METZELER Wins Six Days Enduro With English National Team

By

-

September 8, 2022

The Six Day 2022 included a race course divided into three zones for a total of five Special Tests for the first five days of competition followed by the usual cross manche at the end of the event.

The most historic and most followed race in the enduro world took place in France and the English national team – with METZELER riders Steve Holcombe, Nathan Watson and Jed Etchells – was the winner, followed by Italy in second place and Spain in third.

The 2022 edition of the FIM Internation Six Days Enduro was held in Le Puy-en-Velay, a small characteristic village in the Haute-Loire department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpe. — The 2022 edition of the FIM Internation Six Days Enduro was held in Le Puy-en-Velay, a small characteristic village in the Haute-Loire department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

The 2022 edition of the FIM Six Days Enduro was held in Le Puy-en-Velay, a small characteristic village in the Haute-Loire department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes which, for many years, has hosted all the GPs of the FIM EnduroGP World Championship.

The Six Day 2022 included a race course divided into three zones for a total of five Special Tests for the first five days of competition followed by the usual cross manche at the end of the event. On Day 1 and 2 the Special Tests were located in the villages of Haute-Loire, Haut-Allier and Gévaudan while the race course of Day 3 and 4, always included the departure from the village of Haute-Loire and then move to Lozère and finish in Langogne. On the fifth day of competition it started from the village of Haute-Loire with a passage to Le Puy-en-Velay and the conclusion of the day of competition in Emblavez. For the highly anticipated final on Saturday 3 September, the organizers have chosen the cross track a few steps from the paddock in Le Puy-en-Velay.

In France, the METZELER riders raced for all six days of competition on hard and dusty terrain made even more slippery and demanding by the rains that fell during some days. In addition to the classic French special tests on a counter slope, the riders faced some wooded parts with some roots and numerous natural obstacles.

The French Six Days began with a protagonist, Josep Garcia (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) who, with his speed, brought the Spanish national team to the provisional first place after Day One. Starting with the handbrake on, the English national team finished Day One in third place but from the following day the English team, led by Nathan Wattson and Steve Holcombe, took the lead until the end of the sixth day Motocross manche. The English team including METZELER riders Nathan Watson (Honda Racing RedMoto World Enduro Team), Steve Holcombe (Team Beta Factory Enduro) and Jed Etchells (Fantic D’Arpa Racing) won the 96th edition of the Six Days.

Throughout the duration of the Six Days, the fight for second place in the World Trophy saw the Italian and Spanish national teams fight each other to the last breath. Spain started strong right away but Italy ran a constant race. The Italian team led by Andrea Verona (Gas Gas Factory Racing), Thomas Oldrati (Honda Racing RedMoto World Enduro Team) and two other METZELER supported riders Alex Salvini and Samuele Bernardini arrived at the motocross manche of the sixth day in third position with Spain in second place. At the end of the sixth and final day, the Italian national team managed to overtake the Spanish national team by snatching the second final place in the World Trophy.

Australian rider Daniel Milner (Fantic D’Arpa Racing) failed to shine as in the FIM EnduroGP World Championship, while Mikael Persson (Husqvarna Factory Racing) after five days as protagonist threw away the third overall individual place in the last motocross race. Roni Kytonen (Honda Racing RedMoto World Enduro Team) took her Finnish national team to second place in the Junior Trophy.

Results – Individual Overall

1 GARCIA Josep
2 VERONA Andrea
3 WATSON Nathan

Results – World Trophy

1 UK
2 Italy
3 Spain

Results – Junior Trophy

1 Italy
2 Finland
3 Australia

Gaerne: All New GRT & GRS Race Boots

By

PB

-

September 8, 2022

0

GRT is a new racing boot from Gaerne suitable for sporty riding! The upper is made in micro-fiber, while the inside is fully lined with a breathable Airmesh.

Gaerne say they are proud to release two new motorcycle boots for Australian riders. The Italian boot specialist has two new styles suited to riders who enjoy both track and street riding. CE approved levels of safety and Gaerne levels of performance, fit and comfort on track or on road. Available now around Australia.

The Italian boot specialist has two new styles suited to riders who enjoy both track and street riding.

Gaerne GRS
A racing boot suitable for track and street. The GRS has the exclusive Gaerne floating system to surround the ankle while at the same time flowing with your natural movement. The heel cup is designed for maximum strength, while a wide shin plate in PU and gear lever protection add further safety.

Inside is a breathable lining and shinbone area with special padding for extra comfort. There is also a side-entry system with elastic zip panel and velcro for customized fit, non-slip and oil resistant sole and changeable toe sliders.

Gaerne GRT
GRT is a new racing boot from Gaerne suitable for sporty riding! The upper is made in micro-fiber, while the inside is fully lined with a breathable Airmesh. The heel cup, the front plate and the gear support complement the technical features of this new boot.

Inner side elastic zip pannel and wide velcro allows a perfect closure of the boot. Exclusive dual compound, anti-slip rubber sole, replaceable sliders, Anatomic and removable insole complete the awesome features of this boot!

Keen on either pair? Head into your local motorcycle store now or contact Cassons Australia directly regarding stock availability. Check out the 2022 Gaerne Australia catalogue here…

ISDE: Team Australia Wrap-up From 2022 Six Days Enduro

By

PB

-

September 8, 2022

0

With Day Six – and therefore ISDE 2022- now all wrapped up, MXstore Team Australia have secured third place in both the Junior World Trophy and Women’s World Trophy. With Senior World Trophy Team members Todd Waters and Josh Green out, the World Trophy result saw Team Australia in 21st overall.

With Senior World Trophy Team members Todd Waters and Josh Green out of the event, the World Trophy result saw Team Australia in 21st overall.

Daniel Milner was a consistent presence near the front, ending the event 12th overall, 11th in World Trophy and third in the E1 class overall.

In the Junior World Trophy, the top performer was Tasmanian wunderkind Kyron Bacon who was 26th overall, 5th in his Junior World Trophy class and 3rd in E1 (Junior) and finally, 13th in E1 overall.

Bacon led the charge finishing an incredible third in the JSE1 class, fifth in JWT and 26th outright for the event on board his 250cc machine. — In the Junior World Trophy, the top performer was Tasmanian wunderkind Kyron Bacon who was 26th overall, 5th in his Junior World Trophy class and 3rd in E1 (Junior) and finally, 13th in E1 overall.

In the Women’s World Trophy division, Jess Gardiner was a strong presence from day one. She was 116th overall, 5th in Women’s World Trophy and 56th overall in E1.

Daily Summaries
Day One: ”Day One of the 2022 International Six Day Enduro has seen the Australian tilt have mixed bag as they settled into the new environment of the French countryside, with the understanding that the Six Day Enduro cannot be won on the first day, but a crash can end it very early.”

For Gardiner, she found this one a challenge as conditions were tough and the riding long, but the ever determined rider she is enabled her to charge all the way to the finish. — In the Women’s World Trophy division, Jess Gardiner was a strong presence from day one. She was 116th overall, 5th in Women’s World Trophy and 56th overall in E1.

Day Two: “As one of the most challenging events in world motorsport, the nature of the ISDE is that it rewards consistency and determination. The Aussies had a slow first day, but thanks to their persistence, the slow climb up the rankings has begun…”

Day Three: “MXstore Team Australia hit the half-way mark after completing Day Three of the FIM ISDE in France. Our JWT riders move up to third in the overall while WT and WWT hold firm in seventh and fourth. Day Three brought us a new location as Loop 2 made its debut, bring a whole new set of tests.”

Day Four: “A really tough day four- the day that can often bring teams undone and it was MXstore Team Australia on the wrong side of the motorcycling gods with Todd Waters crashing out of the event.”

Day Five: “Day Five was once again a day of both positives and negatives, as the challenge of the new Loop, unfortunately, contributed to Josh Green crashing out during stage two. While it’s been an extremely tough competition for our MXstore Team Australia Men’s World Trophy contingent, our Junior and Women’s teams have both solidified their contention for podiums with consistent performances helping to extend the gap from fourth in both categories.”

Australia’s Junior and Women’s ISDE teams both stood on the podium at the end of the Six Day International off road event with a third-place finish respectively. — Day Six wrapped up the 2022 Six Day Enduro. MXstore Team Australia secured third place in both the Junior World Trophy and Women’s World Trophy.

Day Six: “Day Six wrapped up the 2022 Six Day Enduro. MXstore Team Australia have secured third place in both the Junior World Trophy and Women’s World Trophy.”

Check out the full results from the event here…

Cannon Encouraged By MXGP Experience

By

PB

-

September 8, 2022

0

Cannon qualified in ninth place and after quickly learning the Afyon track and getting accustomed to the JK Racing Yamaha YZ250F.

Yamaha’s Charli Cannon has returned to Australia buoyed and inspired by her MXGP experience with plenty of positives and motivation to take away from an exciting weekend for the recently crowned Australian motocross champion.

The Sunshine Coast based teenager contested the final round of the Women’s Motocross Championship in Turkey, as a guest rider for the JK Racing Yamaha team. It was her first appearance on the world stage and despite clearly being nervous, she was able to showcase her obvious talents and prove she belongs at an international level.

Cannon qualified in ninth place and after quickly learning the Afyon track and getting accustomed to the JK Racing Yamaha YZ250F. With each passing lap, she felt more comfortable on the track and a little more settled, as the big stage can be daunting.

Race one saw her off to a top 10 start and battling to move forward. As the race progressed, she was able to make some passes and moved into seventh place and in a tight knit bunch from positions four through nine. In the waning stages, she lost a position and after nearly 30 minutes of racing, crossed the finish line in eighth place. She wasn’t happy with her performance and was determined to make improvements in race two.

Cannon stormed out of the blocks in race two and quickly established herself in the top five. She then moved into fourth and after another lap, charged her way into third, well within striking distance of the race leaders as she had just recorded the fastest lap of the race at that stage.

Cannon crashed out in race two and unable to continue with what was later diagnosed as a broken collar bone. It was a disappointing ending to a very promising start in WMXGP.

As she zeroed in on second place, she landed in a wet section of track and the front wheel slid from under her and she fell on the rock hard Afyon dirt. She remounted as quickly as possible but was outside the top 10 and well behind the pack.

She put in a charge and got to the back of the main group before going down again, this time falling awkwardly on her shoulder. She was in pain and unable to continue with what was later diagnosed as a broken collar bone. It was a disappointing ending to a very promising start in WMXGP.

“Right after the race, I was just disappointed and upset as I felt I let some many people down by not being able to finish the race and not getting a good result,” Cannon said. “But now that I have had some time to think about it, there is a lot of positives I can take from it and it has motivated me to make sure I get back and do more of these events as I believe I can be competitive with the best women racers in the world.

“I started the weekend out pretty slowly as I was so nervous and a bit overwhelmed by everything happening around me. I think I was four seconds a lap off the pace and that was a bit disheartening, but I knew I didn’t ride well and I could make improvements. By the time race two had finished, my best lap was under a second away from the fastest of the race and I felt like I could have run that pace for the whole moto. Hopefully, I can get the opportunity to do more GP’s as now that I know how things run and have a relationship with a lot of the people, it will make things easier for me.”

“I see this as just the beginning and I have come home motivated to get to work once my collarbone heals." she mentioned. — “I see this as just the beginning and I have come home motivated to get to work once my collarbone heals.” she mentioned.

“I have so many people I want to thank for making this happen for me. The Yamalube Yamaha Team have been amazing this year and working with both Mike and Nash is unreal. Having Nash on the trip with us made things so much easier. The JK Racing team were so good to us and nothing was ever a problem as well as Yamaha in Australia and Europe with Nikki and Paul Malin taking care of us.”

“Also a shout out to all the people that supported us from the riders who donated their jerseys and the people that purchased them to help us raise money for the trip as well as Motorcycling Australia for their support of Women’s racing. I see this as just the beginning and I have come home motivated to get to work once my collarbone heals. I loved the atmosphere of the GPs, and everyone was so helpful. I can’t wait to get back to do more in 2023,” Cannon ends.

HRC Take Home The 2022 FIM EWC Suzuka 8 Hours

By

PB

-

August 25, 2022

0

Whilst there might have been heartbreak behind, it was a dominant win for #33 Team HRC in 43rd Suzuka 8 Hours with the line-up of Tetsuta Nagashima, Takumi Takahashi and Iker Lecuona taking the chequered flag by over a lap in the third round of the FIM Endurance World Championship.

Whilst there might have been drama and heartbreak behind, it was a dominant win for #33 Team HRC in 43rd Coca-Cola Suzuka 8 Hours.

There has been late drama and a safety car in the final hour of the race after the leading season-contender #7 YART – Yamaha Official Team YZF-M1 got caught up with the #74 Akeno Speed – Yamaha Superstock bike at T13 such that rider Marvin Fritz had to dig the Yamaha out of the air barriers to get it back to the pits.

The late issue for the #7 gifted the championship leading #1 Yoshimura SERT Motul with the two-rider line-up of Gregg Black and Kazuki Watanabe taking maximum series points and third on the overall podium. Ahead of the Yoshimura SERT bike on the all-Bridgestone shod podium was the #10 Kawasaki Racing Team Suzuka 8H ZX-10R of Jonathan Rea, Alex Lowes and Leon Haslam, with a T12 slow lowside for Rea in the fourth hour seeming the only real cause for concern over the 8 hours.

WorldSBK rider Iker Lecuona helped score the win for HRC, while Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes were out flying the Kawasaki green flag too... — WorldSBK rider Iker Lecuona helped score the win for HRC, while Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes were out flying the Kawasaki green flag too…

After another late visit to the pits for a Stop and Go penalty for the #7 with Karel Hanika on board, the YART bike still came second of the full season runners – and seventh overall – with Niccolò Canepa the third of the rider line-up.

Next across the line of the full season contenders, the #5 FCC TSR CBR1000RR-R Fireblade with Josh Hook and Mike Di Meglio in action had fought back up the order after its earlier brake master cylinder change to finish in tenth overall. The #88 Honda Asia-Dream Racing with SHOWA was the next of the permanent entries, with Zaqhwan Zaidi, Garry Slim and Helmi Azuman bringing their CBR1000RR-R home eleventh overall.

Yet another iconic year for the Suzuka 8 hour. Plenty of heartbreak and drama out on the Japanese track.

In fifteenth overall, the full-time #11 Webike SRC Kawasaki France entry was further down the order than they would have liked, with an early visit to the pits after a drop at Degner 2 from Randy de Puniet and a later lack of fuel the primary culprits delaying their charge.

Finally, of the permanent entries, for the #37 BMW MOTORRAD WORLD ENDURANCE TEAM it was heartbreak at halftime as the M1000RR ridden by Markus Reiterberger, Illya Mykhalchyk and Jérémy Guarnoni was pushed back to the pits by Mykhalchyk for terminal diagnosis by the squad with the bike unable to retain its engine coolant.

GASGAS Set For MotoGP In 2023

By

PB

-

August 25, 2022

0

In a special Press Conference at the CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, GASGAS announced their presence on the MotoGP grid from 2023. The exciting news comes as Suzuki announced their early retirement from the sport a few months ago… Press Release: MotoGP.

From 2023, Spain’s iconic motorcycle brand will join MotoGP for the first time in a deal that sees the Tech3 Factory Team turn GASGAS red and officially become the GASGAS Factory Racing Team. Pol Espargaro will lead the rider line-up, with his teammate set to be announced soon.

GASGAS found fame in Trials and Enduro before finding even more success in motocross, supercross and rally recently, with a comprehensive foundation of offroad production bikes. Now, after tasting the spoils and bringing home trophies in both Moto2 and Moto3 thanks to the GASGAS Aspar Team, the brand will join the pinnacle of motorcycle racing: MotoGP.

Pit Beirer, GASGAS Motorsports Director, and Hubert Trunkenpolz, Member of the Executive Board; CMO, were joined by Tech3 Factory Racing Team Principal Herve Poncharal at the event.

The iconic GASGAS red and white livery will represent the sixth brand in the premier class of motorcycle Grand Prix racing.

PIT BEIRER, GASGAS MOTORSPORTS DIRECTOR: “GASGAS is a winning brand. It has reached an incredible level of performance immediately in disciplines like MXGP, Supercross, Enduro and Rally where we have taken Grands Prix, Main Events, world titles and overall winners’ trophies. It’s a relatively new brand for us and we have new goals. We hope the fans that follow ‘the red’ will enjoy the story. Thanks to our strong partner, the ASPAR team, in Moto3 and Moto2 we have been able to see the GASGAS bikes right at the front of those categories. It would be great to see the same thing eventually in the hardest class of them all. I want to thank Hervé and the Tech3 factory racing team for keeping an open mind and really supporting this change to become the GASGAS Factory Racing Team. We think it’s exciting and different.”

Pol Espargaro to lead rider line-up as the iconic motorcycle brand joins the premier class.

HUBERT TRUNKENPOLZ, MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD, CMO: “Taking the GASGAS name bigger and wider than its roots in Trial has been really successful in a number of ways. After seeing what we could achieve in Moto3 and Moto2 the next question was whether we could take GASGAS to MotoGP and we’re thrilled that we can make this step. It’s a new journey and I know the brand will stand out right away. Importantly, the team, the riders, the management will help GASGAS make a splash in the premier class. That’s what we’re hoping for!”

HERVE PONCHARAL, TECH3 FACTORY RACING TEAM PRINCIPAL: “Since we joined the Pierer Mobility Group, I can tell you that it has been my happiest professional years in my life. Because, when you work with Stefan, when you work with Hubert, and when you work with Pit, of course, the target and the main thing is competition, but I also love to spend evenings with these gentlemen to talk about business, to talk about strategy, to see how our motorcycle industry is evolving. I’m really, really happy to be part of a European manufacturer and the European manufacturers all together are moving on; we can see every single Sunday on the MotoGP™ podium that they are more and more. To be a full factory GASGAS team is a big source of pride.

“If you remember well, a few years ago, there was a young man, a Moto2 World Champion, that joined the MotoGP class with Tech3. His name is Pol Espargaro. We had a great few years together when we started, we discovered the MotoGP class together, and I have always said that Pol is a real fighter, Pol was a key player in the Pierer Mobility KTM MotoGP programme, and I’m delighted to announce he is back in the family. We can’t wait to start working with him, and I think he will be a perfect ambassador for the GASGAS brand. So, this is like a fairytale; welcome back, Pol. This is also to Stefan, Hubert, and Pit to say more than me, but anyway, I’m over the moon and I think this GASGAS MotoGP project couldn’t start better than with Pol. So, this is fantastic news and I just can’t wait to be in November!

“I just feel happy, I just love challenges. This is why I’m here and racing is about challenges – industry, business challenges – and I’m very happy to be part of this new challenge.” he ends.

Aaron Tanti Makes It Back To Back ProMX Championships For CDR Yamaha

By

PB

-

August 25, 2022

0

The worst case scenario was if Ferris won both motos, Tanti needed to place seventh in each to guarantee the championship was his.

On board his CDR Yamaha Monster Energy team YZ450F, a nervous 26-year old Aaron Tanti, navigated his way through two gruelling 30 minutes motos in the deep sand of Coolum to secure enough points to give him his maiden Australian Championship and one that he won’t soon forget.

Tanti and his team entered the final round well placed with a comfortable 24 point lead over former champ, Dean Ferris, but with the inclusion of Kyle Webster and Wilson Todd, the margin for error decreased as the depth of the MX1 field deepened considerably.

The worst case scenario was if Ferris won both motos, Tanti needed to place seventh in each to guarantee the championship was his. But with Wilson Todd winning race one and Kyle Webster race two, all Tanti needed to do was keep Ferris in sight and stay out of harms way and the number 1 plate would be bolted up again to the CDR Yamaha machine at days’ end.

Aaron Tanti has won the 2022 ProMX MX1 Championship at the eighth and final round of the series that concluded last weekend at the Coolum Pines circuit on the Sunshine Coast.

In race one, Ferris could only manage a third, while Tanti crossed the finish line in seventh, meaning the points gap was still at a comfortable 18 points. Race two required nothing more than a finish inside the top 12 to become the ProMX Championship for 2022.

And that’s exactly what he did! He found some clear track around fifth place and maintained a consistent, yet conservative pace right until the end where he came across the finish line, with fist in the air, in sixth place and as the new MX1 champion. Ferris had his own issues and only managed a fifth, so the final margin of victory was 17 points.

“Today certainly wasn’t my best riding and I have been pretty nervous all week to be honest,” said a relieved Tanti. “I have never been in this situation before and this is my first pro title so I was just doing my best to get the job done and make sure I didn’t make any stupid mistakes.

“It’s not the way you always like to win a championship, but the hard work was done in the earlier rounds and I was able to build a good points gap on Dean and that allowed some margin today that meant it wasn’t all on the line and I could afford to be a little conservative on the track.

“It’s not the way you always like to win a championship, but the hard work was done in the earlier rounds." said Aaron. — “It’s not the way you always like to win a championship, but the hard work was done in the earlier rounds.” said Aaron.

“Thanks to the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team for their support and endless guidance and encouragement of me this year. I came to the team as I thought they would give me the best chance of success and to be able to secure the ProMX championship with them this year is amazing. Allister, Brad, Gary, Troy and Craig do an amazing job and once you are part of CDR, its easy to see why they have won so many championships over the years.

“I also want to thank my family and girlfriend for their support. They go through the ups and downs of a racer every day and they have sacrificed things in their lives for me to have success and it was awesome to have them all here today.

Ferris had his own issues and only managed a fifth, so the final margin of victory was 17 points.

“And finally to MA and the organisers of the ProMX championship. This year has been a huge step forward for the championship and we have had eight great rounds. MA have done a good job since taking over the promotion of the national motocross championship and looking forward to it being bigger and better in 2023. But for now, it’s time to enjoy this one and soak it up with the team, family and friends,” Tanti concluded.

Tanti’s success in 2022, makes it back-to-back ProMX championships for the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team after Luke Clout’s victory in 2021. Team owner, Craig Dack, has lauded the Tanti victory as a special one for CDR.

“Aaron has done a sensational job this year and had to carry the full load as Luke went out with injury at round two,” Dack begins. “Aaron stepped up and took ownership of his role in the team and from round three onwards showed a real maturity in his dedication to racing and commitment to the championship. The team rallied around him, and we went from strength to strength through the middle part of the championship and it was so rewarding to see Aaron’s development both on and off the track. He thoroughly deserved to be the 2022 ProMX Championship.”

“I also want to take this time to thank all our team partners at CDR, most of whom have been with us for a very long time. I have decades invested with companies like Yamaha, Fox and Dunlop who have stood by us since the team started to our newer partners in Monster and Renthal. There are some many people and products that contribute to winning a championship and CDR thanks everyone of them and hope they feel proud of the part they play in our success,” Dack signs off.

Three-time World Champion Luigi Taveri named MotoGP Legend

By

PB

-

August 25, 2022

0

Three-time World Champion Luigi Taveri is now officially a MotoGP Legend. The late Swiss rider was inducted into the MotoGP Legends Hall of Fame in the presence of his family at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, with Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta leading the ceremony.

Taveri was born in the canton of Zürich in 1929 and made his Grand Prix debut in 1954 in the 250cc and 500cc classes. The next season he competed on 125cc and 250cc machinery, and he came runner up in 1955 in the 125cc World Championship – taking his debut win in the first race of the year. In 1962 he won his first World Championship, taking the crown in the 125cc class. He took two further Championships in the category, in 1964 and 1966, to secure his place in motorcycle racing history.

Between his debut in 1954 and his retirement at the end of 1966, the Swiss rider raced in the 50cc, 125cc, 250cc, 350cc and 500cc classes, taking wins on 50cc, 125cc and 250cc machinery, and finishing on the podium in the 350cc class. He is one of few riders to score Grand Prix points in the 50cc, 125cc, 250cc, 350cc and 500cc classes.

Taveri was born in the canton of Zürich in 1929 and made his Grand Prix debut in 1954 in the 250cc and 500cc classes.

Blanca Taveri, Luigi’s daughter: “It’s a really big honour for us that Luigi is together with all those famous riders, and I know he would be very, very proud. He would search for words to say how honoured he would be.”

“I think it’s like Mr Ezpeleta says; Luigi was a pioneer for motor racing in Switzerland, and for us, he’s always been a hero. For me, my dad was always the best racer and it’s difficult to explain because there are so many things I could tell about my dad; what he meant for us. He was a man who never lost touch with the ground, he was very reliable, and he was just special. I think he was special for motorsport in Switzerland as well, and he opened the door for those riders who are coming now, and I hope there will be some Swiss riders coming up, because I think it’s important for Switzerland to have riders in MotoGP.”

Luigi's daughter Blanca Taveri (L), Luigi's widow Tilde Taveri and Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta (R). — Luigi’s daughter Blanca Taveri (L), Luigi’s widow Tilde Taveri and Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta (R).

Celebrating a family Legend becoming a MotoGP Legend.

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports: “I had the possibility to see Luigi in Barcelona during his career; I was 18 years old when he became World Champion for the second time. For me, it’s a fitting name; he’s the first Swiss rider to be World Champion, and I remember very well his helmet and everything. The time was different, but we could be where we are right now thanks to people like Luigi, who started this Championship and made this incredible sport in front of everybody. It’s a big pleasure for all the MotoGP family to welcome the name of Luigi Taveri; he was a real Legend and we are extremely happy to induct him into the Hall of Fame.”

Sprint Races To Be Introduced At All Grands Prix From 2023

By

PB

-

August 25, 2022

0

The FIM, IRTA, MSMA and Dorna Sports can now announce a new Sporting Format to be introduced for the FIM MotoGP World Championship from 2023. Sprint races will be introduced at all Grands Prix, creating an exciting, action-packed programme for fans on every day of a MotoGP race weekend.

Sprint races will be introduced at all Grands Prix, creating an exciting, action-packed programme for fans on every day of a MotoGP race weekend.

Sprint races will take place at 15:00 on the Saturday of each Grand Prix and be approximately 50% of the full race distance. The Sprint race will have a 15-minute grid procedure, and the sporting rules will be the same as a full-length Grand Prix race.

In Sprint races, points will be awarded as follows:

1st Position: 12
2nd Position: 9
3rd Position: 7
4th Position: 6
5th Position: 5
6th Position: 4
7th position: 3
8th position: 2
9th position: 1

Sprint races will not determine the grid for the Grand Prix race on Sunday. Riders must be free to race on Saturday, without the need to consider their Sunday grid position. The grids for both the Sprint race and the Grand Prix race will be set from qualifying, which will retain its Q1-Q2 format.

Sprint races will not determine the grid for the Grand Prix race. Riders must be free to race on Saturday, without the need to consider their Sunday grid position.

The introduction of Sprint Races allows every day of a race weekend to offer fans and broadcasters the best possible experience on track and off, with track action on Friday, Saturday and Sunday focused on maximum spectacle to show off the best of MotoGP. In addition, the new format will provide increased engagement opportunities for fans, broadcasters and media across the event and increase the profile of the MotoGP class without reducing that of Moto2 and Moto3.

The MotoGP class will have two practice sessions on Friday, which will be of a longer duration. The combined timesheets from these sessions will determine the direct entrants to Q2, guaranteeing Friday increased significance and exposure.

The Sprint Race will then take place at 15:00, creating an incredible line-up of MotoGP track action on Saturday.

On Saturday morning, the MotoGP class will have one 30-minute Free Practice session (similar to the current FP4) followed by Q1 and Q2 for qualifying. The Sprint Race will then take place at 15:00, creating an incredible line-up of MotoGP track action on Saturday.

Sunday will remain a spectacle for fans and broadcasters, with the Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP Grand Prix races. The target will also be to have MotoGP as the last race on Sunday at each event, allowing for an improved podium ceremony, on-track celebrations and the possibility of fan track invasions at each venue.

Jorge Viegas, FIM President: “The fact is, as I read in social media, this is a Sprint Race press conference. So, this is true, you already know that we are going to introduce, starting next year, a sprint race on the Saturday afternoon of every Grand Prix; not like in Formula 1, but in every Grand Prix. We think that after two years of COVID, when all of us made incredible sacrifices to keep having this important Championship, it’s time to give more exposure, as Carmelo says, in the TV, but also to the spectators. We need more spectators, we need a better show, and we need to fill the Saturdays. There are some details that still need to defined, decided together with the teams, together with the riders, together with the manufacturers. But, in principle, you already announced the major part of the new things! The only thing I think you are still in doubt about, is that this Sprint Race will not count for the grid; the grid is defined by the qualifying.”

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports: “It has been the aim of the Championship; FIM, IRTA, and Dorna, from the beginning to try to improve every time, as much as we can, everything in the sport: the safety, the show, everything. We are working in all the areas but especially in that. We have been looking at other sports for different possibilities and we are trying to offer a better show, especially for the fans, the promoters, and television. It’s very important to us to offer a new schedule which will, in our opinion, improve our presence in all the Grands Prix. This has been something discussed obviously with the FIM, with the manufacturers, and with the teams, and then yesterday, I talked with the riders in the Safety Commission. Even if the Safety Commission is for safety, since the beginning, I has been very proud to talk with the riders about different things. Obviously the matter to inform the riders is something that must be made by their individual teams, but yesterday we had some discussions and I’m very happy to hear the President of the FIM announce what we want to announce today.”

MotoGP sessions will be the last of each block, further standardising the format of the race weekend and maintaining the same order throughout each event. Moto3 will be followed by Moto2, followed by MotoGP.

Herve Poncharal, IRTA President: “Back from the summer break, we had a very important meeting together with Mike Trimby to represent the teams as IRTA, with Carmelo and Carlos Ezpeleta. This was really the first time that we saw the project, and from the very beginning, we liked it a lot. If you don’t move forward, you make a step backwards, I think, and although our show is great, maybe the best on Earth, that doesn’t mean we cannot have room for improvement, and there is room for improvement. As Carmelo said to us also, yes, we looked at what is happening somewhere else, and we would be stupid to not look at what is happening somewhere else and works somewhere else. From the very first point I really liked it, we had a meeting with all our colleagues in the Independent MotoGP teams, and universally they supported and they liked it a lot, thinking that it’s going to help also the teams’ business because the media, I’m quite sure, will like it a lot, will love it; the sponsors when the media are more active, will like it a lot.

“So all I can say is we have in mind not to create any inflation, so therefore engine allocation, tyre allocation will remain the same; mileage on the weekend will remain more or less the same. So, there will be no more track action. We will try not to give more work to the riders, but there will be more action, more excitement, which is what MotoGP is all about. I’m very proud to be part of the Championship, to have Carmelo and Jorge next to me to announcing this important news. For sure, as Jorge said, there are still important things to be fine-tuned. We always listen to everybody and when it is something which is visible and clearly an improvement, we will adapt ourselves. But overall, I think this is an important day for MotoGP, and I believe 2023 will be even more exciting.”

MotoGP Gallery: All The Best Shots From Spielberg, Austria

By

PB

-

August 25, 2022

0

Three in a row makes perfect reading for Pecco, but Quartararo takes Yamaha’s best Spielberg finish after a stunning charge to second. Fabio looks to protect his championship lead as Bagnaia slowly chomps away at his points lead heading into the San Remo round…