With many Australians showcasing their skills abroad in a range of disciplines both on-track and off-road, our monthly column focuses on how they’re faring in 2023 battling it out with the best in their chosen classes against the best riders in the world. Words: Ed Stratmann.
Our Aussies have been doing us proud overseas, check out how they’re fairing racing internationally!
Jack Miller – MotoGP Having started his season off in positive style with a seventh in the opener in Portugal, Jack Miller’s continued to make solid progress. Keeping his momentum going into the second stop on the calendar in Argentina, much upside could be extracted from his weekend in hugely challenging conditions.
After claiming 10th in the sprint race on Saturday in the dry, the weather turned on the Sunday, which suited the highly skilled Aussie nicely. Making moves briskly from way back on the grid, the #43 rose to the occasion to power through the pack to eventually bag sixth. Not bad at all considering the circumstances. Heading to America for round three, things didn’t go to plan despite the signs looking promising for Miller, with a crash in the race while in third and looking fast a source of frustration for the popular pilot.
Having started his season off positive with a seventh in the opener in Portugal, Miller’s continued to make solid progress.
“Unfortunate one. I felt really good from the get-go. I made a decent start, felt comfortable and was settled into the race,” Miller mused. “I swapped a map and then she let go of me. I was really trying to manage the tires and I felt we had a great chance of being there until the end. The positive part was the speed and how we were up there with the guys. We’ll take that from the weekend. We’ll learn from the negatives and go towards Jerez with a clean mind.”
Next up for Miller and his Red Bull KTM team is Jerez, where he’ll be hoping to build on his largely encouraging start to the campaign.
After banking a quality ninth in the season opener, disaster struck for Joel Kelso #66 just after the race had finished when he and another rider collided in a clash that saw the Darwinian devastatingly suffer a broken ankle.
Joel Kelso – Moto3 After banking a quality ninth in the season opener, disaster struck for Joel Kelso just after the race had finished when he and another rider collided in a clash that saw the Darwinian devastatingly suffer a broken ankle. Forced to sit out all the rounds since, Kelso’s aiming to return at Jerez this weekend, where he’ll be eager to pick up where he left off.
Remy Gardner – World Superbike Back on the grid for the WorldSBK stop at Assen, there was much room for upside to be gained from Remy Gardner’s weekend, as he continued making headway in his rookie term in the class.
Back on the grid for the WorldSBK stop at Assen, there was much room for upside to be gained from Remy Gardner’s weekend, as he continued making headway in his rookie term in the class.
Not only did he top the timesheets in FP3, but he also recorded a solid eighth in the first race before claiming a superb sixth in the second. Although his 11th in qualifying and 12th in the Superole were not ideal, the GYTR GRT Yamaha hotshot still left the iconic Dutch venue content with his efforts, knowing precisely where improvement is needed.
“Not a bad race two, although unfortunately, we had bad luck in the sprint race. For sure we need to work on our qualifying sessions, once again starting from behind didn’t help. In the last feature race, our pace was fine and I enjoyed it,” he explained. “The tyre choice was the correct one in my opinion, it was just a shame I lost a lot of time in the opening laps as I got forced wide, but we were still able to perform a good recovery. Let’s keep rolling and progress further, we know there’s potential.”
Unable to shift gears and clearly in pain, Bayliss is now doing all he can to get back as soon as possible.
Oli Bayliss – World Supersport Oli Bayliss suffered an unfortunate setback at Assen, with a crash that broke a couple of toes in the first free practice session ensuring he ultimately had to pull out despite valiantly trying to soldier on in FP2, qualifying and race one. Unable to shift gears and clearly in pain, Bayliss is now doing all he can to get back as soon as possible.
“Definitely not how I wanted the weekend in Assen to go. After a crash in FP1 I broke a couple of toes on my left foot and I was declared unfit Sunday morning. Really disappointing after the potential we had. Time to get some recovery and training in before Barcelona and come back strong. Thank you to my sponsors and supporters,” the gifted speedster said.
Josh Hook and his TSR Honda France team started off their FIM World Endurance Championship title defence in fine fashion by reigning triumphant at the Le Mans 24 hours.
Josh Hook – FIM World Endurance Championship Josh Hook and his TSR Honda France team started off their FIM World Endurance Championship title defence in fine fashion by reigning triumphant at the Le Mans 24 hours. The Aussie and his teammates, Mike Di Meglio and Alan Techer, managed the challenging surface masterfully to navigate the race with aplomb. Getting their pit stops spot on and sustaining excellent speed across the event, it was impressive to see Hook and co. maintain their focus and concentration in the gruelling conditions on their way to a memorable victory.
“We were champions last year without winning a race, but we want to win, we want to show that we are the best, so to win here in the first race of the season is incredible,” stated Hook. “Congratulations go to the team who have put together a winning package. We couldn’t have asked for anything better; the bike was perfect. We were also lucky, but with the work done this winter it is a deserved result. It’s not often that you can do a 24-hour race without any problems, neither in the box nor on the track, it’s an exceptional day for us.”
Young Aussie Jacob Roulstone kicked off his Red Bull Rookies Cup campaign with an encouraging ride at the picturesque Portimao. Photo via Jacob Roulstone Facebook.
Jacob Roulstone – Red Bull Rookies Cup Young Aussie Jacob Roulstone kicked off his Red Bull Rookies Cup campaign with an encouraging ride at the picturesque Portimao. Even though qualifying didn’t go as he envisaged due to the headwind and him admitting he positioned himself poorly in the pack, Roulstone got things back on track in the races. Storming through the field from 20th to claim 13th in the first hit-out, he then backed this up admirably with a wonderful ninth in the second, as he underlined his immense talent and race pace.
“In both races, I was very happy with myself and the way I rode from where I started so far back in P20. But made good opening laps and finished P13 on Saturday afternoon. And then with the quick turnaround on Sunday morning finished in P9 and ended the round at P10,” he explained in his insightful Red Bull Rookies blog.
Josh Brookes – British Superbike Josh Brookes couldn’t have dreamt of a better way to begin his BSB crusade, as the experienced pilot rode sublimely to guarantee he holds the championship lead after the season opener at Silverstone. Commencing his weekend ideally by bagging a podium in Saturday’s sprint race, this served as a fine precursor for what was to come on Sunday. Stamping his mark in the first race emphatically and settling into his groove quickly, Brookes grabbed the lead five laps in and never looked back to register an outstanding win.
The final race was another one littered with upside for Brookes, who let his riding do all the talking again by securing a polished second to cap off his brilliant body of work that saw him notch his first win since 2020. “I’ve spent a long time speaking about this moment, when I was winning regularly I used to think the next one is at the next race and then the last two years have been quite hard to accept knowing I can’t get the results,” the ecstatic BMW rider asserted.
Josh Brookes couldn’t have dreamt of a better way to begin his BSB crusade, as the experienced pilot rode sublimely to guarantee he holds the championship lead after the season opener at Silverstone. Photo: BSB.
“People start to doubt you and I don’t blame anyone for that. It’s only natural, whether it’s fans or other teams, maybe they’re thinking you’re slipping and you’re getting old. I have thought about this moment a lot the past couple of years, so I don’t really have quite the emotional words to say, but it certainly feels good to win for myself and for the team.”
“It’s perfect leading the championship after the first round. We are always optimistic that we are going to have a good bike, a good package, but to get into the opening round and already have three podiums it’s just ideal! We are in a perfect place to build for the rounds to come.”
O’Halloran got his 2023 BSB series off to a consistent start by going 4-5-4 at Silverstone.
Jason O’Halloran – British Superbike The likeable Aussie contender got his 2023 BSB series off to a consistent start by going 4-5-4 at Silverstone. Raking in a tidy points haul on a weekend where he highlighted his speed and all-round skills, he left feeling content with his output even if he knows there’s room for refinement.
“The weekend hasn’t been too bad. I felt pretty good in myself and felt like I was riding well and I was in the front group in all of the races. We’re just struggling a little bit with a few things so we have to keep working at it,” disclosed the ‘O Show’. “We’ve got a test coming up this week so we need to work through a few things as quick as we can and turn up to Oulton with the hope of being a bit stronger.”
The sensational young hotshot, Jett Lawrence, is one step closer to claiming another title Stateside, with his April efforts seeing him flex his muscles over his competitors. Photo: HRC.
Jett Lawrence – AMA Supercross The sensational young hotshot is one step closer to claiming another title Stateside, with his April efforts seeing him flex his muscles over his competitors.
On top of winning his first Triple Crown at Glendale by virtue of 1-3-1 moto scores, he also registered a handy second in the mud at East Rutherford, where a last lap charge almost saw him reel in Max Anstie before an overzealous RJ Hampshire took him out. Thankfully, he was able to remount and not lose any positions in the 250 East/West Showdown.
Currently sitting 39 points clear in the 250SX West title race with only two rounds remaining, only a disaster could prevent him from reigning triumphant again. Photo: HRC.
“The ending of the race changed pretty quickly. I tried to cut down on Max [Anstie] but ended up spinning. I figured that was gone but at least I had second locked up. In the last turn I just saw this giant wave come towards me; I had no chance to react,” Lawrence revealed. “Luckily, I kept the bike running and could get going right away. Tonight was a race where taking a risk for two points could cost you 20 points, so I just wanted to race my race and stay off the ground. We’re happy to make it through to the chequered flag.”
Hunter Lawrence – AMA Supercross In excellent form and having won six of the eight races he’s competed in, Hunter Lawrence is within touching distance of claiming his maiden title in America. Having raced to another superb victory in Atlanta and grabbed a third in treacherous conditions at the Showdown at East Rutherford despite dealing with a groin injury, only a miracle can stop him now.
In excellent form and having won six of the eight races he’s competed in, Hunter Lawrence is within touching distance of claiming his maiden title in America.
“My mechanic had put on the board ‘P5, calm,’ so I knew to just take it easy where I was. The worst thing to do in a mud race is to fall—your gloves get all muddy and slippery and just make riding a nightmare. I saw RJ and Jett start to battle a little, and just capitalised on how it all unfolded somehow. I’m pretty happy to stay off the ground and finish the race,” he explained after East Rutherford.
Riding exceptionally and in the form of his life, if all goes to plan this weekend in Nashville, Hunter will be crowned 250SX East champion, which would be a fitting reward for all his hard work and the resilience he’s displayed to overcome all the adversity he’s faced since moving to America.
Reigning Champion Alvaro Bautista battled his way back from fourth on the grid to claim Race 1 victory at Assen ahead of Rea and Razgatlioglu. Then went on to score the weekend hat-trick, winning the Superpole race and taking a commanding victory during race two! Check out all the action below…
Reigning Champion Alvaro Bautista battled his way back from fourth on the grid to claim Race 1 victory in the Netherlands ahead of Rea and Razgatlioglu.
Race One
There was no shortage of thrilling action in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at the iconic TT Circuit Assen in Race 1 during the Pirelli Dutch Round as Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed a hard-fought victory in the Netherlands. He overcame his rivals and a three-place grid drop to fight his way from fourth place on the grid to finish ahead of Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) in the 21-lap race.
Bautista was given a three-place grid drop for the Race 1 grid for slow riding on the racing line in the Tissot Superpole session, which dropped him from pole position to fourth place. He was into the top three from the start before fighting with Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) who passed him into the chicane on the opening lap. Bautista was able to respond at Turn 1 to move back into the top three, before he started chasing down Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK).
Rea’s second was his 247th in WSBK, as well as his 24th at Assen which puts the track level with Aragon and Portimao.
Razgatlioglu was running in second place and looked to close down Rea to put a bike between him and Bautista but the reigning Champion overtook Razgatlioglu at the chicane on Lap 5 to move into second place, before moving into the lead on Lap 9 when he overtook Rea at the high-speed right-hander of Turn 6 to move into the lead. Although Rea tried to keep the pressure on Bautista, the Spanish rider pulled a gap on the six-time Champion with the trio setting into their respective positions.
Bautista’s victory was his 38th WorldSBK win and puts Ducati on 398 in WorldSBK with the Italian manufacturer just two away from a milestone 400th victory. It was also Ducati’s 698th race on the podium, meaning they could hit 400 wins and 700 races on the podium in the same race. Rea’s second place was his 247th in WorldSBK, as well as his 24th at Assen which puts the track level with Aragon and Portimao.
Toprak could finally be back on track as he takes a third place finish in Race One at Assen.
Fourth place went to a charging Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) after he moved up the order. He had been running in seventh place, behind Lowes, Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) but, as the laps progressed, he made his way up the order. Locatelli made a move on Lowes at Turn 5 on Lap 15 before following that up two laps later by overtaking Redding. He closed the gap to Bassani and overtook him on the last lap to claim fourth spot; continuing his record of not finishing outside the top five in 2023 and at the TT Circuit Assen. Bassani was fifth at the end of the race, ahead of Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), who passed Lowes and Redding in the closing stages, in sixth.
Lowes claimed seventh place at the end of the race, just over a tenth behind Aegerter, while Aegerter’s teammate, Remy Gardner, was eighth after a strong Race 1 for the Independent Yamaha team. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) was another who made moves late on in the race as he claimed ninth place with Redding eventually finish in tenth. Redding had been fighting for fourth in the early stages of the 21-lap race but he fell down the order in the closing stages of the 21-lap race, finishing 0.259s behind Petrucci.
Bassani was fifth at the end of the race, ahead of Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), who passed Lowes and Redding in the closing stages, in sixth.
Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) was 11th after he bounced back from an incident with Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) where Vierge ran wide at the chicane and lost positions when Rinaldi overtook him. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW), like a lot of riders, made moves in the latter stages of the race as he took 12th place; finishing just 0.187s ahead of Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK) in 13th. Two Ducati riders completed the points-paying positions with Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) in 14th and Rinaldi in 15th.
Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha) finished in 16th place after a late-race battle with French rider Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW), with Baz making his return from injury. Rookie Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) was 18th in his first race for Yamaha although he was fighting in the points during the early stages of the race. Hafizh Syahrin (PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Team) was 19th ahead of Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing MOVISIO), Eric Granado (PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Team), wildcard Gabriele Ruiu (Bmax Racing) and Isaac Vinales (TPR by Vinales Racing) in 23rd.
Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) was the first retirement of the race when he crashed out at Turn 1 on Lap 6, forcing him to retire from the race. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) retired after bringing his bike back to the pitlane after he suffered a technical issue.
WorldSBK Assen Race One Podium (Full Results Here)
1 Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 2 Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +3.148s 3 Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +3.891s
Tissot Superpole Race
The shortened Tissot Superpole Race in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship was a fierce fight between Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) for victory at the TT Circuit Assen during the Pirelli Dutch Round. The pair could barely be separated throughout the eight-lap race as they secured a front row start for this afternoon’s Race 2 following their battle.
The shortened Tissot Superpole Race in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship was a fierce fight between Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK).
Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) got the holeshot as the lights went out and jumped into the lead of the race but Bautista was able to respond on the opening lap to re-claim first place before looking to build a gap. Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) both kept the pressure on Bautista while Rea’s teammate, Alex Lowes, was also in the four-rider group for victory.
As the race approached the final few laps, Bautista started to pull out a gap over Rea to claim victory in the Superpole Race and claim first on the grid for Race 2, ahead of Rea in second and Razgatlioglu in third. Victory for Bautista moved Ducati onto 399 wins in WorldSBK history and 699 races on the podium, while Rea’s second place set a new record for podiums at one track with 25. Razgatlioglu claimed his 89th podium in WorldSBK with third place.
As the race approached the final few laps, Bautista started to pull out a gap over Rea to claim victory in the Superpole Race and claim first on the grid for Race 2.
Lowes finished in fourth place after losing time to Razgatlioglu, Rea and Bautista but he also had a margin of more than two seconds over Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) in fifth place after he had a fight with Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) and Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team). Locatelli got through on Lap 6 while Bassani and Aegerter were fighting and separated by just 0.273s at the end of the line.
Aegerter took seventh and he will lead the third row in Race 2 as he withstood a charging Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in eighth place. Aegerter held on by just 0.071s to take seventh spot in the eight-lap Superpole Race to secure a third-row start for Race 2. Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) will start from ninth in Race 2 after taking the same position in the Superpole Race as he looks to emulate his podium from Mandalika.
The race was shortened to eight laps following a technical issue for Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) with possible fluid on the track, with the start delayed for this to be checked. Baz did not take part in the shortened Superpole Race following the issue.
1 Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2 Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.916s
3 Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) +1.757s
Race Two The battle for the lead involved Bautista, Razgatlioglu and Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) in the early stages of the race with all three taking their chance to lead throughout the race. Razgatlioglu made his move for the lead on Lap 3 but Bautista responded quickly, before Rea made his move on Lap 5 at the same Turn 8. Bautista was able to respond almost immediately to re-claim the lead and Rea’s race would come to an end on the following lap. He lost the front of his Kawasaki machine at Turn 9 on Lap 6 which put him out of the race.
History was made in WorldSBK at Assen as Ducati claimed their 400th WorldSBK win after Bautista’s hat-trick.
It meant the fight for victory became between Bautista and Razgatlioglu, but the reigning Champion was able to pull out a gap over Razgatlioglu as he claimed his 40th WorldSBK win and Ducati’s 400th win in WorldSBK. Razgatlioglu was unchallenged as he took second place in Race 2 to continue his run of podium finishes, now at six races. He was directly ahead of teammate Andrea Locatelli in third, matching his podium tally from 2021 and doubling his count from 2022. Locatelli had to fend off a challenge from Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) who took fifth place.
Not only did Bautista’s victory give Ducati their 400th WorldSBK victory, it was also their 700th race on the podium to hit two milestones in one race. As it was Bautista’s 40th win, all on Ducati, he has exactly 10 per cent of Ducati’s WorldSBK victories. Razgatlioglu now has 90 podiums to his name while teammate Locatelli has ten, putting him level with Simon Crafar and Max Neukirchner while equalling his best podium tally to date.
The battle for the lead involved Bautista, Razgatlioglu and Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) in the early stages of the race with all three taking their chance to lead throughout the race.
Bassani had been running in the lead group during the first half of the race and was promoted to third following Rea’s crash but Locatelli made his way past his compatriot on Lap 8 at Turn 5 with a similar move to the one he made on Saturday against Bassani. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) backed up his sixth-place finish in Race 1 with fourth in Race 2. At the final chicane, the pair made contact with Bassani taking to the green and Aegerter staying on track. The incident was looked at and Bassani, who crossed the line in fourth, was demoted one place due to a track limits infringement on the final lap; Aegerter was therefore classified in fourth place, his best WorldSBK finish, with Bassani in fifth. It was yet another strong result for GRT Yamaha as Aegerter’s teammate, Remy Gardner, took sixth place after fighting his way through the field.
Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed seventh spot after a hard-fought race for the British rider, finishing just over a second behind Gardner but also withstanding a late charge from rookie Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team). Petrucci finished in eighth place but was only 0.075s behind Redding at the end of the 21-lap race as he charged through the field. Ninth belonged to Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) after a dramatic race for the Brit. On the sighting lap, Lowes went into the gravel and he was able to bring his bike back to the pits for the team to work on. He was able to start the race from the back of the grid, rather than fourth place where he had been scheduled to, but was able to slice his way through the field to ninth place. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) took tenth place to end a difficult weekend in the top ten.
Rea crashed out in the first half of the race, promoting Bassani to third, Locatelli then fought for the podium spot…
German rider Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) took 11th place, just over a second behind Rinaldi, while he had to fend off Garrett Gerloff (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) who finished in 12th place and only four tenths behind Oettl. Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha) took 13th place ahead of Hafizh Syahrin (PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Team) was 14th ahead of Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing); Sykes claiming his first point since returning to WorldSBK for the 2023 campaign.
Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing MOVISIO) was 16th and almost 10 seconds down on the points-paying positions and he had to fend off Eric Granado (PETRONAS MIE Racing HONDA Team) in 17th place. Isaac Vinales (TPR by Vinales Racing), making his first start of the 2023 campaign, was 18th after a late fight with wildcard Gabriele Ruiu (Bmax Racing). Ruiu was just 0.020s behind Vinales at the end of the race.
Three riders crashed in quick succession on Laps 2 and 3 in separate incidents. Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) crashed at Turn 9 on Lap 2, Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) crashed at Turn 16 and Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) crashed at Turn 1 on Lao 3. Van der Mark was taken to the medical centre for a check-up following the crash and he was subsequently transported to hospital for further assessments on a suspect left femur fracture. Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) was another who retired from the race when he crashed at Turn 15 on Lap 8, while Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) crashed at Turn 4 on Lap 12; he did re-join the race but brought his bike into the pits and retired.
Saturday at COTA saw Rins on the podium, surprise errors at the front, some serious charges through the field and a single point in it at the top of the standings… Rins comes back on sunday to win, Pecco crashes, Marini takes a debut podium and Quartararo returns to parc ferme after another shake up on Sunday. Report: MotoGP Press
Saturday saw Rins on the podium, surprise errors at the front, some serious charges through the field and a single point in it at the top of the standings…
Tissot Sprint
There was adrenaline from the moment the lights went out for the Tissot Sprint at the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) lined up on pole position for the first time in 2023, and it was game on as the chasing pack were eager to get the better of the number 1. Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) tried it early but was shaken off as Bagnaia sprinted free to take victory, but the number 42 battled back into second for a first taste of Prosecco with Honda. It was a duel to decide the final place on the podium, with Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) storming up from 12th on the grid to fend off Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) for third on the final lap.
There was adrenaline from the moment the lights went out for the Tissot Sprint at the Grand Prix of The Americas.
Rins got the perfect launch as he took the holeshot into Turn 1, but the Honda then ran wide and allowed Bagnaia back through. It only took a few corners before Rins threw it back up the inside of the Ducati again, but the Italian bit back and used his Borgo Panigale power to blast past the Spaniard on the back straight. Meanwhile, Aleix Espargaro and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) had also made impressive starts, shooting up into third and fourth, respectively.
Rins got the perfect launch as he took the holeshot into Turn 1, but the Honda ran wide and allowed Bagnaia through.
With one lap down, Rins was still all over the rear wheel of the factory Ducati, but then the LCR rider out-braked himself at Turn 12, allowing Espargaro through. It almost let Quartararo through the door as well, but despite a little contact Rins was able to fend the Frenchman off. A lap later and it was Martin next on the scene to duel Quartararo, and no.89 made shortish work of it, blasting past up into fourth.
Quartararo did his best to find off the Ducati rocketships, but next it was Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP). On the brakes, the 2021 World Champion then overshot Turn 12, allowing Alex Marquez through. Half a lap later it all came tumbling down as Quartararo’s Yamaha slid out at Turn 1, with the Frenchman rejoining but well down the order.
Back at the front, Bagnaia began to stretch out the field as he put down some lightning-fast pace.
Back at the front, Bagnaia began to stretch out the field as he put down some lightning-fast pace. Aleix Espargaro and Rins were holding station in second and third, but it wouldn’t stay that way for long. With four laps to go Rins muscled his way past the Aprilia, but as the battle for P2 came to the end of the back straight once again, Rins barrelled into the braking zone ever so slightly over the limit of his LCR Honda. That sucked in Aleix Espargaro, who followed Rins into the corner and ran wide. Alex Marquez was also caught out, the number 73 then down and out of the Tissot Sprint.
Martin managed to score his second Tissot Sprint podium of the 2023 season!
Meanwhile, Rins was able to make it stick and make his escape, with Aleix Espargaro left to duel Martin. The Prima Pramac rider had made an attack stick, but onto the final lap, Espargaro was almost riding pillion through the slalom section, desperate to find a way past. The Spaniard wanted to get through on his compatriot before the Ducati could stretch its legs on the back straight, but it wasn’t to be. The final sector arrived and there was only one thing for it: a lunge. Espargaro dived up the inside at the penultimate corner, but he ran wide and the Pramac cut back up the inside, giving Martin his second Tissot Sprint podium of the season.
Bagnaia was untouchable once again. Getting on the front early and staying there…
Whilst the riders out front scrapped it out, the battle for the top five was hotting up too. It was Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) who led the group, with Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing) and teammate Luca Marini in hot pursuit. In the end, the South African was able to fend off the Mooney VR46 Racing riders and bring home fifth from 11th on the grid. Bezzecchi, however, retains the points lead overall by one single point.
Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP Team) got the better of Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) to bring his Aprilia home in P8, with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) rounding out the top 10 after a tough start for Top Gun.
1 Francesco Bagnaia – Ducati Lenovo Team
2 Alex Rins – LCR Honda CASTROL (+2.545)
3 Jorge Martin – Prima Pramac Racing (+4.706)
Sunday
539 days and 24 Grands Prix have passed since Honda were last on top, and Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) has brought that long wait to an end with a truly impressive ride to glory at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas.
539 days and 24 Grands Prix have passed since Honda were last on top, and Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) has brought that long wait to an end with a truly impressive ride to glory at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas.
The number 42 was pressuring Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) at the front of the field until the number 1 slid out, and from there on out Rins was on a mission to just keep. that. gap. And that he did, getting the hammer down once Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) had made it past Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and taking the flag with time in hand to celebrate. That brings Honda’s longest winless streak since they returned to the premier class in 1982 to an end, it’s the first LCR victory since 2018 and the team’s 100th podium in the Grand Prix paddock. It also means Rins has won a staggering 50 per cent- of the last six MotoGP races… and on two different bikes. How’s that for a one-man stat pack?
Behind Rins’ headline-grabber, Marini made his own as he held station in second once he was past Quartararo, and the Italian takes his first Grand Prix podium!
Behind Rins’ headline-grabber, Marini made his own as he held station in second once he was past Quartararo, and the Italian takes his first Grand Prix podium to follow up a first Tissot Sprint podium last weekend. For Quartararo, meanwhile, it’s a return to the rostrum for the first time since Malaysia last year as he turned the page following a tougher opening stint to 2023.
As the lights went out, it was the perfect start for Pecco as the Italian took the holeshot, with Rins in hot pursuit.
As the lights went out, it was the perfect start for Pecco as the Italian took the holeshot, with Rins in hot pursuit. There was drama on Lap 1 for others though as the Ducatis of Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) crashed out, the latter losing the front and then collecting a hapless number 73. Then more drama as Aprilia Captain Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) also fell victim to an issue, reportedly after an issue with his holeshot device.
In the meantime, Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has come flying through the field to put himself in third place from 10th on the grid. Quartararo was hot on the tail of the Aussie too as Marini sat just inside the top five.
Rins was in a race against himself and the couple of seconds he had in hand, with some history waiting to be made.
Bagnaia was putting on the pressure early on as he attempted to stretch out the field, but Rins wasn’t having any of it as the Spaniard latched himself onto the back of the factory Ducati. Rins, in return, piled the pressure on the number 1… and Bagnaia did, indeed, slide out of the lead. Now Rins was in a race against himself and the couple of seconds he had in hand, with some history on the line just waiting to be made.
Marini was shadowing Quartararo’s every move though, and with 3.5s to the battle for 4th behind, the duo were putting the hammer down in hopes of catching the LCR Honda man out front.
Meanwhile, with 14 laps to go Miller had crashed out, rider ok, and that put fast-starting Quartararo up into second once Rins was the lone star in the lead. Marini was shadowing Quartararo’s every move though, and with 3.5s to the battle for 4th behind, the duo were putting the hammer down in hopes of catching the LCR Honda man out front.
Rins was unstoppable, simply blitzing the field and having some spare time to celebrate.
With the laps ticking away and the gap not coming down, Marini decided it was time to make a move on the flying Frenchman and got past, then able to stay ahead and solely start to edge away.. With five to go, the Italian had just under a second in his back pocket and that second place was his barring any drama. He couldn’t catch Rins, however, and the LCR rider had time to celebrate over the line as he took yet another impressive win. He doesn’t always win – although lately he has done half of the time – but when he does, it’s usually a highly notable day at the office and deserves a chapeau, this time cowboy-styled.
Marini brought home his Ducati for second and a first Grand Prix podium in the MotoGP class.
Marini brought home his Ducati for second and a first Grand Prix podium in the MotoGP class, with Quartararo snatching his first podium of 2023 in third as his focus switched to fending off fourth in the latter stages. That fight was won by Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) as he stretched away from Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF Team) despite plummeting down the order at the start, with Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing) taking sixth. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) crashed out of that fight, rider ok and rejoining but taking three points at the back.
The Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas did not disappoint as MotoGP leaves the USA.
Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP) were next up, with Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) completing the top ten and taking his first rookie top ten in the process.
The Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas did not disappoint as MotoGP leaves the USA after another shuffle, but it remains Bezzecchi in the points lead and Bagnaia second. Now get ready for more action at the Gran Premio MotoGP Guru by Gryfyn de España in two weeks!
1 Alex Rins – LCR Honda CASTROL
2 Luca Marini – Mooney VR46 Racing Team (+3.498)
3 Fabio Quartararo – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP (+4.936)
ALEX RINS: “It was amazing, when I was in the LCR workshop this winter, Lucio put a video on in the museum and said we have 99 podiums in our team, and I said, ‘thanks for the pressure!’ We did it. I’m so happy for the win, and also happy about the weekend, a really good weekend and we worked from Friday. Direct to 2, qualifying second, second in the Sprint and then the victory… honestly Pecco showed us really strong pace, I was struggling a bit in the third and fourth sectors, and in Sector 1 and 2 I was pushing, a bit on the limit in the chicanes to reduce the gap, but I’m so happy.
“After the crash, I saw I was in front and I lost concentration a bit for a lap, a lap and half, they reduced the gap to me but then I tried to leave and not make any mistakes, ride alone as I know how to do, so I’m happy because it wasn’t easy. My fiancee, when I woke up this morning, I had a message saying if I shave my head, she’ll change the locks. We have our wedding in a couple of months and it’s a day to remember so better not! But for sure a couple of guys from the team will do it!”
Moto2
The Moto2 race at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas was an instant classic as a two-way scrap for victory saw Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) just pip Tony Arbolino (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team) on the final lap, setting up the perfect Championship rivalry in the process. The battle for third also raged on all race long, with Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) carving his way through the group on the final lap and taking his first Moto2™ podium, also the first Dutch podium in the intermediate class since Wilco Zeelenberg in 1994!
The Moto2 race at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas was an instant classic as a two-way scrap for victory saw Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) just pip Tony Arbolino (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team) on the final lap.
It was drama before the lights had even turned on in Texas as Jake Dixon (GASGAS Aspar Team) crashed on the Warm Up lap, halting his chances before the race had even started. When the lights did go out though it was a perfect start from Acosta, who took a tight line at Turn 1 to defend the lead before Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) muscled his way through. Meanwhile, Arbolino made an incredible round-the-outside move through the slalom section to put himself into third.
Acosta was determined as ever as the Spaniard retook the lead on the way down to Turn 12, before a Lopez lunge at the penultimate corner attempted to take the lead but saw the Spaniard run wide and drop down to third – behind Arbolino.
With 14 laps to go Acosta attempted to stretch the field as he put the hammer down.
With 14 laps to go Acosta attempted to stretch the field as he put the hammer down, with Lopez latched onto his coattails, but he hit a false neutral at the tricky Turn 12, allowing Lopez to take the lead as the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider dropped down to P5.
Acosta wasted no time in getting past Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) as the Spaniard put himself into 4th with his sights set on Arbolino and Lopez in front, and the three were able to escape Canet – before Lopez made a mistake and dropped down to sixth. This was it: the duel was on.
It was cat and mouse, with neither blinking, before with three to go Acosta found his way through as Arbolino ran wide at Turn 1. Further on around the lap it was then his turn, running wide to allow Arbolino back through. The Italian led across the line on the penultimate lap and it was gearing up for the perfect last lap scrap.
Celestino Vietti couldn’t turn his pole into a podium unfortunately…
Once it was crunch time, Acosta couldn’t get any closer to the rear wheel of Arbolino’s Elf Marc VDS Kalex machine, but at Turn 12 the number 37 pounced and made it stick. That left Arbolino with one more shot at victory coming into the final two corners. Acosta ran incredibly defensively through them, allowing no way through for the Italian, but Arbolino took a wide swooping line into the final corner setting himself up for the drag to the line. It wasn’t quite enough but not by much, with Acosta taking the victory by 0.146s.
With the leading duo checking out at the front, the battle for third was hotting up nicely as Canet was coming under pressure from Fermin Aldeguer (BETA Tools SpeedUp), and the two QJMOTOR Gresini riders of Jeremy Alcoba and Filip Salač. After a charge up the order though, it was Bendsneyder who took it to make a little history for rider and nation.
Alcoba finished fourth with teammate Salač rounding out the top five, with the SpeedUp riders of Aldeguer and Lopez just behind. Canet, polesitter Celestino Vietti (Fantic Racing) and Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp) completed the top ten.
1 Pedro Acosta – Red Bull KTM Ajo
2 Tony Arbolino – Elf Marc VDS Racing Team (+0.146)
3 Bo Bendsneyder – Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team (+5.851)
Moto3 Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) is now a Grand Prix winner! The Spaniard did it in style at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, fighting at the front throughout and then pushing to just stay ahead of a serious scrap for the podium. Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) took second, slicing back through after being forced into some avoiding action following a crash for then leader Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), with Xavier Artigas (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) completing the podium as Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) lost out late on.
Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) is now a Grand Prix winner! The Spaniard did it in style at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, fighting at the front throughout and then pushing to just stay ahead of a serious scrap for the podium.
The race began as the classic Moto3 freight train, but bit by bit a front, smaller group managed to escape: Sasaki, Masia, Artigas, Moreira, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Ortola, after a mammoth wonder save early doors. And that’s how it stayed despite some chopping and changing, with the key drama coming in the latter stages.
That drama was a crash for Sasaki as the Japanese rider lost it in the lead, and in turn also forced Masia into avoiding action. That put the number 5 into a race against time to tag back onto the back of the now four-rider fight for the podium, but that he did and he was right back in the mix as the field prepared for the final lap.
The race began as the classic Moto3 freight train, but bit by bit a front, smaller group managed to escape: Sasaki, Masia, Artigas, Moreira, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Ortola.
Ortola led over the line, but Artigas attacked at Turn 1 and took over. It remained line astern for the rest of the sector, but the next move came from Moreira as he attacked Masia for third. And then he attacked for the lead, straight up, as Ortola also moved up into second. Moreira was in control heading onto the back straight though, somehow keeping the momentum, but the braking zone saw it come apart. Just a little too deep, the Brazilian opened the door and Ortola needed no second invitation, taking back the lead.
The fight for third just behind was even tighter, with Masia vs Artigas vs Holgado on the brakes and the number 5 coming out on top. The next target was Moreira, and the move came at the final corner. Ortola nailed it to head over the line for his first Grand Prix win as Masia attacked for second just behind, sending Moreira off line and causing a shuffle as the group all tucked in and pinned it. Masia made it to the flag first, with Artigas then just pipping Moreira. Holgado was forced to settle for fifth but that fifth means he retains the Championship lead, although now equal on points with Moreira.
Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) headed up a close second group ahead of David Salvador (CIP Green Power), David Alonso (Valresa GASGAS Aspar), his teammate Ryusei Yamanaka and Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completing the top ten. For full results see below, and buckle up for more in Jerez in two weeks!
Plenty of action at the Gran Premio Michelin de la República Argentina on the weekend! 15th to 1st?! Binder sends it on Saturday to take stunning Tissot Sprint win then Bezzecchi takes centre stage, Bagnaia crashes, Quartararo slices back through the pack in the wet on Sunday! Report: MotoGP Press.
Tissot Sprint Race
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). That’s it, that’s the sentence. The South African produced a stunning performance to win the Gran Premio Michelin de la República Argentina Tissot Sprint from P15 on the grid, slicing through early on and then hanging on ahead of a charging Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) on the final lap… by just 0.072s. Luca Marini made it a Mooney VR46 Racing Team double podium with a hard-fought P3.
It was a fast and ferocious start as Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) got a phenomenal launch to briefly lead into the first corner, but it was polesitter Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) who grabbed P1 early doors as the Italian ran wide. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) got shuffled down the pack on Lap 1, the Championship leader in P7 from the front row as Binder picked his way through the pack like a knife through butter – the South African was P4 on Lap 1 from 15th on the grid!
It was breathless. Morbidelli was the new leader halfway around Lap 1 and led until Binder got the better of him on Lap 3. The top nine raced line astern: Binder, Morbidelli, Marini, Alex Marquez, Bagnaia, Bezzecchi, Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia Racing teammate Maverick Viñales and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) were split by 1.6s with seven laps to go.
Where do you look? Passes galore! Binder, Morbidelli and Marini became a stable top three for a few laps as a fierce battle raged 0.5s behind. Fabio Quartararo(Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) was getting into the mix too, clinging onto the back of Martin to make it a 10-rider lead group as we entered the final five laps.
With four to go, Binder’s lead was up to 0.5s as Marini swarmed all over the back of second-placed Morbidelli. The former made a move stick at Turn 9 before we saw a little drama and Aleix Espargaro slid out unhurt, the 2022 winner looking for more on Sunday. Bezzecchi then followed teammate Marini through on Morbidelli. Moments later, the number 72 also dispatched Marini and then locked his radar on Binder, who was now 0.7s up.
Last lap time. The gap was down to 0.4s between Binder and Bezzecchi, with Marini 0.3s shy of his teammate’s rear wheel in P3. Binder held firm through sectors 1, 2 and 3, but Bezzecchi was eyeing up a final complex move – and he was closing. Binder defended well though and there was no way through at Termas’ famous penultimate corner for Bezzecchi, who was forced to follow the KTM home as Binder won the second-ever Tissot Sprint. From 15th on the grid! It was an unreal effort from the KTM stalwart as the Mooney VR46 duo finish a brilliant P2 and P3.
Morbidelli held onto P4 and one of his best results for some time, fending off Alex Marquez, Bagnaia and Viñales. Martin pipped Quartararo for P8 as the latter picked up the final Sprint point in P9. The points scorers were split by just 3.8s in a truly epic 12-lap dash.
MotoGP Tissot Sprint Argentina Podium (Full Results Here)
Sunday Take a bow, Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team)! From start to finish, the Italian MotoGP sophomore was untouchable as he produced a wet weather masterclass to claim a debut premier class victory – and with it, the World Championship lead. There were plenty of storylines as a charging Johann Zarco(Prima Pramac Racing) grabbed a late P2 to beat Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) to the rostrum, and reigning World Champion Francesco Bagnaia(Ducati Lenovo Team) crashed unhurt from P2, ultimately crossing the line in P16.
The threat of a flag-to-flag race loomed but more rain fell after the Moto2™ race as the premier class revved up for a 25-lap fully wet encounter. After an atmospheric national anthem through the rain, Bezzecchi grabbed the holeshot from polesitter Alex Marquez, with Bagnaia third and Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) slotting into P4. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) didn’t get away well, and Tissot Sprint hero Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) crashed at Turn 5 after contact with the Aprilia rider too.
Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) then lost out at Turn 7 to Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) as the two almost came together, and the Frenchman dropped to P16 in the early exchanges. But as the race settled down, Bezzecchi was able to stretch out a second lead over Alex Marquez, with Bagnaia and Morbidelli keeping in touch. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was a winner in the early stages as well, up to P5 but with the gap to Morbidelli hovering around 2.7s.
With 17 laps left on the clock, Bezzecchi’s lead was up to two seconds. A lap later it was 2.6s. The Italian was a class apart from the chasing pack in the early stages, and as the Grand Prix approached race distance, his lead kept on creeping up. Bagnaia was keeping second-placed Alex Marquez on his toes too as just 0.9s split the duo, with Morbidelli sitting 1.5s back from Pecco in a comfortable P4.
On Lap 15 of 25, Alex Marquez and Bagnaia engaged in battle. After a couple of attempts, the reigning Champion finally got the better of Marquez, and Morbidelli closed in too. But then, drama. At the penultimate corner at the end of Lap 17, Bagnaia tucked the front. The former World Championship leader was down, not out, but he re-joined in P16. That promoted Alex Marquez into P2 and Morbidelli into P3, with the two then looking over their shoulders for Zarco. The Frenchman was setting a blistering pace and a podium wasn’t out of reach, the number 5 3.7s back from Morbidelli’s Yamaha.
With five to go, Zarco kept gobbling up the metres. The deficit was now 2.1s, as countryman Quartararo also made good late race progress. The #20 was up to P7 from the very back of the pack. With four to go, it was down to 1.4s on Zarco watch. Morbidelli was coming under pressure first, but so was Marquez if the latter wanted to keep his P2 intact.
At Turn 7 with two and a half laps to go, Zarco was through on Morbidelli for P3. Now, the Frenchman locked his radar on Marquez’ GP22. And on the last lap at Turn 5, Marquez could do nothing but watch Zarco stick his GP23 up the inside and slice on through. The Frenchman was on a roll.
A few seconds up the road, Bezzecchi was on even more of a roll. The Italian rounded the final corner to cross the line as a MotoGP race winner and World Championship leader after a flawless race, a class apart on Sunday. Zarco beat Marquez by half a second in what was another stunning comeback ride, getting back on the podium for the first time since the Sachsenring last year. For his part, Alex Marquez makes it podiums on two different machines in the premier class.
Despite narrowly missing out on a return to the podium, a resurgent Morbidelli will be very pleased with a P4 after a very difficult run of form. P5 went the way of Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) came from P16 on the grid to finish P6, and Quartararo climbs from P16 to P7 in what was a great recovery ride from the 2021 World Champion.
Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) and Di Giannantonio rounded out the top 10, with rookie Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) going very well in P11. It was a disappointing day for Viñales and Aprilia Racing, however, with the Spaniard in P12 ahead of Nakagami, Raul Fernandez (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) and a lowly 15th-placed Aleix Espargaro. Not the weekend the Noale factory were looking for. Bagnaia and Binder, the two crashers, crossed the line together in P16 and P17 – also a frustrating Sunday for both.
MotoGP Tissot Sprint Argentina Podium (Full Results Here)
1 Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) – Ducati
2 Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) – Ducati – +4.085
3 Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) – Ducati – +4.681
MARCO BEZZECCHI: “It was an unbelievable weekend for me, honestly, I didn’t expect this when I started from home. As soon as I started riding here I felt very well and really I was… I don’t know how to describe but I was at one with my bike. I felt incredibly good since the first moment. Yesterday was also very nice for me so this morning when I saw the rain I was really sad because I said ‘no, I was so good in the dry for sure now it will be difficult in the wet’. But then in the warm-up as soon as I jumped on the bike it was amazing so I started to believe again and I said ‘Well, I can do this’ and as soon I started I enjoyed riding a lot, I was really focused. Yeah everything went well and it was an amazing day also you know, it was a long journey but finally, it has come.”
Moto2 Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) was our last wet weather winner in the intermediate class, and the Italian did it again at Termas de Rio Hondo to take his first victory of the season. After a podium to begin the year in Portimao, the number 14 now leads the Championship to boot! Polesitter Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools Speed Up) was forced to settle for second after getting passed late on, with Jake Dixon(GASGAS Aspar) completing the podium and making his first visit to parc ferme this season.
There was immediate drama for Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) as he jumped the start, gaining a double Long Lap for the trouble. Lopez’ start was the opposite and a little late, so it was Dixon into the lead early on. Soon enough, however, a breakaway group of Dixon, Lopez and Arbolino started to disappear into the distance.
After leading the way for much of the shortened 14-lap dash – due to weather conditions after Moto2™ had no wet practice time – Lopez lost the lead in the final few laps with a small mistake, and then just couldn’t get back on terms with Arbolino. It remained close but not close enough, with the Italian taking victory by 0.663. Dixon, after that early lead, faded slightly but took home his first trophy of the season for third.
Canet stormed to an impressive recovery of fourth place, but he was somewhat upstaged by his teammate in those stakes. Via a Long Lap given after he caused contact with another rider in Q2, rookie Sergio Garcia still stormed from P28 on the grid all the way into the top five after a seriously impressive Sunday.
The rider in sixth also impressed: Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP). The South African showed some chops as he settles into the intermediate class, with Filip Salač (QJMotor Gresini Moto2™) next up. Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) was classified eighth after being demoted a position for last lap track limits, with Albert Arenas (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) completing the top ten.
So where was Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo)? It was a tougher Sunday for the star of the season opener, coming home in P12 and losing that points lead.
Moto2 Argentina Top Three (Full results here) 1 Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) – Kalex
2 Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) – Boscoscuro – +0.663
3 Jake Dixon (Solunion GASGAS Aspar Team) – Kalex – +1.961
Moto3 Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) got back on the top step in stunning style at Termas de Rio Hondo, taking a Grand Prix win for the first time since 2020. The Japanese rider put in a wet weather masterclass to finish nearly five seconds clear of the chasing pack, with Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) and replacement rider Andrea Migno (CIP Green Power) completing the podium after a close fight to the flag.
Suzuki shot off into the lead early doors, and two of the first on the chase were Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) and Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing). But bad luck hit for both, Sasaki after contact with replacement rider David Almansa (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) saw him get a +1 position penalty before he crashed out, and Masia once he’d started to reel in his teammate. The number 5 also slid out.
Heading into the latter stages, the fight behind Suzuki saw Moreira, an impressive Almansa, Migno, Scott Ogden (VisionTrack Racing) and Riccardo Rossi (SIC58 Squadra Corse) locked close together. Some drama hit as Ogden had a moment and then made contact with Almansa, the Spaniard crashing out and receiving no reward for an impressive performance replacing Joel Kelso, before more not too long after as Rossi slid out.
That left Moreira vs Migno and the Brazilian stayed ahead, claiming second in very different conditions to his first GP podium in Portugal. Migno was happy with third, however, showing his pace when called on as a replacement this weekend.
Ogden crossed the line fourth but was given a time penalty for the contact that saw Almansa crash out – the equivalent of two Long Laps – and the Brit is therefore classified fifth, behind Portuguese GP winner Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3), who retains the Championship lead. Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team), Kaito Toba (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Xavi Artigas (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) despite a crash, Ryusei Yamanaka (Autosolar GASGAS Moto3) and David Salvador (CIP Green Power). That’s a wrap on Termas, next up it’s… Texas! Join is again in a couple of weeks for more!
Moto3 Argentina Top Three (Full results here) 1 Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) – Honda
2 Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI ) – KTM – +4.571
3 Andrea Migno (CIP Green Power) – KTM – +4.699
Drama, penalties, and some stunning moves in the fight at the front: the season opener was full of stories. 12 laps, 22 riders, and one incredible debut for the Tissot Sprint: seven names fight it out for the podium. The drama only continued on Sunday at the Portimao round of MotoGP… Release: MotoGP Press
Tissot Sprint
The first Tissot Sprint was a stunner. 12 laps, 22 riders and a last lap finish! Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) came out on top as the final push came down to a duel, piling the pressure on Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) in the last few laps and finding a way through as the Spaniard headed ever so slightly wide. The fight for third was a mammoth battle from the off, too, with seven riders fighting for the top three throughout and ultimately, the rider on pole taking his first medal of the season: Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team).
Marc Marquez got the holeshot despite a spectacular attack from a fast-starting Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team), but Bagnaia took over in second early on as a red duel let Martin also pickpocket into third. Marquez, Bagnaia, Martin and Bastianini was the initial leading quartet, with Marquez defending the lead until the final few metres of Lap 1.
Bagnaia and Martin then struck for the front and got past the number 93, with the leading trio enjoying a little breathing space for a few corners. Miguel Oliveira (CryptoData RNF MotoGP Team) had struck back into fourth too, and soon Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was also past Bastianini.
Drama then hit for the number 23, with Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) losing the front on the inside and rider and machine sliding into the factory Ducati, leaving the Beast nowhere to go. Meanwhile, further contact a little further back had also seen Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) overcook it against Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha), with the Spaniard making contact and crashing out, and the Frenchman losing time.
Back at the front, Bagnaia led Martin led Marquez, with Miller moving up into fourth past Oliveira. Then came Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) vs Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) vs Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), but Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) was also intent on joining that party. So he did, and Bezzecchi crashed out of it not long after.
With nine to go, Martin slipped past Bagnaia for the lead as Marquez dug in ahead of Miller and Oliveira. Soon enough, the battle was truly on. Miller and Oliveira passed Marquez, and then the Australian picked Bagnaia’s pocket for second. By six to go, Miller hit the front, but Martin hit back. The chopping and changing let the Aprilia Racing pair also catch up, and it all bubbled up to one duel and one serious fight for third.
As Martin and Bagnaia started to inch away, the two-man decider for Tissot Sprint glory was set. The reigning Champion was gaining and gaining, and finally the door opened ever so slightly on the final lap – with Martin wide and Pecco through. It remained close to the line but the #1 remained so on track, taking that coveted first Sprint win as Martin was forced to settle for second.
Miller vs Oliveira vs Marquez, plus two factory Aprilias intent on beating each other, set up a stunning grandstand finish in the fight to join Bagnaia and Martin’s date with Prosecco. Marquez had even enjoyed a two for one as the Australian and Portuguese rider went head to head at Turn 1, and once the number 93 was through, there was no looking back.
Heartbreak for Oliveira later in the lap saw him overcook it and drop back in that fight, with Miller suffering no such bad luck and taking a hard fought fourth. Fifth went to Viñales as he won the factory Aprilia war, with Aleix Espargaro sixth and Oliveira crossing the line seventh. Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) pipped Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing) to P8, with that leaving Quartararo just outside the points in the first Sprint. El Diablo made progress after the early drama with Mir, taking P10 and just off the number 73 ahead.
1 Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – Ducati
2 Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) – Ducati – +0.307
3 Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) – Honda – +1.517
Sunday Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) made it double delight in Portugal, backing up a first Tissot Sprint win with the Grand Prix trophy to match. It was far from easy, however, with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) pushing the Italian all the way to the flag on Sunday, just 0.687 off that elusive first win with Aprilia. Completing the podium came Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), the sophomore able to pull clear of a gloves-off fight for fourth.
There was drama in that fight at the front early on, with Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) heading in hot and making contact with home hero Miguel Oliveira(CryptoData RNF MotoGP™ Team). Marquez has a suspected fracture in his 1st metacarpal on his right hand but said he expects to ride in Argentina, whereas Oliveira was bruised but rider ok.
Off the line, Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) defended the holeshot but it was close as Oliveira got an absolutely barnstorming start. The shuffling in the pack then began, and the first frisson of drama hit for Marc Marquez as he went past Martin, the number 89 came back and the number 93 was briefly out the seat. Still, Marquez held onto a place near the front of the fight.
At the end of Lap 1, it was Oliveira leading over the line in front of his home fans, ahead of Martin and Bagnaia, but the number 1 struck at Turn 1 to head through on Martin. Not long after, the Ducati Lenovo machine attacked for the lead as well, and not long after that came the drama.
Marc Marquez clipped Martin before making contact with Oliveira just ahead of both, with the number 93 and the number 88 both going down as they collided and slid out of the race. Martin was also forced into the run off, losing some time, and that changed the playing field: it was now going to become a race-long duel for the win, with Bagnaia leading Viñales by almost nothing.
Lap by lap, the two remained evenly matched. When Bagnaia pulled away, Viñales pulled it back. Right down to the final lap, as it went from over a second to seven tenths to half a second… but the Aprilia just couldn’t quite strike. Bagnaia kept his cool to finish the season opener in perfect style, taking his first Grand Prix win of the year. Viñales took second and again just tenths from that history-making win on a third different machine, and he’ll likely be targeting that in Argentina.
Meanwhile, Bezzecchi had been glued to Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), but he was able to pull clear of that scuffle to take a calm, measured and impressed third. The fight for fourth then seriously went off.
After huge gains off the start, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had caught his new teammate and Alex Marquez, and not long after that, Johann Zarco(Prima Pramac Racing) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) arrived on the scene too. Not to be left out, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) then also joined the party, with the last few laps a real scuffle to remember.
After a serious final push from Zarco, it was the Frenchman who took P4 – just hundredths ahead of Alex Marquez. Binder was forced to settle for sixth with Miller for close company, with Quartararo and Aleix Espargaro just behind. Fourth to ninth was covered by just over a second. Alex Rins (LCR Honda Castrol) completed the top ten, ahead of Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) after the number 36 also had a Long Lap to contend with. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) and Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) gained some points as the final finishers.
After the flag, there was more drama too – or more, another arc to Marc Marquez’ eye-catching weekend in Portugal, full of good speed but ending with that mistake. He’ll have a double Long Lap to serve in Argentina, and have a check up on his hand beforehand. Will he be able to repeat more of his Saturday heroics and race?
Join us next weekend for more as we go racing once more, this time at Termas de Rio Hondo. This time last year, Aprilia made history. Who will do the honours in 2023?
1 Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – Ducati
2 Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) – Aprilia – +0.687
3 Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) – Ducati – +2.726
Marc Marquez Penalised Over Dangerous Crash
FIM Stewarts Sanction: As per Article 3.5.5 of the FIM Grand Prix World Championship Regulations, the decision taken by the FIM MotoGP™ Stewards Panel on 26 March 2023 at 15:13 following a hearing in the presence of Marc Marquez, Rider #93, is as follows:
Motive: On 26 March 2023, at 14:06:02, during the MotoGP Race of the GRANDE PRÉMIO TISSOT DE PORTUGAL at Turn 3, the Rider #93 was observed as being overly aggressive and causing a crash involving Rider #88. This contravenes the specific instructions given to MotoGP competitors and teams, disrupting the session, and is considered irresponsible riding causing danger to other competitors. It is therefore an infringement of Article 1.21.2 of the FIM Grand Prix World Championship Regulations.
Sanction: For the above reasons, the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel has imposed a Double Long Lap Penalty for the GRAN PREMIO MICHELIN DE LA REPÚBLICA ARGENTINA MotoGP Race, in accordance with articles 3.2.1 and 3.3.2.3.
MARC MARQUEZ:“First of all I’m very sorry to Oliveira, to him, his team and fans because were at the Portuguese GP. I made a big mistake, it wasn’t my intention, obviously, because my intention wasn’t even to overtake Martin. I had a massive lock on the front, maybe the hard front option was not ready, after that lock I released the brakes and the bike went inside. I could avoid Martin but not Oliveira. The first thing I did was try to understand his condition, looks like he is ok. For that reason I am more quiet because he is ok. Of course I’m sorry to him. Yeah, I made a big mistake. I will be penalized in Argentina and I completely agree. Sometimes these things happen in races and this time I made a big mistake. I have a few injuries, but that’s not important. Most important is Miguel is ok. I will come back when I feel ready.”
Moto2 Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) started the 2023 season as he likely means to go on, holding off some serious pressure from Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) to come out on top and take the first spoils of the season. Canet was right with the number 37 until the last few laps, however, and takes 20 valuable points, with Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) overcoming a tougher qualifying and start to complete the podium.
Canet made a lighting start taking the holeshot into Turn 1, with Filip Salač(QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2) and Acosta following the Spaniard closely in the opening stages of the race. One lap later and Acosta was on the move, slotting his way up the inside of Salač to take second. Soon after, he made an incredible dive for the race lead, and it didn’t take long until he began stretching out the gap in an attempt to break away. Canet stayed with him though, applying the pressure lap after lap. Only in the last few was Acosta able to pull clear, the number 37 proving the pre-season hype with an inch-perfect performance to take his first win of the year.
The battle for the final spot on the rostrum was just as intense as Salač began to drop down the order, under attack from Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46) before Arbolino arrived and conquered. The Italian also cut into the gap to the leaders but couldn’t get much closer than seven tenths, crossing the line third but that a solid start to the season after a tougher weekend beforehand.
By the flag, Salač fought his way back through to catch and overtake the late-fading Gonzalez, taking fourth and pushing the Spaniard back to fifth. Jake Dixon(GASGAS Aspar Team) fought hard through the pack to take sixth, ahead of Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), Albert Arenas (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) and Jeremy Alcoba (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2).
Moto2 Portimao Top Three (Full results here) 1 Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – Kalex
2 Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) – Kalex – +1.358
3 Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) – Kalex – +4.460
Moto3 Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) is now a Grand Prix winner! The season opener was a classic last lap showdown and the Spaniard put in an impressive performance to start his sophomore season on the top step, holding off David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) and Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) under some serious pressure. Moreira’s podium is his first and the first for a Brazilian rider in the lightweight class, and Holgado’s win is the first in Moto3™ for Tech3 as the Grande Premio Tissot de Portugal hosted some history.
There was early drama for Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) as he couldn’t get away for the Warm Up lap, the Turk forced into a pitlane start. Once the lights went out though, Joel Kelso (CFMoto PrüstelGP) took the holeshot from the front row and immediately started to put the hammer down, but it didn’t take long for the chasing pack to close back in. Holgado and Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) both made for close company at the head of the freight train, and Moreira was soon on the scene too, despite that tough qualifying for the Brazilian.
The classic group then formed, and by the last few laps the top 10 were glued together in a fight for the podium. They had some company soon enough though, with Öncü on an absolute charge to come back from his pitlane start. By the last few laps the Turk was into that group.
At the front of it though, it became a battle of five for the podium: Holgado, Moreira, Muñoz, Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) and a stunning performance from rookie Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo). Holgado was inch perfect, however, and was able to withstand the pressure for that first win, with Muñoz getting past Moreira for second. The Brazilian’s podium is still his first, and the first for Brazil in the class!
Rueda was just forced to settle for a fourth place as he begins his full-time Grand Prix career, but he managed to stay a few hundredths ahead of Masia. Fellow veteran Sasaki will want more than sixth next time out, with Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team), Xavier Artigas (CFMoto PrüstelGP), Kelso and Öncü completing the top ten. Now it’s next stop: Argentina, so join us for more next weekend!
Moto3 Portimao Top Three (Full results here) 1 Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) – KTM
2 David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) – KTM – +0.160
3 Diogo Moreira(MT Helmets – MSI ) – KTM – +0.175
The mi-bike Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) has finally returned to Sydney Motorsport Park (SMSP) for Rd2 of the 2023 season. There was plenty of action as the two day round got under way under lights. Race Reports: ASBK Media Photos: Half Light Photographic
The mi-bike Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) has finally returned to Sydney Motorsport Park (SMSP) for Rd2 of the 2023 season, this time under lights!
Friday The afternoon session at an ASBK event on any given Friday usually sees the media crew considering a bar about 4pm, but for 2023 at SMSP ASBK were barely at the halfway point of the day’s on track action. Expectations were high and the field delivered in spades.
Alpinestars Superbike
Practice 3 The early sessions were a seesawing affair and while Josh Waters was certainly up there, the predicted dominance of the McMartin Panigale V4R had failed to materialise. The YRD Yamaha R1Ms of Cru Halliday and Mike Jones had turned up to do some serious business.
The early sessions were a seesawing affair and while Josh Waters was certainly up there, the predicted dominance of the McMartin Panigale V4R had failed to materialise.
And so it was into Practice 3. The early running was all blue bikes with Halliday and Jones at the top- in that order. Waters was able to will himself to the top with a 1:30.382, but Mike Jones bettered that fairly quickly, posting a 1:30.247 to take the top spot. Halliday lurked thereabouts in third, just .173 behind his teammate while Staring was up to fourth, and a determined-to-qualify-better Arthur Sissis was fifth.
At eighteen minutes to go, Waters reclaimed the top spot once again, but was not in the 1:29s per the earlier sessions in the day. The track was at 39c, and one thing we had noted at the test in February was that the Ducati did not fall away in terms of performance the hotter it got. Would that hold now we were here to race for sheep stations?
The early running of practice 3 was all blue bikes with Halliday and Jones at the top- in that order.
At 14 minutes to go, there was a ceasefire of sorts with half the field and most of the front runners in the pits. But their return to the track was quite a thing. Halliday dropped the fastest lap on two wheels ever at the SMSP complex, banging out a 1:29.003. A few minutes later he was on track to do it again only this time hammered the Yamaha into the shape of a 1:28.895 to send the loudest, clearest message to the assembled audience; Cru Halliday is a very, very serious contender.
The order was heating up and we weren’t even into qualifying yet! A hectic session was ahead of us.
Behind Halliday, Jones had dipped to a once-amazing-but-now-ho-hum 1:29.497 while Josh Waters (3rd) 1:29.573 suddenly made the Ducati seem vulnerable. Staring ended the session fourth, Herfoss was fifth with Glenn Allerton in sixth. The rest of the top ten consisted of Collins (7th), Sissis (8th), Stauffer (9th) and Pearson (10th).
Qualifying 1 The second most important non-racing session of the weekend kicked off at 8:30pm in both darkness and bright artificial light, with the top 12 set to go through to Qualifying 2. Josh Soderland didn’t even complete a lap on his Ducati before getting black-flagged for not having a red taillight.
The second most important non-racing session of the weekend kicked off at 8:30pm in both darkness and bright artificial light, with the top 12 set to go through to Qualifying 2.
There was a bit of settling and probing from the riders in the early part of the session which saw Jones lead from Herfoss and Stauffer. Halliday was late to the party, so too Allerton and Staring. Dunlop Motorsport Manager Robbie Bugden watched from the sidelines as his qualifying record of 1:29.842 looked under serious threat.
With 10 minutes remining, Halliday and Staring took to the circuit, while Josh Waters quietly went to P1 with a 1:29.071.
With 10 minutes remining, Halliday and Staring took to the circuit, while Josh Waters quietly went to P1 with a 1:29.071 and somewhere Robbie Bugden accepted the inevitability of the latest machinery and riders running down all the old records.
A place in the top 12 was the only goal to progress into the final qualifying session of the night. Most pitted, leaving Max Stauffer alone on the circuit chasing a top-five result.
Seven minutes left and given how exciting the final practice was, this was a somewhat less exciting session as tactics played out slowly as the time ran down. A place in the top 12 was the only goal to progress into the final qualifying session of the night. Most pitted, leaving Max Stauffer alone on the circuit chasing a top-five result. We were still in a Waters/ Jones/Halliday situation with no 1:28s posted while the clock just ran down.
For those on the bump spot, it was on. Matt Walters (11th) pushed hard on his Aprilia, Paris Hardwick was also pressing on for a spot in the final session and Josh Soderland set for an early night.
Qualifying 2 The most hotly anticipated qualifying session in some time hit the track right on 9pm with 22 degree air temp and 27 degree track temp. Speculation in the media centre was high as predictions about who would be where flew left and right.
Halliday was ALL business from the jump, banking a 1:29.750 for his first flyer. Teammate Jones was quickly into P2 with Allerton banking a P3 spot early as he’s fast and clever.
Halliday was ALL business from the jump, banking a 1:29.750 for his first flyer. Teammate Jones was quickly into P2 with Allerton banking a P3 spot early as he’s fast and clever. Halliday then went faster again on his second flyer with a 1:29.347, Mike Jones hit a 1:29.672. Troy Herfoss dipped into the 29s as it was time to bring your A-game.
Halliday pitted. Nine minutes left. Waters was down in fourth with Allerton and Staring chasing. None of these three were yet to get into the 1:29s; the exclusive domain of the top three. Jones and Herfoss both pitted. Staring was now the only rider in the top six still on track. Pearson was yet to bank a flyer.
Qualifying 2 really started to heat up, the usual top five faces were battling it out well and proper.
Five minutes to go and the fast guys re-emerged. Halliday was first out, Waters joined him while Herfoss and Jones decided to wait. Pearson moved up to 8th while Waters slipped to fifth Behind Staring. Halliday found traffic and could not get a fast lap done. Guest commentator Troy Corser was talking Josh Waters up- and the Mildura lad delivered with a 1:29.227 for provisional pole.
One minute left and Herfoss could not move any further forward. Jones was on a flyer and was threatening to drop a 1:28 something. While it was a 1:29.019 and not in the 1:28s, it was still the fastest time of the session. Jones had maybe 10 seconds in pole position before teammate Halliday delivered on all the promises he’d shown all day and hit a 1:28.970 to take pole.
All smiles for Halliday who trumped his teammate for a number 1 spot on the grid for Saturday.
The chequered flag came out and the last times were banked, but nothing changed, Halliday was the deserved pole sitter…
ASBK SMSP Front Row (Full Qualifying Results Here)
1 Cru Halliday – Yamaha YZF R1 M – 1:28.970 2 Mike Jones – Yamaha YZF R1 M – 1:29.019 3 Josh Waters – Ducati Panigale V4 R – 1:29.020
Michelin Supersport Qualifying One for Supersport saw Jake Farnsworth post the fastest first flyer that was immediately answered by Sean Condon who posted a 1:33.706 to let the field know that he was absolutely the man to beat this weekend.
Qualifying One for Supersport saw Jake Farnsworth post the fastest first flyer that was immediately answered by Sean Condon who posted a 1:33.706 to let the field know that he was absolutely the man to beat this weekend.
After three flying laps, Jack Passfield was the man for the task, dropping the fastest time for the session to 1:33.253 and announcing that whatever Condon had, he was ready to go... Condon would not be denied. He immediately replied with a faster time and right at the bell he further dropped the fastest time to a 1:32.509 and none would be able to better that time. Indeed Condon was some .704 faster than Passfield, leaving the field to ponder what the race will look like.
The battle between Condon and Passfield overshadowed the chasers with Lynch some 1.029 behind Condon in third with Jake Farnsworth in fourth. Hayden Nelson and Cameron Dunker jumped up the order with both Supersport 300 graduates rapidly improving to push Supersport regulars down the order. This saw Dallas Skeer (7th), Olly Simpson (8th), John Lytras (9th) and Tom Bramich in tenth.
fter three flying laps, Jack Passfield was the man for the task, dropping the fastest time for the session to 1:33.253 and announcing that whatever Condon had, he was ready to go.
Qualifying Two Sean Condon again took the Supersport category by the scruff of the neck and posted a time (1:32.509) some .744 faster than second-placed Jack Passfield and over a second faster than third-placed and championship leader Ty Lynch.
At eleven minutes to go, a red flag brought the night session to a halt after Jack Passfield went down and his bike ended up on circuit. Passfield was up and about, but the second-placed rider would take no further part in the session, leaving a yawning chasm betwixt top-placed Condon and nearest threat Ty Lynch.
Despite Passfield going down in Q2, Lynch couldn’t claw back at a blistering lap time and settled for third on the grid.
The return session brought little by way of excitement, Condon choosing to stay in the garage while Luca Durning provided a moment of interest, being the first rider black-flagged in ASBK history for not displaying a red taillight during a night session...and so it was. Condon took the extra point and the pole award for Supersport and sits squarely in the box seat for Saturday.
ASBK SMSP Supersport 600 Front Row (Full Results Here)
1 Sean Condon – Yamaha YZF R6 – 1:32.509 2 Jack Passfield – Yamaha YZF R6 – 1:33.253 3 Ty Lynch – Yamaha YZF R6 – 1:33.538
Saturday
There’s been a number of comparisons over the years between Phillip Island and Sydney Motorsport Park and it was SMPS’s chance to really shine. The weather at SMSP was just as unpredictable as The Island, so there’s that and congrats all round…
Riders were in good spirits for a Saturday race day. Most were praying for the rain to stay away…
Alpinestars Superbike
The warm-up was declared dry and so Josh Waters naturally went .9 of a second faster than most and Glenn Allerton brought his usual game-day excellence to the caper and was up to P2. At the end of the short session, it was Waters still up top with pole sitter Cru Halliday in second, Allerton third, Bryan Staring looking very good in fourth and Arthur Sissis up to fifth.
Race One
Herfoss, Allerton and Waters all got a ripping start, but it was Josh Waters on that ever-present McMartin Ducati Panigale V4R. Cru Halliday – by his self-admitted lowly standards – got a great start and was second to Josh Waters who ripped out a 1:34 standing lap, a time that would have once been a pretty good flying lap.
Herfoss, Allerton and Waters all got a ripping start, but it was Josh Waters on that ever-present McMartin Ducati Panigale V4R who got the jump…
Settling slightly through to lap three, it was Waters from Halliday and Allerton who had Troy Herfoss and Mike Jones for company. Arthur Sissis had been unable to really launch like the rabbit he usually is and was fifth with Bryan Staring sixth.
Herfoss laid down a big black rubber line that impressed many but cost him four spots. Waters was now out to a half-second lead from Halliday and then a three-second gap back to Allerton in third. Waters’ fastest lap was a 1:29.001 to obliterate the lap record- indeed the top three had already knocked off the lap record.
Settling slightly through to lap three, it was Waters from Halliday and Allerton who had Herfoss and Jones for company.
Bryan Staring was in the 1:29s and was stalking Allerton who had slipped down to fourth after Mike Jones did stealthy Mike Jones things to limit his losses once again.
With nine laps to go, Herfoss was now working his way back into contention, passing Sissis and on a mission to get to Bryan Staring who in turn was all over Glenn Allerton. They swapped positions a few times, allowing Herfoss to get closer still.
Halliday was the fastest man on the circuit, but Waters was still .75 up on the factory Yamaha R1M.
A few light drops of rain kept life interesting and uncomfortable, but lap times remained in the 1:29s. Allerton, Staring and Herfoss got into an old school gentleman’s Donnybrook. Halliday was the fastest man on the circuit, but Waters was still .75 up on the factory Yamaha R1M.
At six laps to go, Staring and Herfoss tried to get through on Allerton, but Allerton can late brake like few others and Staring and Herfoss simply swapped spots while leaving Allerton in fourth. Waters out front was looking composed, while Halliday was clearly not giving up the chase. The gap was now down to .5 of a second, but it felt like Waters was working his lap board pretty well. Herfoss was finally past Allerton to take fourth position, while Staring remained in sixth.
Herfoss was finally past Allerton to take fourth position, while Staring remained in sixth.
Waters’ lead was down to just .2 of a second as Halliday was having the “ride of his life” according to commentator Steve Martin. The cameras cut to Mike Jones’ bike as it massively let go an engine with a huge cloud of blue smoke. Shortly afterwards, the bike caught fire and brought out the red flag to stop the race.
Ten laps had been completed and race direction declared it a done deal. Josh Waters was the winner from pole-sitter Cru Halliday and the ever-present Troy Herfoss. These were strange days, but Waters was still king.
Race Two
From the second row of the grid, Herfoss blazed away with Arthur Sissis for company. The front-row starters were swamped. Allerton went around the outside of everyone to take the lead. Halliday had just described the back side of the circuit as “sketchy as” and the whole field was now sketching their way through this section.
From the second row of the grid, Herfoss blazed away with Sissis for company. The front-row starters were swamped. Herfoss got the elbows out to pass Waters to then seek out Halliday and ultimately race leader Allerton.
Allerton led from Halliday, Waters, Herfoss and Staring. Broc Pearson had done a great job and worked his way up to sixth with Artur Sissis shuffled back to seventh, despite being second early in lap one. Herfoss got the elbows out to pass Waters to then seek out Halliday and ultimately race leader Allerton.
ASBK SMSP.
ASBK SMSP.
ASBK SMSP.
ASBK SMSP.
Meanwhile, Mike Jones was down in a lowly eighth position on his second bike and would need to move forward to limit his losses. Waters was past Herfoss for third and he and Halliday were off after Allerton. Allerton put his hand up down the straight to indicate rain, but new-found waterman Halliday took the lead with his foot down like a motocross rider through turn one and we wondered if there would be a red flag. It was hard to tell if it was raining elsewhere, and the merciful red flag came out after just three laps as the rain really fell in earnest.
Race Two Restart
At the restart- in order they crossed the line a lap earlier- Halliday led the bunch despite not getting the best jump. Sissis did the crazy fast start thing as he is want to do and this time he made it stick and he was third behind Herfoss. Herfoss moved into the lead while Allerton went around Waters for third.
Elbows were out at the restart, Halliday, Herfoss, Sissis and Pearson all battling for that top spot.
Herfoss went wide at turn six and Halliday politely followed so he wouldn’t feel alone. The rain continued. Mike Jones was back in tenth and struggling once again. With five laps to run, Waters was out to a three-second lead with a gaggle of chasers: Allerton, Halliday, Herfoss, Sissis and Pearson.
Five laps to go, Waters had a three-second lead with a gaggle of chasers: Allerton, Halliday, Herfoss, Sissis and Pearson.
Four laps to go and Waters was absolutely trucking. He was now six seconds up the road and effectively gone. Herfoss moved back into second on a mission like we had rarely seen before. Allerton continued to chase, but Halliday passed him down the straight as we ticked down to three laps remaining. Herfoss ran wide again, but this time lost no places but gave even more time to the seemingly absent Josh Waters who was now eight seconds ahead.
Two laps left and Herfoss was second from Halliday , Sissis and Allerton. The nine-second lead Waters enjoyed continued to grow. Herfoss seemed secure in second place, with Halliday also comfortably ahead of Sissis.
At the finish, it was the dominant shape of the McMartin Ducati Panigale V4R with Josh Waters aboard taking an easy win by 6.3 seconds (he gave them a few seconds on the last lap) from Troy Herfoss.
At the finish, it was the dominant shape of the McMartin Ducati Panigale V4R with Josh Waters aboard taking an easy win by 6.3 seconds (he gave them a few seconds on the last lap) from Troy Herfoss, Cru Halliday, Arthur Sissis and Glenn Allerton in fifth.
Five wins from five starts. The only blemish for the entire season to date was the single point missed for pole at round two. While Josh Waters might have been under some pressure leading into the round where he was dominant at the test, the pressure was now all the other way; how will the field respond? But as Mike Jones had discovered at SMSP; even the seemingly invincible can have a day that goes DNF and 10th…
Race One
The weather was again all the talk, but the precipitation thankfully stayed away. Pole sitter Sean Condon led them away from pole, but both Hayden Nelson and Tom Bramich fired off the line and were at the front or close to it.
Pole sitter Sean Condon led them away from pole, but both Hayden Nelson and Tom Bramich fired off the line and were at the front or close to it. Bramich managed to hold on to a podium for some important points.
A few riders ran wide early and trying to work out who was where was a challenge. Olly Simpson completed his first racing lap of Sydney Motorsport Park in the lead, Jake Farnsworth put a solid pass on Sean Condon while Olly Simpson was nearly unseated. That gave Farnsworth the opening he needed to take the lead.
Championship leader Ty Lynch was back in seventh while season-long contenders Lytras and Bramich were fifth and sixth. At the front, Olly Simpson had a big moment and ran wide, allowing the likes of Bramich and Lytras to move forward.
A lot of the Australian Supersport 600 class were new to SMSP. They got to grips with it quite quickly though…
Condon was boxing on and was back up to second and then took the lead via a clever late braking move. Farnsworth nearly threw himself down the road after getting on the gas a little early. Condon was leading and had the fastest lap of the race to boot.
Olly Simpson was working himself back into the caper and was back up to fifth. Passfield had found himself involved in some early bar banging and was down in 14th. Condon ripped out a 1:32.969 to stretch his lead to .7 of a second with six laps to go.
Jake Farnsworth put in an awesome ride on his Yamaha YZF-R6 to finish second in race one!
The order settled for the top three with Condon, Jake Farnsworth and Tom Bramich all evenly spaced. The battle was on for fifth with 2022 Supersport 300 champion Cameron Dunker leading a solid group that included John Lytras, Ty Lynch and Hayden Nelson. At three laps to go, Condon was out to a second-plus gap and set sail for home for his first win of the year. Farnsworth was secure in second place with Bramich also solid in third.
While Farnsworth was able to chip away at Condon’s lead, it certainly felt like Condon was just doing what he needed to chalk up 25 points- which he did. The gap was still a second to second and Tom Bramich was a further 2.5 seconds in third. Olly Simpson was fourth with Cameron Dunker fifth.
Race Two
With a mixed grid of wets and dry tyres and weather conditions that could have been a separate article, it was always going to be a very different sort of race. Jake Farnsworth was pulled from the grid at the 11th hour due to a faulty rear light.
Race two was a different story for the Supersport class, the rain started to sprinkle down…
The wet tyre crew took off as expected, with flat track wonderkid (And baby faced assassin) Cameron Dunker out quickly, but Ty Lynch was first through turns one and two and took off as best he could on what must be wet Michelins.
Olly Simpson- another rider very handy when the going gets weird, was up to second with Dunker settling into third.
Olly Simpson- another rider very handy when the going gets weird, was up to second with Dunker settling into third. With about one third of the circuit dry and the rest varyinging degrees of damp, Simpson pushed past Dunker to take second and the top runners were off in an attempt to get away before the circuit got too dry.
Pole man Sean Condon was way down in 20th and would have been screaming for dry running, but it was still too early to say whether slicks were the wrong call. It was still very wet at turn two, and the lack of a breeze and high humidity stopped the drying process.
Pole man Sean Condon was way down in 20th and would have been screaming for dry running, but it was still too early to say whether slicks were the wrong call.
Up front, Olly Simpson was leading by half a second to Cameron Dunker and a few more seconds back to Ty Lynch. Luke Sanders went down on the exit of turn four, throwing away a chance at a podium finish. For the regulars, the contenders and past race winners it was a disaster: Lytras was in 10th, Bramich 16th, while Condon was the mover up to 12th.
For the regulars, the contenders and past race winners it was a disaster: Lytras was in 10th, Bramich 16th, while Condon was the mover up to 12th.
Passfield was rumored to have chosen the odd combo of a slick front and wet rear, but no matter what he was running, he was still in fourth, just two seconds behind third placed Ty Lynch. Cameron Dunker is a renowned flat tracker and was a smooth as butter in the mixed conditions. The gap between him and Simpson was down to half a second.
Passfield was past Lynch for third, but Lynch was determined to hang on to both Passfield tail and the championship lead.
Sean Condon went down at turn six to end his night and really create issues for the once favoured rider for champion in 2023. Jack Passfield was past Ty Lynch for third, but Lynch was determined to hang on to both Passfield tail and the championship lead.
Dunker continued his march to the lead, and the pressure he was excerting worked when Olly Simpson had a huge moment into turn one with two laps to go. Dunker was able to get .8 ahead almost immediately and set off for his first ever Supersport race win after a championship Supersport 300 year in 2022.
Scott Nicholson took third after Passfield was shuffled back to seventh! An awesome finish for the pink machine.
Ty Lynch was slowing significantly and was swamped by a group including Jonathan Nahlous, Dallas Skeer and Scott Nicholson. Lynch was in survival mood.
Some riders take years to get a race win and /or a round win in Supersport. It took Cameron Dunker two rounds of Supersport to achieve both goals.
Dunker still had a .8 second lead into the last lap and was able to hang on for the win in his second-ever event in the Supersport category. Olly Simpson rolled through for second, but it was Scott Nicholson who took third after Passfield was shuffled back to seventh. Some riders take years to get a race win and /or a round win in Supersport. It took Cameron Dunker two rounds of Supersport to achieve both goals.
Race Two
Brandon Demmery would start from pole in the second Supersport 300 race of the weekend and the second-to-last race before the night sessions began in earnest. The commentators teased the assembled crowd with the usual weather talk, but we started the race without precipitation, but with Brandon Demmery off the front into turn one. Marcus Hamod had a great start and was up to second and Henry Snell was also away well and into third.
Brandon Demmery and Marcus Hamod had a great start! Hammod was up to second and Henry Snell in third.
OJC graduate Ryan Larkin was fourth with Jai Russo nipping at his heels. Snell got through Hamod mid-lap while Demmery held a small .1 lead. The first trip down the straight saw the usual shuffling of the pack with Snell and Larkin being the biggest beneficiaries. Meanwhile, Race Direction noted the start was once again under investigation.
Henry Snell got through Hamod mid-lap while Demmery held a small .1 lead.
Cameron Swain had been stalking the field for some time and was now up to third with Ryan Larkin behind him. Swain was soon into the lead, and Demmery was happy to let them lead and observe for a time. Swain had his “I’d like to get away thanks” attitude in full effect and was out to a .5 lead over Snell and Demmery. At four laps to go, Demmery was back into the lead, dashing Swain’s hopes of a solo win. Russo was in third while Brodie Gawith and Henry Snell were fourth and fifth.
As the laps ran down, there was a clear lead group, but no clear leader. Russo, Swain and Demmery all spent time on the front while Casey Middleton and Cooper Rowntree stayed in contact.
As the laps ran down, there was a clear lead group, but no clear leader. Russo, Swain and Demmery all spent time on the front while Casey Middleton and Cooper Rowntree continued to stay in contact.
Race two was red-flagged due to an accident. The crazy racing would continue later in the arvo…
The lead group was seven deep and all were capable of taking the win. Brock Quinlan was down and the race was red flagged with six laps completed due to Quinlan’s bike being in a dangerous place. The lead riders looked at each other, understandably confused about who was the winner. Race direction declared Cameron Swain the winner from Brandon Demmery and Jai Russo after winding the clock back a lap per the usual red flag rules.
Race Three
The night race for the 300s was still damp and so the teams took their cues from the just-completed Supersport race where those on wet tyres capitalised. Cameron Swain jumped away with plenty of company but lead through lap one with Brandon Demmery and Brodie Gawith second and third.
The night race for the 300s was still damp and so the teams took their cues from the just-completed Supersport race where those on wet tyres capitalised.
A chase group formed with Luke Jhonston, Henry Snell, Marcos Hamod and Jai Russo all jostling for position. At the head of the group, Demmery and Swain were swapping off but not breaking away. At six laps to go, it was still Swain and Demmery but they had plenty of willing company, but no definitive challenger for the top spot. Indeed, the leading pair were now out to a small but important lead of about 3.5 seconds.
The race was now down to Demmery and Swain and they spent the last few laps working out what to do as they headed to the finish.
Not realising that their dicing was going to end with no better result than third, the chasing group continued to box each others ears. The race was now down to Demmery and Swain and they spent the last few laps working out what to do as they headed to the finish.
Swain decided to try to establish a break of his own as he did at Phillip island a few weeks ago. He bever achieved more than a few tenths of a second and perhaps was playing into Demmery’s hands. Then there were reports of some rain falling- just to ensure the drama had drama on drama.
The battle for fifth was dramatic as they tried for five wide over the line but it was Hamod from Knezovic, Middleton, Russo, Jhonston and Josh Newman 10th…
But Demmery continued to fox behind Swain, absolutely content to let him lead as we headed into the last lap. Their gar was out to 4 seconds, but Swain decided he’d had enough leading and slowed even more. You lead!… no sir YOU LEAD! But at the line, it was Demmery who picked Swain’s pocket for another win. Brodie Gawith was third, some 3.3 seconds behind with Henry Snell right behind him
The battle for fifth was dramatic as they tried for five wide over the line but it was Hamod from Knezovic, Middleton, Russo, Jhonston and Josh Newman 10th…
Race One
A brand new experience sat in front of our juniors. You could feel the tension in the air, see the focus in their eyes and hear the last-minute motivational talks, it was time to go racing. While the weather forecast had predicted rain, we were fortunate enough to see a crisp, clear Sydney night and a dry track, slicks it was. In typical OJC fashion the Yamaha YZF R15s launched off the line and quickly went four or five wide into the flat-out turn one. It was a drag race to the infamous turn two and an opening group of riders emerged. Confidence under the lights was key in race one and it was clear who had it, the top 10 quickly established themselves and broke away from the second half of the field.
OJC is designed to educate and teach our youngest road racers the fundamentals while building their confidence in racing situations, Sydney Motorsport Park was providing an excellent opportunity to do this for round one. The long run out of the final corner to the finish line meant that riders had a tough decision to make heading into the final lap – Where did they want to be? Put yourself in first position and risk being out-dragged to the line, or put yourself second or third and risk being shuffled back and missing and opportunity to be in that final drag race for the win.
The battle inside the top ten was heating up but a scuffle in the second half of the ten as they battled to position themselves for the final lap meant that the pack was now split. John Pelgrave, Riley Nauta, Rossi McAdam and Ethan Johnson were now off the back and unlikely to feature for the win. Race one finished as close as it started, with the top five separated by just 0.387 of a second as Haydn Fordyce, Valentino Knezovic, Hunter Corney and Ella McCausland went four-wide to the finish line for race one honours.
Race Two
Slicks were the go and the go was slick for Bodie Paige who jumped away to a small lead, but with an enthusiastic group chasing. Immediately, race direction noted the start was under investigation after a few nervous clutch hands were faster than the start lights. By half lap, Bodie had a half second advantage with Archie Schmidt and Ella McCausland fighting for the right be first to chase Bodie.
Immediately, race direction noted the start was under investigation after a few nervous clutch hands were faster than the start lights.
Of course, this simply allowed Bodie Paige to grind out a slightly bigger gap. But McCausland was having none of it and around the time she took the lead of the race down the main straight she was also announced has having jumped the start.
At two laps to go, Paige led while McCausland was clearly measuring her run for the finale.
Whether McCausland knew this via the race direction boards at the track was impossible to say, but she continued to race hard and remained close to or at the front for much of the middle part of the race. The leading group was now McCausland, Bodie Paige, Riley Nauta, Valentino Knezovic and Hunter Corney rounding out the top five.
The racing is always close in the OJC! The future world champions all on equal machinery.
At two laps to go, Paige led while McCausland was clearly measuring her run for the finale. The riders diced as they do through the last lap, all competing to get into the ideal spot for the run to the line. McCausland led, but seemingly didn’t want to.
The race direction penalty to McCausland for a jump start was applied and the win went to Haydn Fordyce from Valentino Knezovic and Bodie Paige in third.
The run to the line: McCausland lead them down the straight and inexplicably none we able to make a run past her and she hit the line as the first female to cross the line first in the bLu cRU Oceania Junior Cup….then the race direction penalty for a jump start was applied and the win went to Haydn Fordyce from Valentino Knezovic and Bodie Paige in third.
Race Three
The final Oceania Junior Cup race of the weekend was an exciting affair with plenty of action from start to finish. Ella Mcausland made a great start, quickly moving up to third after losing out in race two. Meanwhile, Bodie Paige took the lead by half a second and looked comfortable in the opening stages of the race, with the track not entirely wet and the back half dry.
Paige continued to lead the pack, with Nauta and Mcausland battling for second place. However, their fighting allowed Paige to extend his lead to one second on lap three. McAdam went down at turn two, but rejoined the race unharmed.
Racing was underway in the dark for the final OJC race of the weekend, the drying track made for interesting conditions.
The lead group eventually split, with Paige signalling to the riders behind him that working together would be the only way to catch up. The group of four began to close in on Paige, but Oscar Lewis went down at turn two and Bodie Paige’s visor apparently started fogging up, causing him to wipe it repeatedly for visibility.
The lead group was now five strong, with a gap of 6 seconds to sixth. However, a mistake from Nixon Frost dropped him several positions from the front of the chasing pack. Mcausland made a great move from fifth to second at turn three, while Nauta was unseated at the exit of turn two, but able to continue.
Archie Schmidt made an impressive move from fourth to second at the turn nine hairpin on the last lap, while Nauta and Schmidt claimed the final podium spots.
The first sector was still wet, but Corporate Hill and T9 were drying quickly. Early podium sitter Lazos went down at T2, which claimed its third victim of the race. Paige took advantage of all the battling behind him to open up a multi second gap, eventually claiming a dominant victory.
Archie Schmidt made an impressive move from fourth to second at the turn nine hairpin on the last lap, while Nauta and Schmidt claimed the final podium spots. All in all, it was a thrilling race full of ups and downs, and Paige proved to be the strongest rider of the day. The overall round win went to rookie OJC entrant, New Zealand lad Haydn Fordyce who took up motorcycle racing less than a year ago…!
Motorcycling Australia, ProMX Management Team and the wider motorcycling family are united in grief at the passing of ProMX MX2 rider #59 Brayden Erbacher, who passed away as a result of injuries sustained in race one of Round One of the 2023 ProMX Championship.
Motorcycling Australia, ProMX Management Team and the wider motorcycling family are united in grief at the passing of ProMX MX2 rider #59 Brayden Erbacher.
Season 2023 was to be Brayden’s second year in the MX2 Championship, the pinnacle series for 250cc Four Stroke machines. Although a late starter in racing compared to some, Brayden had come to Wonthaggi from Queensland with his family and his Roo Systems Diesel Tuning Race Team to take on Australia’s best. His first ProMX campaign in 2022 had seen illness prevent him from competing for the full season, but a vigorous and productive off-season on the push bike, in the pool and in the gym had seen him return to full fitness and he noted “head is down, bum is up, plenty of work to be done…!” in anticipation of a full ProMX season in 2023.
Away from racing, Brayden was a likeable, handsome, and creative young man. He enjoyed his fishing, camping, and playing the guitar. In his own words, he liked “to keep things fun but I’m also a determined person and like a challenge.” In line with his cheeky nature, he said his career highlight to date was “beating Dan Reardon in a 125 race” and listed his hero growing up as US champion motocross racer Ryan Villopoto. He also noted he was responsible for “making the #59 more famous than Dad ever did…”
While the ProMX Championship is the peak of Australian competition motocross, and the racing is close and often fiercely competitive, they are still a very close-knit community where friendships and camaraderie cross all bike brands, events and sponsors. MA say Brayden’s passing has affected everyone deeply.
Away from racing, Brayden was a likeable, handsome, and creative young man. He enjoyed his fishing, camping, and playing the guitar. In his own words, he liked “to keep things fun but I’m also a determined person and like a challenge.”
“Today we share the grief and sadness of Brayden’s family and reflect on a good life that was well-lived but tragically cut short. Our thoughts remain with his family and friends, but also with our own wider motocross and motorcycling family, our officials, volunteers, staff, partners, sponsors and of course the fans of this brilliant but occasionally cruel sport.”
“Motorcycling Australia will continue to co-operate with the relevant authorities as the investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident continue. We have offered unconditional cooperation and assistance in these matters.”
Motorcycling Australia is assisting the Erbacher Family and Brayden’s team at this difficult time. The Erbacher Family wish to make to the following statement:
“The Erbacher Family would like to thank everyone at Racesafe including the paramedics, first responders and the riders and families that supported us. We are beyond proud to call Brayden our son and will be forever grateful for having him in our lives. He is our hero and will be greatly missed.”
“Never let weakness convince you that you lack strength” – Ryan Villopoto’s creed.
While Josh Waters and McMartin Racing dominated the opening round of the season, there were plenty of intriguing storylines to come out of Phillip Island as ASBK looks ahead to a history-making round two at Sydney Motorsport Park. News: ASBK Media…
The playing field is reset ahead this round, very few prior laps have been completed by our championship protagonists outside of the Official ASBK pre-season test and Summer running. With a compressed two-day round format, riders and teams will need to dial in their motorcycle as quickly as possible in the short and sharp practice sessions ahead of qualifying Friday night.
For the championship, it is the first time since 2019 an official race event will be held at the 3.93KM circuit where it hosted the then-season finale in a thrilling three-way fight between Wayne Maxwell, Troy Herfoss and eventual champion, Mike Jones, who was then aboard a DesmoSport Ducati. In what is regarded as one of the best all-round circuits in Australia, the circuit is a tale of two halves, with the fast and open first and third sectors catering to machines like the Ducati, whereas the much tighter and intricate sector two favours the more nimble Yamaha and Honda, setting up an exciting prospect for the racing ahead.
Alpinestars Superbike
Hit the reset button. The unbeatable combination of Josh Waters aboard a McMartin Racing Ducati Panigale V4R at Phillip Island are behind us. Sydney Motorsport Park represents a much bigger challenge for the current championship leaders with a significant portion of the circuit favouring more agile bikes. However, the big, booming Ducati will be hard to beat down the Brabham Straight and into turn one, keep an eye out for Waters to be lining them up in the first sector and then defending through the rest of the lap.
If the Official ASBK Test is anything to go by, it will be close up front. Cru Halliday, Mike Jones, Troy Herfoss and newly-confirmed full-season entrant Glenn Allerton are the expected protagonists to the championship leader. The Yamaha, Honda and BMW all share a fundamental difference with the Ducati and it will be most visible in the tight and twisty middle sector. Rewinding back to 2019, Herfoss and the previous model Fireblade were able to pull off moves that a then Mike Jones piloted Ducati could not respond to – look for our Superbike challengers to be applying pressure in this key sector of the lap where agility, tyre management and front-end confidence matter most.
Announced just last week, Glenn Allerton has secured and confirmed his 2023 future in a new joint venture with Trevor Groeneveld as GT Racing begins operations this weekend. “I’m extremely excited and also grateful for the new opportunity with GT Racing Team, with the help of Trevor (Groeneveld) and his team we have been able to put together a lot of pieces from my old team and some exciting new prospects going forward,” said Allerton.
Newly-minted team owner, Trevor Groeneveld is no stranger to the superbike scene, “I’ve been around superbikes now for a few years doing track days and some club racing. It’s a sport I really enjoy. I’ve also been helping Glenn now for the past few years as a personal sponsor and as part of the former team. When the opportunity came along to become a team owner, it was hard to say no. Looking ahead, the one part of the puzzle I have no concerns with is Glenn’s ability to fight for the top spot every time he pulls the helmet on. The challenge for this team is to ensure we give him the right support and equipment to do the job and to that, we are all 100 percent committed.”
We are however without two stalwarts of the class, as both Mark Chiodo and Michael Edwards will miss this round of the championship due to injury. For Chiodo, he must be questioning his luck as during a test at The Bend Motorsport Park, he suffered a mechanical failure with his Fireblade at over 260km/h into the sharp turn one. Breaking his collarbone in the crash, there is no set return date for the Honda rider as he looks to take his recovery slowly and methodically to ensure he is at full fitness when he does next swing his leg over the bike.
For Michael Edwards, it’s a case of an injured knee. The veteran superbike rider kept his cards close to his chest via an announcement on social media, with his intent to return to the paddock for his home round at Queensland Raceway next time out. We wish both Mark and Michael the best in their recoveries and look forward to welcoming them back to the championship in full health when the time comes.
Michelin Supersport
Championship leader Ty Lynch was exceptional at Phillip Island. The determined Lynch pulled off gritty ride after gritty ride in classic Phillip Island conditions when his rivals all parted company with their machines. Luck may have played a role in round one for our Supersport Championship Leader, but he and his team left The Island knowing they need to unlock more speed from their YZF-R6 if they are to keep up this championship challenge.
Reigning champion John Lytras had an opening weekend to forget, aside from one podium in treacherous conditions, the gold #1 was tough to spot, consistently mid-pack. Lytras and Lynch are in a similar position heading into round two, as both of them acknowledge they openly struggled for pace and confidence at Phillip Island. However, it’s a long year, with many unknowns in front of them. This weekend is a chance to take the championship by storm and put your rivals on notice. Lytras knows how to win, and knows how to put together a championship-winning season, expect to see him up the pointy end this weekend as they rebound.
Supersport 300
The points setup for ASBK favours consistency. Despite the SS300 crew having three races a weekend, a DNF can leave you in the dust both literally and figuratively. Even a poor points result can be damaging, so even if you can’t win, scrape all the points you can. Looking at round one, it’s hard to go past Brandon Demmery. But on closer inspection, he missed the winning break in race three (9th) and had to settle for 12 points, when he was previously able to take 20 and 25 respectively.
While round winner Jai Russo was able to snaffle a race win, he was also “only” able to finish third and sixth in the other two races. Pole-sitter Cameron Swain was off the pace in races one (8th) and two (9th), but also sailed into the distance for a rare solo race win in race three.
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After a disappointing first round, Serco Yamaha’s Rhys Budd, has rebounded strongly at round two of the ProMX Championship with a fourth place finish in the MX2 division for the day, highlighted with a podium in race two.
Budd and teammate, Jesse Dobson, both faced some challenges over the weekend as the Appin circuit again provided a confronting stage for the riders with its long and twisted ruts and huge jumps.
Budd was confident coming into the Appin round as he is familiar with the circuit having spent plenty of time here as a junior but with the hot weather expected, the track conditions were considerably different to what he would have experienced in the past with plenty of water pumped into the track to keep the dust under control.
After a disappointing first round, Serco Yamaha’s Rhys Budd, has rebounded strongly at round two of the ProMX Championship with a fourth place finish in the MX2 division for the day.
It was those muddy conditions that caught Budd out in moto one when he was barrelled into turn one only to be severally roosted by flying dirt debris as the 40 rider field leaned back in the throttle. Budd’s vision was reduced to nothing and before lap was even completed, he was into the mechanics area for a goggle swap which left him towards the back and a lot of work to be done.
With some new goggles and clear vision began his climb back through the field and made his way from 32nd place back to 10th by race end in a commendable effort. Despite the first race charged, he wasn’t satisfied with the result and vowed to do better in race two.
“We had to work hard for it today,” Budd said. “The track was pretty wet and sloppy, and I didn’t get a great lap in qualifying in and not the best choice of gate.”
He ripped a great start and parked his YZ250F in the lead on the opening laps. Slotted in behind him were the heavy weights of the field but Budd dug in and was up for the fight. Wilson Todd was able to sneak by, then Nathan Crawford, as Budd settled into third place. Crawford go the better of Todd, then Budd stayed in touch with Todd all the way until the finish but unable to slip past. His 10-3 results gave him fourth for the day and moved him up to sixth in the MX2 championship.
“We had to work hard for it today,” Budd begins. “The track was pretty wet and sloppy, and I didn’t get a great lap in qualifying in and not the best choice of gate. Then I was just smashed with mud in the first few turns and had to get some goggles as it was too dangerous to race with out them. I did what I could but the leaders were long gone. For race two, we just put a lot of focus on the start, and I was able to get the holeshot and lead for a couple of laps. Nathan and Wilson got past me and I had Alex Larwood right behind me so the pressure was on the whole race but I managed to stay in third and finish the day strongly.”
It was a tough day for Jesse Dobson who just couldn’t find any flow or consistency on the Appin circuit.
“Thanks to the Serco Yamaha team and our sponsors for the support and things are starting to come around. I’m looking forward to the next round and keep fighting my way back into this championship,” Budd said.
It was a tough day for Jesse Dobson who just couldn’t find any flow or consistency on the Appin circuit. His qualifying was a bit off and could only manage 6-11 results in the two motos to land in seventh for the day and sit fourth in the championship.
“Not a real lot to say unfortunately. I just had an off day and couldn’t get comfortable on the track.” said Dobson.
“Not a real lot to say unfortunately. I just had an off day and couldn’t get comfortable on the track. I had speed at times but it wasn’t fast enough for long enough to get the result myself and the team deserve. I want to watch the video of the race to see what the other riders were doing and why I was struggling so much. You can still learn a lot from a tough day like this and I want to ensure I bounce back at the next round and give the Serco Yamaha team a result they can be proud of,” Dobson offers.
The Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) returns to Sydney Motorsport Park (SMSP) this weekend to race under lights on Saturday night for the first time in the championship’s history. Press Release: DesmoSport Ducati.
SMSP is a track with incredible memories for the DesmoSport crew with Mike Jones securing the ASBK championship aboard the DesmoSport Ducati Panigale 1299 Final Edition at the circuit in 2019, now Broc takes the reigns in 2023.
A track with incredible memories for the DesmoSport crew with Mike Jones securing the ASBK championship aboard the DesmoSport Ducati Panigale 1299 Final Edition at the circuit in 2019, the entire team is looking forward to Broc Pearson getting back on board the Panigale V4 R in a unique two-day format for round two of the championship.
Team co-owner, Ben Henry:“Phillip Island saw some uncharacteristic mistakes from our whole team and that led the way to Broc feeling uneasy on the bike. We were lucky enough to have some time with Pirelli at Phillip Island on the Monday following and it returned a lot of Broc’s confidence. We’ve taken a step back, really tightened up our processes, while also looking to find ways to keep increasing how comfortable Broc feels on the bike. 2023 is about allowing Broc to learn and grow as a rider while still making steps forward, so he can reach his full potential on a superbike and I think we’re set to see a good weekend unfold.”
“We tested well here, and I was able to race a few of the St George night races over summer to try and learn the track since I haven’t ever ridden a superbike around here before, and I’m feeling pretty good.” said Broc.
Team co-owner, Troy Bayliss: “I’m really looking forward to seeing these guys race under lights. We’ve done some club racing in the Summer Series here over the last two years, and we ran the Ducati Track Day powered by DesmoSport Ducati under lights here in Sydney too, so while Broc hasn’t done a huge amount of laps at the track, we’ve been here, we’ve done pretty well here in the past and we have the ingredients to start working our way forward.”
Broc Pearson:“We tested well here, and I was able to race a few of the St George night races over summer to try and learn the track since I haven’t ever ridden a superbike around here before, and I’m feeling pretty good. I like the track, and it’s exciting to ride and watch under lights so I think it’s going to be a great weekend. Everyone in the team has put a lot of effort in after round one to make sure we finish the weekend where we should be, and I can’t wait to get on track later today.”
