Category Archives: Motorcycle News

Bautista dominates on debut in Phillip Island WorldSBK race one

Rea second as Melandri scrapes into the top three.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) has dominated the opening race at Phillip Island’s round one of the 2019 FIM Motul Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), making his mark while on debut in the series and aboard the all-new Panigale V4 R.

The Spanish ace, who transferred from MotoGP to WorldSBK this season, put on a stellar display, gaining the lead immediately before crossing the line with an incredible 14.983s over reigning world champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team).

Rea had his hands full with new teammate Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team), the duo jostling for position in the opening half of the encounter before Haslam went down, recovering to finish 15th.

Marco Melandri, on debut with new WorldSBK squad GRT Yamaha, nabbed Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK) at the line for third, just 0.050s separating the pair, while the top five was completed by Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK).

Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing) showed his nose inside the top five for much of the race before settling for sixth, as the top 10 was rounded out by Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK), Sandro Cortese (GRT Yamaha), Michael Rinaldi (Barni Racing Team) and Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati).

Australian wildcard Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing) retired from the race six laps into the affair. The WorldSBK category will return to the circuit tomorrow for races two and three.

Detailed results

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Alvaro Bautista blitzes them to win WSBK race one at P.I.

2019 WorldSBK
Round One – Phillip Island
WSBK Race One


Alvaro Bautista had stolen most of the headlines this week but it was Jonathan Rea that produced a record-breaking Superpole qualifying lap to claim pole position for the season-opening Motul FIM Superbike World Championship, Yamaha Finance round today at Phillip Island.

The 32-year-old’s qualifying lap of 1m29.413s on the KRT ZX-10RR the fastest that a production-based superbike has ever circulated around the 4.448km grand prix circuit, besting his previous benchmark (1m29.573s) set in 2017. It’s Rea’s 17th pole position in WorldSBK racing, and his third at Phillip Island.

Leon Haslam (1m29.626s) and Alvaro Bautista (1m29.729s), joined Rea on the front row for opening 22-lap race of WSBK season 2019.

It was clear that Bautista and the new Ducati Panigale V4 R had the pace over one lap, but could it look after its tyres well enough to be in contention over a full 22-lap race distance…?

They are away!

Jonathan Rea got the holeshot and led the field through Southern Loop for the first time but Alvaro Bautista pounced at turn three to move into the lead. Haslam was third, Lowes fourth, Sykes fifth and Melandri sixth.

On lap two Haslam moved past Rea but a small mistake allowed Rea back through to second place shortly thereafter. Up front though Bautista was breaking away…  By lap four his advantage had grown to a full 2.5-seconds while Haslam and Rea continued to dust each other up while they themselves were being closely stalked by Razgatlioglu, Lowes and Sykes.

Bautista pulling away…

Four laps later that advantage was out to almost five-seconds. Haslam was leading Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu was in a strong fourth place ahead of Alex Lowes and Tom Sykes.

At half race distance, Bautista led by nine-seconds. Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam were virtually attached to one another in an ongoing tussle for second place, while Alex Lowes had moved forward to fourth place and was right on the tail of the KRT pair.

Haslam down!

Leon Haslam then slid off softly at turn four, losing the front end mid-turn while in front of Rea. Haslam rejoined the race in 16th place.

Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes had managed to break away from Sykes, Melandri, Van der Mark and Razgatlioglu as that quartet battled over fourth place.

As the race wore on Rea streadily eked away from Lowes little by little. A little further behind Melandri had got the better of Van der Mark, Razgatlioglu and Sykes, pulling away from them and edging his way forwards towards Lowes in order to make a late challenge for the podium. Melandri did exactly that, over the course of the following lap he pushed his GRT Yamaha past the Pata Yamaha of Lowes but the Briton was not going to relent, and battled the Italian all the way to the flag for that final step on the rostrum.

Last lap

Alvaro Bautista completes his domination of the race, despite backing off on the final lap his victory a massive 15-seconds over Jonathan Rea. Tellingly, Bautista was more than 25-seconds quicker over race distance than the next best Ducati, Michael Rinaldi in ninth.

Marco Melandri managed to outsmart Alex Lowes to the flag by less than a tenth-of-a-second to finish as top Yamaha and make it three different manufacturers on the rostrum.


WSBK Race One Results

  1. Alvaro Bautista – Ducati
  2. Jonathan Rea – Kawasaki +14.983
  3. Marco Melandri – Yamaha +16.934
  4. Alex Lowes – Yamaha +16.984
  5. Michael Van der Mark – Yamaha +19.179
  6. Toprak Razgatlioglu – Kawasaki +21.203
  7. Tom Sykes – BMW +21.488
  8. Sandro Cortese – Yamaha +23.018
  9. Michael Rinaldi – Ducati +25.580
  10. Chaz Davies – Ducati +27.124
  11. Jordi Torres – Kawasaki +28.214
  12. Eugene Laverty – Ducati +30.055
  13. Markus Reiterberger – BMW +31.859
  14. Leandro Mercado – Kawasaki +34.793
  15. Leon Haslam – Kawasaki +41.009
  16. Ryuichi Kiyonari – Honda +45.523

Tickets and on-circuit camping for the Yamaha Finance-sponsored WorldSBK round are available at Ticketek or at the gate. Gates open 8am Sunday. On-circuit camping open 24/7 for arrival and check in at any time… via gate 2.

WorldSBK Australia Promo

Source: MCNews.com.au

WorldSBK champion Rea surges to Phillip Island Superpole

All-Yamaha front row in Supersport as Caricasulo clinches pole.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Kawasaki Racing Team’s defending champion Jonathan Rea has produced a record-breaking Superpole qualifying lap to claim pole position for the season-opening Motul Superbike World Championship Yamaha Finance round at Phillip Island.

The 32-year-old’s qualifying lap of 1m29.413 on the ZX-10RR is the fastest that a production-based Superbike has ever circulated around the Australian circuit, besting his previous benchmark set in 2017.

It’s Rea’s 17th pole position in WorldSBK racing and his third at Phillip Island. Rea’s extraordinary lap in the last few minutes of the 25-minute session saw him shoot to the top of the timesheets after Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha), Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) and Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team) had taken turns at the top.

Haslam and Bautista, who had been the dominant force in practice, will join Rea on the front row for this afternoon’s opening 22-lap race, with row two to be filled by 2018 pole-sitter Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad), Lowes – the final rider in the 29s and rookie Sandro Cortese (GRT Yamaha).

Last year’s Phillip Island winner Marco Melandri (GRT Yamaha) starts from the third row after qualifying in ninth, as the first Honda in the field, ridden by Moriwaki Althea Honda Team factory pilot Leon Camier, will start from 10th on the grid.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Although Australian wildcard Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing) failed to meet the 107 percent qualifying cut-off, the national champion been given dispensation to compete in race one.

In World Supersport Superpole it was Federico Caricasulo (Bardahl Evan Bros Yamaha) who scored pole with a flying 1m32.604s, edging teammate Randy Krummenacher by just 0.079s while Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) will complete the front row.

Australian wildcard Tom Toparis (Landbridge Transport Yamaha), fresh from winning this morning’s opening Australian Supersport affair, will start out of 15th position in Sunday’s world championship race. He recorded an impressed 1m34.448s lap-time.

Detailed results

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Max Stauffer wins opening SS300 race from Luke Power

2019 ASBK
Round One – Phillip Island
Supersport 300 Race One


Luke Power started the opening Supersport 300 bout for ASBK season 2019 from pole position alongside Callum O’Brien and Locky Taylor. The eight-lap race got underway just before 1115 in front of a strengthening WorldSBK crowd at a sunny Phillip Island.

Leading them around turn one for the first time though was Seth Crump on KTM RC390. Crump touched fairings with Senna Agius at turn four as they tussled for position and was then dusted up by Luke Power, only for a red flag to be produced after a crash between Kyle O’Connell and Tayla Relph. The carnage was cleared quickly while the field formed up again on the grid, this time for a further reduced six-lap race distance from a full re-start.

This time around it was Max Stauffer with the holeshot and vying for position through turn one with Luke Power. The pair swapped positions numerous time over the opening lap as Seth Crump, Callum O’Brien and Hunter Ford gave chase.

Stauffer and Power though had the measure of the rest of the competition, breaking away and leaving the rest of the field to fight over the final step on the rostrum. And that battle for third was being fought in earnest between Ford, Crump, Agius, O’Brien, Lytras, Shaw and Khouri.

Max Stauffer was running smooth and consistent lines as Luke Power nipped at his heels over the following laps as both riders dipped into the 1m48s, lapping faster than they had managed in qualifying. Then with a lap and a half to run Max started looking over his shoulder, he was more than four-second in front of third placed Senna Agius by this point in the race, but his body language started to suggest he might have some sort of problem. His laps in concentration allowed Power through, and it looked like job done for the young Victoria, only for Stauffer to get a great run through turns 11 and 12 to claim victory on the line.

That is Stauffer’s second victory in the class and by the look of his form here today, there will be plenty more to come. Luke Power also looks as though he will be a major force to be reckoned with as a new season of Australian Supersport 300 takes shape.

ASBK Supersport 300 Race One Results

  1. Max Stauffer – Yamaha
  2. Luke Power – Yamaha +0.150
  3. Senna Agius – 400 Kawasaki +4.733
  4. Seth Crump – KTM +6.381
  5. Harry Khouri – Yamaha +6.405
  6. Hunter Ford – Yamaha +6.453
  7. Zac Levy – Yamaha +6.650
  8. Dylan Whiteside – Kawasaki +6.799
  9. Callum O’Brien – 400 Kawasaki +6.851
  10. Ben Baker – Yamaha +7.057
  11. Yannis Shaw – Kawasaki +7.311
  12. Laura Brown – Yamaha +7.366
  13. Travis Hall – Yamaha +7.595
  14. Locky Taylor – Yamaha +12.461
  15. Peter Nerlich – Kawasaki +17.067

Source: MCNews.com.au

Wayne Maxwell wins exciting opening ASBK Superbike race

2019 ASBK
Round One – Phillip Island
Superbike Race One


After dominating qualifying privateer Queenslander Aiden Wagner lined up on pole position for the 2019 ASBK season opener alongside Factory YRT riders Cru Halliday and Daniel Falzon in what was an all-Yamaha front row to kick off the new season of competition.

Troy Bayliss had been very fast during the weekend but a big tumble yesterday had seen the Ducati man break a finger, and also break a Ducati…. He was on the second row alongside the Suzuki duo of Josh Waters and Wayne Maxwell.

ASBK Round Phillip Island SBK Saturday Rob Mott Grid Wayne MAXWELL
Wayne Maxwell kits up for the opening bout – Image Rob Mott
They are away!

Daniel Falzon got a great run off the line to lead Bayliss through turn one for the first time with Wayne Maxwell third at Southern Loop ahead of Glenn Allerton and Cru Halliday.

Falzon maintained the lead through to turn four as Bayliss wrested a buckling Ducati 1299 V-Twin behind him. TB took the inside line to MG Hairpin and with it took the lead, a very wide entry to turn 12 did not seem to slow the big Ducati down one iota as he went on to stretch away from the field down the chute. Maxwell slipped past Falzon before turn one, and the South Australian was then swamped by Halliday, Staring and Wagner.

Troy Bayliss ran very wide at turn four, leaving the gate wide open and swinging in the breeze, Wayne Maxwell and Cru Halliday needed no second invitations and slipped past the three-time World Superbike Champ with ease. Things were still close, very close, only a second covering the top six with 10 laps to run in the 12 lap race.

ASBK Round Phillip Island SBK Saturday Rob Mott Wayne MAXWELL
Wayne Maxwell leads Troy Bayliss – Image Rob Mott

Aiden Wagner then got Bayliss and Halliday to move up to second place, and then was on race leader Maxwell…  Wagner got Maxwell on the entry to Southern Loop with nine laps to run. Bayliss was in third place, Halliday fourth, Staring fifth and Waters sixth.

Wagner was riding hard, the tail of his privateer Yamaha wagging through 12, then running into turn one very hot, he looked to be leaving nothing on the table. Behind him Maxwell was looking smooth and composed. Bayliss was still right there in third place, but was now looking more settled, playing a waiting game…


Troy Bayliss goes down!

Troy Bayliss was right with Maxwell and Wagner but tipped off the Ducati at turn one. He walked away looking none the worse for wear, he even had time to punch the ground in frustration as he slid along the tarmac… Along with the bike destruction earlier in the weekend this round was taking its toll on the race team budget already.


ASBK Round Phillip Island SBK Saturday Rob Mott Aiden Wagner Wayne Maxwell
Wagner leads Maxwell and Halliday – Image Rob Mott

By half race distance the rear Pirelli of Wagner’s Yamaha was really starting to move around. Maxwell was still watching on from second place, Cru Halliday in third, that top trio had all dropped into the 1m32s, and joining them in that bracket and on track on the next lap was Bryan Staring and Josh Waters.

Wayne Maxwell took the lead on the run to turn one with four laps to run but Wagner got him straight back at Southern Loop. Wagner then very deep and sideways at turn four though allowed Maxwell an easy way back through to the lead. Wagner again takes the lead back at Siberia though and pastes Pirelli through Hayshed to maintain his advantage.

Bryan Staring starting to threaten

Bryan Staring had managed to ease away a little from Halliday and Waters to start closing on that leading duo.  On the next lap though Halliday and Waters responded and got back to within striking distance of the Kawasaki man.

Maxwell was piling the pressure on Wagner, but giving him plenty of room at the same time, letting him know he was there, and forcing the much more luridly sideways Wagner to use all of that rear tyre in order to maintain his advantage.

Last Lap!

At the last lap board a single second covered Wagner, Maxwell, Staring, Halliday and Waters. Wagner maintained his advantage throughout the first half of the lap, through Siberia, Hayshed, MG, and still led Maxwell through turn 11, a big moment though at the end of turn 11 forced Wagner to get out of the throttle, that was costly and allowed Maxwell through to claim victory in what was an absolutely brilliant opening stanza for ASBK Superbike season 2019.

ASBK Round Phillip Island SBK Saturday Rob Mott Wayne MAXWELL team
Wayne Maxwell with crew – Image Rob Mott
Wayne Maxwell takes first blood
ASBK Round Phillip Island SBK Saturday Rob Mott Aiden Wagner
Aiden Wagner – Image Rob Mott

Aiden Wagner a sensational second place and Bryan Staring clearly showing that himself and his Dunlop shod Kawasaki are also most definitely in the main game for ASBK 2019.

ASBK Round Phillip Island SBK Saturday Rob Mott Bryan Staring
Bryan Staring – Image Rob Mott

Cru Halliday was strong throughout, and along with Josh Waters, will be somewhat frustrated to miss the podium, however the pair still card good points from the season opener.

Daniel Falzon was a few seconds further back in sixth place but with a hefty advantage over seventh placed Glenn Allerton and eighth placed Mike Jones.

A very disappointing start to Troy Herfoss’ ASBK Title defence with ninth place. More importantly, the Penrite Honda man was never in the leading group at any stage of the race. Their so far troubled venture with the WorldSBK wildcard entry perhaps taking their eye off the ball in the main game somewhat.

Matt Walters rounded out the top ten in a highly creditable performance for the Cessnock Kawasaki rider ahead of young guns Ted Collins and Max Croker. The lap-times of that trio around 1.5-seconds off the pace of the leaders, but still an encouraging start to the season for them. Collins now has some experience under his belt and will now be expected to be a regular top ten rider.

The second 12-lap bout is scheduled for 1615 this afternoon, immediately after the opening 22-lap World Superbike race. The third 12-lapper will get underway after the World Superbike and Supersport warm-up sessions on Sunday morning at 1030.

ASBK Round Phillip Island SBK Saturday Rob Mott Wayne MAXWELL Parc
Wayne Maxwell celebrates victory – Image Rob Mott

ASBK Superbike Race One Results

  1. Wayne Maxwell – Suzuki
  2. Aiden Wagner – Yamaha +0.147
  3. Bryan Staring – Kawasaki +0.320
  4. Cru Halliday – Yamaha +0.965
  5. Josh Waters – Suzuki +1.005
  6. Daniel Falzon – Yamaha +4.538
  7. Glenn Allerton – BMW +12.685
  8. Mike Jones – Kawasaki +12.689
  9. Troy Herfoss – Honda +13.871
  10. Matt Walters – Kawasaki +20.521
  11. Ted Colliuns – BMW +20.867
  12. Max Croker – Suzuki +22.016
  13. Glenn Scott – Kawasaki +25.274
  14. Alex Phillis – Suzuki +25.582
  15. Mark Chiodo – Honda +32.356
  16. Damon Rees – Honda +32.396
  17. Sloan Frost – Suzuki +38.609
  18. Lachlan Epis – Kawasaki +46.245
  19. Phil Czaj – Aprilia +49.155
  20. Matt Tooley – Yamaha +60.101
  21. David Barker – Kawasaki +60.736
  22. Brendan McIntyre – Suzuki +60.790
  23. Simon Barbacetto – Yamaha +62.382
  24. Ryan Yanko – Ducati +76.629
  25. Evan Byles – Kawasaki +76.815
  26. Heath Griffin – Suzuki +79.617
  27. Brian Houghton – Honda +81.257
  28. William Davidson – Yamaha +89.902
  29. Aleksander Savin – BMW +95.368
  30. Paul Van der Heiden – BMW +95.905
ASBK Round Phillip Island SBK Saturday Rob Mott Wayne MAXWELL Places Parc
ASBK Superbike Race One Results
Wayne Maxwell – Suzuki
Aiden Wagner – Yamaha +0.147
Bryan Staring – Kawasaki +0.320
ASBK Superbike Championship Points
  1. Wayne Maxwell – Suzuki 25
  2. Aiden Wagner – Yamaha 21
  3. Bryan Staring – Kawasaki 18
  4. Cru Halliday – Yamaha 17
  5. Josh Waters – Suzuki 16
  6. Daniel Falzon – Yamaha 15
  7. Glenn Allerton – BMW 14
  8. Mike Jones – Kawasaki 13
  9. Troy Herfoss – Honda 12
  10. Matt Walters – Kawasaki 11
  11. Ted Colliuns – BMW 10
  12. Max Croker – Suzuki 9
  13. Glenn Scott – Kawasaki 8
  14. Alex Phillis – Suzuki 7
  15. Mark Chiodo – Honda 6
ASBK Round Phillip Island SBK Saturday Rob Mott Wayne MAXWELL
Wayne Maxwell celebrates victory – Image Rob Mott

Source: MCNews.com.au

Binder and Lowes set pace at Jerez Moto2 Test

2019 Moto2 Test Jerez


Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) went fastest on the final day of the Official Moto2 Test at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto, but it wasn’t by much as Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) kept the South African honest, the pair ending the day just 0.007 apart.

Moto Test Jerez Binder
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo)

Sam Lowes – P2

“It’s been a very positive test. We were second and not too far from Binder, and our lap-time came during the ninth lap and with hard used tyres. We could have improved even further with the softer compound, but the idea was to work on our race pace and so we did. During the first two days we focused on bike geometry and many other settings, while today we found the best possible setup based on the data from the previous days. We were quick and consistent, so we’re heading to Qatar with great motivation.”

Moto Test Jerez Lowes
Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2)

Binder and Lowes were also the fastest two over all three days and the only two to drop below the 1:41 mark, although the timesheets remained close behind them with the top twenty within less than a second.

With better conditions than the wind affecting Day 2, home rider Iker Lecuona (American Racing KTM) was third and just over a tenth and a half off as he showed more top pace, pipping 2018 polesitter Lorenzo Baldassarri (FlexBox HP 40).

Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) – fastest on Day 1 – completed the top five, ahead of Day 2’s quickest man Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS).

Moto Test Jerez Alex Marquez
Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS

The man in seventh made some headlines of his own just behind the veteran Spaniard, with Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46) the fastest rookie by a tenth at the end of Day 3.

Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was the debutant just that tiny fraction behind him, although the reigning Moto3 Champion was ninth overall and the two rookies were split by Australian Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team). Marcel Schötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) completed the top ten.

Jorge Navarro (+Ego Speed Up) ended the day’s action in P14 as fastest Speed Up, just ahead of Bo Bendsneyder (NTS RW Racing GP), the fastest NTS. The quickest man on the new MV Agusta was Dominique Aergerter (MV Agusta Idealavoro Forward) once again, and the Swiss rider was in P20 but only nine tenths off.

Moto Test Jerez Navarro
Jorge Navarro (+Ego Speed Up)

Young British Superbike star Jake Dixon continued his early adaption to Moto2 by finishing up just 1.2 seconds off the top. It had not been all clean sailing though for the 23-year-old after two earlier crashes during the test.

Jake Dixon – P24

“These five days have been good for me to keep learning. We have tried a lot of things and overall it has been positive. Also, on the final day KTM gave us some new parts to try. We had three not-so-good days, with a couple of crashes, so today was good for me to get my confidence back up and set some decent lap times. I know I have a lot to learn but I am not too far off the top guys at a circuit where they have ridden on countless occasions before. I want to thank the team for all their work here and we will keep on in the same way in Qatar.”

Moto Test Jerez Jake Dixon
Jake Dixon

Moto2 Times

  1. Brad Binder – KTM 1m40.982
  2. Sam Lowes – Kalex 1m40.989
  3. Iker Lecuona – KTM 1m41.111
  4. Luca Marini – Kalex 1m41.146
  5. Lorenzo Baldassarri – Kalex 1m41.149
  6. Alex Marquez – Kalex 1m41.208
  7. Nicolo Bulega – Kalex 1m41.281
  8. Jorge Navarro – Speed Up 1m41.302
  9. Remy Gardner – Kalex 1m41.378
  10. Jorge Martin – KTM 1m41.385
  11. Marcel Schrotter – Kalex 1m41.395
  12. Tetsuta Nagashima – Kalex 1m41.417
  13. Augusto Fernandez – Kalex 1m41.472
  14. Tom Luthi – Kalex 1m41.508
  15. Bo Bendsneyder – NTS 1m41.608
  16. Xavi Vierge – Kalex 1m41.625
  17. Enea Bastianini – Kalex 1m41.651
  18. Joe Roberts – KTM 1m41.706
  19. Fabio Di Giannantonio – Speed Up 1m41.736
  20. Dominique Aegerter – MV Agusta 1m41.953
  21. Andrea Loctatelli – Kalex 1m42.011
  22. Simone Corsi – Kalex 1m42.053
  23. Stefano Manzi – MV Agusta 1m42.061
  24. Jake Dixon – KTM 1m42.158
  25. Steven Odendaal – NTS 1m42.168
  26. Lukas Tulovic – KTM 1m42.247
  27. Somkiat Chantra – Kalex 1m42.318
  28. Phillip Oettl – KTM 1m42.672
  29. Khairul Idham Pawi – Kalex 1m42.729
  30. Marco Bezzecchi – KTM 1m42.756
  31. Dimas Ekky Pratama – Kalex 1m43.441
  32. Xavier Cardelus – KTM 1m43.561

2019 Moto3 Test Jerez

In Moto3, it was a day of two halves for Jaume Masia (Bester Capital Dubai) as the Spaniard set the fastest lap on the last day, but he also broke some toes and is faced with that extra challenge ahead of the season opener and next test.

Moto Test Jerez Jaume Masia
Jaume Masia (Bester Capital Dubai)

The incident wasn’t enough to give the field a chance to catch his laptime though, and the 1:45.241 put in by the number 5 remained an impressive seven tenths ahead of his closest competitor, the returning Romano Fenati (Snipers Team).

Moto Test Jerez Fenati
Romano Fenati (Snipers Team)

Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) completed the top three, making it KTM-Honda-Honda on Friday.

Fourth fastest was a familiar name from the higher echelons of the timesheets on Day 1 and Day 2: Tony Arbolino (Snipers Team). The Italian was just over a tenth off compatriot Dalla Porta and only 0.033 ahead of fellow Italian Andrea Migno (Bester Capital Dubai), with Day 2’s quickest man, Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), completing the fastest six by an even smaller 0.004.

The experience in the frontrunners continued to shine as Albert Arenas (Angel Nieto Team) and Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) took P7 and P8 respectively, with the top ten completed by Japanese duo Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse).

Moto Test Jerez Arenas
Albert Arenas (Angel Nieto Team)

Then came the first rookie: Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0). The impressive Spaniard, who is only 15 and will be forced to miss the season opener due to being too young, was 11th overall to end the day outside the top ten for the first time this test – having even ended Day 2 in second.

Veteran Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) split the rookie from the next fastest full-time debutant, reigning FIM CEV Repsol Moto3 Junior World Champion Raul Fernandez (Angel Nieto Team), although the Spaniard isn’t able to compete for Rookie of the Year by virtue of eight previous appearances. Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) was P14, ahead of rookie Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia).

Moto Test Jerez Ai Ogura
Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia)

It’s shaping up to be another classic and close season of racing in both Moto2 and Moto3 and now it’s next stop Qatar as they head back out in a week to test at Losail International Circuit.

Moto3 Times

  1. Jaume Masia – KTM 1m45.241
  2. Romano Fenati – Honda 1m45.921
  3. Lorenzo Dalla Porta – Honda 1m45.936
  4. Tony Arbolino – Honda 1m46.051
  5. Andrea Migno – KTM 1m46.084
  6. Aron Canet – KTM 1m46.088
  7. Albert Arenas – KTM 1m46.130
  8. Marcos Ramirez – Honda 1m46.144
  9. Sergio Garcia – Honda 1m46.198
  10. Ayumu Sasaki – Honda 1m46.212
  11. Tatsuki Suzuki – Honda 1m46.215
  12. Gabriel Rodrigo – Honda 1m46.247
  13. Niccolo Antonelli – Honda 1m46.282
  14. Raul Fernandez – KTM 1m46.289
  15. Ai Ogura – Honda 1m46.364
  16. Dennis Foggia – KTM 1m46.382
  17. Vicente Perez – KTM 1m46.445
  18. Kazuki Masaki – KTM 1m46.462
  19. Jakub Kornfeil – KTM 1m46.532
  20. Alonso Lopez – Honda 1m46.580
  21. Darryn Binder – KTM 1m46.666
  22. John McPhee – Honda 1m46.881
  23. Can Oncu – KTM 1m47.014
  24. Celestino Vietti – KTM 1m47.054
  25. Makar Yurchenko – KTM 1m47.208
  26. Kaito Toba – Honda 1m47.222
  27. Filip Salac – KTM 1m47.256
  28. Riccardo Rossi – Honda 1m47.486
  29. Tom Booth-Amos – KTM 1m48.114

Source: MCNews.com.au

Tom Toparis dominates ASBK Supersport season opener

2019 ASBK
Round One – Phillip Island
Supersport Race One


The opening Supersport race of ASBK 2019 got underway at 0900 this morning under clear skies at Phillip Island in front of a building crowd. Goulburn teenager Tom Toparis had looked the man to beat all weekend and the Yamaha rider got away to an early break while Oli Bayliss, Callum Spriggs and Nic Liminton gave chase.

WSBK Round Phillip Island SS Saturday Rob Mott Tom Toparis
Tom Toparis – Image Rob Mott

Bayliss the new debutante in the class after moving up from Supersport 300 under the new rule that allows suitably proven 15-year-olds to now step up to the vastly different Supersport 600 Championship. Bayliss has Glen Richards in his corner for his first season in the category, the well-known South Australian back from crew chief duties in British Superbike and a lengthy career within the ranks of BSB in various roles. A busy testing schedule leading up to the season has seen young Oli well-prepared for his step up to the heavier and faster category of racing.

WSBK Round Phillip Island SS Saturday Rob Mott Nic Liminton
Oli Bayliss, Nic Liminton – Image Rob Mott

Out front Toparis was streeting the field though, pulling away by more than a second a lap and clearly in a race of his own.

WSBK Round Phillip Island SS Saturday Rob Mott Tom Toparis last corner
Tom Toparis – Image Rob Mott

Behind him Nic Liminton had eased his way past Bayliss but could not break away. The pair traded places over the opening few laps while Callum Spriggs and Ty Lynch kept in touch with them. A couple of second behind that quartet a battle for sixth place was unfolding between Broc Pearson, Jack Passfield and Aidan Hayes.

WSBK TBG WSBKPI PI Nic Liminton Oli Bayliss Calum Spriggs TBG
Nic Liminton, Oli Bayliss and Callum Spriggs – TBG Image

In the closing stages of the race Liminton finally managed to break clear of Bayliss, leaving his younger foe to fight for the final step on the rostrum with Callum Spriggs and at the flag it was the more experienced of the two that got that podium position by a nose, the difference only three-thousandth-of-a-second at the line.

Toparis had backed off in the closing laps but still took victory by more than five-seconds, his pace though was good enough for that to be ten-seconds should he wished to have pushed all the way to the chequered flag.

WSBK Round Phillip Island SS Saturday Rob Mott Tom Toparis Parc
Tom Toparis – Image Rob Mott

Nic Liminton second from Callum Spriggs with Oli Bayliss just missing out on a podium in his Supersport debut. Broc Pearson, Ty Lynch, Aidan Hayes and Jack Passfield rounded out an all Yamaha top eight ahead of Sam Lambert on an MV Agusta while Reid Battye rounded out the top ten on a Suzuki.

WSBK TBG WSBKPI PI SS Race Podium TBG
SBK Supersport 600 Race One Results
Tom Toparis – Yamaha
Nic Liminton – Yamaha +5.495
Callum Spriggs – Yamaha +7.786 – Image TBG

ASBK Supersport 600 Race One Results

  1. Tom Toparis – Yamaha
  2. Nic Liminton – Yamaha +5.495
  3. Callum Spriggs – Yamaha +7.786
  4. Oli Bayliss – Yamaha +7.789
  5. Broc Pearson – Yamaha +8.749
  6. Ty Lynch – Yamaha +9.672
  7. Aidan Hayes – Yamaha +9.692
  8. Jack Passfield – Yamaha +9.869
  9. Sam Lambert – MV Agusta +15.373
  10. Reid Battye – Suzuki +18.363
  11. Dylan Whiteside – Yamaha +24.138
  12. Scott Nicholson – Suzuki +29.365
  13. Rhys Belling – Yamaha +29.367
  14. Chris Quinn – Yamaha +29.605
  15. Luke Mitchell – Yamaha +39.079
  16. John Quinn – Triumph +39.106
  17. Luke Sanders – Yamaha +51.992
  18. Andrew Edser – Kawasaki +52.157
  19. Matt Cranmer – Honda +52.437
  20. Dan Leonard – Yamaha +60.466
WSBK Round Phillip Island SS Saturday Rob Mott Parc
ASBK Supersport 600 Race One Results
Tom Toparis – Yamaha
Nic Liminton – Yamaha +5.495
Callum Spriggs – Yamaha +7.786 – Image Rob Mott

Source: MCNews.com.au

Masia outruns Fenati on Day 3

Then came the first rookie: Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0). The impressive Spaniard, who is only 15 and will be forced to miss the season opener due to being too young, was 11th overall to end the day outside the top ten for the first time this test – having even ended Day 2 in second. Veteran Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) split the rookie from the next fastest full-time debutant, reigning FIM CEV Repsol Moto3™ Junior World Champion Raul Fernandez (Angel Nieto Team), although the Spaniard isn’t able to compete for Rookie of the Year by virtue of eight previous appearances. Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) was P14, ahead of rookie Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia).

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Indian Motorcycle Therapy

In the latest effort to help veterans and first responders deal with the pressures of being themselves, Indian’s launched a competition between two Texas teams to see who can come up with the coolest Chief Dark Horse. Proceeds to flow to Motorcycle Missions, a group dedicated to helping those guys cope.


INDIAN MOTORCYCLE & MOTORCYCLE MISSIONS ANNOUNCE TEXAS-SIZED “MOTORCYCLE THERAPY” BUILD OFF

Non-Profit Organization Pins Austin Vs. Dallas in Competition to Benefit Veterans and First Responders Suffering From Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

AUSTIN & MINNEAPOLIS (February 21, 2019) – Indian Motorcycle, America’s first motorcycle company, and Motorcycle Missions, a non-profit organization that helps veterans and first responders find hope and healing through motorcycle therapy, today announced a motorcycle build-off competition between two groups of veterans and first responders in Dallas and Austin, Texas. The two teams will each design and build a custom Indian Chief Dark Horse to raise money for Motorcycle Missions.  

Each team consists of members who have formerly served in the military or as first responders, including several branches of the U.S. military and even local Austin and Dallas police and fire departments, for as many as three decades. Though each individual’s story is unique, these groups of heroes were brought together by their shared passion of motorcycles to find healing through this common thread.

“Whether riding or wrenching, Motorcycle Missions bring veterans and first responders together as they work towards one common goal. The trials and tribulations, camaraderie, and life-long friendships are what ‘motorcycle therapy’ is all about,” said Krystal Hess, Motorcycle Missions Founder. “If we can help these heroes get back to living healthy, joyful lives, while instilling them with a passion for motorcycles, we have fulfilled our mission.”

Team Dallas

Each team’s custom Indian Chief Dark Horse will be revealed on Friday, April 12 at John Paul DeJorias and Gary Spellman 17th annual Peace Love Happiness charity weekend benefiting The 100 Club of Central Texas. The 100 Club is devoted to providing immediate financial and emotional assistance to the families of first responders who have been injured or killed in the line of duty. On Saturday, April 13, fans can visit Motorcycle Missions’ and Indian Motorcycle’s Instagram and Facebook channels to vote for their favorite and help crown a winner. Each custom bike will then make its way to the legendary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally to be auctioned off on Tuesday, August 6, at the Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel and Casino, with all proceeds benefitting Motorcycle Missions.

“It’s pretty amazing how Motorcycle Missions has utilized motorcycles and craftsmanship to improve the lives of countless veterans and first responders, facing the challenges often associated with active duty,” said Reid Wilson, Senior Director for Indian Motorcycle. “It truly is an incredible program and we’re proud to support Motorcycle Missions and the veterans and first responders who have put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms.”

Each team is comprised of members who have distinctive histories of service. Among this year’s competitors is Team Dallas’ John Arroyo, Army veteran and survivor of the Fort Hood, Texas shooting in 2014. After recovering from severe wounds, Arroyo received the highest non-combat honor for valor. Team Austin will be flanked by Robert Richman, a law enforcement official of over 25 years. Richman specialized in multiple disciplines and has helped patrol crimes such as critical incident hostage negotiations, human-trafficking and child abuse.

-MORE-

For more information or to donate to Motorcycle Missions, visit Motorcycle-Missions.org. To vote for your favorite custom, visit Motorcycle Missions’ Instagram and Facebook channels on April 13. To learn more about Indian Motorcycle visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

 

The post Indian Motorcycle Therapy appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.

Binder vs Lowes on Day 3 in Jerez

With better conditions than the wind affecting Day 2, home rider Iker Lecuona (American Racing KTM) was third and just over a tenth and a half off as he showed more top pace, pipping 2018 polesitter Lorenzo Baldassarri (FlexBox HP40). Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) – fastest on Day 1 – completed the top five, ahead of Day 2’s quickest man Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS).

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here