMAHA
Franco Morbidelli (21). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Yamaha’s engine has been a talking point for a few seasons now and after winning the World Championship in 2021, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) wanted more top speed. There has been a small step, but both Quartararo and Team Manager Maio Meregalli explained they expected a bigger improvement, so they’re focusing hard on other areas – mainly aerodynamics – to get the best out of the updated YZR-M1.
“We didn’t make any revolution, we tried to improve the bike we used last year and we mainly focused on aerodynamics, we started to compare two chassis and in my opinion the ‘real test’ will be in Mandalika, where the riders have their speed and confidence back,” said Meregalli to MotoGP™’s Jack Appleyard and Simon Crafar. “There we will spend three days working and testing all the items we’ve tested here. To take a decision on which way we can go is too early, we would prefer to wait in one weeks’ time to have a better overview of what is working better.”
Quartararo’s best time at the end of the test was a 1:58.313, 0.182s down on Bastianini’s effort, but he sounded pleased with his pace. The Frenchman also saved a couple of sets of tyres for the afternoon, but rain put a stop to him heading out to try and go faster. Overall, it was an upbeat Quartararo by the end of the Sepang Test though. His lap time put him in seventh place, with the next best Yamaha down in P22. Andrea Dovizioso (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™ Team) completed 55 laps as he continues his adaptation to the latest-spec Yamaha, with Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and rookie Darryn Binder (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™ Team) 24th and 25th respectively. Test Rider Cal Crutchlow was on track too, and we’ll be seeing more of the British rider in Mandalika.
Darryn Binder was able to get some wet weather laps under his belt in the afternoon on Day 2 as well, and finished 1.7s away from the fastest time at the Test. Very respectable from the South African, who now has three more days to get acquainted with his new bike in Mandalika.
HONDA
Pol Espargaro (44). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Work on the completely new RC213V continued on Day 2 for the HRC quartet of Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda teammate Pol Espargaro, Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), with the number 93 ending the Test as the quickest Honda.
Marc Marquez ended the Test with a 1:58.332 in P8 as the Spaniard got an important 101 laps under his belt overall. The new bike is a “big change” from the previous RC213V and Marc Marquez admitted he needs time to find the limits with the new bike, and at the end of Day 1 he was “very tired”. However, he did feel good with the package. Two crashes on Day 1 didn’t affect his preparations for the new season, and the three days coming up in Indonesia will be vital for the eight-time Champion.
Pol Espargaro was into the top 10 with a 1:58.420 to finish a couple of tenths away from the best pace, with Nakagami and Alex Marquez also in the 1:58 bracket. All three riders have been testing the 2022 RC213V from the get-go in Sepang and the signs are positive from the Japanese manufacturer.
KTM
Miguel Oliveira (88). Photo courtesy Dorna.
For KTM it remained a more muted test on the timesheets, but new Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager Francesco Guidotti said the focus for now, after a tougher 2021, is getting a good base to begin the season, and one from which the Austrian factory can then further develop. Guidotti said they’d had a lot of work to do and plenty of new parts, as well as a lot from 2021 to evaluate better. Some parts were “much better than expected”, and some things “so-so”, according to the Italian.
Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the fastest of the Mattighofen contingent in 15th but still within 0.570 of the fastest ever lap of the track, and Brad Binder was only a few places and a few tenths behind his teammate. On rookie watch, Raul Fernandez (Tech 3 KTM Factory Racing) was right behind Brad Binder and got down to a 1:59.180, 0.164 off the South African. 2021 Moto2™ Champion Remy Gardner, still pushing through the pain barrier after breaking his wrist in training, put in a best lap of 1:59.348.
That’s it from Sepang until the paddock returns later in the season to go racing. Now it’s time to pack up and head for the new Pertamina Mandalika Circuit for the second and final pre-season Official Test, with three days of action on the cards in Indonesia. In the meantime, stay ahead of the game on motogp.com and across social media as we digest everything from the #SepangTest!
More, from a press release issued by Gresini Racing:
#SEPANGTEST DAY2: BASTIANINI ON RECORD PACE, DIGGIA ONE SECOND AWAY
It was surely a positive Sepang test for Team Gresini Racing MotoGP as the Italian squad was among the protagonists in the two-day Malaysian outing that drew to a close today.
Enea Bastianini was simply superb: with only one quick-lap attempt in the morning, he was able to log the quickest-ever lap-time on two wheels at the Sepang International Circuit. A last-turn mistake prevented him from breaking the 1’58s barrier, but it matters very little: the most significant thing was his ability to ‘easily’ put together a ‘qualifying lap’, which was his Achille’s last year.
Fabio Di Giannantonio also did very well, as he finished one second away from his teammate while continuing his learning curve ahead of next week’s test at Lombok’s Mandalika International Circuit. Too bad for the rain that came in the afternoon and took away from Diggia some precious track-time.
1st – ENEA BASTIANINI #23 – (1’58.131s – 25 laps)
“It was very exciting to get back on the bike. We were very quick both yesterday and today: if yesterday we had to shake some rust off, today we worked on speed. Due to the rain we only managed to do one time attack, but it went quite well. We also had a look at our race pace these two days as we made a few set-up changes, and we improved a lot despite starting already from an excellent base. Now we need to test a new track – we will all start from zero and we will work for the race: we want to be quick there, too.”
“These two days have been very important, and we managed to do some significant steps forward towards being competitive. Yesterday things went smooth, while today we experienced some issues, which we were still able to fix with the team. Lap after lap I’m getting to know the bike a little bit better, and at every stop at the garage I’m getting to know the team better. Now we’ll have another three days at the Mandalika circuit, where we’ll work almost exclusively on myself and my riding style. We will also try to understand the tyres better.”
More, from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MOTOGP CONTINUE POSITIVE FEELINGS ON DAY 2 IN SEPANG
Sepang (Malaysia), 6th February 2022
SEPANG OFFICIAL MOTOGP TEST
TEST
Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli‘s second day of testing at the Sepang International Circuit was repeatedly halted by rain. Still, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP teammates put in numerous laps and took 7th and 24th place respectively in today‘s and the combined timesheets.
7th FABIO QUARTARARO 1’58.313 / 54 LAPS
24th FRANCO MORBIDELLI 1’59.365 / 38 LAPS
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP‘s Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli were back on track today at the Sepang International Circuit for a second and final day of testing in Malaysia. They continued to work through a number of different items, taking 7th and 24th place respectively in today‘s and the combined testing rankings.
Quartararo had hoped to get more laps in at the Sepang circuit, but various sudden rain showers altered his schedule. Still, the Frenchman was able to conclude the first official 2022 IRTA test with a good feeling. His best time of 1’58.313s, set in the dry on lap 12 of 54, put him in seventh place, 0.182s from first.
After a solid first day of testing, Morbidelli was motivated to resume his work on getting back the feeling with the bike. He didn’t take long to improve on his time from yesterday, bettering it by 0.742s on only his eighth lap of the day. As with his teammate, rain disrupted the testing plans but he still got some wet laps in. He ended the day in 24th place with a 1.234s margin to the top.
MASSIMO MEREGALLI
TEAM DIRECTOR
First of all, it was great to be back on track. Especially here, after two years. But I have to say that two days of testing, after the riders not having touched the bike for two months, was probably not enough. Luckily, we are now moving on to Indonesia, where for sure the test will be more productive. We spent the first day getting the riders back up to the speed they were on before the winter stop and having them get back their confidence on the bike. This second day was the most important one. It‘s impossible to make a solid decision already, because we need to test all the items at another track. Luckily, we have the Mandalika Test next week. We tried two chassis specs and different aerodynamic items. We are now going to analyse and study all the information we gathered and compare it with the feedback of the riders. In Mandalika we will try to confirm everything, and there is where we will make our final decision on how we will start the season.
FABIO QUARTARARO
I‘m really happy about my pace. Unfortunately, I kept two tyres to do a time attack, and then it was raining. But this morning I did a great lap! I‘m quite happy because I came from a really old rear tyre, and let‘s say that the gap between them was too big. I couldn‘t really take the benefit from the new rear tyre, but I‘m super happy. I think that we have some margin on one lap, and I think it was a good test. We can be satisfied. In Mandalika we will test again what we have tried at this test, and we‘ll see if there are any positive outcomes.
FRANCO MORBIDELLI
We made good steps also today. We wanted to improve on new tyres, and we did that. We wanted to improve our pace, and we did that too. Unfortunately, we were not able to do the time attack, because in our programme it was scheduled in the late afternoon, but with the rain it wasn‘t possible to do it. The feeling is getting better and better. Every time it‘s getting better with the bike. We‘re setting it up well to be fast and consistent. There is this time attack doubt that I wanted to take away. Unfortunately, we will have to wait until Indonesia for that, but so far, so good. I‘m quite happy.
More, from a press release issued by Tech3 KTM Factory Racing:
Fernandez and Gardner both make improvements on final day of Sepang Test
Tech3 KTM Factory Racing’s duo went on track for the fifth and final day of the week today at Sepang International Circuit. Following an intensive week of testing here in Malaysia with three days of Shakedown and the Official Sepang Test, Raul Fernandez and Remy Gardner slowed down the intensity on Sunday and completed 24 and 35 laps respectively.
Just like the rest of the MotoGP class, Raul Fernandez got an early start at 10:00 local time this morning to take advantage of the lower track temperatures. All the riders started the day very fast, and Raul rapidly improved his lap-time from yesterday (1’59.258) on his thirteenth lap, and then registered 1’59.180 a few laps later, placing him in nineteenth position at the end of the first two hours of the day. A heavy rain throughout the afternoon stopped the action on track for a while, but the Spaniard showed his willingness to ride on a wet track and he was the first to come out of the box to get a few laps in. The rookie finishes the Official Test only 1.049 seconds from the top position.
It was an early start too for Remy Gardner who also managed to improve his lap-time from yesterday just five laps after leaving the box. He continued to improve progressively throughout the morning, crossing the line on lap 17 in 1’59.697. Towards the end of the morning, he reached his best lap-time of the week with 1’59.348 on his thirty-fourth lap, just before calling it a day for the Test week here in Malaysia. After a very intensive week, the Australian was struggling with his injured wrist and decided to get some rest in order to take care of his physical condition. The Tech3 KTM Factory Racing is now headed to a new destination, Indonesia, to participate in another three days of testing at the new Pertamina Mandalika Circuit.
Raul Fernandez
Position: 19th
Time: 1’59.180
Laps: 24
“We end the test with only one second from the first position, it is incredible how close the MotoGP category is. All the manufacturer riders were here on track and it is going to be an amazing championship. KTM did an excellent job this week and I am really happy with all the work done here in Sepang. Step by step, I learn and I get closer to the factory riders, so this is what matters for me at the moment. During the tests, everybody is fast, but it will be different during the races, and I am well aware of that. For now, I think that we did a very good job here in Malaysia.”
Remy Gardner
Position: 23rd
Time: 1’59.348
Laps: 35
“It has been a very busy week of testing. Malaysia was fun but I did roughly two hundred laps here, so I have to admit that I look forward to changing the track and going to Mandalika. We tried a lot of different things this week, especially during the Official Test, and we managed to find some interesting points with the bike. Halfway through the day today, we decided to stop because I was struggling with my physical condition and especially with my wrist, after four full days on track, and it is important for me to focus on my injury’s recovery. I still managed to go faster this morning and I improved my lap-time, which I am happy with. We are still a bit far away from the top positions, but considering the circumstances, it is not bad at all.”
More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki ECSTAR:
RAIN STOPS PLAY IN SEPANG BUT SUZUKI REMAINS UPBEAT Alex Rins: 4th – 1’58.261 (+ 0.130)
Joan Mir: 12th – 1’58.529 (+ 0.398)
Sylvain Guintoli: 26th – 1’59.996 (+ 1.865)
The second day of testing at the Sepang International Circuit saw the familiar late afternoon rain storms arrive, cutting short the riders’ track time. However, Team Suzuki Ecstar still managed to carry out the majority of their testing plan.
One of the main areas of focus for both Joan Mir and Alex Rins was the cowlings. Then each rider took their own path to fine-tune other things; Mir working on the swingarm and Rins on the suspensions. Neither rider had planned to do a long run, and conditions also did not allow for this either.
Rins completed a total of 37 laps. He reported improvements compared to yesterday’s outing and he was satisfied with his pace.
Mir put in 35 laps. He was able to feel the potential of the engine more clearly than the previous day and he felt happy with the progress made.
Team Suzuki Ecstar will now move onto Mandalika Circuit in Indonesia, a brand new track, for another three days of testing next weekend; February 11th-13th.
Alex Rins:
“We’ve concluded the Sepang test, and a bit earlier than expected, but it’s been great to be back on the bike. The first part of today felt like qualifying, we were all out there trying to get laps in before the rain came! We learned a lot during these two days about what works well for us, and what still needs some improvement, but overall we’re going to Mandalika with a very good bike. I’m going to watch some Superbike races to try and understand how the Mandalika circuit is, and I’m really excited to arrive there because my supporters there are amazing.”
Joan Mir:
“Overall I’m really happy about the last two days here. The bike is working well and my feeling is good. Today felt better than yesterday but we couldn’t put it all together to push for a lap time, anyway, our pace is strong. I understood the potential of the new bike and the new engine and I have no complaints. Both Alex and I feel that we’ve made a step forward, and that’s an important thing. I’m really excited and interested to go to Mandalika next week – the fans there are so supportive and kind, and I’m waiting to discover the track!”
Sylvain Guintoli:
“Over the past five days – including the shakedown – I’ve done about 250 laps, and it was really good to be back on the bike again, and back in Sepang because I really like this place. The testing programme was quite intense because the team brought many items, but everything seems to be working well so far, especially the engine spec. I also worked on the chassis, the suspension, the aerodynamics, and the ride height device. I managed to set a new personal best lap around here and overall the bike feels really well balanced, it also looks great!”
Shinichi Sahara – Project Leader and Team Director:
“We came here with 2022 spec. bikes, which we’d already seen promising signs from last year, and we brought some new items to try. Our test riders and race riders found some of the new items were working in good way, but we couldn’t finish checking a few things due to rain this afternoon – we will try them in Mandalika next week. But the overall feeling is that we are more competitive. Our riders and all the team are feeling very positive and motivated to start another test in Indonesia, and to be ready for the first round in Qatar. I would like to say thank you to everyone for giving their all in these tests, and for their help launching our new bike.”
Ken Kawauchi – Technical Manager:
“We are pretty satisfied, we brought many items here and we were able to try almost all of them. The weather did disturb our plans a bit and it meant we couldn’t finish everything we wanted to, so we’ll continue the work in Mandalika. The important thing is that the 2022 engine spec. seems to be working well for us, and the riders are feeling quite happy.”
More, from a press release issued by KTM Factory Racing:
KTM GATHER FIRST TRACK MILEAGE OF 2022 MOTOGP™ AT SEPANG TEST
2022 MotoGP news
The 2022 KTM MotoGP effort swung into action for the first time this year with a comprehensive week of work at the Sepang International Circuit. The opening appointment of the racing calendar represented the first of two pre-season tests before the Grand Prix of Qatar on March 6th.
KTM accumulated almost 380 laps through Saturday and Sunday between the four riders. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder (18th on combined times) and Miguel Oliveira (15th) assessed new parts and ideas for the 2022 RC16 and further development after the final test outing of 2021 at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto in Spain. Tech3 KTM Factory Racing had an even busier schedule: rookies Raul Fernandez (19th) and Remy Gardner (23rd) filled a three-day ‘shakedown’ prior to the two official days at the fast and hot Sepang layout. Sunday was curtailed prematurely due to the typically unstable Malaysian climate. Heavy rainfall marked the end of the session by mid-afternoon but both Binder and Oliveira completed a few circulations in the wet.
MotoGP now moves onto the new Pertamina Mandalika Circuit in Indonesia for a three-day test from February 11th and the final chance to work on configuration before the Losail International Circuit beckons next month.
Brad Binder: “These last two days have been a challenge. We needed some more time to make the most out of the package. We have some small changes to the bike and we have the same performance as last year so now we need to explore, try different set-ups and balances to see what works further. Yesterday was about getting up the speed after the break and then we didn’t have that much time this morning before the weather cut things short. I did a few laps in the wet and everything felt good. Overall, I feel we have a lot of potential. We need to work more to extract it.”
Miguel Oliveira: “Progress was there. For sure our pace could have been a bit better but we were still trying things out to maximise what we have. We still feel there is room to improve and that’s important for us. It was good to have the half day today and we made the lap we had here two years ago, without any risk. Positive feelings, and now we move onto a new track. The package is there. We have to take advantage of what we have. This is the focus and what pushes us.”
Raul Fernandez: “We end the test only one second from first position: it is incredible how close the MotoGP category is. All the riders were here on track and it is going to be an amazing championship. KTM did an excellent job this week and I am really happy with all the work done here in Sepang. Step by step, I learn and I get closer to the others so this is what matters for me at the moment. During the tests, everybody is fast, but it will be different during the races, and I am well aware of that. For now, I think that we did a very good job here in Malaysia.”
Remy Gardner: “It has been a very busy week of testing. Malaysia was fun but I did roughly two hundred laps here, so I have to admit that I look forward to changing the track and going to Mandalika. We tried a lot of different things this week, especially during the Official Test, and we managed to find some interesting points with the bike. Halfway through the day today, we decided to stop because I was struggling with my physical condition and especially with my wrist after four full days on track. it is important for me to focus on my recovery. I still managed to go faster this morning and I improved my lap-time, which I am happy with. We are still a bit far away from the top positions but considering the circumstances, it is not bad at all.”
Francesco Guidotti, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “We had a productive one-and-a-half days here. We collected a lot of information between the four MotoGP riders – as well as our test riders Dani and Mika – and we tested different aero packs and the new engine spec was delivered. There were a few other important items. We have three more days of work in Mandalika next week and those will be important to evolve our ideas in different circumstances to be ready for the first race. A lot of comments from the riders here matched and that’s important in terms of finding the right direction. Hopefully that will be enough to make the ideal combo for the start of the season.”
Sebastian Risse, Red Bull KTM Technical Manager MotoGP: “Some intensive and productive days for us. First, we blew away the cobwebs from the winter and then focussed on the elements we have to homologate for the season. These are obviously important decisions and we have only two tracks at which to make them. We know Sepang and it’s a place where if something works then it can be transferred quite well to other tracks. It was important to understand the packages we had at our disposal here. We had several different aerodynamic options and we also worked on the engine and then the bike setting. It all had to fit together, and we had a few directions. Finally, we have a bike that is different for the riders, it does not have the same character as before and it is already a step faster and still with some areas to explore.”
More, from a press release issued by Repsol Honda:
Rain cuts into promising second day of Sepang Test
Dark clouds broke just after the lunch break and soaked the Malaysian track, Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro still able to profit from a busy morning.
Sepang’s legendary afternoon rain showers finally hit the MotoGP paddock after almost an entire week of uninterrupted running on Sunday, the final day of the first pre-season test. Hitting just as the Repsol Honda Team were returning from their mid-test break, the rain meant there was little to learn in the final afternoon and the squad began to prepare for the trip to Mandalika, Indonesia. Even with the rain, both Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro are content with what they’ve been able to accomplish in a day and a half.
Marc Marquez finishes the second day of the Sepang test in eighth place, a 1’58.332 on his seventh lap of 49 putting him just 0.201s behind Enea Bastianini – fastest on the day. Although unable to do a planned long run due to the weather, Marquez and his side of the Repsol Honda Team garage were able to continue exploring the new Honda RC213V and gaining important knowledge. The coming Mandalika test will allow Marquez to further unlock the potential of the package Honda HRC have prepared over the winter.
Less than a tenth of a second behind his Repsol Honda Team team-mate, Pol Espargaro completed the second day rounding out the top ten. Returning to the circuit after the afternoon rain, his best time was set in the morning on lap nine of 50. Across the two days Espargaro completed 114 laps aboard his 2022 machine. Long runs during the test showed promise for the RC213V and the #44, he and his team excited to confirm their findings next week in Indonesia.
The final three days of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship pre-season will begin on February 11 at the new Mandalika Circuit in Indonesia. These three days will be crucial for the Repsol Honda Team as they aim to prepare the new 2022 RC213V for the first race under the Qatari floodlights.
Marc Marquez
8TH 1’58.332
“I am happy about these two days in Sepang, but also tired! It’s true that it is very positive for us to be here even if I suffered a little bit physically, but we suffer now to enjoy in the season. When I push with the bike, the speed is there, and we are learning a lot about this bike after trying some big things. The bike certainly has potential and today we understood the front feeling better after some changes we made. Pol and Alex were fast in the long ran which is encouraging. I did a few laps in the damp and felt good too.”
Pol Espargaro
10TH 1’58.420
“In general I’m pretty happy with how the test has gone, of course it would have been good to do a few more laps but the weather is what it is. We are close to the front with a new bike and this is positive. There’s still some time to find over one fast lap and I made a small mistake on my fastest lap, but on the longer runs we are working well. It will be important to improve the one lap speed because we have seen how tight Saturdays are in MotoGP. We were able to gather good data here and now we have a bit of homework to do before the next test.”
More, from a press release issued by Mooney VR46 Racing Team:
STEP FORWARD FOR LUCA MARINI AND MARCO BEZZECCHI AT SEPANG
On the last day of testing, important chronometric improvements for Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi, 11th and 16th in the combined standings of the two days
Sepang (Malaysia), February 6th 2022 – First act of 2022 in archive for the riders of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team at Sepang where the official MotoGP test ended today. Good sensations on the track with the Ducati Desmosedici GPs for both with Luca Marini in 11th place in the combined standings of the two days and Marco Bezzecchi in P16.
An uphill start for Luca yesterday, forced into the garage for a long time, but a very convincing Day2 and a final lap time of 1.58.430 signed just before a heavy storm hit the Sepang International Circuit area. Opportunity to test the GP22 even in wet conditions and complete a total of 37 laps during the day.
Marco Bezzecchi (1.58.701) also closes the long week of testing in crescendo, very fast and under the wall of 1.59, the fastest rookie. Also for him the first laps in the wet on the MotoGP bike at the end of the day.
Transfer time now for the Mooney VR46 Racing Team which will leave Malaysia in the next few hours for Indonesia. Next appointment scheduled: MotoGP test, 11-13 February, at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit.
Luca Marini #10
I am happy with this second day of testing: I am satisfied with the base I found, we are not at 100%, considering that I was forced into the garage yesterday, but it is okay. Today both bikes were perfect, I was fast right away from the pit lane exit and I had a good feeling. To be only the second day in Sepang, we made a nice step on the lap time and we tried something on the setting. In the afternoon the plan included a qualifying simulation, but the storm was unexpected. A pity,, but it’s not the priority at the moment and I’m happy to have been able to ride in the wet at the end of the day. Marco Bezzecchi #72
I honestly didn’t expect a lap time like this, I’m happy, we did a great job with the Team, the technicians and Ducati. A shame about this morning: just before my fastest lap, I was long on the last corner, I entered the gravel and I crashed. I went back to the garage and with different tires I did my best lap time. An impressive time, built step by step from the shakedown. Compared to the first days, I feel better on the bike, at the beginning I was missing something on the front in terms of riding style, then we checked all the data and we managed to make a nice step forward. I can’t wait to get back at work in Mandalika.
Pablo Nieto
Team Manager
I am satisfied with what has been done in this long week here in Malaysia. Well done Luca who found the feeling after a complicated day y. He worked on the set up and things went better. Marco worked hard in the shakedown and collected a lot of data that was then really useful for this second test where he was able to try the new bike even in the wet. We are a young Team, but I am very happy with the whole group, we can’t wait to get back on track in Indonesia.
More, from a press release issued by WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team:
Dovizioso and Binder progressing on final day in Malaysia
WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team concludes the first test of the year with noticeable improvements of lap times.
Sunday saw the MotoGP field hitting the Sepang International Circuit for a second and final official test day. While conditions proved to be ideal once again in the first hours, rain interrupted proceedings after lunchtime. Yet, both WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team riders managed to step forward already in the morning.
Following a first day full of work, Andrea Dovizioso aimed to find clearer directions aboard his 2022 Yamaha YZR-M1 today. The Italian set his fastest time on lap 12 and went more than one second quicker compared to day one. Due to the weather conditions, he was unable to chase faster lap times in the afternoon, but still went out and did a total of 115 laps throughout the two days of action.
At the same time, Darryn Binder advanced significantly. The premier class rookie broke the 2-minutes mark already on his first run and was 0.961 seconds quicker than on day one of the official test. Compared to his first day on track this Monday, he even went over two seconds faster and did 55 further laps today. This afternoon, the South African even used the conditions to go out in the wet for the very first time.
The WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team is now ready to pack and fly over to Indonesia, where the entire paddock is excited to get to know the Mandalika Circuit, which is a new addition to the MotoGP World Championship calendar in 2022.
ANDREA DOVIZIOSO
“We made some progress for sure but I can’t be happy about where we’re at because there are still too many things I don’t have under control. The way I ride the bike is not good enough. I can be faster for sure because this morning I wasn’t able to use the potential of the soft tyre. Apart from that, I’m still not feeling that good. These two days have been very difficult but like always in Malaysia, I think it’s the best track to test some high turns but the condition is over the limit, the grip changes and you don’t have enough tyres to compare. Anyway, I’m very happy to go on a different new track, and I will continue my work with the team to do better.”
DARRYN BINDER
“Yesterday we worked really hard but didn’t get the results we wanted. Today, we came back fresh and used everything we worked on yesterday and put it straight into play immediately. After that I was looking forward to just working throughout the day, trying to perfect everything, learn and keep trying but unfortunately it started to rain. But being a rookie that was great as it gave me a chance to go out on the wet with the bike. In my eyes, it’s been a positive two days.”
Razlan Razali, Founder and Team Principal WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team
“In general the last two days has been a positive test for both our riders, both have improved in terms of time. It is still early days and we wait and see for the final test in Mandalika and finally in Qatar. But overall, we are very happy with the first test. We must congratulate Sepang International Circuit (SIC) for being able to allow the MotoGP paddock to come and test here this weekend.”
Wilco Zeelenberg, Team Manager WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team
“It has been a very good test, we learned a lot. Of course we are not in the spot and place we want to be, but we have to respect the level of the group. Darryn for sure improved today and again did a step, which was our aim every day to be better and we have been doing that. Today he learned a lot in the rain with the soft and medium rain tyres, going out on half intermediate track conditions that will help in the season when he’s on the grid and it starts to rain. For Andrea, we have been trying to improve the bike, especially on rear grip and traction and we reached a limit, where we need to make more steps in that area. Over the two days, we made a lot of laps and gained a lot of information and now we’re ready to go to Mandalika.”
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia:
GOOD START FOR THE NEW 2022 APRILIA RS-GP
ALEIX AND MAVERICK FAST STRAIGHT AWAY BUT IT’S THE FEELING THAT GIVES THEM MORE CONFIDENCE
AFTER SEPANG, THE SECOND AND FINAL PRE-SEASON TEST WILL BE INDONESIA
Even with all the caution demanded by the circumstances, this is definitely a good début for the new Aprilia RS-GP in 2022 version. On the track in Sepang (Malaysia) for the first tests of the season, the new Italian bike provided immediate positive feedback in the able hands of tester Lorenzo Savadori, sensations which were then confirmed when Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Viñales tested it.
After three days dedicated to the shakedown (the first real test of the new prototypes), it was time for the entire MotoGP class to have two days of official testing. It was clear by the end of the sessions that the competition is still extremely fierce, with 19 riders all within one second of one another. In any case, the stopwatch confirmed that Aprilia is on the right path, with Aleix second, just 26 thousandths of a second behind the leader and beating the track record. Maverick was also fast straight away, just 130 thousandths of a second behind, riding his RS-GP to fifth place.
However, although the times may not provide the most accurate picture of the situation, since they were achieved by all during true time attacks on soft tyres, feedback on the feeling is a different story. And this is why Aprilia is confident as they head to the new Indonesian Mandalika track for the second and final pre-season tests.
Aleix Espargaró
“I must thank the staff in Noale. Albesiano and all the engineers did a good job. From the first time I swung a leg over, during a photo shoot, I noticed how sleek and compact the new RS-GP is, and I know how hard it is to achieve this result. The ergonomics, the frame and all the new features make it extremely agile, letting me improve on cornerspeed, especially in fast turns. However, we still need to consider that this is just the first test and that we are all extremely close. The current level of MotoGP is absolutely incredible. We’ll keep working and I can’t wait to turn laps on the new Mandalika circuit too.”
Maverick Viñales
“I’m pleased with this first test. I felt extremely comfortable on the bike. I was especially surprised by our race pace, with used tyres, whereas on the flying lap, I am still unable to fully exploit the bike’s potential. When you try to find the limit, and you have to do that often in MotoGP today, the feeling has to be more than perfect, but I am still making a few mistakes. I need to get used to the way this bike behaves when I’m looking for maximum performance and that’s a process we’re working on.”
Lorenzo Savadori
“The 2022 bike seems like a clear step forward. I did some tests here aimed specifically at setting up Aleix and Maverick’s work, since this is the first shakedown of a new project. I can’t wait to get start on the actual testing programme, which will let us grow the RS-GP even further. The base is there. They did a great job and you can tell straight away.”
More, from a press release issued by Pramac Racing:
SEPANG TEST – SECOND AND FINAL DAY OF TESTING IN SEPANG ENDS WITH MARTIN AND ZARCO FINISHING THIRD AND NINTH RESPECTIVELY.
Jorge Martin put in an excellent performance to take the third fastest time of 1:58.243. Johann Zarco focused more on development work with the main objective of being able to fully exploit all the characteristics of his Desmosedici GP22, finishing the test day in ninth position with his best time of 1:58.413. It was a positive two days of testing, ending with a clear improvement and gaining knowledge of the bike’s potential. The Indonesia test will give us the right push to start the championship in the best possible way.
Jorge Martín
It was a positive second day, we brought home a lot of information that we will need in a few days in Indonesia. Unfortunately it rained in the afternoon and we didn’t get the most out of the day, but I am very satisfied with this first test.
Johann Zarco
Another positive day for us, I am happy with how we have worked and how I feel on the bike, we also did a wet run to see the feeling and I felt really good. There are still some areas where we can improve but we will make the most of next week’s test to be ready for Qatar.
More, from a press release issued by LCR Honda Castrol:
ÁLEX MÁRQUEZ PUTS IN THE HARD YARDS AT SEPANG TEST
6 February 2022 | Sepang Test
Álex Márquez got through a busy schedule as the first official MotoGP pre-season test finished in hot, muggy conditions at Sepang International Circuit on Sunday. The LCR Honda CASTROL rider took the opportunity to put in some hard yards on the 2022 RC213V prototype as he ramped up preparations for the new World Championship season.
The Spaniard enjoyed plenty of track time on both days – despite rain disrupting proceedings on Sunday afternoon – as he racked up the most laps of any rider at the two-day session. On Saturday, Álex completed 65 as he went 15th fastest, before adding another 57 on Sunday as he gathered valuable data in all conditions.
The second and final pre-season test will take place at Indonesia’s new Mandalika circuit from February 11-13.
Álex Márquez – 17th
(1’58.800)
“Second day here in Malaysia and I think we did a really good job overall. The most important thing for us at this test was to get to know the bike, do many laps and gather information for the future. We are getting to know the bike more and more and we’re not doing badly. There is still room for improvement, but the base is really good, in terms of set-up and performance.
Today we were able to do nearly race distance with a simulation of 15 laps and the pace wasn’t bad, it was really constant. Unfortunately, the only thing we missed today was a time attack as, when I tried to make one, I had a really small crash, but the most important thing this weekend was the feeling. I want to thank my team for all their work on these two days, now we go to Mandalika with a clear plan of what we need to improve.”
More, from a press release issued by LCR Honda Idemitsu:
TAKA ENJOYS PRODUCTIVE TEST SESSION AT SEPANG
6 February 2022 | Sepang Test
The first official pre-season test ahead of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship wrapped up at a typically humid Sepang on Sunday. The two-day session at the Sepang International Circuit provided the premier class teams with a crucial chance to fine-tune their machinery for the new season with LCR Honda IDEMITSU rider Takaaki Nakagami putting the revamped RC213V through its paces.
The Japanese star was able to amass lots of useful data as he clocked up over 100 laps across the two days, 62 on Saturday and 41 on Sunday when rain interrupted the riders in the afternoon. Taka looked comfortable on the 2022 prototype as he continued working for the duration of both sessions, finishing in 12th fastest on the timesheets on day one and 13th on day two.
Takaaki Nakagami – 13th
(1’58.607)
“We had a really good two-day test here in Sepang and I’m very happy with the step forward we’ve made. From yesterday we were able to improve our confidence on the bike and find a solution. This new bike has really great potential so I’m really happy about that. I want to say a big thanks to my team because these two days for the mechanics are really hard, but they did a great job. I’m looking forward to the next test at Mandalika as it’s a new country and new circuit for us, so I’m really excited”.
More, from a press release issued by Ducati Lenovo Team:
The Ducati Lenovo Team concludes MotoGP pre-season testing at Sepang with Bagnaia sixth and Miller fourteenth
Enea Bastianini is the fastest (new unofficial Sepang record) with the Desmosedici GP bike of the Gresini Racing team
Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller concluded the first MotoGP pre-season test of 2022 at Sepang International Circuit (Malaysia). Over the two days, the Ducati Lenovo Team riders could lap again at the Malaysian track (which had been absent from the MotoGP calendar for the past two years) with their Desmosedici GP bikes in 2022 configuration.
Despite the scorching temperatures, the Borgo Panigale team’s riders found good conditions to ride, except for the last few hours of the second day, which were disturbed by rain. During the Sepang test, both Bagnaia and Miller continued the testing program they began last November in Spain, at Jerez de la Frontera, testing the new solutions developed by the Ducati Corse engineers over the winter.
With 110 laps under his belt and a best time of 1:58.265, Pecco closed the test in sixth position, while Jack, who completed 92 laps, finished fourteenth with a best time of 1:58.645, 380 thousandths behind his teammate. Enea Bastianini topped the Sepang test with the Ducati Desmosedici GP of the Gresini Racing team, thanks to a lap in 1:58.131, 172 thousandths faster than the current circuit record.
After these first two days on track for 2022, the Ducati Lenovo Team riders will have another three days of testing next weekend. From 11th-13th February, MotoGP will make its debut at the brand new Mandalika Street Circuit in Lombok, Indonesia, for the final official test before the season opener scheduled on 6th March in Qatar.
Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1:58.265 (6th)
“I am happy with how this second day of testing went. We are definitely not at the level I aim for yet, but I know we will get there soon. In just two days of working with the new bike, we have taken a big step forward, and with each session, we continued to improve. Now we have to keep working in this direction to be ready for the start of the Championship. These days, I did not concentrate on finding the best time. My priority now is to work on developing the bike, which has shown to have really great potential. I am satisfied and can’t wait to get on track for another three days of testing next week in Indonesia”.
Jack Miller (#43 Ducati Lenovo Team) – 1:58.645 (14th)
“Thanks to the data we gathered on the first day, we were able to take a big step forward today, and I also felt more comfortable on the bike. Unfortunately, we missed the afternoon because of the rain, but we could still carry out most of our program. I have been busy testing some new components, and maybe if we had pushed harder, we could have been even faster, but we are still not far off the front. In general, I’m satisfied with these first two days of work, and I can’t wait to get back on track in a few days at Mandalika”.
A statue of Moto Guzzi co-founder, aviation pioneer, and entrepreneur Giorgio Parodi in Genoa, Italy. Photo by Elena Bagnasco.
Editorial Note: To learn more about all of the activities being planned in Italy to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Moto Guzzi co-founder, aviation pioneer, and entrepreneur Giorgio Parodi, go HERE.
The GP Days program is enriched with new events; three days dedicated to Giorgio Parodi from Genoa, the founder of Moto Guzzi, which has just scored 100 years of intense history.
The fundraising for the Medicine and Rehabilitation Pavilion of the Giannina Gaslini Institute in Genoa is proceeding thanks to the generous contribution of the great heart of the “Guzzisti” people.
In addition to the already rich program, “MondoMotoGuzzi,” the international review of the Brand Clubs, will take place in the Porto Antico area near the renowned Aquarium of Genoa. The event is promoted by the Moto Guzzi World Club, thanks to the operational and organizational support of the local Moto Guzzi Club Genova.
“Every year MondoMotoGuzzi takes place in a different European location, but for the Centenary it couldn’t have been in any other place than the town where the legal act was signed back in 1921,” said Mario Arosio, President of the Moto Guzzi World Club.
“After the success of ‘MondoMotoGuzzi2011’ held in Genoa for the 90th birthday of the Eagle of Mandello, the official event of the Moto Guzzi World Club is back in Genoa to celebrate 100 candles and its founder. Rescheduled in 2022 because of the pandemic emergency, the 100+1 show will be so much more interesting and awaited in the wonderful frame of the Porto Antico with the chance to be part of the ‘Eagles parade’ through the most beautiful ways of our enchanting town,” said Andrea Natale, President of the Moto Guzzi Club Genova.
“Thanks to MondoMotoGuzzi our program for the 30th Anniversary of Porto Antico is enriched with a prestigious event,” said Mauro Ferrando, President of Porto Antico S.p.A. “I’m sure that all enthusiasts, tourists and the Genoese will not miss this opportunity to celebrate Moto Guzzi in such an enchanting venus.”
Talking about eagles and engines, the exhibition of one of the queens of Italian motorcycle history will be repeated at Palazzo Tursi. After the now legendary GP (Guzzi-Parodi), the first prototype of 1919, this year many visitors and guests in town will be able to admire a true jewel of mechanical engineering: the “eight cylinders,” which represented a solid cutting-edge technology motorbike, back in 1955 with its 285 KM/h. Giorgio Parodi strongly believed in this masterpiece and supported the historic designer of the Moto Guzzi racing team, the engineer Giulio Cesare Carcano, with his idea from the first draft up to its roll out.
The eight-cylinder Moto Guzzi that went 285 kph (177 mph) in 1955. Photo courtesy Giorgio Parodi Association.
The Doge’s Palace will be the backdrop to “The Moto Guzzi and the People of its Time,” a chronological review of the motorcycles produced since the beginning, telling the stories of men and motorbikes through anecdotes and curiosities. Those men who designed, built, and used those bikes, because a motorcycle without a man is a not living object and leaves no trace.
The location for the gala dinner organized by UNUCI Rapallo will be soon revealed.
In the same period of GP Days, the well-known Rolli Days will take place in town, and it will be possible to book guided tours in the magnificent buildings such as the Diocesan Museum, the medieval cloister full of frescoes and built on an ancient Roman “domus” with its magnificent, frescoed rooms, including the 16th-century “drapes of the Passion” on denim canvas, unique in the world.
It will also be possible to follow Giorgio’s passions for flying and feel the emotions of the great aviator, booking a trip on a seaplane, thanks to the Sea Flight School, which will be in the beautiful Santa Margherita Ligure with its ultralight on Saturday and Sunday, with the main purpose of spreading aeronautical culture.
For more information on scheduled events, reservations, accommodation, registrations and gadgets, please remember to visit the website www.giorgioparodi.it, where it will also be possible to follow in the footsteps of the founder of our well-known motorcycle manufacturer through the interesting itineraries proposed by the TeA (Tourism and Environment Association). TeA President Mauro Baldassarri explains: “We have geo-referenced many Genoese places linked to the history of Moto Guzzi and to Giorgio Parodi, providing them with images, information and curiosities. Therefore, we give the opportunity to whom comes to Genoa, to study his own itinerary ‘in Giorgio’s footsteps’ or to follow what we have already prepared. The ones who will not be in the city will be still able to see the places either from a PC or from a smartphone or tablet.”
For MondoMotoGuzzi, the reference platform is that of the Moto Guzzi Club Genova, www.motoguzziclubgenova.it.
We invite you all to come and enjoy what promises to be the “motorcycle & aviation” event of the year: the GP Days and Moto Guzzi Jubilee, supported by the Air Force Association in Genoa, are the perfect bridge that leads to 2023 when the Italian Air Force will celebrate its hundred years of history, on March the 28th. ‘Lattuga’, Parodi’s in-flight nickname, has been a prominent institutional testimonial of his time. He’s been impeccable citizen, with his generous commitment, he was able to pair his profile of valiant highly decorated aviator in three wars with that, equally brilliant, of successful entrepreneur and passionate flight and motorbike sportsman.
Two Jubilees linked together by a golden eagle with open wings.
Editorial Note: The all-time lap record at Sepang International Circuit is 1:58.303 set by Fabio Quartararo in 2019, the last time MotoGP raced at Sepang.
FIM MotoGP World Championship Test
Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia
February 5, 2022
Day One Lap Times (all on Michelin tires):
Aleix Espargaro, Spain (Aprilia), 1:58.371
Maverick Vinales, Spain (Aprilia), 1:58.384
Alex Rins, Spain (Suzuki), 1:58.471
Enea Bastianini, Italy (Ducati), 1:58.638
Johann Zarco, France (Ducati), 1:58.946
Fabio Quartararo, France (Yamaha), 1:59.002
Joan Mir, Spain (Suzuki), 1:59.067
Marc Marquez, Spain (Honda), 1:59.287
Pol Espargaro, Spain (Honda), 1:59.353
Marco Bezzecchi, Italy (Ducati), 1:59.468
Cal Crutchlow, UK (Yamaha), 1:59.558*
Takaaki Nakagami, Japan (Honda), 1:59.634
Raul Fernandez, Spain (KTM), 1:59.682
Brad Binder, South Africa (KTM), 1:59.784
Alex Marquez, Spain (Honda), 1:59.913
Miguel Oliveira, Portugal (KTM), 1:59.945
Jorge Martin, Spain (Ducati), 1:59.949
Luca Marini, Italy (Ducati), 1:59.966
Francesco Bagnaia, Italy (Ducati), 2:00.027
Fabio Di Giannantonio, Italy (Ducati), 2:00.047
Franco Morbidelli, Italy (Yamaha), 2:00.107
Jack Miller, Australia (Ducati), 2:00.177
Andrea Dovizioso, Italy (Yamaha), 2:00.342
Remy Gardner, Australia (KTM), 2:00.470
Darryn Binder, South Africa (Yamaha), 2:00.818
Sylvain Guintoli, France (Suzuki), 2:01.390*
Lorenzo Savadori, Italy (Aprilia), 2:04.385*
*=test rider
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
#SepangTest: Aprilia steal the headlines with a 1-2 on Day 1
The Noale factory blast out the blocks to the top, with Suzuki on the chase
Saturday, 05 February 2022
2022 pre-season testing couldn’t have started any better for Aprilia Racing. Aleix Espargaro put in a 1:58.371 to take the honours on Day 1 at the Sepang Test, and then teammate Maverick Viñales shot up into second, just 0.013s off his compatriot. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was third quickest on a busy opening day in Malaysia, with plenty of updated parts making an appearance.
Aleix Espargaro (41). Photo courtesy Dorna.
APRILIA
During the Shakedown Test, Aprilia Racing Technical Director Romano Albesiano explained how the 2022 RS-GP is like “moving a building two metres away. It’s not a big change, but you have to move everything.” Basically, the bike is a completely new machine, albeit similar to the one we saw return to fighting at the front in 2021. And early indications suggest that both Aleix Espargaro and Viñales are enjoying themselves, with Viñales especially enjoying that the new RS-GP is narrower.
On the ninth lap of the day, Aleix Espargaro slammed in his 1:58.371, one of the fastest-ever laps of Sepang International Circuit on two wheels, with Viñales’ best lap just 0.013 in arrears coming at the end of the day as the Noale factory bookended the action with a show of force each. 98 laps were completed between the pair.
Alex Rins (42). Photo courtesy Dorna.
SUZUKI
For Suzuki, the day started well and ended well on the timesheets as Rins and Team Suzuki Ecstar teammate Joan Mir were joined on duty by test rider Sylvain Guintoli. Between them, the three put in over 180 laps. Rins crashed early on at Turn 9, rider ok, but the number 42 ended the day in third overall – starting there, dropping down a couple of places and then catapulting himself back ahead of Enea Bastianini (Gresini MotoGP Team).
Mir joined Rins in the top five early on before the 2020 Champion dropped down to seventh on the timesheets. With Suzuki looking for a little more power, the new engine has already been put through a good few paces and that work continued for the Hamamatsu factory. The ride height device – debuted half way through 2021 – is a key focus too, and the GSX-RR was spotted with the carbon reinforced chassis already seen on track during testing at Misano and Jerez last year.
Johann Zarco (5). Photo courtesy Dorna.
DUCATI
At Ducati, it was a more muted day on the timesheets for some of the more established riders, but that could speak to a sense of serenity in not yet going for a time attack. The fastest Borgo Panigale machine was Bastianini as he settles into life at Gresini and on the GP21, the ‘Beast’ shooting straight out the blocks into second for much of the day with a 1:58.638. He was fourth by the end of play with that laptime, with Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) for close company in fifth.
The next Ducati on the timesheets was a stunning performance from Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) in P10. The Italian’s 1:59.468 was no mean feat and sees him end Day 1 as the fastest rookie.
For those testing more than settling in, focus remained on the engine and the interesting exhaust evolutions brought by the Borgo Panigale factory. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and teammate Jack Miller had the new tail exhaust on both machines, as did Zarco. Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin had one to try too, and he was the fastest of the four in P17 just ahead of Mooney VR46 Racing Team’s Luca Marini. Bagnaia was P19 ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP) as the rookie got back out… and Miller ended the day in P22. Ducati time attacks will be a huge point of interest on Day 2!
Fabio Quartararo (20). Photo courtesy Dorna.
YAMAHA
The biggest talking point regarding the 2022 Yamaha YZR-M1 is the engine. We know the Iwata factory are trying to squeeze some more top speed from their package, so five days of pre-season testing are vital for them to see if work over the winter has paid off. Elsewhere, though, there’s plenty of external updates to have a look at.
There’s some new front aero, similar to the one seen on the Aprilia, while Yamaha have also been testing an additional set of wings that sit further down on the side fairings. Knee supports have been spotted, too, as have some silver wheels. These were seen on Ducatis at some Grands Prix in 2021, and it is aimed at keeping the tyre a bit cooler.
Reigning World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was the leading Yamaha rider on Day 1 with a 1:59.002, the history-making Frenchman 0.6s from Aleix Espargaro’s effort. Test Rider Cal Crutchlow was back on track and completed 47 laps. A best of a 1:59.558 put the British rider 11th on the timesheets.
Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Andrea Dovizioso (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™ Team), both running 2022 YZR-M1s, were unable to dip into the 1:59s, while rookie Darryn Binder’s (WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP™ Team) best was a 2:00.818 after another 45 laps for the South African.
Marc Marquez (93). Photo courtesy Dorna.
HONDA
The main talking point heading into the Sepang Test was the return of eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team). After recovering from a second bout of diplopia, the number 93 was back on an RC213V for the first time since October 2021 and headed out on last year’s bike first to reacquaint himself with MotoGP™. It wasn’t long before Marc Marquez was out on Honda’s 2022 package though, and despite a small crash at Turn 9 in the morning, followed by another small tumble towards the end of the day at Turn 15, all seemed well with the Spaniard. A 1:59.287 and 62 laps put Marc Marquez in eighth place on the timesheets, a solid day at the office.
Factory teammate Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) got straight down to business with the 2022 model, the latest spec Honda that has been updated from the Jerez Test, with one of Takaaki Nakagami’s (LCR Honda Idemitsu) machines running a never-before-seen chassis. Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) was lapping on the 2022 Honda as all four riders put in the work on Day 1.
The tail unit, the exhaust that runs past the tail unit, some aero, and a new engine were also on the checklist for the Japanese giants, as well as more than four chassis. It’s Honda’s biggest change within the same set of rules in MotoGP™ and the early signs are very much positive. Pol Espargaro ended the day in ninth, less than a tenth off Marc Marquez, and Nakagami and Alex Marquez ventured into the 1:59s.
Raul Fernandez (25). Photo courtesy Dorna.
KTM
Brad Binder led the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing ranks on Day 1. The South African ended the day in P14, with teammate Miguel Oliveira in P16 – both within the high 1:59s. The two factory riders took over from the test line-up of Mika Kallio and MotoGP™ Legend Dani Pedrosa as KTM were focused on their new engine and a different air intake, as well as different aero. Both Binder and Oliveira crashed, both ok.
Aside from the technical novelties – and the arrival of new Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager Francesco Guidotti – there’s an all-new line-up at Tech 3 KTM Factory Racing too. And the fastest KTM on Day 1 was in fact Tech 3’s rookie sensation Raul Fernandez. He put in a 1:59.682 to end the day in P13. Moto2™ World Champion Remy Gardner, fighting through the pain barrier after breaking his wrist in training, put in a 2:00.470 and managed 60 laps.
That’s a wrap on Day 1 but come back for more on Sunday! The field put in another 10:00-18:00 (GMT+8) shift at Sepang, with updates on motogp.com and across social media before another After the Flag from 17:30!
More, from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
KICK OFF 2022 TESTING PROGRAMME IN MALAYSIA
Sepang (Malaysia), 5th February 2022
SEPANG OFFICIAL MOTOGP TEST
Today, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team got back into action after the winter break. Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli rode 57 and 61 laps respectively, ending the first day of the Sepang MotoGP Official Test in 6th and 21st place.
6th FABIO QUARTARARO 1’59.002 / 57 LAPS
21st FRANCO MORBIDELLI 2’00.107 / 61 LAPS
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP‘s Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli were happy to be back aboard their YZR-M1s on the first official IRTA MotoGP testing day of 2022. They worked tirelessly in the typical Sepang International Circuit heat and ended in 6th and 21st place respectively in the Day-1 timesheets.
The duo wasted no time starting their 2022 testing programme. They both headed out just after 10am local track time and didn‘t finish until the clock hit 6pm. They followed this up by ten minutes of practising starts.
Quartararo was greatly motivated to ride at the Sepang circuit again for the first time since 2020. He used this opportunity to collect valuable data. He completed 57 laps in total, securing 6th place with a 1’59.002s lap, 0.631s from first, and ended the day with positive feelings.
After spending the winter break working on leg rehabilitation, Morbidelli was reaping the rewards. Overall, he had a positive first day back at the office. He rode 61 laps over the course of eight hours of high-temperature testing and set a best time of 2’00.107s. He took 21st place, 1.736s from the top.
FABIO QUARTARARO
Tomorrow I want to work a bit more on the bike. So far, I’m happy with the pace, but not with the time attack. Just before the time attack, I was doing laps on a medium tyre that had 26 laps on it. To make the step from that tyre to a new soft, I didn’t take the full benefit of the soft. But tomorrow we will have another chance to do a time attack, and in general I need to improve my riding, because after three months I was not carrying enough corner speed and that’s our bike‘s strong point.
FRANCO MORBIDELLI
It‘s great to be back on the MotoGP bike. Malaysia is tough. The first day in Malaysia is always tricky: hot conditions. But we went through it quite well. The performance was good, really good in some parts of the day and less in some other parts. But it feels right to only bring the good things to the track tomorrow.
More, from a press release issued by WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team:
WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team duo picks up official test work in Sepang
Andrea Dovizioso and Darryn Binder got back in the saddle of their Yamaha YZR-M1 today in Malaysia.
Common hot and humid conditions welcomed the MotoGP World Championship at their return to the Sepang International Circuit for the first official day of testing in 2022, whereby the WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team pair of Andrea Dovizioso and Darryn Binder kicked off and continued their pre-season preparations.
Following the winter break, Dovizioso eventually was back on track today trying his brand-new 2022 machine. The Italian did 60 laps around one of his favorite tracks and was happy not just to be back in action, but also to be back at the place where he celebrated two victories in the premier class already. He did a fastest lap of 2’00.342 minutes.
On his side, Binder already did his fourth full day of testing in Malaysia, after the rookie had the chance to fruitfully use three days of shakedown test earlier this week. The South African, who steps up from Moto3 to MotoGP directly this year, made further progress aboard the Yamaha YZR-M1 and clocked a personal best of 2:00.818 minutes today after 45 laps.
Before the WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team is heading over to the newly added Mandalika Circuit in Indonesia next week, they will have a second and final day of testing at the 5.543-kilometer venue to further explore the potential of bikes and riders in preparation of the 2022 season.
ANDREA DOVIZIOSO
“Today has been a very strange day. Everybody is stressed, because we have only two days here in Malaysia, so everyone is doing a lot of laps. We did the same and started with a good feeling this morning. We tried a lot of things, but unfortunately, it wasn’t really clear which direction to take and I couldn’t improve my feeling. I don’t think today is the day to understand the real situation of everybody. I don’t know how much the soft tyre can improve things, because I didn’t try and we don’t have enough tyres here to do all the comparisons of material we want, so it’s pretty tricky to program the two days. But anyway, tomorrow we have to confirm something and try to be a bit faster.”
DARRYN BINDER
“Today we finished the first day of the official test here in Sepang. We worked hard today, I was working in a lot of different areas and tried some different things compared to the shakedown test. The end result was very similar to the final day of the shakedown test, which I wish I could have improved a lot more. I felt like we worked quite a lot during the day and I thought this is really going to reflect at the end of the day, but anyway, this is testing. I felt a little bit faster step by step, especially with the used tyres. We will try again tomorrow and see what happens. We’ll just keep on working, keep on trying to learn and slowly but surely understand how everything works and see in which direction to go.”
More, from a press release issued by Tech3 KTM Factory Racing:
2022 is finally here:
Rookies Fernandez and Gardner enter MotoGP playground
Following three days of a Shakedown Test in Sepang earlier this week aiming to give newcomers additional track time to adapt to their new machinery, Tech3 KTM Factory Racing’s rookies Raul Fernandez and Remy Gardner were joined today by the entire MotoGP class at the Sepang Test in Malaysia, kicking off the official 2022 pre-season. They concluded the day in thirteenth and twenty-fourth positions respectively.
After a positive Shakedown with impressive lap times, the Spaniard continued to adapt to the category while taking experience of riding alongside MotoGP world class riders. He registered an early good lap-time this morning of 2’00.547 before dedicating the day to the trial of different settings in the search of the bike that will suit perfectly his riding style. He eventually found some good information as he managed to do his best lap-time, 1’59.682, on lap 66 out of 69, only 1.311 seconds behind the top.
Under very hot and humid weather conditions, Moto2 World Champion Remy Gardner also continued his discovery work on the 2022 KTM RC16 in order to get ready for his first MotoGP race in Qatar. The Australian started the day early and fresh at 10:00 local time with the goal of trying many different parts and things on the bike throughout the day. Remy completed 60 laps today, and also managed to get his best lap-time, 2’00.470, at the end of the day, on lap 59, finishing the day in the office on a positive note.
Raul Fernandez
Position: 13th
Time: 1’59.682
Laps: 69
“Today has been a positive day again with a lot of hardwork. I think that we took a step further in the right direction and this is the most important to me. Without repeating myself too much, I am very happy and I want to continue to learn, continue my progression, and enjoy myself on the bike.”
Remy Gardner
Position: 24th
Time: 2’00.470
Laps: 60
“Today has been a good day and we did a lot of laps. We struggled a little bit more compared to the three previous days of Shakedown because we tested some different parts and things compared to the settings used earlier this week. However, we have a clear direction of what we need to do so I am happy with that. Tomorrow, we will continue the work and push a bit more.”
More, from a press release issued by Gresini Racing:
#SEPANGTEST DAY1: DIGGIA BOUNCES BACK, ENEA IMMEDIATELY UP TO SPEED
It was the first official outing for Team Gresini Racing MotoGP as well as the maiden outing for both Fabio Di Giannantonio and Enea Bastianini aboard the Ducati Desmosedici machine at the Sepang International Circuit.
If on paper it is true that Rome-born Di Giannantonio had a three-day shakedown available before this test, a debilitating gastroenteritis prevented him from taking to the track in two out of three days earlier this week. The #49 rider showed up at the track 2kgs lighter, but still left a positive mark in this day one while giving important indications regarding his stamina. He completed more than 40 laps (already more than the overall number of laps in the first test) and a quickest lap-time of 2’00.047s, more than two seconds quicker than the one logged few days go.
Enea Bastianini did not waste any time and after only 23 he recorded an extremely competitive lap-time (1’58.638), only two tenths away from today’s quickest time set by Espargaró. The lap came with a medium tyre option as Bastianini was the quickest Ducati rider and only three tenths shy of the track record.
4th – ENEA BASTIANINI #23 – (1’58.638s – 44 laps)
“After two tests, one at Jerez and another at Sepang, I have a clearer idea about my bike. After only one day in Malaysia, I’m more aware of the Desmosedici’s potential. It’s more stable and you can hit the brakes a lot later. With the new rear tyre on, I can open the throttle much more aggressively compared to the 2019 bike. With the new engine, Sepang becomes a fantastic circuit, one where I can push really hard.”
20th – FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49 – (2’00.047s– 42 laps)
“The good news is that we’re back in shape. We needed it, because these past days have been tough. I’m quite happy with how today went: we lapped a lot and Sepang has always been a circuit that I like. It’s really crazy to lap here with the MotoGP: we had a good impression and we made quite a good step forward compared to few days ago. We’re working on the direction to follow together with Manuel (Poggiali) and my super team, as well as on some set-up changes to make.”
More, from a press release issued by Mooney VR46 Racing Team:
MARCO BEZZECCHI BEST ROOKIE OF THE DAY1 IN SEPANG ON THE DAY OF LUCA MARINI’S DEBUT WITH THE GP22
At the first official MotoGP test of the 2022, Top10 at the end of the day for the rookie of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team. Debut on the Ducati Desmosedici GP22 for Luca Marini
Sepang (Malaysia), February 5th 2022 – The official MotoGP test starts at the Sepang International Circuit with the Mooney VR46 Racing Team riders working on the Ducati Desmosedici GPs. Marco Bezzecchi closes the combined standings of the Day1 in tenth place, first rookie, while Luca Marini is 18th.
49 laps to continue to take the measurements of the new category and the best personal lap time of the week for Marco who signs a good 1’59.468 and is just over a second from the very first riders (A. Espargaro, 1’58.371).
On the other hand, Luca made his debut as he brought the Ducati GP22 to the track for the first time today (52 laps). Some technical issue forced him into the garage in the morning, before finding the right set up and ending the day in crescendo with a positive 1’59.966.
The last day of testing in Malaysia is scheduled for tomorrow for both, before flying to Indonesia to discover the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit.
Luca Marini
A difficult day today, a more uphill start than we could expected. It was not easy, mentally above all, to sit for such a long time in the garage to understand exactly what was happening on the bikes. These are things that can happen with a new bike on the first day of testing of the new season. We will continue to work to be ready and make the most of tomorrow sessions. I have only been able ride in the last two hours, I don’t know what kind of sensations I have on the new Ducati, it is too early and we need to consider that for me it is the first time in Sepang with the MotoGP. My 2022 will start tomorrow.
Marco Bezzecchi
I am very happy, we have continued the work started during the shakedown and I certainly cannot complain about today. At the end, with the new soft tire, I also set a very good lap time. We are doing a good job with the whole Team and I feel better every day on the bike, it is more and more mine. Compared to Moto2, there is more power to manage, a different style and even the tires are completely different. However, a day to remember: riding on track with the riders that until now I had only seen on TV was exciting.
Pablo Nieto
Team Manager
We have closed the first real day of testing of the 2022, for the first time on track together with all the MotoGP riders. We had an uphill start this morning, we had some technical problems at the beginning, things that can happen with a new bike, but we have finished positively. The riders and the whole Team are doing a good job and tomorrow we can make another step forward. Marco arrives from three days of testing here in Sepang, he certainly already has more pace than the others and today he was very fast, just one second from the new track record. Luca was forced into the garage by some technical issues, but he did well in the second half of the afternoon.
More, from a press release issued by Pramac Racing:
SEPANG TEST – FIRST DAY OF TESTING BRINGS POSITIVE FEELINGS FOR BOTH RIDERS
Today marks the official start of the 2022 MotoGP season with the first day of testing at Sepang International Circuit. There was great excitement for the long-awaited return to the track after the winter break. The day started on a positive note and the riders immediately had a good feeling with the new bike. Johann completed 47 laps, with the fastest lap at 1:58.946 while Jorge finished the day with 49 laps, with the fastest lap at 1:59.949. The first day of testing was certainly more than satisfactory.
Jorge Martín
I am satisfied with this first day of testing, the first day after the winter break is not always easy but we are working hard. I had a very good start this morning and then struggled a little bit more in the afternoon because of the high temperatures. I am sure we will improve tomorrow.
Johann Zarco
I had a good feeling from the beginning and I was able to be fast all day. In the afternoon we improved, I became more aware of the bike and I finished in the top five. Tomorrow will be another important day to try new solutions.
More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki ECSTAR:
SUZUKI SATISFIED AS 2022 SEASON KICKS OFF IN SEPANG Alex Rins: 3rd – 1’58.471 (+ 0.100)
Joan Mir: 7th – 1’59.067 (+ 0.696)
Sylvain Guintoli: 26th – 2’01.390 (+ 3.019)
A day after Team Suzuki Ecstar launched their stylish 2022 GSX-RR it was time to put it to the test at the scorching Sepang International Circuit.
With this being the first time that Joan Mir and Alex Rins had taken to the track since the last test in Jerez in November, there were plenty of new things to try, as well as fine-tuning parts already tried.
The engine received some further improvements over the winter, and early feedback from the riders on this finalised version was very positive. It was necessary, with this new engine in the bike, to adapt and adjust several other parts such as chassis, swingarm, and electronics. Team Suzuki Ecstar also brought a new version of the ride height adjuster first seen last season. Overall, Mir and Rins felt satisfied with the work done on the first day, especially as they both placed close to the top time.
Rins completed a whopping 72 laps – the highest number of any rider – taking time to feel the improvements in the engine of his GSX-RR.
He reported positive feelings overall but is looking to work on aerodynamics tomorrow.
Mir put in 68 laps and he also tried many new items. His feedback was good and he felt he could improve his lap time tomorrow, when he also hopes to work on electronics.
Team Suzuki Ecstar will be back on track tomorrow for the second, and final, test day in Sepang.
Alex Rins:
“I’ve been waiting for this test for a long time, so I think this could be why I was fast early on – I was so keen to be back on track! Overall, I’m happy because my pace was strong, and I was able to test many different things. It’s always interesting and important to find what the strongest parts are, and what still needs improvement. I can already feel that the engine is more powerful, and the data reflects that, so let’s see what we can do tomorrow.”
Joan Mir:
“It’s the first day back at school! The feelings are positive so far, even though the heat here is unbelievable. We tried many items, especially the chassis parts, and it’s a bit early to take solid conclusions but my feelings were good today. I’m pleased with how everything is going so far and tomorrow we’ll continue to learn how to get the maximum out of the bike. We need to work a bit more on the electronics, because we didn’t have enough time to get everything ‘on point’ yet. My lap time was OK today, pretty solid, but I know I can do more.”
Sylvain Guintoli:
“I’ve been here in Sepang for a few days longer than Alex and Joan because we had the three-day shakedown test. This allowed me to test a lot of the items already; the new engine, the aero packages, the new rear ride height adjuster. So there was a lot going on during the shakedown. Today I turned my attention to the electronics side, and I tried some new evolution items there; I also tried some new front suspension options. I’m happy because we completed the programme for today, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Ken Kawauchi – Technical Manager:
“Today we could try many items, some were good and some still need some work, but this is normal in testing. For the first day of the season, we’re satisfied, because the riders need time to adjust to being back on the bike and to discover the improvements. Tomorrow we’ll brush up on a few things and we hope to have another good day.”
More, from a press release issued by Repsol Honda:
Stealth mode begins 2022 for Repsol Honda Team
Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro were on track for the first time in 2022 as the Sepang Test began, the Repsol Honda Team sporting a striking black and white testing livery.
The Repsol Honda Team wasted no time in getting their 2022 preparations underway as Pol Espargaro was one of the first riders to leave his garage when the track opened at 10:00 Local Time, Marc Marquez just a few minutes behind. Dressed in a special black and white testing livery ahead of the launch of the Repsol Honda Team on February 08 at 12:00 CET, the pair completed a comprehensive first day under the oppressive Sepang sun.
Marquez suffered a small fall at Turn 9 in the opening hours of running, able to return to the Repsol Honda Team garage and avoiding any injury. He soon returned to the circuit and was sitting comfortably in sixth place when he and his team paused for lunch around 13:00 Local Time. A second harmless crash occurred at Turn 15 in the final half an hour of the day as Marquez continued to find the limits of his new RC213V. Eighth place and a best time of 1’59.287 was Marquez’s reward after 62 laps around the 5.5-kilometre-long circuit. The time put Marquez 0.916s off the best lap of the day.
Pol Espargaro’s progress was steady across the opening day as he got up to speed with the 2022 Honda RC213V. Inside the top five and under the 2’00 barrier just before the lunch break, the #44 completed a total of 64 laps on his first day back on track. Ultimately ending the day in ninth place with a best time of 1’59.353, 0.066s behind team-mate Marc Marquez as they begin the season. All involved are pleased with the work done and preparations are underway for the second and final day in Sepang. Espargaro is under no illusions about the amount of work that needs to be done in just five days of pre-season testing but is focused and motivated for what’s to come.
Action resumes at the Malaysian circuit tomorrow, Sunday, February 06, for the final day of the Sepang Test. Both Repsol Honda Team riders will continue to work through the remainder of their test plans as they assess Honda’s latest MotoGP machine.
Marc Marquez
8TH 1’59.287
“To return to the track after the period we have lived through was very rewarding, but it was a long and hard day. I feel good with the bike and most of all, it was a normal day after a long time. Good, fast, some small mistakes – today had everything! The new bike is better but we still have a lot to understand because this is a very big change to the bike. Now the character is different and I need to understand the limits, this is what the pre-season is for. Tomorrow will be important to do a longer run to keep learning and understanding.”
Pol Espargaro
9TH 1’59.353
“It feels great to be back riding and especially on this bike. It’s amazing to see the effort of Honda, not just bringing two new bikes for the factory riders but four bikes for all the Honda riders. Honda has made a huge effort to do this and it’s going to help us a lot. But we have a lot of work to do, with just five days of testing we have to use all the time we can. We’ve had a good first day on a new bike but the best is yet to come and hopefully we can continue to improve and show the potential tomorrow. I spent the day working on mediums, not chasing a fast time as today we were trying many things. Tomorrow we’ll look for a lap time.”
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
April 6, 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
