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Remy Gardner was ruled out of the Grand Prix of San Marino Moto2 race at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli on the weekend after suffering a bad crash during morning warm up, breaking his thumb and fracturing bones in his foot.

After recording the second fastest time in qualifying Gardner had been promoted to pole position, taking into account the Sam Lowes penalty after last weeks Grand Prix of Styria.

A huge high side crash in the Sunday morning warm up meant he was declared unfit for the race and further medical checks revealed a broken thumb and three left foot fractures. It is unknown if he will be able to compete in the second stanza next weekend at Misano, but more will be known during the week after he undergoes surgery in Barcelona.

Although disappointed and still wanting to race, Gardner was upbeat, saying, “We were fast again in warm-up and honestly, I have no idea why I went down. It was a big crash, but I escaped relatively unhurt. I am now going to Barcelona to be operated on and I hope to be able to ride next week, but it’s too early to say for sure that I can.”

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The MotoGP World Championship moves to the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli on the Adriatic Coast for round six where the independent Petronas Yamaha SRT of Fabio Quartararo has topped Friday’s free practice. Maverick Viñales from the factory Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team and Quartararo’s teammate Franco Morbidelli meant Yamaha filled the top three spots.

After a brutal double header at the Red Bull Ring, Quartararo will be looking to consolidate his position at the top of the MotoGP standings, where he holds a three point advantage to Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team). Quartararo, like most, set his fastest time in the afternoon session on a track that is much better suited to the Yamaha. The gap was a tiny 0.009s to Vinales, who had set his fastest time in the morning. Morbidelli also went faster in the afternoon, with the trio of Yamaha’s followed by the two KTM’s of Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) to make up the top five.

Local hero Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was solid at a track he favours, holding down sixth spot after wiping nearly a second off his morning time. Danillo Petrucci (Ducati Team) also went faster in the afternoon to finish seventh with Brno victor Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in eighth. Styria winner Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) was ninth with Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) rounding out the top ten.

Notably down the order were the Ducati’s of Dovizioso (11th), Jack Miller and Peco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing – 17th and 18th). Both Suzuki’s found themselves outside the top ten while Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) is struggling badly with an injured arm. World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) is still unable to race and is said to be in doubt for the next two to three months.

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In Moto2 the big news is the absence of Jorge Martin, who tested positive to COVID-19 during the week. Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team), who was recently announced to be graduating to MotoGP next season, topped free practice.
Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) was close behind in second followed by teammate Agusto Fernandez.
Australian Remy Gardner (OneXOX TKKR SAG Team) struggled back in 17th position after crashing at turn 16 in the morning session.

Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Raul Fernandez took top spot on the timesheets in Moto3 from Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) with third going to Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse).

The MotoE World Cup makes a return at Misano for their third round and on Friday it was Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) at the top, with home hero and 2019 winner at the track Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) second. Third was also a local, Alex de Angelis (Octo Pramac MotoE) while his Australian teammate Josh Hook was 15th.

Detailed results

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The Bend has been named as the next target to restart the 2020 Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) in late November, followed by a double-header at Winton to wrap-up the season.

Wakefield Park has been dropped from the calendar as Motorcycling Australia (MA) works to navigate through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has seen the series on hold since Phillip Island’s opener in March.

Instead, the next round of ASBK will be in South Australia on the weekend of 22 November at the world-class Tailem Bend facility, which could include spectators being welcomed trackside.

“I am absolutely thrilled to see ASBK returning to The Bend in November,” said The Bend Motorsport Park managing director Dr Sam Shahin. “The event promises to be yet another spectacular display of skill and courage if last year is anything to go by. The resumption of the championship is a true testament of the sport, the riders, the teams, the owners and just reward for MA’s sheer commitment to run a championship in 2020.”

Following that, Winton will now play host to the 2020 championship finals, which will be a double-header round held between 3-6 December.

“Winton Motor Raceway is very excited to be hosting the double-header grand finale round of the Australian Superbike Championship over the weekend of December 3-6,” said Jeff Grech, Winton Motor Raceway operations manager.

“It’s an absolute privilege to have the best riders in Australia racing here at our improved circuit which will allow more passing opportunities and safer racing. Turns three and four have new wider kerbing and the flag point bunker between turns one and two has been repositioned to the outside of the track behind the tyre wall for improved safety. After a year of COVID-19 limited racing, the Australia Superbike family will be welcomed in our region with open arms.”

It is currently Wayne Maxwell (Boost Mobile Ducati) who leads the Superbike standings after sweeping Phillip Island’s opening round, while Oli Bayliss (Cube Racing Yamaha) sits atop the Supersport championship points.

2020 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) calendar (revised):
Rd1 – 27 February-1 March – Phillip Island, VIC
Rd2 – 20-22 November – The Bend, SA
Rds 3-4 – 3-6 December – Winton, VIC

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Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Jorge Martin has been confirmed as one of two people who have tested positive to COVID-19 in the MotoGP paddock ahead of this weekend’s San Marino round of the world championship.

An official press release overnight stated that both cases are asymptomatic and have been placed in isolation, stressing that they had not entered the MotoGP paddock at Misano. The other positive result was returned for a mechanic from a different team.

A statement on Red Bull KTM Ajo confirmed the news of Moto2 contender Martin, stating that he feels well and is quarantined at home. It is unknown what this means for the health of the rest of the paddock or if Martin can return for the second round of the scheduled Misano double-header.

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Jonathan Rea and the Kawasaki Racing Team were made to earn their race two victory at the Teruel round of the Superbike World Championship after an epic contest with Michael Ruben Rinaldi on the Team GoEleven Ducati.

Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) had regained some confidence earlier in the morning by taking out the Tissot Superpole race ahead of Rea and Rinaldi. In the main 18 lap race Redding was at it again, passing Rea on the opening lap and igniting a fierce battle with Rinaldi and Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) attached. By the time Bautista fell a few laps in Redding and Rea had turned up the intensity, pushing each other to the limit. As the pair pushed just marginally wide, Rinaldi swooped. It was more pure tenacity that propelled Rinaldi to the lead than a mistake on the part of Rea or Redding, the GoEleven V4 Ducati cutting moves through his much more seasoned competitors.

The trio pushed a hot pace on the soft compound Pirelli SCX tyres, with Rinaldi and Rea slightly dropping Redding and putting him under pressure to keep in touch. As Rea stalked Rinaldi the gap to Redding grew to one second, with the Kawasaki of Rea looking like he was toying with Rinaldi and biding his time. Rea would push and Rinaldi would defend – and when Rea finally struck, it showed just how on the edge the Kawasaki rider had been. There was a huge moment at turn seven for Rea, then a lap later he made the pass stick. With both feet off the pegs and the Ninja fully out of shape, Rea needed another massive save tipping into turn one with the rear in the air, protesting under braking force.

While the leaders scrapped, Redding was simply unable to respond but was able to salvage the final podium spot. After Redding’s Aruba.it teammate Chaz Davies had crashed out, Leon Haslam (Team HRC) stepped up for his best result this season while Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) came home in fifth. Dutchman Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team) was a further five seconds behind in fifth, closely followed by his teammate Toprak Razgatlioglu.

Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) was another five seconds behind Razgatlioglu with GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team duo Federico Caricasulo and Garrett Gerloff rounding out the top ten.

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World Supersport was once again taken out by Andrea Locatelli (Bardahl Evans Bros. World Supersport Team) but not without significant drama. In the opening stages Locatelli had fallen to third place with Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) and Raffaele de Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) out front. On lap four the pair collided at turn one, forcing both out of the race with Cluzel later diagnosed with fractures to his left tibia and fibula. Locatelli went on to win by over six seconds with Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) second and Isaac Viñales (Kallio Racing) completing the podium. Australian Lachlan Epis (MPM Routz Racing Team) bought his Yamaha home for 18th place.

The Supersport 300 World Championship class was won by Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki Motoport) with an unusual gap of over five seconds. Buis has claimed three race wins in four races while teammate Scott Deroue scored another podium finish. Turkish rider Bahattin Sofuoglu (Biblion Motoxracing Yamaha WorldSSP300) completed the podium. Australian Tom Edwards (Kawasaki ParkinGo Team) rode home to 25th place while compatriot Tom Bramich (Carl Cox-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki) crashed out.

Detailed results

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Michael Ruben Rinaldi and Team GoEleven have broken through for a controlled Motul Superbike World Championship maiden victory in race one of the Teruel Round at MotorLand Aragon. Rinaldi converted his dominant practice form to a race result, passing Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jonathan Rea at the end of the opening lap to take the flag by almost six seconds.

“It’s unbelievable! Now we are here! I couldn’t hope for a better race and I will enjoy this,” an emotional Rinaldi commented in parc ferme after the race. After starting from second on the grid, one of the key elements of Rinaldi’s victory was his selection and management of the softer Pirelli SCX rear tyre. Rea took the less risky option of the harder SC0 and admitted he may try a different strategy tomorrow. “When I saw Michael and his pace, with the SCX tyre, the rhythm he could do was incredible. Maybe tomorrow we could do a more aggressive strategy but super happy to pick up 20 points. I feel like we got the best out of the bike today.”

The 20 points Rea picked up for second was made even more important after Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) crashed on lap seven while under pressure from Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC). An inconsolable Redding was shown later in the pit garage, aware the mistake gifted Rea a 30 point championship lead. Teammate Chaz Davies rode a solid race to pick up the final podium spot a further five seconds back after starting from seventh on the grid.

Bautista also succumbed to pressure, crashing out on lap 14 after a brief battle with Davies. Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team) finished in fourth place, five seconds behind Davies and five seconds ahead of his teammate Toprak Razgatlioglu.

After several costly mistakes, an unwell Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) prevailed in a battle for sixth to tenth. Leon Haslam (Team HRC) was close behind in seventh while Eugene Laverty (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed his best result of the season with eighth place. Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team) finished ninth ahead of a fading Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), who had started from fourth.

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In World Supersport it seems nothing can halt the momentum of Andrea Locatelli and the Bardahl Evans Bros. World Supersport Team after another convincing six second victory. “I can push every lap, this is so good because with the hot conditions we are very strong,” commented Locatelli after the race. Italian Raffaele de Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) finished second after a strong early battle with Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha). Cluzel completed the podium with Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Pucetti Racing) fourth. That put three different manufacturers in the top four and leaves Locatelli 54 points clear in the championship with one race left to run at Aragon. Australian Lachlan Epis (MPM Routz Racing Team) showed potential but endured another frustrating race after being forced to retire 13 laps in.

The Supersport 300 World Championship race was as thrilling as ever after Victor Rodriguez Nunez (2R Racing) claimed a remarkable victory after coming through the Last Chance Race and starting from 30th place of the 36-strong grid. The top six were separated by one second, with Nunez finishing just 0.042s in front of Turkish rider Bahattin Sofuoglu (Biblion Motoxracing Yamaha WorldSSP300). Dutchman Jeffrey Buis (MTM Kawasaki Motoport) took the final podium spot and now has a championship lead of six points to fourth placed Scott Deroue (MTM Kawasaki Motoport).
Australian Tom Edwards (Kawasaki ParkinGo Team) finished in 18th position but was optimistic for race two, saying on Facebook, “Qualifying P20 made it difficult for race one, also a crash in front of me in the first lap put me back in P28. I tried my best to fight my way back up but having front end grip issues made it difficult to overtake, but ended up P18. We have some big improvements to make for tomorrow’s race and I think without any first lap drama it should all be okay.”
Fellow Australian Tom Bramich finished an encouraging 23rd after finally cracking through qualifying, avoiding the Last Chance Race.

Detailed results

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Action resumed for the second leg of the MotorLand Aragon double header where Michael Rubin Rinaldi and his Team GoEleven Ducati topped the combined results after free practice. Rinaldi’s morning time of 1m49.840s was enough to pip Kawasaki Racing Team’s Jonathan Rea by the narrowest of margins, a tiny 0.001 second.

While the challenge for Rinaldi will be to capture strong race pace, Rea’s teammate Alex Lowes improved his Friday result and was a half a second back in P3. Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) finished the day in fourth place and will be looking to improve on a best race result of 12th from race two last weekend.

After a 6-7-8 result last weekend, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team) finished the day in fifth place while Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was the second fastest Ducati in sixth. Last weekends podium finisher in race two, Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC), was in seventh place while Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team) sat eighth. Last weeks race one winner Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) had the ninth fastest time overall with Leon Haslam (Team HRC) completing the top ten.

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In World Supersport, Andrea Locatelli (Bardahl Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) continued his incredible run of results by once again topping the timesheets by over half a second to Italian Raffaele de Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse). Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was third and the fastest Kawasaki on the grid.
Lone Australian in the field Lachlan Epis (MPM Routz Racing Team) set his fastest time in the morning session and sits 22nd on the timesheets.

In World Supersport 300 action Scott Deroue (MTM Kawasaki Motoport) topped the combined group A and B results, recording a best lap of 2m05.899s. He was almost half a second clear of Inigo Iglesias Bravo (Scuderia Maranga Racing) in second place with Thomas Brianti (Prodina Ircos Team WorldSSP300) third. In good news for Australia, Tom Edwards (Kawasaki ParkinGO Team) was fourth, ahead of former champion Ana Carrasco (Kawasaki Provec WorldSSP300). Fellow Australian Tom Bramich (Carl Cox-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki) sits 30th and on track on earn a spot in the main race.

Detailed results

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Australian Josh Hook’s F.C.C. TSR Honda France team has taken a triumphant victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours, round three of the 2020 Endurance World Championship (EWC).

As a result of the fickle weather and constantly changing track conditions, the teams were under pressure for the entire 24 hours.

It’s the second win from TSR Honda – led by Hook alongside Freddy Foray and Mike Di Meglio – in the famous French endurance event, capturing victory ahead of Webike SRC Kawasaki France Trickstar and current points-leader Suzuki Endurance Racing Team.

The tricky track conditions deprived Suzuki Endurance Racing Team of the second place they had looked sure of claiming two hours from the finish. A crash made them lose their two-lap advantage over Webike SRC Kawasaki France Trickstar.

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Following a crash early on in the race, pole-setters YART Yamaha pushed hard to get back into the leading pack, as Karel Hanika, Marvin Fritz and Niccolo Canepa finished in fourth place, but five laps behind the winners.

The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team was a late non-finisher, which benefited VRD Igol Pierret Experiences Yamaha as that team inherited fifth place, ahead of 3ART Best of Bike Yamaha and Broc Parkes’ Wojcik Racing Team Yamaha in P7.

Le Mans also threw the championship wide-open, since five of the six factory teams are now grouped together at the top of the provisional standings ahead of the the final round, which will play out on Saturday, 26 September, at the 12 Hours of Estoril in Portugal.

Detailed results