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Quartararo hindered by arm problem in Dutch GP podium

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MotoGP rookie Fabio Quartararo saw his campaign for a maiden victory hindered by an arm problem at the Dutch grand prix on Sunday, the Frenchman ultimately settling for a podium finish after struggling to hold on in the demanding 26-lap outing.

The Petronas Yamaha SRT rider recently underwent arm pump surgery, however still in the recovery phase, he evidently encountered issues as he led the opening 12 laps, forced to back down after suffering severe shaking at speed and accept a P3 result.

Starting on pole and sitting on the podium for the second consecutive time, along with controlling the race until almost halfway, the youthful contender is still joyous with his performance.

“It’s been a great weekend, although the race was very tough,” Quartararo explained. “Leading the race was one of the best moments of my life. When I was a kid I watched these races, and today I managed to lead one. When I got overtaken for the lead, I knew I couldn’t do anything to respond because of my arm problems.

“The chasing pack was further behind, so I chose to manage the distance and ensure I placed on the podium. My arm bothered me a lot because there were several bumps and a lot of wind, which made the bike move around a lot.

“We have taken another podium, and yesterday I got on pole, so I couldn’t be happier. The goal in Qatar was to get into the top ten frequently this season, but little by little we have been raising our targets. I’m looking forward to Germany.”

Qaurtararo has elevated himself to sixth in the standings as the MotoGP World Championship returns this weekend at the Sachsenring in Germany.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Consistency key for title-leader Parkes in ASB1000 at Suzuka

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Yamaha Racing Team ASEAN’s Broc Parkes has extended his lead in the 2019 Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) with superb 1-2 finishes at Suzuka in Japan.

Parkes overcame a late crash in qualifying to win the opening encounter, then scored runner-up to local ace Shinichi Nakatomi in a rain-affected second race.

“At the end of qualifying the tyres and bike were feeling good and I was really fast, but I was a little too stiff and lost the front and crashed,” Parkes said following race one. “The bike hit the wall and was damaged. I felt bad for the mechanics, but I have to say thank you to them because they were able to get the bike back together in time.

“As you can see from the result, we did have some trouble but the bike was in great shape for the race. The race was one of the best I’ve had yet, but I’m still not fully satisfied with the weekend as I want to take one more win tomorrow.”

Parkes now leads the ASB1000 championship standings with 150 points following four rounds, 27 ahead of Azlan Shah (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Racing Team).

Countryman Bryan Staring – current leader of the Australian Superbike Championship – endured a mixed weekend, recording 5-11 results with the Kawasaki Thailand Racing Team in another guest appearance.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Gardner rues lost opportunity following Dutch GP exit

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Gearbox issues denied Remy Gardner of the chance to challenge for victory in Sunday’s Dutch grand prix at Assen, causing him to crash out of contention.

ONEXOX TKKR Sag Racing’s Gardner experienced issues from the outset in the attrition-filled Moto2 affair, but managed to factor at the front over the opening nine laps.

A moment at the left-hand hairpin onto the back straight dropped him back to seventh before a couple of hard overtakes on his rivals put him back in the mix. Looking comfortable once again Gardner went down – a bittersweet ending to an exceptional weekend.

“The weekend was almost perfect,” Gardner recalled. “I felt good in every session and was made up to get my first pole yesterday. Warm-up was also good and in the race – certainly at the beginning – I felt good and think we could have won today.

“It just seems that whatever I do at the moment it goes wrong, but the luck has to change. I am so disappointed for me, the team, all my sponsors and the fans that are being so supportive this year. The good thing is that I don’t have to wait too long to ride again so let’s focus on the Sachsenring!”

On Saturday, Gardner became the first Australian since Casey Stoner in 2005 to start from pole position in the intermediate class, however, that was where the high would unfortunately end.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Apologetic Rossi explains high-speed Nakagami clash

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A third non-finish in three races has spelt a horror run for nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi after crashing out of the Assen TT.

The 40-year-old was working his way forward from 14th on the grid when he took Japanese rider Takaaki Nakagami down at turn eight on lap five.

It was Monster Energy Yamaha’s Rossi who crashed and took the LCR Honda rider down with him at high speed, putting both out of the race in its early stages. The Italian at fault has apologised to Nakagami.

“I was quite fast, so I tried to recover some positions,” Rossi reflected. “I was battling with Nakagami and I tried to overtake him entering turn eight, but I was a bit too much off the line I think.

“When I entered the corner, I lost the front and unfortunately I also took out Nakagami, so that’s a great shame and I have to say sorry. It was a mistake and a pity, because today, after being slow this weekend, we had found something, so during the race I was good.

“I felt good with the bike, so, on one side this makes it an even bigger shame, but on the other side it’s also important to realise that I was suffering too much this weekend and that we need to be stronger.”

Sunday’s DNF has Rossi fifth in the standings, now 88 points in arrears of points-leader and defending champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda). It’s now been two years since Rossi’s last win, which came at the Dutch GP in 2017.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Vinales delivers first Yamaha win of 2019 in Assen thriller

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Monster Energy Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales took a stunning win at the Motul TT Assen, round eight of the 2019 MotoGP World Championship.

Vinales stalked the front before striking for the lead and stretching his legs to pull away from reigning champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team).

French rookie Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) followed up his record-breaking pole position on Saturday with another podium, impressing once again even as he continues to recover from arm-pump surgery.

Suzuki-mounted Alex Rins took the holeshot from third on the grid, streaking away from the line and soon joined by impressive rookie teammate Joan Mir as he slotted into second. Quartararo didn’t retain P1 but he stayed third after a solid start.

At the start of lap two Vinales made his first move to take Marquez, but then all eyes on were the lead as Rins suddenly exited, leaving Mir under the pressure of leading a premier class race for the first time, and Quartararo in second for a rookie 1-2.

The number 36 then headed a bit wide and the number 20 sliced through, with Vinales taking over in second and Marquez up into third.

Mir had been shuffled back into fourth but Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) soon struck, having passed teammate Petrucci to begin his assault on the front, before there was another strike of bad luck lightning as Vinales headed wide from the lead.

Marquez took over, stalking Quartararo, with Dovizioso then within touching distance of the number 12 Yamaha as he got shuffled back. Marquez tried to attack, Quartararo resisted, and Viñales was then back on their tail and it was a trio locked together in the lead.

That was how it would stay for much of the race. Vinales overcooked turn one, but reeled them back in, Marquez attacked Quartararo a lap later after a wobble for the Frenchman, and then Marquez had his own moment and the rookie was back in the lead.

With 11 to go, Vinales broke the stalemate. He attacked Marquez and got through before then homing in on Quartararo, pouncing where Marquez had earlier as the newcomer struggled again with a bit of a wobble at high speed, however, a small error soon after cost him and Marquez took over in P1.

Vinales sliced back through as swiftly as he could and the two were starting to gap Quartararo behind. With six laps to go they were still both locked together and there was nothing in it, but gradually then, Vinales started taking a tenth here and a tenth there.

Finally, it seemed the number 12 had broken the Honda rider. The top three had all had their share of dramas during the race, but Vinales was then pitch perfect to the flag. Eventually, the gap was nearly five seconds over the line and the Spaniard celebrated in style.

It’s his first win since Phillip Island last year, Yamaha’s first of the season and one of his most impressive rides. Quartararo took his second podium in succession in third as he managed to last the distance, ever-impressive as he continues to makes waves in MotoGP.

Dovizioso was the man behind him, locked in battle with teammate Danilo Petrucci and Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) for much of the race and coming out on top. Morbidelli eventually just beat Petrucci to complete the top five and equal his best ever premier class result.

Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) recovered from a moment to take P7 and overhaul Mir’s impressive performance as the rookie finished eighth, with Australian Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) crossing the line in ninth after a more difficult weekend. Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Andrea Iannone completed the top 10.

There were a few names missing from the finishers along with Rins, the biggest of which was Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). The ‘Doctor’ lost the chance at a ride back through the field as he collided with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) and both went down, making it a difficult run of three for the number 46 of late.

Augusto Fernandez (Flexbox HP 40) is a man in form and the Motul TT Assen saw his run of firsts finally culminate in a first-ever GP victory as he became the 37th different winner in Moto2.

The Spaniard was a force to be reckoned with in a manic fight at the front throughout and came through the chaos of a clash between championship rivals Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) and Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP40) to beat Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) to the flag by tenths.

Completing the podium after the war of attrition was Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46), while it was disappointment for pole-sitter Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team). With 14 to go, drama hit as he crashed out, dashing his hopes of a strong result from P1 on the grid.

In Moto3, Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers) became the first rider this season to win two Moto3 races, with the Italian holding off Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) to cross the line just 0.045s clear, while Jakub Kornfeil (Redox PrüstelGP) took third.

Detailed results

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Maiden Moto2 pole another impressive step for Gardner

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A career-first Moto2 World Championship pole has further established Remy Gardner’s position as one of the brightest prospects on the grid after storming to P1 at Assen.

Gardner’s rise to the front of the intermediate grand prix field with the ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team has been a significant storyline to date in 2019.

The determined 21-year-old Australian had been the fastest rider during the morning session and, with a best lap-time of 1m36.572s, will lead the grid away during tonight’s Dutch affair.

“I am very happy with today’s results,” Gardner said. “It was a great QP, not only we have a very good pace, but we managed to get pole position. We need to keep calm and focus on the race!”

Gardner was sitting 11th heading into the final five minutes, however, that was soon about to change. Red sectors were lighting up next to his name and sure enough, Gardner went P1 and that’s where he would remain.

As a result, he became the first Australian intermediate class pole-setter since multiple MotoGP title-winner Casey Stoner took the 250cc pole at Phillip Island in 2005.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Assen record secures consecutive MotoGP poles for Quartararo

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Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Fabio Quartararo posted the fastest ever lap at the Motul TT Assen on Saturday to take back-to-back pole positions in MotoGP.

Quartararo’s flying 1m32.017s saw him end Q2 with a 0.140s advantage over Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) as the pattern of the two taking it in turns at the top continued.

In third was Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) as he blasted from Q1 to the front row. Rins held the advantage first as the Suzuki man started Q2 on provisional pole, but on the second runs Vinales had something to say about it.

The number 12 machine put in a stunning lap with a few minutes left on the clock to cut a few tenths off Rins’ best effort, and he was the man with the target on his back as Quartararo began his assault. But then, Quartararo began his assault.

Keeping it together to perfection and able to pull out nearly a tenth and a half by the time he crossed the line, the Frenchman made some more history and celebrated so hard that it made his airbag go off in his suit!

Reigning champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) starts fourth and misses out on the front row for the first time this season as, alongside him, rookie Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) put in an impressive effort to take a best-yet fifth, with Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) completing the second row.

Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) was the top Ducati in qualifying and heads up an incredibly tight third row, with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) in P8 and Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) locking it out in ninth. The three men are covered by just 0.032s.

Former Assen winner Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) completes the top 10 and he was also just hundredths adrift, with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) a few further tenths off the Australian in P11. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was the final man in Q2 in P12, not far off the Italian ahead of him.

Before pole was decided, it was that Q1 that would prove crucial for one big name – Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). In that Q1, he eventually finished fourth and will, therefore, start from P14.

Australian Remy Gardner’s (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) 1m36.572s in Moto2 Q2 sees him join a very illustrious list of Aussie pole-setters as two late flying laps puts the Kalex rider 0.110s clear of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Xavi Vierge (EG 0,0 Marc VDS).

It was Vierge who looked like he would be the man to beat in Q2 after the Spaniard was able to half a second clear of the pack with a storming time, but Binder hit back to continue the upturn for KTM. But then Gardner, the man who sat nearly six tenths clear of the rest in FP3, started to find his rhythm.

The Australian’s first attempt was 0.016s faster than the South African, but he managed to pull a bit more margin out on his second run to secure the first Australian intermediate class pole since Casey Stoner did it in the 250cc class at Phillip Island in 2005.

In Moto3, Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) brought the run of different pole-sitters in the opening rounds of the season to an end, with the Italian setting a new record of 1m41.232s to head the grid over Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia) and Mugello winner Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers).

Detailed results

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Australian champion Herfoss completes Suzuka test with Moriwaki

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Defending Australian Superbike champion Troy Herfoss is in line to join the high-profile KYB Moriwaki Racing team at next month’s 2019 Suzuka 8 Hours in Japan following a successful test with the Japanese organisation this week.

Herfoss cut short a shakedown with Penrite Honda Racing at Morgan Park in order to travel to Suzuka for the test, aiming to join Japanese duo Yuki Takahashi and Tomoyoshi Koyama for this year’s final round of the Endurance World Championship.

“It was pretty exciting to ride the bike because I’d say it’s definitely the best package I’d ever ridden,” Herfoss told CycleOnline.com.au. “It was so responsive, the engine was really strong and also, just to get a chance to ride with Moriwaki was an honour, because a lot of Australians have been there and raced with the Moriwaki family over the years.

“They have a rich history at the 8-Hour, so I’m praying I can get a spot with them for the race – it’d be good to go back with them and to do the race for another year if possible. My consistency from last year is what they were looking for, so the test was pretty brief for me.

“I only got a couple of flying laps on the first day and then, basically, it was myself and another rider testing for the third rider position on the team. They sent us out for a half race stint to see how we’d go with the Pirelli tyres in the heat, because there is a lot of change as the race goes on. It was about who could handle that and stay consistent through the traffic.”

Suzuka has been a constant date on Herfoss’ schedule during recent years and last year saw him claim seventh overall as part of the Honda Asia Dream Racing team. Stepping up to the Moriwaki Racing effort would further boost his chances of a top five or potential podium result in July.

“For me, it’s the best chance I’ve got to measure up with some of the best riders in the world on competitive machinery,” he added. “I’ve sort of climbed the ladder over the years and last year was really good with the Team Asia bike when we finished seventh, so if I can secure a ride with Moriwaki I see it as another step forward. It’s a race that I really enjoy and I’d love to be on the podium once in my career.”

Honda Racing Corporation’s factory Red Bull Honda will be piloted by Takumi Takahashi, Ryuichi Kiyonari and HRC test rider Stefan Bradl, while reigning endurance champions F.C.C. TSR Honda France will enter the finale with team regulars Josh Hook, Freddy Foray and Mike di Meglio in a bid to capture back-to-back titles.

If he does receive the call-up to race, Herfoss won’t be the lone Australian championship contender on the grid, since former title winner Josh Waters will form part of the Team MotoMap SWAT Suzuki team alongside Nobuatsu Aoki and Dan Linfoot.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Lorenzo to miss two GPs following Assen FP1 incident

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Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo has been ruled out of this weekend’s Assen TT in the Netherlands, the Repsol Honda rider injured in a major fall during FP1 on Friday morning.

Lorenzo’s weekend was cut short by the incident at turn seven that saw him fracture his T6 and T8 vertebrae and he will also be forced to miss next weekend’s German grand prix at Sachsenring.

“Due to the fall, I fractured both my T6 and T8 vertebrae,” Lorenzo explained. “The injury does not allow me to race here in Assen or at the Sachsenring. Tomorrow morning I will fly to Lugano and do all the possible treatments to get ready to go to Brno.”

It’s another disappointing blow for the five-time world champion, who was hopeful that updates including a revised fairing delivered by Honda Racing Corporation for Assen would have helped him move forward this weekend.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Yamaha 1-2 led by Vinales in Friday MotoGP practice at Assen

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It was a tale of two men atop the time-sheets on day one of the Motul TT Assen, with Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) fastest on Friday morning from Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), before the duo switched around in the afternoon.

Vinales’ fastest overall at 1m32.638s, however, was a margin further ahead, with the Spaniard 0.180s faster than the Frenchman. In the morning, Quartararo’s advantage was less than a tenth.

One big headline outside the time-sheets on day one was Jorge Lorenzo (Repsol Honda Team), the Spaniard declared unfit for the rest of the weekend. The five-time world champion fractured a vertebra in his fast FP1 crash at turn seven.

Back to the time-sheets though and, despite the Yamaha duo at the top, it wasn’t complete domination. Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) was third overall and that despite suffering a fast crash in FP1, with teammate Andrea Dovizioso slotting into fourth. ‘DesmoDovi’ had a better latter session, improving from outside the top 10 on Friday morning to set the initial pace in FP2 and eventually just beat Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) to fourth.

Rins, who came second last season at Assen, completed a top five where the time-sheets really started to tighten with less than a tenth splitting him from Dovizioso. It got even closer just outside the top five as Andrea Iannone (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) put in an impressive day and his best showing yet for Noale factory Aprilia as he took sixth.

The Italian was ahead of Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and, although he did suffer a crash near the end of play, he was unhurt and happier with direction. In P8 it was an infinitesimal 0.002s that separated rookie Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) from Marquez and he beat 10-time Assen winner Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) by a tenth.

Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) took the final provisional place in Q2, from Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) in 11th as impressed to beat Australian teammate Jack Miller – the 2016 Assen winner – who was 13th.

Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Brad Binder ended Friday in Moto2’s top spot after setting a 1m37.398s at the very end of FP2, putting the Austrian factory back at the sharp end after a tougher run of form. He was 0.132s ahead of second fastest Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team), with FP1 pace-setter Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) completing the top three.

Thanks to an electric final flying lap in Moto3, Jakub Kornfeil (Redox PruestelGP) was fastest, timing his attack to perfection to tuck in behind VNE Snipers’ Tony Arbolino and pip him to the top on his final lap of FP2. His 1m41.782s saw Kornfeil finish up 0.098s ahead of the Italian, with Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) third.

Detailed results

Source: CycleOnline.com.au