Only 0.123s covered a top six which was rounded out by Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP), Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team), while Fermin Aldeguer (Lightech Speed Up) and Ai Ogura (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) were both barely more than two tenths of a second off the pace. Championship leader Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) had a battle on his hands to get into the top 14 cut-off for Q2, and early trouble with traffic did not help, but the Italian eventually set a lap time good enough for 10th.
Meanwhile, further behind, Marc Marquez was struggling. The Repsol Honda man was outside of the Q2 places and in need of a helping hand as the final flying laps began; along comes Jack Miller. Marquez latched himself onto the rear wheelie of the Ducati Lenovo Team rider, who was also in need of a laptime to promote himself into the top ten, and the pair were able to improve considerably. Miller jumped to 10th and Marquez to fourth, with the Spaniard offering a hand of thanks to Miller on the cool-down lap.
Rennie Scaysbrook celebrates after setting the motorcycle record in 2019 at the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb.
Our guest for Episode 35 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Rennie Scaysbrook. Rennie is one of the hardest working motorcycle journalists in the business. He’s Road Test Editor at Cycle News, which cranks out a new issue every week. Rennie travels the world testing motorcycles, and he writes race coverage, news, and features for the magazine. Rennie is also a motorcycle racer who has competed several times in the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb, where he set the motorcycle record in 2019. Rennie competes in several race series. He campaigns a Pirelli-sponsored Suzuki GSX-R600 in the Chuckwalla Valley Motorcycle Association series. He races the Roland Sands Design Indian Chief in the Super Hooligan National Championship series. And in June he’ll get his first opportunity to race in the prestigious Isle of Man TT.
If that weren’t enough, Rennie is a husband and a father, and his son Harvey was the inspiration for him to write and publish a children’s book called “The Big Book of Motorbikes,” which is available through Amazon. Rennie and I had fun recording this episode after riding more than 300 miles at the Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ press launch and having a few drinks at dinner. We have an unfiltered, uncensored conversation about Rennie growing up in a prominent racing family in Australia, how he became a motojournalist, and what prompted him to move to America. We also take a deep dive into his experiences racing motorcycles at Pikes Peak – the good, the bad, and the ugly – as well as his preparations for the 2022 Isle of Man TT. You can follow Rennie on Instagram @renski33.
You can listen to Episode 35 on iTunes, Spotify, and SoundCloud, or via the Rider Magazine Insider webpage. Please subscribe, leave us a 5-star rating, and tell your friends! Scroll down for a list of previous episodes.
History was made at Jerez as Pons scored the first FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup pole position to be decided under the Q1-Q2 format
The LCR E-Team’s Miquel Pons will start from pole position in the opening two races of the 2022 FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup after his single completed lap in Q2 at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto was officially the best of all. Pons set a 1:48.372 before crashing at Turn 8 of the venue for this weekend’s Gran Premio Red Bull de España on his next flyer.
YELLOW FLAGS PROVE CRUCIAL
The Spaniard’s tumble triggered a yellow flag which saw several laps cancelled, including a 1:48.324 for team-mate Eric Granado which would have been good enough for pole position if it was allowed to stand. Granado managed to improve again with a subsequent lap which did count, but not by enough to elevate himself from fourth on the timing screen.
The yellow also meant that Hector Garzo (Tech3 E-Racing) qualified second thanks to his 1:48.435, with Mattia Casadei (Pomns Racing 40) to also line up on the front row for this weekend’s pair of MotoE™ races thanks to a 1:48.609. Granado will be joined on Row 2 by Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) and Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE™).
TWO-TIME CHAMPION TO START FROM ROW 3
The Cup Champion of the past two seasons, Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40), qualified seventh, ahead of Hikari Okubo (Avant Ajo MotoE™) and Alex Escrig (Tech3 E-Racing). Escrig and Niccolo Canepa (WithU GRT RNF MotoE™ Team) were the two riders to come through Q1, with the latter setting the fastest lap of 1:49.119 in that earlier stanza of qualifying.
This weekend is the first time MotoE™ has used the qualifying format which has become the standard in the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship classes, a move enabled thanks to Enel X Way’s news Juice Pump 60 Race Edition chargers. Combined results from Q1 and Q2 will set the grid for both races at each event of the season.
Torres: MotoE™ is like racing with a knife in your mouth 10/04/2022
The reigning electric class Champion talks about what it means to ride in the electric class ahead of its return at Jerez this weekend
FINE MARGINS AT THE END OF Q1
Lukas Tulovic (WithU GRT RNF MotoE Team), who is filling in for the injured Bradley Smith, will start one position outside the top 10, with Kevin Zannoni (Ongetta SIC59 Squadracorse) joining him and Canepa on Row 4. Both Tulovic and Zannoni mounted challenges on the top two in the latter stages of Q1, but the former fell 0.076 seconds shy with a best lap of 1:49.280 and the latter was only another 0.006 seconds slower.
Maria Herrera is set to start 13th and will share Row 5 with team-mate Marc Alcoba, the two OpenBank Aspar Team riders split by Kevin Manfredi (Octo Pramac MotoE™). Yeray Ruiz (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) managed to qualify 16th despite a crash at Turn 13, with the 18-strong field rounded out by Alessio Finello (Felo Gresini MotoE™) and Xavi Fores (Octo Pramac MotoE™).
Gran Premio Red Bull de España: MotoE™ Q1 29/04/2022
Matt Dunn, Neil Morrison and Fran Wyld take you through the opening qualifying session in Jerez
Pole has been decided, but who will take the first MotoE™ race win of 2022? Find out on Saturday at 16:25 (GMT +2).
The factory Yamaha man stopped the brilliance of Bastianini and Bagnaia to claim top spot on the opening day in Jerez
Monster Energy Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo has so far lived up to his billing at the Red Bull Spanish Grand Prix after holding off the hard-charging Ducati trio of Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing), Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) to end the opening day of action fastest. The Frenchman found a late flying lap of 1:37.071 to be two tenths clear of his nearest challenger as the entire field improved on their times set in FP1.
Champion Quartararo left clutching crown jewels after crash 29/04/2022
Not the start to the weekend the Frenchman would’ve wanted after taking a nasty blow to the groin
DUCATI APPLY THE PRESSURE
Looking at the opening day of action, it’s the Bologna factory who may well be Quartararo’s closest challengers to the Jerez throne after Bastianini, Bagnaia and Martin all impressed. The former World Championship leader jumped ahead of his factory counterpart with the chequered flag out to take second spot after Bagnaia had earlier lead the session. The number 63 appeared to be back to his brilliant best as he threw in a handful of fast laps, with his best placing him third overall and a quarter of a second adrift of his 2021 title rival. Martin was just under three tenths away in fourth, with Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) making sure there are four Desmosedicis in the top ten after stealing tenth.
Ahead of what is arguably the most important weekend of his MotoGP™ career, Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) started well by ending up fifth overall. The Japanese rider was the top Honda, 0.009 seconds ahead of Repsol Honda’s Pol Espargaro in seventh. Sandwiched between the two RC213Vs, and having spared KTM’s blushes, is Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder in sixth. The final spots inside the top ten went to Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins, the only survivor in the top ten from Friday morning’s top three, and Aprilia Racing’s Maverick Viñales, the pair finishing eighth and ninth respectively.
MARC MARQUEZ HAS A SESSION TO FORGET
Two close calls, two crashes and a lift back to the garage from a former teammate. Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez had a session to remember for all the wrong reasons. First up, he had a hairy moment with teammate Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda) and rookie Remy Gardner (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing), with the Australian less than pleased with the Spaniard’s antics. He would later get a wagging finger off of Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Team) as well, all after crashing out twice.
Pedrosa to the rescue after Marquez crashes twice in 4 turns 29/04/2022
In a quite bizarre half a minute, the eight-time World Champion crashed at Turn 6 and Turn 9 before then grabbing a taxi from Dani Pedrosa
His first off was a gentle one at Turn 6, before quickly picking up the bike and rejoining. Whilst cruising back to the pitlane, the eight-time World Champion was cruising off of the racing line at Turn 9 and touched a damp patch that remained from Thursday’s rain. Down went the Spaniard again but, fortunately for him, former teammate and now KTM test rider Dani Pedrosa was on hand for a taxi back.
BIG NAMES UP AGAINST IT
After all of the above, Marquez is languishing down in 19th spot. But he isn’t the only front-runner in trouble. Podium finisher last time out, Pramac Racing’s Johann Zarco, sits 11th. Despite being fastest in FP1 on Friday morning, Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Joan Mir slipped back to 12th. The man third in the title standings, Aprilia Racing’s Aleix Espargaro, is a further spot back in 13th. And after showing impressive pace in FP1 to sit third on the timesheets, LCR Castrol Honda’s Alex Marquez suffered a frustrating afternoon to fall down to 16th.
MotoGP™ Top 10 on Friday: 1. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) – 1:37.071 2. Enea Bastianini (Gresinin Racing MotoGP™) + 0.201 3. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 0.212 4. Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) + 0.297 5. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) + 0.510 6. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) + 0.514 7. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) + 0.519 8. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 0.655 9. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) + 0.688 10. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 0.691
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The Mallorcan is the man to beat in Jerez after he topped FP2, whilst teammate and title leader Sergio Garcia is breathing a sigh of relief
Top spot in the lightweight class on the opening day of the Red Bull Spanish Grand Prix went the way of Izan Guevara after the Gaviota GasGas Aspar man set an impressive 1:46.341 halfway through the 40-minute session. Meanwhile, the Mallorcan’s teammate, and importantly the Championship leader, Sergio Garcia is breathing a huge sigh of relief after avoiding a penalty despite joining another rider in the Turn 11 gravel trap.
KTM TAKE CONTROL
After taking all five places inside the top five at last weekend’s Portuguese Grand Prix, KTM-powered machines looked impressive by locking out the top six. Guevara’s lap time remains over a second adrift of Andrea Migno’s lap record from last year, but it was good enough to be a tenth clear of Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max Racing) in second. Third fastest went the way of Jaume Masia, whilst his Red Bull KTM Ajo teammate Dani Holgado crashed out.
CFMoto PruestelGP’s Carlos Tatay ended up fourth ahead of FP1’s fastest man Deniz Öncü in fifth. David Salvador (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max Racing) was seriously impressive to finish sixth on the timesheets in his final replacement ride for the injured John McPhee. Another great ride came courtesy of the top Honda, Scott Ogden (VisionTrack Racing), who has form around Jerez after winning in the Junior World Championship last year.
Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team), Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) and Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) rounded out a top ten split by three quarters of a second.
TITLE RIVALS FURTHER BACK
After taking a second win of the season last time in Portimao, Gaviota GasGas Aspar Team’s Sergio Garcia was tipped to again be competitive this weekend. However, a crash in the early moments of FP2 at Pedrosa Corner, Turn 6, started off a frustrating afternoon. With the chequered flag out, Garcia then went down a second time. He crashed at Turn 11 and joined an already stricken SIC58 Squadra Corse’s Lorenzo Fellon in the gravel trap.
But, fortunately for the Spaniard, the yellow light panel at the bridge before Turn 11 that indicates a crash in the upcoming corner had not been activated, meaning he was given no prior warning that Frenchman had crashed in front of him. Therefore, no penalty for Garcia and his only worry is sitting outside the top ten in 11th. The Aspar man’s title rival Dennis Foggia also struggled on the opening day in Jerez, the Italian is a tenth and two places further back in 13th.
Moto3™ Top 10 on Friday: 1. Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) – 1:46.341 2. Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) + 0.132 3. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) + 0.192 4. Carlos Tatay (CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP) + 0.326 5. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) + 0.397 6. David Salvador (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) + 0.538 7. Scott Ogden (VisionTrack Racing Team) + 0.561 8. Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) + 0.643 9. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) + 0.759 10. Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) + 0.762
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The LCR E-Team’s Eric Granado clocked the fastest lap in MotoE™ FP2 at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto, a session which saw all 18 riders in the field better Miquel Pons’ FP1 benchmark. Granado went as quick as a 1:48.861, with the top three rounded out by Hector Garzo (Tech3 E-Racing) on a 1:48.972 and inaugural Cup Champion Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE™) on a 1:49.073.
Despite taking top spot, Dixon did have a run-in with his teammate Albert Arenas. The Spaniard, who eventually ended up fifth on the timesheets, was cruising on the exit of Turn 1 and had a close call as he drifted back onto the racing line in front of a disgruntled Dixon. Third fastest was Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Augusto Fernandez, with Idemitsu Honda Team Asia’s Ai Ogura a further spot back in fourth.
