Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) put in a formidable performance at the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix to destroy the opposition, picking up his second win of the 2019 season in emphatic style. The Spaniard raced clear of a recovering second-place Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) fending off Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) for P3.
It was Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) who somehow shot up for the holeshot from the second row, the Aussie bravely heading round the outside to take the lead from front row starter Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) as his teammate – and polesitter – Fabio Quartararo lost out. Marquez and Dovizioso, meanwhile, had made lightning starts to move through from P11 and P10 respectively, already well up in the fight at the front. At the very front though, Viñales was already stalking his prey.
Sepang MotoGP
It didn’t take long for the number 12 to strike, snatching the lead from Miller at Turn 11 as Marquez passed Morbidelli for P4. A frantic first lap wasn’t over yet though, as Dovizioso then battled Miller for P2 at Turn 14 and Turn 15 and both headed wide – allowing Marquez to pounce.
Sepang MotoGP
He sat Miller up, but the Australian shot back past heading into Turn 1. That was only good news for Viñales, with the Spaniard already six tenths clear at the front.
Sepang MotoGP
Like Australia, Marquez said, he knew he had to try and get in behind the Yamaha to stay with him and it didn’t take too long for him to finally dispatch Miller. Reeling Viñales in, however, looked like a serious mountain to climb this time around, with the gap well over a second. A tenth here and a tenth there got chipped away, but the number 12 machine in the lead had a healthy gap – and wasn’t for slowing down.
Sepang MotoGP
It seemed, then, that the fight behind Marquez was going to remain the fight for third. Dovizioso grabbed it from Miller on Lap 4 and Rossi was threatening too, with ‘The Doctor’ finally dispatching Miller not too long after – and the Australian suffering an almighty moment as he hung on to his Ducati.
Shortly after that, things got even more heated between Miller and Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) at the final corner as Rins went for the inside and the two made contact. A front bit of fairing flew off the Suzuki and both stayed up, but they were forced to watch the fight for third between Dovizioso and Rossi start to peel off into the distance.
Sepang MotoGP
Even further into that distance, the timing screens signalled Viñales had broken his rivals. A second and a half became nearly three as a mistake became the only hurdle between him and the win, with Marquez equally safe in second. And a mistake never came from either, with Viñales pitch perfect to take his – and Yamaha’s – second win of the season and bounce back from Australia in incredible style. Marquez took second and gained an impressive nine places on the way after his Q2 crash.
Sepang MotoGP
The fight for third, try as he might, would not go the way of Rossi. Rins had closed in to make matters even closer, and every advance ‘The Doctor’ made on the Ducati was repelled as the Suzuki also started to threaten. Dovizioso, as ever, was a demon on the brakes and the nine-time World Champion just couldn’t make a move stick, although a few lunges at it made for a great battle between the two Italians. ‘DesmoDovi’ took it by a few tenths over the line, with Rossi forced to settle for fourth and Rins completing the top five.
Sepang MotoGP
Miller, meanwhile, slipped back into the clutches of the Petronas Yamaha SRT duo and Johann Zarco (LCR Honda Idemitsu). Morbidelli came out on top in that fight for sixth and he was top Independent Team rider in the race on the team’s home turf, and that combined with Quartararo’s tougher day at the office in seventh nevertheless means Petronas Yamaha SRT are Independent Team Champions too. Miller took P8, and Zarco, sadly, didn’t finish.
Sepang MotoGP – Petrucci and Mir crashed while ultimately Zarco crashed out
The Frenchman showed a big step forward in his second race weekend on a Honda, but it ended early after a pass from Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) went awry, crashing Zarco out of the top ten. Mir would get a Long Lap Penalty for the incident, and that dropped him back below Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team), who took ninth.
Sepang MotoGP
Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) battled through to take P11, ahead of a close duel between Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) that went in favour of the Italian. Jorge Lorenzo (Repsol Honda Team) beat Mika Kallio (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) to 14th as the two completed the points.
And so we leave Sepang and the flyaways with a new man on top after a run of dominant performances from Marquez. Viñales couldn’t be stopped in Malaysia, will the same be said at Valencia? Find out in two weeks as the paddock flies back to Europe for the season finale and we decide the team Champions and the top Independent Team rider of the year…
Maverick Viñales
“Honestly I have to say this is one of the times in life I’ve been the happiest. After the Australia crash I felt I won the race, because I attacked in my head…but then actually crashed. It was a bit of a disaster but we arrived here with everything clear, the bike was on a great level all weekend from FP1 since the first laps so we pushed, pushed and pushed and made a gap, which was important. I then tried to control the race which wasn’t easy; especially mentally it was very tough, but I have to congratulate the team because all weekend they did an awesome job.”
After making his mark in the intermediate class, Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) has made history in the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix, taking second place to crown himself 2019 Moto2 World Champion and become the first ever rider to take both the Moto2 and Moto3 crowns. The number 73 has taken five wins, 10 podiums and six poles in 2019 to reach this milestone.
Alex Marquez
“I’m so, so happy and so thankful to the team. They did an amazing job and gave me the confidence throughout the season and especially this weekend. We came here after some hard races where I was struggling a lot. Today was a really tough race but we managed it in the best way. From lap one the front tyre was difficult to control. The grip was low but I managed the pressure from Luthi behind in the best way. He was pushing quite a lot. But we did a great race. I feel like I’m living a dream and I just want to enjoy this moment with the team.”
Alex Marquez – 2019 Moto2 Champion – MotoGP of Malaysia 2019
Season 2019
The year began with a more muted race in Qatar but a first podium came in Argentina to kick off Marquez’ real challenge. Top gear would be hit a little later in the year but not without a couple of hurdles – the first of which was getting crashed out of the race in Jerez after a front row start. 0 scored on his first visit to home turf, the time was nigh to fight back – and so began a stunning run of victories.
Alex Marquez
At Le Mans, Mugello and Catalunya, Marquez ruled for his first ever three-in-a-row, and he looked able to make it four at Assen before getting crashed out there. Undeterred, the number 73 took up right where he left off in Germany and Czechia, taking another two victories.
Three more podiums in the next four races and only one self-made mistake at Silverstone saw Marquez remain the man in charge, with an advantage that made the flyaways pivotal. A fifth and sixth at Buriram and Motegi were enough to give him a first match point at Phillip Island, but it was a longer shot and after a P8 in the race, the battle rolled on to Malaysia…
2019 British GP Silverstone Qualifying results: 1 – Alex Marquez (SPA – Kalex) 2’04.374 2 – Jorge Navarro (SPA – Speed Up) +0.043 3 – Augusto Fernandez (SPA – Kalex) +0.213
From pole, Marquez put together an impressive race, duelling for the lead with key rival Brad Binder and holding off his closest challenger Tom Lüthi under immense pressure. Taking second place and yet another podium, his tenth visit to the rostrum was enough to secure him the crown.
The road to Moto2 victory
Marquez debuted on the world stage in 2012, the same season he would go on to win the FIM CEV Spanish national title. He made three Grand Prix wildcard appearances with Estrella Galicia 0,0, impressing early on as he took sixth place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya after fighting at the front. At Indianapolis, Marquez also took over from Simone Grotzkyj at Ambrogio Next Racing, with whom he’d make eight appearances and take another top ten before the year was out.
For 2013, Marquez moved up to Moto3 full time with Estrella Galicia 0,0 and a first podium wasn’t too long in coming as the Spaniard got on the box at Indianapolis. Before the season was out, Marquez would also become a Grand Prix winner, coming out on top at a track that would go on to see him take a few more successes: the Twin Ring Motegi. 2014, then, seemed like game on for a shot at the crown.
Now on Honda machinery but with the same team, the season became a duel between Marquez and Jack Miller that went right down to the wire and a crucial decider in Valencia. Marquez took the crown, with three wins and seven further podiums enough to wrap it up on home turf and take his first title.
Álex Márquez moved up to Moto2 with Marc VDS in 2015
From there, the intermediate class beckoned with EG 0,0 Marc VDS. It was a tougher rookie season, but Marquez took regular top tens and took a best finish of fourth twice in a row. The following year began almost tougher than the first, but Marquez pulled it together mid-season and took his first intermediate class podium on home turf at Aragon. The next step was clear: a win.
That came in 2017 as Marquez took a step forward to become a regular frontrunner, taking top fives and podiums more often than not. He also took his first wins in Moto2 – the very first proving a demolition job at Jerez from his first pole in the class. Two more victories rounded out the year – Barcelona-Catalunya and Motegi – and Marquez was fourth overall despite a mid-season injury that saw him sit out Misano.
Alex Marquez topped thje Moto2 Podium at Jerez 2017
In 2018, Marquez was expected to challenge for the title but the season was an unexpectedly tougher one. The number 73 didn’t take a win, although he did take another six podiums and remain a threat at the front. Would 2019 be any different? Most definitely.
Alex Marquez stats
Marquez has stood on the podium 10 times this season so far and 23 times in the Moto2 class, equalling Pol Espargaro, who is in fifth place on the list of riders with most podium finishes in the class, two less than Marc Marquez.
With his brother Marc Marquez having taken the Moto2 title back in 2012, this is the first time two brothers have both clinched the title in the intermediate category.
Alex Marquez – 2019 Moto2 Champion – MotoGP of Malaysia 2019
In addition, with Marc also taking the 125cc title in 2010 and Alex the Moto3 title in 2014, this is the first time that two brothers have won the Championship in two of the same classes of Grand Prix racing.
Marquez is the fifth Spanish rider to win the Moto2 title along with Toni Elias, his brother Marc, Pol Espargaro and Tito Rabat.
Marquez is the eighth different Spanish rider to clinch the title in the intermediate category. Marquez’ title is also 11th in the class for Spanish riders and the 52nd in Grand Prix racing.
Alex Marquez – 2019 Moto2 Champion – MotoGP of Malaysia 2019
With eight wins in Moto2, Marquez is tied in sixth place on the list of riders with the most wins in the class with Andrea Iannone, Franco Morbidelli and Francesco Bagnaia.
Marquez sits in fourth place on the list of Spanish riders with the most wins in the class, behind his brother Marc (16), Tito Rabat (13) and Pol Espargaro (10).
With 23 podiums, Marquez is now tied in third place with Pol Espargaro on the list of Spanish riders with most podium finishes in the Moto2™ class.
With his pole position in Malaysia – his sixth of the season so far and 12th overall in Moto2 – he now sits in fifth place on the list of riders with most pole positions in the class.
Marquez crowned 2019 Moto2 world champion in Malaysia.
Image: Supplied.
Maverick Vinales has broken through for his second victory of the season at Sepang’s penultimate round of the 2019 MotoGP World Championship.
The Monster Energy Yamaha rider raced clear of a recovering second-place Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) as Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) fights off Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha) for P3.
Starting from P11 – his worst qualifying since Mugello 2015 – Marquez needed a lightning start. Both he and Dovizioso, the Italian starting P10, did exactly that as they blasted into turn one.
Australian Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) launched from P4 and managed to grab the lead on the opening lap, but it was a bad start for polesitter Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) as the Frenchman fell to P7, Marquez getting the better of him immediately.
It didn’t take long before Vinales had snatched the baton from Miller though, the Yamaha sliding up the inside of the Ducati at Turn 11 as Marquez passed Franco Morbidelli for P4 on the opening lap. A frantic first lap wasn’t over though as Dovizioso and Miller battled for P2 at turn 14 and turn 15.
The Desmosedici duo ran slightly wide at the final corner and sniffing a chance, Marquez pounced and sat up Miller – but the Australian grunted past Marquez heading into turn one on lap two. The jostling was only helping Vinales’ cause though, the number 12 rider raced to a 0.6 second lead as he set a 1m59.9s on lap two to unleash himself from the MotoGP freight train.
Marquez knew he had to make up ground quickly and on lap three the world champion was past Miller for P2, but it was going to take some doing to reel in Vinales.
With Vinales flying and Marquez chasing, the battle for the final podium spot was well and truly on. Dovizioso grabbed P3 from Miller on lap four and the Doctor was also going great guns to challenge Miller too. After a couple of goes, Rossi dispatched Miller at turn nine as the Australian saved a crash – was the Pramac man hitting tyre troubles in the soaring heat?
Well, shortly after, things got heated between Miller and Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) at the final corner as the two made contact. At the front, Vinales was holding a 1.4/1.5s lead over Marquez as Dovizioso and Rossi were unable to keep tabs on the Honda. It quickly became a battle for the final podium spot between the two veteran Italians, with Rossi finding it tough going to make a pass stick due to Dovizioso’s superior straight-line power.
While Miller slipped back into the clutches of Petronas Yamaha SRT duo and Johann Zarco (LCR Honda Idemitsu), Rins was making forward progress. Vinales was comfortable out front, Marquez wasn’t being troubled in P2 but the P3 battle was on. Dovi vs Rossi, Rins closing in. With six laps to go Rins had cut a two-second gap down to under a second, with Rossi again unable to make a late, lunging pass at turn nine stick on Dovizioso.
Heading onto the final couple of laps there was nothing to choose between Dovi, Rossi and Rins for P3. Vinales was now three seconds clear of Marquez as the duo rounded the final lap to claim tremendous respective results. Vinales untouchable in Malaysia, Marquez claiming another top-two finish.
Rossi’s wait for a podium goes on after being unable to get the better of Dovizioso in Sepang, but it wasn’t through a lack of effort. Rins bridged the gap to the Italians but couldn’t ultimately mount a challenge for a rostrum. It wasn’t the Sunday Petronas Yamaha SRT would have been looking for as Morbidelli and Quartararo picked up P6 and P7 respectively.
Miller slipped back to P8 to finish as the second Ducati, Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) notched up P9. Closing out the top 10 was Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) after the Spaniard was involved in an incident with Zarco at turn 14.
With four laps to go, while battling with Miller, Mir made a lunge up the inside of the Frenchman which led to the Honda rider crashing. Mir was judged to have been at fault as the rookie was handed a long-lap penalty.
After outstanding weekends in Australia, Malaysia wasn’t so fortunate for Andrea Iannone (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol). Both riders crashed during the race, both riders were thankfully ok.
EG 0,0 Marc VDS’ Alex Marquez is the 2019 Moto2 World Champion after coming across the line second at the Malaysian grand prix behind Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Brad Binder, who did all he could to take the title fight down to the final round by taking his fourth win of the season. Tom Luthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) was third, as Australian Remy Gardner (SAG Racing) claimed 14th.
Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) produced a champion’s ride to claim his third-straight victory of the season at Sepang. The 2019 Moto3 title winner beat rookie Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0) and Jaume Masia (Mugen Race) – who started from the back of the grid – in an intensely fought lightweight class contest.
The MotoGP World Championship now heads to Valencia in Spain for the final round of the series on 17 November.
Toparis earns Supersport overall victory in Sydney
Section: Competition
Agius lifts 2019 ASBK Supersport 300 crown at season-finale.
Image: Russell Colvin.
Supersport champion Tom Toparis claimed yet another overall victory in the category at Sydney Motorsport Park’s seventh and final round of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK).
It was WorldSSP300 regular Tom Edwards (Yamaha) who once again got off to an exceptional start in race two with Toparis quickly making his way into second position.
Oli Bayliss (Cube Racing) and Aidan Hayes (Yamaha) crashed together on lap two before they both remounted and continued racing, while by lap four Toparis briefly hit the lead.
Edwards and Toparis tussled for the top spot, but once the 2019 champion made the pass stick on lap six, he stretched out a comfortable 2.595s advantage as they crossed the line.
Jack Passfield (Yamaha) claimed third ahead of Broc Pearson (Yamaha) and Jack Hyde (Yamaha), as the top 10 was completed by Nic Liminton (Yamaha), Rhys Belling (Yamaha), Avalon Biddle (Cube Racing), Ty Lynch (Yamaha) and Dallas Skeer (Suzuki).
Overall it was Toparis from Edwards and Passfield, while in the championship standings, Toparis topped Pearson and Liminton.
Image: Russell Colvin.
Kawasaki-mounted Senna Agius lifted the Supersport 300 crown by one point over Max Stauffer (Yamaha) after capturing victory in race three, the youthful contender defeating Hunter Ford (Yamaha) and Seth Crump (KTM) during the final outing. Overall, it was Agius from Luke Jhonston (Yamaha) and Ford.
Zac Levy emerged with the Yamaha R3 Cup overall win and race three victory, while Ford earned the championship. The final encounter saw John Lytras (Yamaha) and Stauffer join Levy in the top three, while overall it was Levy from Ford and Lytras. Ford topped the standings ahead of Lytras and Stauffer.
In the Oceania Junior Cup, Marianos Nikolis (Yamaha) made two-consecutive races in the final outing to secure the overall, edging out Tom Drane (Yamaha) and Archie McDonald (Yamaha) – the trio finishing in that order for the round.
In the championship, Carter Thompson (Yamaha) claimed the title after race two, joined in the top three by Angus Grenfell (Yamaha) and Drane).
Jones crowned 2019 ASBK champion with Sydney victory
Section: Competition
Herfoss claims runner-up honours following race two thriller.
Image: Russell Colvin.
Mike Jones has earned the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) after capturing an incredible overall victory at Sydney Motorsport Park’s finale, the DesmoSport Ducati rider overcoming Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing) in a thrilling race two.
It was Wayne Maxwell (Team Suzuki Ecstar) who hit the front in the opening stages, as both Herfoss and Jones made strong starts to position all three title contenders within the top three.
Jones made his way into P1, and Hefosss followed in second. The next 11 laps consisted of the duo breaking away from the field and putting on an incredible display, where they traded the lead on numerous occasions – each making their own mistakes along the way.
It came down to the final lap with Jones in front, and just like the entire race, they each held the top spot for moments throughout the last time around. Herfoss made a costly error in the dying stages while attempting a pass, allowing Jones to ride to a 1.050s victory and the title.
Image: Russell Colvin.
Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team) was able to edge his way by Maxwell for third, while Jamie Stauffer (McMartin Racing) claimed an impressive fifth.
Mark Chiodo (Penrite Honda Racing) was sixth, followed by Matt Walters (Kawasaki Connection), Glenn Allerton (Maxima BMW), Josh Waters (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Damon Rees. Pole-sitter Daniel Falzon (Yamaha Racing Team) crashed out eight laps in, while Bryan Staring (Kawasaki BCpeformance) crashed out two laps later.
Overall, Jones claimed the round win ahead of Herfoss and Maxwell – the trio finishing the championship in that order.
Race one was an exciting battle that ended up going down to the wire between Mike Jones and Troy Herfoss.
It was the Ducati man that had the power to take the victory but the Penrite Honda looked incredibly strong around the corners, even when the tyres were shot, Herfoss looked to have supreme confidence as the Fireblade SP slithered around underneath him.
Daniel Falzon was very strong early on before losing the front at turn nine and going out of contention. Maxwell was also strong in the first half of the race but ultimately lost pace as the race progressed and his tyres were cooked.
Bryan Staring and Cru Halliday never really figured in the fight but were never far off, so close, but yet so far. The gap at the flag was five-seconds but it was only in the last two laps that gap had been that large and if they managed to improve their set-up between races were likely to be a larger factor in this final battle that would decide the war.
Only half-a-point between Herfoss as they lined up on the line. The forecast thunderstorms were still yet to appear and it looked like we would have a fully dry race to decide the championship.
Wayne Maxwell led the field through turn one from Herfoss while Jones had a brilliant start from the third row to be up to third place by turn two and tussling with Herfoss on exit, the Penrite Honda man making the Ducati pilot stand the bike up a little on exit to avoid contact.Falzon fourth, Halliday fifth, Waters sixth, Staring seventh.
Mike Jones overtook Herfoss down the main straight and held on to that position through turn one and then stood Maxwell up at turn two in an aggressive pass.Herfoss then got Jones on the change of direction between turns four and five, holds on around the back of the circuit, Jones looks up the inside at turn nine but no need to take any risk, he can just wait for the main straight and pull the trigger on that big 1299 Ducati and blow past him on the straight, which is exactly what happened.
Jones held on to that lead for the entire next lap but closely shadowed by Herfoss throughout. Maxwell was right behind them in third, Halliday and Falzon still in close touch also.
By half-race distance Maxwell had started to lose touch with that leading duo and was starting to come under attack from Cru Halliday.
Herfoss was continuing to shadow Jones for the next couple of laps before going up the inside at turn one with five laps to go.
Jones came back at him a lap later but ran wide and Herfoss took the lead right back. Again on the next lap the move happened at turn two, this time Herfoss in a little deep and Jones allowed through to the lead with just under three laps to run.
Wayne Maxwell had drifted back to fifth but Staring then went down, promoting Maxwell back up fourth. Cru Halliday was a somewhat lonely third place.
Jones and Herfoss side by side at turn two with just under two laps to run, Herfoss through at turn three and into the lead, Jones looks up the inside at turn four but can’t do it.
Last lap board and Herfoss led past it but Jones powered up the inside to take the lead into turn one, the Ducati man holds sway at turn two, maintains the lead at turn three and four. Herfoss takes him on change of direction and leads down to turn seven, Jones up the inside at turn eight, Herfoss up the inside at nine but can’t stop it, he runs wide, Jones now left with an easy run to the line and with it the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship.
What a finale, what a championship. Roll on season 2020!
Pivotal race one ASBK victory and points lead for Jones in Sydney
Section: Competition
Herfoss and Maxwell complete the top three as title race tightens.
Image: Russell Colvin.
DesmoSport Ducati’s Mike Jones has claimed a pivotal victory over Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing) in a thrilling race one at Sydney Motorsport Park’s final round of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), the Queenslander now leading the points with the title to be decided in this afternoon’s race two.
It was Wayne Maxwell (Team Suzuki Ecstar) who got out to the lead at turn one, leading pole-sitter Daniel Falzon (Yamaha Racing Team) and reigning champion Herfoss.
Falzon made the pass on Maxwell as they entered lap two, while Jones progressed to third. Falzon’s time at the front was short-lived as Maxwell regained the lead on lap four, the Yamaha pilot going down one lap later.
It was at the same time Jones stole the lead from Maxwell with an excellent pass, the Ducati rider setting his sights on a pivotal victory.
Herfoss also made the pass on Maxwell during lap nine and put on an incredible charge to latch onto the back of Jones – the duo fighting right down to the very last laps, although it was Jones who had the edge to capture victory by 0.341s.
Maxwell hung on for third after significant pressure from Bryan Staring (Kawasaki BCperformance) and Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team), the duo finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
Jamie Stauffer (McMartin Racing) was sixth, followed by Mark Chiodo (Penrite Honda Racing), Glenn Allerton (Maxima BMW), Josh Waters (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Damon Rees (Honda).
Jones leads Herfoss by half a point heading into race two, while Maxwell is positioned 5.5 points behind the leader.
Troy Herfoss made it clear of his intentions to get right down to business with the Penrite Honda man putting in a series of 1m30s laps in morning warm-up, the best of which was a 1m30.280s.
Mike Jones was the only other man to record more than one lap in the 1m30s while Wayne Maxwell put in a best of 1m30.9s.
There also appeared to be a bit of gamesmanship or head games already unfolding during warm-up. Herfoss shadowing Jones for much of the session, it was unclear if the DesmoSport Ducati man knew he was being shadowed…
Jamie Stauffer had got out the right side of bed with a 1m31.020s in warm-up his fastest lap of the weekend. The McMartin Racing Team obviously making some progress overnight with their K-Tech suspension.
Bryan Staring was on the pace also with a 1m31.109s while YRT team-mate Cru Halliday and Daniel Falzon were both under 1m31.5s.
ASBK Superbike Morning Warm-Up Results
Pos
Rider
Bike
Time/Gap
1
Troy HERFOSS
Honda CBR SP
1m30.280
2
Mike JONES
Ducati FE
+0.031
3
Wayne MAXWELL
Suzuki GSXR
+0.713
4
Jamie STAUFFER
Ducati V4R
+0.740
5
Bryan STARING
Kawasaki ZX10RR
+0.829
6
Cru HALLIDAY
Yamaha YZF-R1
+1.084
7
Daniel FALZON
Yamaha YZF-R1
+1.200
8
Josh WATERS
Suzuki GSXR
+1.597
9
Mark CHIODO
Honda CBR SP
+1.655
10
Damon REES
Honda CBR SP
+1.874
11
Arthur SISSIS
Suzuki GSXR
+2.048
12
Matt WALTERS
Kawasaki ZX10RR
+2.182
13
Glenn ALLERTON
BMW S RR
+2.333
14
Lachlan EPIS
Kawasaki ZX10R
+2.438
15
Alex PHILLIS
Suzuki GSXR
+2.500
16
Sloan FROST
Suzuki GSXR
3.297
17
Ben BURKE
Kawasaki ZX10RR
+3.311
18
Brendan MCINTYRE
Suzuki GSXR
+4.763
19
Nathan SPITERI
Suzuki GSXR
+6.791
20
Michael EDWARDS
Yamaha YZF-R1
+6.846
ASBK Superbike Race One
The ambient temperature had already passed 30-degrees and track temperatures were heading towards 45-degrees as the tension rose around Sydney Motorsports Park this morning.
A full season of training effort by the riders, a year of machine preparation and tuning by the teams, all coming down to one final day of competition to decide who would be the ASBK Superbike Champion.
Some red flag incidents on Sunday morning in support category races had allowed the nerves to build further and further ahead of the 13-lap opening Superbike bout that finally got underway at 1153, half-an-hour behind schedule.
Falzon got a good jump off pole position but Wayne Maxwell was the early race leader, Falzon second, Herfoss third, Staring fourth and Jones fifth.
Mike Jones moved past Staring to take fourth late on lap one and Falzon took the lead from Maxwell out of turn one early on the second lap. Jones then got Herfoss to move up to third place.
The Penrite Honda man was already asking more from his rear tyre than it could cope with as he tried to get back past Jones. Herfoss then put stupendous loads on his front tyre through turns one and two as he battled hard to stay in touch.
Maxwell went up the inside of Falzon to take the lead with ten laps to run. Herfoss lost close touch with the leading trio down the straight but then made all that ground back up into turn one.
Jones took second place from Falzon at turn four to move up to second place. Herfoss quickly followed suit to push the South Australian back to fourth place. Bryan Staring and Cru Halliday were also not far behind.
Mike Jones through to the lead at turn nine with nine laps to go. Daniel Falzon then slid out of the race at the same point.
Mike Jones, Wayne Maxwell, Troy Herfoss, the top three in the championship and the top three in this race… Eight laps to go… Staring looked strong in fourth and we know how those Dunlops hang in all the way to the chequered flag. Cru Halliday was in fifth, and still close enough to work his way into the podium fight if he had enough tyre left at the end.
Little changed over the next few laps apart from Staring and Halliday starting to creep towards that leading trio.
Herfoss up the inside of Maxwell around the back of the circuit with 4.5 laps to run… Jones had a half-a-second buffer now and it would be interesting to see if the Penrite Honda man had any tyre left to mount a late challenge. He had been sliding around since the opening lap so if asked to predict I would have said it was highly doubtful he would have enough rubber left to hang on to a podium, let alone challenge for a win.
Herfoss though left nothing in the locker in his quest to try and chase that Ducati. With two laps to go he had narrowed the gap down to under three-tenths and showing how inaccurate my prediction had been. Herfoss simply didn’t look to care as that Fireblade SP danced around underneath him, obviously comfortable with the set-up of the bike when grip was gone.
Herfoss was all over the back of Jones around the back of the circuit for the final time, you could tell how much he wanted it, but ultimately it was Jones that took the win. Power was perhaps the telling factor in that battle.
Wayne Maxwell had run out of tyre and in the closing laps was behing shadowed by both Bryan Staring and Cru Halliday, but just managed to keep them at bay for the final step on the podium.
ASBK SMP Superbike Race One Podium – TBG Image
With 13-laps left this afternoon to decide the title, Jones will take a half-point lead into that final battle to decide the war. Herfoss the man in second. Maxwell five-points further back in third.
Toparis fends off Edwards for Sydney Supersport race one win
Section: Competition
Edwards and Bayliss lock out the podium in the opening encounter.
Image: Russell Colvin.
Current champion Tom Toparis (Landbridge Yamaha) has fended off WorldSSP300 regular Tom Edwards (Yamaha) in a thrilling opening Supersport encounter at Sydney Motorsport Park’s seventh round of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK).
Supersport race one was reduced to nine laps after the initial start was red-flagged due to a multi-rider incident at turn two.
On the restart, it was Yamaha-mounted Jack Passfield who secured the hole-shot, however ran wide into turn two, allowing Edwards to steal the lead.
It was a matter of laps before Toparis was able to find his way by Passfield as Edwards stretched his lead, although he made the manoeuvre and set his sights on the debutant out the front.
Slicing the gap, Toparis and Edwards duelled for a number of laps – Edwards fighting back every time Toparis attempted a pass. It was lap six where the 2019 champion made his move stick with a crafty outside pass, where he then went onto capture victory over Edwards by 0.753s.
There was an intense battle for third, although it was Cube Racing’s Oli Bayliss who secured the final spot on the podium, edging out Aidan Hayes (Yamaha) and Passfield. Broc Pearson (Yamaha) was sixth, followed by Jack Hyde (Yamaha), Nic Liminton (Yamaha), Callum Spriggs (Yamaha) and Rhys Belling (Yamaha).
It was another thrilling Supersport 300 outing in race two, as Luke Jhonston (Kawasaki) edged out Senna Agius (Yamaha) by a mere 0.034s for victory, while Zac Levy (Yamaha) locked out the top three. Max Stauffer (Yamaha) and Brandon Demmery (Yamaha) were fourth and fifth respectively.
In race two of the Yamaha R3 Cup, Levy emerged victorious over points leader Hunter Ford and John Lytras (Yamaha), while in the Oceania Junior Cup, Carter Thompson (Yamaha) was crowned the inaugural champion of the category, as Marianos Nikolas (Yamaha) claimed victory in race two over Tom Drane (Yamaha) and Jacob Hatch (Yamaha).
Fabio Quartararo took a sensational home GP pole position for Petronas Yamaha SRT in a hugely dramatic Q2 at the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix; a stunning 1m58.303s meaning he saw off fellow Yamaha riders Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) in the fight for the top. Repsol Honda Team’s Marc Marquez crashed out from following the Frenchman, and he’ll start P11.
A frantic session started with Marquez backing out of his first flying lap, and soon after the 2019 World Champion was locked on to Quartararo. The rookie kept his head down on his first lap to take provisional pole, however, before Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) then took over at the summit in Q2.
Quartararo remained unfazed though, firing in a stunner as Marquez quickly lost touch. The Hondas of Marquez and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) were unable to do anything about the flying Frenchman, but Viñales was the next to take up the challenge and he managed to edge him out by just 0.087.
Fabio Quartararo
And then came the drama. As Quartararo headed out for his second run, Marquez rumbled out of pitlane right next to the Yamaha and shadowed him around Sepang, intent on remaining latched onto the rear of the fastest man on Friday. But would Quartararo ruin his next lap in order to not drag the World Champion round? The answer was no, and as the number 20 fired his Yamaha out of the final corner and down the straight, it was go time.
Marc Marquez
Despatching Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) to latch back onto Quartararo, Marquez made Turn 1 in hot pursuit before it all went wrong soon after. Pushing to stay with the rookie, the reigning Champion then suddenly suffered a highside and tumbled off in to the gravel at Turn 2 as Quartararo continued his final charge.
Marc Marquez
At the time of the crash, Marquez was fifth. As the red and yellow sectors lit up the timing screens for the rest, that started to look in doubt. And sure enough, it would all shuffle again.
Quartararo was pulling out the tenths; 0.2 under halfway around the lap, 0.3 under at the third split…but would he hold on? A slight front end lose at the final corner threatened to spoil a phenomenal lap but, although losing time, Quartararo took the chequered flag to take his fifth pole of 2019 and his sixth consecutive front row start. He punched the tank and the air in animated celebration and lost his helmet visor in his spirited celebrations on the cool down lap.
Fabio Quartararo
Fabio Quartararo – P1
“We came to Malaysia from a tough weekend in Australia, and we’ve suffered a lot to get to here. But it’s the home race for the team, and while they’ve not put pressure on us they clearly want us to perform. That makes the pole position very special for me and the double front row even more special for the team. I’m feeling good for the race; like we’re ready to go now. We’re not entirely sure which tyre we’re going to use, but we’ve got the warm-up to experiment with it and see how it goes.”
Fabio Quartararo
Viñales and Morbidelli make it a Yamaha front row lockout in Malaysia in second and third, with a Ducati, Honda and Yamaha making up the second row: Jack Miller (Pramac Racing), Crutchlow and Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP).
Maverick Vinales – P2
“Starting from the front row tomorrow is the most important. We’re going to keep working, but I think we did a good job today. We felt really good in FP3 and then in qualifying we did the best we could. We are in second place by just 0.1s, so we‘re really happy. We will try to make another improvement tomorrow. I will try to take the lead in the first corner and then I will push at my maximum from the beginning. Like I‘ve said before, we have nothing to lose and everything to win, so we‘re going to push, push, and push, and we’ll see. A podium would be important for us, that would be really good.”
Maverick Vinales
Franco Morbidelli – P3
“It was a good Saturday overall and a great qualifying in particular, and I have a lot of confidence from the bike. Hopefully we can have a strong race tomorrow because I’ve got the pace for it, but first we’ll wait and see what the weather does. Hopefully the weekend will finish in a positive way. When you look at the pace, many riders can fight for the win and there’s not a big gap between us, and I think that means we’re going to start off with a big group battle before the guys who have the pace escape. To win here for the team would be unbelievable – I just can’t imagine it. But tomorrow we’ll see what’s possible.”
Franco Morbidelli
Jack Miller – P4
“I am very happy with the race pace and fourth place is a great result. I have to admit, however, that I am a bit frustrated because I thought I had the chance to take the front row. Everyone saw what happened in qualifying. I am still confident for tomorrow and we have very clear ideas about the choice of tyres.”
Jack Miller
Cal Crutchlow – P5
“Today we have tried different settings and I’ve just got a setting that is consistent but not fast enough over one lap, that’s why we’ve found ourselves in Q1 a few times this year. I find it difficult to push this bike over two or three laps. In FP4 we worked really well with the used tyre and our pace was good, so I knew going into Q1 and Q2 I could make a big improvement and to be on the second row we’re happy.”
Cal Crutchlow
Valentino Rossi – P6
“All the Yamahas are very strong; this is good for us. I will start from the second row. Maybe I could have done a bit better, but we had some problems with the traffic on the second tyre. But anyway, starting from the second row isn‘t so bad. We worked a lot on rear tyre degradation and on making the rear tyre choice, because the soft and the medium are options for the race. We will see what we can do for tomorrow‘s Warm Up, and after that we‘ll see for the race, though we‘re hoping for a dry race.”
Valentino Rossi
Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) spearheads Row 3 in P7 ahead of Petrucci, with LCR Honda Idemitsu’s Johann Zarco having a sterling ride in Q2 to grab his best dry qualifying of the year in P9 – the second best Honda on the grid.
Alex Rins – P7
“I was able to do a fast lap in qualifying and get a better position than in recent races, especially doing laps alone. But more than having one-lap pace, my race pace is very strong. In Warm-Up tomorrow morning we’ll check the tyre options again and see what’s best for the race. I really hope to do well tomorrow, especially after a great race last year. Our setup is good in both wet and dry conditions.”
Alex Rins
Danilo Petrucci – P8
“I’m pleased to be able to start from the third row, because after all the difficulties I had this morning we did a good job and we were able to resolve some of my problems. Tomorrow the race will certainly be very difficult, especially because of the heat, and with the high temperatures tyre management will be rather complicated. Let’s see what the weather will be like tomorrow, and even though I don’t think I have the race pace to fight for the win, as always it’ll be maximum commitment on my part to bring home a good result”.
Danilo Petrucci
Johann Zarco – P9
“I’m quite happy about the day, I wanted this performance to go straight to Q2 and be with the best and improve the lap time. I did it, it was not easy, sometimes I tried and wasn’t able to go as fast as I wanted. But the last lap was pretty interesting, following Valentino (Rossi) was a good reference as I tried to catch him. I lost a bit of time at the final corner and lost maybe one or two tenths, maybe I could have caught him if not, but ninth position is good enough at the moment.”
Johann Zarco
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) took P10 in the end and pipped the man he’s fought for the title for the last three years to the honour, with Marquez’ crash proving even more costly than it initially seemed and the number 93 down in P11 in his worst qualifying since Mugello 2015. Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) took P12 to start alongside him.
Andrea Dovizioso – P10
“It’s a real pity having to start from tenth, because today we were able to make a further improvement to my race pace and so a good starting position would have been really important. Unfortunately, in qualifying my feeling with the bike wasn’t optimal and so I just wasn’t able to be quick enough. In any case here the straight is very long and with a good start, we can make up a lot of positions at the start of the race”.
Andrea Dovizioso
Marc Marquez – P11
“I’m ok, I’m in a lot of pain all over my body after a big crash. We have a good setting for race rhythm, but we were struggling a little bit with one fast lap and especially looking for something more in the change of directions. The tyres were ready but I was maybe a little too aggressive in the change of direction. Honestly, I’m more disappointed starting 11th than with the crash itself. From 11th it will be difficult, even if we did have a good rhythm in FP4. This season we have had 17 almost perfect qualifying practices, but we will see what we can do tomorrow.”
Marc Marquez
Pecco Bagnaia – P12
“If I have to be honest, there is some regret about qualifying because I could have done better. Unfortunately I found traffic on track. I should have lapped alone but instead I made the wrong choice. We worked well with the tyres and the feeling with the bike is really good. We can have a good race tomorrow.”
Pecco Bagnaia
Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) complete the top fifteen.
Joan Mir – P13
“I can’t really complain about missing out on Q2, because if you are going to graduate from Q1 then you simply have to set a faster lap time. When I put the soft tyre in, unfortunately I couldn’t find the same feeling as before and I couldn’t set a fast ‘final flying’ lap. Anyway, my pace is great and with a better qualifying I’m sure I could fight with the top riders. Let’s see what happens tomorrow.”
Joan Mir
Aleix Espargaro – P14
“Today was not exactly a super day. We are lacking traction and, especially with used tyres, this costs us a lot in acceleration. I expected to be able to go straight through to Q2, but a technical problem in FP3 kept me from going out with the bike I preferred. Then, in FP4, the conditions were anything but easy, with some damp sections which certainly didn’t simplify matters. In Q1 I gave it everything, just missing going through by a tenth, but it was the most we could do today.”
Aleix Espargaro
Malaysian MotoGP Qualifying Results
Pos
Rider
Motorcycle
Q
Time/Gap
1
Fabio QUARTARARO
YAMAHA
Q2
1m58.303
2
Maverick VIÑALES
YAMAHA
Q2
+0.103
3
Franco MORBIDELLI
YAMAHA
Q2
+0.129
4
Jack MILLER
DUCATI
Q2
+0.422
5
Cal CRUTCHLOW
HONDA
Q2
+0.648
6
Valentino ROSSI
YAMAHA
Q2
+0.697
7
Alex RINS
SUZUKI
Q2
+0.787
8
Danilo PETRUCCI
DUCATI
Q2
+0.794
9
Johann ZARCO
HONDA
Q2
+0.836
10
Andrea DOVIZIOSO
DUCATI
Q2
+0.870
11
Marc MARQUEZ
HONDA
Q2
+0.875
12
Francesco BAGNAIA
DUCATI
Q2
+1.337
13
Joan MIR
SUZUKI
Q1
(*) 0.158
14
Aleix ESPARGARO
APRILIA
Q1
(*) 0.219
15
Pol ESPARGARO
KTM
Q1
(*) 0.596
16
Karel ABRAHAM
DUCATI
Q1
(*) 0.856
17
Andrea IANNONE
APRILIA
Q1
(*) 0.989
18
Jorge LORENZO
HONDA
Q1
(*) 1.262
19
Mika KALLIO
KTM
Q1
(*) 1.428
20
Hafizh SYAHRIN
KTM
Q1
(*) 1.829
Moto2
Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) claimed what could prove to be a crucial Moto2 pole position at the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix, with a 2:05.244 seeing the Championship leader pull 0.151 clear of second place Tetsuta Nagashima (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team). Title chaser Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) lines up in P3.
Throughout Moto2 Q1 and Q2, the threat of rain was in the air as the odd wet weather flag waved around the Sepang International Circuit but thankfully, the heavens didn’t open. In Q1 it was Augusto Fernandez (Flexbox HP 40) who moved through, along with Stefano Manzi (MV Agusta Temporary Forward), Jesko Raffin (NTS RW Racing GP) and Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), and soon enough Q2 was underway.
It was the worst possible start for one of the riders who still have a mathematical chance of claiming the title though, with Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up) crashing at Turn 11 having not set a time. Meanwhile, second in the Championship Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) set the first benchmark before Marquez got going on his second flying lap.
The man leading the Championship by 28 points with two rounds remaining took provisional pole by six tenths, with his teammate Xavi Vierge and Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) climbing onto the provisional front row. Meanwhile, Binder had troubles on the first couple of qualifying laps and was lingering well outside the top 10, but the practice pacesetter managed to launch himself into P2 late on, before Nagashima also leaped up the timesheets and displaced him.
Vierge was then in fourth as Lüthi found himself on the outskirts of the top 10 with little time remaining. abd the Swiss rider needed a lap to propel himself further up the grid – and that’s exactly what he did, taking fifth with 30 seconds left on the clock. Friday’s fastest, rookie Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo), took sixth as he eyes his third consecutive Moto2 podium, locking out the second row.
Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) spearheads the third row in P7 ahead of Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) and ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team’s Remy Gardner, with last year’s winner Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) completing the top 10 after a more difficult weekend so far with a couple of crashes.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Beta Tools Speed Up) took P11 as he aims to wrap up Rookie of the Year on Sunday, with team-mate – and title contender – Jorge Navarro down in P15 by the end of the session. The Spaniard was able to get back out on track after his early crash but wasn’t able to move much further up the timesheets.
Pos
Rider
Motorcycle
Q
Time/Gap
1
Alex MARQUEZ
KALEX
Q2
2m05.244
2
Tetsuta NAGASHIMA
KALEX
Q2
+0.151
3
Brad BINDER
KTM
Q2
+0.315
4
Xavi VIERGE
KALEX
Q2
+0.451
5
Thomas LUTHI
KALEX
Q2
+0.470
6
Jorge MARTIN
KTM
Q2
+0.487
7
Sam LOWES
KALEX
Q2
+0.491
8
Marcel SCHROTTER
KALEX
Q2
+0.548
9
Remy GARDNER
KALEX
Q2
+0.644
10
Luca MARINI
KALEX
Q2
+0.694
11
Fabio DI GIANNANTONI
SPEED UP
Q2
+0.712
12
Iker LECUONA
KTM
Q2
+0.715
13
Stefano MANZI
MV AGUSTA
Q2
+0.826
14
Enea BASTIANINI
KALEX
Q2
+0.833
15
Jorge NAVARRO
SPEED UP
Q2
0.882
16
Jesko RAFFIN
NTS
Q2
+1.064
17
Augusto FERNANDEZ
KALEX
Q2
+1.271
18
Somkiat CHANTRA
KALEX
Q2
+1.563
19
Nicolo BULEGA
KALEX
Q1
(*) 0.246
20
Andrea LOCATELLI
KALEX
Q1
(*) 0.366
21
Marco BEZZECCHI
KTM
Q1
(*) 0.370
22
Lorenzo BALDASSARRI ITA
KALEX
Q1
(*) 0.427
23
Bo BENDSNEYDER
NTS
Q1
(*) 0.466
24
Dominique AEGERTER
MV AGUSTA
Q1
(*) 0.613
25
Joe ROBERTS
KTM
Q1
(*) 0.849
26
Mattia PASINI
KALEX
Q1
(*) 1.027
27
Dimas EKKY PRATAMA
KALEX
Q1
(*) 1.161
28
Jake DIXON
KTM
Q1
(*) 1.348
29
Philipp OETTL
KTM
Q1
(*) 1.859
30
Lukas TULOVIC
KTM
Q1
(*) 1.867
31
Adam NORRODIN
KALEX
Q1
(*) 1.954
32
Xavi CARDELUS
KTM
Q1
(*) 2.535
Moto3
You know how it is – you wait a long time for your first Grand Prix pole position and then two come along at once! Or at least, they do for Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing) as the Spaniard put in an impressive final push in Q2 for the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix to secure P1, joined by Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) on the front row as they proved the only two men able to get within a few tenths.
In Q1 it was Albert Arenas (Gaviota Angel Nieto Team), Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Jaume Masia (Mugen Race) and Can Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) who moved through, with a few tiny drops of rain starting to threaten but nothing that affected track conditions too much. And in Q2, the same few spots were here and there on track, but the fight for pole was allowed to roll on.
With the clock ticking down. it was Suzuki who was heading the timesheets before the riders headed out on their second runs – with everyone leaving it late, and some too late. One of them was the Japanese rider, who was in the gaggle pushing to get round for one last lash but just missed out – leaving his rivals with an open goal to try and beat his time.
Ultimately, only one man was able to put it all together on the final lap and that was Ramirez. The Spaniard lit up the timing screens with red sectors and brought it home to take pole number two in as many weekends, with Suzuki unthreatened by the rest to retain second and McPhee securing P3 on Petronas home turf.
Arenas took fourth and is top KTM despite heading through Q1, and he’s joined on the second row by Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) – who aims to take the Rookie of the Year title on Sunday – and Darryn Binder (CIP – Green Power), who put in his second best qualifying performance of the season.
Newly-crowned Champion Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) heads up Row 3 ahead of Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3), with Alonso Lopez (Estrella Galicia 0,0) completing the top ten.
