Atlantic Blue graces the 890 Duke R for 2022, just as it has the 1290 Super Duke R before it.
Begin press release:
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.
Having been around since 2020, the KTM 890 DUKE R has proven itself to be the undisputed champion in the middleweight segment. Boasting an impressive 121 HP and 99 Nm of torque, it represents as a serious option for race-centric riders looking for agility, punch, and poise.
The KTM 890 DUKE R is dubbed THE SUPER SCALPEL on account 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 all weather conditions.
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 forwards 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 matt paint. Called ‘Atlantic Blue’, the color is reminiscent of the palate used on the KTM RC16 GP racer and recently the KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R, 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 the READY TO RACE presence.
With its 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 Febuary 2022 onwards. For more information, visit ktm.com.
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.
Jonathan Rea returns to testing action this week at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, near Portimao in Portugal, for a two-day trac Source: Jonathan Rea On Facebook
In an exclusive interview with motogp.com, the Repsol Honda rider spoke in-depth on his future as well as World Championship ambitions
After a first year of adapting to the demands of the RC213V, Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) is looking forward to the new 2022 MotoGP™ World Championship season with a renewed enthusiasm. Immersed in what is “a tough start for all the riders”, he spoke to motogp.com from Sepang, where he took part in the first Official Test of the year, which ended on a high note thanks to a top 10 finish and the firm steps the golden wing brand is taking with the new bike. Despite the sweltering heat in Malaysia, the riders are made of different stuff: “It’s very difficult here, but in Thailand, we’ll have adapted one hundred per cent”.
After a winter break that “always takes a long time” during which he wasted no time riding flat track, motocross and a range of other disciplines, Espargaro is happy to be back in the paddock and experiencing the unique sensations of MotoGP™ racing. 2022 looks set to be a different year for him as he’s now acclimatised to the bike and the Honda environment, who have made efforts to improve the performance of his machine. The step forward in terms of engine or rear grip was already palpable at the Jerez Test, although the younger Espargaro brother is satisfied, his optimism was cautious. The progress made had to be confirmed.
Expectations for the new RC213V
“It’s true that the bike is different. That, at the circuits we have ridden, has given us positive feedback,” he admitted on the eve of the recent Test, aware of the need to ride at other circuits and accumulate more track time so that “the conclusions are clear, not hasty.”
“We don’t know for sure where the others have improved, where they are going to be faster, because here everyone is improving,” he said. That’s why some caution “is good to keep a little bit of reality”, though if Honda can back up their Sepang efforts with another good outing in Mandalika, expectations could change ahead of the season opener in Qatar.
“One of our best Tests” – Puig opens up on Honda’s progress 06/02/2022
HRC’s Team Manager praised an “amazing” Marc Marquez after a successful two days in Sepang but was keen to silence links to Joan Mir
Much is being said about the new RC213V, but if one area could prove key to Espargaro’s aspirations, it’s the rear grip of his machine: “For me the rear grip is essential, without a doubt. Marc [Marquez] has the ability or has adapted in these ten years with the Honda to be able to work with less grip, he likes it and feels comfortable, but I find it very difficult and so do the other riders, so Honda has worked with Marc’s absence a little bit more on that aspect and they have improved the bike a lot. We have much more contact, not just grip, but general contact on the rear wheel, either entering or exiting the corners, and that, in the end, I don’t know if it will give us a lot of speed, but it will give us a lot of safety, which is also very important. Being more confident also gives you more confidence to go faster, to brake later, to dive into the corners with more speed. So, it’s important to be fast, but being safe on the bike is crucial.”
Puig’s message
As the 2021 campaign progressed, Honda were able to savour the progress of Pol, who had two highlights with a pole position at Silverstone and a brilliant second place at the Emilia-Romagna GP, a career-best result. The coup at the British GP, which he backed up with a top 5 finish, was preceded by a motivational pep-talk from his Team Manager, Alberto Puig.
Relive Pol Espargaro’s breathtaking pole lap with Tissot 28/08/2021
A first Repsol Honda pole position for a rider not wearing 93 since Dani Pedrosa back at Sepang in 2017
What’s the message for 2022? “I’m in constant contact with Alberto. We always talk, either by phone or in person, and that obviously helps me to have more direct contact with the factory. Also, Alberto is a very direct and very real person, he doesn’t speculate on anything and what he tells you, he tells you when he is sure of it. He is very cautious and tells you few things, but the things he says are true, direct and clear and that helps me a lot, he gives me a lot of confidence and security”.
“We have spoken many times this year before the start of the season, even before the pre-season, and the message is clear: we have to keep pushing, we have to be at the top, where these colours deserve to be, and there is no other way but to be in the top five or three,” adds Pol, who, like most of the grid, is facing into a key year contractually, with many seats at stake. His current contract with Honda runs out at the end of 2022. It’s a crucial season, one that’s “important to close the contracts”, although the Granollers man reminds us that the riders in the premier class are always under the spotlight.
Consistency and ambition
“It is obvious that this year is important for me because last year was a year of experience with a bike that was not at its best level. This year is very different, the bike is very different. We start with Marc also in the pre-season, which will help us to develop the bike. I’m starting with a lot more experience, I know the bike and the team a lot better,” he said, before emphasising his ambition to go further this year: “This year is very different, I know what I’m going to find and I’m in a position to get the results I think I can get, the ones I was fighting for at the end of the year.”
Future with Honda
If he achieves his goals, the number 44 is confident of extending his project with Honda, where he feels at home following a four-year stint with KTM: “Honda makes me feel comfortable, they give me the confidence I need to be able to continue together beyond these two years of contract and I firmly believe that we make a good tandem, so my intention and I think also Honda’s right now is to continue together in the future, but it is clear that this has to go hand in hand with some results that we have to achieve this year, on my part and on Honda’s. At the moment, there are no doubts: we are in a very good position, we are in a very good position to achieve the results we need to achieve this year. At the moment, there is no doubt: we are united on this path.”
“I knew it would be a hard road at the beginning, as it has been, but, without a doubt, both parties are willing to give the maximum at the beginning of the season and in the middle of the season to be able to close another contract and that’s what I want and what the factory wants, so, until they say otherwise, we will continue in this line.”
In the short term, Espargaro hopes to benefit from the return of Marquez: “For me and for all of Honda it is very important that Marc is here. Firstly, because he is a rider who this year will have been with the bike for ten years. Ten years with a bike allows you to have a brutal knowledge of the whole process it has undergone. In terms of improving it, understanding the engineers and knowing how to deal with the issue of developing a bike, I think there is no one better than him at Honda right now. In terms of experience, Marc is crucial. And then, obviously, with the speed he has and how fast he is, he takes the factory to another level.”
Honda riders: 2022 bike is fresh, new & has title potential 06/02/2022
The reaction from the HRC and LCR camps to the new RC213V has created a lot of excitement as they target a return to winning ways
The Márquez factor
“It’s not the same when you are riding and you see that a rider of your own brand is capable of doing things that you thought you couldn’t do, that makes you improve a lot, in terms of results, but also in terms of riding”, says Pol, who is very positive about the level of his team-mate: “For me it’s important that Marc is there. It’s always positive, not negative. I don’t look at it from a results point of view but more from the point of view of improving my riding, the fact that Marc is there helps me to be much more involved, that I have to put in a lot more effort and that makes me a better rider. So, for me the return of Marc is a positive thing, for the factory too and we will see if we can use all this to be faster in the pre-season and start the season much more mature with this new bike than we would start without him.”
A clear favourite
The new reign of Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) and the huge progress of the Ducatis with ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) leading the way could open up a wide range of title contenders, but Espargaro is clear that the number 93 carries the favourite’s tag.
“I have no doubt that Marc is the favourite to win the World Championship, above any other rider. He is physically well, he has the speed he had before the injury and I have no doubt that Marc is the rival to beat for everyone, not just for me, and anyone who says otherwise is not telling the truth. He is the rider to beat for all the years he has been here fighting in different conditions. Even last year physically at 70-80-90% he was able to win races. I’m lucky to have him by my side and to see what Marc is able to do, who will probably be fighting every race of the season, is going to help me to try to copy what he does and try to be at his level.”
Pol’s biggest wish for 2022
After talking about the new bike, the future, his team-mate and other aspects, motogp.com wanted to find out what Pol’s biggest wish for the new year would be. Once again, his roadmap remains unchanged. His desire for glory and success remains intact.
“I start with the same goal since I started in MotoGP™. If it then goes wrong because of different things… we’ll try not to. My goal is to be World Champion, to win as many races as possible, to be on the podium as many times as possible and to be useful for the factory. In the end, we always aim to win, to be the best and to be at the top, but sometimes you can be more useful to the factory in other ways. Obviously, I want to be World Champion, to be on the podium, to make this Honda shine, but I also want to be useful to the factory and make them feel that I am part of this team and that they have made a good signing. I think that would be great at the end of the year.”
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That day proved memorable for a whole host of reasons, with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) sealing his Championship crown, but it was also a first Repsol Honda one-two since 2017. Espargaro joined his teammate on the podium that day, putting an end to an incredibly frustrating debut season with his new team. Now settled into the team, and with a superior bike, the Catalan will be searching for even further honours in the coming season, and potentially, his first-ever premier class race win.
“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.”
Enea Bastianini
Aleix Espargaró – P2
“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 corners speed, 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.”
Aleix Espargaró
Jorge Martín – P3
“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.”
Jorge Martín
Alex Rins – P4
“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.”
Alex Rins
Maverick Viñales – P5
“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.”
Maverick Viñales
Francesco Bagnaia – P6
“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”.
Francesco Bagnaia
Fabio Quartararo – P7
“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.”
Fabio Quartararo
Marc Marquez – P8
“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.”
Marc Marquez
Johann Zarco – P9
“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.”
Johann Zarco
Pol Espargaro – P10
“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.”
Pol Espargaro
Luca Marini – P11
“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.”
Luca Marini
Joan Mir – P12
“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!”
Joan Mir
Takaaki Nakagami – P13
“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”.
Takaaki Nakagami
Jack Miller – P14
“I think the potential is there big style. Already yesterday shaking it down, you know, overcoming some of the issues we were having, we were able to improve a considerable amount today. I only got to do one time attack today. I had an issue with the bike so in saying that, to go and push on one tyre and do the time we did, I’m pretty happy with that.
“The pace was there…a bit more today but again, working on the engine character, the way the electronics are working, we’re quite busy and in between that trying new parts and stuff like that. It’s been a busy test. It’s a shame it rained in the afternoon, we kind of needed a little more track time but we can’t change that. Anyway, I think got some really good data. Again, like yesterday, everything we tried or the ideas that we had and worked towards, they seem to get better and better.
Jack Miller
“I’m quietly confident with the bike. It’s growing on me more and more and yeah, I think we don’t need to have the best bike at the first test, you know we need to have the best bike when Qatar rolls around to run and I think we’re well on the way to having that.
“We’re working first and foremost on the way the bikes behaving. The way the tyres are working undeath and also how the bike is turning. We were working on that yesterday but also another big part of it is the throttle connection, from engine brake to positive gas, and that’s been the big recurring thing. We’ve improved it from where it was in Jerez, and we keep improving but we still have some work to do in terms of that. Trying to get it as smooth as possible and we’ve made steps forward on that. The main thing yesterday and today was just working with the complete new package and just trying to get comfortable. Have the bike so where I point, it goes there, because yesterday it was not behaving like a bike I know.
Jack Miller
“I feel good going to Mandalika. I think a new track is what it is. I mean you go and do 10 or 15 laps around it and you know it pretty much and especially just watching the superbike race there last year, it didn’t look like a Texas or something like that, crazy long with a thousand corners. It doesn’t seem all that technical to learn….But for sure, I think, once we get our base setting underway there I’m sure we’ll be able to work on our issues and Mandalika has a few places it looks like with a few slower corners, which is the biggest issue for our bike,s so I think it’s good that we’re going there and I’d prefer to not test at the place we’re doing the first race. I think it’s a bit shitty when you go and do 3,4,5 days testing then you go and race there. Everyone is on pace….and it’s just boring then. You lose the meaning of the whole weekend.
“Yesterday the new bike felt a bit foreign to me…It wasn’t doing….I’d put similar inputs to what I’d normally put in and what I’d expect to happen wasn’t happening so I just had to work on that and work on my set-up, base set-up, basic geometry of the bike as well as adapting yourself around that. Yeah, for sure, the way that the electronics are and the way that bike is delivering the power is the thing we’re working on the most. We have a complete new package this year so, you know, last year, that bike had been worked on throughout 2020 and 2021 so it was pretty well fine tuned by the end of it. Starting from a different base again you need to build up.
“Starting from where we are now, to where the bike should be by the time we get to Qatar, I feel like this package definitely will have more potential once we’ve ironed out all the bugs so that gives me promise.
Jack Miller
“There is so much more workload to do being in the factory team that you don’t get to throw tyres at it and have all that fun that you do at a satellite team, where you can go and break records and what not. At the end of the day Enea is on a fantastic package. I know very well how good his package is, and also he’s riding fantastic. To do a 1m58.1 around here, I honestly thought they were going to go into the 1m57s today and it was making me even more nervous, but they didn’t quite crack it. They’re riding really well. All those boys are riding really good. We’re half a second off and as I said, as a base setting for a new bike I think we can be pretty happy with that. Me and Pecco, and Zarco was a little faster, but we are all very similar on the new package.”
Jack Miller
Miguel Oliveira – P15
“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.”
Miguel Oliveira
Marco Bezzecchi – P16
“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 tyres 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.”
Marco Bezzecchi
Álex Márquez – P17
“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.”
Álex Márquez
Brad Binder – P18
“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.”
Brad Binder
Raul Fernandez – P19
“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.”
Raul Fernandez
Fabio Di Giannantonio – P20
“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.”
Fabio Di Giannantonio
Andrea Dovizioso – P22
“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.”
Andrea Dovizioso
Remy Gardner – P23
“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.”
Remy Gardner
Franco Morbidelli – P24
“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.”
Franco Morbidelli
Darryn Binder – P25
“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.”
Darryn Binder
Sylvain Guintoli – P26
“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!”
Team Managers
Massimo Meregalli – Yamaha MotoGP 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
Shinichi Sahara – Suzuki 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.”
Sylvain Guintoli and Tsuda
Ken Kawauchi – Suzuki 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.”
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.”
KTM RC16
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.”
Hervé Poncharal – Tech3 KTM Team Manager
“The Tech3 KTM Factory Racing team concludes five days of very intensive testing here in Sepang. Our two rookies enjoyed this opportunity to get additional track time and took full advantage of it. I would like to thank them for their hard work, their dedication and their never give-up attitude all week long. All this time spent on track and in the box with their respective teams has provided important feedback to KTM’s engineers, and it will be crucial to get ready for the first race of the season in Qatar in just a month.
“We saw improvement every day for both of them: the lap-times improved as well as the feeling on their KTM RC16 and it was the main target of this test. Although the final positions in the table are not the most exciting, Raul finished just 1.049 seconds from the top, and Remy 1.217, which is an amazing achievement for two rookies as the time-sheet has never been so close! We have to bear in mind that nowadays, we compare the riders with thousandths instead of hundredths as the category has become so much more competitive over the last few years.
“We aimed to gather laps, data, experience, understand the electronics, the engine, the chassis, the Michelin tyres, the carbon brakes, and this is what we did. It is now time to get some rest for the riders and the entire crew, and I believe that after more than two hundred laps each, both riders are looking forward to going to Mandalika and riding on a different circuit.
“I would like to thank both Raul and Remy, as well as the entire crew, who all worked tirelessly all week around to get the job done in a very efficient way, and I believe that KTM’s development team will take advantage of all the information we passed on. I can already say that this is going to be a very exciting season for our team.”
Razlan Razali – 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.”
Pablo Nieto – Mooney VR46 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.”
“I think the potential is there big style. Already yesterday shaking it down, you know, overcoming some of the issues we were having, we were able to improve a considerable amount today. I only got to do one time attack today. I had an issue with the bike so in saying that, to go and push on one tyre and do the time we did, I’m pretty happy with that.
“The pace was there…a bit more today but again, working on the engine character, the way the electronics are working, we’re quite busy and in between that trying new parts and stuff like that. It’s been a busy test. It’s a shame it rained in the afternoon, we kind of needed a little more track time but we can’t change that. Anyway, I think got some really good data. Again, like yesterday, everything we tried or the ideas that we had and worked towards, they seem to get better and better.
“I’m quietly confident with the bike. It’s growing on me more and more and yeah, I think we don’t need to have the best bike at the first test, you know we need to have the best bike when Qatar rolls around to run and I think we’re well on the way to having that.
Jack Miller
“We’re working first and foremost on the way the bikes behaving. The way the tyres are working undeath and also how the bike is turning. We were working on that yesterday but also another big part of it is the throttle connection, from engine brake to positive gas, and that’s been the big recurring thing. We’ve improved it from where it was in Jerez, and we keep improving but we still have some work to do in terms of that. Trying to get it as smooth as possible and we’ve made steps forward on that. The main thing yesterday and today was just working with the complete new package and just trying to get comfortable. Have the bike so where I point, it goes there, because yesterday it was not behaving like a bike I know.
“I feel good going to Mandalika. I think a new track is what it is. I mean you go and do 10 or 15 laps around it and you know it pretty much and especially just watching the superbike race there last year, it didn’t look like a Texas or something like that, crazy long with a thousand corners. It doesn’t seem all that technical to learn….But for sure, I think, once we get our base setting underway there I’m sure we’ll be able to work on our issues and Mandalika has a few places it looks like with a few slower corners, which is the biggest issue for our bike,s so I think it’s good that we’re going there and I’d prefer to not test at the place we’re doing the first race. I think it’s a bit shitty when you go and do 3,4,5 days testing then you go and race there. Everyone is on pace….and it’s just boring then. You lose the meaning of the whole weekend.
Jack Miller
“Yesterday the new bike felt a bit foreign to me…It wasn’t doing….I’d put similar inputs to what I’d normally put in and what I’d expect to happen wasn’t happening so I just had to work on that and work on my set-up, base set-up, basic geometry of the bike as well as adapting yourself around that. Yeah, for sure, the way that the electronics are and the way that bike is delivering the power is the thing we’re working on the most. We have a complete new package this year so, you know, last year, that bike had been worked on throughout 2020 and 2021 so it was pretty well fine tuned by the end of it. Starting from a different base again you need to build up.
“Starting from where we are now, to where the bike should be by the time we get to Qatar, I feel like this package definitely will have more potential once we’ve ironed out all the bugs so that gives me promise.
Jack Miller
“There is so much more workload to do being in the factory team that you don’t get to throw tyres at it and have all that fun that you do at a satellite team, where you can go and break records and what not. At the end of the day Enea is on a fantastic package. I know very well how good his package is, and also he’s riding fantastic. To do a 1m58.1 around here, I honestly thought they were going to go into the 1m57s today and it was making me even more nervous, but they didn’t quite crack it. They’re riding really well. All those boys are riding really good. We’re half a second off and as I said, as a base setting for a new bike I think we can be pretty happy with that. Me and Pecco, and Zarco was a little faster, but we are all very similar on the new package.”
The fast times came thick and fast right from the off at Sepang this morning. Aleix Espargaro set the fastest ever lap of the 5543 metre, 15-turn complex that is the Sepang GP Circuit on his eighth lap of the morning session but the Spaniard’s glory did not last long.Enea Bastianini then undercut the 1m58.157 set by Aleix with a 1m58.131 of his own to take early bragging rights.
With only 90-minutes gone in the session, the top 17 riders, covering all brands, were in the 1m58s. Bastianini leading the way on that 1m58.131 followed by Aleix Espargaro (1m58.157), Jorge Martin (1m58.243), Maverick Vinales (1m58.261) and Francesco Bagnaia (1m58.265). That top five all under Fabio Quartararo’s 1m58.303 qualifying lap record from 2019. Speaking of the World Champ, he was seventh at this juncture, just ahead of Marc Marquez.However, Quartararo was the only Yamaha inside the top 20…
Just after the two-hour mark Alex Rins also dipped under that previous qualifying lap record. There was not much movement at the top of the table in the hours after that as the heat of the day really started to build and few riders were on track. The riders that were braving the heat in the low grip conditions were those who really wanted to work on their rear grip, primarily that was the Honda and Yamaha riders.
Both Joan Mir and Marco Bezzechi slid off at turn 15 during the morning session.
Rain came down at the halfway point of the eight-hour session which kept riders in their pit garages for some time. The sun started peering through the clouds again 30-minutes later as riders and team personnel waited to see if the track would dry out enough for a last time attack run. Alas, the rain came down again before the track had even dried thus that was largely it for the day.
Some of the rookies took to the track to get a feel for a MotoGP bike on wets. Pecco Bagnaia, Johann Zarco, Luca Marini, Brad Binder and Andrea Dovizioso also braved the rain.
But at the end of the day Enea Bastianini has first bragging rights for season 2022 and leaves Malaysia after setting a new outright benchmark at Sepang.
Enea Bastianini – P1
“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.”
But how close can it get…
I can’t think of any other motorsport discipline that has such close competition.
The top 13 within half-a-second… And this is not a short track with 1m20s lap times, we are talking lap-times of nearly two-minutes, and yet still the the top 18 within a second.
So who looks to have made the most progress…?
Ducati have always been fast here during testing, half a dozen riders have lapped in the low 1m58s on the Desmosedici as far back as three years ago. Thus no real progress to show…?Well it is not quite that simple. This is a new bike, a lot of the Ducati riders did not get a chance to put a soft tyre in the bike late today due to the rain, and the sheer number of riders they had on track will give them an astronomical amount of data for their engineers to trawl through between here and Indonesia. I attended a post race web conference with Luigi Dall’Igna and to say he look relaxed would be a significant understatement. Unfortunately, due to embargo, you will have to wait until tomorrow night to find out what the 55-year-old Italian conjuror said…
Yamaha have generally had good pace here, Fabio Quartararo holds the qualifying lap record at 1m58.303, and Valentino Rossi has the race lap record at 1m59.661. Fabio Quartararo was on his qualifying lap record pace today but didn’t better it.Incidentally the last time MotoGP raced here, 2019, it was an all Yamaha front row. Quartararo on pole with a 1m58.303, Maverick Vinales 1m58.406 and Franco Morbidelli third on 1m58.432.During this test only Quartararo got into the 1m58s..The defending champion said that while there was some improvement to the engine of the YZR-M1 it was very marginal and they were still lacking top speed. The quickest Yamaha through the traps today was Quartararo at 327.2 km/h. That is two km/h quicker than he set on his record pole lap here in 2019.Still, the Frenchman was less than two-tenths off Bastianini’s new outright benchmark. Without Quartararo Yamaha wouldn’t have had a rider in the top 20 at Sepang this weekend. The next quickest Yamaha was test rider Cal Crutchlow in P21…
Overall, the lack of pace from the other Yamaha riders has to be terrifying for Yamaha management, despite what they say to the contrary.Quartararo though claimed his fast lap came on a ‘really old rear tyre’. How much they paying him…? Probably not enough, as it stands right now they would be back-markers if not for Fabio.
Massimo Meregalli – Monster Yamaha 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.”
With Marc Marquez eighth and Pol Espargaro tenth it might look as though Honda are in trouble. But, this is a completely new bike that they are only just starting to scratch the surface of development with, and it is already significantly quicker than the previous incarnation of the RC213V.From what I can ascertain, Marc Marquez never managed a 1m58 on the old bike at any point, either testing or during a race weekend, yet after a long time off, still not 100 per cent fit, and with a completely new bike, he went almost a second quicker around Sepang than he ever has before. Repsol Honda team-mate Pol Espargaro was only a tenth behind him, Takaaki Nakagami and Alex Marquez were also in the 58s.
Likewise I don’t believe a Suzuki rider has ever lapped Sepang in the 1m58s before.Both Alex Rins and Joan Mir finished in the top ten here during the race in 2019, but during the race neither of them recorded a sub two-minute lap.But this weekend both riders have been right on the pace both days.
Shinichi Sahara – Suzuki MotoGP Project Leader
“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.”
Last time MotoGP visited Malaysia for a race weekend no KTM made it into Q2, and the fastest race lap achieved by a KTM rider was 2m00.648. However, during the 2019 pre-season test here three KTM riders were in the 1m59s, a 1m59.640s the fastest lap by a KTM and it came at the hands of Johann Zarco.This time around Miguel Oliveira was the pacesetter for the Austrian brand, a 1m58.701 ahead of Brad Binder on 1m59.016. Rookies Raul Fernandez and Remy Gardner also impressed.
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.”
And now we come to Aprilia. Yes it’s testing… And yes they have had more days on track than the others. But, this is an all new bike and both riders were at the pointy end of the time-sheets, a 1m58.157 for Aleix to go P2, and a 1m58.261 for Maverick Vinales in P5. All the various ‘testing only’ disclaimers aside, that is pretty significant. Aleix Espargaro goes well here, he was seventh during the 2019 Sepang Test with Aprilia on a 1m59.022, and this is also a track where Maverick Vinales has often showed awesome pace during testing. But, still, for MotoGP’s smallest manufacturer this will be a huge shot in the arm for the technicians working hard back at Noale and will spur them on for the season ahead.
Aleix Espargaró – P2
“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 corners speed, 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.”
Somewhat curiously, nobody got near the top speed record that was set by Andrea Iannone at 339.6 km/h back in 2015…. The quickest through the traps today was Enea Bastianini and Johann Zarco, both at 335.4 km/h.
Of course this is only testing and with such limited time on track to chase lap times, due to a massive list of things to work through for their respective factories in order for them to firm up or shelve various developments, but one thing this weekend really underlined is that Yamaha would be nowhere if not for Fabio Quartararo.
The MotoGP travelling roadshow now gets packed up into containers for the 3000 kilometre journey south-east to the Indonesian island of Lombok and the Mandalika Circuit for a three-day test at the new 17-corner, 4.3 kilometre facility.The riders get to hit the new circuit for the first time this Friday, February 11.Then just three weeks later the lights will go out at Qatar for the season opener….
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.
2022 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Round Five – State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Report by Trevor Hedge – Images by Jeff Kardas
250 Qualifying
The first Triple Crown round of 2022 unfolded overnight as Supercross hit Arizona for round five of the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship season.
State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Under the Triple Crown format there are no Heat races, instead riders pick their gates on the back of their qualifying time. It was 23-year-old Australian Hunter Lawrence that topped the qualifying sessions ahead of Nate Thrasher and Christian Craig.
Hunter Lawrence topped the qualifying sessions
While they were heading for three Mains, each one would be only a 10-minute plus one lap duration.
250 Qualifying Results
Pos
Rider
Bike
Time
1
Hunter Lawrence
Honda
1m03.118
2
Nate Thrasher
Yamaha
1m03.153
3
Christian Craig
Yamaha
1m03.197
4
Michael Mosiman
GASGAS
1m03.320
5
Jo Shimoda
Kawasaki
1m03.484
6
Garrett Marchbanks
Yamaha
1m03.983
7
Vince Friese
Honda
1m04.019
8
Carson Mumford
Suzuki
1m04.340
9
Chris Blose
GASGAS
1m04.917
10
Jalek Swoll
Husqvarna
1m05.092
11
Carson Brown
KTM
1m05.192
12
Robbie Wageman
Yamaha
1m05.246
13
Derek Kelley
KTM
1m05.363
14
Cole Thompson
Yamaha
1m05.461
15
Dominique Thury
Yamaha
1m05.575
16
Jerry Robin
GASGAS
1m05.641
17
Dylan Walsh
Kawasaki
1m05.666
18
Logan Karnow
Kawasaki
1m05.891
Top 18 Riders Qualify
19
Hunter Schlosser
Yamaha
1m06.013
20
Kaeden Amerine
KTM
1m06.059
21
Mitchell Harrison
GASGAS
1m06.329
22
Justin Rodbell
Kawasaki
1m06.855
23
Cheyenne Harmon
Honda
1m07.064
24
Richard Taylor
Yamaha
1m07.104
25
Brandon Ray
Kawasaki
1m07.428
26
Devin Harriman
KTM
1m07.841
27
Mcclellan Hile
Honda
1m07.981
28
Chris Howell
Kawasaki
1m07.997
29
Gared Steinke
KTM
1m08.042
30
Christopher Prebula
KTM
1m08.052
31
Geran Stapleton
GASGAS
1m08.075
32
Maxwell Sanford
Honda
1m08.099
33
Colby Copp
GASGAS
1m08.274
34
Wyatt Lyonsmith
Kawasaki
1m08.364
35
Ryan Surratt
Yamaha
1m08.749
36
Preston Taylor
Kawasaki
1m09.272
37
Jesse Flock
Yamaha
1m09.403
38
Chance Blackburn
GASGAS
1m09.608
39
David Pulley
Yamaha
1m10.130
40
Addison Emory
Yamaha
1m10.284
41
Kordel Caro
KTM
1m10.652
42
Tre Fierro
Kawasaki
1m10.700
43
Nicholas Nisbet
Honda
1m10.965
44
Chad Saultz
KTM
1m11.129
45
Kameron Barboa
Yamaha
1m13.131
46
Isaiah Goodman
Kawasaki
1m18.413
250 Main One
Vince Friese scored the holeshot between the two Yamahas of Christian Craig and Nate Thrasher while Hunter Lawrence gave chase just behind in fourth.
A Honda between two Yamahas
A terrible start to Michael Mosiman’s night, the San Diego winner on the ground and all the way at the back of the field after tangling with Carson Brown.
Hunter Lawrence squeezed past Thrasher for third place a minute into the race and then immediately started to attack Friese for second but, as always, the #62 was hard to pass and it took the Australian longer than he would have preferred to take that second place. Hunter had to get a little aggressive to finally force his way through three-minutes into the race, but by that time Craig had already pulled the pin and had a five-second lead.
Jo Shimoda made his way past Thrasher for fourth place and a couple of laps later then forced his way through on Friese, but Friese returned fire shortly afterwards and forced Shimoda off the track. Shimoda had slipped back to sixth by the time he recovered.
Christian Craig continued to pull away out front and took a dominant 14-second victory over Lawrence while Friese completed the podium.
Christian Craig
250 Main One Results
Pos
Rider
Bike
Laps/Interval
1
Christian Craig
Yamaha
11 Laps
2
Hunter Lawrence
Honda
+14.294
3
Vince Friese
Honda
+17.812
4
Garrett Marchbanks
Yamaha
+19.929
5
Jo Shimoda
Kawasaki
+22.098
6
Jalek Swoll
Husqvarna
+23.028
7
Derek Kelley
KTM
+30.495
8
Nate Thrasher
Yamaha
+30.837
9
Carson Brown
KTM
+33.194
10
Michael Mosiman
GASGAS
+34.177
11
Cole Thompson
Yamaha
+40.627
12
Mitchell Harrison
GASGAS
+45.225
13
Dylan Walsh
Kawasaki
+45.634
14
Chris Blose
GASGAS
+50.276
15
Robbie Wageman
Yamaha
+52.255
16
Dominique Thury
Yamaha
+53.921
17
Jerry Robin
GASGAS
+59.201
18
Logan Karnow
Kawasaki
+1m03.784
19
Geran Stapleton
GASGAS
+1m07.893
20
Mcclellan Hile
Honda
10 Laps
21
Wyatt Lyonsmith
Kawasaki
+04.964
22
Carson Mumford
Suzuki
DNF
250 Main Two
Vince Friese scored the holeshot ahead of Christian Craig and Hunter Lawrence but only a few turns in to the race Vince Friese hit the back wheel if Christian Craig in the berm of a long left-hander and the impact took Craig’s Monster Energy Yamaha YZ250F down, but Craig kept going! The championship leader was ejected not only over the bars, but flew over the berm and off the track right down onto the concrete surface of State Farm Stadium below! Friese was also off the bike and lost a lot of time, but Craig lost a lot more as he scrambled his way back up to the track and sparked his YZ250F back into life. The pair had gone from leading the race to the back of the field…
The benefactor of that incident was Hunter Lawrence who now led the race from Jalek Swoll and Robbie Wageman.
Craig and Friese had fought their way back through the field and were up to 13th and 14th respectively by the halfway point of the race.
Michael Mosiman was all over Hunter Lawrence in the final laps
Michael Mosiman closed down Hunter Lawrence late in the race and was challenging for the lead two laps from the end but Lawrence was able to respond and hold on for victory.
Lawrence the winner from Mosiman and Jo Shimoda third ahead of Christian Craig. The Yamaha man coming from dead last to scythe his way all the way up to fourth in yet another remarkable comeback.
250 Main Two Results
Pos
Rider
Bike
Laps/Interval
1
Hunter Lawrence
Honda
11 Laps
2
Michael Mosiman
GASGAS
+01.384
3
Jo Shimoda
Kawasaki
+10.101
4
Christian Craig
Yamaha
+12.722
5
Jalek Swoll
Husqvarna
+14.293
6
Garrett Marchbanks
Yamaha
+16.061
7
Nate Thrasher
Yamaha
+18.066
8
Robbie Wageman
Yamaha
+24.046
9
Carson Brown
KTM
+26.879
10
Vince Friese
Honda
+30.165
11
Dylan Walsh
Kawasaki
+33.569
12
Dominique Thury
Yamaha
+34.933
13
Mitchell Harrison
GASGAS
+37.737
14
Jerry Robin
GASGAS
+41.840
15
Chris Blose
GASGAS
+44.228
16
Logan Karnow
Kawasaki
+45.345
17
Geran Stapleton
GASGAS
+1m03.914
18
Wyatt Lyonsmith
Kawasaki
+1m10.841
19
Derek Kelley
KTM
+1m23.191
20
Cole Thompson
Yamaha
10 Laps
21
Mcclellan Hile
Honda
+1m26.430
22
Carson Mumford
Suzuki
DNS
250 Main Three
Christian Craig scored the holeshot ahead of Vince Friese, Hunter Lawrence and Jo Shimoda in the third and final 250 Main of the night.
Jo Shimoda
While Hunter Lawrence looked for a way past Friese, while giving the unpredictable 30-year-old a wide berth, Christian Craig was pulling away out front. Lawrence finally found his way through on Friese just over two-minutes into the contest, but by that time Craig had a three-second lead.
The battle for third place was where all the action was. Jo Shimoda and Michael Mosiman all over the back of Friese but struggling to find a way past. Shimoda finally found a way through halfway through the race, Mosiman then relegated Friese further back to fifth on the next lap.
Mosiman made a mistake a couple of laps from the end while chasing Shimoda, going down and losing a lot of time. His safe fourth place gone and the GASGAS man was left to try and salvage a couple of points. Eventually finishing 15th.
Christian Craig
Lawrence did not have the speed to close down Craig, the #28 Yamaha continued to pull away and by the last lap board his buffer was almost six-seconds. He cruised his way to the flag for a clear and concise victory.
The overall round win though does go to Hunter Lawrence with his 2-1-2 results. Craig’s coming together with Friese in the second bout costing him his chance for the overall, that has allowed Lawrence to trim the gap in the championship back down to eight-points.
250 Main Three Results
Pos
Rider
Bike
Laps/Interval
1
Christian Craig
Yamaha
11 Laps
2
Hunter Lawrence
Honda
+06.093
3
Jo Shimoda
Kawasak
+09.046
4
Vince Friese
Honda
+12.989
5
Nate Thrasher
Yamaha
+14.174
6
Garrett Marchbanks
Yamaha
+19.397
7
Jalek Swoll
Husqvarna
+25.373
8
Carson Brown
KTM
+27.512
9
Derek Kelley
KTM
+31.207
10
Robbie Wageman
Yamaha
+34.974
11
Dylan Walsh
Kawasaki
+37.046
12
Mitchell Harrison
GASGAS
+40.100
13
Jerry Robin
GASGAS
+41.046
14
Chris Blose
GASGAS
+51.287
15
Michael Mosiman
GASGAS
+53.920
16
Logan Karnow
Kawasaki
+58.976
17
Geran Stapleton
GASGAS
+1m02.985
18
Mcclellan Hile
Honda
+1m05.010
19
Wyatt Lyonsmith
Kawasaki
10 Laps
20
Dominique Thury
Yamaha
+06.097
21
Cole Thompson
Yamaha
DNS
22
Carson Mumford
Suzuki
DNS
250 Round Results
Pos
Rider
Bike
M1
M2
M3
Points
1
Hunter Lawrence
Honda
2
1
2
26
2
Christian Craig
Yamaha
1
4
1
23
3
Jo Shimoda
Kawasaki
5
3
3
21
4
Garrett Marchbanks
Yamaha
4
6
6
19
5
Vince Friese
Honda
3
10
4
18
6
Jalek Swoll
Husqvarna
6
5
7
17
7
Nate Thrasher
Yamaha
8
7
5
16
8
Carson Brown
KTM
9
9
8
15
9
Michael Mosiman
GASGAS
10
2
15
14
10
Robbie Wageman
Yamaha
15
8
10
13
11
Derek Kelley
KTM
7
19
9
12
12
Dylan Walsh
Kawasaki
13
11
11
11
13
Mitchell Harrison
GASGAS
12
13
12
10
14
Chris Blose
GASGAS
14
15
14
9
15
Jerry Robin
GASGAS
17
14
13
8
16
Dominique Thury
Yamaha
16
12
20
7
17
Logan Karnow
Kawasaki
18
16
16
6
18
Cole Thompson
Yamaha
11
20
21
5
19
Geran Stapleton
GASGAS
19
17
17
4
20
Wyatt Lyonsmith
Kawasaki
21
18
19
3
21
Mcclellan Hile
Honda
20
21
18
2
22
Carson Mumford
Suzuki
22
22
22
1
250 Video Highlights
250 Post Race Press Conference
250 West Championship Standings (Round 5 of 10)
Pos
Rider
Rnd1
Rnd2
Rnd3
Rnd4
Rnd5
Points
1
Christian Craig
26
26
21
26
23
122
2
Hunter Lawrence
21
23
23
21
26
114
3
Michael Mosiman
17
19
26
23
14
99
4
Jo Shimoda
16
16
18
16
21
87
5
Nate Thrasher
11
18
15
19
16
79
6
Vince Friese
18
17
19
4
18
76
7
Robbie Wageman
15
13
9
14
13
64
8
Carson Brown
10
13
17
15
55
9
Carson Mumford
13
9
17
15
1
55
10
Garrett Marchbanks
19
15
1
19
54
11
Jalek Swoll
16
18
17
51
12
Cole Thompson
9
11
14
11
5
50
13
Chris Blose
12
14
10
1
9
46
14
Seth Hammaker
23
21
44
15
Dylan Walsh
6
0
12
12
11
41
16
Derek Kelley
2
11
13
12
38
17
Dominique Thury
14
3
8
7
32
18
Mitchell Harrison
10
10
10
30
19
Dilan Schwartz
8
12
6
0
26
20
Logan Karnow
5
6
9
6
26
21
Ryan Surratt
7
7
8
0
22
22
Devin Harriman
1
8
7
0
16
23
Hunter Schlosser
4
5
7
16
24
Jerry Robin
1
0
0
8
9
25
Dylan Woodcock
4
5
9
26
Kaeden Amerine
3
0
3
3
9
27
Justin Rodbell
2
6
8
28
Mcclellan Hile
0
0
5
2
7
29
Geran Stapleton
4
4
30
Brandon Ray
0
4
4
31
Wyatt Lyonsmith
0
0
0
0
3
3
32
Richard Taylor
0
2
2
33
Gared Steinke
0
2
0
0
2
450 Qualifying
It was a Yamaha 1-2 in 450 Qualifying with Dylan Ferrandis heading Eli Tomac on the combined time-sheets. Next best was Jason Anderson ahead of Ken Roczen and Chase Sexton.
That was the first time in his 450 career that Ferrandis had topped qualifying, and with no Heat races it was a good time to do it!
After Qualifying they had three Mains to contest, each one only a 12-minute plus one lap duration.
450 Qualifying Results
Pos
Rider
Bike
Time
1
Dylan Ferrandis
Yamaha
1m01.140
2
Eli Tomac
Yamaha
1m01.301
3
Jason Anderson
Kawasaki
1m01.649
4
Ken Roczen
Honda
1m01.842
5
Chase Sexton
Honda
1m01.863
6
Marvin Musquin
KTM
1m01.991
7
Cooper Webb
KTM
1m02.332
8
Malcolm Stewart
Husqvarna
1m02.659
9
Justin Brayton
Honda
1m02.684
10
Shane McElrath
KTM
1m02.687
11
Justin Barcia
GASGAS
1m03.231
12
Dean Wilson
Husqvarna
1m03.378
13
Aaron Plessinger
KTM
1m03.415
14
Mitchell Oldenburg
Honda
1m03.525
15
Max Anstie
KTM
1m03.598
16
Brandon Hartranft
Suzuki
1m03.671
17
Justin Bogle
Suzuki
1m03.822
18
Alex Martin
Yamaha
1m03.885
Top 18 Riders Qualify
19
Josh Hill
KTM
1m03.936
20
Kyle Chisholm
Yamaha
1m04.325
21
Cade Clason
Honda
1m04.838
22
Fredrik Noren
KTM
1m04.913
23
Ryan Breece
Yamaha
1m05.407
24
Austin Politelli
Honda
1m05.708
25
Adam Enticknap
Suzuki
1m06.501
26
Nick Schmidt
Husqvarna
1m06.583
27
Justin Starling
GASGAS
1m06.614
28
Kevin Moranz
KTM
1m06.848
29
Joan Cros
Kawasaki
1m07.150
30
Bryson Gardner
Honda
1m07.222
31
Tristan Lane
KTM
1m07.431
32
Vann Martin
Yamaha
1m07.784
33
Deven Raper
Kawasaki
1m07.941
34
RJ Wageman
Yamaha
1m08.503
35
Scotty Wennerstrom
Kawasaki
1m08.641
36
Mason Kerr
Kawasaki
1m08.980
37
Joshua Greco
Kawasaki
1m09.087
38
Theodore Pauli
Kawasaki
1m09.168
39
Alexander Nagy
KTM
1m09.433
40
Austin Cozadd
Yamaha
1m11.456
450 Main One
Eli Tomac got the best gate of his career, blasting off the line and the YZ450F picking up the front wheel again halfway down the chute before he tipped into turn one ahead of Ken Roczen, Jason Anderson and Malcolm Stewart.
Tomac with the holeshot
Anderson got the better of Stewart to move up to third place two-minutes into the race but Stewart got him right back after the Kawasaki man made a mistake. A couple of minutes later Anderson moved back up to third after Stewart on the gas a little too hard and lost some time.Then with just under three-minutes to run that pair both squeezed past Ken Roczen, demoting the German back to fourth.
Ken Roczen
Eli Tomac backed things off on the final laps to save his energy for the races to come but still took the flag more than two-seconds ahead of Anderson.Malcolm Stewart third, Roczen fourth.
450 Main One Results
Pos
Rider
Bike
Laps/Interval
1
Eli Tomac
Yamaha
13 Laps
2
Jason Anderson
Kawasaki
+02.240
3
Malcolm Stewart
Husqvarna
+05.291
4
Ken Roczen
Honda
+08.184
5
Marvin Musquin
KTM
+12.275
6
Justin Barcia
GASGAS
+16.441
7
Dylan Ferrandis
Yamaha
+16.917
8
Cooper Webb
KTM
+26.327
9
Dean Wilson
Husqvarna
+29.796
10
Shane McElrath
KTM
+30.210
11
Chase Sexton
Honda
+30.516
12
Aaron Plessinger
KTM
+38.358
13
Mitchell Oldenburg
Honda
+45.085
14
Alex Martin
Yamaha
+47.177
15
Kyle Chisholm
Yamaha
+49.742
16
Ryan Breece
Yamaha
+51.117
17
Brandon Hartranft
Suzuki
+54.040
18
Justin Brayton
Honda
+55.429
19
Justin Bogle
Suzuki
+58.330
20
Max Anstie
KTM
+1m04.408
21
Cade Clason
Honda
12 Laps
22
Fredrik Noren
KTM
+39.536
450 Main Two
Eli Tomac scored the holeshot once again in the second bout. Jason Anderson second, Marvin Musquin third. Cooper Webb was fourth before being deposed by a charging Malcolm Stewart who then made short work of Musquin to move up to third.
Not often Tomac scores a holeshot…But he did it twice…
Chase Sexton made his way past Cooper Webb a couple of minutes into the race, shortly afterwards his HRC team-mate Ken Roczen then pushed Webb further back to seventh. Dylan Ferrandis was the next rider to pass Webb, then moments later Justin Barcia added further insult to relegate the defending champ to ninth.
Jason Anderson was running a strong second place at the halfway mark of the race but then made a mistake through a rhythm section and got hung up on a tough block. His team could only look on with their heads in their hands as rider after rider passed him as he tried to get his machine off the tough block. When he finally got going again he was outside the top ten and eventually finished 12th.
Eli Tomac had a five-second lead over Malcolm Stewart with five-minutes to run. Chase Sexton third, Musquin fourth, Roczen fifth and Ferrandis was now up to sixth.
Ferrandis got on terms with Roczen and took that fifth place from the Honda man with a couple of laps left to run.
Tomac the clear victor once again.Malcolm Stewart second ahead of Chase Sexton while Musquin came home fourth with a three-second buffer over Dylan Ferrandis.
450 Main Two Results
Pos
Rider
Bike
Laps/Interval
1
Eli Tomac
Yamaha
13 Laps
2
Malcolm Stewart
Husqvarna
+04.058
3
Chase Sexton
Honda
+05.679
4
Marvin Musquin
KTM
+07.294
5
Dylan Ferrandis
Yamaha
+10.597
6
Ken Roczen
Honda
+12.347
7
Justin Barcia
GASGAS
+17.852
8
Cooper Webb
KTM
+20.923
9
Dean Wilson
Husqvarna
+22.845
10
Aaron Plessinger
KTM
+25.730
11
Shane McElrath
KTM
+28.455
12
Jason Anderson
Kawasaki
+37.211
13
Justin Brayton
Honda
+38.956
14
Mitchell Oldenburg
Honda
+45.896
15
Kyle Chisholm
Yamaha
+46.988
16
Justin Bogle
Suzuki
+48.649
17
Brandon Hartranft
Suzuki
+49.454
18
Max Anstie
KTM
+52.235
19
Alex Martin
Yamaha
+57.742
20
Fredrik Noren
KTM
+1m01.436
21
Ryan Breece
Yamaha
+1m04.119
22
Cade Clason
Honda
+1m05.427
450 Main Three
Could Eli Tomac make it three from three?
Tomac got closed down by Malcolm Stewart heading into turn one but it was still a reasonable start, third at the end of lap one while Chase Sexton led the way thanks to the holeshot and Malcolm Stewart was second.Cooper Webb fourth ahead of Marvin Musquin. The Frenchman folded the front a couple of laps later though and was relegated all the way back to 18th.
Eli Tomac steadily reeled in Malcolm Stewart and made his way past at the halfway point of the race. By this time though Chase Sexton had a four-second lead and was looking safe out in front.
Jason Anderson then made his way past Stewart before catching and then passing Tomac to promote himself up to second place with four-minutes to run and he kept Tomac at bay all the way to the flag to claim that second.
A flag to flag victory for Chase Sexton. The 22-year-old backed it off on the final lap but still took the chequered flag by 2.5-seconds while Eli Tomac’s third place was good enough for the round win thanks to his two wins earlier in the night. Tomac now leads Sexton by 11-points in the championship chase.
Eli Tomac the round winner ahead of Malcolm Stewart and Chase Sexton.Jason Anderson fourth overall ahead of Ken Roczen, Justin Barcia and Marvin Musquin while defending champ Webb bagged 15-points for eighth.
Supercross returns to Anahaim next weekend for round six.If Tomac takes the form he displayed tonight through to the following rounds he will firm up as the championship favourite in what will be his first year with Yamaha. If he pulls it off he will be one of only four riders to have claimed the title on two different brands of machinery. The GOAT, Ricky Carmichael, did it on three different brands…
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