Brno MotoGP Statistics Smorgasbord

2019 MotoGP – Round 10 – Brno

Monster Energy Grand Prix České republiky

The 2019 Czech Grand Prix will be the 50th to be held at Brno and below are some facts  and statistics related to the previous GP events at the circuit.


The only venue that has hosted more Grand Prix events than Brno is Assen in The Netherlands, which has hosted the Dutch TT in each of the 71 years of the motorcycling World Championship.

The first Czechoslovakian Grand Prix was held at Brno in 1965. The 500cc race, held over thirteen laps of the original 13.94 km long road circuit, was won by Mike Hailwood on an MV Agusta in a time of 1 hour 11 min 23.2 sec.

In 1975, the circuit was shortened to 10.92 km to improve safety. The last premier class race held on the road circuit at Brno was in 1977 and was won by Johnny Cecotto on a Yamaha.

The circuit was subsequently considered too dangerous for the large capacity machines. The smaller capacity machines continued to compete in Grand Prix races on the Brno road circuit until 1982, before it was removed from the calendar for safety concerns.

The current circuit was first used for Grand Prix racing in 1987 and hosted the Czechoslovakian GP until 1991. Brno did not appear on the calendar in 1992, but the event was back on the calendar in 1993 as the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic and has taken place every year since.

This will be the 32nd time that the current circuit has hosted a Grand Prix event, during which time the circuit has remained virtually unchanged. Minor modifications were made to the circuit in 1996 which extended the length from 5.394 km to the current
5.403 km.

Valentino Rossi took his first ever victory at Brno in 1996
Valentino Rossi took his first ever victory at Brno in 1996

A total of 162 Grand Prix races for solo motorcycles have been held at Brno since 1965 as follows: MotoGP – 17, 500cc – 25, 350cc – 17, Moto2 – 9, 250cc – 40, Moto3 – 7, 125cc – 38, 80cc – 3, 50cc – 6.

Since the first Grand Prix race in the premier class in Brno, Honda is the most successful manufacturer with 18 wins, eight in the MotoGP class, the last of which came with Marc Marquez back in 2017.

Marc Marquez – Brno 2017

Yamaha have had 12 wins in the premier class including six in the MotoGP class since 2002 with Max Biaggi (1), Valentino Rossi (3) and Jorge Lorenzo (2). Ducati have taken three MotoGP wins at Brno: with Loris Capirossi in 2006, Casey Stoner in 2007 and Andrea Dovizioso last year. Dovizioso crossed the line ahead of his teammate Jorge Lorenzo, making it the sixth Ducati 1-2 in the premier class. 

Casey Stoner sprays the champagne at Brno in 2007
Casey Stoner sprays the champagne at Brno in 2007

The last win for Suzuki at Brno was in the 500cc class in 1989, with Kevin Schwantz. Suzuki have had two podium finishes in the MotoGP class: second with John Hopkins in 2007 and third with Loris Capirossi in 2008.

The best result for an Aprilia rider at Brno in MotoGP is an eighth-place finish with Aleix Espargaro in 2017. In 2017, Pol Espargaro was the only KTM rider across the line in Brno, in ninth place, which is the best result for the Austrian manufacturer at this track in the premier class.

The best result for a Czech rider in the MotoGP class at Brno is ninth for Karel Abraham in 2012 riding a Ducati. There have only been two podium finishes for Czech riders at the current Brno circuit across all classes: Lukas Pesek was third in the 125cc class back in 2007 on a Derbi, and Jakub Kornfeil was third in Moto3 last year on a KTM.

Max Biaggi (4 x 250cc, 2 x 500cc, 1 x MotoGP) and Valentino Rossi (1x 125cc, 1 x 250cc, 1 x 500cc, 4 x MotoGP) are the most successful riders at the current Brno circuit, each with seven wins.

The nine Moto2 races that have taken place at Brno have been won by nine different riders: Toni Elias (2010), Andrea Iannone (2011), Marc Marquez (2012), Mika Kallio (2013), Tito Rabat (2014), Johann Zarco (2015), Jonas Folger (2016), Tom Lüthi (2017) and Miguel Oliveira (2018).


Previously in MotoGP

Previously… in MotoGP
299 – In Germany, Valentino Rossi finished in eighth place, scoring points for the 299th time since he stepped up to the premier class of Grand Prix racing in 2000.
124 – The win for Marc Marquez at the German GP was the 124th time he has been on the podium in his Grand Prix career. Only five riders have been on the podium on more occasions in Grand Prix racing.
60 – Lorenzo Dalla Porta’s win at the Sachsenring is the 60th for Honda in the Moto3 class since its introduction in 2012, equalling KTM as the most successful manufacturer in the category.
50 – At the Sachsenring, Marc Marquez set the fastest lap of the race for the 50th time since he stepped up to the premier class in 2013. Only two riders have set more fastest laps in the class: Valentino Rossi (75) and Giacomo Agostini (69).
31 – Since the opening Grand Prix in Qatar, 31 different riders have stood on the podium across all GP classes, one less than last year. Only Marc Marquez, with eight podium finishes, has finished on the podium more than five times in the opening eight Grands Prix of the season.
16 – With Marc Marquez’s win at the Sachsenring, Honda has won for the 10th successive time at the track, 16th overall as in Mugello.

MotoGP Facts and Stats

At the Sachsenring, Marc Marquez won his fifth race out of the opening nine races of the season.

In the MotoGP  era since 2002, every rider who won at least five of the opening nine races went on to win the title: Valentino Rossi (8 – 2002, 5 – 2004 and 7 – 2005), Casey Stoner (5 – 2007), Jorge Lorenzo (6 – 2010 and 5 – 2012) and Marc Marquez (9 – 2014 and 5 – 2018).

Since the Catalan GP last year, Marc Marquez has only failed to score points three times: Australia and Valencia in 2018, and Austin this season. In the last 18 races he has finished, he has always been on the podium and finished third only once, in Brno.

Maverick Viñales finished second at the Sachsenring, which is his 19th podium finish in the premier class, equalling John Kocinski and Marco Lucchinelli on the list of riders with most podium finishes in the class.

His Dutch TT win and German GP podium make this Maverick Viñales fifth back-to-back podium finish since he stepped up to the MotoGP class in 2015. At the Czech GP, he will be aiming to stand on the podium three times in a row for the first time in the class.

Following the Dutch TT, Yamaha have scored 153 points in the Constructor’s World Championship classification, which is the lowest points accumulated after the opening nine races by Yamaha since 2006 when the Japanese manufacturer had 147 points
after the British GP.

With Marc Marquez and Maverick Viñales, this is the second successive Spanish 1-2 and the third with both riders along, with Austin last year and the Dutch TT this year. It’s the the 49th overall in the premier class of Grand Prix racing.

In Germany, Cal Crutchlow finished third, which is his first podium finish since he was also third in the opening race in Qatar this year. This is Crutchlow’s 18th premier class podium finish, equalling Christian Sarron.

Danilo Petrucci crossed the line in fourth place as the highest placed Ducati rider. This is the first time Ducati riders failed to stand on the podium in the two successive races since Assen and Germany last year.

Jack Miller crossed the line in sixth place in Germany and is now leading the Independent Team rider classification, three points ahead of Fabio Quartararo and Cal Crutchlow who both have 67 points.

Valentino Rossi crossed the line in eighth place at the German GP, which is the first time he scored points since he crossed the line in fifth place at the French GP. In addition, at the Sachsenring, Valentino Rossi scored points for the 299th time in the premier class. In Brno, he will be aiming to become the first rider to reach the milestone 300 premier class
races in the points.

Valentino Rossi on his way to victory at Brno in 2005
Valentino Rossi on his way to victory at Brno in 2005

At the Czech GP, it will be the 24th successive year that Valentino Rossi will have started a Grand Prix race at Brno. It will be just the second circuit, along with Jerez, he will have raced at in every year of his Grand Prix career. The other three circuits that have appeared on the Grand Prix schedule every year whilst Rossi has been racing (Mugello, Catalunya and Assen) were all circuits at which he didn’t start following his injury sustained in practice at the Italian GP back in 2010.

Valentino Rossi – Brno 2017

In Germany, Pol Espargaro crossed the line in 12th place, scoring his 56th point this season so far. This is already the highest points accumulated by a KTM rider in one season since Austrian manufacturer stepped up to the MotoGP class in 2017.

Only two riders have now scored points in all nine of the MotoGP races in 2019: Danilo Petrucci and Pol Espargaro. The last time Pol Espargaro failed to score any points was in Malaysia last year when he retired from the race. At the German GP, Fabio Quartararo crashed out for the first time in a premier class race, but he is still leading the fight for the Rookie of the Year with 67 points ahead Joan Mir (39 points), who scored his third successive top 10 finish, Miguel Oliveira (15) and Francesco Bagnaia (11).

The only two of the four rookies in the MotoGP class this year to have previously won at Brno any of the smaller classes are Miguel Oliveira, who won last year in the Moto2 class, and Joan Mir, who won in the Moto3 class in 2017 on his way to clinching the title.

However, fellow rookie Francesco Bagnaia has stood on the podium at Brno, finishing third last year in Moto2.


Winning streak at the same circuit

The win for Marc Marquez in Germany was the seventh successive time he has stood on the top step of the podium in the premier class at the Sachsenring, equalling Valentino Rossi at Mugello. Only one rider has won more than seven successive races at the
same track in the premier class:

Successive wins Rider Track
9 Giacomo Agostini Imatra (1965 – 1973)
8 Giacomo Agostini Spa-Francorchamps (1966 – 1973)
7 Marc Marquez Sachsenring (2013 – 2019)
7 Valentino Rossi Mugello (2002 – 2008)
6 Marc Marquez Circuit of the Americas (2013 – 2018)
6 Casey Stoner Phillip Island (2007 – 2012)
6 Mick Doohan Mugello (1993 – 1998)
6 Giacomo Agostini Sachsenring (1967 – 1972)
MotoGP Rnd Sachsenring Germany Marquez Podium
Sachsenring Round 9 – MotoGP 2019

In addition to Marquez’ seventh successive win in the MotoGP class at the Sachsenring, it was his 10th successive victory in Germany including his Moto2 win at the track in both 2011 and 2012 and his 125cc win in 2010. Giacomo Agostini holds the record in Finland with 13th successive wins at Imatra: 8 x 500cc (1966 – 1973) and 5 x 350cc (1969 – 1973).

MotoGP Rnd Sachsenring Germany Marquez
Marc Marquez – Sachsenring Round 9 – MotoGP 2019

Marc Marquez closes in on Mike Hailwood Marc Marquez’ win at the Sachsenring was the 75th of his Grand Prix career, just one less GP win than nine-time World Champion Mike Hailwood (76) as shown in the table below of riders with most GP wins. There are just three riders in the history of Grand Prix racing who have taken more wins than Hailwood.

Pos Rider Wins MGP/500 350 M2/250 125 80/50
1 Giacomo Agostini 122 68 54 / / /
2 Valentino Rossi 115 89 / 14 12 /
3 Angel Nieto 90 / / / 62 28
4 Mike Hailwood 76 37 16 21 2 /
5 Marc Marquez 75 49 / 16 10 /
6 Jorge Lorenzo 68 47 / 17 4 /
7= Mick Doohan 54 54 / / / /
7= Dani Pedrosa 54 31 / 15 8 /
9 Phil Read 52 11 4 27 10 /
10= Jim Redman 45 2 21 18 4 /
10= Casey Stoner 45 38 / 5 2 /
MotoGP Rnd Sachsenring Germany MotoGP Podium
Marquez took the win from Vinales and Crutchlow – Sachsenring Round 9 – MotoGP 2019

In addition, this was the 85th podium finish in the premier class for Marc Marquez, three less than Giacomo Agostini, who is in fifth place in the list of riders with the most podium finishes in the class.


Great start to the season for Marc Marquez

At the Sachsenring, Marc Marquez qualified on pole position for the 85th time in his Grand Prix career and the 57th time in the premier class, one less than the record held by Mick Doohan (58).

This was Marc Marquez’s 34th win in the premier class after qualifying on pole position. 45 of his 49 wins in the class came after qualifying within the top three. Marc Marquez’ win at the Sachsenring is the sixth time that he had won at any circuit in the MotoGP class after qualifying on pole position, leading across the line on every lap and setting the fastest lap of the race along with Jerez (2014), Austin (2014, 2016, 2018) and Termas de Rio Hondo (2019).

MotoGP Rnd Sachsenring Fri Marquez
Marc Marquez

At the Sachsenring, Marc Marquez set the fastest lap of the race for the 50th time since he stepped up to the premier class in 2013. Only two riders have set more fastest laps in the class, Valentino Rossi (75) and Giacomo Agostini (69).

Marc Marquez has won at least five GPs per season over the past ten years, across three different categories: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP, beating his own record set over the last two years. Previously, Mike Hailwood was the only rider to have achieved at least five victories per season over seven years, across at least three classes, between 1961 and 1967.

In addition, Marc Marquez has won at least five GPs per season (in any class of GP racing) over the past ten years, equalling the record set by Giacomo Agostini between 1966 and 1975 in 350cc and 500cc.

MotoGP Rnd Catalunya QP Marquez
Marc Marquez

Considering only the premier class, Marc Marquez has won at least five GPs per season over the past seven years, beating the record set by Valentino Rossi (2001-2006) and Giacomo Agostini (1967-1972), who each won at least five races over six consecutive
seasons.

Following the German GP, Marc Marquez has 185 points, which is the second-highest points accumulated after the opening nine races by Marquez in the MotoGP class. 2014 was the highest, when he had won the nine opening races and accumulated 225
points.

With his brother Alex winning in Moto2, this was the fifth time both of them won on the same day, along with France and Catalunya earlier this year and Catalunya and Assen back in 2014 when both were on their way to winning their respective titles in
Moto3 and MotoGP.

Andrea Dovizioso closes in on Mick Doohan Andrea Dovizioso crossed the line in fifth place at the Sachsenring and scored his 2279th point since he stepped up to the MotoGP class in 2008. At the Czech GP, he will be aiming to move above Mick Doohan, who is in fourth place in the list of riders with most points scored in the premier class.

Pos Rider 500/MotoGP
1 Valentino Rossi 5211
2 Dani Pedrosa 2970
3 Jorge Lorenzo 2890
4 Mick Doohan 2298
5 Andrea Dovizioso              2279
6 Alex Barros 2079
7 Marc Marquez 2040
8 Loris Capirossi                 1840
9 Casey Stoner 1815
10 Nicky Hayden 1698
MotoGP Assen Rossi GP AN
Valentino Rossi celebrated his 100th GP victory at Assen way back in 2009

Mid-Season Report

There have been five different winners in the opening nine MotoGP races of the year, which is the third time there have been five different winners at this stage of the season since the introduction of the class in 2002, along with 2006 and 2017.

In addition, there have been nine different riders who have stood on the podium in the opening nine MotoGP races of the season, two less than the entire 2018 season. The record at this stage of the season in the MotoGP class since its introduction in 2002 is 12 back in 2007.

Two different riders have led the Championship classification in the opening nine MotoGP  races of 2018: Andrea Dovizioso and Marc Márquez.

Ten different riders have qualified within the top three in MotoGP during the opening nine races of 2019. Three of them have qualified on pole position, three less than at this stage of the 2018 season.

Eight different riders have led at least one lap across the line since the opening MotoGP race in Qatar, one less than last year at this stage of the season. Marc Marquez leads the way with 142 laps, followed by Andrea Dovizioso (23) and Danilo Petrucci (14).

Eight different riders have led at least one of the 44 free practice sessions (FP3 in Austin was cancelled due to weather conditions) or one of the nine Q2 sessions. Marc Marquez leads the way with 24 sessions on top followed by Fabio Quartararo (13), Maverick Viñales (7), Danilo Petrucci (5), Valentino Rossi (1), Francesco Bagnaia (1), Alex Rins (1) and Andrea Dovizioso (1). All 22 riders competing full-time in MotoGP class have scored points since the opening race in Qatar.


On this day…

July 30th
At the 1972 Finnish GP, Jarno Saarinen won his home GP in 250cc, his fourth victory of the season, to clinch his only title in GP racing.
July 31st
At the 1982 British GP, Angel Nieto took his 50th win in the 125cc class (his 77th overall).
At the 1971 Finnish GP, Giacomo Agostini took his sixth 350cc win to clinch his 10th title in GP racing, becoming the rider with most titles.
August 1st
At the 1981 British GP, Anton Mang won the 350cc race to take the first of his two titles in the class.
August 2nd
In Imatra back in 1976, Pat Hennen won the 500cc race to be- come the first American to win in the premier class.
At the 2005 German GP, Valentino Rossi won the MotoGP race after it was interrupted following a crash for John Hopkins and then restarted for 25 laps. Rossi (now 115 wins) equalled Mike Hailwood with 76 GP wins, only Agostini (122 GP wins) and An- gel Nieto (90) had more wins at that time. 14 years later, at the 2019 German GP, Marc Márquez took his 75th GP win.
At the 1987 British GP, Jorge “Aspar” Martinez took his sixth win in the opening seven races of the season to clinch his second successive 80cc title.
At the 1983 British GP held at Silverstone, Angel Nieto won the 125cc race to clinch the 125cc title (his 12th) while Carlos La-vado took his first 250cc title by taking fourth.
At the same GP in Imatra, Johnny Cecotto took the first of his three  wins  in  the  500cc  class,  while  Barry  Sheene  finished sixth to clinch his second successive title in the class.
August 3rd
At the 1986 British GP, Ian McConnachie won the 80cc race, be- coming the first British rider to win at Silverstone in GP racing.
August 4th
At the 1953 French GP, Pierre Monneret finished second in the 350cc race, becoming the first French rider to stand on the podium in GP racing (solo classes).
Takazumi Katayama won the 350cc race held in Imatra back in 1977 to become the first Japanese rider to clinch a title in GP racing.
At the 1996 Austrian GP, Valentino Rossi finished third in the 125cc class behind Ivan Goi (who became the youngest winner in the class at that time) and Dirk Raudies, which was the first of Rossi’s 234 podium finishes in Grand Prix racing so far.
At the 1993 British GP, Jean-Philippe Ruggia won the 250cc race held at Donington Park, which was the first of his three wins in Grand Prix racing.

Source: MCNews.com.au

Practice crash puts Beaton out of upcoming grand prix rounds

News 1 Aug 2019

Practice crash puts Beaton out of upcoming grand prix rounds

In-form Australian injured while preparing for Lommel this weekend.

Image: Supplied.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jed Beaton will sit out the upcoming rounds of the 2019 MX2 World Championship after suffering a broken sternum during practice this week.

Beaton, who had been gradually gaining strength in the back part of the season and was closing in on a return to the podium, was injured while preparing for Lommel’s Belgian grand prix.

“Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jed Beaton unfortunately suffered a crash while riding in preparation for this weekend’s MXGP of Belgium, which means the Australian is going to miss the upcoming GPs,” a social media update from the team confirmed. “We wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him back on the bike soon.”

Beaton is currently seventh in the MX2 championship standings with just five rounds remaining, however, there has been no indication in regards to when he will be able to make it back behind the start-gates.


Source: MotoOnline.com.au

Brookesy back at Thruxton happy hunting ground this weekend

Round Seven – Thruxton


The Bennetts British Superbike Championship hits Thruxton this weekend (August 2/3/4) for the seventh round of the season, and the high-speed Hampshire circuit will prove crucial to the title chase with just seven races now remaining before the Showdown.

Thruxton is renowned for producing some incredible last-lap passes and daring slip-stream manoeuvres, and with a potential 175 points still available before the Showdown Title Fighters are decided at Oulton Park, every point counts.

Josh Brookes does British Superbike Double at Thruxton
Josh Brookes did British Superbike Double at Thruxton in 2014

Josh Brookes has previously been the man to beat at Thruxton; he has won races on eight occasions and finished a further four times on the podium, the Aussie will be hoping history can repeat itself this weekend on the second Be Wiser Ducati.

BSB 2015 - Thruxton - Josh Brookes
BSB 2015 – Thruxton – Josh Brookes

Josh Brookes

“I’m happy with the year so far, there have been a few low points but majority of that has been due to factors out of my control. I’m readying myself for this weekends round 7 at Thruxton. This has been a great circuit for me, here I got my very first BSB podium and then also my first BSB win.

BSB 2017 - Round Seven - Thruxton - Superbike Race One Results Josh Brookes (Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha) Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) +1.026s Jake Dixon (RAF Reserves Kawasaki) +1.774s
BSB 2017 – Round Seven – Thruxton
Josh Brookes (Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha)
Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) +1.026s
Jake Dixon (RAF Reserves Kawasaki) +1.774s

“Either I like the track so I get good results or the good results makes me like the track. Either way I hope the trend continues this weekend and I can get some extra points over everyone as we start the second half of the season. It’s not by choice but history says I get stronger as the season goes on so if that pattern runs true this year I’m in a very good position to potential take my second BSB championship.”

BSB RNd BrandsHatch Josh Brookes Celebrate
This season Brookes has joined Be Wiser Ducati

Broookes’s Be Wiser Ducati team-mate Scott Redding arrives at Thruxton leading the championship standings after a double win at Snetterton. But having never visited the circuit before, the seasoned MotoGP regular admits that he is going to have to plan a different strategy this weekend.


Scott Redding

“From what I have heard from other riders its fast, it’s quite open and the approach to the race will be different as I hear many of the guys have said it is a lot about tyre wear and I think with the high temperatures that will add to it. But it is something I am looking forward to as it is a different challenge and a different approach I will need to take. I am definitely looking forward to it; it is a bit more local to me so I am looking to put on a good race for the crowds there and see if we can try and bag some more podiums. This race like I say is going to be very different it is not going to be about who is the fastest, it is going to maybe be about who is the smartest rider and controlled rider for the tyre wear so I will be keeping that in mind of course. I have never been to the track at all, I have done zero laps there before in my life so I don’t know what to expect!

BSB Round Snetterton Race Podium Redding
Scott Redding – Snetterton BSB 2019

Ready to take the Ducati duo on in the battle for victories this weekend are the hometown force of Devizies-born Tommy Bridewell and the Winchester-based Oxford Racing Ducati team. They arrive second in the overall standings after claiming eight consistent podium finishes, but the team has yet to claim a race win in the Superbike class, something that Bridewell is fully focused on achieving this weekend.

BSB RNd BrandsHatch Bridewell
Tommy Bridewell at Brands Hatch – 2019

Following a podium finish and a crash last time out at Snetterton, Tarran Mackenzie holds fourth in the championship standings, with the McAMS Yamaha team also having previously won at Thruxton. Mackenzie, one of the five different winners this season, is bidding to try to consolidate his position in the Showdown for the first time.

SBK Pole Tarran Mackenzie
Tarran Mackenzie

Knockhill race winner Danny Buchan holds fifth place for FS3-Racing Kawasaki as they try to make the cut for the Showdown for the first time; with an 18-point advantage over Xavi Forés, the Essex contender knows that he needs to be back fighting at the sharp end this weekend to maintain his marginal advantage.

BSB Rnd Oulton Park DY Danny Buchan AROA
Danny Buchan

Like Redding, Forés has never lapped Thruxton before and the Honda Racing rider holds the final place in the top six ahead of the two races on Sunday. The Spanish ace also has an 18-point advantage over Peter Hickman in seventh, but knows he needs to deliver two strong results this weekend if he is going to hold that all-important position in the standings.

BSB Round Snetterton Fores Barbera Mossey
Xavi Forés

Hickman is the first in the list trying to bump someone out of the top six; after a double podium at the circuit last year, the Smiths Racing BMW rider is eager to claw back the deficit this weekend. But he needs to also keep Andrew Irwin and Christian Iddon behind him.

BSB RNd BrandsHatch Hickman BMW SRR
Peter Hickman’s BMW S 1000 RR

Andrew Irwin had the strongest weekend of his Superbike career last time out at Snetterton, which has moved him to within 20 points of sixth place with Iddon on the Tyco BMW just two points adrift of the Honda Racing rider as they target a Showdown position for the first time.

BSB Rnd Knockhill FriDYeomans Andrew Irwin Jason Ohalloran
Andrew Irwin and Jason O’Halloran

Glenn Irwin returns to action this weekend after parting company with Quattro Plant – JG Speedfit Kawasaki, he lines up in Tyco BMW colours for the remainder of the season as Keith Farmer remains sidelined through injury. Meanwhile for the Bournemouth-based Quattro Plant – JG Speedfit Kawasaki team, Hector Barbera returns alongside Ben Currie to make his Thruxton debut.

BSB Test Oulton Park Ben Currie
Ben Currie

Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings

Pos Rider Team PTS
1 SCOTT REDDING BE WISER DUCATI 226
2 TOMMY BRIDEWELL OXFORD RACING DUCATI 188
3 JOSH BROOKES BE WISER DUCATI 185
4 TARRAN MACKENZIE MCAMS YAMAHA 144
5 DANNY BUCHAN FS-3 KAWASAKI 132
6 XAVI FORÉS HONDA RACING 114
7 PETER HICKMAN SMITHS RACING BMW 96
8 ANDREW IRWIN HONDA RACING 94
9 CHRISTIAN IDDON TYCO BMW 92
10 LUKE MOSSEY OMG RACING SUZUKI 72
…12 JASON O’HALLORAN MCAMS YAMAHA 64
…25 BEN CURRIE QUATTRO PLANT JG SPEEDFIT KAWASAKI 3

Source: MCNews.com.au

Motorcycle handlebar petition goes federal

A “Change” petition to relax motorcycle handlebar rules last year attracted more than 11,000 signatures, but was ignored by the Federal Government.

So now the petitioners have gone to a lawyer to draft a formal Federal Parliament petition to elicit some action.

Click here to sign the petition.

Gold Coast handlebar manufacturer Burleigh Bars Australia started the online Change.org petition to scrap the arbitrary limit of 380mm above the seat.

They claimed the rules did not consider rider comfort nor lane filtering riders hitting car mirrors.Motorcycle handlebar petition goes federal

Petition rejected

Spokesman Zane Waldon says the change.org petition was given “no merit as far the Federal Government was concerned”.

“So, after a year we have hit the next stage,” he says.

“I’m not too sure how many signatures are required; our lawyer has taken care of setting all this up.

I believe it all depends on numbers as to whether it will go before the House of Representatives for debate.

The petition will only be active for the next four weeks, sop hopefully we can achieve the number required in that time.”

So far, only about 1200 have signed.

Lift restrictions

Zane says they would like to see no restrictions as in 31 states of the USA and 10 provinces and territories of Canada or even a shoulder height as in 10 USA states and British Columbia.

“Shoulder height would be ideal as it is based on the rider’s height and makes far more sense to me,” Zane says.

“But we are thinking it would be easier to get them to go back to the old rule (380mm above the attachment, not the seat) than to try and make a new rule.”

He says the arbitrary handlebar height restrictions have created an excuse for police to conduct a witch-hunt to harass riders.

Click here for examples of the witch-hunt.Motorcycle handlebar petition goes federal

Federal plea

The new Federal Government petition (Number EN0950) asks the House to “consider changes to the national legislation and the ADR(57) to alleviate vexatious regulations regarding motorcycle handlebar heights”.

“It is our submission that laws should be unified as they relate to vehicles manufactured pre and post 1988; specifically that the current compliance height of 380mm be measured from the point of attachment to the vehicle rather than the uppermost surface of the riders seat,” the petition says.

“It is our belief that the reformation of these laws will lead to greater rider wellbeing, increased freedom of modification and the subsequent benefit to industry, reduced cost impost on motorcycle manufacturers and consumers without reducing safety.”

The petition seeks amendments to the Motor Vehicles Standards Act, the National Code of Practice for Vehicle Construction and “aid in the amendment of the Australian Design Rules pertaining to motorcycle construction”.

“Specifically to effect laws requiring all mopeds, motorcycles and motor trikes, regardless of manufacture date, to comply with a handlebar height of 380mm measured from the point of attachment to the vehicle, as per the current legislation pertaining to vehicles manufactured prior to June 30, 1988.”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

In-car digital distractions increase

Misuse of mobile phones in cars is not the only driver distraction as car manufacturers are shovelling more and more digital diversions into their vehicles.

Honda is even planning a dashboard-wide panoramic digital interface for its coming electric hatchback (check the images above and below).

The car will feature five high-resolution colour screens with safety and entertainment information such as rear and side cameras, a WiFi hotspot, Apply CarPlay and even a selection of background wallpapers to please the eye!Honda digital distractions

In the middle are two 12.3-inch LCD touchscreens with customisable apps that you can access by swiping with your finger.

Some of the information includes comprehensive weather forecasts.

Honda digital distractions

Do drivers really need a comprehensive weather app to see if it’s raining. Surely the droplets on the windscreen are a good indication!

Whatever happened to hanging on to the steering wheel and looking out the windows or at your mirrors?

Digital epidemic

The National Transport Commission has identified that current rules about distracted driving are not keeping pace with technology, leading to a plague of distracted-driving crashes.

However, instead of addressing this increase of in-car tech, they are seeking non-technological solutions to the road rules.

The NTC cites studies showing a task that takes a driver’s ‘eyes off the road’ for as little as two seconds can be particularly hazardous.

RACQ road safety officer and motorcyclist Steve Spalding says driver distraction is “proving to be one of the most challenging issues of road safety in recent years”.

Steve Spalding safety officer RACQ motorcycle awareness month of May
Steve Spalding

“The solution could be simple if all drivers complied with the law, eyes on the road, hands on the steering wheel and mind on the driving task,” he says.

It’s not just mobile phones that are increasing driver distractions, but also this plethora of onboard information being stuffed into modern cars.

If legislation is having trouble coping with the current invasion of mobile technology, how will it ever cope with the hi-tech entertainment being fitted to vehicles?

In Australia, distraction is a factor in 16% of injury crashes and a 2017 WA preliminary summary found that 28 fatalities (17%) were from inattention-related crashes, up more than 100% on the previous five-year average.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Jarvis wins opening day in the mountains | Romaniacs 2019

Off Road Day One

Britain’s Graham Jarvis has claimed victory on Off Road Day One at Red Bull Romaniacs, round five of the World Enduro Super Series. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider charged to the top of the standings on the opening full day of competition, finishing ahead of Sherco Factory Racing’s Wade Young (RSA) and Germany’s Manuel Lettenbichler.

Red Bull Romaniacs WESS Day Wade Young
Wade Young

With Tuesday’s Prologue in Sibiu soon forgotten, the competitors from 50 nations quickly got down to business on Off Road Day One. Although the shortest track in this year’s race at 102 kilometres in length for the Gold Class riders, it was anything but easy. With a brutal climb directly after the 6.45am start, riders were immediately woken up and put to work.

At the head of the field it was TTR Officine Rigamonti’s Pol Tarres (ESP) who led the riders out, followed by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jonny Walker (GB) and Taddy Blazusiak (KTM – POL) – all separated by three-minute gaps.

Red Bull Romaniacs WESS Day Taddy Blazusiak Walker
Taddy Blazusiak and Jonny Walker

Starting seventh on the road, Jarvis quickly went to work and closed in on his rival, using the opening climb to his advantage. But it was clear he wasn’t going to have things all his own way as Lettenbichler, Young, Blazusiak and Alfredo Gomez (Husqvarna – ESP) kept him honest.

During the afternoon the leading group broke up, with Jarvis, Lettenbichler and Young pulling clear. A technical problem saw Blazusiak drop back, losing positions as he fought to overcome his issue, while Walker sat steady in sixth.

Red Bull Romaniacs WESS Day Josep Garcia Montana
Josep Garcia Montana

On corrected time it was Jarvis who took the opening day win by one-minute and 12-seconds from Young, with Lettenbichler only one minute further back in third. With Mario Roman (Sherco -ESP) fourth and Gomez fifth, the top five are separated by less than four minutes.


Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna – GB)

“It was an easier day compared with the Off Road Day 1 I had last year, which I was quite happy about. I didn’t really make any time on the difficult sections, but I kept a good pace throughout the race. Importantly, I didn’t make any serious mistakes and was able to catch the other guys early on. I gained a bit of time then and it’s probably made the difference today for sure. With my time here last year still haunting me I feel I’ve helped put things right on day one. But there’s going to be faster days, so how it will suit me I don’t know. But I need to get on with it and go full throttle.”

Red Bull Romaniacs WESS Day Graham Jarvis Head
Graham Jarvis

Delivering one of the day’s most impressive rides was JD Gunnex KTM’s David Cyprian (CZ). The young 21-year-old looked confident on the challenging climbs and it showed with the privateer claiming a well-deserved seventh.

David Cyprian (KTM – CZ)

“I had a great day today and feel like I rode with a very solid pace. I managed to stay mistake-free through the day and ended up seventh, which is a great start to the week. As we finish today it’s just started to rain, so tomorrow might be pretty tough if it continues like that. But I’m looking forward to it and want to keep this momentum going – we’ll see what happens during the next few days.”


Australian Adam Giles was 24th outright on Wednesday, a brillliant performance. Countrymen Chris Perry was 29th and Anthony Solar 30th with that Aussie trio all contesting the premier gold class of the competition. 

Red Bull Romaniacs WESS Day Adam Giles
Adam Giles

In the Silver class the top honours went to Spain’s Josu Artola who showed his form in the hot temperatures to pull 10 minutes clear of second-placed Emanual Gyenes (ROU). With a number of riders given 10-minute penalties, third place went to Great Britain’s Josef Westgarth with Patrick Riegler (AUT) in fourth.

Aussie Shane Moss was 19th in Silver, Adam Poole 24th, Tim Gibson 31st, Sam Preece 61st and Shane Bowden 93rd.

The heavily contested Bronze class saw Poland’s Marcin Weglarz take an early lead in proceedings. Weglarz topped the standings over France’s Jean Michel Vigand with Germany’s Wilhelm Ehm third.

Red Bull Romaniacs WESS Day Jarvis
Graham Jarvis

Australian Brent Brady was fifth in the Bronze class ahead of countrymen Adam Brice in 28th, Christian Barrett 39th, Jason Beaton 46th, Robert Kingston 65th, Raymond Borg 68th, Dwayne Affleck 80th, Brendon Cousins 81st,  Nicholas Kirk 92nd and Paul Mapperson 93rd, Marc Grills 111th, Craig Roberts 112th, John Cockings 168th, Brett Summers 181st,  and 

The opening day in the mountains for the Iron class saw Israel’s Oz Nehoray secure a commanding 13-minute 30-second margin of victory. Italy’s Agostino Crema was second with USA’s Danny Melvin third.

Aaron Macfadzen was the first Aussie in the Iron class ahead of Aaron Panozza in 38th, Klaus Mueller in 60th, Dominic Dercole 69th, Joshua Devine 75th, Brenden Murphy 81st, Christopher Withers 94th, Andrew Donnelly 95th, 

Red Bull Romaniacs continues with Off Road Day 2 where competitors will tackle a new course that will take them deeper into the Carpathian Mountains. The longest day of the event, Gold class will cover 151 kilometres of riding.


2019 Red Bull Romaniacs
Off Road Day 1

Gold Class

  1. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna – GB) 4:27:16
  2. Wade Young (Sherco – RSA) 4:28:31
  3. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM – GER) 4:29:22
  4. Mario Roman (Sherco – ESP) 4:30:11
  5. Alfredo Gomez (Husqvarna – ESP) 4:31:01
  6. Jonny Walker (KTM – GB) 4:45:13
  7. David Cyprian (KTM – CZ) 4:46:58
  8. Taddy Blazusiak (KTM – POL) 4:48:06
  9. Pol Tarres (Husqvarna – ESP) 4:54:08
  10. Dieter Rudolf (KTM – AUT) 5:08:01…

Silver Class

  1. Josu Artola (ESP) 4:13:22
  2. Emmanuel Gyenes (ROU) 4:23:35
  3. Josef Westgarth (GB) 4:24:56
  4. Patrick Riegler (AUT) 4:25:24
  5. Alberto Aramburu (ESP) 4:27:08…

Bronze Class

  1. Marcin Weglarz (POL) 4:08:24
  2. Jean Michel Vigand (FRA) 4:11:15
  3. Wilhelm Ehm (GER) 4:19:33
  4. Valerii Oleinikov (RUS) 4:24:44
  5. Eric Slominski (USA) 4:24:45…

Iron Class

  1. Oz Nehoray (ISR) 3:08:29
  2. Agostinio Crema (ITA) 3:21:59
  3. Danny Melvin (USA) 3:24:15
  4. Anna Schmölzl (GER) 3:25:01
  5. Graham Maclachlan (RSA) 3:27:18…

Source: MCNews.com.au

Perpetual Motion: Southern Comfort S1 E3

Our friends at Westx1000 are constantly on the go. From covering Dakar to cruising the states, their series Perpetual Motion offers a glimpse into what it’s like to never slow down. 

Begin Press Release: 


Perpetual Motion | Southern Comfort | S1 E3

In the last four years, the two of us have ridden more than 60k miles, explored 15 countries and been lucky enough to see the world from behind the handlebar of a motorbike.
With the help of friend, filmmaker and fellow motorcyclist, Nathan Slabaugh, we’ve created a new moto-travel series called Perpetual Motion.

First, we toured Baja California, then a 2,600 mile trip around the Lone Star State, and now a wild ride through The South!

Grab a seat and push play to see a sunken Civil War fortress in the bayou, meet the man behind Silver Piston, say your prayers at the Church of Motorsports and find out whether Kyra really is as slow as Justin says she is… With a little help from legendary drag racer Rickey Gadson.

The post Perpetual Motion: Southern Comfort | S1 E3 appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.