Seven-year-old August Beck tests the Volcon Kids Moto Two electric dirtbike at Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area north of Los Angeles. (Photos by Kevin Wing)
Here at Rider, we do what we can to encourage and support the next generation of motorcyclists. When kids learn to ride at a young age, they adapt quickly and become “wet wired” as fans of all things on two wheels. With the growing popularity of electric vehicles, kids (and their parents) have more options to choose from, like the new Volcon Kids Moto Two electric dirtbike.
The Volcon Kids Moto Two, which is built by Spanish manufacturer Torrot, weighs 77.2 lb and is designed for kids 8 to 11 years of age weighing up to 88 lb.
Last summer we shared the story of August Beck, the son of my friends Paul and Allison, and his experience learning to ride the Greenger x Honda CRF-E2 electric dirtbike. August started off as a toddler on a Strider balance bike, worked his way up to a BMX bike, and soon after turning 7, he stepped up to the CRF-E2, which is the electric equivalent of a 50cc dirtbike.
Fortunately, August still fits in most of the Fly Racing gear he received last summer. He outgrew the boots, so his parents picked him up a pair of Fox boots at Plat It Again Sports.
The Volcon Kids Moto Two has a 14-inch front wheel, a 12-inch rear wheel, and a 25.2-inch seat height.
There was a learning curve, of course. At 106 lb, the CRF-E2 was much heavier than August’s BMX bike, and it outweighed him by nearly 40 lb. When it fell over, which happened often, he wasn’t strong enough to pick it up by himself. August also struggled with throttle control and braking, but young kids learn fast.
The Moto Two has a 48-volt, 8.5-Ah, 412-Wh lithium-ion battery that is swappable. Run time is up to 2 hours, and charge time to 100% is up to 5 hours on a 110-volt outlet.
Volcon Kids Moto Two
Volcon ePowersports is one of the new players in the electric vehicle market. Established in 2020 and based in Austin, Texas, most of its off-road vehicles – including the two-wheeled Grunt, Runt, and Brat models and four-wheeled Stag UTV – are manufactured in the U.S. Its youth models, however, are built by Torrot, a Spanish manufacturer.
The Volcon Kids Moto Two has a compact design, with the motor and swappable battery pack protected by frame rails and a small skid plate.
Volcon offers two models: the Kids Moto One ($2,899) and Kids Moto Two ($2,999). Aimed at younger/smaller kids, the One has a 0.84 kW motor, 10-inch wheels, and a 22.6-inch seat height. It weighs 68.3 lb and accommodates riders weighing up to 66 lb. Designed for kids 6-11 years old, the Two has a 1.5 kW motor, a 14-inch front wheel and a 12-inch rear, and a 25.2-inch seat height. It weighs 77.2 lb and has a maximum rider weight of 88 lb. Top speeds are similar: 26 mph on the One and 27 mph on the Two.
The Volcon Kids Moto Two was delivered to the Becks’ house, and it arrived in a small crate. August’s dad, Paul, is a handy guy, and getting it prepped to ride was straightforward.
Hungry Valley’s mini track is surrounded by a fence and a large staging area, allowing kids to practice riding in a safe, controlled environment.
For the test, we went to the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area north of Los Angeles, which has a mini track for dirtbikes and ATVs that are under 90cc. Because August is still learning the basics of riding a dirtbike, the Moto Two suited him. It weighs a whopping 29 lb less than his CRF-E2, making it more manageable and easier to pick up.
With some dirtbike experience already under his belt, August took to the Volcon Kids Moto Two quickly.
It takes a lot of practice to learn throttle control (yes, we’re aware that the right twist grip on an electric bike adjusts the motor controller). Young kids aren’t known for finesse, and August is still in the phase of snapping the throttle back rather than rolling it on gradually. That often leads to the bike accelerating suddenly and before his body and head are ready for it. He reacts by snapping the throttle forward again, leading to herky-jerky movement of bike and body until he gets up to speed.
Pairing the Torrot smartphone app with the Moto Two makes it easy to adjust power, speed, throttle response, and regeneration.
The Moto Two has Bluetooth connectivity that allows the bike to be paired with the Torrot smartphone app. August’s dad, Paul, used the app to configure the Two’s parameters – maximum power, maximum speed, throttle response, and regeneration. Each parameter can be adjusted via slider, or the three preset levels – low, medium, and high – can be selected for all parameters at once. As August got more comfortable, his dad adjusted the settings.
The rear shock is adjustable for spring preload.
The bike is solidly built, with a chromoly-steel frame, a hydraulic fork with 3.7 inches of travel, a preload-adjustable shock with 4.9 inches of travel, disc brakes, and spoked wheels with Michelin Starcross tires. Another nice feature is the swappable battery, which makes recharging more convenient, and an optional second battery can provide ready-to-go power when the first one is depleted. (A standard 48-volt, 8.8-Ah battery is $599.99; an upgraded 48-volt, 12.5-Ah battery is $899.99.)
The large-diameter wheels allowed August to ride through deep sand and over small obstacles with ease.
Thanks to its light weight and programmability, the Volcon Moto Two is a great bike for kids just learning to ride. For younger or shorter kids, the Moto One is a better option, but the Two is a bike kids can ride for several years. August loves it, and it’s now part of the Beck family stable. Little brother Wolfgang is champing at the bit.
Motor Type: Air-cooled 48V brushless DC motor w/ programmable controller
Battery: 8.8 Ah / 412 Wh lithium-ion, swappable
Run Time: Up to 2 hrs.
Charging Time to 100%: 5 hrs.
Power: 1.5 kW (2 hp)
Torque: N/A
Max. Speed: 27 mph
Final Drive: Chain
Wheel Diameter: 14 in. front, 12 in. rear
Seat Height: 25.2 in.
Weight: 77.2 lb
Max. Rider Weight: 88 lb
A display next to the right grip shows battery level, and just below it is a button that turns the bike on. The Moto Two has a wrist lanyard that shuts the power off when the rider’s left hand leaves the grip.
Papa (Paul Beck) helps August secure the emergency shut-off wrist lanyard before he starts riding laps around the mini track.
The Moto Two has no transmission, and its large rear sprocket allows it to accelerate quickly.
The Volcon Kids Moto Two has a unique green paint scheme and stylish graphics.
The 2023 CFMOTO Ibex 800 T is more geared toward on-road touring, but it comes with standard features that make intermediate backroads a whole lotta fun as well. (Photos by Aaron Crane)
CFMOTO is no stranger to off-road vehicles. In fact, many of you may be more familiar with CFMOTO ATVs and side-by-sides, which the company has been selling in the U.S. for more than 20 years. Its first foray into the ADV market was the street-focused 650 ADVentura, announced in June of last year as part of the 2022 lineup. More recently, the company released the 2023 CFMOTO Ibex 800 T and Ibex 800 S, with the 800 T designed for “when the blacktop turns to dirt” – fitting since the bike is named after a wild mountain goat.
MSRP for the 2023 CFMOTO Ibex 800 T is $10,499. Our test bike was equipped with the optional centerstand ($279.99) and pannier set ($1,699.99), for an as-tested price of $12,479.
Both the Ibex 800 T and S are powered by a liquid-cooled 799cc parallel-Twin with DOHC and 4 valves per cylinder borrowed from the previous-generation KTM 790 Adventure that makes a claimed 94 hp and 57 lb-ft of torque and is mated to a 6-speed gearbox with a slip/assist clutch (the T also adds a quickshifter to the mix). Both bikes are equipped with throttle-by-wire and have two ride modes (Sport and Rain) and cruise control.
The Ibex 800 S ($9,499) rolls on cast wheels (19-inch front, 17-inch rear) and is aimed at street-focused riders. The Ibex 800 T ($10,499) has spoked wheels and is equipped with several upgrades, including a skid plate, heated grips, a heated seat, a quickshifter, and both USB and 12V outlets. Our Ibex 800 T test bike was equipped with the optional centerstand ($279.99) and pannier set ($1,699.99), for an as-tested price of $12,479.
The Ibex 800 T has a KYB inverted fork and rear monoshock, both fully adjustable.
When I fired up the Ibex 800 T for the first time, I found the aural quality of the engine to be kind of chirpy, but once you get moving, the billy goat gets gruff, producing a satisfying growl and a surge forward with some nice grunt in the midrange. However, the throttle-by-wire needs some fine tuning. In Sport mode, response was a bit too snatchy. This can be mitigated in Rain mode, but when the roads are dry, this seems more like a workaround than a feature. The throttle-by-wire also led to issues in the dirt, but more on that shortly.
As this is an adventure-touring bike, it seemed fitting that my first experience on the bike was about 50 miles of interstate – and 3,000 feet of elevation gain – to my house. The 800 T has an adjustable windscreen, and it was quite effective at preventing buffeting for my 6-foot frame. I kept the windscreen at the highest position, but for those wanting it somewhere else, height adjustment is tool-less and quick, offering about 2 inches of range.
The skid plate and heated grips and seat are nice up-spec features the Ibex 800 T has over its 800 S stablemate.
The Ibex 800 T rides on Maxxis MaxxVenture MA1 tires, which CFMOTO says are manufactured specifically for the bike. Their tread pattern is that of a 90/10 (road/off-road) tire, and as such, I felt the tires performed admirably on the pavement. They offered a smooth ride and weren’t noisy at high speeds, and when combined with the fully adjustable KYB suspension (6.3/5.9 inches of travel front/rear), they inspired more confidence than I was expecting when cornering. Even with the 37 lb of the accessory aluminum top and side cases added, I definitely enjoyed the ride when I was able to get it off the interstate and onto some state highways with more sweepers.
The accessory aluminum top case has a 36-liter capacity – big enough for a full-size helmet – and like the other cases, it has a lockable lid and quick-release mounting system.
CFMOTO Ibex 800 T: In It For the Distance…Mostly
There were a couple issues I noticed during those first miles on the Ibex. First, there was something about the aerodynamics of the bike that caused a high pitched, near-constant whistle between 65 and 80 mph. Thinking it might’ve been the cases (it sounded like it was coming from behind me), I pulled them off and tested again after I got home, but I still got the same result. I’m not sure what could be done to remedy this, but I would want to get it solved if this was my bike.
The Ibex 800 T comes with LED headlights, taillights, turnsignals, and fog lights.
Another minor issue is the cruise control. The buttons are large and easy to reach, but it tops out at 80 mph. In my home state of Utah, that’s the interstate speed limit, a speed that it seems like only the semis do…sometimes. The Ibex is a bike that feels steady at higher speeds, and I took it easily above 80 on a few occasions when I needed to overtake someone, but I was limited if I wanted to peg the cruise.
The Ibex 800s have the same liquid-cooled 799cc parallel-Twin as the 2019 KTM 790 Adventure.
Otherwise, this is a bike that is comfortable for the distance, especially on the highway. Its handling was a pleasure – even more enjoyable when I tested it without the added weight of the cases – and the handlebar is set at a good height and sweep and combines with an approachable 32.5-inch seat height (and a relatively wide and cushy saddle) for an upright position that matched my frame and 32-inch inseam. On a longer trip I took, I stopped every couple hours for gas, but there wasn’t any inordinate stiffness in my body as I stepped off the bike, and I was ready to hop back on as soon as it was filled up.
This Ibex 800 T has a 5-gallon tank, and we averaged 44.2 mpg and 224 miles of range. (Photo by the author)
The 7-inch TFT is clear and easy to read. The home screen includes everything you might want to see without feeling too cluttered, and the submenus offer a plethora of options, including three levels of heated grips and heated seats, handy features when I was climbing to higher elevations. Getting to the various submenus, however, requires a combination of long and quick pushes of several buttons that is reminiscent of the starting sequence of Furiosa’s rig in Mad Max: Fury Road, which can get a little cumbersome if you’re wanting to turn on those heated grips on the fly…or during the apocalypse. Once you get the sequence down, it’s pretty intuitive, but sometimes I got sent back to the main menu by accident, and there were times the menu froze up entirely for a moment.
The 90/10 Maxxis MaxxVenture MA1 tires were great on the pavement, but serious ADV riders will want to fit something more off-road ready.
The bike’s navigation feature is also a little clunky. On my longer trip, I paired the bike to my phone with the CFMOTO Ride app and set a destination. The app offered a couple alternate choices to the main route, but when I selected one and set off, the navigation kept trying to take me on the original route, attempting to reroute me every time I ignored it. Also, even though the automated voice in my helmet was giving distances in miles, the display was giving me kilometers. My colleague Allison Parker had similar issues with the navigation feature on a different CFMOTO (see her 2023 CFMOTO 300SS First Ride Review here). At least I wasn’t being given distances in inches like she was, but there are certainly a few kinks to be worked out with the app’s navigation settings.
The 7-inch TFT means there is plenty of room for everything you want to see without feeling cluttered. (Photo by the author)
However, I appreciated that all the home screen information was still displayed across the top of the navigation screen. And when it comes to connectivity and charging, the Ibex has two USB ports and a 12-volt port just below and on either side of the TFT display.
The windscreen offers 2 inches of height adjustment and provides good wind protection.
And ‘When the Blacktop Turns to Dirt’?
This is my first time on an ADV bike, and while I enjoyed the new experience, I think the Ibex 800 T in stock form won’t provide the adventure that more experienced ADV riders seek, although there are accessories that would take it up a notch. At a minimum, mounting more off-road-ready tires would be smart if you want to get dirty.
The design of the Ibex 800 T provided a comfortable standing position for my 6-foot frame with having to lean over.
While enjoying a highway tour on the bike, I spotted a dirt road in the distance that left the pavement, heading off into the hills between the sagebrush and pinyon junipers. It was a two-track intermediate dirt road, not too sandy, rutted, or rocky. I was comfortable in the standing position that suited my height without feeling strain in my back, and I rode relatively conservatively. However, I felt hindered from pushing myself a little more by that snatchy throttle. I may have been physically comfortable standing at steady speed, but slight rolling on or off of the throttle threw me off balance.
Being able to take the Ibex 800 T on this trek off the beaten path made my appreciate my first foray into the ADV bike segment. (Photo by the author)
After I came to a turn-around point on the dirt road, since I was enjoying this newfound freedom – I kept thinking about how there was no way my Harley Softail would’ve taken me on this adventure – I decided to see if putting it in Rain mode would allow me to take the pace up a little.
Some of you may see where this is going.
For stopping power, both Ibex 800 models have J.Juan components, with radial-mount 4-piston calipers biting dual 320mm discs up front and a 2-piston floating caliper pinching a single 260mm disc in the rear. The brakes did a great job on the pavement, shedding speed when necessary without feeling too grabby. Both bikes also have cornering ABS, which is where I ran into a problem in the dirt.
J.Juan radial-mount 4-piston calipers and dual 320mm discs provide confident stopping power on the pavement.
Unlike some other ADV bikes on the market, ABS cannot be turned off and there’s not an off-road ABS mode (which typically has less intervention on the front wheel and disables ABS at the rear). As I rode down the dirt road in Rain mode, even at slow speed, applying the front brake lever made the front end shudder as ABS kicked in. Down I went.
The accessory aluminum top and side cases add 37 pounds to the overall weight, but the 99 liters of total capacity are great for touring.
After I hefted the 546-lb bike back up on its rubber, I switched back to Sport mode, as I hadn’t noticed the ABS issue when riding with that setting. So for the rest of my novice dirt adventure, I was caught between wanting to push myself a little more but not feeling confident with the snatchy throttle responses.
Right on the Cusp
Even with the accessory cases, the Ibex 800 T confidently carved out the sweepers in Sport mode and made for an exhilarating ride.
Besides not having switchable ABS, most of my nits to pick with the Ibex 800 T are pretty minor and will hopefully work themselves out in future models – or at least with a Utah version that ups the cruise control limit. When all is said and done, this is a fun bike that feels like it’s right on the cusp of staking its claim as a solid adventure-touring bike for a reasonable price.
2023 CFMOTO Ibex 800 T Specs
Base Price: $10,499
Price as Tested: $12,479 (centerstand [$279.99] and pannier set [$1,699.99])
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) put himself on the verge of more MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship history as he extended his winning run to 11 races, equalling the current streak. It came after victory in Race 1 at Donington Park after a fierce scrap with the ‘Titanic Trio’ as the Prosecco DOC UK Round burst into action in the UK. A win in Sunday’s Tissot Superpole Race would see him break the current win streak record.
The Spaniard holds the record jointly with Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and the pair have recorded 11 wins each. Rea ended the 2018 campaign with 11 straight wins while Bautista did it at the start of the following season, as well as in 2023 after winning from Mandalika Race 2 to Donington Park Race 1. Victory in the Superpole Race would move him into a league of his own on 12 consecutive wins.
The reigning Champion also ended Ducati’s Donington drought with his Race 1 triumph. The Italian manufacturer had not won at the iconic British circuit since Carlos Checa claimed victory in Race 2 in 2011. Bautista’s win ended the manufacturer’s woes at the British venue and it also put him one step closer to equalling the number of wins in a season, which currently stands at 17. After 16 races, Bautista has won 15 and a hat-trick would put him on 17 victories in 2023.
The race featured an incredible fight with his two adversaries, Rea and Razgatlioglu, in the opening third as all three traded positions and got their elbows out as they hunted victory. The trio all led at different times but Bautista’s move on Lap 9 down the back straight against Razgatlioglu allowed him to pull a gap over his rivals and win for the first time at Donington.
Explaining his emotions after his Race 1 victory, Bautista said: “Many people expected Jonathan and Toprak to fight for the win, including me! Maybe at this track, fewer people expected me to fight for the win because, in the past, it was a difficult track for us. I hadn’t won here, and it was 12 years since Ducati won. It’s what I said this weekend started. Every year is new. You cannot compare what happened this year with the last one. You have to work as much as possible and try to give your best. You never know how you feel with the track, especially with the new asphalt; it was new for everyone. After yesterday, basically without practice as we didn’t do many laps, today the race was a big challenge because nobody knew what would happen after 10 or 11 laps with the tyres. I have never enjoyed this track like today, the feeling with the bike was fantastic. My team worked really well without data to give me a really good bike for the race. I’m so happy to get my first win at Donington.”
Read all the details about Bautista’s incredible victory HERE and watch more WorldSBK action on Sunday using the WorldSBK VideoPass!
The Prosecco DOC UK Round saw the ‘Titanic Trio’ of the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship renew their rivalry in the early stages, with Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) at the thick of the action. After being relegated to third place by his rivals, the 36-year-old held on to third place in the closing stages of Race 1 and resisted constant pressure from behind to take a 250th podium, the first rider in WorldSBK to achieve it.
RACE STORY: podium the target, podium the outcome
Rea started from his third straight Donington Park pole position and despite a good start, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) snatched the holeshot into Turn 1. The home-hero was hot on his heels though and on Lap 2, forced a mistake from Bautista, with the Spaniard getting loose in the braking area for the Foggy Esses. He zipped on through and Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) took advantage too. It was then a paint-swapping match between all three of them, particularly into Turns 4 and 5, as well as Turns 9 and 11; you can enjoy the full battle here. Rea held on to third place, after a late charge by top Independent rider Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), who was chasing his first podium.
IN HIS OWN WORDS: “I tried to keep a basic rhythm”
Talking about the race and being in the battle, Rea said: “Race 1 was solid, that’s about as positive as I can be. I made a good start but the bike wheelied a little bit and I lose track position. When I got to the front of the race, I tried to keep a basic rhythm as I had no idea about the tyre consumption and I was trying to ride. Then Toprak and Alvaro came through; Alvaro had so much grip in acceleration and I then I thought I could only race with Toprak today. Then, even Toprak started going away. There was a point in the race when I thought I was going to struggle but then in the last part, when I was under pressure from Danilo, I found some rhythm by slowing down my brake points and not making mistakes, which seemed faster.”
Speaking about his plan for Sunday, the six-time World Champion was clear that a step in stopping the bike on the side of the tyre would help him hit his markers: “Tomorrow, we just need more trail braking, to be able to stop the bike on the side of the tyre. As soon as I brake too late, there’s so much grip from the rear that it pushed me into the corner and I miss it. A few areas to improve but the podium was my target.”
250 PODIUMS – the first rider in history: “I’ve enjoyed each and every one!”
However, it was a 250th podium from Rea that served as one of the big take-aways from the opening duel at Donington Park. Rea first mounted the WorldSBK podium way back in 2009, at Kyalami with third in Race 2. That was back in his Honda days, and he racked-up an impressive 42 in total by the end of spell with the Japanese brand. Since moving to Kawasaki though, it’s been all about re-writing history, and the 250th podium is the latest chapter in an illustrious story. His nearest rival behind the 250 is Troy Corser on 130, whilst the nearest active rival is the Ulsterman’s arch-rival but good friend Toprak Razgatlioglu, who is on 97 and can be on 99 if things go his way on Sunday in the UK.
Speaking of the achievement, it came as a surprise to the #65 but he was happy with his achievements in what is his 14th full-season of action: “It’s incredible! It makes me feel very proud and very old! To hang around for 250 podiums is a long time in my career but I’ve found an amazing home in WorldSBK and I’ve enjoyed each and every podium. Each one has a great story, so long may it continue!”
There was almost a new name on the podium list in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship as Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) battled with six-time World Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) at Donington Park. After the two-time MotoGP™ winner stunned with third in the Tissot Superpole session, Petrucci was able to fight for the rostrum in the Prosecco DOC UK Round but narrowly missed out on a first visit in WorldSBK.
The Italian rider posted a 1’26.205s to secure his first front row start in World Superbike and his strong pace showed throughout the 23-lap battle. Of 22 normal racing laps, not including the opening one, 20 were in the 1’27s bracket with two – on Lap 2 and Lap 23 – in the 1’28s. Although his outright pace did not allow him to lap in the 1’26s bracket, his consistency kept him in contention for a maiden WorldSBK podium.
Between Laps 14 and 20, Petrucci was faster than the Kawasaki rider on all but one lap as he closed in on a potential podium. However, as the race reached its conclusion, Rea was able to pull a small gap over the Italian to secure his 250th WorldSBK podium and deny Petrucci his first rostrum. He did go into parc ferme as the top Independent rider and he closed the gap on Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) and Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in the Independent Riders’ standings.
There was one minor blight on Petrucci’s Race 1 copybook, as a mistake on Lap 2 potentially cost him a podium finish. Under braking into Turn 9, the first part of the Foggy Esses, the Italian had a huge moment and he had to run across the chicane. His time on that lap was a 1’28.555s while Rea’s was a 1’27.384s and Toprak Razgatlioglu’s (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) a 1’27.637s. Speaking after the race, Petrucci discussed his WorldSBK-best result of fourth place and whether that moment cost him a first podium since switching from MotoAmerica.
Petrucci said: “It’s always a good place especially with STK600 in 2009. I remember it was so nice and now, with the new surface, it’s even nicer. I had a good result in Superpole. In the race, I made just one mistake at the start of the race. I had a big wobble on the entry of the chicane, but I was able to, at least, dream about the podium but in the last two laps I had nothing to give against Jonny. I didn’t want to repeat the mistake from Misano, so I gave up a bit and it’s okay. I’m really happy for the team. We needed that result. We’ll work a little bit more but we’re not far. Maybe without that moment, but it’s not easy to say. I had a good pace and we stayed there for the whole race. Unfortunately, this bike is so particular. You need to be so precise. In that corner, I was a little bit aggressive on the brakes and the bike started to move a lot. Honestly, I had to fight with Jonny and he’s a great Champion. I will try again tomorrow. The Superpole Race is always something that’s really difficult for me at the moment, but I will try to keep my position.”
Read all the details from Race 1 HERE and watch all the action from the Tissot Superpole Race from 13:00 Local Time (GMT+1) using the WorldSBK VideoPass!
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) made it a Saturday to remember for Ducati at Donington Park as he claimed victory over title rival Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) after a thrilling Race 1. Polesitter Bulega’s win meant he ended Yamaha’s winning run at the Prosecco DOC UK Round to extend his Championship lead by five points, with the Italian winning by more than a second although that gap was almost three seconds at one point.
SEVENTH HEAVEN: Bulega racks up another win, first 2023 podium for Montella
Championship leader Bulega started from pole position and kept the lead from the start ahead of Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) and Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha). While the duo kept the pressure on in the early stages of the race, the Ducati rider was able to lap in the 1’29s to smash the race lap record and pull out a gap of two seconds on Manzi, in second, after six laps. The Ten Kate Racing rider moved into second after he passed Montella at Turn 11 on the opening lap.
On Lap 6, Manzi was able to pull the gap down as he lapped in the 1’29s while Bulega slowed into the 1’30s but they were soon both lapping in 1’29s with just a tenth separating their race pace in the first part of the encounter. However, as the second half got underway, Bulega was able to stretch his legs again and he pulled out a gap of almost three seconds at the end of Lap 11. The gap was maintained at round three seconds over the next few laps as Bulega extended his Championship lead by five points over Manzi with victory. Although the gap reduced in the closing stages, Bulega held on to win by 1.2s.
The battle for third featured two Italian riders as Montella and Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) fought it out for a podium. Montella, who started from the middle of the first row, dropped out of the top three when ‘Carica’ overtook him at Turn 11 on Lap 6 before the one-time winner was able to respond. From there, he was able to pull out a gap of more than two seconds on his rival to secure his first podium of the year and his second in WorldSSP.
Bulega’s seventh win puts him level with Andrew Pitt, Caricasulo and Randy Krummenacher at 11th place in the all-time winners’ list, while it was also his 18th podium; half of which have come in 2023. Manzi is now on a run of four consecutive podium finishes and has seven in total in World Supersport while Montella claimed his second rostrum.
FANTASTIC AND FIERCE FIGHTS: drama at the last corner
Caricasulo dropped back from Montella but he had a huge margin over the group behind as he secured fourth. It had looked like Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) would take fifth but a stunning last-lap battle with Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) dropped them both down the order. Schroetter made a move at the Foggy Esses before the Frenchman responded immediately into the Melbourne Loop. The German rookie tried to fight back with a move at Turn 12, the final corner, with both running onto the grass on the outside of the corner.
This allowed Dutch rider Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team), who had been running in the top-five throughout the majority of the race, to claim fifth place with Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) in sixth to take his best result at Donington Park. The Schroetter-Debise battle also allowed Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) to surge into seventh place, with the MV Agusta rider taking eighth. Tom Booth-Amos (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) secured his first top-ten finish of 2023 with ninth, and he also finished as the top WorldSSP Challenge rider, with Debise rounding out the top ten.
FIGHTING BACK, DROPPING DOWN: mixed fortunes in the points
Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) had a sublime Superpole session on Saturday morning but he was unable to covert this into a top-ten finish. Despite fighting hard, the French rider dropped down the order to finish 11th. Jorge Navarro (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) finished around five seconds behind Mahias as he took 12th while he had an almost four-second margin over Turkish star Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse).
The Barcelona winner lost time when he ran wide at Turn 12 on Lap 5 but he was able to continue and secure another points-paying position, while Tom Edwards (Yart-Yamaha WorldSSP Team) took 14th and Niki Tuuli (Dynavolt Triumph), who started from the second row, fell to 15th. Wildcard Rhys Irwin (Astro-JJR Suzuki) missed out on a point-scoring return for Suzuki as he took 16th, with Andy Verdoia (Yamaha Thailand Racing Team) in 17th and Jack Kennedy (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) in 17th and 18th. Verdoia is standing in for Apiwath Wongthananon while Kennedy was a last-minute replacement for Andrea Mantovani after he was declared unfit on Friday.
HOUSEKEEPING: drama in Race 1
Wildcard Eugene McManus (Completely Motorbikes Triumph) crashed at Turn 9 on the opening lap to bring his race to an early end, with his bike catching fire in the gravel before it was tended to by the marshals. At the end of Lap 2, Harry Truelove (Dynavolt Triumph) and Nicholas Spinelli (VFT Racing WEBIKE Yamaha) crashed at Turn 12. Spinelli was able to take his bike to the pits and he re-joined four laps down, but Truelove retired from the race and was taken to the medical centre for a check-up. The Brit will be reassessed tomorrow morning after being diagnosed with a thorax contusion. Adam Norrodin (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) also retired in the early stages of the race.
Reigning WorldSSP300 Champion Alvaro Diaz (Arco Yart Yamaha WorldSSP) crashed at Turn 8 on Lap 5 although he was able to re-join, albeit a lap down, but he retired with a technical problem in the final stages. Thai sensation Anupab Sarmoon (Yamaha Thailand Racing Team), who impressed in the rain on Friday, crashed on Lap 9 which ended his race prematurely.
The top six from WorldSSP Race 1, full results here:
1 Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team)
2. Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) +1.231s
3. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +6.615s
4. Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) +10.903s
5. Glenn van Straalen EAB Racing Team) +17.833s
6. Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) +18.816s
Watch more thrilling WorldSSP race action on Sunday at 15:00 Local Time (GMT+1) using the WorldSBK VideoPass!
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) wrote himself into the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship history books again during Race 1 at Donington Park as his victory in the UK gave him his 11th in a row after a fierce ‘Titanic Trio’ scrap. He ended Ducati’s winless run at the iconic UK venue circuit as he fended off Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) and Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), while the Northern Irishman made more history of his own at the Prosecco DOC UK Round.
HISTORY IN THE ‘TITANIC TRIO’: droughts end, record podiums added to…
Bautista got the holeshot as the lights went out as he looked to end Ducati’s Donington drought, but his lead did not last long as polesitter Rea took advantage of the Spaniard running wide on the entry to the Foggy Esses on Lap 2 to take the lead. The Ulsterman was able to pull away from Bautista, but the reigning Champion soon found himself under pressure from 2021 Champion Razgatlioglu as the Turk looked to make gains.
Razgatlioglu made his move on Bautista at Turn 11 on Lap 3 before setting his sights on Rea out in front, with the gap coming down as soon as the Yamaha rider got ahead of Bautista. On Lap 6, the Turkish star made his move on Rea at the same corner to move into the lead, but he was unable to pull a gap as the ‘Titanic Trio’ battled it out at the historic venue.
The trio switched positions several times between Lap 6 and Lap 9 with all three taking their turn to lead the race before Bautista made a move on Razgatlioglu on the exit of Coppice to move back into first. Razgatlioglu and Rea both remained in touch with the reigning Champion edging out a small gap. On Lap 11, Bautista posted a new race lap record of 1’26.615s as the gap edged out to just over half-a-second to his rivals.
The Ducati rider’s pace was shown two laps later when he set a 1’26.610s to break his own lap record with the gap up to 1.200s at the start of Lap 15. A lap later, he went a tenth quicker as he showed his consistency. He was the only rider to lap in the 1’26s bracket at this stage of the race with Razgatlioglu and Rea dropping into the 1’27s. While Bautista and Razgatlioglu had their places secured, Rea had to fight Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) for third place. The rookie had been just behind the lead group, but his late-race pace allowed him to pass Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) on Lap 16 at the Foggy Esses before chasing down Rea for third although Rea was able to manage the gap throughout the final laps to secure third.
Bautista’s victory means Ducati’s 12-year wait for a Donington victory came to an end as he extended his Championship lead to 91 points ahead of Razgatlioglu. His win also means his winning streak has reached 11 races; equalling the longest set by Rea in 2018 and himself in 2019. Razgatlioglu’s second place puts him on 97 WorldSBK rostrums as he closes in on a century while Rea secured his 250th podium; the first rider to achieve this feat.
Petrucci missed out on a podium by only 1.740s but the two-time MotoGP™ race winner was still able to take his best result in WorldSBK as he finished in fourth place. His previous best had been fifth in Indonesia Race 1. He was almost three seconds clear of compatriot Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) after he showed strong race pace to move up the order from seventh, including passing Lowes on Lap 21 at the Foggy Esses for fifth. Home hero Lowes limited the damage in the closing stages to take sixth place after a really impressive start to the 23-lap race.
BATTLING BACK: Bassani goes from 14th to seventh
Italian rider Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) secured seventh after starting from 14th. The Independent Ducati star moved into seventh in the first half of the race as he fought his way through the field and he remained there, finishing 12 seconds down on Bautista. He was ahead of the two ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team riders as Scott Redding and Tom Sykes battled it out on the final lap. The 2013 Champion was ahead as Lap 23 started but Redding made a move for eighth as he went up the inside of his teammate at the Melbourne Loop to gain a position. Sykes was able to take ninth with Australian rider Remy Garner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) rounding out the top ten; 13 seconds down on the BMW pair. The #66’s ninth place meant he now has 266 top-ten WorldSBK finishes to his name.
IN THE POINTS: late-race battles for the lower range of the points
2021 Moto2™ World Champion Gardner had to fend off a charging Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) to secure a place in the top ten with just 0.106s separating the Australian and Vierge. Two-time WorldSSP Champion Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) took 12th but he had drama on the final lap of the race. He ran into the gravel at Turn 8, the right-hander of Coppice, and lost time but recovered to finish less than a second ahead of Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) after the Italian battled back from the back of the field. Rinaldi ran wide at Coppice on the opening lap, but he was able to fight back to finish in 13th for. The #21 was 21 seconds clear of Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha) in 14th with Isaac Vinales (TPR by Team Pedercini Racing) completing the points-paying positions with 15th; his best result of the season and his first points of 2023.
Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) narrowly missed out on a point as he finished in 16th place as he finished ahead of Hafizh Syahrin (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) in 17th. Czech rider Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing MOVISIO) finished 18th on his return from injury with Eric Granado (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) the last of the classified riders.
HOUSEKEEPING: Ray’s home race ends in the gravel, late drama for Lecuona and Oettl
Home hero Bradley Ray’s (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) race came to an early end after he crashed out after contact with American star Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW). Gerloff was able to return from the gravel but brought his M1000RR machine into the pits. He did return to the track a few laps down but retired later on. The incident was investigated by the FIM Stewards with no further action taken. Gerloff’s teammate Loris Baz also retired from the race when he had a technical problem with his machine in the opening stages.
Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) crashed out at the Old Hairpin, the right-hander at Turn 4, on the penultimate lap which forced him out of the race. He was taken to the medical centre for a check-up following the crash. Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) was a last-lap retirement after he stopped with a technical problem.
The top six from WorldSBK Race 1, full results here:
1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +3.718s
3. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +6.115s
4. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +7.855s
5. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +10.738s
6. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +11.143s
Fastest lap: Alvaro Bautista, Ducati – 1’26.550 (New Lap Record)
Don’t miss more WorldSBK action on Sunday with the Tissot Superpole Race at 13:00 Local Time (GMT+1) using the WorldSBK VideoPass!
17 different polesitters throughout the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s history at Donington Park and with two of them on the current grid, we were in for a treat in WorldSBK Superpole. The rain had been dispelled and on track, plenty of riders were looking to excel as the existing lap record was broken and the battle for pole position triggered. As the chequered flag flew in the British breeze, it was Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) who took a first pole of 2023.
STORY OF SUPERPOLE: less than a tenth of a second covers the top five
Eager to get on with the action, 36-year-old Rea led the field out of the pits, with Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) – like we’ve seen many times – right behind. Redding was faster than Rea but behind them, it was Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) who went top early on. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) was next, ahead of Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), Tom Sykes (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), all five covered by less than a tenth. This was the order after the opening five minutes, but Locatelli, Razgatlioglu and Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) didn’t waste any time in getting back on with for their second runs, seemingly attempting a three-run strategy.
MISTAKES APLENTY: the pressure mounts the lead stars
Razgatlioglu and Locatelli were on corking lap times for their second runs, nearly three tenths up halfway round their laps but ‘Loka’ ran off track at Coppice. Ahead of them on track, Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) went up to P7 whilst Razgatlioglu stormed to pole with a 1’26.410 with six minutes remaining. Sykes was also on a phenomenal lap at the halfway point of his lap, whilst fellow countryman Alex Lowes went second. Sykes went third and gave up four tenths of a second, whereas the Donington difficulties for Ducati continued for Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) crashed at the final corner. Elsewhere, Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) went into the top ten.
Track conditions continued to improve as more Pirelli rubber was put down and Rea went pole at home to set a new lap record, whilst Bautista and Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) lapped together on the track and were on the front row, but then Bautista crashed at Turn 8, just moments after Axel Bassani tumbled at Turn 12. Bautista remounted but Ducati’s Donington Park difficulties continued in Superpole.
FRONT ROW: Rea back to pole with a new lap record
After all of the drama all around, Jonathan Rea took his first pole position of 2023 and indeed in over a season. The #65 is on pole at Donington Park for the first time since 2021 and he’ll hope that Kawasaki can compete for victory for his home round. Despite his crash, Bautista took second and this arrived in Parc Ferme with his own electric scooter, a new style! However, grabbing headlines was Petrucci, with the rookie Italian storming to a first front row in WorldSBK as he edges ever close to the podium battle with each session. On hand to present the awards in Parc Ferme was Roger Burnett, the first ever WorldSBK polesitter from Donington Park 35 years ago.
Toprak Razgatlioglu, despite his success at Donington Park, is still yet to take pole at the British circuit and will have to fight his way through from the head of the second row. He’s in good company however, with Alex Lowes eventually coming home in fifth and rookie Dominique Aegerter bursting up into P6 on his final flying lap, a strong end to the session for Aegerter, who has had a quiet weekend up to that point.
COMPLETING THE TOP TEN: a surprise looms from behind?
Seventh on the grid and leading the way from the third row is Locatelli, as he goes in search of a decent Donington Park weekend, whilst the track’s most successful WorldSBK rider ever, 2013 World Champion Tom Sykes will go from the middle of row three. The 37-year-old’s return to Donington Park in WorldSBK saw him as top BMW too. Rinaldi’s crash at Turn 12 didn’t scupper his Superpole entirely, as he got back out to take P9, whilst Garrett Gerloff completed the top ten, which didn’t feature any Hondas as the Japanese manufacturer struggled again in the UK.
ELSEWHERE: big names with big worries after qualifying down field
Outside of the top ten, Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) took P11 ahead of Scott Redding, who faded towards the end and will have an uphill challenge if he’s to repeat his success of 12 months ago. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) was top Honda in P13, ahead of Bassani, with two of the big names in the Championship struggling. Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) completed the fifth row, whilst Brad Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) took P16 having been as high as P10 before his lap time got deleted for yellow flags due to Bassani’s crash.
Xavi Vierge’s (Team HRC) Superpole struggles set in once more as he was only 17th, ahead of a disappointing Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team). Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) and Hafizh Syahrin (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) completed the top 20. Isaac Vinales (TPR Team Pedercini Racing) was 21st, with Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha) and Eric Granado (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team) close behind. Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing MOVISIO) sat the session out after a fast crash at Craner Curves in FP3.
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) claimed a stunning pole position as he smashed the FIM Supersport World Championship lap record at Donington Park after lapping two tenths quicker than his nearest rival. He will be joined on the front row by title rival by Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) as he took third to set up both races at the Prosecco DOC UK Round in perfect fashion, with Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) sandwiched between the duo on the front row.
RECORD BREAKING FRONT ROW: the lap record is annihilated
Bulega put in a couple of lap times that went under the existing lap record, a 1’29.925s held by Kenan Sofuoglu from 2015. His first was a 1’29.872s before he set a 1’29.323s on his first flying lap in his second run to go a huge six tenths under Sofuoglu’s lap time. Montella continued his strong Donington form to take second place as he lapped 0.209s slower than the Championship leader, although he did lose time towards the end of the session when he ran wide at Turn 1 and into the gravel. Championship contender Manzi will line up from the front row for the first time since the Australian Round as he secured third; all three riders were under the existing lap record and were separated by half-a-second. Bulega is on a streak of five consecutive pole positions, the third longest in the Championship’s history; the longest is seven, held by Sam Lowes.
A MIXED-UP ROW TWO: Mahias impresses again, Tuuli looking for Triumph glory
French rider Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) consistently moved up the order during the 20-minute session as he took fourth, demoting Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) with his last lap in the session. Huertas’ fifth place meant he claimed his first top-five starting position since Barcelona in 2022 and he will start ahead of Niki Tuuli (Dynavolt Triumph) after the Finn took sixth. Tuuli will be looking to give British manufacturer Triumph more to cheer about as he goes in search of their first win in the UK.
JUST OVER A TENTH IN IT: not much to separate P6 and P10…
Glenn van Straalen (EAB Racing Team) was consistently in the top ten throughout Superpole and he posted a 1’30.405s to lead away the third row. It was a tightly-packed field on Saturday with Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing Team) one place behind but less than a tenth away from van Straalen. Rookie Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) had been outside the top ten for the majority of Superpole but several late laps moved him into the top ten; he will start ninth with Raffaele De Rosa (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) completing the top ten.
HOUSEKEEPING: disappointment for Booth-Amos after a promising Friday
After showing so much promise on Friday, Tom Booth-Amos (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) will start from 13th after his session was disrupted by a fall. He crashed at Turn 10 after losing the front of his bike. He re-joined and took his bike to the pits but he was unable to set another representative lap time when he took to the track after repairs had been completed. He will start alongside Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) after the Turk was given the all-clear to compete in Superpole; following his evaluation this morning, no signs of concussion were detected. He was reassessed after Superpole and declared fit.
John McPhee (Vince64 by Puccetti Racing) was unable to set a lap time after he came down at Coppice on his first flying lap. Oli Bayliss (D34G Racing) had been showing strong pace throughout the weekend but his Superpole came to an end after a highside on the exit of Turn 12. He was taken to the medical centre for a check-up following the crash and declared unfit with a left shoulder contusion.
The top six following WorldSSP Tissot Superpole, full results here:
1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) 1’29.323s 2. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.209s 3. Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) +0.559s
4. Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) +0.799s
The 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship took to a mixed-condition Donington Park on Saturday morning for FP3. Even though the rain had finally abated, the track itself was still wet in places and making work tricky for the riders. Having negotiated the wetter opening part of the session, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) got back out in the final moments of the session to remind everyone why he is Championship leader and defending World Champion.
As the times tumbled right until the end of the session, it was a case of the last rider across the line would have the best track conditions. Leaving it until his penultimate flying lap, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) rocketed up the order to set his fastest lap time of the weekend thus far. He had to fend off Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) though, quite literally after the Turkish rider tried a tight pass at the final corner, perhaps a sign of things to come. He took second, ahead of Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), who spent plenty of time at the top of the timesheets along with his newly re-signed teammate Alex Lowes, with both of them on track together. With the ‘titanic trio’ back to the top, it was a late lap from Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) who got into P4, with Lowes completing the top five.
Top Independent rider and having laughed off the British weather on Friday in his debrief, Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) was sixth ahead of home heroes Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and his teammate Tom Sykes, as they chase BMW’s first podium of the season at the track where it was achieved in 2022. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) is the top BMW in the Championship standings and was ninth after FP3, ahead of Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven), with the Friday revelation rounding out the top ten.
Outside of the top ten, there were factory riders to keep an eye, with Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) the best Honda in 13th, one place ahead of Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), whilst Lecuona’s teammate Xavi Vierge was only 16th. He was one place ahead of Brad Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) who had a great Friday, whilst it was a horrible opening Saturday session for Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in P21. One crasher in the session and unfortunately, it was a big tumble; Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing MOVISIO) fell at Craner Curves and whilst he rolled over after the crash had stopped, it was clearly a big fall for the Czech rider.
