MotoGP rookie Brad Binder admits adapting to the premier class machine hasn’t been easy over the Valencia and Jerez tests, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing contender identifying changes in his riding style will allow everything to ‘fall into place’.
Binder was 21st and 22nd respectively during the two days of testing at Jerez, and was one of only a few riders who hit the Spanish circuit in the wet on Tuesday to gain experience in different conditions.
“We decided to do a couple of laps when it was a little bit wet just to get the feeling of the new bike and that was really awesome,” said Binder. “I’m glad I got a chance to experience that. It’s been difficult these last two tests.
“It hasn’t been easy to adapt to the new bike but I think I’ve got a lot to think about now in the off-season and hopefully we can try to make a step in Sepang.
“I think I just need to improve my riding; my feeling with the front a little bit and just being able to have confidence to put the bike where I want to, especially on the entry to corners. I think once I get that right the rest will fall into place.”
The South African’s next time out on-track will be the Sepang test, scheduled for 7-9 February 2020.
Halliday & Wagner to head YRT ASBK efforts in 2020
Aiden Wagner will join Cru Halliday as the two pilots locked in for the Yamaha Racing Team (YRT) to contest the 2020 Australian Superbike Championship, starting in February at Phillip Island.
Cru Halliday returns with YRT in 2020 – Image by TBG
Competing on the Yamaha YZF- R1M, Halliday and Wagner are primed for a successful season and already preparations have begun as both riders chase that elusive ASBK Superbike championship trophy.
Halliday continues his relationship with YRT for another season and after making huge strides forward in 2019, he is out for the ultimate prize in 2020. After winning the 600cc Supersport Championship in 2018, Halliday stepped back into the Superbike class in 2019 and instantly became a contender as he mixed it up with the more established names.
Cru Halliday – TBG Image
He led the championship at stages during 2019 on his way to claim fourth but feels he has learnt and grown from his experiences this season and that will put in him good shape heading into the 2020 season.
Cru Halliday
“It’s great to be back with the YRT crew and with the same bike and people that have been a big part of my racing in recent years. I have familiarity in everything around me and both the bike and myself has been developed to the point where I think winning the 2020 Superbike championship is a realistic and achievable goal. I gained valuable experience in 2019 and maybe the biggest thing is consistency and that every point is valuable. Mike won the championship this year with an average third place finish across the season, so you need to be up the front in every race of every round to be in contention. I know we have a great starting point with the Yamaha R1M and that YRT will continue to work hard and give me the best motorcycle on the track. We start racing again in February but I’m motivated and have already started training for a huge season ahead and can’t wait to be back on the grid and racing again.”
Cru Halliday – Image by Rob Mott
25-year-old Queenslander, Aiden Wagner, will join YRT for the 2020 season and keen to establish himself in the premier road racing division in Australia. Wagner was competing in Europe for the past few seasons before returning to Australia at the start of the 2019 Superbike Championship.
Aiden Wagner – TBG Image
Wagner showed he had the speed to mix it up with the big names in the Australian Superbike Championship when in his only 2019 appearance at the opening round at Phillip Island, Wagner dominated proceedings, taking all three race wins and impressing with his aggressive, take no prisoners, style of racing.
Injuries hampered his results in recent years, but he took the majority of the 2019 season off to recover and rehab his injuries and is now 100 per cent fit and desperate to make the most of his opportunity with YRT.
Aiden Wagner’s big off at Wakefield Park while taking evasive action to miss riders that had exited pit-lane at an inopportune moment, leading to shoulder surgery – TBG Image
Aiden Wagner
“I’m excited and proud to have come to an arrangement with the Yamaha Racing Team and look forward to working with an experienced and professional race team to take my racing to the next level. Last year when I returned to Australia, I wanted to race the Yamaha R1 as it was the bike I felt most comfortable on and now to get a reward to be on the factory team is amazing and takes a lot of pressure from my shoulders. All I have to worry about now is going fast and staying on.
Aiden Wagner – Image by Rob Mott
“Its great that the team is also based here in Queensland near me so I can build a good relationship with everyone and believe this will be the start of a long and successful relationship for both myself and YRT. I started the championship strongly in 2019 before I got injured, but I’m now back to full fitness and my body is in good shape, so now my goal is to carry that throughout the season and do my best to secure the Superbike championship for Yamaha and myself in 2020.”
The 2020 Australian Superbike Championship gets underway at Philip Island when it is run in-conjunction with the first round of the World Superbike Championships on February 27 before moving through a seven round championship, finishing again at Phillip Island.
2020 ASBK Calendar
Round 1 – WSBK – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC 27 Feb – 1 March
Round 2 – Wakefield Park Raceway – Goulburn, NSW 27 – 29 March
Round 3 – The Bend Motorsport Park – Tailem Bend, SA 7 – 10 May *4 day *with Asia Road Race Championship (ARRC) & Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup (IATC)
Round 4 – Supercars – Barbagallo Raceway, Perth WA 15 – 17 May (Superbike Class Only)
Round 5 – Morgan Park Raceway – Warwick, QLD 7 – 9 August
Round 6 – Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla VIC 11 – 13 September
Round 7 – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Cowes VIC 2 – 4 October
Marc Marquez will undergo surgery this week after further injuring his right shoulder in a crash during day one of MotoGP testing at Jerez.
The reigning champion immediately visited the medical centre after his crash on Monday where it was determined he suffered a partially dislocated shoulder, however he returned to riding that afternoon before topping the timesheets on day two.
Marquez has since revealed he sustained the same injury during his crash at the Malaysian grand prix, prompting him to undergo surgery as a preventative measure.
“This winter I would have liked to have a nice holiday and enjoy a bit of quiet time after a great 2019, but it is time to have surgery on the right shoulder,” Marquez explained. “As everyone knows, last winter was very tough for me with the operation on the left shoulder, which was very, very damaged.
“I want to avoid the situation where my right shoulder is in this condition in the future so I spoke a lot with the doctors to see what our options were. Before Motegi I had some issues with the shoulder and then after the crash in Malaysia I had a subluxation.
“Here at the test I had another subluxation after the crash, so we decided with the doctors that it was best to have the surgery to avoid the situation we had with the other shoulder. It will take more or less the same time and we will work in the same way to arrive at the Malaysia test as strong as possible.”
The 2020 Sepang test is scheduled for 7-9 February, which the Repsol Honda rider is likely to recover in time for.
Aaron Tanti will be taking an aggressive approach into the Monster Energy AUS-X Open Melbourne this Saturday, declaring he’ll lay it all on the line as the SX2 title is set to be decided.
The Serco Yamaha rider has notably elevated his aggressiveness in the 2019 Australian Supercross Championship, which has positioned him contention for the crown as he sits seven points out from leader Josh Osby (Raceline KTM Thor) in third position.
The New South Welshman, who held the red-plate at Wollongong’s third stop, finds himself directly in the fight for a championship at a season-finale for the first time in his career.
“I’ve been trying to be a little more aggressive with my riding – I think I’ve been lacking that in the past,” Tanti explained to MotoOnline.com.au. “I think I now just make the pass and go instead of following someone’s speed. 100 percent, going into Melbourne, I’ll be laying it all on the line for the championship.
“I’m feeling really good – I’ve been riding really good, and with training, I’ve just been trying to do everything right on the bike and working on a lot of things. I’m feeling really good coming into it.”
American Chris Blose (Penrite Honda Racing) sits between Osby and Tanti ahead of Saturday’s showdown, four points shy of the lead.
Yamaha Racing Team has signed Aiden Wagner alongside Cru Halliday for the 2020 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), confirming the departure of Daniel Falzon.
Former international Wagner started the 2019 season off strongly aboard his privateer Yamaha YZF-R1, capturing victory at round one before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury at round two.
“I’m excited and proud to have come to an arrangement with the Yamaha Racing Team and look forward to working with an experienced and professional race team to take my racing to the next level,” Wagner commented.
“Last year when I returned to Australia, I wanted to race the Yamaha R1 as it was the bike I felt most comfortable on and now to get a reward to be on the factory team is amazing and takes a lot of pressure from my shoulders. All I have to worry about now is going fast and staying on.
“It’s great that the team is also based here in Queensland near me so I can build a good relationship with everyone and believe this will be the start of a long and successful relationship for both myself and YRT.
“I started the championship strongly in 2019 before I got injured, but I’m now back to full fitness and my body is in good shape, so now my goal is to carry that throughout the season and do my best to secure the Superbike championship for Yamaha and myself in 2020.”
Former Supersport champion Halliday just completed a stellar comeback campaign in the premier class, where he finished fourth in the championship standings following a string of podium results.
“It’s great to be back with the YRT crew and with the same bike and people that have been a big part of my racing in recent years,” said Halliday. “I have familiarity in everything around me and both the bike and myself has been developed to the point where I think winning the 2020 Superbike championship is a realistic and achievable goal.
“I gained valuable experience in 2019 and maybe the biggest thing is consistency and that every point is valuable. Mike won the championship this year with an average third place finish across the season, so you need to be up the front in every race of every round to be in contention.
“I know we have a great starting point with the Yamaha R1M and that YRT will continue to work hard and give me the best motorcycle on the track. We start racing again in February but I’m motivated and have already started training for a huge season ahead and can’t wait to be back on the grid and racing again.”
Falzon exits the squad following two years with the team, experiencing a difficult 2019 campaign that saw him wind up eighth in the standings.
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was fastest on day two of the Jerez test, the reigning champion posting a 1m37.820s on Tuesday morning to sign off for the season on top – although there were more headlines for the number 93 than just on-track.
From the test, Marquez will now head for surgery on his right shoulder after a crash on day one of the test exacerbated a problem that had already begun to plague him. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was second quickest and just 0.017s in arrears, with his teammate Joan Mir completing the top three on Tuesday.
Day two at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto was largely disrupted by rain, with the riders getting limited dry track time before the wet weather arrived at around 12:15pm local time.
On a wet track, less than half the field ventured out, but those who did include MotoGP rookies Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), as all three used the time to test out their new machines in the different conditions.
Before that, however, Marquez had swiftly got down to business, setting the second-fastest time of the test overall – and the quickest of the day – on his third flying lap.
The number 93 retained three bikes in the garage as on day one, and the partial dislocation of his right shoulder suffered on Monday didn’t seem to be affecting him out on track but Marquez then announced he has elected to have surgery as a preventative measure after medical consultation.
The operation will be similar to the one performed on his left shoulder at the end of 2018. Rookie Alex Marquez was 17th, and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) 13th on Tuesday – although the Brit put in limited laps.
Limited laps was true for many and definitely for Mir, who did only 12 laps to end the day in third, with Alex Rins putting in twice that and turning the tables on his teammate on day two. Test rider Sylvain Guintoli did 14 laps for the Hamamatsu factory, but the Team Suzuki Ecstar camp seem very pleased with their early 2020 progress with the new engine.
Back-to-back testing with 2019 and 2020 parts was key for team manager Davide Brivio, and all three riders improved their lap time on Tuesday morning.
Yamaha ended Tuesday in fourth with Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) – although the number 12 remains fastest overall – and he put in 15 laps. Across the two days, Yamaha duo Vinales and Valentino Rossi continued testing the 2020 YZR-M1, with both having one 2020 – with a slightly different fuel tank – and one 2019 M1 in their garage.
On day one, Rossi did a lot of his running with a carbon swingarm. However, that wasn’t the case on day two, with the number 46 running an aluminium swingarm on both of his bikes.
Vinales seemed content using the aluminium swingarm for most of the test, with both riders saying small steps have been made with the 2020 engine. Rossi ended Tuesday in 10th, half a second off the top after 33 laps – more laps than most.
Over at Petronas Yamaha SRT, Fabio Quartararo was fifth on Tuesday and teammate Franco Morbidelli seventh. They confirmed they had been trying a 2020 prototype Yamaha engine specification in Jerez. The carbon swingarm didn’t appear on day two for the duo, but it was a solid looking test for Quartararo and Morbidelli heading into the winter break.
Sixth fastest Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) and 12th fastest Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) continued to work on Ducati’s new chassis on both days in Jerez, with both riders confirming it’s a step in the right direction. On day two, test rider Michele Pirro was seen using a new aero piece on the front wheel too.
Jack Miller and Pramac Racing, meanwhile, completed just four laps on day two as the rain saw them pack up early for the winter, but the Australian finished P8 on the day and combined standings after improving his time on Tuesday, the last rider within a second of Vinales’ overall best.
At Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, MotoGP Legend and test rider Dani Pedrosa was back out on track after missing day one through illness and he did 11 laps. Pol Espargaro, fastest KTM in ninth, continued to lap with a new RC16 with the orange chassis.
There was also a new fairing and new aero setup on display across the two days as Espargaro seems pleased with the Austrian factory’s progress. Binder was lapping on the ‘old’ bike and did a good amount of laps before the rain came on Tuesday morning, and as aforementioned the South African also headed out in the wet. Lecuona was also still on the ‘old’ bike as both rookies’ aim was to get more comfortable on the MotoGP machine. Lecuona and Binder ended the test 20th and 22nd respectively on Tuesday.
Aprilia Racing Team Gresini and Aleix Espargaro had a new front wheel cover on day two in Andalucia, an all-in-one piece with the front mudguard, wheel cover and calliper duct. He was 15th after 24 laps. Andrea Iannone, on the other side of the garage, only did four laps on Day 2 but finished eleventh. Test rider Bradley Smith, 21st on Tuesday, completed the most laps of anyone on day two with 43.
Marc Marquez was fastest on Day 2 of the Jerez test, the reigning Champion posting a 1:37.820 on Tuesday morning to sign off for the season on top – although there were more headlines for the number 93 than just on-track.
Marc Marquez – Jerez MotoGP Test Day 2
From the test, Marquez will now head for surgery on his right shoulder after a crash on Day 1 of the test exacerbated a problem that had already begun to plague him.
Alex Rins was second quickest and just 0.017 in arrears, with his teammate Joan Mir completing the top three on Tuesday.
Day 2 at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto was largely disrupted by rain, with the riders getting limited dry track time before the wet weather arrived at around 12:15 local time.
Maverick Vinales was leader on combined results over the two days – Jerez MotoGP Test Day 2
On a wet track, less than half the field ventured out, but those who did include MotoGP rookies Alex Marquez, Iker Lecuona and Brad Binder, as all three used the time to test out their new machines in the different conditions.
Before that, however, Marquez had swiftly got down to business, setting the second fastest time of the test overall – and the quickest of the day – on his third flying lap.
Marc Marquez
“Theses two days were very positive for us, working with the 2020 items we have and trying to find the right direction. On the first day we tried a lot of things and then today we started with the best of what we found yesterday. Unfortunately, we only did 20 laps before the rain came. It wasn’t wet enough to properly test in the wet and it certainly wasn’t dry. Now it’s time for the staff in HRC Japan to analyse everything. This winter I would have liked to have a nice holiday and enjoy a bit of quiet time after a great 2019 – but it is time to have surgery on the right shoulder. As everyone knows, last winter was very tough for me with the operation on the left shoulder, which was very, very damaged. I want to avoid the situation where my right shoulder is in this condition in the future so I spoke a lot with the doctors to see what our options were. Before Motegi I had some issues with the shoulder and then after the crash in Malaysia I had a subluxation. Here at the test I had another subluxation after the crash, so we decided with the doctors that it was best to have the surgery to avoid the situation we had with the other shoulder. It will take more or less the same time and we will work in the same way to arrive at the Malaysia test as strong as possible.”
Marc Marquez – Jerez MotoGP Test Day 2
The number 93 retained three bikes in the garage as on Day 1, and the partial dislocation of his right shoulder suffered on Monday didn’t seem to be affecting him out on track but Marquez then announced he has elected to have surgery as a preventative measure after medical consultation.
The operation will be similar to the one performed on his left shoulder at the end of 2018. Rookie Alex Marquez was 17th, and Cal Crutchlow 13th on Tuesday – although the Brit put in limited laps.
Crutchlow managed to put in 66 laps on day one, before completing 14 on day two, with lap times across the field mostly well behind those from the Spanish Grand Prix and subsequent test back in May.
Cal Crutchlow
“On day one we did a short evaluation of a few parts with the 2019 bike. We were happy enough with how the day went. We couldn’t get too many laps because the weather wasn’t fantastic. On a normal test here we could probably do 100 laps in a day, but on the first day this time we only did 60-ish and today just 14. Overall, we’re happy with the work we managed to fit in. Day two wasn’t too useful as regards our plans to make steps forward with the 2020 project. It’s a shame for everyone that the weather hasn’t been great, but we will work with the engineers in the factory over winter to make sure we have the best package available for the 2020 season.”
Cal Crutchlow – Jerez MotoGP Test Day 2
Alex Marquez was left wishing for better track conditions in order to improve his feeling on the RC213V. A best time of 1’39.224, set on the morning of the second day, leaves the 23-year-old as the fastest rookie of the test. The reigning Moto2 World Champion will now begin an intense off season to prepare himself for his debut in the premier class when the lights go out in Qatar.
Alex Marquez
“The weather was like it was, which wasn’t perfect but in the morning we were able to make another step and improved our time on used tyres. This is good news for us. Like yesterday, when we put new tyres in it started to rain so this is still something we have to look at. We were able to try the bike a little bit in the wet and it felt good. I’m happy with this second day of testing even if there’s still a lot of work to do. I know what I need to do at home to be ready in Sepang.”
Alex Marquez – Jerez MotoGP Test Day 2
Limited laps was true for many and definitely for Mir, who did only 12 laps to end the day in third, with Alex Rins putting in twice that and turning the tables on his teammate on Day 2.
Joan Mir
“We weren’t able to do a lot of laps today because of the conditions, but we still managed to work on the electronics areas, and this was positive because we noticed the difference. I set a strong lap, even after being out on track for a while. Overall, after four days of testing – two here and two in Valencia – the feeling is very positive and I’m already looking forward to coming back after the holidays.”
Joan Mir – Jerez MotoGP Test Day 2
Test rider Sylvain Guintoli did 14 laps for the Hamamatsu factory, but the Team Suzuki Ecstar camp seem very pleased with their early 2020 progress with the new engine. “Back-to-back” testing with 2019 and 2020 parts was key for Team Manager Davide Brivio, and all three riders improved their laptime on Tuesday morning.
Alex Rins
“These two days have been really nice because we confirmed a lot of things and we’re satisfied with the new engine. I only managed to do two runs in the dry, but I was very happy with my pace, I bettered my lap time from yesterday. I did three or four laps in the early 38s, as well as a fast lap of 1:37.837, and it felt good. Now it’s time for the winter break, and to come back fresh in the new year.”
Alex Rins – Jerez MotoGP Test Day 2
Sylvain Guintoli
“Today was a pretty short today, but we still managed to do almost everything we wanted to and everything we planned. 2019 has now drawn to a close and we’re so excited for next year because the 2020 spec. already looks really promising. The test team are doing more and more and our close bond with the factory side is going well, we’re seeing the results of this work.”
Sylvain Quintoli – Jerez MotoGP Test Day 2
Yamaha ended Tuesday in fourth with Maverick Viñales – although the number 12 remains fastest overall – and he put in 15 laps. Across the two days, Yamaha duo Viñales and Valentino Rossi continued testing the 2020 YZR-M1, with both having one 2020 – with a slightly different fuel tank – and one 2019 M1 in their garage.
Maverick Vinales
Actually, I felt really good on the bike, riding in a really good way. Yesterday, I felt fantastic on all the laps and that is the most important. I end the 2019 season with a great feeling and a lot of motivation, and that keeps you going when preparing for the new season. Yamaha is working really hard, but we‘re still working on top speed. For sure in other areas we‘re quite strong, but we need to stay focused on improving our weaker areas for the next test in Sepang.”
Maverick Vinales – Jerez MotoGP Test Day 2
On Day 1, Rossi did a lot of his running with a carbon swingarm. However, that wasn’t the case on Day 2, with the number 46 running an aluminium swingarm on both of his bikes.
Valentino Rossi
“It‘s a shame about the weather today. It was an important day because we had to work on making a comparison between the new and the old bike, so we had a good program, but, unfortunately, we did only ten laps on the dry, and after that we did some laps on the wet. But the feeling is positive, a lot better than yesterday. On the dry I was a lot faster. I improved my best lap time from the day before already after three laps, and today I was more competitive. After the rain we did some work on the new bike on the wet, and it wasn‘t so bad, but it was only half a day.”
Valentino Rossi – Jerez MotoGP Test Day 2
Viñales seemed content using the aluminium swingarm for most of the test, with both riders saying small steps have been made with the 2020 engine. Rossi ended Tuesday in 10th, half a second off the top after 33 laps – more laps than most.
Over at Petronas Yamaha SRT, Fabio Quartararo was fifth on Tuesday and teammate Franco Morbidelli seventh. They confirmed they had been trying “a 2020 prototype” Yamaha engine specification in Jerez. The carbon swingarm didn’t appear on Day 2 for the duo, but it was a solid looking test for Quartararo and Morbidelli heading into the winter break.
Fabio Quartararo
“We weren’t able to gain much from today, because just as I was getting ready to really start working on the bike it began to rain. I did my best lap time of the day but it was already starting to rain, and it turned out to be the only chance that I got. It’s disappointing that we couldn’t test as much as we wanted to, although I was also able to complete five laps in the wet to check how the engine worked in those conditions and it was positive. The track wasn’t wet all the way around for long so it wasn’t too helpful to keep riding and risk injury. We still need to work on the power delivery of the bike because it’s different from the current bike’s, but the pace I was setting yesterday was promising. We need to complete more laps, but overall it’s been a successful test for us. Now I’ll enjoy the time off and come back fresh to try everything again in Malaysia.”
Fabio Quartararo – Jerez MotoGP Test Day 2
Franco Morbidelli
“Unfortunately we didn’t learn much today, because as soon as we had completed a shake-down in the morning it started to rain and we had to stop. We managed to complete some laps in the afternoon to check out how the engine was behaving in wet conditions, but that was the end of the day for us. I feel good with the prototype engine, which is a great start. Of course, there is still plenty of work to do because there are areas where we can be better, but the direction that Yamaha has taken has been the right one. We need to improve in the braking areas, but that’s something we can concentrate on at the next test in Sepang.”
Franco Morbidelli – Jerez MotoGP Test Day 2
Sixth fastest Andrea Dovizioso and 12th fastest Danilo Petrucci continued to work on Ducati’s new chassis on both days in Jerez, with both riders confirming it’s a step in the right direction. On Day 2, test rider Michele Pirro was seen using a new aero piece on the front wheel too.
Jack Miller and Pramac Racing, meanwhile, completed just four laps on Day 2 as the rain saw them pack up early for the winter, but the Australian finished P8 on the day and combined standings after improving his time on Tuesday, the last rider within a second of Viñales’ overall best.
Jack Miller
“They were two very productive days even if today we could not lap much because of the rain. But I am very satisfied because I was able to try new solutions that we will find in Malaysia when I will have the 2020 version of the Desmosedici GP. I would like to say a big thank you to Ducati and Pramac Racing. It has been a satisfying season and since the Sepang tests we will be working to improve even further. Happy holidays to everyone.”
Jack Miller – Jerez MotoGP Test Day 2
At Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, MotoGP Legend and test rider Dani Pedrosa was back out on track after missing Day 1 through illness and he did 11 laps. Pol Espargaro, fastest KTM in ninth, continued to lap with a new RC16 with the orange chassis. There was also a new fairing and new aero setup on display across the two days as Espargaro seems pleased with the Austrian factory’s progress.
Pol Espargaro
“The last test of 2019 and we were not so lucky with the weather which mean we could not work as much as we wanted. Fortunately, we did some laps this morning when we felt quite good and we were just three tenths away from the top guy with ten laps on the tyre, which was important for consistency. Overall the pre-season has been very good. We did a lot and tested a lot of new stuff at Valencia and we have been fast. Now it’s time for the winter and after healing a little bit I will try to work harder than I did last year to try and come back in better shape. I’m already looking forward to trying the 2020 RC16 again in Malaysia.”
Pol Espargaro – Jerez MotoGP Test Day 2
Binder was lapping on the ‘old’ bike and did a good amount of laps before the rain came on Tuesday morning, and as aforementioned the South African also headed out in the wet.
Brad Binder
“We decided to do a couple of laps when it was a little bit wet just to get the feeling of the new bike and that was really awesome. I’m glad I got a chance to experience that. It’s been difficult these last two tests. It hasn’t been easy to adapt to the new bike but I think I’ve got a lot to think about now in the off-season and hopefully we can try to make a step in Sepang. I think I just need to improve my riding; my feeling with the front a little bit and just being able to have confidence to put the bike where I want to, especially on the entry to corners. I think once I get that right the rest will fall into place.”
Brad Binder – Jerez MotoGP Test Day 2
Lecuona was also still on the ‘old’ bike as both rookies’ aim was to get more comfortable on the MotoGP machine. Lecuona and Binder ended the test 20th and 22nd respectively on Tuesday.
Iker Lecuona
“It was my first time in wet conditions and to be honest, it was quite strange. I need more laps, but finally I went quite fast. I liked the feeling, although I didn’t find out the limit in every point. I’m happy, but with some sectors not too much. For next year, I know that I need to improve in all the points, which is clear as long as you are not finishing first. I need work on my riding, on the brakes and picking up the bike, but finally in the wet it all went quite well and in general, I’m very happy.”
Iker Lecuona – Jerez MotoGP Test Day 2
Aprilia Racing Team Gresini and Aleix Espargaro had a new front wheel cover on Day 2 in Andalucia, an all-in-one piece with the front mudguard, wheel cover and caliper duct. He was 15th after 24 laps.
Aleix Espargarò
“The Jerez tests are more relevant than the Valencia tests because this is a more traditional and more indicative track. We continued working on the 2019 package with a few changes to the electronics, which is an area we are strengthening. Now the ball is in the Aprilia engineers’ court as they develop the 2020 prototype. The coming months will be crucial in achieving the objective of having the new bike on the track in Sepang.”
Aleix Espargarò – Jerez MotoGP Test Day 2
Andrea Iannone, on the other side of the garage, only did four laps on Day 2 but finished eleventh. Test rider Bradley Smith, 21st on Tuesday, completed the most laps of anyone on Day 2 – 43.
Andrea Iannone
“Unfortunately, we were a bit limited during these two days, both because of the weather and because I arrived in Jerez with a fever. In any case, we found some interesting things to work on over the winter in order to show up in Sepang stronger than before. The work done by Michelin on the new tyres also seemed to go very well. I’ll stay in contact with the guys in Noale now to follow development of the new bike. It will be important for me to be able to make a step forward next season.”
Andrea Iannone – Jerez MotoGP Test Day 2
Bradley Smith
“Our programme here was not much different than the one in Valencia. We are gathering the final data that will allow the racing department to refine the 2020 bike. The weather wasn’t the best, especially on the second day, but we tried to provide as much information as possible, even lapping in the wet.”
Bradley Smith – Jerez MotoGP Test Day 2
The MotoGP World Championship will now begin a two-month winter break and the teams and riders will next be back on track at Sepang (Malaysia) from 7th to 9th February 2020 for the first official testing session of the new year.
Read and dream about great rides and exciting new gear for the holidays in the 2019 Holiday Buyers Guide and Fall/Winter Riding Special, brought to you by the publishers of Rider magazine and Thunder Press.
Limited to 100 units each, the special graphics pay homage to Aprilia’s first victory, at Misano.
Begin press release:
Announced with the Long Beach International Motorcycle Show, the show that starts the tradeshow circuit in North America, Aprilia has announced two limited-edition models of their most celebrated motorcycle platforms. For 2020, exclusive to the United States market, Aprilia will release 100 individually numbered RSV4 RR and Tuono RR models.
The iconic V4 platform, first launched in 2008 with the RSV4, a model aimed at the World Superbike championship, of which it has won three rider championships, and four manufacturer championships since its introduction, quickly expanded in it capability, both in terms of the RSV4, but also as an update to the Aprilia brand Tuono model, introducing the first V4 naked bike in 2012.
The 2020 limited edition models take note from Aprilia’s racing heritage, with a more dedicated “Misano” livery, with the large Aprilia “A” logo, previously utilized among the brand’s race bikes and factory version model RSV4. Immediately recognizable to brand enthusiasts, the “Misano” design is an acknowledgment of Aprilia Racing’s earliest championship successes, as the inspiration is derived from the 1987 Loris Reggiani victory, the first for Aprilia in a championship class, at the Misano circuit in Italy. Available on the 2020 RSV4 RR and Tuono RR models, the motorcycles will receive carbon fiber front fenders, and lithium batteries as standard premium equipment.
The last touch, for collectors and enthusiasts alike, is the indication of model exclusivity, with the “Limited Edition” individually numbered units – for the RSV4 RR acknowledged on the top triple clamp, and the Tuono RR on top of the fuel tank cover.
The 2020 RSV4 RR and Tuono RR Limited editions will be available from May in US Dealerships.
Although you may not know this, Wolfman Luggage completely redesigned its line of bags to a new, completely waterproof format. Consequently, the legacy Wolfman bags are going on sale for a week in honor of Black Friday. Go take a look at the Wolfman Luggage website.
Begin Press Release:
Wolfman Luggage’s Black Friday Blowout Starts Today!
Offering Upwards of 50% Off on Classic Items, and Beyond…
Wolfman Luggage is rolling “Grey Thursday,” “Black Friday,” “Small Business Saturday” and “Cyber Monday” all into one amazing sale!
For one week, Tuesday, November 26th to Tuesday, December 3rd enjoy up to 50% off on Wolfman sewn bags and accessories at www.WolfmanLuggage.com only.
Want to color coordinate with the 303 series?
Here’s your final opportunity.
Planning to stock up on yellow waterproof liners?
Buy them today.
This is the biggest Black Friday sale ever for the Colorado-based company, so holiday gifting just got a lot easier. When these pieces are gone, they’re gone for good, so don’t wait!
