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Dream start for Bagnaia with MotoGP success in Portugal

Dream start for Bagnaia with MotoGP success in Portugal

Teenage talent Acosta wins Moto2, breakthrough Moto3 victory for Holgado.

Image: Supplied.

Reigning MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia started his 2023 title defence with a maximum points haul from Portimao, concluding the weekend on top at the Portuguese Grand Prix as Pedro Acosta and Daniel Holgado stood tall in Moto2, Moto3 respectively.

Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) won the newly-introduced sprint race on Saturday and continued his winning form to take out Sunday afternoon’s GP, ahead of Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales who kept the pressure on to the flag to finish second, just 0.687s from the lead.

A solid ride from Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) saw him finish third, the Italian 2.726s from Bagnaia come race-end and over five-seconds clear of Johann Zarco (Prima Primac Racing) in P4.

Zarco emerged on top of a multi-rider battle for fourth, leading Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) who impressed in fifth to commence his stint onboard a Ducati.

In tow of the Spaniard, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing duo Brad Binder and Jack Miller were sixth and seventh respectively, as former world champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha), Aleix Esparagaro (Aprilia Racing) and new LCR Honda Castrol rider Alex Rins completed the top 10.

Notably, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) collided with home-hero Miguel Oliveira (CryptoData RNF MotoGP Team) in the early stages, bringing both riders down and forcing Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) – who was second in the sprint race – wide. Marquez has been given a double long-lap penalty to be served in Argentina.

In terms of the championship, thanks to his victories in both the sprint race and GP, Bagnaia leads on 37 points, ahead of Vinales (25) and Bezzecchi (16). Miller is fifth in the standings with 15 points.

Oliveira has been cleared to race next weekend after sustaining contusions to his leg, while Marquez suffered a possible broken hand in the fall. Both riders were fighting in the leading group at the time of the incident.

Image: Supplied.

Red Bull KTM Ajo talent Acosta reigned supreme in the intermediate class, keeping  Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) at bay in what quickly became a two-rider breakaway at the front of the field.

Tony Arbolino (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) finished third, 4.460s from the lead, ahead of Filip Salac (QJMotor Gresini) and Manual Gonzalez (Correos Prepago (Yamaha VR46 Mastercamp) who completed the top five.

Notably after running inside the top three in the early stages, Celestino Vietti (Fantic Racing) finished 11th after serving a double-lap penalty that carried over from Valencia last year.

Image: Supplied.

Moto3 saw a breakthrough victory for Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3), edging David Munoz (BOE Motorsports) and Brazilian Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets -MSI) in what was a multi-rider battle for the lead.

Australia’s Joel Kelso qualified a career-best P3 and lead throughout the race, ultimately taking the chequered flag in ninth and 1.268s from the leader.

Unfortunately, following the race, he collided with race-winner Holgado after the finish line, bringing the Australian down heavily, resulting in a broken ankle.

The Red Bull Rookies Cup also competed in Portugal, with Angel Piqueras taking both victories while Australia’s Jacob Roulstone went 13-9 and Carter Thompson debuted in the class with 20-15 finishes after qualifying 12th.

Detailed results


Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Mixed conditions mastered by Dunker for Supersport overall

Mixed conditions mastered by Dunker for Supersport overall

Race one winner Condon crashes out of second encounter in Sydney.

Image: Foremost Media.

In just his second Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) round on a 600 Cameron Dunker secured the Supersport overall in Sydney thanks to a clinical race two victory in mixed conditions.

Yamaha-mounted Condon did exactly what he needed to get his championship back on track in race one, converting pole position to take the win in the overcast, but dry weather and track.

Despite getting shuffled back in the early stages of race one, Condon maintained his composure in the opening laps and took the lead from Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) through turn two on lap four.

The number 26 dropped the hammer to post a 1m32.9s and stretch his advantage out to nine-tenths. The gap remained around the one-second mark for the laps that followed, with Farnsworth riding to an unchallenged second position while keeping pressure on the lead.

A clean ride from the fast-starting Tom Bramich (Yamaha) saw him finish third, ahead of Olly Simpson in P4 who recovered from running wide at turn four on lap three, while battling for the lead. Dunker (Yamaha) emerged in fifth, in front of round one winner Ty Lynch (Yamaha) who overcame reigning champion John Lytras (Yamaha).

Just two-tenths from Lytras, Hayden Nelson (Yamaha) finished P8, as Tarbon Walker (Yamaha) and Jack Favelle (Honda) completed the top 10.

Dual Supersport 300 and R3 Cup champion Dunker mastered the tricky mixed conditions under lights to take his first victory onboard the 600 in national Supersport.

Drying track conditions left competitors torn on tyre choice, with Lynch, Simpson and Dunker all opting for wets and breaking away in the early stages.

Three soon became two as Simpson and Dunker cleared the number 85, the pair opening up a sizeable advantage in the laps that followed. Simpson led Dunker until two laps to go, when the GTR MotoStars rider capitalised on a mistake from the South Australian to take the lead and ride to a 1.040s victory.

Simpson finished a clear second, 18 seconds ahead of Scott Nicholson who charged to third on slicks. Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha) and Nelson were fourth and fifth respectively, ahead of Skeer, Passfield, Lynch – who suffered in the closing stages, Lytras and Luca Durning (Yamaha).

Notably, race one winner Sean Condon – who was riding on slicks – crashed at turn six with five laps to go, and Farnsworth was pulled off the grid prior to the race start.

Dunker’s race two victory elevated him to the round victory on 41 points, ahead of Simpson with 37 and Nelson on 29. In terms of the championship standings after round two, Lynch leads on 82 points, Simpson is second courtesy of 74 and Lytras is third with 72.

Image: Foremost Media.

A race three victory secured Brandon Demmery the overall in both the Supersport 300 class and R3 Cup, the race one winner drafting Cameron Swain – who stood tall in race two – to the line in the final bout. Swain was second overall for the round in both categories, as Brodie Gawith completed the top three.

After two rounds, Demmery leads the Supersport 300 Championship on 128 points, ahead of Swain with 114 and Russo in third on 109. Sydney marked the first round of the 2023 R3 Cup, with Demmery leading the series on 70 points, Swain P2 courtesy of 63 and Gawith third on 52.

In the Oceania Junior Cup (OJC), race one and two winner Haydn Fordyce prevailed when it came to the overall, and leads the series in its early stages on 64 points ahead of Valentino Knezovic (57) and Riley Nauta (50). Race-three winner Bodie Paige recovered from a fall in yesterday’s encounter to leave Sydney fifth in the standings.

Detailed results


Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Intense ASBK qualifying sees Halliday on pole in Sydney

Supersport qualifying topped by Condon who sat out Q2 altogether.

Image: Foremost Media.

Continuing his convincing form in Sydney, Cru Halliday has secured pole position in the second round of the 2023 Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), with each of the riders on the front row covered by less than a tenth, while in Supersport Sean Condon set the qualifying benchmark.

A 1m28.970s secured the number 65 the best possible starting position for tomorrow, with Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) lining up second courtesy of a 1m29.019s and round one winner Josh Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati) third, just one thousandth from the reigning champion.

Each of the top three led at times throughout the session, as Penrite Honda Racing’s Troy Herfoss (1m29.710s) will line-up fourth, ahead of Bryan Staring (MotoGo Yamaha) P5.

Glenn Allerton (GT Racing Team BMW) just missed the 1m29s mark in sixth, while Arthur Sissis (Unitech Racing Yamaha), Max Stauffer (GTR MotoStars Yamaha), Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati) and Ted Collins (Livson Racing BMW) completed the top 10.

Image: Foremost Media.

Condon continued his dominant form from practice to lead Superport qualifying, taking out pole position despite sitting out the second session under the lights altogether.

The R6 rider posted a 1m32.509s in QP1 this afternoon, with Jack Passfield setting the second fastest time in the form of a 1m33.253s, however, he notably suffered a sizeable high-side on the entry to turn nine in the second qualifying session.

Completing the front row is round one winner Ty Lynch (Yamaha), setting a 1m33.538s to finish ahead of Olly Simpson (Yamaha) who was the leading rider to improve their time tonight, ending just 0.016s from a front-row starting position.

A 1m33.722s from Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) was enough for P5, in front of Supersport rookie Hayden Nelson who was the final rider in the 1m33s bracket.

Lining up in P7 is Tom Bramich (Yamaha), as dual Supersport 300 and R3 Cup champion Cameron Dunker (Yamaha), Dallas Skeer and reigning Supersport champion John Lytras round out the top 10.

In the first Supersport 300/ R3 Cup bout, experienced contender Brandon Demmery converted pole position to victory, crossing the line ahead of round one winner Jai Russo and former Oceania Junior Cup (OJC) champion Cameron Swain – the top three separated by just 0.088s.

A thrilling Oceania Junior Cup race one saw Haydn Fordyce recover from a poor start to win the category’s first encounter of the season, leading Valentino Knezovic and Queensland’s Hunter Corney at race-end.

Detailed results




Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Miller ‘as ready as we can be’ ahead of KTM debut in Portimao

Australian gearing up for opening round of the 2023 MotoGP season.

Image: Supplied.

Australia’s Jack Miller is gearing up for his KTM debut in the MotoGP World Championship, believing ‘we are as ready as we can be’ ahead of the opening round of the 2023 season in Portimao.

Miller had a single day of testing onboard the RC 16 post-race at Valencia last year, and completed outings in the pre-season at Sepang and most recently Portimao.

He adapted easier than he expected to the KTM premier-class platform at the Riccardo Tormo Circuit, and continued the process of becoming accustomed to the RC 16 throughout the rain-impacted test in Malaysia. Sampling the 2023 package for the first time at Portimao, he concluded the pre-season 17th fastest at the undulating 4.5km circuit and identified engine map refinements as an area for improvement.

“We are ready as we can be,” Miller explained. “I was just sitting up here discussing with Johann [Zarco] how the winter testing went. It’s always different when you’re changing manufacturers there are a lot of things you need to learn, and a lot of things you need to understand and make that bike your own.”

“We’re as good as we can be after let’s say five days of testing. The first day at the end of the year last year didn’t do much, because you sort of forget pretty much everything you learned on that day throughout the winter break. The test in Sepang was good. The test here was good as well, we can make some decent strides in the second day.

“I’m as ready as anyone to go racing, I think we’ve all got that itch to get back amongst it. It’s been a long winter break, but it’s been good to have a bit of downtime ahead of what’s going to be a pretty hectic and stressful season.”

The expanded 21-round 2023 MotoGP World Championship commences on Friday in Portimao, Portugal, which will see the introduction of a new format in the premier class including namely a sprint race on Saturday.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Quartararo bounces back at Catalunya MotoGP

Marini wins again in Moto2 – Binder takes out Moto3.

Image: Supplied

Fabio Quartararo and the Petronas Yamaha SRT team have triumphed in Barcelona at the Gran Premio de Catalunya and surged to the top of the MotoGP championship standings on what was also an excellent day for Team Suzuki Ecstar, with Joan Mir and Alex Rins completing the podium.

There was drama from the outset, however, as championship leader Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) was wiped out in the opening corner after being struck by the fallen Johan Zarco (Esponsorama Racing). Danilo Petrucci had made a strong move and almost went down himself to get past Zarco, touching Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) on the way through. Zarco applied his front brake, causing him to fall. “If I do not touch the brake I think I will anyway touch Danilo, so it could have been the same end,” Zarco commented after the race. The outcome: zero points for Zarco and a raging Dovizioso.

During the drama, Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) had dropped back to 15th place while up front, Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) was setting the pace with Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) hot on his tail.
Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Quartararo were left in pursuit, with both getting the better of Miller by the end of the opening lap. By lap eight Quartararo was showing his intention, applying pressure on Morbidelli with Rossi and Miller close behind. Mir was next, waiting for an opportunity. Quartararo assumed the lead from Morbidelli, with the latter having a big moment into turn one with fourteen laps to go, running wide and allowing Rossi through.
Behind them, Miller was struggling to keep Mir at bay but on lap sixteen, just as ‘The Doctor’ looked certain for that elusive 200th podium in his 350th premier class race start, Rossi fell.

Up front Quartararo was now three seconds clear of Morbidelli and then a mistake from Miller let Mir through for the final podium slot. With seven laps to run, Mir wanted more and was only half a second off Morbidelli. The situation only got worse for Miller, as the second Suzuki of Rins loomed behind him. With five laps to go, Rins made his move, putting the Suzuki’s into third and fourth.

With four laps remaining, Quartararo was managing the situation out front with an almost three second gap, but Mir was 0.7s quicker per lap and right on the tail of Moridelli. Hungry for second, Mir made his move on the penultimate lap, cutting past Morbidelli while Rins joined the action, also making his move to put both Suzuki’s on the podium.
This was the first time both Suzuki’s were on the box since Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi at Misano in 2007.

Quartararo held on for an emotional victory, one which sees him take an eight point advantage in the championship from Mir while an ecstatic Rins celebrated a brilliant podium after having qualified in 13th position.
Morbidelli and Miller were fourth and fifth respectively with Pecco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) in sixth.
Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Indemitsu) was the first Honda home in seventh while Petrucci recovered to eighth. The shock was Maverick Viñales, struggling through the race to ninth and now sitting third in the championship, 28 points behind Quartararo. A gallant Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) rounded out the top ten after suffering ligament damage in his ankle during the week, to go with his already mangled arm.

In Moto2 Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) was able to outlast the challenge from Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), taking a pivotal victory at the half way point in the season to boost his championship lead to twenty points. Fabio Di Giannantonio (HDR Heidrun Speed Up) took third, scoring his maiden podium for the year.

After an excellent start from Marini, Lowes attacked to take the lead with seven laps remaining. Marini kept the pressure on, wearing down his opponent, pouncing on the penultimate lap at turn one.

Australian Remy Gardner (OneXOX TKKR SAG Team) endure a torrid weekend of penalties to finish a disappointing 16th. Gardner had to take a long lap penalty for exceeding track limits, as well as the six grid spot penalty for the yellow flag crash on Friday. After the race Gardner explained tyres were also an issue, saying, “It was like riding on ice and it sucks when you give it one hundred percent all weekend and a tyre company lets you down when it matters. It was something out of our control and we have to just focus on the next one. I think we could have been in the top ten, the only consolation is that we leave the weekend with no further injury. I am sore but we dug deep, and I will rest now to be in even better shape for France.”

Moto3 saw Darryn Binder (CIP – Green Power) become a first time Grand Prix winner, getting the better of Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) on the final lap. There was drama further back as John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) crashed out and collided with Albert Arenas (Gaviota Aspar Tea, Moto3). This means Arenas loses his championship lead with Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) now out in front with a P11 result.

Detailed results

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Morbidelli leads all Yamaha front row in Catalunya

Luca Marini grabs pole and a lap record in Moto2 – Gardner starts from 16th.

Image: Supplied

Franco Morbidelli and the Petronas Yamaha SRT team have led a Yamaha dominated front row at the Gran Premio de Catalunya in Barcelona while the championship leader, Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso, will start from P17. Morbidelli took his maiden premier class pole position ahead of teammate Fabio Quartararo with future teammate and current Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP rider, Valentino Rossi completing the front row.

Morbidelli was upbeat about the race, saying, “It’s always difficult to beat Fabio on a hot lap, so I’m very happy about qualifying today. I was feeling great on the bike and I felt that I could push a lot, on both tyres as well.” He went on to comment about Rossi becoming his teammate for next season, adding, “I also want to congratulate Valentino on one more year in MotoGP and tell him that he is moving to a great team. It will be nice to have him as a team-mate.”

Australian Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) made the most of Q1, setting the fastest time in that session before going on to qualify fourth ahead of Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Johan Zarco (Esponsorama Racing).

Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) heads up the third row and looks to have strong race pace, as does Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) who lines up beside him. The third row is completed by the Ducati Team’s Danilo Petrucci, the fastest of the factory Ducati’s on the grid.

The second Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine of Brad Binder lines up at the head of row four, with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Indemitsu) the second rider to make it through from Q1.

Dovizioso has the most to lose from this race starting from P17, the championship leader having trouble under brakes and not able to run at the front.

Image: Supplied

In Moto2 it was Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) back on pole position with a new lap record of 1m 43.355s, saying afterwards he expects a strong challenge from Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS). “I’m very happy to start from pole because it will be important tomorrow, but I think Speed Up and Sam are strong here so it won’t be an easy race.”
Jorge Navarro (HDR Heidrun Speed Up) broke the Kalex stranglehold for one lap pace to take second, with Misano podium finisher Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) completing the front row. Crucially, Marini’s teammate Marco Bezzechi (Sky Racing Team VR46) starts back in sixth while Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) is starting from tenth.
Australian Remy Gardner (OneXOX TKKR SAG Team) qualified in tenth but will cop a six spot penalty after his crash in practice under yellow flags was penalised.

Moto3 featured another lap record for pole as Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team) put in a 1m 47.762s lap for top spot. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) completed the front row and remarkably had identical lap times. The second fastest lap of Fernandez means that he took second spot.

Detailed results

Source: CycleOnline.com.au