Van der Mark injured after topping Misano WorldSBK practice
Section: Competition
Dutchman ruled out of the weekend as Rea and Bautista complete top three.
Image: Supplied.
The opening day of WorldSBK action concluded after FP2 in Misano, with action and drama aplenty in the 50-minute session. Numerous crashes were scattered throughout the session, including Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), although he was unscathed.
Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was on top at the end of the day, with Rea in second and Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) in third. The Dutchman suffered an enormous accident at the end of the session, bringing a red flag out just moments after the chequered flag was shown.
Michael van der Mark was the man to beat on Friday, after a positive FP1 and topping the timesheets at the end of the day. Having won at Jerez, the former WorldSSP champion was on a mission before a huge high-side at the end of the session saw him thrown in the air, bringing out a red flag.
The Dutchman suffered a right wrist fracture, concussion, and right ribs fracture and after having undergone first medical treatment at the circuit Medical Centre, he was then taken to Rimini Hospital for further assessments. His teammate, Alex Lowes, completed the top five overall and was right in the mix.
The Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK duo of Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam suffered crashes on their way to second and tenth respectively. Haslam was the first crasher in the opening part of FP2, whilst Rea crashed at Turn 2 in the closing stages, having been top for the majority of the day. It was a positive day for Rea, as he goes in search of returning to winning ways and taking the battle to Alvaro Bautista.
Bautista’s day was comparably uneventful at Misano, with him being one of the few top names who didn’t crash – although he crashed during the Misano test. Bautista was quick in all of the sectors, topping the timesheets in the final sector but not featuring too prominently throughout the rest of the lap. Teammate Chaz Davies did not improve his time and finished the day in eighth overall.
Both GRT Yamaha WorldSBK riders were inside the top ten, as Sandro Cortese popped into fourth position on the combined times and made plenty of headlines, finishing as second Yamaha. Home-hero Marco Melandri was ninth on the combined times but didn’t improve his time in FP2.
A positive opening day concluded well for Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), who will go in search of continuing his pole-run from years gone-by, with seven consecutive poles in the last seven seasons. With the 2013 WorldSBK champion in the fight at the front, he looks set for a strong weekend. Teammate Markus Reiterberger was less than a second off of top slot, but back in 13th.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi (BARNI Racing Team) had a positive day and was the second Independent rider in seventh place. With less than half a second off, Rinaldi is in the mix at his home round and primed for a good result. Fellow countryman, teammate and wildcard Michele Pirro completed the day in 12th.
It was a sea of Italians inside the top 10 of WorldSSP, with five of them – including two wildcards – starting their home weekend in fine style. Federico Caricasulo (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) completed the day in first, ahead of fellow countryman Raffaele De Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and teammate, Randy Krummenacher.
It was a dominant opening day for WorldSSP300 Group A riders, as they stamped their authority on the Italian circuit to lock-out the top six positions. Robert Schotman (Kawasaki MOTOPORT) was on top, ahead of Indonesia’s Galang Hendra Pratama (Semakin Di Depan Biblion Motoxracing) and championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Kawasaki ParkinGO Team) in third.
Australians Tom Edwards (ParkinGo Team Kawasaki), Tom Bramich (Nutec – RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki) and Jack Hyde (2R Racing Team Kawasaki) wound up in positions 26, 44, and 58 respectively.
#RiminiWorldSBK🇮🇹 🏁Misano
🗓Saturday 22 June
📋 Superpole
⌚ 11.00 local time (10.00 UK)
📺 Live Eurosport UK 2
🌤 24*C
🏍 25 mins Source: Jonathan Rea On Facebook
The new spec engine, with its redesigned piston crowns, updated valve timing, and redesigned airbox with two intake ports, instead of one, boosts peak horsepower to 80.55 at 11,000 rpm. Even more impressive is the CB’s flat spread of torque—especially for an inline-four middleweight. It jumps off the corners well and the engine also sounds a tad beefier than we remember, with a more pleasing airbox note. The engine also revs to 12,900 rpm, 1,000 rpm higher than before.
It is much hotter than it was at the test we had here recently. There was not a lot of rubber down at the test but even today the grip levels are lower. But saying that, it feels more normal especially compared to Jerez last time out, where the grip levels were so high you were pushing the tyres into the ground. The bike is moving around a little here and we are just trying to understand where we are with it. I felt we had a really good pace and my speed was good today, and we understood some different tyres. It is now clear the tyre we are going to use. For the first day I feel not bad; actually comfortable on the bike. http://jonathan-rea.com/news/rea-second-fastest-under-misano-sun
Jonathan Rea placed second overall after two Free Practice sessions at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli today in hot weathe Source: Jonathan Rea On Facebook
KTM’s hopes for yet another back-to-back MXGP Championship Title have been severely dented as Red Bull KTM’s Tony Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings – the last two MXGP World Champions – will sit out this weekend’s Grand Prix of Germany.
Jeffrey Herlings has not had much to celebrate this season
Reigning #1 Herlings re-injured his right leg just prior to winning the first moto at Kegums in Latvia last Sunday. The Dutchman was forced to withdraw from the Grand Prix with a hairline fracture at the base of his tibia bone and underwent minor surgery to insert a small reparatory screw this week. The 24-year-old will remain in a cast and air-boot for almost two weeks before he can again go through the physio, rehab and training process to be back on his KTM 450 SX-F.
Jeffrey Herlings – MXGP of Russia 2019
Cairoli fell in the second moto last weekend and dislocated his right shoulder. Initial scans were positive but the joint continues to be painful. Further examinations will take place in two weeks time to know the exact extent of the damage. The nine-times world champion and red plate holder this season will sadly sit out the Grand Prix at Teutschenthal but will then assess the state of the injury.
Tony Cairoli – MXGP of Latvia 2019
Slovenian Tim Gajser looks set to capitalise on KTM’s misfortune as he looks likely to take the MXGP Championship crown this year for Honda.
Red Bull KTM continue to push hard in the MX2 class with Jorge Prado leading the standings and having claimed all eight of his Grand Prix appearances this year and Tom Vialle also posting strong results in his rookie campaign.
Robert Jonas, VP of Offroad
“We had some amazing success in the last two years in the MXGP class and that has so much to do with our riders, our excellent team and all the support we have in place. Now we are experiencing the hard part of motocross but we know this is part of sport unfortunately. We don’t like it but we have to accept it and do our best to help Jeffrey and Tony get better and soon be in a position to be fighting at the front again.”
IATC alumni have already made their way into the MotoGP™ World Championship, with representation in both Moto2™ and Moto3™. 2014 and 2015 IATC Champions Kaito Toba and Ayumu Sasaki compete in the lightweight class, with Toba becoming the first IATC Champion to win a Grand Prix earlier this season in Qatar. Can Öncü, another former IATC rider, also broke the record and became the youngest ever Grand Prix winner in Valencia last year. 2016 Champion Somkiat Chantra, meanwhile, made the leap straight into Moto2™ and has already been in the top ten. 2017 and 2018 Champions Deniz Öncü and Bill Van Eerde remain on the Road to MotoGP™ in the FIM Moto3™ Junior World Championship.
Kagayama, Guintoli and Watanabe named in three-man team for 2019 edition.
Image: Supplied.
Yoshimura Suzuki Motul Racing has revealed Yukio Kagayama, Sylvain Guintoli and Kazuki Watanabe will make up its squad for the 2019 Suzuka 8 Hours in Japan on 28 July, which will mark the final round of the 2018/2019 FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC).
The team was in contention for victory in 2018, however a crash hindered their efforts, ultimately finishing the prestigious event 10th in the classification.
“I am very excited to join the Yoshimura team again this year for the Suzuka 8H since some of my best racing memories is from the Suzuka 8H,” said Kagayama. “In 2007 to get on the podium in first place, and it was such an amazing experience.
“As it is very well known, Suzuka is extremely hard, competitive, very hot and a changing race event. I know how to fight this race from my experience, and I am excited to get going with my mates and see what I can do. I’m really looking forward the race weekend and aiming for the top step with Yoshimura Suzuki MOTUL Racing again this year.”
Sylvain Guintoli added: “It’s a great pleasure and an honour to be back in Japan for the 2019 Suzuka 8H with the Yoshimura Suzuki Motul racing team.
“Last year we had a promising start of the race, leading for a while and maintaining our place in the top-3 before a crash that forced us to fight all race to recover places. I hope this year we can have a trouble-free race and fight for the podium all the way.”
Australian Josh Waters this week confirmed he’ll contest the Suzuki 8 Hours for the ninth consecutive year, racing for Team MotoMap SWAT alongside Nob Aoki and Dan Linfoot.
After a long six week mid-season break the 2019 Pirelli MX Nationals championship is back in full swing this weekend at round six of the Pirelli MX Nationals in Gympie QLD.
MX Nationals were in South Australian for rounds four and five some six weeks ago
Luke Clout, snatched the points leaders red plate in the MX1 division at round five after a consistent performance throughout the first half of the year. Clout holds a small four-point gap over his nearest rivals but acknowledges now is the time to really knuckle down as the championship heads towards the business end of the season.
Luke Clout
“The first half of the MX Nationals has gone well, and the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team have worked hard to ensure we have all the tools required to win. Apart form the first round in the mud, I have been consistent at the other four rounds and that will need to continue if I’m any chance to win the championship this year. Apart from a week off straight after Murray bridge, I have kept my head down and feel like I’m riding as well as ever, so I look forward to getting back on the start line again and hunting down a championship with Yamaha.”
Luke Clout – MX Nationals Round 3, Broadford, 2019
Hayden Mellross had a solid mid-season break competing in the Manjimup 15,000 and the King of MX, taking positives away from both weekends that he is going to be putting into action this weekend to try and close the points gap between him and current series points leader Luke Clout.
Hayden Mellross
DPH Husqvarna’s Todd Waters is currently holding down third place in MX1 and has had a busy mid-season that saw him head over to the USA to contest the opening rounds of the AMA Motocross Championship.
Todd Waters
“My USA trip really was unbelievable. It’s extremely rare to be able to spend 3 weeks living in a RV with your family and racing professional motocross on the opposite side of the world. It really has been a dream come true! My FC450 didn’t miss a beat, and although I’m always working to move forward and improve, I’m happy that I got to show that I have the pace to run with the best in the world, and even better, we did it as a family on a shoe-string budget. Heading into round six, my confidence is high, and I know that I can put the DPH Husqvarna at the front of field.”
Todd Waters contested AMA Motocross rounds in the mid-season break. Here he is in action at Thunder Valley – Image by Hoppenworld
Kirk Gibbs has recovered from his shoulder injury sustained at round five of the MX Nationals in Murray Bridge and charged on to a second place finish at Manjimup in a confidence boosting ride. With an additional couple of weeks training, Gibbs will hit round six at close to 100 per cent and is out to claw back the vital points lost.
Kirk Gibbs
“The break came at a good time with my injury and I was able to take some time off and allow it to heal before getting back on the bike. Since Manjimup, I pulled up pretty well and have been able to resume my regular program so its full steam ahead for the final five rounds with the goal to win as many races and rounds as possible.”
Kirk Gibbs
Thor MX1 Standings
Luke Clout 275
Hayden Mellross 271
Todd Waters 265
Justin Rodbell 210
Jayden Rykers 207
Erki Kahro 190
Brett Metcalfe 181
Kirk Gibbs 179
Richie Evans 174
Jesse Dobson 173
Pirelli MX2
The MX2 class will see the ever consistent and 2017 MX2 champion Wilson Todd head into round six with the red plate aboard his Factory DPH Husquvarna .
After competing in the AMA Pro Motocross in his mid-season break and walking away with a top 10 finish last weekend at High Point, he is sure to bring the speed and lessons he has learnt in the USA back home with him.
Wilson Todd
“What a season break! Thanks to some of our team partners, I was able to get a last-minute ride in the US and that really keep my momentum going from the first half of the season. Now I’m back, and turning my attention straight back to racing the FC250 this weekend. I feel good, and I feel fast. I really love racing my bike and just want to get back on the DPH Husqvarna and get to work.”
Wilson Todd – 2019 Thunder Valley AMA Motoross – Image by Hoppenworld
Jay Wilson sits in third place on his YZ250F in the MX2 class, just two points from second and 25 from the championship lead. Wilson has finished 2-4-3-2-4 in the first five rounds to be well placed in the championship. But the competition is fierce in MX2 and Wilson is aware that he will need to pour on the pressure in the next five rounds.
Jay Wilson
“Its been my best start to a motocross championship and considering some of the issues we have faced, things are looking pretty good. During the break, I did some of my coaching schools which is something that I really enjoy, but now its back down to business and going all out for this championship.”
Jay Wilson – MX Nationals Round 3, Broadford, 2019
It has been an up and down start to the year for the Serco Yamaha team but despite some challenging rounds, team riders Nathan Crawford and Aaron Tanti, sit fourth and fifth respectively in the highly competitive MX2 (250cc) class but at the same time, desperate to improve their position by series end.
Crawford came into the season under an injury cloud that saw him sidelined for over eight months in 2018. He has worked hard to over come these issues and now feels he is back to where he needs to be and ready to charge home in the championship.
Nathan Crawford
“Being off the bike for so long has so many effects on your racing, that you don’t even realise it at the time. From the lack of fitness, to race hardened intensity, to simple things as missing out on valuable testing time to ensure everything is sorted. We have continued to work during the break to make up for the lost time and I feel a lot more confident approaching the second half of the series knowing that the back ground work has been done.”
For Aaron Tanti, he needed to take a week or two off to recover from a finger injury prior to rounds four and five but is now back to full fitness and ready to go. Tanti raced some local events to get back into race shape and placed well so his goals for the final half of the championship are nothing short of podiums.
Aaron Tanti
“My goal every time I race is to try and win or at the very least, end up on the podium at each round and nothing has changed. I was able to do that a few times in the first year of the year, but I want to be much more consistent in the back half and pull of as many race wins as possible.”
Aaron Tanti
Pirelli MX2 Standings
Wilson Todd 283
Kyle Webster 260
Jay Wilson 258
Nathan Crawford 212
Aaron Tanti 212
Dylan Wills 206
Riley Dukes 202
Bailey Malkiewicz 198
Jye Dickson 188
Cooper Pozniak 184
Motul MXD
Raceline KTM’s Regan Duffy has maintained the red plate for majority of the first half of the season in the MXD class, and is coming off a huge win at the Manjimup 15,000, becoming the youngest rider to ever take out the historic event, boosting his confidence heading into the remainder of the season.
Regan Duffy
“I’m feeling better then ever, I’ve had Josh Adams as my training partner this off season so it’s been unreal. Also I’m feeling more confident coming off the Manjimup win.”
Regan Duffy
Max Purvis currently sits in second place in the championship, just 17 points from the series lead but needs to clean up his consistency in the final five rounds.
Max Purvis
“It’s been a little up and down for me in the first half so my goal is to make my good races a win, and my not so good races a top three as every point is going to matter in the run home. I have worked hard on my starts as putting myself in a good position early in the race is so important in MXD this year.”
Max Purvis in action at Wonthaggi earlier in the year
The 2019 Australian Supercross Championship calendar is complete following the announcement of Brisbane Entertainment Centre hosting round one of the series on 12 October in Queensland.
The indoor venue, which has gained round presenting sponsors Dunlop and Motorex, further strengthens the series, and is set to host 9500 supercross fans.
“History shows indoor arenas create high levels of exciting and entertaining supercross racing,” said TBE’s Troy Bayliss. “Fans are treated to an experience like no other, the tracks are tight and produce incredible racing full of passes.
“Some manufacturers have already indicated more international talent will be competing in the 2019 Australian Supercross Championship due to the inclusion of the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
“We want to make sure the series kicks off with a bang in 2019 and this venue will allow us to do that. The Supercross Masters era and more recently in Sydney, supercross sold out arenas year-on-year and we expect the same in Brisbane.
“It’s one-night-only, we won’t be announcing another night closer to the event, the stadium holds 9500 fans and we have removed allocation for corporate and hospitality requirements so we expect the night to sell out well in advance.”
Round one, backed by Honda Motorcycles Australia, will run a completely unique ‘Double Header’ format this year, with SX1 and SX2 classes contesting two main event finals, with points from each determining the round winner, resulting in more racing for the fans.
2019 Australian Supercross Championship calendar:
Rd1 – 12 October – Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Rd2 – 19 October – Gillman Speedway, Port Adelaide
Rd3 – 9 November – WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Rd4 – 16 November – Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand (S-X Open Auckland)
Rd5 – 30 November – Marvel Stadium, Melbourne (AUS-X Open Melbourne)
Yamaha Motor Australia has announced a Trans Tasman Tenere Tour after three Tenere 700 display units arrived in Australia, which will embark on a travelling roadshow in July before the all-new model goes on sale towards the end of 2019.
The all-new twin cylinder adventure bike will appear in venues across Australia and New Zealand so that potential customers and dealers can get up close and personal with the new lightweight adventure model.
The three units will be presented in three different guises – one accessorised with an Australian off-road theme, one in full touring mode with hard luggage and low seat option. and the third unit will be standard. All three colour options will be on display.
The travelling road show will be headlined by Yamaha legend, keen Tenere rider and four-time Mr Motocross, Stephen Gall. Special guests include Yamaha’s Dakar Rally – and prototype Tenere – rider Rodney Faggotter. Tenere Tragic organiser Andrew Clubb and Ride ADV head honcho Greg Yager will also be on hand to discuss all things Tenere.
“This will be a great opportunity for customers to get up close and personal with the new Tenere 700 and learn more about it,” said Yamaha Motor Australia’s marketing manager Sean Goldhawk. “Each event will feature a full media type presentation with contributions and insights from our special guests.
“Customers will also be able to register their interest in the new model and the related accessories as well as some exciting new adventure rides that we are planning for new Tenere 700 owners.
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