Jonas Folger will ride for the Petronas Sprinta Racing Team as the stand-in for the injured Khairul Idham Pawi for the next three rounds of the Moto2 World Championship, as the Malaysian rider continues to recover from injuries sustained at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Jonas Folger back in 2017
The 25-year-old German will race for the squad at next weekend’s Catalan Grand Prix as well as the Dutch GP and his home race at the Sachsenring. Folger directly replaces Mattia Pasini, who raced as a stand-in for the team in Le Mans and Mugello, but who broke his collarbone in a motocross accident following the Italian GP.
Folger has an impressive track record in Grand Prix racing, winning five races and taking 24 podiums, including three wins in the middleweight class. He also has considerable experience with the Triumph-powered Kalex Moto2 bike thanks to his role as the lead development rider for the project during its early stages.
Jonas Folger
“I’m really excited to get the chance to be competing again. I can’t wait to get back on a bike and get that racing feeling. Petronas Sprinta Racing are an exceptionally professional team in all three categories and I know some of the crew in the Moto2 squad from the past. I’m looking forward to working with them again, especially as I have some good friends there. I have positive memories of Barcelona as I’ve been on the podium and put in some fast laps there in the past. It’s actually one of my favourite tracks and it suits my riding style well. The Kalex is a really fun bike to ride because the riding style is very similar to what you use in MotoGP. The Triumph engine feels closer to a MotoGP bike, it suits me and I didn’t do badly in testing, so I can’t wait to get going again on it!”
Jonas Folger testing in Valencia
The Catalan Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 14-16 will mark Folger’s first race action since the end of 2017, but he has enjoyed recent track action through his role as Yamaha’s MotoGP test rider.
Khairul Idham Pawi is making good progress with the hand injuries sustained at Jerez and progressing in his journey to be race-fit later this season. Petronas Sprinta Racing would like to thank Mattia Pasini for his services deputising for KIP at the last two rounds of the championship and wish him a swift recovery.
Razlan Razali – Team Principal
“It is a fabulous opportunity for Petronas Sprinta Racing to engage a rider of the calibre of Jonas Folger for the next three Moto2 races. He will bring an extra element to the team and help push our Moto2 programme along in anticipation of Khairul Idham Pawi’s return later this season. We know that the experience of Jonas in MotoGP and with the Kalex will bring us good rewards. We want the team to be as strong as possible for KIP’s return as he has the best potential for a Malaysian rider in Moto2. We are working closely with KIP to ensure he returns to action at the right time.”
Khairul Idham Pawi continues recovering from injury
Johan Stigefelt – Team Director
“Jonas Folger is a great rider so this is a superb signing for us. Not only does Jonas have race-winning experience in Moto2, he also knows the latest Kalex very well having been the initial development rider with the Triumph engine. Jonas also has MotoGP experience so he can bring a long of insight to the team. The battle in Moto2 is very tight, but we know we have a lot of potential. It’s only beneficial for us to work with a rider like Jonas. We wish Mattia a rapid recovery from his collarbone injury.”
Ant West, who has raced in seven world championship series since 1998, announced his decision in a Facebook post over night:
Fuck FIM I’m done with this sport!!!! You will never see me on another motorcycle again in my life. You win FIM you dogs. Your really low shit people who should have nothing to do with the sport. FIM have pushed to make me lose my ride with Kawasaki here Brazil. FIM have destroyed my life many times and have put me into depression to point I wish I was dead. I’m done playing there bullshit political games. Fuck you FIM. Sorry to all my fans who have supported me all the way since 1999 when 1st went to world championship. I love you all!!!!
It follows a video post two days ago saying: “Last laps like this is why FIM don’t want me racing. Not meant to beat factory teams on a private bike.”
Doping scandal
The doping scandal started in 2012 when he was racing World Moto2 championship with the Qatar-based QMMF Racing Team.
Ant claims he skipped breakfast and had a “workout drink” which caused him to prove positive in a drug test later the same day at the Le Mans round.
The FIM claims they had changed the rules to add the drink, but Ant says it wasn’t on the doping list and is even used by Australian football players.
Several months later he was banned.
A legal wrangle followed, he was dope tested two more times, his team was disqualified over an engine technicality, he had a 2018 Asian championship win revoked and he lost his racing licence.
Ant claims this was FIM bullying because he challenged the original ban.
He switched to the Brazilian SBK Championship in 2019 to escape FIM rules, but now seems to have dropped out of that series.
If you are experiencing feelings of depression, contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or Lifeline on 131114.
Joe Roberts was one to watch in American motorcycle racing when he was coming up the ranks. He took wins in AMA Pro, won the MotoAmerica Superstock 600 championship in 2015, and in 2017 proved strong in the FIM CEV Repsol Moto2 class. He was young, he was clearly talented, and he was hungry. That combination got Roberts a chance to dip his toes in MotoGP’s Moto2 class in 2017, where he contested five races and then moved into the series full time in 2018. This year he’s back again with American Racing KTM and he’s still working hard to find his feet. It’s been a big jump to the world stage, and Roberts is not shy to admit it has been an adjustment.
“It’s pretty intense, man,” Roberts said of racing in Moto2. “You show up to a weekend… These guys are generally not far off the lap record within the first session, so it’s something mentally you have to wrap your head around when you show up to a track. Something I do when I come out here to the supermoto track is just try to set my absolute best time in the first outing to kind of train your brain to really just be firing right away. So it’s stuff like that that I think coming from the national level where things are a little bit more relaxed I would say, you kind of have to think about that.”
Roberts used to prefer to take the first session to do some mental preparation with the bike, the track, to make a plan of attack. But he’s working to push past old habits like that.
“Visualizing the track and just understanding,” Roberts explains of his approach now. “I do a lot of watching the races before I show up. The next track is Jerez, so I’ll start to study all the previous years, different lines, different braking markers, things like that. You can spot a lot on those cameras. Also now MotoGP they do the onboard cameras too. You can just select that. So I do a lot of that stuff. That helps me out as soon as you get on the track. Obviously you still need a few laps to kind of put everything together, but that’s improved my process a lot more.”
The difficulty is compounded by a brand-new bike in Moto2 this year as well.
“I think there’s some things they still need to figure out with the electronics,” Roberts said of the new Triumph platform. “Just little stuff. Like in Austin where I put the first gear, the thing pops into neutral. So sometimes stuff like that can come up.
“But it’s a new class. They’re working the kinks out. That was something we were struggling with a little bit the last race. But it’s a new class. I like the bike. I’m a heavier guy so if I have more power, it helps.”
Plus getting the settings dialed is a whole other matter, adjusting the torque management system (not traction control) that, according to Roberts, essentially makes the throttle softer. Engine-braking settings and other maps all need to be refined.
In addition to all the technical concerns, there’s also the mental game and team dynamic to consider.
“I think mentally we’re already there. I came into this year very positive and strong that I could be at the front. Honestly right now what we’re running into a bit is just some things like within the team where it’s a new team and sometimes the communication, it takes a few races to get everything dialed in, for everyone to kind of find the rhythm. The team is really strong. I think there are a lot of good, positive things. We just need to put everything together. But I’m really positive we’ll be there. In A lot of races we’re only like a second off, but in this field it’s like 25th place. It’s kind of interesting to think about it that way because you also can see we’re only one second, so you improve a half a second that’s really nothing and you’re right up in the front. We’ll be there.”
Roberts is fully committed to reaching his goals of consistent top-10 placements by the end of the year. He’s now based in Barcelona and supplementing his physical training regime with plenty of supermoto. He’s working to pick up Spanish too.
Spain has been a hotbed of amazing talent in recent years, so it doesn’t hurt to be fully enmeshed in a culture so supportive of motorcycling.
“These Europeans, they grow up racing each other from when they’re like 10 years old. I witnessed it when I went to race in the European championship. I could just see these little kids. They were like 10 years old but in professional, full-on same structure that I’m racing in as a professional team. They’re just kind of groomed to be these amazing riders. Not everybody is. It’s not like, ‘I’m Spanish. I’m an amazing rider just naturally.’ There’s a lot that aren’t. But I think people here in the US could be like that if they had the same kind of opportunities. I think you could have these amazing riders. It’s just to me with the opportunities they get as a young kid.
“Actually I think they get a lot of help from the local governments as well. I think a lot of the families aren’t really that well-off. In Valencia, I know a lot of top riders from Valencia are sponsored by the government, so it’s pretty crazy. I was thinking about hitting up the Glendale government, the city or something, and seeing what happens. They’d probably just tell me to piss off.”
Which is a shame, because American riders need a more effective way to prepare themselves to be competitive on the world stage. For now, Roberts really only sees a viable path similar to the one he took.
“I can only really look at what I did. I went to [Red Bull MotoGP] Rookies Cup. That was a big eye-opener for me and taught me a lot of things about the way things are structure-wise and how fast they are, those Europeans. When I came back to America it wasn’t like I was here to stay. It’s not easy to go over to Europe. There’s so many fast riders. Obviously I think MotoGP wants Americans, but it’s not cheap either. It’s a long way to go. That’s maybe the things they’re running into. As far as [Cameron] Beaubier and guys riding in MotoAmerica, some of them got some good deals going on with some factory teams, getting paid well. So maybe they don’t feel the need to risk it all. I can respect that. That’s not really something I’m looking for.”
Remy Gardner underlines form with podium in Argentina
Remy Gardner produced the race of his life in today’s second round of the 2019 FIM Moto2 World Championship to take a career first podium in second position for him and his ONEXOX TKKR SAG Racing Team.
A previous top six finisher in Argentina, the Termas Rio de Hondo Circuit was also the scene of Remy’s leg break a couple of years ago but thoughts of bad days in South America were banished after a ballsy twenty-three lap race saw the Aussie finish in an emotional second position, after a mature ride that clearly puts him into contention for more podiums, a maiden win and quite possibly the title.
Starting the weekend as he finished the opening round of the 2019 Moto2 World Championship in Qatar, the Gardner was in the mix from FP1, elevating himself to third overall at the end of the opening day before ending the combined Free Practice sessions fastest. Unable to find the same feeling as he had a few hours earlier, Gardner eventually qualified seventh.
Fifth in Warm-Up underlined Remy’s pace around the 2.9-mile circuit and after a lightning start saw him move immediately into the top four the scene was set for Gardner to prove that round one was no fluke.
Forcing his way into third by the end of the opening lap he was up to second a lap later, wasting no time to hit the front where he looked comfortable, controlling the pace and stretching the leading group.
Maintaining his position out front until a few laps from home the podium could have slipped away for the second consecutive race after a hard move from eventual winner Lorenzo Baldassari, but Remy was in no mood to miss out on a top three finish, producing two stunning final laps to haul himself back to second at the flag.
The result sees him move into second position overall in the World Championship ahead of round three which takes place at COTA in the USA on the 14th April.
The move to the Kalex chassis in 2019 after struggling with the Tech3 bike last year has seen a revelation in Gardner’s form and consequently, his results.
Remy Gardner – P2
“You have no idea how long I have been waiting for this. I could’ve won it but Balda touched me and I got a bit out of shape on the brakes. I did it to the other guys so I’m not going to complain like a little girl, but I should have given him a bit more room and been a bit smarter with that tactic. I never gave up. Every time someone passed me, I was like no, I want this, and after losing out in Qatar by two-hundredths when I saw Schrotter in front of me I thought, it’s not happening this time and so I just pulled my finger out and gave it everything. I have no words, I am a bit emotional. Massive thanks to the team, they have believed in me from the start and to everyone who has been sending tweets and messages on Facebook, thank you.”
2019 MotoGP – Round Two – Argentina
Moto2 Race Results
Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA) 39’46.000
Remy Gardner (AUS) +1.244
Alex Marquez (SPA) +1.817
2019 MotoGP – Round Two – Argentina
Moto2 Race Results
Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA) 39’46.000
Remy Gardner (AUS) +1.244
Alex Marquez (SPA) +1.8172019 MotoGP – Round Two – Argentina
Moto2 Race Results
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) went fastest on the final day of the Official Moto2 Test at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto, but it wasn’t by much as Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) kept the South African honest, the pair ending the day just 0.007 apart.
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo)
Sam Lowes – P2
“It’s been a very positive test. We were second and not too far from Binder, and our lap-time came during the ninth lap and with hard used tyres. We could have improved even further with the softer compound, but the idea was to work on our race pace and so we did. During the first two days we focused on bike geometry and many other settings, while today we found the best possible setup based on the data from the previous days. We were quick and consistent, so we’re heading to Qatar with great motivation.”
Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2)
Binder and Lowes were also the fastest two over all three days and the only two to drop below the 1:41 mark, although the timesheets remained close behind them with the top twenty within less than a second.
With better conditions than the wind affecting Day 2, home rider Iker Lecuona (American Racing KTM) was third and just over a tenth and a half off as he showed more top pace, pipping 2018 polesitter Lorenzo Baldassarri (FlexBox HP 40).
Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) – fastest on Day 1 – completed the top five, ahead of Day 2’s quickest man Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS).
Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS
The man in seventh made some headlines of his own just behind the veteran Spaniard, with Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46) the fastest rookie by a tenth at the end of Day 3.
Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was the debutant just that tiny fraction behind him, although the reigning Moto3 Champion was ninth overall and the two rookies were split by Australian Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team). Marcel Schötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) completed the top ten.
Jorge Navarro (+Ego Speed Up) ended the day’s action in P14 as fastest Speed Up, just ahead of Bo Bendsneyder (NTS RW Racing GP), the fastest NTS. The quickest man on the new MV Agusta was Dominique Aergerter (MV Agusta Idealavoro Forward) once again, and the Swiss rider was in P20 but only nine tenths off.
Jorge Navarro (+Ego Speed Up)
Young British Superbike star Jake Dixon continued his early adaption to Moto2 by finishing up just 1.2 seconds off the top. It had not been all clean sailing though for the 23-year-old after two earlier crashes during the test.
Jake Dixon – P24
“These five days have been good for me to keep learning. We have tried a lot of things and overall it has been positive. Also, on the final day KTM gave us some new parts to try. We had three not-so-good days, with a couple of crashes, so today was good for me to get my confidence back up and set some decent lap times. I know I have a lot to learn but I am not too far off the top guys at a circuit where they have ridden on countless occasions before. I want to thank the team for all their work here and we will keep on in the same way in Qatar.”
Jake Dixon
Moto2 Times
Brad Binder – KTM 1m40.982
Sam Lowes – Kalex 1m40.989
Iker Lecuona – KTM 1m41.111
Luca Marini – Kalex 1m41.146
Lorenzo Baldassarri – Kalex 1m41.149
Alex Marquez – Kalex 1m41.208
Nicolo Bulega – Kalex 1m41.281
Jorge Navarro – Speed Up 1m41.302
Remy Gardner – Kalex 1m41.378
Jorge Martin – KTM 1m41.385
Marcel Schrotter – Kalex 1m41.395
Tetsuta Nagashima – Kalex 1m41.417
Augusto Fernandez – Kalex 1m41.472
Tom Luthi – Kalex 1m41.508
Bo Bendsneyder – NTS 1m41.608
Xavi Vierge – Kalex 1m41.625
Enea Bastianini – Kalex 1m41.651
Joe Roberts – KTM 1m41.706
Fabio Di Giannantonio – Speed Up 1m41.736
Dominique Aegerter – MV Agusta 1m41.953
Andrea Loctatelli – Kalex 1m42.011
Simone Corsi – Kalex 1m42.053
Stefano Manzi – MV Agusta 1m42.061
Jake Dixon – KTM 1m42.158
Steven Odendaal – NTS 1m42.168
Lukas Tulovic – KTM 1m42.247
Somkiat Chantra – Kalex 1m42.318
Phillip Oettl – KTM 1m42.672
Khairul Idham Pawi – Kalex 1m42.729
Marco Bezzecchi – KTM 1m42.756
Dimas Ekky Pratama – Kalex 1m43.441
Xavier Cardelus – KTM 1m43.561
2019 Moto3 Test Jerez
In Moto3, it was a day of two halves for Jaume Masia (Bester Capital Dubai) as the Spaniard set the fastest lap on the last day, but he also broke some toes and is faced with that extra challenge ahead of the season opener and next test.
Jaume Masia (Bester Capital Dubai)
The incident wasn’t enough to give the field a chance to catch his laptime though, and the 1:45.241 put in by the number 5 remained an impressive seven tenths ahead of his closest competitor, the returning Romano Fenati (Snipers Team).
Romano Fenati (Snipers Team)
Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) completed the top three, making it KTM-Honda-Honda on Friday.
Fourth fastest was a familiar name from the higher echelons of the timesheets on Day 1 and Day 2: Tony Arbolino (Snipers Team). The Italian was just over a tenth off compatriot Dalla Porta and only 0.033 ahead of fellow Italian Andrea Migno (Bester Capital Dubai), with Day 2’s quickest man, Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), completing the fastest six by an even smaller 0.004.
The experience in the frontrunners continued to shine as Albert Arenas (Angel Nieto Team) and Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) took P7 and P8 respectively, with the top ten completed by Japanese duo Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse).
Albert Arenas (Angel Nieto Team)
Then came the first rookie: Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0). The impressive Spaniard, who is only 15 and will be forced to miss the season opener due to being too young, was 11th overall to end the day outside the top ten for the first time this test – having even ended Day 2 in second.
Veteran Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) split the rookie from the next fastest full-time debutant, reigning FIM CEV Repsol Moto3 Junior World Champion Raul Fernandez (Angel Nieto Team), although the Spaniard isn’t able to compete for Rookie of the Year by virtue of eight previous appearances. Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) was P14, ahead of rookie Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia).
Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia)
It’s shaping up to be another classic and close season of racing in both Moto2 and Moto3 and now it’s next stop Qatar as they head back out in a week to test at Losail International Circuit.
Triumph looks set to replace the Daytona 675 they axed in 2017 with a Daytona 765 powered by a version of their control engine for the Moto2 class.
Ever since Triumph was announced as the Moto2 engine supplier in 2017 for the 2019-21 seasons, it has been expected the new engine would power a Daytona replacement.
Now British website Motorcyclenews.com has posted spy images of the Daytona 765 in Spain, so it looks like a street-legal model is about to leave the pits for some hot street action.
There are no technical details yet for the street-legal version, but it is likely to come in several specifications.
High-spec Daytona 765 with a Speed Triple on a Spanish racetrack (All spy images of the Daytona 765 are from British website Motorcyclenews.com)
The three-cylinder Moto2 race engine is believed to have 97kW of power and meet the coming Euro 5 emissions standards.
It is derived from the 90kW 765cc Street Triple but with more than 80 new parts.
Moto2 racer and Street Triple
They include an increased bore and stroke, new crank, pistons, titanium valves, stiffer valve springs and Nikasil-plated aluminium barrels.
The race bike also has a taller first gear ratio, a tunable slipper clutch, a new sump and an ECU developed by Magneti Marelli who supply the MotoGP control unit.
All spy images of the Daytona 765 are from British website Motorcyclenews.com
Daytona 765 tech
We’re not sure how much of this tech will make it into the street-legal version.
However, there is talk that it will have traction control, several engine modes, cornering ABS and a quickshifter with autoblipper to match wheel and engine speeds on downshifts and make you sound like you know what you’re doing!
The bike is expected to weigh in at about 180kg.
All spy images of the Daytona 765 are from British website Motorcyclenews.com
Moto2
Moto2 replaced the 250cc two-stroke GP class in 2010.
It has since been powered by Honda’s 600cc four-cylinder engine.
When the MotoGP season starts on March 10 in Qatar, there will be a healthy field of 32 riders in the Moto2 category.
Triumph’s Daytona 675R engines have powered super sports wins at the Isle of Man TT, Daytona 200 and British Supersports Championships in 2014 and 2015.
Remy Gardner looks forward to season 2019 after successful test at Jerez with SAG Racing Team
Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) was quickest overall at the recent Moto2 three-day test at Jerez, followed by Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) and Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS).
Next best though was young Australian Remy Gardner, in what was a great boost for the son of 1987 World Champion, Wayne, and will fill him with confidence as he looks towards season 2019 with a new squad, and a new machine.
20-year-old Gardner had a difficult season with Tech3, the French squad used their own chassis throughout this year’s championship and while Remy finished the season on a high with fifth place at Valencia, it was not a season without difficulty, and injury.
Gardner has obviously enjoyed the switch to the more dominant Kalex frame, and his move into the SAG Racing Team that he will contest the Moto2 Championship with in 2019, alongside Japanese team-mate, 26-year-old Tetsuta Nagashima.
Remy Gardner
“To finish off the season in P5 in Valencia was a real high for me, it was nice to give the Tech3 Team one last result before I left.
Remy Gardner took an impressive fifth place at the Valencia season finale with Tech3
“I was going to Jerez with very high hopes after the last few races. The new team are great, and I couldn’t be happier. I got on really really well with my crew chief, and I’m impressed with his work so far.
Remy Gardner
“The new Triumph engine is absolutely awesome, so much torque and a lot faster. A different riding style was needed compared to the CBR600 engine. More stop and go, a little MotoGP style even.
Remy Gardner
“The Kalex works an absolute dream. Right from the first laps I felt so comfortable, the front end is amazing and the grip is on a another planet. I’m only left thinking what would have been if I had this opportunity before.
Remy Gardner
“We still need to work on our settings as I’m still not feeling 100 per cent with the bike yet, but we’re not far off.
“KTM at the moment seem to have big troubles with their frame, many riders told me they have unbelievable chatter problems so it seems I made the right choice with Kalex!
Remy Gardner
“Anyway now I have a preseason to prepare and focus on next year. Can’t wait for what’s to come!”
Remy Gardner with SAG Team boss Eduardo Perales
Now of course Moto2, like the other classes of MotoGP, are in European winter recess, with the new era of Triumph Moto2 power next firing up for an Official Test on the 20th-22nd February at Jerez.
Remy Gardner
Moto2 Jerez Test 2019 – Jerez Three-Day Combined Times
Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) topped the second day of testing for the new era of Moto2 in southern Spain despite a crash, with the Malaysian GP winner having just been beaten to the honour late on Friday.
Luca Marini
Marini’s 1:41.524 put him just over two-and-a-half-tenths clear of his nearest rival, Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2), with the Brit once again a force to be reckoned on his return to the Gresini squad.
To compare this new 765 triple-cylinder era to the previous CBR600RR powered, the fastest Moto2 lap at the Jerez race weekend back in May was a 1m41.890 by Lorenzo Baldassarri on a 33-degree track temperature in FP3. Conditions for this test are around five-degrees cooler.
Sam Lowes
Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) completed the top three, and was another frontrunner who crashed. Remy Gardner (SAG Team) ended the day less than a tenth off Marquez, with the top five completed by Friday’s fastest, Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP 40). The Italian was close though, just 0.044 off Gardner.
Rain interrupted action mid-way through the day, and in the final session only Steven Odendaal (NTS RW Racing), Lukas Tulovic (Kiefer Racing) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) went out.
Jorge Navarro (Speed Up Racing) began his Speed Up career in a solid P6 in a tight top ten, with Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) and Augusto Fernanández (Pons HP40) in seventh and eighth respectively. Tetsuta Nagashima (SAG Team) and Xavi Vierge (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) completed the top ten on Day 2.
Brad Binder fastest KTM framed machine in P13
Then came the first of the rookies: Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46), another who impressed despite a crash. Bulega was also the quickest debutant on Friday and ended Day 2 in P11 – more solid form from the Italian as fellow rookies Fabio Di Giannantonio (Speed Up Racing) and Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) took P16 and P17 respectively.
Marco Bezzecchi (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) was P24, whereas reigning Moto3 World Champion Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) sits on the sidelines injured. His teammate, Brad Binder, was P13 and fastest KTM, with Martin’s replacement Iker Lecuona beginning his stint just behind Bezzecchi.
Marco Bezzecchi – P24
“We had a quite positive second day, although we unfortunately didn’t ride too much because the weather changed. I was working even more on my riding style, which became better today. But still, we have to continue our good work in terms of riding style and also regarding chassis setup. All the team is very motivated and also KTM helps a lot. Tomorrow we will try to go faster.”
Marco Bezzecchi
Jake Dixon continued to make progress on his KTM framed machine on the second day of the 2019 preseason. The Briton finished second in the British Superbike Championship to Leon Haslam this season and the 22-year-old steps into the Moto2 ranks with Ángel Nieto Team. Dixon was three tenths quicker than yesterday in the two sessions that beat the weather, finishing 2.6 seconds off the top.
Jake Dixon – P27
“I still don’t have the best feeling with the bike, we’re struggling a little bit, but we are working hard together with the team to understand this KTM. For example, today we improved the feeling with the front end. It is incredible the job that the team are doing to help me get comfortable. It is a shame that the rain came and limited the track time because we need as many laps as possible in these tests. We could do with another session in the dry because we have worked on some things that could help us improve. Hopefully it doesn’t rain tomorrow because otherwise we’ll have to wait until next year to try them.”
Jake Dixon gets a taste of Moto2
The fastest MV Agusta on their return to the paddock was Stefano Manzi (MV Agusta Forward Racing), who slotted into fourteenth.
Sunday is the third and final day of testing at Jerez for the intermediate class as the new era of Triumph power begins.
Moto2 Jerez Test 2019 – Jerez Day One-Two Combined Times
Triumph engines have fired up Moto2 in Andalucia as the intermediate class test at Jerez. Early drama as reigning Moto3 World Champion Jorge Martin crashes and breaks his leg.
Lorenzo Baldassarri (Pons HP 40) topped the first day of Moto2 testing for 2019 at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto. A 1m42.203 from Baldassarri in the final session of the day saw the Italian beat compatriot Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) to the top of the timesheets.
The test signals the beginning of a new era not only for the rookies like Martin, but also of Triumph power – as well as some updates in the technical regulations. It’s off to a good start, with Baldassarri getting within three-tenths of his 2018 pole lap at the track.
Behind Baldassarri and Marini, the man in third was another man with a good record at the track: Sam Lowes, as he returns to the Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 squad for season 2019.
Moto2 riders completed four sessions throughout the day, with conditions improving in the afternoon after overnight rain had seen a damp start to proceedings. At the end of Day 1, Pons HP40’s Augusto Fernandez was fourth fastest, with Remy Gardner (SAG Team) rounding out the top five – 0.533 off the top.
Gardner had missed the Jerez race earlier this season after breaking both legs in a motocross training accident so we can’t compare his times at the circuit on the Tech3 machine he rode this season in comparison to the SAG machine he was on for this test and will race for season 2019. Tech3 used their own chassis in 2018 but is adopting a KTM chassis for their 2019 Moto2 assault while Gardner will be on the more dominant Kalex chassis in 2019.
Reigning Moto3 World Champion and Moto2 rookie Jorge Martin crashed and was left with a left humerus fracture and some broken bones in his foot. His first taste of the category cut short for now. Martin did make a solid impression however and was inside the top 15.
Jorge Martin went down hard
The fastest rookie was Nicolo Bulega (SKY Racing Team VR46), the Italian setting the seventh quickest time of the day to finish 0.566 from P1 – a great debut for the number 11 rider.
Jorge Martin was next quickest rookie, in P15, with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Speed Up Racing) P18 on the times. He was just ahead of fellow rookie Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team).
Jorge Martin
Elsewhere, Jake Dixon’s (Angel Nieto Team) Moto2 debut ended with the British rider setting a quickest time of 1:44.401, 2.198-seconds off Baldassarri’s benchmark, the Briton finishing one place ahead of Moto3 graduate Marco Bezzecchi (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) – P25 and P26 respectively for the pair as they settle in.
Jake Dixon
Dixon was a close runner-up to Leon Haslam in the British Superbike Championship this season and the 22-year-old Briton is a big hope for the future amongst English fans.
Jake Dixon – P25
“It has been a good first day, which we spent learning the bike and how everything works, from the team to the tyres, which is all new to me. I had a good feeling from the first run and I was able to enjoy myself on the KTM. I am looking forward to the next two days of testing here at Jerez and to continuing to learn with the team before the first race.”
Jake Dixon
Marco Bezzecchi – P26
“This start has been quite good. We worked a lot on the bike because in the beginning the riding position and the balance of the machine were far from now. In the end, we went better and better. Unfortunately the track temperature dropped a lot when we just found our best condition of the day, but anyway, we discovered many important things for tomorrow. I know that I have to improve my riding style a lot, but overall it has been good.”
Marco Bezzecchi
Moto2 riders will be back out on track on Saturday as they continue their adaptation to the Triumph engine.
Following the 2018 final round at Valencia, a Moto2 press conference was held to shed further light on the Triumph 765 powered class for the 2019 season ahead of the Jerez test this weekend, discussing the engine, electronics and aims for the class in the new year.
Triumph Moto2 – Image by AJRN
Moto2 was born in 2010 and after nine seasons, 2019 heralds a new era, with the Triumph Moto2 765cc powered racer just around the corner.
Triumph Chief Engineer Stuart Wood, Technical Director from ExternPro Trevor Morris, Magneti Marelli Motorsport Bike Systems Manager Marco Venturi and MotoGP Director of Technology Corrado Cecchinelli gathered and talked through the project, the new ECUs and the goal for the intermediate class. First to speak was Stuart Wood of Triumph.
Stuart Wood – Triumph Chief Engineer
“The engine is built to develop more power torque and revs, less inertia and is lighter weight. There are more than 80 new components. Our testing and development has had three major phases. Development work has been going on for two years; rig testing and a lot of track testing. We’ve done over two and a half thousands race pace laps at a range of circuits and much more than that on development rigs.
“We now have an engine that’s reliable, consistent and is producing 140 PS. So that’s a good step and a step for the championship but more than that you have completely different torque delivery with much more throughout the whole rev range. That’s the character of the triple and that’s what we think will make this so exciting.”
The Moto2 engine from Triumph
Triumph signed the three-year contract with Dorna and MotoGP to supply the dedicated race-tuned 765cc Triumph triple engine based on the powerplant from the latest generation of Triumph Street Triple. Based on the highest specification 765cc powerplant from the Street Triple RS, it has been developed for Moto2 with the following modifications:
Modified cylinder head with revised inlet and exhaust ports
Titanium valves and stiffer valve springs for increased rpm
New crank
New pistons
New con-rods and balancer shaft
Nikasil plated aluminium barrels
Revised gearbox
Low Output race kit alternator for reduced inertia
Race developed slipper clutch which will be tuneable
Revised engine covers for reduced width
Different sump to allow for improved header run
Triumph’s 765cc triple-cylinder Moto2 powerplant
Next to speak was MotoGP Technical Director Corrado Cecchinelli, who delved more into the reasoning behind the change, a lot of which comes down to the technical content of the class and positioning Moto2 correctly between the lightweight class and the premier class.
Corrado Cecchinelli – MotoGP Technical Director
“It’s an important step and I’m happy to be here for this exciting moment. Moto2 has been a success so far and for sure this series has some content we have to make sure we don’t lose like fair racing, a good show, and budget sensitivity. We have to be careful not to build a category where if a huge spender comes, he can win everything. So there are things to lose but a lot to gain.
“We expect some performance improvement but that’s not exactly the goal. We don’t have a problem with performance, what we’re looking for with this new engine is to take a step in terms of the technical content of Moto2. Ride-by-wire is what helps us really make a step because it introduces different concepts of torque management, for the first time staff and riders will learn in Moto2 that there’s a chance to make the engine do what you like.”
Technical Director from ExternPro Trevor Morris, MotoGP Director of Technology Corrado Cecchinelli, Triumph Chief Engineer Stuart Wood, Magneti Marelli Motorsport Bike Systems Manager Marco Venturi
Corrado Cecchinelli further described the goal with torque maps and engine braking as being, “Something more than Moto3 but delivered in an easier format than MotoGP.”
Marco Venturi of Magneti Marelli was the next man on the mic, talking of the Moto2 Electronic Control System Kit
Marco Venturi – Magneti Marelli
“This has been a big challenge for us because the request was to improve the level of technology and the technical level of Moto2. The knowledge on how to build it and what to select directly comes from our experience matured in MotoGP. We’ve tried to make the Moto2 closer to MotoGP, from the choice of the parts and the performance of the parts.
“We’ve worked on the system for more than a year, on the test bench on ExternPro premises and we made additional steps on bikes, working on bikes prepared for the occasion and following some tests for different chassis manufacturers. Some work on the running road, and finally some tests on track to make optimum calibrations. We are starting to use the system and we’ll see when it’s in the hands of the teams, I think it will improve their performance and knowledge of the bike and make Moto2 closer to MotoGP.”
The Moto2 Electronic Control System Kit
Finally, Trevor Morris from ExternPro explained the new era had been a little while coming…
Trevor Morris – ExternPro
“We could see what we needed to go forward in Moto2, and the work we’ve been doing over the last few years… it started a few years ago when we wanted to find a replacement engine. The Honda engine served its purpose very well, but we knew we had to move forward. The Triumph engine was so easy to choose.”
Moto2 head out for their first Official Test of the new era from the 23rd to 25th November at Jerez.
Triumph Moto2 engine handover complete prior to November Jerez Test
