Dominant Cairoli triumphs Valkenswaard MXGP

Image: Supplied.

Nine-time world champion Antonio Cairoli (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has dominated Valkenswaard’s third round of the 2019 MXGP World Championship in The Netherlands, boosting his points lead in the series classification.

The Italian ace pieced together a stellar 1-1 scorecard for top honours, comfortably defeating runner-up Clement Desalle (Monster Energy Kawasaki Factory Racing) in the day’s overall points tally.

Former champion Tim Gajser (Honda HRC) was third overall, challenging Cairoli for victory in the final encounter, while the top five was rounded out by Jeremy van Horebeek (Honda SR Motoblouz) and Arminas Jasikonis (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing).

In the MX2 category, reigning world champion Jorge Prado returned from a shoulder injury that ruled him out of round two in exceptional fashion, dominating the day with a pair moto victories to earn the overall win.

Points leader Thomas Kjer Olsen (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) was second ahead of Monster Energy Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 Jago Geerts, while Calvin Vlaanderen (Honda HRC) and Henri Jacobi (F&H Kawasaki) were fourth and fifth respectively.

Australian contenders Jed Beaton (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) and Mitch Evans (Team Honda 114 Motorsports) wound up 12th and 15th overall.

The Dutch grand prix also marked round on the Women’s Motocross World Championship, which saw Amandine Verstappen (Yamaha) emerge victorious over Nancy Van de Ven (Yamaha) and Larissa Papenmeier (MXFONTA Racing Yamaha). Aussies Meghan Rutledge (Kawasaki) and Tahlia O’Hare (KTM) were eighth and 13th overall respectively.

The MXGP World Championship now heads to Trentino in Italy this weekend for round four of the series.

Detailed results


Source: MotoOnline.com.au

Marquez rules in South America | Gardner on Moto2 podium

2019 MotoGP
Round Two – Argentina

Race Report / Results / Championship Points


Marc Marquez took the holeshot from pole as Dovizioso pounced for second, with Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) losing out from the middle of the front row and Rossi leap-frogging his teammate. Marquez immediately pulled the pin to make a gap, with Rossi then soon attacking Dovizioso but the Ducati rider was holding firm.

MotoGP Rnd Argentina Start
2019 MotoGP – Round Two – Argentina

Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) was next to go on the offensive as he dived past the ‘Doctor’ but the move didn’t stick, with Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) getting past Viñales to tag onto the Australian. Chopping and changing, Danilo Petrucci (Mission Winnow Ducati) was next to attack the number 12 Yamaha in the melee – before Miller took Rossi, and Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) had a stab at getting past the number 46 too.

MotoGP Rnd Argentina Rossi Miller
Jack Miller and Valentino Rossi had an intense battle

It was a breathless tussle over the first two laps but one rider was then forced out of it: Crutchlow was given a Ride Through for jumping the start. That took him out of the battle as Dovi, Miller and Rossi found Morbidelli back on their tail and Rossi pounced on Dovizioso just as Morbidelli pounced on Miller in tandem. Spectacular though it was, it was shortlived as both Yamahas then headed wide and the ensuing shuffle reset the battle. Dovizioso and Rossi followed by Morbidelli, Petrucci, Miller and Viñales was the freight train fighting it out for the podium.

MotoGP Rnd Argentina Dovizioso Rossi Petrucci Rins
2019 MotoGP – Round Two – Argentina

As the laps ticked on the Dovizioso-Rossi battle lit up and started to pull away from those behind. Dovizioso blasted down the straights, Rossi made the most of the Yamaha’s forte in the corners…the two trading positions at times but able to stay ahead of the battle that now included Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) as he arrived on the scene from 16th on the grid.

MotoGP Rnd Argentina Dovizioso Rossi Pack
2019 MotoGP – Round Two – Argentina

As that raged on, the last lap was a relaxed one for Marquez at the front. The reigning Champion completed his stunning performance and took his first win of the year, but the battle for second stayed tense to the line.

MotoGP Rnd Argentina Dovizioso Rossi
2019 MotoGP – Round Two – Argentina

Rossi lurked behind his prey for the first half of the lap, but at Turn 7 the ‘Doctor’ struck to perfection.

MotoGP Rnd Argentina Dovizoso Rossi
Rossi and Dovizioso

A block pass saw the Italian not only get past his compatriot but also create just enough of a gap to keep him ahead until the end; the result Rossi back on the podium for the first time since Sachsenring last season.

MotoGP Rnd Argentina Podium Marquez Rossi Dovizioso
2019 MotoGP – Round Two – Argentina
Race Results
M. MARQUEZ REPSOL HONDA TEAM 41’43.688
V. ROSSI MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MOTOGP + 9.816
A. DOVIZIOSO MISSION WINNOW DUCATI + 10.530

Dovizioso, meanwhile, although forced to settle for third, achieved his goal of getting on the podium at a track that usually proved tough for Ducati – and he’s only four points off Marquez in the Championship.

MotoGP Rnd Argentina Dovizioso Spray
Andrea Dovizioso

The fight for fourth saw Rins and Miller locked in battle and in the end it was the Australian who took the spoils, coming home in the same position as last year and as top Independent Team rider. Rins nevertheless took an incredible fifth after gaining 11 places, with Petrucci ultimately dropping into the clutches of Viñales and Morbidelli – and one last gasp of drama just around the corner for that trio.

Viñales attacked Petrucci, Petrucci held him off and the two Yamahas behind then came into contact, suddenly both on the floor and sliding out as the Ducati escaped for P6. That meant Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) got an even bigger reward for a quality race as the Japanese rider capitalised for seventh, with fast Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) taking P8 and coming home as top rookie. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) took ninth and homed in on his pre-race goal of the top eight.

The battle to complete the top ten was another stunner. It was Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) who won it and took the spoils, but the Spaniard had to do some serious looking over his shoulder for another KTM: that of rookie Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3). The Portuguese rider has been notable in 2019 so far, but less than two tenths off Espargaro and two-tenths off the top ten made quite an impression as he scored points for the first time.

The recovering Jorge Lorenzo (Repsol Honda Team) took P12, ahead of Crutchlow, Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) and Johann Zarco (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) completing the points.

And that’s all she wrote in Argentina. Now it’s time for chapter three at COTA, traditionally Marquez territory. Can he rule the venue once again and increase his lead? Find out on the 14th April for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas.


2019 MotoGP – Round Two – Argentina
Race Results

Pos Rider Team Time
1. Marquez M. Repsol Honda 41:43.688
2. Rossi V. Movistar Yamaha +9.816
3. Dovizioso A. Ducati Team +10.530
4. Miller J. Alma Pramac Racing +12.140
5. Rins A. Team Suzuki Ecstar +12.563
6. Petrucci D. Ducati Team +13.750
7. Nakagami T. LCR Honda +18.160
8. Quartararo F. Petronas Yamaha SRT +20.403
9. Espargaro A. Aprilia Racing Team Gresini +25.292
10. Espargaro P. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +25.679
11. Oliveira M. KTM Tech3 Racing +25.855
12. Lorenzo J. Repsol Honda +27.497
13. Crutchlow C. LCR Honda +31.398
14. Bagnaia F. Alma Pramac Racing +32.893
15. Zarco J. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +33.372
16. Syahrin H. KTM Tech3 Racing +35.545
17. Iannone A. Aprilia Racing Team Gresini +38.238
DNF Vinales M. Movistar Yamaha DNF
DNF Morbidelli F. Petronas Yamaha SRT DNF
DNF Mir J. Team Suzuki Ecstar DNF
DNF Abraham K. Reale Avintia Racing DNF
DNF Rabat T. Reale Avintia Racing DNF
MotoGP Rnd Argentina Podium MotoGP Marquez Rossi Dovizioso
2019 MotoGP – Round Two – Argentina
Race Results
M. MARQUEZ REPSOL HONDA TEAM 41’43.688
V. ROSSI MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MOTOGP + 9.816
A. DOVIZIOSO MISSION WINNOW DUCATI + 10.530

MotoGP Championship Points

Pos Driver Team Points
1. Marquez Marc Repsol Honda Team 45
2. Dovizioso Andrea Ducati Team 41
3. Rossi Valentino Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 31
4. Rins Alex Team Suzuki Ecstar 24
5. Petrucci Danilo Ducati Team 20
6. Crutchlow Cal LCR Honda 19
7. Nakagami Takaaki LCR Honda 16
8. Miller Jack Alma Pramac Racing 13
9. Espargaro Aleix Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 13
10. Espargaro Pol Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 10
11. Vinales Maverick Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 9
12. Quartararo Fabio Petronas Yamaha SRT 8
13. Mir Joan Team Suzuki Ecstar 8
14. Lorenzo Jorge Repsol Honda Team 7
15. Oliveira Miguel KTM Tech3 Racing 5
16. Morbidelli Franco Petronas Yamaha SRT 5
17. Iannone Andrea Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 2
18. Bagnaia Francesco Alma Pramac Racing 2
19. Zarco Johann Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 2
20. Syahrin Hafizh KTM Tech3 Racing 0
21. Abraham Karel Reale Avintia Racing 0
22. Rabat Tito Reale Avintia Racing 0
23. Smith Bradley Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 0

Moto2

Baldassarri blasts clear of spectacular tussle at Termas

MotoGP Rnd Argentina Moto Lorenzo Baldassarri
Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40) made it two from two in 2019 as he took victory at Termas de Rio Hondo,

Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40) made it two from two in 2019 as he took victory at Termas de Rio Hondo, playing the waiting game and timing his attack to pull the pin to perfection in the latter stages. His closest competition came from early leader Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) as the Australian rode to a superb first podium, with Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) coming home third and elbows out throughout the race.

The first drama hit on the Warm Up lap as polesitter Xavi Vierge (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) suffered a technical problem and was forced to miss the start, with that leaving Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) the furthest forward and the German capitalising to lead Lap 1. Gardner was soon to strike, however, and the tone was almost immediately set as Schrötter attacked back but was held off by the Aussie.

The front group of Gardner, Schrötter, Marquez and Baldassarri had initially pulled out almost two seconds on the chasing pack but the four didn’t keep it tidy to try and pull away – it was all-out war. Each attack would either see immediate retaliation or a calculated move soon after to serve the rider ahead some payback, and the scenes were spectacular ones as the squabble stayed just about perfectly within the lines of brutal but fair.

Gardner remained the man ahead for much of the first half before Schrötter lunged again with 12 to go, his attack repelled but the German able to fight back and keep the lead. Marquez remained third and Baldassarri lurked in fourth, the Italian remaining an observer as seemed to wait it out and choose his moment.

Meanwhile just behind, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was on the charge. Starting to make some gains on the first group, the South African closed it down to half a second – and the war ahead raged on, Marquez taking over in second to chase down Schrötter.

With nine laps to go, however, Gardner hit back again and took second, and not long after Baldassarri made his first real move. The Italian sliced past Marquez into third before Gardner took the lead again, and then there was a ‘Baldattack’ on Schrötter to leave the Italian in second. The Jaws music began and with four laps to go Baldassarri finally attacked for the lead and Gardner ended up a little wide, slotting back in just ahead of Marquez. In the lead, though, Baldassarri then pulled the pin as Gardner harried Schrötter, and the Aussie was able to get past but the gap to the leader would ultimately prove too big.

Baldassarri crossed the line in clear air to stamp some more authority on the early part of the Championship, but the celebration just behind him was even bigger as Gardner finally took that first podium. So close in Qatar, the Aussie moves up to second overall in the standings as he broke his rostrum duck, and Marquez managed to emerge from the melee for a valuable P3.

Just behind that, Binder was still on a charge but the South African overcooked it when attacking Schrötter, forcing the German well wide, and that let past both Iker Lecuona (American Team KTM) and Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46). Binder got back past Marini before heading wide again, and the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider then attacked the Italian again on the last lap – and overcooked it again. Contact with Marini sent the him wide as Binder crossed the line in fifth just behind Lecuona, but that wasn’t all she wrote. After the race, the South African was penalised for irresponsible riding and demoted a place. So it’s Schrötter who is classified fifth, ahead of Binder, with Marini forced to settle for seventh.

Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up) took P8 in a solid day’s work, ahead of a top ride from Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team), who was top rookie once again. Not by much though, as a stunning charge from Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) saw the Thai rookie take his second top ten finish – the first having come in his sole Moto3™ appearance at Buriram last season. Andrea Locatelli (Italtrans Racing Team), Tetsuta Nagashima (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team), Khairul Idham Pawi (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and NTS RW Racing GP duo Bo Bendsneyder and replacement rider Jesko Raffin completed the points.

Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) was a crasher as he tagged the back of Binder early on, as fellow veteran Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) made a mistake at the exact same corner at the exact same time and also went down. Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46) suffered an issue with his arm and was unable to finish, having been on for the honour of top rookie after some impressive pace in Argentina.

Termas was another thriller but it’s advantage Baldassarri as we head for Austin. Can the Italian make it three from three? Find out on the 14th April!

2019 MotoGP – Round Two – Argentina
Moto2 Race Results

Pos Team Team Laps
1. Baldassarri L. Pons HP40 39:46.000
2. Gardner R. SAG Team +1.244
3. Marquez A. Estrella Galicia Marc VDS +1.817
4. Lecuona I. SWI +2.704
5. Binder B. Red Bull KTM Ajo +4.707
6. Schrotter M. Dynavolt Intact GP +4.839
7. Marini L. Sky Racing Team VR46 +4.986
8. Navarro J. +Ego Speed Up +7.459
9. Bastianini E. Italtrans Racing Team +8.724
10. Chantra S. Idemitsu Honda Team Asia +14.506
11. Locatelli A. Italtrans Racing Team +16.145
12. Nagashima T. SAG Team +16.450
13. Pawi K. I. Petronas Sprinta Racing +16.613
14. Bendsneyder B. NTS RW Racing GP +23.007
15. Raffin J. NTS RW Racing GP +24.736
16. Bezzecchi M. Red Bull KTM Tech3 +25.381
17. Dixon J. Angel Nieto Team +41.684
18. Tulovic L. Kiefer Racing +45.545
19. Oettl P. Red Bull KTM Tech3 +45.811
20. Aegerter D. Forward Racing Team +56.934
21. Cardelus X. Angel Nieto Team +1:07.765
22. Roberts J. SWI +1:18.707
23. Pratama D. E. Idemitsu Honda Team Asia +4 l.
DNF Corsi S. Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2 DNF
DNF Martin J. Red Bull KTM Ajo DNF
DNF Bulega N. Sky Racing Team VR46 DNF
DNF Di Giannantonio F. +Ego Speed Up DNF
DNF Lowes S. Federal Oil Gresini DNF
DNF Luthi T. Dynavolt Intact GP DNF
DNF Manzi S. Forward Racing Team DNF
DNS Vierge X. Estrella Galicia Marc VDS DNS
DNS Fernandez A. Pons HP40 DNS
MotoGP Rnd Argentina Moto Podium Gardner Baldassarri Marquez
2019 MotoGP – Round Two – Argentina
Moto2 Race Results
Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA) 39’46.000
Remy Gardner (AUS) +1.244
Alex Marquez (SPA) +1.817

Moto2 Championship Points Standings

Pos Rider Team Points
1 Baldassarri Lorenzo Pons HP40 50
2 Gardner Remy SAG Team 33
3 Schrotter Marcel Dynavolt Intact GP 26
4 Marquez Alex Estrella Galicia Marc VDS Team Moto2 25
5 Luthi Thomas Dynavolt Intact GP 20
6 Marini Luca Sky Racing Team VR46 17
7 Binder Brad Red Bull KTM Ajo 15
8 Bastianini Enea Italtrans Racing Team 14
9 Lecuona Iker Swiss Innovative Investors 13
10 Fernandez Augusto Pons HP40 11
11 Lowes Sam Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 10
12 Navarro Jorge +Ego Speed Up 8
13 Locatelli Andrea Italtrans Racing Team 8
14 Vierge Xavi Estrella Galicia Marc VDS Team Moto2 6
15 Chantra Somkiat Idemitsu Honda Team Asia 6
16 Di Giannantonio Fabio +Ego Speed Up 5
17 Nagashima Tetsuta SAG Team 4
18 Pawi Khairul Idham Petronas Sprinta Racing 3
19 Raffin Jesko NTS RW Racing GP 3
20 Bendsneyder Bo NTS RW Racing GP 2
21 Martin Jorge Red Bull KTM Ajo 1
22 Bezzecchi Marco Red Bull KTM Tech3 0
23 Dixon Jake Angel Nieto Team 0
24 Aegerter Dominique Forward Racing Team 0
25 Tulovic Lukas Kiefer Racing 0
26 Oettl Philipp Red Bull KTM Tech3 0
27 Corsi Simone Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2 0
28 Manzi Stefano Forward Racing Team 0
29 Cardelus Xavi Angel Nieto Team 0
30 Roberts Joe Swiss Innovative Investors 0
31 Pratama Dimas Ekky Idemitsu Honda Team Asia 0
32 Bulega Nicolo Sky Racing Team VR46 0

Moto3

Masia masters Argentina for maiden Moto3 win

MotoGP Rnd Argentina Moto Jaume Masia
Jaume Masia (Bester Capital Dubai) took a stunning first win from his first pole position

Jaume Masia (Bester Capital Dubai) took a stunning first win from his first pole position in the Gran Premio Motul de la Republica Argentina, pitching it to perfection on the final lap to cross the line ahead of a stunning ride through the field for Darryn Binder (CIP – Green Power), with Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers Team) completing the podium. It was the first visit to the rostrum for all three.

Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) took the holeshot from second on the grid as Masia slipped back a little from pole, with Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) initially challenging the two and Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) getting feisty at the front of the group. Feisty was the word for much of the race and the first few laps were no different, with most of the field locked in a long freight train shuffling for position.

A duel for the lead between Canet and Antonelli early on looked like it could see the two men break away but it wasn’t to be, and with 17 laps to go Masia struck back to take the lead. With 15 to go it was home hero Gabriel Rodrigo’s (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) turn to do the same, but the action ramped up another notch as the group battled it out – and Binder began to make his presence felt as he moved up the order.

With 11 laps to go it was attrition more than pace that was slowly whittling down the riders in the front group. John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Alonso Lopez (Estrella Galicia 0,0) came together and they both went down, also pushing Qatar GP winner Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) wide and the Japanese rider left with a gap left to make up. Vicente Perez (Reale Avintia Arizona 77) crashed out not long after too, but the freight train would soon gain back another carriage as rookie Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) was able to tag on – and Toba pushed and pushed to try and make it back onto the group.

As the last few laps appeared, the number 27 had made up the gap and was back in contention. With such a huge group all squabbling, it was clear by crunch time that it wasn’t only a battle for the lead but still a battle for points: more than 15 riders were still tagged together hammering around Termas de Rio Hondo.

Heading over the line to begin the last lap, Binder held on at the front but he had Dalla Porta for close company and it wasn’t long until the Italian muscled his way past. As they thundered down to Turn 5 Rodrigo struck to make his own move for the lead and Binder then attacked Dalla Porta in the shuffle behind; the Italian forced a little wide. That was when Masia decided to strike taking over at the front through Turns 7 and 8 and ultimately not needing to look back. Keeping his cool, the Spaniard crossed the line for his first Grand Prix win and his first visit to the podium with just enough breathing space to avoid an attack from the chasing pack.

That wasn’t true of Rodrigo. Binder muscled through on the inside and the Argentinean suffered a huge wobble, somehow staying on but his podium hopes evaporating. The South African was able to complete his own fairytale race and take that second place and his first podium though, gaining a stunning 18 places from his starting position in the process. Arbolino, meanwhile, avoided the drama and swept through to take third and convert his top pace in preseason into a podium.

Antonelli took fourth after a solid race, with Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) concluding a quality Sunday with a top five finish and his best ever result in fifth. Rodrigo recovered from the last lap drama to take sixth ahead of another forced into a recovery as Dalla Porta crossed the line in P7. Dennis Foggia (Sky Racing Team VR46) – arguably the author of the move of the race as he managed a three-in-one overtake for the lead at one point – took eighth, ahead of Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) and a top class fight back from Qatar GP winner and Championship leader Kaito Toba.

Andrea Migno (Bester Capital Dubai), Canet and Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) locked out 11th to 13th, with the final points taken by rookie duo Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) and Raul Fernandez (Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team).

Somewhat surprisingly, it was Romano Fenati (VNE Snipers) who was the first of the freight train to miss out on points, the former Argentina GP winner taking P16, with rookie Ogura just behind him. But that’s it from a high octane Termas de Rio Hondo, with Toba still with a slim points lead as we head to the Circuit of the Americas in two weeks.

2019 MotoGP – Round Two – Argentina
Moto3 Race Results

Pos Rider Team Time
1. Masia J. Bester Capital Dubai 38:54.562
2. Binder D. CIP Green Power +0.108
3. Arbolino T. Snipers Team +0.295
4. Antonelli N. SIC58 Squadra Corse +0.386
5. Sasaki A. Petronas Sprinta Racing +0.519
6. Rodrigo G. Kommerling Gresini Moto3 +0.550
7. Dalla Porta L. Leopard Racing +0.588
8. Foggia D. Sky Racing Team VR46 +0.671
9. Ramirez M. Leopard Racing +0.792
10. Toba K. Castrol Honda Team Asia +1.280
11. Migno A. Bester Capital Dubai +1.629
12. Canet A. Max Racing Team +1.775
13. Suzuki T. SIC58 Squadra Corse +1.836
14. Vietti C. Sky Racing Team VR46 +1.978
15. Fernandez R. Angel Nieto Team Moto3 +2.092
16. Fenati R. Snipers Team +2.273
17. Ogura A. Castrol Honda Team Asia +2.350
18. Booth-Amos T. CIP Green Power +9.798
19. Viu A. Angel Nieto Team Moto3 +9.904
20. Yurchenko M. BOE Skull Rider Mugen Race +10.136
21. Mcphee J. Petronas Sprinta Racing +26.464
22. Rossi R. Kommerling Gresini Moto3 +27.044
23. Masaki K. BOE Skull Rider Mugen Race +39.985
24. Kornfeil J. Redox PruestelGP +40.177
25. Salac F. Redox PruestelGP +58.474
26. Oncu C. Red Bull KTM Ajo +1 l.
DNF Lopez A. Estrella Galicia 0,0 DNF
DNF Perez V. Reale Avintia Academy DNF
DNS Garcia S. Estrella Galicia 0,0 DNS
MotoGP Rnd Argentina Podium Moto Binder Masia Arbolino
2019 MotoGP – Round Two – Argentina
Moto3 Race Results
Jaume Masia (SPA) 38’54.562
Darryn Binder (RSA) +0.108
Tony Arbolino (ITA) +0.295

Moto3 Championship Points Standings

Pos Rider Team Points
1 Toba Kaito Castrol Honda Team Asia 31
2 Dalla Porta Lorenzo Leopard Racing 29
3 Masia Jaume Bester Capital Dubai 25
4 Antonelli Niccolo SIC58 Squadra Corse 21
5 Binder Darryn CIP Green Power 20
6 Canet Aron Max Racing Team 20
7 Ramirez Marcos Leopard Racing 20
8 Arbolino Tony Snipers Team 16
9 Vietti Celestino Sky Racing Team VR46 13
10 Sasaki Ayumu Petronas Sprinta Racing 11
11 Rodrigo Gabriel Kommerling Gresini Moto3 11
12 Arenas Albert Angel Nieto Team Moto3 10
13 Fernandez Raul Angel Nieto Team Moto3 10
14 Foggia Dennis Sky Racing Team VR46 8
15 Fenati Romano Snipers Team 7
16 Migno Andrea Bester Capital Dubai 7
17 Kornfeil Jakub Redox PruestelGP 6
18 Ogura Ai Castrol Honda Team Asia 5
19 Lopez Alonso Estrella Galicia 0,0 4
20 Mcphee John Petronas Sprinta Racing 3
21 Suzuki Tatsuki SIC58 Squadra Corse 3
22 Perez Vicente Reale Avintia Academy 0
23 Booth-Amos Tom CIP Green Power 0
24 Oncu Can Red Bull KTM Ajo 0
25 Masaki Kazuki BOE Skull Rider Mugen Race 0
26 Viu Aleix Angel Nieto Team Moto3 0
27 Yurchenko Makar BOE Skull Rider Mugen Race 0
28 Yamanaka Ryusei Estrella Galicia 0,0 0
29 Salac Filip Redox PruestelGP 0
30 Rossi Riccardo Kommerling Gresini Moto3 0

Source: MCNews.com.au

Marquez wins Argentina GP as Gardner earns maiden Moto2 podium

Image: Supplied.

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) obliterated the opposition on Sunday at Argentina’s second round of the 2019 MotoGP World Championship to take victory by over nine seconds, the reigning world champion beating Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Andrea Dovizioso (Mission Winnow Ducati).

Marquez got an unthreatened hole-shot after a blinder of a start with second place Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) getting bogged down, allowing Dovizioso, Rossi and Australia’s Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) to get by the Spaniard.

With Marquez holding position off the line, it was a case of head and hammer down for the number 93 as he bolted to a one second lead on lap one, with that gap increasing to 2.4s after lap two as it soon became a race for second.

That race for second was fierce though as Dovizioso, Rossi, Miller, Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) and Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) scrapped it out. But it was soon rostrum challenge over the Crutchlow as Race Direction gave him a ride through penalty for jumping the start – no repeat win or podium for last season’s Argentina GP victor.

Back at the front and on lap eight Marquez’ lead was stretched to five seconds as six riders all had their sights set on second, with Danilo Petrucci (Mission Winnow Ducati) and Vinales joining the fray. Rossi eventually got the better of Dovi on lap nine after running in hot at turn five on lap eight after overtaking his compatriot, but the Ducati rider locked himself onto Rossi’s M1 tailpipes as the Italians locked horns in Termas.

It was ‘The Doctor’ who held the P2 baton at the halfway point, eight seconds from Marquez, with Dovizioso, Morbidelli, Petrucci, Miller and Vinales in tandem, with Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins creeping up to the rear of Vinales after making up ground from P16 on the grid, firmly tagging himself onto the back of the podium hunt with 10 to go.

Vinales then ran wide at turn five as he dropped behind eight place’s Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu). With nine to go, a Noah’s Ark formation appeared as second to seventh were two-by-two, roughly half a second between the pairings. Dovi and Rossi locked together, Morbidelli and Petrucci interchanging for fourth with Rins and Miller engaged in battle.

Morbidelli soon found himself down in seventh though, Rins and Miller getting the better of him. Meanwhile, Marquez’ gap had opened up to 12 seconds. The group had closed back up again but with five laps remaining, Dovi and Rossi were edging out an advantage over the chasing pack, with Petrucci, Rins and Miller squabbling for fourth place. Both Rins and Miller getting the better of Petrucci at turn five with three to go.

Heading into the last lap it was Dovi leading Rossi. Both were clear of fourth, but which step of the podium would they be standing on? Dovizioso was able to keep second as the Yamaha had no match for the Ducati grunt down the straight, but ‘The Doctor’ sliced his way through on his countryman at turn seven.

A long way up the road, Marquez cruised round to take his first win of the season in scintillating fashion. A Marquez masterclass in Termas, with Rossi earning his first podium since the 2018 German GP. Dovi came home third, achieving his pre-race aims of a podium finish to head to Austin four points behind Marquez in the Championship.

Just behind, there was drama for two Yamahas on the last lap. Morbidelli tagging the back of Vinales at turn seven, the duo going down and out of contention. This left Miller holding fourth to repeat his 2018 Argentina GP result, with Rins climbing 11 positions from his P16 starting slot to earn fifth place. Petrucci takes away a second consecutive sixth of the season.

Nakagami makes it two top 10s from two in 2019 to come home seventh, with first of the rookies Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) picking up his first points of the year with a solid P8. The Espargaro brothers completed the top 10, Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Aleix heading Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pol by 0.3. Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) produced an incredibly impressive ride on his second premier class start to finish just 0.176s behind the factory KTM.

Jorge Lorenzo (Repsol Honda Team), a recovering Crutchlow, Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) and Johann Zarco (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) completed the points in Argentina.

In Moto2, Flexbox HP 40’s Lorenzo Baldassarri continued his perfect start to year a calculated ride to claim victory. The Italian eventually took the chequered flag over a second clear of Australian Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team), who stood on the podium for the first time in his career.

The result comes almost 27 years on from dad Wayne’s last podium at the 1992 South African grand prix. American Racing KTM’s Iker Lecuona took fourth place ahead of Marcel Schrotter (Dynavolt Intact GP).

Jaume Masia (Bester Capital Dubai) won his first ever Moto3 race after taking a sensational victory in Argentina, the Spaniard holding off Darryn Binder (CIP Green Power) and maiden podium position finisher Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers) as the lightweight class treated us to yet another unbelievable race long scrap. Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) locked out the top five.

The MotoGP World Championship now heads to Circuit of the Americas on 14 April for round three of the series.

Detailed results

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Solutions to electric vehicle charging

One of the biggest hurdles in the coming revolution of the electric vehicle is finding enough charging stations so motorists can ride and drive beyond the city limits.

Taiwanese motorcycle and scooter manufacturer has a unique idea for private charging stations that can be owned by individuals.

It could be a good way to earn some extra money.

Kymco is really thinking outside the box on electric vehicles with their plan last year for swappable batteries in vending machines.

Kymco proposes battery swap scheme for Ionex electric scooter hybrid smart desert electric vehicle
Kymco proposes battery swap vending machines

Now they have launched a range of charging stations called NOODOE (pronounced “new dough”) which can be privately owned by individuals.

No, it’s not an April Fool’s Day prank.Kymco Noodoe electric vehicle charging

The cloud-based systems could actually be a viable alternative to the inaction on the part of big business and governments to supply suitable infrastructure for the nascent electric vehicle industry.

Kymco Noodoe electric vehicle charging
Noodoe chargers

Obviously business will be involved once EVs reach a significant proportion of traffic.

And surely governments and businesses will have final say over the placement of such infrastructure.

Electric vehicle infrastructure

Kymco Noodoe electric vehicle charging
Noodoe charging

In Australia, businesses and governments are working together to build charging EV infrastructure.

Chargefox is building Australia’s first ultra-fast charging stations powered by renewable energy on interstate highways connecting capital cities

It will cost $15m with $6m from the Federal Government and $1m from the Victorian Government.

The sites will be no more than 200km apart.

Chargefox charging app electric vehicle
Chargefox charging app

However, most electric motorcycles have highway range shorter than 200km, so they would be virtually useless to riders.

In Queensland, the state government is spending $2.5m to build an “Electric Super Highway” with 17 fast-charging stations along 1800km of highway from Coolangatta to Cairns and from Brisbane to Toowoomba.

That’s a charging station roughly every 105km, which is much more achievable for an electric motorcycle.

Fast chargers have a power output of 150kW and take about 15 minutes to charge an electric bike.

However, they only charge to 80% of a battery’s capacity and frequent use of fast charging depletes a battery’s life.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Dovizioso: “The grip dropped too much”

“When he (Rossi) overtook me I was really scared to crash because in that part of the track the grip was zero,” admitted the Ducati rider, who didn’t want to fight back too hard and risk losing a valuable 16 points. “I didn’t make a crazy move to lose 16 points on the last lap, it wasn’t a good idea.”

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

More confusion over lane splitting and filtering

If you think Australian road rules and lane filtering rules vary substantially between states, how about the USA where the only two states with lane splitting have completely different rules!

California has now been joined by Utah which has recently legalised lane splitting, while several more states are considering lane-splitting rules.

Lane splitting

It’s called lane splitting in the USA and lane filtering in Australia.

While lane filtering is slow movement between lanes of traffic, lane splitting is usually performed at higher speeds as in California.

However, the new Utah rules are actually lane filtering as it is only permitted in stationary traffic on a road posted at no higher than 45mph (72km/h) and at a maximum speed of 15mph (24km/h).

That’s even more restrictive than Australia where traffic does not have to be stopped and the maximum speed is 30km/h.

However, each Australian state has variances in the rules such as whether you can filtering through school zones, on the road edge or next to trucks and buses.

Rules Lane filter splitting filtering
Rules vary across Aussie states

The most liberal rules are in California where it is allowed when traffic is travelling under 30mph (48km/h) and riders must travel no faster than 10mph (16km/h) more than surrounding traffic. 

America divided

Several other American states are also considering lane filtering/splitting bills with varied rules.

Some are considering allowing riders to use the road shoulder only and not between lanes of traffic, while others have varied maximum speeds for riders and surrounding traffic.

In Texas, where you can ride without a helmet under certain conditions, they are considering making it mandatory when splitting lanes.Lane filtering lane splitting

Is it any wonder riders become confused and inadvertently break some of these arcane rules when travelling from state to state?

So if someone tells you it is legal to lane filter or lane split in their state or country, find out the rules first or you could run foul of the law.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Rossi makes long awaited rostrum return in Argentina

“It was Sachsenring last year which is a long, long time. Especially because last year in the last two races in Malaysia and in Valencia I was first and second but I made two mistakes so to finish the championship like this was really difficult to accept. So, also for this reason, this result is so important for me, for my team, for Yamaha because we arrive from a difficult period and I’m so happy,” said Rossi, who got the better of Mission Winnow Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso on the last lap at Turn 7 to secure P2 in Argentina.

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Miller: “Strategy was always to save the tyres”

“(It was a) great race, very intense battles there with Petrucci, Morbidelli and those guys,” continued the Aussie. “I enjoyed it a lot. But it cost me a little bit of time fighting with them. My strategy was always to save the tyres for the last laps and I did it quite well, I was able to pass Rins and Petrucci and Morbidelli, but it took too long to pass them. I needed too many laps. I was catching Dovi and Valentino but I wasn’t able to do it today but no I’m very happy, a big thank you to the team and it’s a big improvement from Qatar. Happy to get some points on the board and I’m looking forward to Austin.”

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Miller: “Strategy was always to save the tryes”

“(It was a) great race, very intense battles there with Petrucci, Morbidelli and those guys,” continued the Aussie. “I enjoyed it a lot. But it cost me a little bit of time fighting with them. My strategy was always to save the tyres for the last laps and I did it quite well, I was able to pass Rins and Petrucci and Morbidelli, but it took too long to pass them. I needed too many laps. I was catching Dovi and Valentino but I wasn’t able to do it today but no I’m very happy, a big thank you to the team and it’s a big improvement from Qatar. Happy to get some points on the board and I’m looking forward to Austin.”

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here