Tag Archives: MotoGP

MotoGP dash message system upgraded with new features

MotoGP Race Director Mike Webb explains two additions ahead of the Bitci Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich

Two new dashboard message options will debut in the FIM MotoGP World Championship during the upcoming Bitci Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich. Dashboard messages are a tool available to Race Direction to facilitate direct communication with riders when they’re out on track, and a number of messages can also be sent and managed by teams.

This weekend, two new message options will become available. The first is a message communicating a problem with rider equipment – leathers, boots, gloves, helmet – introduced by Race Direction. The second is a request from the FIM MotoGP Stewards to introduce a warning regarding rider behaviour.

Race Director Mike Webb

For many years we’ve had dashboard messages where Race Direction can send messages to riders on the bike; flag signals and information about penalties, things like that. From time to time more signals. But a couple of things have come up recently, one is at the Catalan GP we had something that has never happened before, where a rider’s equipment; leathers, wasn’t functioning correctly and we needed to tell the rider to fix it. And there isn’t really an appropriate signal, we have signals about a mechanical failure on the bike, signals about disqualifications and things like that, but we decided after this incident that we needed a specific signal about rider equipment because it’s different to a mechanical failure, where if a bike is leaking oil or water or something, it’s important the bike goes off the track immediately.

“In the case of a problem or fastening undone on rider equipment, or something that’s not immediately a problem but needs to be fixed, it’s a different situation. So we have a new signal on the dashboard, it shows ‘equipment’ on the rider dashboard and the meaning has been explained to the riders and teams: there is a problem with your equipment and you’re required to fix it immediately. If that means coming into the pits to fix it, ok. Or if you can fix it yourself on track, that’s also ok. What we require is that you fix it immediately, so there’s a new message about rider equipment.

“The other update is a request from the FIM MotoGP Stewards about rider behaviour. There are times when a rider may do something we don’t like, but it is borderline and could have been a misjudgement or a mistake. However, if they repeat that behaviour and prove it was neither, it will incur a penalty. So the Stewards want a warning signal to say ‘hey, don’t do that. We’re watching and if you do it again there will be a penalty’. So there’s a new display on the dashboard called ‘warning’ and it’s specifically about rider behaviour. The warning signal says to the rider ‘what you’re doing, we don’t like it. Pay attention and if you continue there could be a penalty’. That’s the two new messages to improve communication between Race Direction and the riders.

“Messages on the dashboard take a bit of lead time. The manufacturers of the dashboards and motorcycles have to adjust their systems, and the timekeeping, to send the messages, they all have to get ready and it takes a little time so we’ve agreed on the messages, the technical part is being changed now and these messages will be available from the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend.

Source: MCNews.com.au

Fox Sports and Kayo secure exclusive rights to MotoGP in Australia

MotoGP and WorldSBK coverage to air only on pay-TV

This morning Foxtel officially announced a new exclusive multi-year deal that will see every MotoGP practice, qualifying and championship race to be shown live on Foxtel and Kayo from 2022 onwards.

This of course means an end to Channel Ten’s free-to-air coverage. The only MotoGP event to be shown on free-to-air television from next year will be the Australian Grand Prix, as government anti-siphoning laws mandate the home event be shown on free-to-air television.

Foxtel also announced a renewed agreement to show every race of the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship live on Foxtel and Kayo from 2023.

Amanda Laing – Foxtel Group Chief Content and Commercial Officer

With 2.4 million households now watching sport on Foxtel and Kayo, up 26% on last year, the Foxtel Group provides the largest audience of sports fans in the country. MotoGP is fantastic entertainment and we have seen double-digit annual audience growth over the past six years. Kayo has turbo-charged this growth, attracting a new legion of fans. The 2021 season is up 28 per cent on last year and featured the record-breaking MotoGP Spanish GP, won by Australian Jack Miller and watched by almost 180,000 fans. This exclusive multi-year deal sees us secure the free and paid rights with MotoGP and the exclusive renewal of our rights with World Superbike, cementing our unrivalled motorsport offering and again highlighting Foxtel and Kayo as the go-to destinations for sports fans in Australia.”

Jack Miller has two victories under his belt so far this season
Manel Arroyo – Chief Commercial Officer, Dorna Sports

For MotoGP it’s an honour. We are proud to extend, in a multi-year deal, our relationship and partnership with Fox Sports. Clearly to be with the home of motorsport in Australia at this moment, when new stars are arriving to the Championship in the main category, with Jack Miller now joined by Remy Gardner, makes us sure we’re going to deliver what the Fox Sports family needs and is expecting from MotoGP. We’re proud to be here because we have a challenge to develop new audiences together with Foxtel and Kayo. Thank you very much for your confidence in MotoGP.”

Jack Miller at Le Mans

Source: MCNews.com.au

MotoGP™ remains with the Foxtel Group in Australia

Manel Arroyo, Chief Commercial Officer, Dorna Sports:  “For MotoGP it’s an honour. We are proud to extend, in a multi-year deal, our relationship and partnership with Fox Sports. Clearly to be with the home of motorsport in Australia at this moment, when new stars are arriving to the Championship in the main category, with Jack Miller now joined by Remy Gardner, makes us sure we’re going to deliver what the Fox Sports family needs and is expecting from MotoGP.

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Motul: Team Suzuki and Pramac Racing Power to Podium Finishes

Well, folks, Round 10 of MotoGP has just concluded – and as expected, the Styrian GP gave our boys a run for their money.

The competence of the course wasn’t lost on Motul-powered Team Suzuki and Pramac Racing, the latter of which secured their maiden victory after grinding for 20 years at the twisties, thanks to the elbow grease of well-loved racer Jorge Martin. 

A view of Jorge Martin Riding around to secure a victory at Round 10 of 2021's MotoGP

MotoGP rookie Jorge Martin stole a well-deserved win from Team Suzuki Joan Mir on Sunday. The young racer has been out of commission for 4 races after sustaining an injury, though it appears the healing phase did him good. 

Martin claimed a pole position on the weekend, giving the crowds a dominant performance that also saw a battle with Joan Mir and an early red flag that tested his composure – a test that he passed with flying colors. 

a view of the red flag incident at Round 10 of the MotoGP at the Styrian GP 2021

Since Pramac Racing has been using Motul, they have claimed six podium finishes – a number not lost on the team in red. 

Team Suzuki has also given the crowds an amazing performance, with 2020 World Champion Joan Mir finishing short by a scant 1.5 seconds behind Jorge Martin. Despite this, the rider was able to put up an excellent fight on his Suzuki GSX-RR, putting Motul’s latest lubricant technology to good use. 

a view of the pile of riders powering through the turns of the Round 10 MotoGP at the Styrian GP 2021

Here are the two teams’ qualifying results, as well as the race results of the weekend:

Qualifying Results:

P1 (1:22.994): Jorge Martin, #89 Pramac Racing Ducati Desmosedici 

P6 (1:23.376): Johann Zarco, #5 Pramac Racing Ducati Desmosedici

P5 (1:23.322): Joan Mir, #36 Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki GSX-RR

P13 (1:23.585): Alex Rins, #42 Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki GSX-RR

A side profile of a VELDT Motorcycle Helmet

a view of Motul Racing lubricant oil - the stuff used in MotoGP 2021

Race Results:

P1: Jorge martin, #89 Pramac Racing Ducati Desmosedici

P6: Johann Zarco, #5 Pramac Racing Ducati Desmosedici 

P2: Joan Mir, #36 Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki GSX-RR 

P7: Alex Rins, #42 Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki GSX-RR

We hope you stay cool this weekend – and check out MotorBikeWriter’s MotoGP Archives for more on everything MotoGP.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Take two: MotoGP™ ready for another stunner in Spielberg

A quick blitz through the stats: rookie, first Independent Team rider to win on a Ducati, first Pramac Racing win with Ducati, first rookie to win with an Independent Team, and only fifth rookie to win in MotoGP™: Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) and the legendary Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo are the other members of that club. And Martin did it from his second pole position of his rookie season, with little drama and a whole load of speed. That must make him a favourite as we return to the track, but likewise the man he just defeated: Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar).

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Martín hot property after magic in Styria

The rookie sensation offers excellent value ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, but who else should you consider in MotoGP™ Fantasy?

A Styrian stunner saw MotoGP™ come back with a bang as Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) put in a performance of the highest quality to seal a maiden premier class victory and join an exclusive list of rookies to win a race in their debut season. There was also plenty of joy for Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), with both riders finishing on the podium. It meant they all scored big in MotoGP™ Fantasy, and ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend, we’ve reviewed the action below. 

MotoGP™ Fantasy is back and here’s how to get involved!

Who made the Styrian GP Dream Team?

The Styrian GP Dream Team’s gold riders sees Mir and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) share a tidy sum of 37 points each from the weekend’s action, though they were earned in completely different ways. Mir put in a season-best qualifying to start from the second row, meaning he could attack the podium places with minimal fuss at the Red Bull Ring, with the Mallorcan going on to secure a P2 finish, his best result of the season, while also collecting 5 points for putting in the race’s fastest lap.

Contrast that to Binder, who once again lived up to his burgeoning Sunday rider reputation after enduring a tough pre-race weekend to qualify 16th on the grid, only to fight his way through the field and finish fourth. It isn’t the first time the South African has made up huge ground during a race, and as a result, he has become a valuable MotoGP™ Fantasy asset, with his price now rising to $3.5 million, the fourth-highest in the game.

It’s unusual to see a race winner not make the top two riders of the weekend, but that is exactly what has happened after Jorge Martin’s pole position and magnificent victory sees him collect 35 points, a total that is only good enough to make him a silver rider in the Styrian GP’s Dream Team. Rounding out the best riders from the weekend is Fabio Quartararo, whose solid weekend ride saw him take a front row start and another podium to add to his already impressive 2021 haul.

No team is complete without a manufacturer, and this week that honour belongs to Suzuki with the Hamamatsu factory collecting 30.5 points thanks to the efforts of Mir and Alex Rins, who finished in seventh after a P13 start.

How many 300V Motul boosts were used?

The Styrian GP saw 1602 gamers play their 300V Motul boosts as they doubled one of their riders’ points tally.

Who to pick this weekend?

The grid don’t need to go anywhere for Round 11 of the MotoGP™ World Championship, as the Red Bull Ring plays host once again, this time for the Bitci Motorrad Austrian Grand Prix. So, what changes should you make ahead of the MotoGP™ Fantasy deadline?

Last week once again showed that this is a circuit that Joan Mir loves, and he should be a must in your team, particularly given the GSX-RR’s new ride height device. So should Fabio Quartararo, who time and time again proves his class at tracks where the M1 is at a perceived disadvantage.

Elsewhere, you won’t find better value for money at the moment than Jorge Martin, who is a steal at just $1.7 million. The weekend’s race winner and poleman may find it hard to repeat both those feats, but given the GP21’s suitability to the Red Bull Ring and the Spaniard’s form, he looks like the best option for the Bologna bullets in Austria. That’s not to discount Ducati Lenovo Team riders Francesco Bagnaia, who was the most traded in rider last week, or Jack Miller though, with both showing some promise at the Styrian GP despite it ending in disappointment for both. Bagnaia looked particularly strong before the red flag but then complained of mechanical problems which hindered his attempts once proceedings had restarted. As for Aussie Miller, he was well in the hunt for a podium place, but an unfortunate crash saw him slide out of contention while applying the pressure to Quartararo.

It was a disappointing return to Styria for Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who seemed to be suffering from the consequences of a highside in Free Practice before retiring from the race due to mechanical issues. With an extra week to rest up, you can be assured the Portuguese rider will be looking to put things right after he lost his King of the Ring title. At $2.8 million, he looks a very affordable and tempting option.

Honda also had some impressive runners at the weekend, with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) perhaps offering up the best value as a differential. Priced at just $2 million, the Japanese rider put in an excellent showing last weekend to take a P5 finish ahead of Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) and collect 22 points. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) may not be as cheap as his satellite counterpart, but the eight-time Champion could prove a shrewd addition to your team. The number 93 has collected 85 points in his last three outings, an average of 28.3 per Grand Prix, and looked a strong race contender prior to the red flag as he elbowed his way towards the front of the pack. He didn’t quite manage to do it on the restart, but with another weekend of action under his belt, Marquez can only be a bigger race threat this time around.

Who should be my constructor’s choice?

The Styria GP saw Ducati, Suzuki and KTM all pick up big points from the weekend, and realistically, the weekend’s race winner is likely to come from one of those three. Sticking our necks out on a line, Ducati would have to be the constructor’s choice this weekend, with four potential race winners riding within their ranks, they offer the highest probability of a big points scoring return.

Every practice session, qualifying battle and race, exclusive interviews, historic races and so much more fantastic content: this is VideoPass!

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Dashboard messages updated ahead of Austrian GP

Mike Webb: “For many years we’ve had dashboard messages where Race Direction can send messages to riders on the bike; flag signals and information about penalties, things like that. From time to time more signals. But a couple of things have come up recently, one is at the Catalan GP we had something that has never happened before, where a rider’s equipment; leathers, wasn’t functioning correctly and we needed to tell the rider to fix it. And there isn’t really an appropriate signal, we have signals about a mechanical failure on the bike, signals about disqualifications and things like that, but we decided after this incident that we needed a specific signal about rider equipment because it’s different to a mechanical failure, where if a bike is leaking oil or water or something, it’s important the bike goes off the track immediately.”

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Ready, set… show! MotoE™ rocks up at the Red Bull Ring

Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) is another and rekindled his solid points hauls at Assen, but he’ll be looking to move up as he’s now ten points off Granado and Aegerter, and only a single point ahead of Barcelona winner Miquel Pons (LCR E-Team). Pons had a tougher visit to the TT Circuit Assen and will be aiming for more in Austria.

Matteo Ferrari (Indonesian E-Racing Gresini MotoE), meanwhile, got more at the Dutch GP. After a tougher start to the year the Italian took his best 2021 finish yet at Assen in fourth, and was the top Red Bull Ring finisher on the current grid back in 2019. He’s consistent as ever too, with a top ten finish in every race this season – something that only Zaccone, Torres and Yonny Hernandez (Octo Pramac MotoE) can join in claiming.

Lukas Tulovic (Tech3 E-Racing), Hikari Okubo (Avant Ajo MotoE) and Fermin Aldeguer (Openbank Aspar Team) are waiting in the wings to fight it out for that top ten – as a minimum – too, and all three are covered by just eight points in the standings, with time left to make up some good ground. Mathematically, the 2021 Cup remains anyone’s to win… but the clock is ticking and crunch time is coming as we head into the penultimate round.

Zaccone? Torres? Granado? Aegerter? Or another shake up in the standings? We’ll find out on Sunday as MotoE™ go racing at 15:30 (GMT +2) around the stunning Red Bull Ring – Spielberg.

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

TIME SCHEDULE: Bitci Motorrad Grand Prix of Austria

After the fourth round of the year at Assen before the break, the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup grid will be back in action. On Thursday 12th, from 15:00 (CET), the main stars of the class will claim the spotlight with a Press Conference featuring Alessandro Zaccone (Octo Pramac MotoE), Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40), Eric Granado (One Energy Racing), Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP), Matteo Ferrari (Indonesian E-Racing Gresini MotoE) and Lukas Tulovic (Tech3 E-Racing).

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

MotoGP™ Fan Token sales open on Friday!

The sale of these first 25 million units will run until the 31st of August 2021. MotoGP™ Fan Token is a real token written on the Bitcichain blockchain network. Fans will be able to trade MotoGP™ Fan Tokens, and at the same time invest in their favourite sport: MotoGP™. Once the MotoGP™ Fan Token becomes listed on Bitci.com’s exclusive cryptocurrency platform, the price will move up or down according to market demand.

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here