Marc Marquez claimed victory number 12 of the season at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana, making the Repsol Honda Team Team Champions to add to his rider title and the constructors’ Championship – the triple crown.
Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT), meanwhile, signed off with another impressive podium in second, and he pipped Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) to the title of top Independent Team rider as the Aussie followed him home in third.
2019 Valencia MotoGP Race results: 1 – Marc Marquez (SPA – Honda) 41’21.469 2 – Fabio Quartararo* (FRA – Yamaha) +1.026 3 – Jack Miller (AUS – Ducati) +2.409
Valencia MotoGP Race Report
Miller launched his Pramac Racing machine into the holeshot, with Marquez getting a sluggish getaway from the middle of the front row to drop down to P6, having run slightly wide at Turn 1.
Jack Miller
Polesitter Quartararo then grabbed the lead from Miller as the Australian ran wide at Turn 2, with the Frenchman quickly creating a small gap to his rivals. Heading into Turn 1 on Lap 2, Marquez was into P3 past the fast-starting duo of Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), however, and it wouldn’t take the 2019 Champion long to pick off Miller as he locked his radar onto Quartararo.
The Rookie of the Year’s lead was 0.7 over Marquez, with the latter racing to an eight-tenths advantage over Miller.
Marquez chasing down Quartararo
Marquez was creeping up to the back of the leading M1 slowly but surely, and on Lap 8 a surprise, late but super fine move at Turn 11 saw the number 93 lead.
Marquez and Quartararo engaged in battle
Suddenly third place Miller – with Dovizioso and Rins in tow – had closed the gap to less than half a second, the top five covered by 1.7.
Valencia MotoGP
However, Marquez was in the groove and the eight-time Champion had pulled to over half-a-second clear of Quartararo, with the gap hovering between 0.6 and 0.8 for a number of laps after. Miller wasn’t letting Quartararo have P2 all his own way either, that margin was remaining at a second – enough to keep the number 20 on his toes.
Everyone held firm before a tenth here and a tenth there saw Marquez stretch his advantage to one-and-a-half-seconds with six laps remaining, with Miller cutting the gap to Quartararo down by four-tenths. It was 0.6, but was there a late twist for P2 inbound.
Not quite, Miller didn’t have enough speed to catch the back of the M1 by the time the chequered flag was waved, with Marquez taking another 25-point haul to land Repsol Honda Team the 2019 triple crown, Quartararo taking another podium and beating Miller to top Independent Team rider.
Quartararo and Miller in Parc Ferme
Dovizioso and Ducati’s aims of picking up the Teams title didn’t materialise in Valencia, but P4 was a solid result for the Italian who was comfortably best of the rest in 2019.
Marquez and Miller in Parc Ferme
Rins capped off a fine season by claiming P5 at his home Grand Prix, however it wasn’t enough to grab P3 in the Championship from sixth place finisher Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) – the Malaysian GP winner having a quiet final round of the season before jumping onto the 2020 Yamaha on Tuesday.
Marquez celebrates while Quartararo wonders what he has to do in order to beat the Spaniard
Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) in seventh was a great way to round off a very solid rookie MotoGP campaign, the Spaniard ending 2019 with five consecutive top 10s after an impressive comeback from his testing crash at Brno.
Joan Mir, Rossi and Crutchlow
Valentino Rossi’s (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) P8 sees the nine-time World Champion end the season P7 in the overall standings.
Aleix came out on top in the battle of the Espargaro brothers – P9 for Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), P10 for Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). That makes it all factories in the top ten.
Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team), Johann Zarco (LCR Honda Idemitsu) and Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) all crashed at Turn 6, on Lap 14, in separate incidents, although Lecuona was close behind Zarco and the Frenchman got flipped by the KTM as it crashed through the gravel.
Cal Crutchlow watches on after crashing out
Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol), Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) and Andrea Iannone (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) also crashed – all riders ok.
Jorge Lorenzo welcomed back into the pits
On his final ever MotoGP ride, five-time World Champion and future MotoGP Legend Jorge Lorenzo finished P13. It was an emotional day for the Spaniard who arrived back into pitlane to rapturous applause, with the Valencia fans paying their full respects to one of the sport’s greatest ever riders on his cool-down lap.
Jorge Lorenzo welcomed back into the pits
So, 2019 draws to a close. But don’t worry, 2020 is just around the corner! Testing begins in Valencia on Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 November. Rookies, new bikes, old rivalries and another season of awesome competition is just around the corner.
Marc Marquez with Quartararo in Parc Ferme
Marc Marquez
“The perfect season. So difficult to improve this season because the way we rode all season, the consistency and everything, has been amazing. Finishing the season with a victory, riding with a gold helmet – which is always extra pressure because if you ride with a gold helmet you need to be smart and clever – is special too but also for all the Repsol Honda Team it was important too. The Teams Championship. We achieved it, the triple crown. An amazing, amazing season and all the team deserve it.”
The latest generation of the Kawasaki Z650 just arrived with a brand new bodywork, brighter LED lights, more comfortable seat, Dunlop tires, and a new TFT instrument that now includes smartphone connectivity and data tracking through the Rideology App. If you liked the Z650 before you’ll like it even more now. The most notable change is the “Sugomi” styling that Kawasaki has infused into almost all of its latest motorcycles with. Sharp, angular lines and aggressive stance give the Z650 ABS a new, more distinguishable look. Kawasaki has utilized the term “Middleweight Supernaked” to describe the Z and while that may evoke some NSFW imagery, it does convey the point that this is supposed to be a fun motorcycle to ride.
The 2020 Kawasaki Z650 bodywork looks and feels more compact, with a new chin spoiler, new instrument cover, and forward-slanting lines of the cowling contributing to the Sugomi styling.Kawasaki
Underneath the edgy bodywork is the same tubular steel trellis type frame and liquid-cooled 649cc parallel twin engine that are the foundation of this sweet machine. With a fully-adjustable 41mm inverted fork, preload adjustable Horizontal Back-Link rear shock, gull-wing type swingarm, Nissin two-piston brakes and dual petal-type 300mm rotors, the Z650 has all the necessary hardware to make it a great streetbike. Along with its assist-slipper clutch, four selectable Ride Modes and ABS, this bike is not only easy to ride for newbies but also exciting enough for experienced riders as well.
Each individual frame component in this layout was arranged so that the lines of the steel pieces were as straight as possible. When it was necessary to incorporate a bend, the engineers made sure that the angles were as small as possible, the result is a frame that disperses stress very well.Kawasaki
Another important new feature is the 4.3-inch color instrument and its ability to connect via Bluetooth to your smartphone. Using Kawasaki’s Rideology App you are able to monitor your bikes data including a ride log that tracks the route, distance, time, and riding conditions so you can share it with friends. A redesigned, more comfortable seat should make the ride even more enjoyable for the rider and passenger while the addition of Dunlop Sportmax Roadsport 2 tires will help the bike perform even better on the road. Kawasaki continues to add incremental refinements to this popular entry-level motorcycle.
2020 Kawasaki Z650 Price And Color Options
The 2020 Kawasaki Z650 will be offered in Metallic Spark Black/Metallic Flat Spark Black with an MSRP of $7,249 (non-ABS)/$7,649 (ABS) and a Metallic Spark Black version with an MSRP of $7,349 (non-ABS)/$7,749 (ABS). These motorcycles are available now at a Kawasaki dealer near you.
French rookie Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) put in another superlative performance in qualifying to take the final pole position of the season – his sixth in his rookie year.
It was a close run duel with reigning champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), however, with the number 93 losing out by just 0.032s despite a crash in FP4. Jack Miller (Pramac Racing), another man with some serious pace so far, converted that into a front row start and he’ll start third.
The chill had been taken out the day by the time qualifying came around, and in Q1 it was Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) vs Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in a duel for supremacy – with the former coming out on top, but by just 0.005s. Johann Zarco (LCR Honda Idemitsu) was the man who just lost out in P13, with the 12 men ahead of him then heading out to fight for pole.
Given his performances in qualifying so far this season, it was no surprise to see Quartararo on provisional pole after the first run, but Miller was coming.
The Australian was able to take over at the top as the riders headed back out, but it didn’t take too long for Quartararo to strike back. Provisionally fastest once again and Marquez taking over in second, there remained one more shot at it for most. Could the reigning Champion ruin the rookie party?
As the clock ticked down, many were still pushing but the timing screens remained resolutely free of red. Quartararo couldn’t better himself, and Marquez and Miller had no answer for the Frenchman. So a sixth pole of the season is the number 20’s sign off from rookie Saturdays, and he’ll be aiming, as ever, for a maiden win on Sunday.
But Marquez will doubtless be keen to stand in his way as he homes in on 400 points, with Miller with his own high stakes as he aims to stop Quartararo taking the title of top Independent Team rider too.
On the second row it’s Sepang winner Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) in fourth, with Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) in a solid fifth. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) slotted into sixth as the only man who improved on his final lap, aiming to stop Marquez from giving Repsol Honda the teams’ Championship.
Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) got the better of Q1 graduate and teammate Alex Rins to take seventh, with Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) completing the third row alongside the two Suzukis. Ducati Team’s Danilo Petrucci rounds out the top 10 in Valencia.
Pol Espargaro managed to beat Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) to P11, with the KTM man aiming even higher on race day. But on that race day, Rossi will be eager to hit back and move a good way forward – with Saturday sessions largely having seen ‘The Doctor’ further forward, despite a tough Friday.
Jorge Lorenzo (Repsol Honda Team), meanwhile, will begin an emotionally-charged final race of his career from 16th.
Jorge Navarro (MB Conveyors Speed Up) has taken the final Moto2 pole position of the season on home turf, but he had close company from rookie Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) in Spain. The two Spaniards are split by just 0.017s, with Stefano Manzi claiming a maiden front row start of the season for MV Agusta Temporary Forward in third. Australian Remy Gardner (SAG Racing) will start from P14.
For the first time in his career and ahead of a landmark, Andrea Migno (Mugen Race) has claimed pole position thanks to a 1m38.683s in Moto3. The Italian beat home hero Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) by 0.274s on Saturday afternoon, with Valencian rider Jaume Masia (Mugen Race) completing the front row but a couple of further tenths in arrears.
Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) converted pole position into his first victory of the year in race one in Valencia, the Brazilian coming out on top in a three-way scrap for the win which saw Hector Garzo (Tech 3 E-Racing) get the better of One Energy Racing’s Bradley Smith on the final lap – at the final corner. The overall Cup winner, therefore, goes down to the final race of the year.
Team Australia has been crowned Junior World Trophy champions at Portugal’s 2019 FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE), as Team USA captured the World Trophy victory.
Team USA was able to fend off a charge from Team Australia on the final day to emerge victoriously, the green and gold reducing their lead to 1m45s. Team Italy rounded out the podium, followed by Team Spain and Team Finland.
In the Junior World Trophy category, Team Australia dominated the class, winning by a staggering 9m13s over Team USA. Team Spain was third ahead of Team Portugal and Team Belgium.
Team USA earned the Women’s World Trophy following a commanding performance all week, defeating Team Germany and Team Great Britain. Team Sweden and Team Spain locked out the top five, while Australia was ranked eighth after Mackenzie Tricker (KTM) and Tayla Jones (Husqvarna) were forced out of the event earlier in the week.
Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team’s Daniel Sanders was crowned outright champion over Spaniard Josep Garcia (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and American Taylor Robert (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).
Australians Lyndon Snodgrass (KTM Enduro Racing Team), Luke Styke (Active8 Yamaha Yamalube Racing) and Fraser Higlett (Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team) finished in positions seven, nine and 10, while compatriots Josh Green (Active8 Yamaha Yamalube Racing) and Michael Driscoll (Active8 Yamaha Yamalube Racing) were 12th and 16th outright.
Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha) completed the event fourth in the Women’s outright standings. Sanders captured the E3 crown, while Higlett, Green and Driscoll were fourth, fifth and seventh overall in E2. Snodgrass and Styke were third and fourth respectively in the E1 category.
Fabio Quartararo, who can win the fight for the best Independent Team rider on Sunday, has qualified on pole position for the sixth time in his rookie season, along with Jerez, Catalunya, Assen, Thailand and Sepang. In the MotoGP class, only Marc Marquez did better in his rookie year, with nine poles in 2013.
Fabio Quartararo
With his sixth pole position, Quartararo equals Christian Sarron in first place on the list of French riders with the most pole positions in the premier class of Grand Prix racing.
At Valencia, Quartararo became the first Yamaha rider with six or more pole positions in a single MotoGP season since Jorge Lorenzo in 2012 with seven pole positions.
In addition, this is Quartararo’s 13th front row of the season, two less than Marc Marquez who did 15 in his rookie season back in 2013, the record for a rookie since the introduction of the MotoGP class in 2002.
Fabio Quartararo
If Fabio Quartararo wins the race in Valencia (20 years and 211 days old), he will be the third-youngest rider to win a premier class Grand Prix race, behind Marc Marquez (20 years 63 days, 2013 Americas GP) and Freddie Spencer (20 years and 196 days, 1982 Belgian GP).
If Fabio Quartararo wins the race, it will be 20 years and 59 days since compatriot Regis Laconi won the most recent premier class race for France at Valencia.
Fabio Quartararo
Marc Marquez has qualified in second place, which is his 16th front-row start of 2019, equalling his best season in terms of front rows (2015). The record is 17 – Jorge Lorenzo in 2010.
Jack Miller has qualified in third place, which is his first front-row start since Silverstone earlier this year and his fourth of the season.
Valencia MotoGP Qualifying Summary
The French rookie put in another superlative performance in qualifying to take the final pole position of the season – his sixth in his rookie year.
It was a close run duel with reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), however, with Marquez losing out by just 0.032 despite a crash in FP4.
Jack Miller (Pramac Racing), another man with some serious pace so far, converted that into a front row start and he’ll start third.
Fabio Quartararo – P1
“We’ve had a great day because apart from the pole position we were able to take a step forward in improving our pace for the race. We can make a strong start to the race, and I’ll do my best to finish tomorrow the way we finished today, even though there are some other guys who also have incredible pace. We’ll try and set three perfect laps at the beginning of the race, and after that, we’ll see what happens – but I expect to be fighting for the podium. The main goal still isn’t to win a race this year though; it’s to finish the race and the season in the best possible way.”
Fabio Quartararo
Marc Marquez – P2
“I’m very happy because I was able to get closer than I was expecting, I didn’t think I could be this close over one lap. With our race pace we’re not very far away, but Quartararo is very strong over one lap. Anyway, I’m happy to be on the front row and our first target is done. We’ll try to start well tomorrow and then see what happens. It will be a tough race as Viñales and Quartararo are very fast but I think we can manage it well.”
Marc Marquez
Jack Miller – P3
“I am very satisfied with what we have done so far over the weekend. The feeling is really very good and for that I thank the team. We are improving session after session. Tonight we will analyze the data to try to improve further in view of the race.”
Jack Miller
Valencia MotoGP Qualifying Report
The chill had been taken out the day by the time qualifying came around, and in Q1 it was Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) vs Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in a duel for supremacy – with the former coming out on top, but by just 0.005. Johann Zarco (LCR Honda Idemitsu) was the man who just lost out in P13, with the 12 men ahead of him then heading out to fight for pole.
Given his performances in qualifying so far this season, it was no surprise to see Quartararo on provisional pole after the first run, but Miller was coming.
The Australian was able to take over at the top as the riders headed back out, but it didn’t take too long for Quartararo to strike back. Provisionally fastest once again and Marquez taking over in second, there remained one more shot at it for most. Could the reigning Champion ruin the rookie party?
Marc Marquez
As the clock ticked down, many were still pushing but the timing screens remained resolutely free of red. Quartararo couldn’t better himself, and Marquez and Miller had no answer for the Frenchman. So a sixth pole of the season is the number 20’s sign off from rookie Saturdays, and he’ll be aiming, as ever, for a maiden win on Sunday.
Marquez will doubtless be keen to stand in his way as he homes in on 400 points, with Miller with his own high stakes as he aims to stop Quartararo taking the title of top Independent Team rider.
On the second row it’s Sepang winner Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) in fourth, with Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) in a solid fifth.
Maverick Viñales – P4
“I’m actually happy, because this morning I didn’t feel really good, but then in the afternoon we made some changes on the bike and we improved a lot, and that is the most important. I feel that I have a very strong rhythm, especially with the hard tyre. But then in qualifying, already straight away, I felt a drop in the second front tyre and then we didn’t have any more new front tyres. So, I did the best I could do, but for sure we could have done better. I don’t know if I can go for the win, it all depends on the start, but I think it will be possible to be on the podium.”
Maverick Viñales
Franco Morbidelli – P5
“Apart from FP4, I’ve finished every session this weekend in fifth. We’re chasing the guys in front and trying to improve as much as possible, but in reality, our pace is similar to the top guys already. There are a lot of people capable of doing the same times though, so I think we’re in for a really interesting race. I need to be a little bit faster in some areas, especially in braking, and we’ll make a few small changes in warm-up to work on that and then see what we can do in the race.”
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) slotted into sixth as the only man who improved on his final lap, aiming to stop Marquez from giving Repsol Honda the teams’ Championship.
Andrea Dovizioso – P6
“Today we were able to improve the set-up of my Desmosedici GP and I’m satisfied. It wasn’t easy but we got closer to the frontrunners both on speed and on pace. Starting from the second row is very important, especially here at Valencia, and even though I didn’t do a perfect lap, I was able to set a good time. I don’t know if we will have the pace to be able to fight for the podium, but as always in the race anything can happen”.
Andrea Dovizioso
Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) got the better of Q1 graduate and team-mate Alex Rins to take seventh, with Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) completing the third row alongside the two Suzukis.
Joan Mir – P7
“I’m really happy about the weekend so far, and my feeling is good. This is a track where I have more experience, and I notice the difference. The bike feels great and I’m able to ride how I want to. I think tomorrow I can be in the mix and fighting in the Top 5.”
Joan Mir
Alex Rins – P8
“I set a good lap time in Q1, and then replicated it in Q2, and I think starting 8th is OK. For sure, a bit higher could be better, but I feel quite confident. We’ll see tomorrow what the first laps are like and how the race will turn out. Tyre choice will be quite important. In the past here it’s been difficult for riders to open a gap, so it could be a close race. I’m riding smoothly and improving session by session. Ready for the last race!”
Alex Rins
Cal Crutchlow – P9
“I’m ok (after the crash), there’s nothing broken, just a few cuts to my left hand which we thought was broken. It was strange because I didn’t crash on my left hand side, I crashed on my right so I don’t really know where I hit my hand, but it seemed to have slapped the ground quite hard and it was painful. When I went back out it was really painful, but I had some treatment between FP3 and FP4 and then it wasn’t so bad. I’m happy enough because we’ve already started to test for next year with something on the bike. I think there’s some positives from it and some negatives. So we’re happy enough with what we’re doing and getting stuff ready for Honda.”
Cal Crutchlow
Ducati Team’s Danilo Petrucci rounds out the top 10 in Valencia.
Danilo Petrucci – P10
“This morning we managed to improve my feeling with the bike and so it was a positive day even though in qualifying I could have certainly done better. Now I’ll have a closer look at the data with my engineers to see where we can intervene for tomorrow. For sure, we’re in better shape than yesterday, but we’re still missing something. We have some ideas about how to improve for the race and we’ll try and put them into practice”.
Danilo Petrucci
Pol Espargaro survived a hair-raising slide on his principal time attack in Q1. At almost 180kmph through Turn 10 he controlled the ‘moment’ and edged his way into Q2
Pol Espargaro – P11
“We’ve been struggling on Fridays lately and we could turn the situation round a little here. I think we are in a bit better shape here than in Malaysia. We have a better feeling so it will be a different scenario for the race where we can fight with the others. I could manage to stay on the bike in Q1 after that big moment! I lost two tenths on that lap but could stay in Q2 so I was super-pleased. Then in the Q2 with the Hard tyre we did a 30.9 and qualified 11th, not too far from the front. The only thing that annoys me today is that we did not get enough tyres for what we wanted to do in Q2. We could have made 5th on the grid.”
Pol Espargaro
Valentino Rossi – P12
“Mixed feelings today, because this morning’s FP3 was very good, I was able to go directly into Q2 with a good lap time. But in the afternoon, in qualifying, we didn’t work well and made some mistakes. I was stuck in traffic with the second tyre and wasn’t able to make a good lap. Anyway, it’s not fantastic to be far from the front row, now we have to start from P12. It’s difficult, because my pace is not so bad but nothing fantastic, and on this track it’s hard to overtake. But we have to try the maximum to recover some positions.”
Valentino Rossi
Johann Zarco – P13
“I’m a little bit disappointed for today. In the morning I lost time because I wasn’t confident with the cold, so only in the last five minutes (of FP3) did I go faster, but it was too late. I think I paid for this in the afternoon, because then I improved and got a better feeling on the bike, but still not enough to be in Q2 and have a better qualifying. It’s a shame, but from this I need to have an even stronger race tomorrow and the feeling is improving with the bike.”
Johann Zarco
Jorge Lorenzo (Repsol Honda Team), meanwhile, will begin an emotionally-charged final race of his career from 16th.
Jorge Lorenzo – P16
“Today was more or less what we expected, maybe I could have been a little higher on the grid but those ahead were in the 1’30s. The plan for tomorrow is to make a good start and avoid trouble in the opening laps and then see what my pace will give me at the end of the race. I think we can move forward and maintain a pace that is closer to the leaders than in the previous rounds. It will certainly be an emotional race tomorrow so I hope that I can enjoy it all and importantly help Honda as best I can.”
Jorge Lorenzo
Red Bull KTM Tech3 debutant Iker Lecuona progressed in speed and confidence in every outing with the KTM RC16. The 19 year old class rookie was satisfied with 19th spot; less than two seconds from Fabio Quartararo’s pole position chrono and ahead of teammate Hafizh Syahrin who placed 22nd.
Iker Lecuona – P19
“Today went a lot better than yesterday. I improved a lot in FP3. I progressed and understood the bike a lot better, plus I managed to follow some other riders on track, which was very important. This afternoon in FP4, I worked towards the race distance with used tyres and I was very consistent. So, I’m ready for my first race. In Qualifying I tried to push as hard as I could and I went faster than I expected myself, to be honest. I left some other riders behind me again, so I’m very happy.”
Iker Lecuona
Can Quartararo grab that first MotoGP win before the 2019 season comes to a close? The scrap for the final 25 points of the year looks set to be a cracker, with plenty on the table and history guaranteed to be made.
MotoGP Combined Qualification
Pos
Rider
Motorcycle
Q
Time/Gap
1
Fabio QUARTARARO
YAMAHA
Q2
1m29.978
2
Marc MARQUEZ
HONDA
Q2
+0.032
3
Jack MILLER
DUCATI
Q2
+0.108
4
Maverick VIÑALES
YAMAHA
Q2
+0.200
5
Franco MORBIDELLI
YAMAHA
Q2
+0.471
6
Andrea DOVIZIOSO
DUCATI
Q2
+0.533
7
Joan MIR
SUZUKI
Q2
+0.595
8
Alex RINS
SUZUKI
Q2
+0.617
9
Cal CRUTCHLOW
HONDA
Q2
+0.748
10
Danilo PETRUCCI
DUCATI
Q2
+0.793
11
Pol ESPARGARO
KTM
Q2
+0.930
12
Valentino ROSSI
YAMAHA
Q2
+0.976
13
Johann ZARCO
HONDA
Q1
(*)0.288
14
Michele PIRRO
DUCATI
Q1
(*)0.411
15
Aleix ESPARGARO
APRILIA
Q1
(*)0.434
16
Jorge LORENZO
HONDA
Q1
(*)0.757
17
Mika KALLIO
KTM
Q1
(*)0.845
18
Tito RABAT
DUCATI
Q1
(*)0.969
19
Iker LECUONA
KTM
Q1
(*)1.120
20
Andrea IANNONE
APRILIA
Q1
(*)1.176
21
Karel ABRAHAM
DUCATI
Q1
(*)1.277
22
Hafizh SYAHRIN
KTM
Q1
(*)1.301
Moto2
Jorge Navarro (MB Conveyors Speed Up) has taken the final Moto2 pole position of the season on home turf, but he had close company from rookie Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana. The two Spaniards are split by just 0.017, with Stefano Manzi claiming a maiden front row start of the season for MV Agusta Temporary Forward in third.
Navarro’s teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio was the early pacesetter in Moto2 Q2, but the Italian’s session would soon end in the gravel trap at Turn 5. With seven minutes to go ‘Diggia’ remained top as his 2018 Moto3 team-mate Martin slotted himself into P2, however, and it was then Manzi’s turn to get even closer as the gap was cut to 0.039. Free Practice timesheet topper Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) then took second, but soon the tables turned and it was another Speed Up at the summit – Navarro going 0.185 faster than anyone and Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) going second quickest.
It wasn’t done there though. Manzi then went second ahead of his fellow VR46 Academy rider Marini to all-but seal MV’s first Moto2 front row of the season. It wouldn’t prove to be P2 though, as that went to Martin in the dying stages of the session as two Spaniards sit first and second at their home round – Navarro a Valencian too. Manzi’s class weekend continues as he picks up his best-ever Grand Prix front row start.
Marini had to settle for P4 in the end, ahead of Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP), who will aim to claim the 2019 runners-up spot from the middle of the second row. Di Giannantonio could do nothing more than watch on as he slipped to P6 from provisional pole.
Binder will have been hoping for more and he’ll scrap with Lüthi for P2 in the World Championship from the front of a third row completed by Augusto Fernandez (FlexBox HP 40) and Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team). Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) completed the top 10.
Xavi Vierge (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), Mattia Pasini (Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2), Andrea Locatelli (Italtrans Racing Team) and Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) were next up, ahead of 2019 World Champion Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) in P15.
Moto2 Combined Qualification
Pos
Rider
Motorcycle
Q
Time/Gap
1
Jorge NAVARRO
SPEED UP
Q2
1m34.461
2
Jorge MARTIN
KTM
Q2
+0.017
3
Stefano MANZI
MV AGUSTA
Q2
+0.172
4
Luca MARINI
KALEX
Q2
+0.185
5
Thomas LUTHI
KALEX
Q2
+0.213
6
Fabio DI GIANNANTONI ITA
SPEED UP
Q2
+0.243
7
Brad BINDER
KTM
Q2
+0.266
8
Augusto FERNANDEZ
KALEX
Q2
+0.402
9
Enea BASTIANINI
KALEX
Q2
+0.405
10
Sam LOWES
KALEX
Q2
+0.426
11
Xavi VIERGE
KALEX
Q2
+0.438
12
Mattia PASINI
KALEX
Q2
+0.463
13
Andrea LOCATELLI
KALEX
Q2
+0.484
14
Remy GARDNER
KALEX
Q2
+0.485
15
Alex MARQUEZ
KALEX
Q2
+0.494
16
Marcel SCHROTTER
KALEX
Q2
+0.522
17
Jake DIXON
KTM
Q2
+0.624
18
Nicolo BULEGA
KALEX
Q2
+0.924
19
Dominique AEGERTER
MV AGUSTA
Q1
(*)0.177
20
Marco BEZZECCHI
KTM
Q1
(*)0.188
21
Tetsuta NAGASHIMA
KALEX
Q1
(*)0.189
22
Bo BENDSNEYDER
NTS
Q1
(*)0.209
23
Lorenzo BALDASSARRI ITA
KALEX
Q1
(*)0.385
24
Somkiat CHANTRA
KALEX
Q1
(*)0.413
25
Dimas EKKY PRATAMA
KALEX
Q1
(*)1.007
26
Philipp OETTL
KTM
Q1
(*)1.094
27
Sean Dylan KELLY
KTM
Q1
(*)1.257
28
Tommaso MARCON
NTS
Q1
(*)1.365
29
Adam NORRODIN
KALEX
Q1
(*)1.472
30
Xavi CARDELUS
KTM
Q1
(*)1.854
31
Lukas TULOVIC
KTM
Q1
(*)1.981
32
Joe ROBERTS
KTM
Q1
(*)54.521
Moto3
For the first time in his career and ahead of a landmark, Andrea Migno (Mugen Race) has claimed pole position thanks to a 1:38.683 in Moto3 Q2 at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana. The Italian beat home hero Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) by 0.274 on Saturday afternoon, with Valencian rider Jaume Masia (Mugen Race) completing the front row but a couple of further tenths in arrears.
It was Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers) who set the early lightweight class benchmark in the fight for pole, the Italian pocketing a 1:39.603 to lead Masia by a tenth after the riders had completed a couple of flying laps each. However, Migno and Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) then moved the goalposts as the duo shot to P1 and P2 respectively, with Migno holding a fairly considerable two-tenth advantage.
Disaster then struck for Arbolino at Turn 2, however, a highside on the exit sending him out of Q2, although he’s fit to race. Meanwhile, having come into the pits, the lightweight class riders then filed out for their last attacks on pole.
Doing so first was Q1 graduate and reigning Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Champion Carlos Tatay (Reale Avintia Arizona 77), the future full-time Moto3 rider slotting his KTM into P3 before a flurry of times came rolling in. Red and orange sectors filled the timing screens but there was one rider going faster than the rest: Migno. 0.3 up after three splits, the Italian took the chequered flag to regain pole position after Ramirez had briefly taken over at the summit. Masia’s second run saw the Spaniard pick up P3 on Saturday afternoon for his first front row start since taking pole in Argentina.
Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), another home hero and the man in Arbolino’s sights for second overall on Sunday, was one of the last riders to cross the line as he jumped from P13 to P4 on his final lap. Rookie and compatriot Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0) starts alongside him as he kept his impressive speed at the venue going at his local venue, ahead of a career best for Filip Salac (Redox PrüstelGP) by far as the Czech rider reaching the top 10 on Saturday for the first time and is sixth.
2019 Champion Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) is 0.597 back from pole as he aims to win four in a row and be the first to do so, and the Italian was followed by two Q1 graduates in P8 and P9 – Suzuki and Darryn Binder (CIP – Green Power). Binder, however, will start from pitlane after a penalty for irresponsible riding. That boosts Romano Fenati (VNE Snipers) up a place after he completed the fastest top 10 in Moto3 qualifying. Tatay pipped Arbolino just behind.
Andrea Migno (Mugen Race)
Moto3 Combined Qualification
Pos
Rider
Bike
Q
Time/Gap
1
Andrea MIGNO
KTM
Q2
1m38.683
2
Marcos RAMIREZ
HONDA
Q2
+0.274
3
Jaume MASIA
KTM
Q2
+0.424
4
Aron CANET
KTM
Q2
+0.457
5
Sergio GARCIA
HONDA
Q2
+0.458
6
Filip SALAC
KTM
Q2
+0.473
7
Lorenzo DALLA PORTA ITA
HONDA
Q2
+0.597
8
Tatsuki SUZUKI
HONDA
Q2
+0.601
9
Darryn BINDER
KTM
Q2
+0.658
10
Romano FENATI
HONDA
Q2
+0.685
11
Carlos TATAY
KTM
Q2
+0.765
12
Tony ARBOLINO
HONDA
Q2
+0.920
13
John MCPHEE
HONDA
Q2
+1.023
14
Niccolò ANTONELLI
HONDA
Q2
+1.025
15
Alonso LOPEZ
HONDA
Q2
+1.065
16
Raul FERNANDEZ
KTM
Q2
+1.305
17
Xavier ARTIGAS
HONDA
Q2
+1.555
18
Riccardo ROSSI
HONDA
FP3
+0.466
19
Jeremy ALCOBA
HONDA
Q1
(*)0.465
20
Albert ARENAS
KTM
Q1
(*)0.503
21
Kaito TOBA
HONDA
Q1
(*)0.630
22
Makar YURCHENKO
KTM
Q1
(*)0.741
23
Ayumu SASAKI
HONDA
Q1
(*)0.784
24
Stefano NEPA
KTM
Q1
(*)0.785
25
Ai OGURA
HONDA
Q1
(*)1.078
26
Dennis FOGGIA
KTM
Q1
(*)1.090
27
Can ONCU
KTM
Q1
(*)1.110
28
Celestino VIETTI
KTM
Q1
(*)1.189
29
Jakub KORNFEIL
KTM
Q1
(*)1.273
30
Tom BOOTH-AMOS
KTM
Q1
(*)1.453
31
Kazuki MASAKI
KTM
Q1
(*)1.818
MotoE
Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) converted pole position into his first victory of the year in Race 1 at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana, the Brazilian coming out on top in a three-way scrap for the win which saw Hector Garzo (Tech 3 E-Racing) get the better of One Energy Racing’s Bradley Smith on the final lap – at the final corner. The overall Cup winner, therefore, goes down to the final race of the year.
Smith got the initial getaway with a classic fast start, and the Brit was pushing to open a gap from the off. That worked a dream and he was pushing clear, with Granado slotting into second and on the chase. Behind it was a squabble between points leader Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE), Garzo and Xavier Simeon (Avintia Esponsorama Racing), which the Spaniard eventually emerged from to start his chase of the leading duo. Granado was catching Smith and Garzo was in seriously hot pursuit.
A few laps faster than pole – by a margin – got the home hero onto the tail of the leading duo, and Granado took the race lead too. As always in MotoE™, it was down to the final lap – and what a final lap.
Granado remained ahead as it began, and the Brazilian stayed cool under pressure to pull away as the battle behind got seriously hot. Garzo was heading towards the final corner ahead as Smith suffered a huge wobble, but the Brit wasn’t going to back out of it and slammed up the inside. Would he make it? Briefly, as the Spaniard then cut back inside and it was all about the drag to the line. Centimeters in it, Garzo just took second.
Ferrari was able to take fourth and keep himself with a healthy points lead, pulling away from Simeon, who completed the top five.
Alex De Angelis (Octo Pramac MotoE), Niccolo Canepa (LCR E-Team), Jesko Raffin (Dynavolt Intact GP), Josh Hook (Octo Pramac MotoE) and Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) locked out the top ten.
Proving themselves as the nation to beat in this year’s FIM ISDE, the United States won back the FIM World Trophy they last held in 2016. After edging out early pace setters RecoveR8 Team Australia during the midway stage in the race, they grew stronger as the week progressed.
2019 ISDE Day Six – Imge by Dario Agrati
Entering the traditional day six motocross race with a comfortable lead, Ryan Sipes – KTM, Kailub Russell – KTM, Taylor Robert – KTM and Baylor Steward – KTM barely put a foot wrong to clinch this year’s World crown.
Ryan Sipes
“It’s an amazing feeling to win the FIM ISDE. It was an honour to be on the team when we first won it in Spain in 2016 and now to have this moment again is incredible. It’s been a real team effort this week. I think everyone came together to deliver this winning result. I can’t thank everyone involved for the support they’ve given us all – it’s not just us riders doing it, it’s the team manager, mechanics, volunteers and all those back home who’ve got us this far. We’ll celebrate tonight, that’s for sure.”
Team USA win ISDE 2019 – Image by Dario Agrati
Taylor Robert
“I’m so happy to be part of the winning team. All four of us have ridden amazing and stayed so consistent. Throughout the whole event the team have been really close, often within a few seconds of each other. To take the win in the E2 class, with Kailub second, feels great too. Obviously, it would have been nice to take the overall win again, but the level has been so high this year. Believe it or not I got through to day five without having a single crash, then managed to come off three times. After that I knew I needed to just make it to the finish safely and secure the result for the team. Everyone has worked so hard, so I’m really pleased with the result.”
Taylor Robert – Image by Dario Agrati
Kailub Russell
“It awesome to stand here as World Trophy champion once again, we had a rough couple of years and then I missed last year so to step on top of the podium once again feels really good. It takes a huge effort from Antti and the whole team for us to come over here, and to be able to reward all that hard work with a win is great. We have a lot of fun when we come here but we take the racing extremely seriously and the hard work has certainly paid off.”
Kailub Russell – Image by Dario Agrati
As defending champions, RecoveR8 Team Australia never gave up, claiming victory on day six. But with the deficit to their rivals too much to bridge, they ultimately had to settle for the runner-up result in this year’s title fight after leading the first three days of the event.
Strong throughout the competition, Italy made no mistakes on the day to claim the third and final step of the FIM World Trophy podium.
Spain rode hard to collect fourth in this year’s race with Finland and France completing the top six.
2019 ISDE World Trophy Final Classification Overall
USA
Australia +1min45.34s
Italy +12min37.50s
Spain +16min53.05s
Finland +22min14.01s
France +24min45.66s
Germany +39min12.90s
Sweden +40min15.24s
Portugal +49min08.60s
Belgium +71min04.06s
2019 ISDE Junior World Trophy
RecoveR8 Team Australia made no mistakes on the sixth and final day of competition at the FIM ISDE to race their way onto the top step of the FIM Junior World Trophy podium.
Australian won the Junior category – Image Dario Agrati
Despite holding a commanding lead over their rivals, the Australian trio of Michael Driscoll – Yamaha, Lyndon Snodgrass – Husqvarna and Fraser Higlett – Husqvarna still topped today’s motocross to cement themselves as this year’s Junior champions.
Lyndon Snodgrass
“As a team we came out strong this week,” said Lyndon Snodgrass. “We wanted a strong start to the week, and I feel like we did just that. It put us in a good position and earned us a big lead that we needed to then maintain. As leaders it gave us that extra confidence to keep setting the pace. All told we were still nervous starting out this morning, but once the racing got going we settled into things. Crossing the finish line – knowing you put everything you had into six days of racing – as World champions is a very special feeling indeed.”
Lyndon Snodgrass – Image Dario Agrati
Offering the Australians their greatest challenge all week, the United States kept them honest right until the end. Securing second overall, they ended their week nineminutes and thirteen-seconds behind the winners.
Spain rode resiliently to third overall in the proceedings. Host nation Portugal impressed finishing out the week strongly for fourth overall, while Belgium rounded out the top five.
Australian won the Junior category – Image Dario Agrati
2019 ISDE Junior World Trophy Final Classification
Australia
USA +9min13.94s
Spain +28min49.31s
Portugal +77min35.65s
Belgium +83min09.30s
Chile +83min24.71s
Canada +127min46.84s
Italy
France
GBR
Women’s
Creating their own piece of Enduro history, the trio of Rebecca Sheets – KTM, Brandy Richards – KTM and Tarah Gieger – Honda secured United States’ second FIM Women’s World Trophy win, their first since topping the inaugural running of the category in 2007.
USA took out the Women’s competition – Image by Dario Agrati
Putting an end to Australia’s six-year win streak, the United States rightfully earned their place on the top step of the podium in Portimao.
Brandy Richards
“The nerves were really high coming into today, I think everyone was so relieved to cross the finish line as World champions,’ commented Brandy Richards. “We’ve had a brilliant week and aside from some minor moments, we’ve been strong every day and I think that’s been the key this year. The FIM ISDE is so tough – it wears you down, but you’ve just got to keep fighting. We did that and now finally the victory is ours. Also, with the boys winning the FIM World Trophy class too, it’s certainly put the United States on top!”
USA took out the Women’s competition – Image by Dario Agrati
With a healthy margin over Great Britain in third, Germany put in a solid final day of riding to claim their place as runners-up in the category.
In what has been a successful FIM ISDE debut, Great Britain took third overall and are sure to become title contender in future editions.
Sweden held off Spain to take fifth, while Portugal will be pleased with their efforts on home soil for sixth.
2019 ISDE Women’s World Trophy Final Classification
USA
Germany +8min51.21s
GBR +18min55.73s
Sweden +37min08.71s
Spain +42min34.76s
Portugal +54min06.21s
Canada +64min26.60s
Australia
Norway
Daniel Sanders fastest rider of ISDE 2019
Daniel Sanders – Image by Dario Agrati
Daniel Sanders and Josep Garcia ran each other close most days across ISDE 2019 but ultimately it was the Australian that proved his form as the fastest rider of ISDE 2019.
Lyndon Snodgrass was the fastest ‘Junior’ category entrant, third in Enduro 1 and the 20-year-old also claimed the seventh outright overall time for the six days of the event.
Luke Styke and ‘Jnuior’ Fraser Higlett rounded out the overall top ten of ISDE 2019 in what underlined the speed, consistency and class of Australian enduro riders with four Australians in the outright top ten.
Joshua Green made it five Australians in the top 12 while ‘Junior’ Michael Driscoll ended the event as the 16th fastest rider overall.
ISDE Fastest Rider Overall
Daniel Sanders Husqvarna Australia
Josep Garcia KTM Spain +53.23s
Taylor Robert KTM USA +4min22.34s
Kailub Russell KTM USA +6min02.99s
Daniel McCanney TM GBR +7min30.46s
Ryan Sipes KTM USA +7min31.50s
Lyndon Snodgrass KTM Australia +8min10.41s
Davide Guarneri Honda Italy +8min11.69s
Luke Styke Yamaha Australia +8min35.26s
Fraser Higlett Husqvarna Australia +10min03.39s
Steward Baylor KTM USA +10min25.82s
Joshua Green Yamaha Australia +10min39.46s
Rudy Moroni KTM Italy +10min44.00s
Grant Baylor KTM USA +10min53.91s
Eero Remes Yamaha Finland +10min58.24s
Michael Driscoll Yamaha Australia +12min00.91s
Antoine Magain KTM Belgium +12min03.82s
Thomas Oldrati Honda Italy +12min13.94s
Ben Kelley KTM USA +12min20.34s
Roni Kytonen Husqvarna Finland +13min29.92s
Enduro 1
With the outright fastest time on the day, Spain’s Josep Garcia – KTM topped the Enduro 1 class for the sixth time. Consistently proving himself as the rider to beat each day, Garcia secured the overall category win.
Josep Garcia
Josep Garcia
“Overall, I am happy with my result, winning the E1 class was always going to be my first goal here in Portugal. I’m a little disappointed not to have been closer to the overall win, but the tests in the sand on the first two days didn’t suit the smaller bike so well. I finished second on both of those days, but it was tricky to make up time after that. I pushed as hard as I could every day, but to take the overall win on day five felt very special. With such varied conditions and terrain each day, the whole event has been tough. I’m happy with my performance and my bike has been great.”
Josep Garcia – Image Dario Agrati
Behind Garcia, Ryan Sipes held off top Junior Lyndon Snodgrass by thirty-eight seconds after more than four-and-a-half hours of timed racing to claim second.
Australia’s Luke Styke – Yamaha and Finland’s Eero Remes – Yamaha completed the top five.
Luke Styke and Josep Garcia on the final day of competition – Image by Dario Agrati
2019 ISDE Enduro 1 Final Classification
Josep Garcia KTM Spain
Ryan Sipes KTM USA
Lyndon Snodgrass KTM Australia
Luke Styke Yamaha Australia
Eero Remes Yamaha Finland
Thomas Oldrati Honda Italy
Roni Kytonen Husqvarna Finland
Antoine Basset Husqvarna France
Sergio Navarro Husqvarna Spain
Joshua Toth KTM USA
Enduro 2
Signing off on his 2019 FIM ISDE in style, Taylor Robert claimed the day six Enduro 2 win to ultimately claim the overall category victory.
Taylor Robert
Ensuring another memorable result for the United States, Kailub Russell joined him on the podium in second. Italy’s Davide Guarneri – Honda rounded out the top three.
Davide Guarneri – Image by Dario Agrati
Fraser Higlett was the top Junior in fourth just ahead of Australian compatriot.
Josh Green – 2019 ISDE – Image by Dario Agrati
2019 ISDE Enduro 2 Final Classification
Taylor Robert KTM USA
Kailub Russell KTM USA
Davide Guarneri Honda Italy
Fraser Higlett Husqvarna Australia
Joshua Green Yamaha Australia
Grant Baylor KTM USA
Michael Driscoll Yamaha Australia
Antoine Magain KTM Belgium
Ben Kelley KTM USA
Erik Willems Husqvarna Belgium
Enduro 3
Daniel Sanders dominated the Enduro 3 category throughout the event and was the overall fastest rider of ISDE 2019.
Daniel Sanders – Image by Dario Agrati
2019 ISDE Enduro 3 Final Classification
Daniel Sanders Husqvarna Australia
Daniel McCanney TM GBR
Steward Baylor KTM USA
Rudy Moroni KTM Italy
Anugs Heidecke KTM DEU
Anthony Geslin Beta France
David Abgrall Beta France
Matteo Pavoni Beta Italy
Oskar Ljungstrom Husqvarna Sweden
Jed Etchells Sherco GBR
Women’s
In the final battle for Enduro Women honours, Brandy Richards secured the day six win over Germany’s Maria Franke.
However, it was Franke who enjoyed the spoils of victory claiming the outright Enduro Women’s win in this year’s FIM ISDE.
Richards, helped by her final day’s success, took the runner-up spot, while Great Britain’s Jane Daniels was third.
Australian Jessica Gardiner and Spain’s Mireia Badia were fourth and fifth respectively.
Jessica Gardiner and Maria Franke – Image by Dario Agrati
2019 ISDE Women’s Final Classification
Maria Franke KTM DEU
Brandy Richards KTM USA
Jane Daniels Husqvarna GBR
Jessica Gardiner Yamaha Australia
Mireia Badia Husqvarna Spain
Rebecca Sheets KTM USA
Shelby Turner KTM Canada
Tarah Gieger Honda USA
Anne Borchers Husqvarna DEU
Joana Goncalves Husqvarna PRT
FIM Enduro Vintage Trophy
The final day of competition in the EVT class saw Italy’s Stefano Passeri – KTM come out on top. He was followed home by Australia’s Rick Madden – Husqvarna in second with Mario Rinaldi – KTM third.
Italy won the Vintage Team Trophy ahead of Germany and France.
Australian fan-favourite Chad Reed was notably absent from tonight’s main events at the 2019 Monster Energy S-X Open Auckland in New Zealand, a rib injury proving too painful for the dual AMA Supercross champion despite attempting to line-up in his heat race.
Reed suffered the injury in a heavy fall at last weekend’s Paris Supercross, and opted to sit out yesterday’s press day to further better his chances of racing tonight.
Piloting a Penrite Racing Mountain Motorsport Honda CRF450R, the number 22 completed minimal laps in practice and qualifying, while a crash on the opening lap of his heat is what ultimately prompted him to call it a night.
With two weeks until the Monster Energy AUS-X Open Melbourne, Reed is confident he’ll adequately recover for the Marvel Stadium event, where he’s hopeful he’s in a position to challenge with the leaders.
“In all honesty, the end of the night pretty much started in Paris last week,” Reed admitted to MotoOnline.com.au. “I thought you know what, I’ll struggle through the day, take a gate drop and kind of see what adrenaline does. I was in fourth and trying to get into third – basically, the track was slippery and I lost the front.
“I didn’t hurt it or anything, but at that point, in my mind, it was just like if that’s how the night’s going to go, the smart decision was to really just save it and not get hurt any more.
“I’m pretty amazed I was able to ride to be honest – how I felt Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, I thought there was no chance. The fact I went out and rode was impressive in itself – I impressed myself.
“We all know broken bones take four to six weeks [to recover], so I’m not going to be 100 percent [for Melbourne]. The progress I’ve seen from Monday to Saturday really played on my mind, and my decision was basically let’s sit this one out and get ready for Melbourne. My hope is to be good and be able to fight with the boys in Melbourne. I’m bummed, if I’m honest.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jason Anderson earned victory tonight in Auckland, winning two of three main events in the triple crown format.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Jason Anderson soared to victory in a thrilling 2019 Monster Energy S-X Open Auckland, the popular American winning two of three main events in the triple crown.
It was Brett Metcalfe (Penrite Honda Racing) who earned the hole-shot in main event one, leading the field for the opening laps before relinquishing the top spot to Anderson.
Carnage unfolded on lap one with Henry Miller (Raceline KTM Thor) and Joey Savatgy (JGRMX Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Racing) going down in separate incidents, as Anderson checked out and claimed victory.
Metcalfe held on for second over points leader Justin Brayton (Penrite Honda Racing), while CDR Yamaha Monster Energy trio Luke Clout, Dan Reardon and Josh Hill completed positions four to six across the line – Clout and Reardon battled for a number of laps, with the number four getting the better of veteran Reardon.
Hill was later handed a one-position penalty post-race for a track infringement, putting him seventh behind Richie Evans (Yamalube Yamaha Racing). Jackson Richardson (Honda), Miller and Lawson Bopping (Empire Kawasaki) were eighth, ninth and 10th. Chad Reed was notably absent, the Honda-mounted rider going down in his heat while dealing with a rib injury.
A thrilling race two saw heavy-hitters Hill, Clout and Anderson all use the shortcut lane, making an unpredictable encounter. Hill grabbed the hole-shot and took the shortcut lane early on, while Anderson used it later in the outing, promoting himself to first.
Clout fired back on the penultimate lap, pushing him to P1 – it was enough for him to charge to victory ahead of Anderson and Hill. Brayton was fourth over teammate Metcalfe, while Savatgy rebounded for sixth. The top 10 was completed by Reardon, Miller, Richardson and Dylan Long (Empire Kawasaki).
Anderson put on an incredible display in the finale, overcoming Reardon – who took the shortcut lane – in the closing stages of the race to secure victory. Reardon settled for second ahead of Metcalfe, as Clout edged out Brayton for fourth – the three-time champion recovering from a crash. Bopping was sixth ahead of Hill, Long, Joel Wightman (Honda) and Cody Cooper (Honda).
Anderson captured the overall ahead of Clout, who now leads the Australian Supercross Championship by one point over Brayton, as Metcalfe earned a season-first podium. The series now heads to Victoria for the AUS-X Open Melbourne on 30 November.
American Josh Osby (Raceline KTM Thor) emerged victorious in the SX2 category following a trio of chaotic main events at the Monster Energy S-X Open Auckland in New Zealand, marking round four of the 2019 Australian Supercross Championship.
In main event one, it was American Darian Sanayai (Kawasaki) who grabbed the hole-shot with defending champion Jay Wilson (Yamalube Yamaha Racing) in tow, although the positions quickly changed as the top five were all within striking distance of each other.
Points leader Osby claimed the lead, only to come under attack by pole-sitter Mitchell Oldenburg – the Penrite Honda Racing rider going down in the laps following.
In the end, Osby captured victory over an impressive comeback by Oldenburg, while Aaron Tanti (Serco Yamaha), who crashed on lap one, charged back to third. Chris Blose (Penrite Honda Racing) was fourth followed by Wilson and Sanayai.
The top 10 was completed by Connor Tierey (Serco Yamaha), Regan Duffy (Raceline KTM Thor), Morgan Fogarty (Davey Motorsport KTM) and Ricky Latimer (Yamaha).
Wilson chrged to a thrilling victory in race two, using the shortcut lane to advantage to seal the top spot. Osby and Blose and were the early leaders, battling for position during the opening stages.
Osby later went down, however also used the shortcut lane – which can only be used once – to reel himself back into second. Blose was third ahead Tanti and Oldenburg, as Duffy, Tierney, Latimer, Sanayai and Wills locked out the top 10.
It was a chaotic start to main event three as Osby claimed the hole-shot, only for Tanti to put down an aggressive move for the lead.
Blose used the shortcut lane in the early stages and stole the lead, riding away to a convincing win. Tanti secured second over Osby, as Wilson and Geran Stapleton (Honda). Oldenburg was sixth, followed by Rhys Budd (Penrite Pirelli CRF Honda Racing), Wills, Tierney, and Duffy.
Osby claimed the overall win and strengthened his points lead, while Blose and Tanti completed the overall podium.
FP1 pacesetter Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) made it double trouble for his rivals on Friday at Valencia, topping the timesheets again in the afternoon for dominion on day one. He has a tenth and a half in hand over fellow Yamaha rider Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), with world champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) placing P3 so far.
After a chillier start, conditions were slightly warmer in the afternoon and allowed some riders to head out and post their best times of the day early in FP2, one of whom was Marquez as he sat on top of the standings in the opening exchanges.
He and Viñales had got the better of Quartararo’s FP1 time fairly early on and leapfrogged the Rookie of the Year on the combined times, with Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) putting in some impressive laps to claw his way up to P2 overall with around 10 minutes left to play as well. But the clock was ticking down and that meant a shuffle on the way.
Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) moved himself into the top 10, Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) and Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) took P2 and P3 on the combined times respectively and at this stage, FP1 leader Quartararo hadn’t improved. So it was instead Vinales who first displaced Marquez from P1, but the Frenchman was on a charge and made his first gains to get up into second and then go top with an even better effort.
That sees him top so far from Sepang winner Vinales and Champion Marquez, with Miller in fourth at the end of the day despite a crash – and the Australian was second in FP1. Morbidelli takes P5, ahead of Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar). The two-time premier class race winner got the better of rookie teammate Mir in the end, but not by much as the number 36 ends Friday in seventh.
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) impressed in P8, with late times from Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) and Johann Zarco (LCR Honda Idemitsu) seeing them grab a top 10 place in ninth and 10th respectively. Zarco’s temporary teammate Crutchlow was the man to lose out as he ended the day in 11th.
He’ll be a big name hoping to improve in FP3, and perhaps the biggest name has the same task ahead of him on Saturday: after crashing in FP1 at turn 4, Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was unfortunately in the gravel again in FP2.
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) wasn’t hanging around in FP2 as he set a new lap record to sit over half a second clear in the Moto2 category. The South African’s 1m34.622s was unmatchable on Friday afternoon, with Augusto Fernandez (FlexBox HP 40) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (MB Conveyors Speed Up) getting the closest but still over half a second back. Australian Remy Gardner (SAG Racing) was 22nd on the timesheets.
Jaume Masia (Mugen Race) was fastest in the Moto3 class, the KTM man heading rookie and fellow Valencian Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0) by just 0.069 on Friday. Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) rounded out the top three, only another 0.086 in arrears.
Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) set the fastest FIM Enel MotoE World Cup lap of the weekend to claim E-Pole, with the Brazilian back on the front row for the first time since Germany. Cup standings leader Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) and free practice pacesetter Bradley Smith (One Energy Racing) will join him on the front row. Australian Josh Hook (Pramac Racing) was 10th.
