Factory Husqvarna team puts speculation to rest as Gympie MX Nationals looms.
Image: Foremost Media.
DPH Motorsport Husqvarna team owner Dale Hocking has reaffirmed the squad will be on the line in the second half of the Pirelli MX Nationals after speculation of the outfit folding surfaced during the six-week break.
The team has put the rumours to rest, confirming it will continue to go racing with Todd Waters, MX2 points leader Wilson Todd, and Bailey Malkiewicz, as the MX Nationals returns to action this weekend at Gympie in Queensland.
“We can’t wait to go racing this weekend,” said Hocking. “I want to thank Boyd [Hocking] for stepping up to the plate once again to ensure that we’re ready to race this weekend and give the team the best chance to perform in the second half of the season.
“After being a part of the DPH family for many years, Jarrod [Pyne] has decided to move on and so we wish him well in his future endeavours.
“All three racers have been doing a fantastic job through the first five rounds and have all used the mid-season break to set themselves up to be strong in the second half of the season. Gympie is somewhat of a clean slate, with no one having raced it before, so we’re looking forward to seeing some great racing.”
All three riders in the squad campaigned in America during the MX Nationals break, with Todd Waters racing the first three rounds of Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross, while Wilson Todd raced the first four rounds after scoring an opportunity with TLD Red Bull KTM.
If you’re a fan of motorsports, you know the name Jack Miller. He’s making waves on the MotoGP circuit in 2019 and continues to impress us on his Ducati. In Argentina and Qatar he took out 4th place and 3rd in America, not too shabby from the Aussie from far North Queensland.In 2005 Jack took out his first dirt track title at the age of only 10. In 2008 he then moved to road racing. Although he moved to Europe in 2010, Australians were still keeping an eye on his progress and he picked up a personal sponsorship through Australian based Insurer, Swann Insurance.
Still only 24, his passion for riding was sparked years ago: it was on the family farm in Townsville, Queensland, that his love affair with the bikes began. “I was two and a half years old, nearly three, when my dad taught me how to ride… even though, once I learnt the base, I was kind of self-taught.” Jack Miller was an independent and – with nobody in his family racing motorbikes – he had to “learn a lot of things on my own. That’s why I have so many broken bones!”
Ironically enough, his first wheels were actually not intended for him: “my first bike was a (Honda) QR 50 from my brother. He got it on his birthday and that was the day I went to ride it.” Luckily for the young Jack Miller – not to mention Australia’s representation in the MotoGP – his brother was already, “a bit too big for it at that time, so eventually I kept the QR and he got another one to replace it.”
Freedom and adventure were the forces that drew Jack to the bike when he was a youngster, “when I was a kid riding brought me a lot of freedom, I got to explore a lot.” Jack and his brothers rode from dawn until dusk around the back of Townsville, “we rode all day, every day. We just put more petrol in the bike and kept going.” As he grew older though, and began to race more and more competitively, he became part of the biking community, “for sure the friends you make while racing and riding are one of my top reasons (for riding and loving the sport), apart from winning”.
But what has his favourite race has been? “that’s a hard one… it would probably have to be Phillip Island 2017 and 2018, when leading there for the home Grand Prix. Or also back in 2014, winning there with a massive fight up to the finishing line. That was definitely pretty cool.”
Like any true Aussie country boy – Jack loves the outdoors when he has some time off the bike, “my hobbies definitely have to include fishing! I enjoy fishing and camping, this type of outdoor activity. And I don’t mind bike riding.”
He’s still extremely close to his family and friends back in Townsville, who have given him tremendous support and kept him grounded through every up and down of his career. Jack lives by their advice, “I still get told everyday by my friends that you should not get too big-headed, that you need to keep your feet on the ground and people will help you out along the way. I think this is one of the biggest points to keep in mind.”
So far so good for Jack on that. Whether on Ducati or Honda or KTM, jetting to Texas or Spain, Jack’s feet have remained planted firm on the ground. Our huge thanks to Jack for his time, it was a pleasure chatting.
Jack Miller is an ambassador for Swann Insurance, a motorcycle insurance company in Australia, and currently riding in the 2019 Moto GP for Pramac Racing.
Q&A with Jack Miller
Q: Who taught you to ride and how old were you?
A:I was two and a half years old, nearly three. I guess my dad told me how to ride in the beginning, even though, once I learnt the base, I was kind of self-taught. Nobody in my family raced motorbikes, so I had to learn a lot of things on my own and that’s also why I have so many broken bones.
Q: What was your first bike?
A: My first bike was a (Honda) QR 50 from my brother. He got it on his birthday and that was the day I went to ride it. My brother was a bit too big for it at that time, so eventually I kept the QR and he got another one to replace it.
Q: What brings you most joy when riding? What’s your favourite part?
A: It depends, when I was a kid riding brought me a lot of freedom, I got to explore a lot. Living in the back of Townsville we could ride all day, every day. We just put more petrol in the bike and kept going. That’s probably one of my favourite parts, but for sure the friends you make while racing and riding are one of my top reasons, too, apart from winning.
Q: What has been your favourite race and why?
A: That’s a hard one… My favourite race would probably have to be Phillip Island 2017 and 2018, when leading there for the home Grand Prix. Or also back in 2014, winning there with a massive fight up to the finishing line. That was definitely pretty cool.
Q: What are your hobbies outside of motor racing?
A: Hobbies outside motor racing would definitely have to include fishing. I enjoy fishing and camping, this type of outdoor activities. Apart from that, I don’t mind bicycle riding.
Q: What is some advice that you’ve received that you still live by?
A: I still get told everyday by my friends that you should not to get too big-headed, that you need keep your feet on the ground and people will help you out along the way. I think this is one of the biggest points to keep in mind.
23-year-old Brazilian Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama) took initial honours in the first ever FIM Enel MotoE World Cup “race” in Valencia, with riders lining up for a race simulation at the start of final day of the pre-season test.
Garzo leads Granado and Tuuli
Granado had missed out on pole by just 0.025 to Hector Garzo (Tech 3 E-Racing) on Tuesday, but he fought back once the lights went out to overtake the Spaniard on the final lap and in the process scored himself a new Energica Eva as his prize.
Eric Granado with his new Energica Eva as his prize
Garzo took second, with Niki Tuuli (Ajo MotoE) – another who has shown consistent pace in practice so far – completing the podium a few tenths further back.
Hector Garzo
“We started with normal settings and found our pace quite early. We tried different shocks and tyres for the bike and found the way, that we wanted. The E-Pole was a really good test for that moment and finally, for the race, I think we have all the settings we want on our way. We have a decent base for Germany and for the start of the season with this bike. Everything is good and I’m really confident.”
MotoE Race Simulation Podium Niki Tuuli (L), Eric Granado and Hector Garzo (R)
Nico Terol (Openbank Angel Nieto Team) took fourth, with Matteo Ferrari (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) completing the top five.
Nico Terol
Nico Terol
“I am very happy. I got off the bike with a smile on my face today because I am really enjoying riding the MotoE and we are at a high level. This test was a huge weight off my shoulders. After such a long time without racing, it has given me a lot of strength to see myself up at the front – I have talent and I am a World Champion. The bike went really well and I got a great start to take the lead. It reminded me of my first Moto2 podium here at Valencia. My only mistake was to lose touch with the front three in the early laps because it took me too long to close the gap back down. I would like to have been challenging for the win but I fought hard to the end for third place and never gave up. This fourth place feels good, the progress from the first test to now has been fantastic. I am really looking forward to the race in Germany. This championship is going to be exciting and will be a nice surprise for the fans.”
Nico Terol fought through to fourth
Matteo Ferrari
“It’s been an important test and we improved a lot lap after lap. There’s a nice atmosphere within the team and this can only help. We had a little bit of bad luck as well due to a faulty tyre during practice, but still things went smooth and I had a lot of fun on this bike. We also did an E-Pole and a race simulation. I must say that I really like the qualifying format – like the old Superpole. We were quite quick even though we’re still one second away from the leaders, but I’m sure there’ll be a chance to close the gap.”
Matteo Ferrari
One man expected to be in that tight fight at the front wasn’t on track, however – Tuesday’s fastest Bradley Smith (One Energy Racing) was absent as he undertook testing duties in MotoGP.
MotoE Race Simulation
Josh Hook, the defending World Endurance Champion with F.C.C TSR Honda, also could not capitalise on the full three days of testing as a bout of gastro sidelined the young Australian from most of the test.
Josh Hook
Josh Hook
“It was an important test as in the first two days of testing I managed to do very few laps, and I was forced to missing the qualifying session. They have been 7 laps useful to get familiar with the circuit and especially to do some kilometres on the bike in view of the debut in Germany.”
Josh Hook
After the race simulation riders got a chance to have a final 30-minute session from 1700, although it ended prematurely in a Red Flag due to crashes for Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Maria Herrera (Openbank Angel Nieto Team), riders both ok.
Randy De Puniet was a DNF in the race simulation
María Herrera
“The race simulation was very positive. We know we can make overtakes, we are fast, and we showed that. We could have been fighting for the top five because we had the pace for it and that gives us a lot of motivation. We are doing a good job, improving our pace from practice to practice and the team are giving me a lot of confidence. I think I can be fighting at the front and I’m sure this year will be a lot of fun.”
María Herrera
The late session was their last chance to test before heading out on track at the Sachsenring for the first round of the season and it was Tuuli who went fastest with the quickest time of the test, a 1:40.127 and 0.486 quicker than second place Casadei.
Niccolo Canepa
To put that 1m40.127s time into perspective for the fledgling new MotoE category, the MotoGP fastest lap record at Valencia is 1m29.401, the Moto2 record is 1m34.879, and the Moto3 tiddlers becnhmark is 1m38.428.
Hector Garzo
Garzo was third on the timesheets at the end of Day 3, and race simulation winner Granado was 0.533 off Tuuli’s benchmark in fourth. 2008 125 World Champion Mike Di Meglio (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) completed the top five.
Simeon just won the battle for sixth in the race simulation
As is so often the case, Tech3 manager Hervé Poncharal offered the most informative feedback following the test and race simulation.
Hervé Poncharal – Tech3 Team Manager
“With the end of the three days test for the MotoE in Valencia, we as Tech3 E-Racing are very, very happy about it. For sure, at first, I would like to thank Energica and Enel for their hard work by having everything ready for a full and strong test. It was great, to be back on track, but also amazing to see the bikes riding a complete race distance with the simulation. I believe it was also very interesting to try the E-Pole and all together it went well. The life of the batteries seems to be good enough without any dropping for a proper sprint race and for sure, I would also like to thank our whole crew and especially Hector for his fantastic job during these three days. He was fastest on day one and topping almost each session, he won the E-Pole and showed a very great fight with Eric Granado in the race simulation, in total he delivered a very good feeling for the entire team. Kenny, who is a rider with a bit more experience, I believe, has learned a lot from his young team-mate and it is fantastic have such a great relationship in between our two riders. We’ve got a good team, we are happy and I believe MotoE will soon be a real part of the MotoGP championship and after what we saw in Valencia, I’m quite sure that the people at the Sachsenring will enjoy the very first MotoE race a lot. We still have a few things to prepare, but I think all of the MotoE field can’t wait to be in Germany for the first official MotoE practice session.”
Nico Terol leads Xavier Simeon
Now the E-Paddock gears up for the Sachsenring, which plays host to the opening round of the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup from the 5th to 7th July.
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta provided his viewpoint on the direction of the new MotoE category.
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta
“It was very good, from the beginning the way we wanted to do it was makes races and I think today we showed it was a real race, with all the riders competing. I was talking to them and they were very happy. And we’re happy because I think it’s a way to enter into this new energy and show we can do with it the same we’ve been doing since 1992. As with everything we do, it’s very important, MotoE™ just as any other category. Everything we do is important for us, and we’re trying to share with spectators how good motor racing is.”
After a shoulder injury at Murray Bridge crushed his title hopes, 2015 MX1 champion Kirk Gibbs has declared he’s ‘full steam ahead’ for the final five rounds of the 2019 Pirelli MX Nationals.
Sitting out Sunday’s fifth round in South Australia in May, the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy rider returned to competition at the Manjimup 15,000 in Western Australia this month, displaying fine more as he fell just one-point shy of victory.
Positioned eighth in the championship standings, 96 points behind series leader and teammate Luke Clout, Gibbs has established a new goal of triumphing as many races as possible in the second half.
“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,” Gibbs explained.
“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.”
The MX Nationals returns to action this weekend at Gympie in Queensland following a lengthy six-week break. Gympie marks a new venue on the MX Nationals calendar.
Australian Josh Hook has battled food poisoning in the first-ever MotoE simulation race in Valencia, where he was forced to start from last after sitting out E-Pole on Tuesday.
The Pramac Racing rider completed the opening day of testing on Monday, lapping the Spanish circuit for the first time, however missed crucial track time on day two.
Mustering up a start in the seven-lap encounter on day three, Hook pressed on for a P16 result, gaining valuable data ahead of next month’s season-opener.
“It was an important test as in the first two days of testing I managed to do very few laps, and I was forced to missing the qualifying session,” Hook explained. “They have been seven laps useful to get familiar with the circuit and especially to do some kilometres on the bike in view of the debut in Germany.”
After the entire MotoE fleet and its equipment was destroyed in a damaging fire in March, this week’s test at Valencia marked the first time out for the category since the blaze. The opening round of the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup will take place at the Sachsenring in Germany on 5-7 July.
World Superbikes now head to Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, for the first of three rounds inside four weeks, with the season now moving forward at breakneck pace and mistakes becoming costlier than ever, Bautista maintains the series lead ahead of defending champion Jonathan Rea.
WSBK 2018 – Misano Race One
The Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, designed in 1969, currently has a length of 4226 metres, of which 1850 are straight with a run to the finish line of 510 metres, with 10 right-hand and 6 left-hand corners.
In 2015 the circuit was completely resurfaced with a specific asphalt formulation aimed at counteracting the effects of salt and humidity. The rather abrasive asphalt and the high temperatures typical of that area can make it a fairly demanding track for the tyres, especially in the long right-hand corners which require a high mechanical and thermal stress on the tyres.
WSBK 2018 – Misano Race One
Before Jerez, there were few visible cracks in Álvaro Bautista or Jonathan Rea’s respective armors, as they waltzed onto the rostrum in every single race so far. But then there was Spain. One rider crashed while leading, unopposed; the other was forced into an uncharacteristic mistake that very nearly ruined his weekend.
Álvaro Bautista
“It was a pity about my crash at Jerez, but as I said at the time, that’s racing, so there’s no point in dwelling on it too much! Now we look forward to the next race in Misano, where we did some tests a few weeks ago. Although the conditions weren’t great, we managed to get some references for this weekend. I’m looking forward to trying to keep the same feeling with the Panigale V4 R and continue the good work we’ve done so far. Misano is a second home race for the Aruba team and Ducati, and we will for sure have a lot of fans to support us.”
Alvaro Bautista
Is the tension of the title race getting to the top men? Or was Jerez a one-off, a two-pronged lightning bolt which won’t strike again? They have both visited Misano more times than they can remember, but then again, that was the case for Jerez too. Continued issues and misfortune for teammates Chaz Davies and Leon Haslam will be another cause for concern for both teams as we edge closer to do-or-die time.
Chaz Davies
“We tested at Misano before Jerez, but conditions were a lot different to what we expect this weekend, so we’re not under any illusions that it’s going to be particularly easy there. Despite the results, I feel like with the knowledge from Jerez, we made a little step forward. We finally found something in the longer and faster corners which Misano also has so I’ve got to be optimistic. Before the crash, I was in the fight for the podium again so I feel it’s getting better. It’s still taking longer than I would have liked to get to grips with the Panigale V4 R but hopefully from Misano we can keep progressing.”
Chaz Davies
Either way, Michael van der Mark was the person who profited the most from the other two’s woes, yet it would be foolish to think that he needed any assistance. The Dutchman was on another level at the Spanish circuit and broke his duck for the year, just over twelve months since his Donington double, by simply riding perfectly all weekend.
Michael van der Mark
“We had a great weekend in Jerez with two podium finishes and our first race win of the season, so we head to Misano now with a really good feeling. We tested in Misano less than a month ago and, although the weather wasn’t ideal, we got enough dry track time to make things a little easier for us to get up to speed quickly this weekend. We have a really good package now, as we saw in Jerez, so I’m pretty sure we can enjoy another great weekend in Misano and fight once again for podium finishes in all three races.”
Michael van der Mark
The YZF R1 itself was also up for the challenge, highlighted by Alex Lowes’ equally admirable pace – unfortunate incidents aside. If the blue bike is capable at last of beating the Ducati and Kawasaki week in, week out… Then who said the fight for the championship will be a two-horse race come Autumn?
Alex Lowes
“After a good test in Misano a few weeks ago, and with speed we showed in Jerez, I’m looking forward to getting back on track this weekend. We didn’t get the results we were hoping for in Jerez, but rather than going into Misano looking to make amends, I’m going to stick to the working process with my guys that has worked so well for us all year. We showed we had the pace to challenge for the podium in Jerez, so we know we can do the same this weekend in Misano. It’s always a great atmosphere when you race in Italy and, unlike the test, this weekend looks like it’s going to be a scorcher!”
Alex Lowes
Last time out in Jerez Rea took his 18th career pre-race Superpole win, and challenged for podium positions in the two longer races. He scored a second place in race two in Spain but aims for much more in Italy; ideally to add to his all-time race winning tally of 73.
Rea has recorded six race wins at Misano in previous seasons, including his first ever WorldSBK victory, way back in the 2009 season. He has already got his 2019 winning score off the mark, with two wins in the only to races that took place at Imola in May.
Jonathan Rea
“Misano is a race weekend that I always look forward to. It is the scene of my first ever SBK win in 2009 and the whole atmosphere of being in Italy, and right by the beach, means it has a great feeling to it. And people always come out and watch as well. After a really difficult Jerez it is the perfect place to go to and try and get back the feeling we had in Imola and some previous races. We had a really strong test at Misano just a few weeks ago, where I was both fast and consistent, so we have a really good idea where to start FP1 from, and then build forward from there. I will work with all my crew to maximise our potential.”
Jonathan Rea – Misano 2018
After two strong podium places at Phillip Island in the opening round of the year, Haslam has been tantalisingly close since then on several occasions. After a recent private test at Jerez and an earlier one at Misano he approaches this round ready to challenge for top three places once again.
Leon Haslam
“The atmosphere at Misano is always fantastic. Jerez was a tough weekend last time out but we did a private test after the race weekend and in my opinion we made some really big steps. The whole year I have been trying to adapt my style to how this bike needs to be ridden, especially with the electronics. At that test in Jerez, however, we got to explore the bike a bit more and try to make it work more for my natural style. Straight away we made a big step so I want to take that on to the next round in Misano. We did a test there a few weeks ago too, although it was a little bit hampered by the weather. I like the circuit there and hopefully we can restart my season and try to get back on that podium.”
Leon Haslam – Jerez WorldSBK 2019
The Independent Riders’ championship is expected to be decided between a pair Yamahas, Marco Melandri and Sandro Cortese.
Marco Melandri
“I am looking forward to Misano, as it’s one of my favourite tracks and it’s where we made a significant step forward with the R1 during the recent test, identifying a set-up that works really well with my riding style. After Jerez, where my both my confidence and pace were improving day by day along, the whole team is full motivated to keep working and to keep improving. The weather is going to be hot; I’m feeling good and I’m sure it’s going to be a great weekend.”
Marco Melandri
Sandro Cortese
“I’m feeling confident and looking forward to returning to Misano, where we tested a few weeks ago. The updates we received from Yamaha at the test were a big help and allowed me to secure my best result to date in Jerez last time out. My confidence in the bike is increasing and the smaller fuel tank has allowed me to be more relaxed on the bike, as well as improving my feeling. Misano, like Jerez, is a racetrack I know well and while I’m confident we can continue our run of top ten finishes there, the goal has to be to start closing on the top five. The weather forecast looks good, the track is very beautiful, and I can’t wait to race there once again.”
Sandro Cortese
Toprak Razgatlioglu is committed to beat Melandri and Cortese to top independent, as he sits just seven-points behind the rider from Ravenna and twelve ahead of the German rookie. The Turk has scored two podium finishes in the past two rounds, at Imola and Jerez.
After taking third in Imola’s Race 1, the Turkish star stated that he needed more podiums. Well, he’s got two now, and we’re just six rounds in. At this rate, Razgatlioglu will be shifting his focus towards a greater goal very soon, perhaps as soon as this weekend.
Toprak Razgatlioglu
The fact that it’s a home round for the Puccetti squad may help his case, but in fairness, Misano is a home round for a large share of hungry challengers, including a long-time rival of Razgatlioglu’s: Michael Ruben Rinaldi. The 23-year-old scored his personal best WorldSBK result in Jerez (4th in Race 2) and is growing each and every race on the V4 R.
Squad resources will be split at Misano, however, as Michele Pirro joins Rinaldi inside the BARNI squad. Experience versus youth, national champion versus world stage hopeful – another thrilling duel to look out for in Italy.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi
And then there’s the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, who – whisper it – are edging ever closer to the top positions. Jerez was a relatively quiet weekend for Tom Sykes, yet that was perhaps more down to other teams’ ups-and-downs and overall chaos than to the Yorkshireman’s performances themselves.
In fact, Sykes scored more points than at any other round this year, a sign that the project is chugging along according to plan. The 2013 World Champion seems happy and with more updates for the S1000 RR potentially arriving in the near future, it may become hard to rub the smile off his face.
Tom Sykes
“I am very much looking forward to the Misano round of the Superbike World Championship. It’s always a pleasure to race in Italy and of course it’s on the back of a two-day test there. It was certainly worth doing the test in preparation for the race and obviously I have quite high expectations with the BMW S 1000 RR chassis. I really hope we can have a very consistent weekend and the target is to try to finish in the top five in all three races. I am certainly trying my best along with the entire BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team to try and secure some podiums now and hopefully get the one that we were so close to at Imola. That would be great for the whole team.”
Tom Sykes
BMW have been edging further and further away from Honda in the Manufacturer’s Championship, as the Japanese manufacturer endured a weekend of disappointment in Jerez.
Leon Camier requires a little more time to regain sufficient strength and movement in his left shoulder, after being injured in a blameless collision with another rider during the Superpole qualifying session at the Italian World Superbike round at Imola one month ago. Leon will therefore sit out this seventh round of the season with the aim of being back in shape for the British round, set to take place over the weekend of 5-7 July at Donington Park.
Leon Camier
“I’ve made some good progress with the shoulder over the past month but ligaments are not a quick fix. My doctor is happy with the recovery so far, and the level of movement is better but I’m lacking a lot of strength especially in certain positions. I am working daily with my physio and trainer to get back to full strength as quickly as possible. This has been a frustrating year because I’ve had two injuries sustained after getting caught up in other riders’ crashes, in Thailand where I broke the top of the tibia and in Imola breaking the ligaments in the AC joint in the shoulder. I just want to get back on the bike again and see if we can make some progress. I want to thank Honda and the team, I’m very grateful for their support and I will be back as soon as possible!”
Yuki Takahashi will join Moriwaki Althea Honda’s Ryuichi Kiyonari for Misano this week end, as he once again stands in for the recovering Leon Camier.
Yuki Takahashi
“First of all, I’m sorry Leon cannot be back with his team at Misano and I hope he can return as soon as possible. I quite like Misano, though it’s not among my favorite tracks on the calendar. I had the chance to complete a few laps there in May and that will be useful in preparation for the weekend. And then the experience we gained in Jerez is very important of course, helping us to make work in the garage as efficient as possible. I’ll continue to try and provide the team with useful feedback on the bike while also striving for the best possible results on Saturday and Sunday”.
Pirelli WorldSBK of Misano 2019 Infographic
WorldSBK Standings 2019
Pos
Rider
Bike
PTS
1
Alvaro Bautista
Ducati
300
2
Jonathan Rea
Kawasaki
259
3
Michael Van Der Mark
Yamaha
188
4
Alex Lowes
Yamaha
142
5
Leon Haslam
Kawasaki
130
6
Marco Melandri
Yamaha
102
7
Toprak Razgatlioglu
Kawasaki
95
8
Chaz Davies
Ducati
94
9
Sandro Cortese
Yamaha
83
10
Tom Sykes
BMW
80
11
Jordi Torres
Kawasaki
65
12
Michael Ruben Rinaldi
Ducati
63
13
Markus Reiterberger
BMW
50
14
Eugene Laverty
Ducati
32
15
Leon Camier
Honda
26
16
Leandro Mercado
Kawasaki
19
17
Thomas Bridewell
Ducati
12
18
Ryuichi Kiyonari
Honda
12
19
Loris Baz
Yamaha
11
20
Lorenzo Zanetti
Ducati
7
21
Alessandro Delbianco
Honda
5
22
Yuki Takahashi
Honda
3
23
Hector Barbera
Kawasaki
3
WorldSSP
Randy Krummenacher’s championship lead was whittled down at Jerez, back to 17 points after finishing second to his ever-improving teammate, Federico Caricasulo. The Swiss rider has never finished on the podium at Misano, having been fifth last season and fourth in 2016. However, he is also yet to finish outside of the top two positions this season; will Krummenacher keep his title lead after the Pata Riviera di Rimini Round?
Randy Krummenacher
It was a mesmerizing final two laps that gave Federico Caricasulo a second victory of the 2019 WorldSSP season. The 23-year-old romped home for his second win at the Jerez circuit and will look to repeat that statistic at Misano, a circuit he won at in 2018. With his strong current form and a positive history at Misano, will the title fight continue to swing in the Italian’s favour at his home round?
Back on the podium at Jerez for the first time since he won at Buriram, Jules Cluzel is back in the title fight, with an inspired ride at the Acerbis Spanish Round. The Frenchman, who currently sits 41 points behind Randy Krummenacher, will need to find his race-winning form if he is to have realistic hopes of clinching that elusive first title. Having won at Misano in 2015 and 2016, the 30-year-old knows what it takes to succeed at the Italian venue.
Jules Cluzel
Once again featuring prominently at the sharp end, Hikari Okubo holds fourth in the championship after a sixth top-ten finish of the season at Jerez. The Japanese sensation arrives at Misano where in 2018, he achieved ninth. Besides a retirement at Losail last season, Okubo has been inside the top ten in every race since then and will look to continue his strong form this weekend. Is a first podium in the offing?
It was another positive showing from Raffaele De Rosa, as the Italian continues his quest for a first WorldSSP victory. Heading to Misano onboard the MV Agusta, the partisan crowd will be cheering De Rosa on for his first win at a circuit where he was second last year and in Superstock 1000, back in 2015. Will De Rosa deliver the goods at home?
Raffaele De Rosa
Fighting tooth-and-nail to remain in the championship battle and the battle for his first race win, Thomas Gradinger was back in the leading group last time out at Jerez, finishing fourth. The Austrian rider, who is sixth in the championship, heads to Misano, where he suffered his only DNF of the 2018 WorldSSP season. With just six points covering fourth, to sixth in the standings, it could be all change again after Misano.
Keep an eye on other riders too, starting with 2017 WorldSSP Champion, Lucas Mahias, who led a race for the first time this season at Jerez. Isaac Viñales’ consistency has kept him in the top eight overall, ahead of Corentin Perolari and Peter Sebestyen who secured another top ten at Jerez. Massimo Roccoli is one of eight wildcards in the class.
WorldSSP Standings 2019
Pos
Rider
Bike
PTS
1
Randy Krummenacher
Yamaha
135
2
Federico Caricasulo
Yamaha
118
3
Jules Cluzel
Yamaha
94
4
Hikari Okubo
Kawasaki
59
5
Raffaele De Rosa
MV Agusta
58
6
Thomas Gradinger
Yamaha
53
7
Lucas Mahias
Kawaaki
50
8
Isaac Vinales
Yamaha
45
9
Corentin Perolari
Yamaha
41
10
Peter Sebestyen
Honda
33
11
Loris Cresson
Yamaha
26
12
Hector Barbera
Yamaha
22
13
Jules Danilo22
Honda
22
14
Ayrton Badovini
Yamaha
20
15
Hannes Soomer
Honda
18
16
Kyle Smith
Kawasaki
10
17
Glenn Van Straalen
Kawasaki
9
18
Jaimie Van Sikkelerus
Honda
6
19
Federico Fuligni
MV Agusta
6
20
Tom Toparis
Yamaha
5
21
Rob Hartog
Kawasaki
5
22
Maria Herrera
Yamaha
5
WorldSSP300
The WorldSSP300 championship battle is beginning to take shape, with both former champions joining champion-elect Manuel Gonzalez at the front of the title fight. Jerez proved a pivotal round for the likes of Scott Deroue, as he failed to score points, meaning that Gonzalez has momentarily been let off the hook – but Misano always throws up a surprise.
Manuel Gonzalez
It has been an impressive start to the season for Manuel Gonzalez, who before the start of his 2019 campaign, had never won a WorldSSP300 race. Now with three wins from the opening four races, the 16-year-old heads to Misano, where he picked up his first career podium last year. With this being the fifth round, it is the second half of the season and Gonzalez could certainly put one hand on the championship trophy.
However, that is if everything goes to plan – which in WorldSSP300, is a rarity. Chasing him down in second position is Scott Deroue, with the Dutchman losing lots of ground on Gonzalez after being taken out in the first start of Race 2 at Jerez and not climbing through the order. The Dutchman has a mountain to climb to claw back the lost ground from Jerez but Misano could be the place – although he’s never achieved a podium at the circuit.
Marc Garcia, Ana Carrasco and Scott Deroue
A return to the top in Jerez Race 1 for Marc Garcia saw him launch up the order to third in the standings and just six points back of Deroue. The 2017 WorldSSP300 champion finally showed some of his 2017 form at the track which he clinched the championship at. Garcia’s form at Misano isn’t as fruitful, having only managed a sixth in 2017. Can he come good again for a second round running?
Fourth place sees Jan-Ole Jahnig sitting pretty, with a consistent start to 2019 meaning he remains in contention. The German teenager, who has a best result of third in 2019, will be hoping to get back on the podium for only the second time in his career. He was 20th on the grid at Misano but strong race craft saw him carve his way into eighth.
Completing the top five is French rider Hugo De Cancellis, who has also enjoyed a consistent start to the 2019 season, finishing every race in the top eight and with a podium at Aragon. At Misano in 2018, the 17-year-old scored his first points of his career and will be hoping to vastly improve on that in 2019, in a bid to stay in the title fight, with just nine points covering second to fifth.
Ana Carrasco
Keep an eye out for Ana Carrasco, as the reigning champion made a return to the podium at Jerez, whilst Galang Hendra Pratama took his best result of the season. Victor Steeman was in the leading battle at Jerez, whilst the winner of the 2018 race at Misano, Manuel Bastianelli, will look to do it all again. There’s plenty of wildcards to keep an eye out for too, with six in the WorldSSP300 class.
Former MX2 world champion Ben Townley and the Greatest of all Time (GOAT) Ricky Carmichael will go head-to-head at the 2019 Monster Energy S-X Open Auckland in New Zealand on 16 November, which will make up round one of the S-X Open International FIM Oceania Supercross Championship and round four of the Australian Supercross Championship.
Townley and Carmichael will line-up against each other at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium in what will be the first time the pair have raced side-by-side since 2007.
New Zealand native Townley is proud to be a part of the event for the second year in a row, and believes the high standard of last year’s race is the reason why the best international calibre riders in the world are attending.
“I’ve had plenty of battles with RC back in the day when I based myself out of his training facility in the US in 2006 and ‘07,” Townley explained. “Ricky never let any cameras in the ‘GOAT Farm’ back then and was always so secretive about the place, truth be told he just didn’t want anyone to know how much I was beating him by in his own backyard!.
“It’s going to be awesome to battle head-to-head against Ricky again and it’s a massive win for Kiwi sports fans that the GOAT is coming to New Zealand to put on a show for us at Mt Smart Stadium on 16 November. He might be an old boy now but Ricky still has plenty of tricks in the bag so I’ll be training hard to ensure I take home the trophy for the ANZACs again.”
Carmichael will head to New Zealand for the first time ever to take on his old training partner Townley, on his home turf, and claims he is pumped to be racing in front of the passionate Kiwi fans for the first time.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be racing in Auckland this 16 November, it will be my first time ever racing there, and I’m excited to put on an epic show for the fans at Mt Smart Stadium,” said Carmichael.
“BT and I have raced together many times before, and he’s always been a tough guy to beat, and it’s been a long time since we’ve gone bar-to-bar,” said Carmichael. “We raced plenty back in the day at the GOAT Farm, he was easy to beat then, and I reckon he’s gonna be easy to beat now, so I think I’m going to have to beat him in front of his home crowd in Auckland on 16 November.”
With more rider announcements to come, the pair join the already confirmed defending S-X Open champion Chad Reed (KGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing) and 2018 Monster Energy AMA Supercross champion Jason Anderson (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing).
The announcement of Townley and Carmichael comes as pre-sale to this year’s S-X Open Auckland kicks off today at 12pm NZST exclusively for S-X Open database and Ticketmaster NZ subscribers, with tickets officially on-sale to the public at 12pm NZST Wednesday, 26 June. For more information, visit www.sxopen.com.
2019 KTM New Zealand Adventure Rallye: Top of the South
Running November 9-14 this year (2019), the KTM New Zealand Adventure Rallye returns to the South Island for five action packed days of amazing terrain, that is the dreams of all adventure riders. Entrants will be treated to a course set by local experts who are all Rallye riders themselves and are excited to showcase the stunning landscape they call their backyard.
Set to explore the famous Top of the South regions of Nelson Tasman, Marlborough and Canterbury, “Sunny Nelson” provides the ideal location to start and finish the Rallye.
Kickstarting the action is a loop day out Nelson, with riders straight into dirt mere kms from downtown, with a fun rocky climb followed by breathtaking views – and that is just the first 50km!
The route will then see riders head to the riverside mountain town of Murchison along some of the local experts favourite tracks, as well as some of the South Islands most famous adventure roads – Rainbow and Molesworth Stations – with further overnights at the charismatic town of Hanmer Springs and the coastal port of Picton before returning to Nelson to cap off an epic week.
KTM New Zealand Adventure Rallye: Top of the South
Open to orange adventure riders with the following eligible KTM bikes: 640, 690, 790, 790R, 950, 990, 1050, 1090, 1090R, 1190, 1190R, 1290 & 1290R models. The Rallye is tailored to suit a wide range of rider abilities, from those in their first years of Adventure riding up to seasoned Adventure pros.
The aim on the KTM New Zealand Adventure Rallye is to be suitable for all KTM adventure riders – therefore we offer two route options daily for riders: Main Route and Breakout Route. The Main Route will be shorter and less technically challenging, with the Breakout Routes offering advanced riders more challenging terrain.
KTM New Zealand Adventure Rallye
The Main Route will be made up of winding back country roads, metal roads and well formed off road tracks. Riders on the Breakout routes can expect rocks, mud, hills, mountains, farm land and some real challenges.
And taking the adventure to another level, back for 2019 is the KTM Ultimate Race Qualifiers, which will see two lucky Rallye riders win the chance to participate in the 2020 Merzouga Rally in Morocco.
The KTM New Zealand Adventure Rallye is about offering a great experience to our orange adventure riders by taking all the hard work of planning a ride so you can truly enjoy your adventure. With lead riders, sweep riders, GPS routes, luggage support, technical support, medical support, a backup vehicle, dinner every night and a photographer and videographer to capture the memories – we cover the details, so you can enjoy the good stuff!
Also – if you wish to take advantage of the Dealer Priority Registration, be sure to contact your local KTM New Zealand dealer now so you are on their list to receive the registration link first.
Honda’s popular CBR500R has been updated for 2019 with more mid-range grunt and improved ergonomics. The latest generation of the machines have just hit Honda dealers across Australia at $7,999.
2019 Honda CBR500R
The rider’s seat pad and seat unit – plus the upper and side fairings – have been narrowed to improve ergonomics. Seat height remains low at 785mm, making the CBR500R very easy to manage, while its riding position comfortably accommodates riders of any height.
2019 Honda CBR500R
The development target for the CBR500Rs engine for 2019 was focused on faster acceleration through a boost in low-to-mid-range power and torque in the 3-7,000rpm range. This 4% improvement comes via altered valve timing – with ‘close’ timing accelerated by 5° – and lift increased 0.3mm to 7.8mm.
2019 Honda CBR500R
Feeding the PGM-FI fuel injection is now a more-or-less straight shot of airflow through the airbox and throttle bodies. A six-speed gearbox mirrors that of its CBR1000RR cousin and uses the same gear change arm structure and link mechanism. The new addition of an assist/slipper clutch enables lighter upshifts and smooths out any hard downshifts.
2019 Honda CBR500R
New LCD instruments feature a Shift Up and Gear Position function and the indicators are now LED, to match the rest of the lighting. The new 2019 CBR500R will be available in three colour options: Matte Axis Grey Metallic, Grand Prix Red and Pearl Metalloid White.
Fist Hand Wear have announced a new set of Robbie Maddison inspired red label gloves – the Highlighter V1 – featuring the Aussie emblem of the boxing kangaroo.
Fist Highlighter Glove
As always, the Fist glove includes a pre-curved clarino palm allowing for superior wear without sacrificing feel. The gloves include form-fitting technology ensuring that there is no bunching or blistering while enjoying full breathability and flexibility.
Sublimated twill spandex uppers also allow for full breathability and supreme comfort. Tacky silicon finger and palm prints offer maximum grip even in the wettest of conditions. In summary, a glove design that has not skimped on features!
See your local Fist Handwear stockist for more information and to grab a set for yourself!
Highlighter V1 Glove feaures
Pre-curved Clarino Palm
Clarino is one of the most durable man-made synthetic leathers on the market
Form fitted
Sublimated four-way stretch twill spandex uppers
Spandex finger gussets for ultimate flexibility and dexterity
