Josh Brookes had a great run at the NW 200 and has had a solid start in BSB.
After a three-year wait, the North West 200 roared back into the coastal town of Portstewart this week, and it proved a dominant week of racing for METZELER riders, with seven wins coming from RACETEC RR Slick and road-legal RACETEC™ RR equipped riders across the Superbike, Supersport, Superstock and Supertwin races.
METZELER riders dominated the 2022 North West 200 with Seeley, Bian, Loughlin and Irwin sharing the spoils while McWilliams, Cooper, Jordan and Brookes add to the podium tally.
As the first major Road Race since 2019, the opening day of practice on Tuesday saw riders take time to dial themselves back into the high-speed nature of the 8.9 miles North West 200 circuit. With the weather remaining dry for qualifying on Thursday, it saw lap times tumble, and it was a clean sweep of pole positions for METZELER riders, as Richard Cooper topped the Supertwin qualifying, with Alastair Seeley taking Supersport pole and Glenn Irwin Superstock. In the blue-riband Superbike class, Irwin took that even further with an incredible ride to set the then fastest-ever lap to claim pole.
THURSDAY RACES Cold and wet weather greeted the riders for the opening evening of racing, but despite the tricky conditions, North West 200 specialist Seeley dominated proceedings. The opening Supersport race saw him battling throughout the four-lap race, eventually taking the win by 1.984s. Fellow METZELER rider Jeremy McWilliams made it a memorable race, with the 58-year-old taking third place.
The Superstock race was a different affair, with Seeley controlling the race from the front, taking the win by 12.894s. Despite it only being his second year at the event, Cooper was able to claim third place to make it four podium finishes from the six available on Thursday. With the weather deteriorating, the opening Supertwin race was pushed to Saturday.
Cold and wet weather greeted the riders for the opening evening of racing, but despite the tricky conditions, North West 200 specialist Seeley dominated proceedings.
SATURDAY RACES Thankfully, the main race day dawned with beautiful blue skies and warm weather, ensuring near-perfect conditions for the six races. Kick-starting the day in perfect style, Pierre Yves Bian took victory in the opening Supertwin race ahead of Paul Jordan, while Joe Loughlin would win the second race in the afternoon, joined once again by McWilliams in third.
The first of the Superbike races proved one of the best races of the week, with Irwin going head-to-head with Davey Todd, with the duo continuously swapping places throughout the six laps. Coming down to the final lap, Irwin found a way through at Metropole corner, seeing him become the first rider to win five North West 200 Superbike races in a row.
The second of the Superstock races saw a similar performance from Seeley on the IFS Racing Yamaha. Fending off an early race challenge, he was able to make full use of his road-legal RACETEC RR over the six laps to take his third win of the weekend and his 27th around the iconic course.
Completing the podium in third was Josh Brookes, who made his first return to the event since 2014.
With the Superbike feature race being held over seven laps, safety concerns related to competitor tyres saw only METZELER riders advised to compete. Just as he did in the opening race, Irwin launched off the line to control the race from the front, being closely pushed by the impressive Cooper on the Hawk Racing Suzuki. The Honda rider was able to eventually pull away to take his sixth consecutive North West 200 Superbike win, with each victory coming on METZELER RACETEC™ RR Slick tyres. Completing the podium in third was Josh Brookes, who made his first return to the event since 2014.
METZELER UK Racing Manager Jason Griffiths:“A huge crowd witnessed this amazing spectacle on the North Coast today. Our thanks to the Metzeler riders for their fantastic performances. Alastair Seeley produced a masterclass of wet weather riding on Thursday night to take a double victory, while Richard Cooper showed his class across multiple classes and Glenn Irwin continued his domination of the Superbike class at the event, achieving a winning debut for the new Metzeler partnership with Honda Racing. The conditions encountered across the practice sessions and the races meant the full Metzeler racing range was in action this week. Taking all the pole positions in itself was an achievement and the race results are, of course, incredible. The quality work carried out by the R&D team and of course the Metzeler manufacturing facility cannot be overlooked. A real team effort.”
Back in 2005, Jeff Ware and Peter Pap arranged, with the help of Phillip Island and MotoGP, for Wayne Gardner to ride Max Biaggi’s Repsol Honda RC211V, check out what he though compared to his old NSR500. And by the way, he was only three seconds off Max’s times… Photos: Keith Muir, Peter Pap & Trevor Hedge
It’s not often you get the chance to ride a MotoGP bike, especially such an iconic one… Unless you’re a Gardner.
“The acceleration is what really shocked me. Compared to the NSR, the RCV is amazing. It’s just phenomenal.” Those are the words of 1987 world 500 grand prix champion, Wayne Gardner – who was still sweating after a sliding, wheelstanding, wheelspinning ride on Max Biaggi’s Repsol Honda RC211V. It had been 13 years since the 18-time GP winner had ridden a grand prix bike, his last world championship race being the South African Grand Prix, 1992, aboard an NSR500.
Fittingly, and by pure chance, his return to the Honda garage was under the watchful eye of Erv Kanemoto – who was also there for Gardner’s last GP. “Walking into the pit garage and seeing Erv was great,” said Wayne, “It wasn’t planned that way and it was very fitting that my return to riding a grand prix motorcycle was with Erv. “As soon as I walked into the pits those 13 years seemed to disappear. I felt like I hadn’t left, although I am older and fatter now! But the feeling was still there. It was very emotional for me.”
Fittingly, and by pure chance, his return to the Honda garage was under the watchful eye of Erv Kanemoto – who was also there for Gardner’s last GP.
It was the Australian Grand Prix – an event that was built from the foundations laid by Gardner back in the late ‘80s – and a fitting place for WG to give his fans a buzz. It was also an opportunity for Phillip Island to say ‘Thank you’ to the man that put Aussie motorcycling on the map. As Gardner caught up with old mates in the Honda camp, his 1987 NSR500 was wheeled out into pit lane and placed alongside the #3 RCV of Biaggi.
The crowd began to stir as images of the old Rothmans Honda were shown on the screens around track. You can bet that most of the crowd are hardened GP goers. Punters that were there for Gardner’s gutsy wins in 1989 and 1990. The NSR’s livery was bringing back memories. The crowd was starting to rumble…
The build up was something special, Gardner back on a Honda after more than a decade…
Time to gear up and experience what the four-stroke era had to offer…
“The build-up to the ride was amazing. It was an experience I’ll never forget. As I was gearing up in the change room I just couldn’t believe it’d been 13 years. The routine was the same. Leathers on. Then boots. Stretching. Walking into the garage and getting the rundown from Erv. Earplugs in as the bike is being warmed up. Brap. Brap. Brap… “Checking the monitor, cleaning my visor. Checking my helmet strap and then, finally, getting the nod from Erv. You’re up!”
All eyes turned to the monitor and Erv Kanemoto was at the front, joined by team manager Tanaka-San.
“The first thing I noticed about the RC211V is the size,” admits Wayne, “Although it looks very tight and compact, Biaggi’s bike is actually quite roomy. The reach to the ‘bars is further than the old NSR and the seat-to-footpeg distance is also roomy. There’s plenty of space to move around on the bike.”
With 250-odd horsepower on tap and, err, a fair gap between rides, it was no surprise that the Repsol Honda garage began to stir and break into a group cold sweat as Gardner rolled out into pit lane and began his trip to the pit lane exit. All eyes turned to the monitor and Erv Kanemoto was at the front, joined by team manager Tanaka-San. Silence was followed by bursts of nervous laughter as Wayne wheelstood out of pit lane and onto the track…
“With 250-odd horsepower on tap and, err, a fair gap between rides, it was no surprise that the Repsol Honda garage began to stir and break into a group cold sweat as Gardner rolled out into pit lane.”
“As soon as I clicked first and started to ride away I thought, ‘I remember how to do this. I know how to ride a GP bike,’ so I pulled a wheelie straight away!” The plan was for WG to do a sighting lap and two flying laps, so there was no rush to set the world on fire in the first corner. Still, once a racer…
It wasn’t long before Wayne had the front wheel in the air, putting on a show and giving the engineer at Repsol Honda a heart attack.
“I was supposed to wave at the crowd, just do some demo laps. I took it easy for the first few corners, then I made a decision – bugger waving at the crowd, I’m going to have some fun on this thing!” With a lifetime of experience on wild NSR500s it is no surprise that Gardner found the RCV to be smooth and rideable, comparing it to one of his favourite bikes, the Suzuka 8-hour RVFs that he enjoyed so much success on.
Doesn’t matter if you’re a world champion or not, it’s still nerve-racking to lend out a bike worth millions out to someone!
A champion of the two-stroke era, Wayne was still an expert of taming four strokes…
Comparing the RC211V to his RVF endurance machine…
The team flocked out to the pit wall, lined up to watch a master at work!
“The RC211V is very rideable. The power curve is really, really good – just like a roadbike but much more powerful. Initially I made the mistake of riding the bike a bit too much like a two-stroke, keeping it in the high rpm. The result was lots of wheelstands and wheelspinning, but I soon figured out where to short-shift and how to ride the torque. The V5 is amazing. It pulls from quite low in the rev range and it’s nice through the bottom-end and mid-range. From 9000rpm the bike really starts to accelerate hard and to 17000rpm it is just amazing.
“The V5 is amazing. It pulls from quite low in the rev range… From 9000rpm the bike really starts to accelerate hard and to 17000rpm it is just amazing.”
“The gearbox is terrific. Biaggi has his shifter set very sensitively and you only have to touch it to change gears. The ratios are wider than the old two-strokes and I think this is a motorcycle that could benefit from overgearing – because of the torque curve. It’s very useable. “I liked the clutch set-up, with the back-torque limiter. I tried it out into Honda hairpin and the rear tyre just skipped a little. It is set just right.” Wrestling the NSRs of 1985 to 1988 was hard work (they improved in 1989), and Gardner developed a very aggressive point and shoot riding style, steering with the rear wheel out of necessity.
Wrestling the NSRs of 1985 to 1988 was hard work (they improved in 1989), and Gardner developed a very aggressive point and shoot riding style, steering with the rear wheel out of necessity.
The modern grand prix motorcycle is, however, much more refined in the chassis department. “I can’t believe how well the RCV handles,” admits WG, “Turn-in is very light, very easy, accurate and predictable. The motorcycle is extremely stable, even through the fast sections, and the brakes are fantastic. They are so, so hard hitting once they’re up to temperature. Really amazing. There’s good feel and feedback from the chassis, it’s very neutral and reasonably light – but it does feel heavier than the 500.”
“Max likes to ride with lots of corner speed, so he runs the front very stiff and the rear quite soft. That didn’t really work too well for me as I’m more aggressive on the throttle off the turns.” said Wayne.
“Max likes to ride with lots of corner speed, so he runs the front very stiff and the rear quite soft. That didn’t really work too well for me as I’m more aggressive on the throttle off the turns, so a few times on my last lap the rear squatted and the bike ran wide off the turn – but that’s only a setting issue.”
NSR500 vs RC211V
“Wow. I really don’t know where to start with the differences – the NSR just seems so old, a bit like it’s rider!” Gardner spent some time sitting on his 1987 NSR after the RC211V ride – and he couldn’t believe the difference. “I didn’t realize that the NSR had aged so much but I guess it is almost 20-years old now. It’s just so small, it feels like a mini bike!”
The amount of history this machine has made is spectacular.
Ten world championships have been won on an NSR500…
Wayne took home the 1987 championship on this bike.
No vents or slots on the rear rotor!
With a weight limit of only 115 kilograms compared to the RCV’s 148 kilograms and no bulky electrics it’s no wonder the NSR500 feels so small. It is. The seat height is much lower than the RCV, the NSR is narrower and the bike is generally pretty bare bones by today’s standards.
When Mossy rode Rossi’s RC211V, he said “Nothing about the bike deserves criticism at all. Every single part of it complements the rest of the bike so perfectly it’s almost unreal.”
“Still, millions of dollars were spent developing the 1987 NSR500 and it was a very, very fast motorcycle – plus it won the world championship. But I wouldn’t say it was a good motorcycle at that stage in its development. The ’86, ’87 and ’88 NSR500s were very, very difficult to ride.” Although the brutish NSR got a new chassis for 1987, a new V angle of 112-degrees and a conventional crankshaft rotation (clockwise), the V4 500 was still a handful, and didn’t like to go around corners. “The only way to turn the NSR was with the rear wheel – and you have to work hard to do that for 30-laps on a 190-horsepower bike with a 4000rpm powerband.
It’s hard to pick which bike has a more iconic livery, the Rothmans Honda blue/white combo is easily one of the most defining colour schemes of the 80s and early 90s.
“500s are very physical to ride over race distance, and mentally draining. Keeping them on the pace is tough and they are easy to over ride and crash on. The RC211V felt much easier to ride and I think that, over race distance, the four-stroke would be easier than the two-stroke. In saying that, these guys are doing an amazing job riding at the level that they are. Rossi seems to be the only rider taking a four-stroke beyond its limit day-in-day-out but the others are still very fast.”
“The RCV felt much easier to ride and I think that, over race distance, the four-stroke would be easier than the two-stroke.”
“Technology has come a long way since the NSR days, and it shows when you look at the fundamental components of each of these factory bikes. The NSR wears cast-iron rotors with conventionally mounted four-piston calipers. The RC211V has carbon rotors with radial-mount calipers. The NSR has conventional forks – the RC has huge inverted items. The list goes on.”
990cc, V5, 240bhp powerhouse.
While the NSR made less power, it was lighter and the power came on like a light switch…
“The 500 was very mechanical – no quickshifter, no rider aids such as traction control, back-torque limiting, or even telemetry! It was still very much seat of the pants riding, right down to jetting the four 36mm Keihin carburettors and picking gearbox ratio’s – which was absolutely crucial on the 500. “Riding the RC211V was a hell of an experience. But I have to say, nothing beats the excitement of a 500cc Grand Prix two-stroke!”
It’s a real shame the V5 never went into mass production, it’s another one of those bikes that would’ve been spectacular to see on the road… That’s Tony Hatton in the background there in the Elf shirt.
The RC211V engine is a direct descendant of a V6 Honda engine called the FXX, which was designed in the late ’80s to optimise mass centralisation and compactness. The engine was successful, but never put into production – despite out-performing the RC30’s V4. RC211V project leader, Tomoo Shiozaki, was part of the team that developed the FXX, and the influence of that engine shows in the RCV’s V5. The V5 was chosen to avoid the 10kg penalty a six-cylinder would incur – plus Honda though it would be a good challenge…
CHASSIS: Twin-tube frame, Telescopic forks at the front, unit pro-link rear suspension, twin radial-mounted four piston calipers with carbon discs at the front, Michelin tyres all round, 17in at the front, 16.5in at the rear, 2050mm length, 600mm width, 1130mm height, 1440mm wheelbase, 130mm ground clearance..
PERFORMANCE: 240hp (increased to 256hp in 2004), 148kg wet weight, over 330km/h top speed.
A champion of the two-stroke era, Wayne was still an expert of taming four strokes…
All eyes turned to the monitor and Erv Kanemoto was at the front, joined by team manager Tanaka-San.
Time to gear up and experience what the four-stroke era had to offer…
990cc, V5, 240bhp powerhouse.
The Repsol Honda V5 marked a new era, with the extremely loud V5 breaking the eardrums of anyone who dared to get close. Seen here is Max Biaggi’s RC211V, Wayne Gardner took it for a spin, read about it in an upcoming TBT.
Fittingly, and by pure chance, his return to the Honda garage was under the watchful eye of Erv Kanemoto – who was also there for Gardner’s last GP.
Wrestling the NSRs of 1985 to 1988 was hard work (they improved in 1989), and Gardner developed a very aggressive point and shoot riding style, steering with the rear wheel out of necessity.
“Max likes to ride with lots of corner speed, so he runs the front very stiff and the rear quite soft. That didn’t really work too well for me as I’m more aggressive on the throttle off the turns.” said Wayne.
It’s not often you get the chance to ride a MotoGP bike, especially such an iconic one… Unless you’re a Gardner.
It wasn’t long before Wayne had the front wheel in the air, putting on a show and giving the engineer at Repsol Honda a heart attack.
It’s hard to pick which bike has a more iconic livery, the Rothmans Honda blue/white combo is easily one of the most defining colour schemes of the 80s and early 90s.
Comparing the RC211V to his RVF endurance machine…
The build up was something special, Gardner back on a Honda after more than a decade…
No vents or slots on the rear rotor!
Wayne took home the 1987 championship on this bike.
Ten world championships have been won on an NSR500…
While the NSR made less power, it was lighter and the power came on like a light switch…
“With 250-odd horsepower on tap and, err, a fair gap between rides, it was no surprise that the Repsol Honda garage began to stir and break into a group cold sweat as Gardner rolled out into pit lane.”
The team flocked out to the pit wall, lined up to watch a master at work!
Doesn’t matter if you’re a world champion or not, it’s still nerve-racking to lend out a bike worth millions out to someone!
An exciting weekend in France for MotoE. It went down to the wire in an all-Italian duel, Casadei took home his first win, with Aegerter and Okubo ultimately completing the podium in race one. Aegerter gets back on top and denies Casadei, with Canepa taking a first MotoE podium in third in race two…
Mattia Casadei (Pons Racing 40) is now an FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup race winner!
Mattia Casadei (Pons Racing 40) is now an FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup race winner! The Italian veteran saw off a serious challenge from compatriot Kevin Zannoni (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) in Race 1 at the SHARK Grand Prix de France to take his maiden win in the Cup. Zannoni threw everything into his bid for victory, but hit the deck on the final lap when he asked too much of his front tyre at Turn 13. Nevertheless, the speed was a warning shot for Sunday…
After that drama ahead, Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP) took second place and a valuable 20 points, with Hikari Okubo (Avant Ajo MotoE) completing the podium in a first rostrum finish for the Japanese rider.
Casadei vs Zannoni went down to the wire.
There was drama as soon as the race started when Casadei’s team-mate and reigning Cup winner Jordi Torres fell in the pack as the they exited the Turn 3/Turn 4 chicane. Neither Niccolo Canepa (WithU GRT RNF MotoE™ Team) nor Xavi Fores (Octo Pramac MotoE™) were able to fully avoid the stricken Spaniard, but after a check up at the medical centre Torres was confirmed with a broken fibula; unfit but otherwise ok.
The net result of that opening lap was that Casadei led Zannoni, Okubo and Aegerter, with Casadei looking like he might break away. However, he was reeled in by Zannoni as the eight-lap contest reached its halfway mark.
Okubo took his maiden podium in MotoE! With so many riders taking home their first podiums this year, the title is open for anyone to take…
After biding his time for a handful of laps, the SIC58 rider then had a big look at race leader as they sped through Turn 1/Turn 2 for the final time. Casadei fended off that attack but Zannoni did not give up, pusing to the limit and then sadly just over it as his challenge came to an end at the penultimate corner when he folded the front. Rider ok, and surely eager to recharge for a Race 2 charge.
Up ahead, Casadei won unflustered by 0.8 seconds, while Aegerter had hustled past Okubo at Turn 3 on the second-last lap. Okubo was a maiden podium finisher in third though, just ahead of Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE™), Hector Garzo (Tech3 E-Racing), Miquel Pons, and Eric Granado. The latter two, team-mates at the LCR E-Team, had managed to stay upright despite contact exiting Turn 14 in the closing stages of the race.
1 Mattia Casadei – Pons Racing 40 – Energica – 13’54.984 2 Dominique Aegerter – Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE – Energica – +0.826 3 Hikari Okubo – Avant Ajo MotoE™ – Energica – +1.223
Race Two
Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE) is back on top in the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup! The Swiss rider put in a masterclass at the SHARK Grand Prix de France to take his first win in the Cup since 2020, and in doing so put himself back on top in the standings, too. The fight for victory went all the way down to the final lap, with Aegerter passing Mattia Casadei (Pons Racing 40) for the lead and affording the Italian no right to reply. Joining them on the podium for the first time in MotoE came Niccolo Canepa (WithU GRT RNF MotoE™ Team), with the Italian beating compatriot Kevin Zannoni (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) to the line by just 0.008 seconds.
Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE) is back on top in the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup!
Casadei took the spoils in Race 1 on the afternoon prior at Le Mans and, from pole position, he took the early lead in Race 2 as well. Aegerter lost two positions off the start before getting both back, the Swiss rider passing of Hikaro Okubo (Avant Ajo MotoE™) and then Zannoni at Turn 3 on Laps 2 and 3 respectively. That put him in clear air behind Casadei, beginning to chip away at the Italian’s one-second lead.
There was plenty of shuffling for position behind, but Aegerter was on a singular mission at the front and with a couple to go, the number 77 was right on Casadei to make it a duel for the win. By the time the two were approaching Turn 3 on the final lap, it was go time and Aegerter struck with a decisive move for the lead. Casadei stayed close but couldn’t quite bridge the gap back, with the Swiss rider keeping it pinned for his first MotoE™ win of the year and first since 2020, just over half a second in hand at the flag.
Casadei was strong once again, one off the perfect weekend.
The number 77 was back on the top step.
While the contest for victory was only settled late in the race, the final podium position was not even locked in until right at the finish line. In the early stages, it was pre-race points leader Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) on a charge, dropping as low as eighth on Lap 1 but getting into the top five when he passed Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE™) at the start of Lap 4. On Lap 5, he used a cutback to overtake Okubo for fourth spot as they accelerated off Garage Vert, but then the Brazilian found himself under threat.
Canepa took advantage of Okubo’s attempt to immediately hit back at Granado, and the Italian picked the Japanese rider’s pocket at Chemin aux Boeufs to set off a duel with Granado. The battle was settled by a decisive move from Canepa on the penultimate lap as the Italian just edged away, next locking onto the back of Zannoni up ahead and the final place on the podium.
The number 7 just got it done and stayed ahead, joining Aegerter and Casadei on the podium by just a few thousandths of a second.
The number 7 just got it done and stayed ahead, joining Aegerter and Casadei on the podium by just a few thousandths of a second. Zannoni was denied the rostrum once more but took a much bigger chunk of points from Race 2, with Granado completing the top five.
Okubo and Ferrari crossed the line just behind in sixth and seventh, with Hector Garzo (Tech3 E-Racing) moveing up from his grid position to eighth. Xavi Fores (Octo Pramac MotoE™) and Xavi Cardelus (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) were ninth and the tenth at the flag but both took three-second penalties for a shortcut and failure to comply with a Long Lap penalty, respectively, so the top 10 was rounded out by Marc Alcoba (Openbank Aspar Team) and Miquel Pons (LCR E-Team).
Jordi Torres did not start the race after sustaining a broken left fibula when he crashed on the opening lap of Race 1, but was in good spirits as he stayed at Le Mans to cheer on Pons Racing 40 team-mate Casadei… saying he is hoping to be back at Mugello.
Granado won both races when the season began in Jerez, but Aegerter’s first MotoE™ win since 2020 has helped him go to top of the standings, with an eight-point margin over the Brazilian. Casadei, who matched Aegerter’s 45 points for the Le Mans weekend, is nine points further behind in third. That’s it from Le Mans, but the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup is back again in just a fortnight as the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley lights up the spectacular Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello.
Beast mode was ON at Le Mans as Enea Bastianini took a stunning third win of the season, with an all-Italian bike lock out on the rostrum. Not only that, Bastianini stormed through on Friday to break the lap record only to be broken again by Bagnia on Saturday! Miller was also finally back on the podium…
With speculation rife that Jack Miller could be losing his factory Ducati ride at the end of the season, the Australian’s brilliant second at Le Mans went some way towards blunting those rumours.
The 1000th Grand Prix in the more than 70-year history of the sport is set to take place at the classic circuit in Sarthe.
Beast mode was ON at Le Mans as Enea Bastianini took a stunning third win of the season, with an all-Italian bike lock out on the rostrum. Not only that, Bastianini stormed through on Friday to break the lap record only to be broken again by Bagnia on Saturday! Miller was also finally back on the podium…
FP1 Repsol Honda Team’s Pol Espargaro put in a 1:31.771 to end the first session of the weekend on top, the Spaniard with 0.109s to spare over compatriot Rins. Jerez winner Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) completed the top three ahead of reigning World Champion, home hero and Spanish GP sparring partner Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), with Aleix Espargaro rounding out the front five.
2020 World Champion Joan Mir made sure it was both GSX-RRs in the top six at the start of the weekend, with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) and Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) rounding out the top 10.
It was a drama-free session for the top ten, but less so for KTM. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) crashed at Turn 3, rider ok, and teammate Miguel Oliveira went down twice, at Turns 6 and 10. The Portuguese rider headed to the Medical Centre for an X-Ray on his hand and was given the all-clear. Tech3 KTM Factory Racing’s Raul Fernandez also fell at Turn 10, rider ok. Bastianini also crashed, at Garage Vert, and Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) went down at Turn 11. On the flip side, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) didn’t crash but did put in a memorable save as he picked up his RC213V on the kerb at Turn 8.
FP2 Bagnaia had been fastest for much of the 45-minute session before Aleix Espargaro took over, but Bastianini then clocked a 1:31.523. However, the Italian had the lap chalked off after a shortcut at Chemin aux Boeufs, but he regrouped with a 1:31.148s just before the chequered flag, aka a new lap record. No sooner had he reset Johann Zarco’s All Time Lap Record, which dates back to 2018, did the Italian have a spill when he lost the front at the Turn 3/Turn 4 chicane. Rider ok, top of the timesheets.
Aleix Espargaro also improved his laptime but remained second in the session, and overall, having notched up a 1:31.350. Rins had been second-quickest in FP1 and proved that was no fluke with third in FP2, too. Zarco grabbed some headlines too as he almost crashed at Turn 2 but pressed on through the gravel trap and rejoined, but despite that the Frenchman moved up to fourth overall. He ended the day as second Ducati, just pipping Bagnaia. Mir crashed in the session, rider ok, and Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) suffered a spill and a run off, rider also ok.
Saturday A magnificent performance from Francesco Bagnaia at the SHARK Grand Prix de France saw him secure consecutive MotoGP pole positions for the first time this season, and with a new All Time Lap Record to boot, beating the time Bastianini set on Friday. 1:30.450 is the fastest two-wheeled lap seen around Le Mans and it also gave Ducati their first pole at the Le Mans Circuit.
French favourites Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) and Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) had slightly tougher Saturdays. Quartararo will start fourth after getting pipped to the front row, and Zarco qualified sixth but has a 3-place grid penalty for disturbing another rider in Q2.
Q1 Having missed the top 10 cut in Free Practice, Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) and Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) navigated through Q1 to take their places in the battle for pole, with Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) denied by just 0.007. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing had a tough day at the office too, with Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira both missing the cut.
Q2 The first runs gave us our first Bagnaia and Quartararo showdown of the weekend. Both riders were keen to get a banker lap in early, and it was the Italian who struck first with an impressive 1:30.6 to sit on top. However, it didn’t take long for Quartararo to get the French fans on their feet as he responded by going 0.011s quicker on his next attempt. As the riders returned to their boxes, Round 1 had fallen the way of the reigning Champion.
As riders returned to the tarmac, they began to close the gap to the top. Zarco was the first to improve and put himself on the front row provisionally, while Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) had gone under Bagnaia’s pace-setting time in the first three sectors. Unfortunately for the two-time premier class race winner, his effort fell just short as he replaced Zarco in P3.
As the session ticked down, Bagnaia upped his game once more, posting a rapid lap to break the All Time Lap Record in Le Mans as well as towing teammate Miller into the top two. Moments later, Aleix Espargaro joined them on the front row after a blistering effort from the RS-GP, and all eyes were now on Quartararo.
The pressure was on the Yamaha rider, and despite a clean two first sectors on his final time attack, he lost time in the third before losing even more completely in the fourth, leaving him with a P4 start come lights out. He’ll be joined on the second row by Bastianini in P5, and after Zarco’s penalty the Frenchman drops to P9, with Mir moving up to take sixth on the grid.
The Grid The two Ducatis head the Aprilia, with Quartararo keen to push on from fourth. Bastianini was top Independent too, ahead of Mir now gaining a row as well as a place. Teammate Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) now heads the third row ahead of Martin, and it’s completed by Zarco.
1 Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – Ducati – 1’30.450 2 Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) – Ducati – +0.069 3 Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) – Aprilia – +0.157
Sunday For the third time this season, Enea Bastianini has engaged Beast Mode. Another 25-point haul at the SHARK Grand Prix de France sees the Gresini Racing rider move to within eight points of the top of the Championship, take another Independent Team win and make quite a statement. After he and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) had escaped to make it a duel for supremacy at Le Mans, the Beast struck for the lead and it wasn’t long after that that Pecco slid out of contention.. rider ok, but points haul taking a dent.
Meanwhile, Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) maintained it as a Borgo Panigale 1-2, with Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro making it three premier class rostrums on the spin for the Noale factory for the first time ever – just denying home hero and reigning Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™).
The atmosphere in the circuit hit fever pitch as riders revved up for the start of Round 7, and it was Miller who got the perfect launch from the line to take the holeshot ahead of Bastianini, who pushed his way through from the second row. Bagnaia was in third with Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins and Joan Mir split by Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) in P5. A poor start from Aleix Espargaro saw him drop to seventh, while Quartararo also went backwards, the Frenchman initially swallowed up by a number of riders before starting to make progress forward.
The 1000th Grand Prix in the more than 70-year history of the sport is set to take place at the classic circuit in Sarthe.
A wild first lap came to a close with Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) aggressively lunging up the inside of both Quartararo and Nakagami to move into P7, and it was all go everywhere. Not least for home hero Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing), who was having an equally difficult start to the GP just behind, locked in a battle mid-pack with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and the two making contact at Turn 6. The RC16 lost a front wing as a result.
The manic start continued back at the front, with Bagania and Rins both picking off Bastianini to drop him out of the podium places. Rins’ ambitions would come crashing to a halt at the beginning of the third lap though, with the Suzuki off track at Turn 2, through the gravel and back on at Turn 4. Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep his machine upright as it returned to the tarmac, temporarily rejoining but retiring soon after.
With speculation rife that Jack Miller could be losing his factory Ducati ride at the end of the season, the Australian’s brilliant second at Le Mans went some way towards blunting those rumours.
As a result, it was a Ducati one-two-three with the factory riders building up a gap out front, Miller ahead. Bagnaia was through on Lap 4 though, and the race began to settle slightly as riders found their groove. Just back of that fight, Mir led Aleix Espargaro, Quartararo and Marc Marquez.
By Lap 12, Bastinain was past Miller, the Gresini rider going through on the Aussie at Garage Vert. Soon after, there was some change just behind them too, with Mir hitting the deck and tumbling through the gravel at Turn 14. That allowed Aleix Espargaro and Quartararo to gain a position each, but they were still 1.1s away from Miller in third. There was also disappointment for Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) as he recorded a fourth DNF of the year after a Turn 9 fall.
On Lap 17, the fight for victory sparked into life as Bastianini began to swarm all over the back of Bagnaia out front, the GP21 locked on for a few laps to heap on some pressure. The Beast then made his first move at the Dunlop Chicane and the two went wheel-to-wheel up until Turn 6, with Bagnaia posting a classy riposte. The fight wasn’t over though, with Bastianini forcing an error from his Ducati counterpart at Garage Vert as Pecco ran it wide and dropped to P2. That left a second between them and in an effort to reel Bastianini back in, Bagnaia pushed it too hard around the final corner and slid into the gravel, and out of the race. Rider ok, but on a long, lonely walk back down pitlane.
From there, Bastianini just had to keep it steady to bring home his third victory of the year, while Miller was comfortable in second. Attentions switched the remaining podium place, with home fans willing on World Champion Quartararo in the closing laps. He closed and closed and closed but he could never quite get close enough to the Aprilia ahead, with Aleix Espargaro denying the fairytale French ending but continued the Noale dream.
Zarco made moves to get back towards the front, coming home fifth despite that tougher start. Marquez rounded out the top six, while Nakagami put in a very solid seventh place finish. Despite missing a wing from the early stages, Binder claimed P8, while his factory teammate Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) recorded a DNF. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Maverick Viñales both claimed top 10 results in encouraging performances.
That’s a wrap on the French GP and it was certainly a race to remember, with the crowd an incredible protagonist too. Next up for MotoGP™ is the Tuscan beauty of Mugello, where we’re sure to see even more twists and turns in this fascinating World Championship…
Enea Bastianini:“I’m really happy about this race, because it was also unexpected because the weekend started really complicated for me, with three crashes, a lot for me. Every time I’m consistent, but here it was really difficult. But in the race, I saw that my pace was really nice, like the group that was in front of me. At the end, when I saw Pecco very close, I understand, ‘Okay, now you have to stay behind.’ At the end, I tried to overtake him in the second corner to make Pecco a little bit nervous. In the end, he went long and I won this race. It’s all for my team because they work a lot at this Grand Prix to give me the best bike and it’s incredible, the job they did.”
1 Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) – Ducati – 41’34.613 2 Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) – Ducati – +2.718 3 Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) – Aprilia – +4.182
Moto2
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Augusto Fernandez has broken a drought of almost three years with victory at the SHARK Grand Prix de France, with he and teammate Pedro Acosta pulling clear in the early laps before the rookie crashed out the lead on Lap 11. Aron Canet (Flexbox HP40) finished second for another impressive podium, fending off Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) and Cameron Beaubier (American Racing). World Championship leader Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) limited the damage to his title hopes, finishing eighth despite starting 18th on the grid.
Acosta converted his first Moto2™ pole position into the early race lead while Fernandez slotted into second, one up on where he had qualified. Albert Arenas (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) was third initially before being passed by Alonso Lopez (MB Conveyors Speed Up) on Lap 2, then Canet was into the podium places when he got by Lopez on Lap 5 at Turn 3.
By then, the top two had a margin over the rest of three seconds and growing. Still, Fernandez was keeping in touch with Acosta, thanks in part to a big wobble for the latter exiting Raccordement on Lap 5. A lap later, Lopez and Arenas were down in the gravel together, however, as the Aspar rider tried to go through a diminishing gap at Musee.
Meanwhile at the front, the pole-sitter had just started to put the hammer down when he lost the front through La Chapelle, rider ok but his hopes of a breakthrough Moto2™ victory dashed. That elevated Fernandez to the lead and Canet to second, but the man with the bowtie was coming under pressure from Beaubier and Chantra.
When Beaubier ran just a little wide at Musee on Lap 14, Chantra pinched third, then put a move on Canet a lap later. In doing so, he made room for the American to also go past Canet and reclaim third, but Canet turned the tables on Lap 18, passing Beaubier from a long way back at the Turn 3/Turn 4 chicane and making it stick.
As Fernandez continued to enjoy a margin of six to seven seconds over the rest, second-placed then Chantra outbraked himself at Garage Vert on Lap 18 and had to let his bike run wide. Not only did he cede position to Canet and Beaubier, the Thai rider had cost himself a full second of time, handing a free kick to his rivals in the battle for the podium.
Next it was Beaubier who invited some pressure when he ran wide at La Chapelle on the third-last lap, and Chantra made the pass a lap later as they ran through Turn 13. Meanwhile, Vietti was finally into the top 10, despite running through the gravel at Garage Vert earlier in the race.
Up ahead, Fernandez eased off in the closing laps and cruised to victory by an official margin of 3.746 seconds. The win is his first since the 2019 San Marino Grand Prix, and his first altogether for Red Bull KTM Ajo. A further 0.882 seconds behind Canet, who gained a little breathing space in second, was Chantra in third, with Beaubier a career-best fourth despite losing out on that first podium.
Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) prevailed in a late battle with Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) as they finished fifth and sixth respectively, ahead of Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team), Vietti, Jorge Navarro (Flexbox HP40), and stand in Stefano Manzi (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team).
Arenas managed to remount after his incident with Lopez but could only get back to 19th, missing out on the points. His Inde GASGAS Aspar team-mate Jake Dixon, who did not get away well from the middle of the front row, also pressed on after an early crash from eighth position, but finished even further back in 21st spot. Among those who did not make the chequered flag at all were Lopez and title contender Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS).
Arbolino and Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors Speed Up) went down in synchronised fashion at La Chapelle on Lap 2, although without contact, and that capped off a difficult day for the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team. Before the race had started, it was down to one bike due as Sam Lowes was declared unfit after reporting neck pain and the onset of dizziness after Warm Up. He’d had a nasty highside in Q2. In the World Championship, Vietti has moved to 108 points, second-placed Ogura is a slightly closer 16 points behind, and Fernandez has climbed to fifth.
Moto3
In typical barnstorming Moto3 fashion, fans were out of their seats for a grandstand finish as a restarted race went down to the wire at the SHARK Grand Prix de France. Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Jaume Masia earned victory after a thrilling final corner move past Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) while Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) stole the final podium place with another dramatic final corner past poleman Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing). It’s the first time Masia has taken four podiums in a row and it moves him up to second in the standings, 17 off leader Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team).
The threat of rain loomed large over Le Mans on Sunday but initially, Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) got a brilliant launch from the line to take the holeshot going into the Dunlop Curve, but the Red Flag soon came out as rain hit the final sector. There had been seven different fallers, including GASGAS Aspar duo Garcia and Guevara, Sasaki, Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Riccardo Rossi (SI58 Squadra Corse), but riders all ok and all able to make the restart.
With a new race distance of 14 laps set, it was always going to be a tight affair with the sun shining again, and so it proved. In a carbon copy of the first race start, Moreira managed to push himself into the lead from the second row while a superb effort from Championship leader Garcia saw him move up into the podium places behind then-closest challenger Foggia. Behind them, there was lots of chopping and changing as Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) battled with Migno and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) throughout the first lap.
The race began to settle somewhat by the time the third lap rolled around, while Masia was finding his groove, picking off Suzuki at Garage Vert before getting the better of Foggia on the next lap at the Turn 3 chicane. The Italian tried to return the favour one lap later, but the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider fended him off. The race had lost Scott Ogden by this stage, with the VisionTrack rookie crashing out at La Chappelle, rider ok.
Behind Masia, Garcia had moved up to second after getting past the Leopard Hondas, while Öncü in P4 had entered the podium conversation. All the chopping and changing brought the leader of the second group, Sasaki, into contention too.
Back at the front, Foggia pushed himself back into second at the expense of Garcia. The GASGAS man tried to respond into the chicane, but it went awry and he was forced wide, costing him his drive out of the corner and dropping him to sixth overall. That gave Masia a couple tenths of breathing space out front, but it didn’t last long as he was soon reeled in by Foggia and Sasaki at S Bleu with just over three laps to go.
Coming into the endgame, Foggia led Sasaki ahead of Masia with Suzuki, Garcia and Guevara just behind. However, a move at Garage Vert returned Masia to P2. Coming over the line for the penultimate time, it was anybody’s race. The Dunlop Chicane is always a popular overtaking spot, and Masia lined up a successful attempt for the lead.
La Musee is another hot spot for overtaking, and that’s where Sasaki picked off Foggia, relegating the poleman to third. Having bided his time all race, the Japanese rider looked like he would steal the win with just two corners to go, taking the lead on the flick back left at S Bleu. The drama was still far from over, with Masia producing a sensational last corner lunge up the inside to take the win, while Guevara had done something similar to Foggia to deny the pre-season Championship favourite a podium.
Behind that podium shuffle, Suzuki finished fifth ahead of Carlos Tatay (CFMoto Racing Pruestel GP), with Garcia recording a P7 finish. Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) ended the day eighth, ahead of Öncü with Migno rounding out the top 10. Holgado, John McPhee (Sterilgarda Max Racing), Rossi, Moreira after a Long Lap and Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power) are the other points scorers in France.
After the ASBK circus left town, the Australian Women In Motorcycling (AWIM) crew and guests took over the picturesque Wakefield Park Raceway for a day of networking, learning, riding and fun. Press Release: MA Photos: BiteSizePics
The Australian Women In Motorcycling (AWIM) crew and guests took over the picturesque Wakefield Park Raceway for a day of networking, learning, riding and fun.
The event was organised by the Motorcycling Australia Women’s Committee and with Motorcycling Australia (MA) responsible for running the event on the day, plus the additional support from the global motorcycling body the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and the regional body FIM Oceania, the day was a huge success.
Riders from other disciplines at Wakefield Park Raceway included Emma Milesevic, Jess Gardiner and Jemma Wilson who were joined by established ASBK road racers Laura Brown and Grace Poutch at the picturesque 2.2km Wakefield layout.
Plenty of big names in Australian motorsport were present!
An all round fun day for everyone involved!
The 30-odd riders attending on the day were assisted and coached by Brown and Poutch who were ably assisted by Steve Martin and Peter Goddard as well as Stay Upright coaches John Perrin and Simon McAdie. Motorcycling Australia media identity and rider, commentator and adventurer Kate Peck was also in attendance and took part in the track activities while also offering her thoughts on women in motorsport and motorcycling media.
On the day, many aspects of modern road racing were covered including “How to get started in road racing”, working on your personal branding and sponsorship as well as media and social media training. While there was a serious side to the day, the primary purpose was to offer a fun and relaxed environment that- based on the photos and videos from the day – was certainly achieved.
Plenty of riding at the max…
Then a lunch where everyone could get to know each other…
For Peter Doyle, CEO of Motorcycling Australia (MA) as well as FIM Oceania representative, the success of the day was a testament to the hard work of those involved: “I want to give thanks to the AWIM and the Women’s Committee for their hard work and dedication to getting this event not only to happen, but for making it the success it clearly was. I’d also like to thank Wakefield Park, Stay Upright and Motorcycling New South Wales for their efforts as well.
“The continuing growth of women in the sport is something that we at Motorcycling Australia fully back. I hope we see more events like this in the future and see growth in female participation as a result. Again, I want to thank all involved and congratulate them on a fantastic first Women’s Circuit Racing Academy.”
Make sure you check out all the great pic’s our photographer grabbed from the event below…
Alana Baratto, MA Board member and AWIM Chair: “We were thrilled to have so many women embrace circuit racing and join us across the weekend at Wakefield Park which included ASBK and of course, the very first Women’s Circuit Racing Academy.
“We were joined by our dedicated coaches as well as our volunteers and partners who are all just as passionate as we are to see more women participating in circuit racing. The smiles and laughter at the end of the day illustrated that not only did they gain new knowledge and skills, but also developed new friendships. All of that added up to a really successful day.”
AWIM Wakefield Park Gallery
Plenty of big names in Australian motorsport were present!
Make sure you check out all the great pic’s our photographer grabbed from the event below…
An all round fun day for everyone involved!
Then a lunch where everyone could get to know each other…
Plenty of riding at the max…
he Australian Women In Motorcycling (AWIM) crew and guests took over the picturesque Wakefield Park Raceway for a day of networking, learning, riding and fun.
The stage was set in Erica and against all odds, the weather held out for one spectacular final day of the 2022 Prestige Iveco Australian Four Day Enduro (A4DE). Day 4 featured one final trail ride followed by an exciting five lap Final Moto. The big news was Jess Gardiner claiming her sixth A4DE win.
Coming out victorious was Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) in Women to claim her 6th title…
Coming out victorious was Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) in Women to claim her 6th title, Kyron Bacon (Shop Yamaha Offroad Racing Team) in E1 to claim his 1st ever title, Joshua Green (Shop Yamaha Offroad Racing Team) in E2, Tom Mason (Gas Gas) in E3, Darren Lloyd in Veteran and Jason Salopayers in Masters. The Final Moto was contrastingly clinched by Todd Waters (Husqvarna Offroad Racing Team) in E2, Andrew Wilksch (Simford Racing, Husqvarna) in E3, Jason Haas in Masters and Steven Powell in Veteran.
E1 It was Bacon’s time to shine, as he screamed across the Final Moto. With a total time of 15:14.491, the Yamaha racer set an extremely strong tone immediately, scoring the holeshot and keeping a strong lead across all five laps.
It was Bacon’s time to shine, as he screamed across the Final Moto with a total time of 15:14.491.
“I got the holeshot in that race and I’m stoked with the end result. It was definitely fun tussling with Cooper [Sheidow]. I would see him out of the corner of my eye and it definitely pushed me on to stay ahead. The feeling is unreal [winning the E1 A4DE title]. I didn’t think I’d be here today to be honest. I’ve always watched this event as a kid, so it seems unreal to me, to be here. I can’t wait to see what happens next!”
Filling out the remaining E1 podium after four days is Cooper Sheidow (Kessner Motorcycles, KTM) and Jeremy Carpentier (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team), with respective times of 2:34:01.318 and 2:34:32.634. Contrastingly though, it was Sheidow and Blake Hollis who claimed the silver and bronze in the Final Moto, knocking Carpentier down to fourth.
2022 A4DE E1 Top 3 Provisional Progressive Results
1 Kyron Bacon (Shop Yamaha Offroad Racing Team) 2:29:38.401 2 Cooper Sheidow (Kessner Motorcycles, KTM) 2:34:01.318 3 Jeremy Carpentier (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) 2:34:32.634
E2 He had some challenges throughout the event, especially in Day 3 after losing to Waters. After all that though, the E2 A4DE title was won by Green with nearly a minute to spare! The Yamaha racer has solidified a place in every fans heart, after earning a hard fought title with a total time of 2:31:34.604.
He had some challenges throughout the event, especially in Day 3 after losing to Waters. After all that though, the E2 A4DE title was won by Green with nearly a minute to spare!
“I’m pretty relieved to finish off Day 4. It was hard work. I got a good start and the holeshot [in the Final Moto]! I was about two laps in and thought to myself ‘wow, that red plate holder is on my back wheel’. It was an awesome weekend – challenging, slippery and hard to race. I had a few mistakes this event, so we’ll go back to the drawing board and learn from it. I’m super stoked to be racing Toddy [Waters], we have great banter and I love it.”
Waters took home an impressive second place win overall in E2, demonstrating how versatile his skill set is in both Motocross and Enduro. Waters also won the Final Moto with a total time of 15:08.634, beating Green by nearly six seconds. Beta’s Fraser Higlett stole third place overall, just behind Waters with a total time of 2:35:58.657. With a result like that, it bodes well for Higlett’s remaining Enduro 2022 racing season.
2022 A4DE E2 Top 3 Provisional Progressive Results
1 Joshua Green (Shop Yamaha Offroad Racing Team) 2:31:34.604 2 Todd Waters (Husqvarna Offroad Racing Team) 2:32:36.528 3 Fraser Higlett (Beta) 2:35:58.657
E3 After years away from racing, Mason came back with a fire in his belly and it well and truly paid off! Winning the 2022 E3 title, Mason has demonstrated his undeniable skills on his Gas Gas, clocking in a total time over four days of 2:32:27.991.
After years away from racing, Mason came back with a fire in his belly and it well and truly paid off!
“I feel relieved that I can put this A4DE in the books. Today was good – I had a bit of a scare before the Final Moto, where my kickstarter broke just before the race. But we got it sorted and this event has reflected my best results. I didn’t know what to expect coming into the event. I was aiming for a top 10 finish and to get in the top five after time off is a great confidence boost.”
Even with a penalty, Wilksch finished Day 4 with an extremely impressive result. Claiming the Final Moto win in E3 with a total time of 15:21.505, the Husqvarna boarded rider put on a spectacular show for fans, as he tussled with Mason for the gold. Wilksch also walks away from Erica with a second place win overall in E3. KTM’s Stefan Granquist protected his third place position in E3 overall and in the Final Moto, finishing the A4DE with a total time of 2:34:05.969.
2022 A4DE E3 Top 3 Provisional Progressive Results
1 Thomas Mason (Gas Gas) 2:32:27.991 2 Andrew Wilksch (Simford Racing, Husqvarna) 2:33:14.324 3 Stefan Granquist (KTM Offroad Racing Team) 2:34:05.969
Women She’s seemingly unstoppable! Gardiner took home her 6th A4DE Women’s title today, after smoking the competition in the Final Moto. With a total time of 17:18.835, Gardiner demonstrated her prowess both in the tight and technical, as well as on the open straight.
Gardiner took home her 6th A4DE Women’s title today, after smoking the competition in the Final Moto.
Looking back on her fantastic four days here in Erica, Gardiner confirmed that “I feel ecstatic to earn my sixth title! I was nervous going into the Final Moto. Everyone is watching and your body is tired, but you need to put on a show and demonstrate your riding style. The start was exhilarating, where I needed to keep ahead of Emelie who’s on a bigger bike. I was lucky to get that holeshot and it set me up well for the rest of the rest. Winning definitely doesn’t get old! I’m so thrilled with this result.”
KTM’s Emelie Karlsson finished Day 4 with a fantastic result of second place! Navigating tough conditions and long hours on the bike, Karlsson earnt both second place in the Final Moto and in the overall Women’s class. Last but certainly not least, Ebony Nielsen (KTM) claimed third overall after her first ever A4DE! With a humble mindset of staying upright for four days, Nielsen’s end result is a testament to her skillset.
2022 A4DE Women Top 3 Provisional Progressive Results
Veteran Day 3 may have been a struggle for the 2022 Veteran Champ, but Day 4 brought in the rewards for Lloyd! Coming in third in the Final Moto, Lloyd’s steady and consistent times earnt him the 2022 title.
Day 3 may have been a struggle for the 2022 Veteran Champ, but Day 4 brought in the rewards for Lloyd!
“I’m honestly feeling pretty wrecked after the past four days. The conditions have been pretty slick, which is not what I’m used to. It’s hard coming from dry conditions, to tracks that are hard packed and slick. It’s been challenging but my Husqvarna has served me well.” said Lloyd
Richard Chibnall took home second place overall in the Veteran class, finishing four days with a total time of 2:48:53.467. The Final Moto winner was Steven Powell, who finished five laps with a total time of 16:26.167. This fantastic result ensured he went home with a third place finish overall.
2022 A4DE Veteran Top 3 Provisional Progressive Results
1 Darren Lloyd 2:48:20.134 2 Richard Chibnall 2:48:53.467 3 Steven Powell 2:50:22.980
Masters Over in Masters, Salopayers fought back after a tough Day 3, to win the overall 2022 title! With an overall progressive time of 2:54:57.959, he set a considerable lead in the class.
Over in Masters, Salopayers fought back after a tough Day 3, to win the overall 2022 title!
“I’m feeling really good after the Final Moto. It’s been a great time, great event and even the weather held out! I struggled in the wet, slippery conditions but overall I enjoyed my time here in Erica.”
The Final Moto today was won by Day 3 winner, Jason Haas with a total time of 17:06.563. With the strong lead, Haas also ensured his second place finish overall.Third place for the 2022 A4DE was awarded to Scott Szabo, who finished with a time of 2:58:34.644.
2022 A4DE Masters Top 3 Provisional Progressive Results
1 Jason Salopayers 2:54:57.959 2 Jason Haas 2:56:26.733 3 Scott Szabo 2:58:34.644
Senior Trophy Team Queensland (QLD) have taken home the 2022 Challenge Trophy, after clocking in a total time of 40:13.456. The combined efforts of William Dennett, Higlett, Thomas McCormack, Kaleb Treasure, Waters and Blake Hollis, enabled the QLD team to clinch the win overall and on all four days!
Queensland (QLD) have taken home the 2022 Challenge Trophy, after clocking in a total time of 40:13.456.
Victoria (VIC) conceded for second place overall, thanks to the high-speeds and strong focus from Chibnall, Simon Cox, Jacob Deagan, Mason, Monique Simioni and Wilksch. After four days, the VIC team finished with a time of 2:32:17.999.
The podium was rounded out by New South Wales (NSW), with a total time of 6:24:10.366, by Carpentier, Granquist, Brad Hardaker, Brock Nichols, Bacon and Green.
2022 A4DE Senior Trophy Team Overall Provisional Results
Junior Trophy Team VIC came out victorious though in the 2022 Junior Trophy, taking home the gold with a total time of 40:42.106. The VIC Junior Trophy team was made up by Nicholas Graham, Riley McGillivray, Patrick McGillivray and William Price. NSW filled out second place, with a total time of 4:29:56.559, with the help of Luke Chellas, Thomas Foster, Korey McMahon and Sheidow.
VIC came out victorious though in the 2022 Junior Trophy, taking home the gold with a total time of 40:42.106.
2022 A4DE Junior Trophy Team Overall Provisional Results
1 VIC 40:42.106 2 NSW 4:29:56.559
Women’s Trophy Team NSW may not have won the Senior or Junior Trophy but they came away victorious for the 2022 Women’s Trophy! With the help of Julie Denyer, Gardiner and Karlsson, the NSW team won with an overall time of 05:10.884. QLD took out second place, with a total time of 3:24.17.238, with team members Emily Bielenberg and Ebony Nielsen. VIC filled out the final podium spot with a time of 7:34:04.351, through members Holly Blake, Rachel Boyle and Angela Scott.
NSW may not have won the Senior or Junior Trophy but they came away victorious for the 2022 Women’s Trophy!
2022 A4DE Women’s Trophy Team Overall Provisional Results
166 kilometres, over six hours on the bike and icy temperatures awaited our 2022 Prestige Iveco Australian Four Day Enduro (A4DE) field, for Day 3. For this the penultimate day for the A4DE, the MKD/NEET, Beta, Husqvarna and KTM tracks were slippery at best and truly put world-class racers through their paces.
For this the penultimate day for the A4DE, the MKD/NEET, Beta, Husqvarna and KTM tracks were slippery at best and truly put world-class racers through their paces.
Richard Chibnall in Veteran and Jason Haas in Masters also shook up their class leader board. Claiming their third class wins and strengthening their A4DE victor campaigns was Kyron Bacon (Shop Yamaha Offroad Racing Team) in E1, Andrew Wilksch in E3 and Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) in Women.
E1 Claiming another fastest time with 47:56.945, Bacon is looking very comfortable ahead of the fourth and final day. Heading into the Final Moto, Bacon’s exceptional results hint at a very high-speed, high-heart-rate event! All eyes will be on him as he guns for the holeshot.
Heading into the Final Moto, Bacon’s exceptional results hint at a very high-speed, high-heart-rate event!
Yamaha’s Jeremy Carpentier boosted his position in E1 on day three, landing back on the podium with a total time of 49:04.283. Likely taking learnings from yesterday’s challenges, Carpentier notched up strong results all day, claiming a well deserved second place for Day 3. Cooper Sheidow once again took out third place for Day 3, with a total time of 49:11.324. Gas Gas’s Korey McMahon, whom fans will remember from yesterday’s podium, was unfortunately a DNF.
2022 A4DE E1 Day 3 Top 3 Provisional Results
1 Kyron Bacon (Shop Yamaha Offroad Racing Team) 47:56.945 2 Jeremy Carpentier (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) 49:04.283 3 Cooper Sheidow (Kessner Motorcycles, KTM) 49:11.324
E2 Day 3 was Waters’ time to shine, as he clocked in the top E2 result with a total time of 48:33.178. Remaining a steady and consistent force across the MKD/NEET, Beta, Husqvarna and KTM tests, the MX superstar quietly pushed onward to a fantastic result.
Marking his first four-day, Waters took like a duck to water and is using each day to move from strength to strength.
Green was close behind Waters with a total time of 48:47.596, securing second place for Day 3.Fraser Higlett once again stole away third place in E2, with a total time of 49:54.605. Higlett continues to demonstrate his powerful presence in Enduro across the A4DE, as he navigates a new team and bike.
2022 A4DE E2 Day 3 Top 3 Provisional Results
1 Todd Waters (Husqvarna Offroad Racing Team) 48:33.178 2 Joshua Green (Shop Yamaha Offroad Racing Team) 48:47.596 3 Fraser Higlett (Beta) 49:54.605
E3 Wilksch continues to keep a steady hold on first place in E3, finishing a gruelling Day 3 with a total time of 48:21.260. The Husqvarna boarded racer was close behind Bacon for the fastest time of the day, yet after six and a half hours on the bike, he just couldn’t catch the Yamaha rider.
Wilksch continues to keep a steady hold on first place in E3, finishing a gruelling Day 3 with a total time of 48:21.260.
Thomas Mason was hot on Wilksch’s heels, finishing in second for Day 3 with a total time of 48:33.483. Marking his first collection of test wins, the conditions were ideal for the Gas Gas rider who clearly thrived on day three’s greasy tracks. KTM’s Stefan Granquist held on strong to third place for Day 3. With a total time of 49:06.715, Granquist has protected his position on the podium ahead of Riley McGillivray by well over one minute.
2022 A4DE E3 Day 3 Top 3 Provisional Results:
1 Andrew Wilksch (Simford Racing, Husqvarna) 48:21.260 2 Thomas Mason (Gas Gas) 48:33.483 3 Stefan Granquist (KTM Offroad Racing Team) 49:06.715
Women The Erica conditions is clearly treating Yamaha’s Gardiner to a spectacular A4DE, as she took out another Women’s class win! With a total time of 54:29.870, Gardiner continues to put time between her and KTM pocket rocket, Emelie Karlsson.
The Erica conditions is clearly treating Yamaha’s Gardiner to a spectacular A4DE, as she took out another class win!
Karlsson claimed second place again, with a total time of 56:32.090. After managing an injury and days of long hours on the bike, Karlsson continues to push onward and upward. Heading into day four’s Final Moto, fans will be keeping a close eye on Gardiner and Karlsson, as they fight for those valuable seconds that separate gold and silver trophies.
Fellow KTM boarded racer, Ebony Nielsen had another strong day in Erica, claiming her consecutive third place win in Women’s. Marking her first ever A4DE, Nielsen has grown from strength to strength as she pushes mind and body over four hard days on the bike.
Veteran It was a very happy day for Chibnall, who pushed his way up the podium to first place for Day 3! Former Day 1 and 2 Veteran victor, Darren Lloyd dropped down to second place for Day 3, finishing 166 kilometres with a total time of 54:05.022. Christopher Thomas finished Day 3 on a high, propelling his position up the ranks into third. With a total time of 54:05.412, Thomas was a hairsbreadth away from second place!
It was a very happy day for Chibnall, who pushed his way up the podium to first place for Day 3!
2022 A4DE Veteran Day 3 Top 3 Provisional Results
1 Richard Chibnall 53:23.437 2 Darren Lloyd 54:05.022 3 Christopher Thomas 54:05.412
Masters It was an exciting tango over in Masters, between Day 1 and 2 winner Jason Salopayers and Haas. Over the course of the near seven-hour day, Haas clocked in the fastest time of the two, 55:48.067. Winning a well earnt first place spot for Day 3, Haas has set an exciting tone for day four’s Final Moto.
It was an exciting tango over in Masters, between Day 1 and 2 winner Jason Salopayers and Haas.
Salopayers settled for second place, with a total time of 56:06.473. Brandon Kienhuis pushed hard for a glittering final result of third. This marks Kienhuis’ first podium spot in Masters for the 2022 A4DE, signalling an exciting Day 4 as he fights to protect his bronze.
2022 A4DE Masters Day 3 Top 3 Provisional Results
1 Jason Haas 55:48.067 2 Jason Salopayers 56:06.473 3 Brandon Kienhuis 56:29.316
The only thing that held off on Day Two was the rain, as a jampacked field tackled 187 kilometres for Day 2 of the 2022 Prestige Iveco Australian Four Day Enduro (A4DE). Notching up over seven hours on the bike, more than 230 riders navigated muddy, slippery conditions across the course.
The only thing that held off on Day Two was the rain, as a jampacked field tackled 187 kilometres for Day 2 of the 2022 Prestige Iveco Australian Four Day Enduro (A4DE).
Bacon in E1, Joshua Green (Shop Yamaha Offroad Racing Team) in E2, Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) in Women, Darren Lloyd in Veteran and Jason Salopayers in Masters all claimed consecutive wins, cementing a promising future for the final two days of the Australian Four Day Enduro.
E1 Humble by nature, contrastingly fearless in action, Bacon was clearly unstoppable in E1. With a total time of 1:02:15.927, Bacon cooked any chance of his rivals putting him under pressure. Even as he navigated the fondly coined ‘Hotel Slide’ section of the Husqvarna test track, the Yamaha boarded speed demon finished seven gruelling hours, unruffled.
With a total time of 1:02:15.927, Bacon cooked any chance of his rivals putting him under pressure.
Behind Bacon in second place for Day 2 was Gas Gas’s Korey McMahon, who took his learnings from yesterday, improved and came away with a strong result. With a total time of 1:03:57.355, McMahon continues to prove time and time again, why he’s such a contender in the Enduro space. Third place for Day 2 was won by Cooper Sheidow, with a total time of 1:04:09.490.
2022 A4DE E1 Day 2 Top 3 Provisional Results
1 Kyron Bacon (Shop Yamaha Offroad Racing Team) 1:02:15.927 2 Korey McMahon 1:03:57.355 3 Cooper Sheidow 1:04:09.490
E2 It was Groundhog Day in E2 for Day 2, with the same three frontrunners claiming first, second and third. Green set a cracking pace all day, comfortably claiming gold with a lead of over one minute. Although the conditions were tough – if not tougher than Day One – Green remained on-brand with his cool, calm and collected attitude.
Green set a cracking pace all day, comfortably claiming gold with a lead of over one minute. Although the conditions were tough Green remained on-brand with his cool, calm and collected attitude.
Todd Waters took out second place today with a total time of 1:04:10.056, ahead of Beta’s Fraser Higlett. You wouldn’t have known it was Waters’ first Australian Four Day Enduro, who swung out times all day that marked him as a top contender. Higlett closed off the podium for Day 2 with a total time of just 1:05:05.681.
2022 A4DE E2 Day 2 Top 3 Provisional Results
1 Joshua Green (Shop Yamaha Offroad Racing Team) 1:02:57.984 2 Todd Waters (Husqvarna Offroad Racing Team) 1:04:10.056 3 Fraser Higlett (Beta) 1:05:05.681
E3 After Day One’s penalty for Wilksch, Enduro fans were keeping a keen eye on results to see how the Husqvarna rider clapped back to improve his standings. We were not disappointed. Wilksch clocked in a time of 1:02:37.104, marking a near one minute lead for the day ahead of his E3 competition.
After Day One’s penalty for Wilksch, Enduro fans were keeping a keen eye on results to see how the Husqvarna rider clapped back to improve his standings.
Thomas Mason pushed ahead of KTM’s Stefan Granquist today, claiming second place with a total time of 1:03:36.122. Granquist in third for the day with a total time of 1:04:43.693.
2022 A4DE E3 Day 2 Top 3 Provisional Results
1 Andrew Wilksch (Simford Racing, Husqvarna) 1:02:37.104 2 Thomas Mason 1:03:36.122 3 Stefan Granquist (KTM Offroad Racing Team) 1:04:43.693
Women Over in the Women’s class, Gardiner claimed a consecutive win. This is set to make for an exciting final two days of the A4DE, as the Yamaha boarded racer seeks to increase her current lead time. Emelie Karlsson was hot on Gardiner’s heels, with strong times through the day. Finishing Day 2 with a total time of 1:13:34.340, Karlsson finished ahead of Ebony Nielsen. Nielsen pushed Monique Simioni off the podium today, finishing seven hours on her bike with a total time of 1:18:05.026.
Over in the Women’s class, Gardiner claimed a consecutive win. This is set to make for an exciting final two days of the A4DE, as the Yamaha boarded racer seeks to increase her current lead time.
Veteran Lloyd has continued a great streak here in Erica, with the Day 2 Veteran class win. With a total time of 1:09:20.052, Lloyd finished ahead of Jason Dwyer, with a lead time of over one minute. Richard Chibnall claimed the final podium spot for Day 2, with a total time of just 1:11:04.386.
With a total time of 1:09:20.052, Lloyd finished ahead of Jason Dwyer, with a lead time of over one minute.
2022 A4DE Veteran Day 2 Top 3 Provisional Results
1 Darren Lloyd 1:09:20.052 2 Jason Dwyer 1:10:44.234 3 Richard Chibnall 1:11:04.386
Masters Erica is treating Salopayers very nicely, with another win. With a total time of 1:12:36.713, Salopayers finished ahead of Jason Haas, by over one minute. Haas and Scott Szabo took out second and third respectively, with times of 1:13:46.799 and 1:14:51.858.
With a total time of 1:12:36.713, Salopayers finished ahead of Jason Haas, by over one minute.
2022 A4DE Masters Day 2 Top 3 Provisional Results
1 Jason Salopayers 1:12:36.713 2 Jason Haas 1:13:46.799 3 Scott Szabo 1:14:51.858
I rode seven bikes during my day at the test event at Portimao, held on the Monday after the final WSBK round of the 2011 season. Each test was an experience in itself, from the team members to the bikes and the riders, but there was one bike I was really excited about.
Riding a number of the fastest bikes in the world on one of the best tracks in the world is on every racing fans bucket list…
The bike I was most keen on actually wasn’t the Althea Ducati of Carlos Checa, or the Alitalia Aprilia of Max Biaggi. OK, so Marco Melandri’s R1 was one of the bikes I was really stoked to ride but – it was the Castrol Honda CBR1000RR that really had me excited.
Growing up idolising the likes of Aaron Slight, Carl Fogarty, Joey Dunlop and Colin Edwards on their Castrol Hondas has engrained the Castrol Honda colours and name in the youthful and enthusiastic area of my brain – you know that bit? It’s the part that fades when the mortgage and kids come along.
The iconic Castrol livery is instantly recognisable. Over a decade later, it’s one of the best looking liveries to grace the grid.
So as I jumped on the plane for the long haul from Sydney to Lisbon I started re-visiting the history books. After getting one or eight bloody mary’s into me on and being told about the ‘responsible drinking policy’ by the hostess, I shut my eyes and began to remember all the late nights watching WSBK in 1990s in our boiling hot family lounge room – then walking to school half asleep the next day, getting kicked out of class for spending my time sketching Castrol Honda RC45s in my books.
So there I was 20 years later, driving a hire car from Lisbon to Portimao to ride the latest generation Castrol Honda superbike. I’m thinking how lucky I am, how there’s a kid out there somewhere just like I was – watching the races on TV, Jonathan Rea posters in their room, sketching Castrol Honda’s in their schoolbooks but probably with a worse haircut than I had back in the day.
Jeff said the Castrol Honda’s were always a favourite of his when he was growing up. Let’s be honest though, they were everyone’s favourite too..
THE RIDE
I’ve just jumped off the Alitalia Aprilia RSV4, the fastest motorcycle I think I’ve ever ridden. It’s hot. I have no time to spare so I rush to the Castrol Honda garage for my allotted test on the CBR. I meet Tarsh Weston, an Aussie from Phillip Island who runs a PR and Marketing business with clients like Kawasaki, Ten Kate Honda and Castrol Honda.
Tarsh happens to be engaged to Jonny Rea. I tell her to stand by and watch how it’s really done. Then I tell the mechanic to put a real man sized spring on the shock, I eat lots of meat and drink lots of beer. I tell them, It took two Kangaroos to make this leather suit, I make terrible jokes when I’m nervous. A few laughs and a few odd looks and I’m heading up pit lane on the pit lane speed limiter. It all sinks in. I’m riding a real Castrol Honda WSBK machine.
“Despite a big height difference between Rea and I, I instantly felt at home on the Honda.”
Last year my test at Magny Cours was rained out, that was hard to take after an epic trip there. The year before I sent our own Wayne Gardner to ride the bikes, also here at Portimao. He found the Castrol Honda peaky, with vague brake and with wide offsets and lots of trail. He called it a one-line bike that was not as raceable as he expected on a circuit like Portimao. I was interested to see if things were still like this, as the other bikes on the day were not like that so far.
As I roll onto the chute and short-shift to fourth gear for a run down to turn one for the first time I find myself instantly feeling at home on the bike. Despite a height difference of about three meters between Rea and myself, I actually fit. The bars are fairly wide and flat but not as radically MX looking as they seem on TV. Just more of a flat angle than stock and slightly wider, they are not low, like Checa’s old school set-up on the Ducati.
Multiple maps switches and remote front brake lever adjustment.
“The bars were surprisingly wide and flat.”
It feels slim and the screen is nice and tall. The pegs and levers all fall in a natural position – much like the streetbike feels and the machine, despite having a fair amount of ride height in it, is not as tall in the back as I expected. In fact out of all of the machines I’ve ridden today this one feels the most balanced.
I have to put my head down immediately as we only get three laps, I’ve done a million laps here so I’m good to go. As I crest the hump around the back before of the circuit the front of the bike goes sky high. I didn’t ask if it has wheelie control – but either it doesn’t or it only works at higher rpm where proper riders would be in this section.
“Only getting three laps with my dream bike meant I had to put the hammer down instantly.”
The acceleration down through the dipper is incredible – second to the Alitalia Aprilia. Stronger than the rest including the BMW, which I’m convinced, was heavily wound back for us journalists on the day.
I arrive at turn 10 a tight right-hander and brake hard. The forks dive through their stroke fairly quickly and the back of the bike gets a little unstable. This has been common today – my weight plus my lack of finesse on the brakes.
Ohlins FGR900 forks with TTX system.
Ohlins TTX36 with hydraulic preload adjuster added.
It’s easy to turn the bike regardless and get through the corner, accelerating hard down the hill around to turn 12. From 12 to the chute is where the Castrol Honda really feels fast. That power delivery again has me feeling confident to open the throttle earlier and harder than on the other bikes today so out of turn 13 I’m going faster than ever – there seems to be more feel from the rear of this bike than the other WSBK machines.
Cresting the hill onto the chute, the bike rears it’s head and gives a gentle shake. I tuck in tight and click via the quickshifter through the neat ‘box to fifth gear only. The CBR is so freaking fast compared to any other I’ve ridden, including the past three or four generations of factory Australian Superbikes. Think of your streetbike acceleration in second gear, now think of your streetbikes acceleration in second gear down a steep hill. That’s what this bike feels like in fourth and fifth.
Jeff recalled that the acceleration, even in the higher gears, is out of this world on these bikes.
I sit up just before the downhill and really brake in the dip at the end, back shifting to second gear. The gearbox is so neat the clutch slip makes the bike feel like a two-stroke. Hard braking while turning into T1 then accelerating hard to T2 and T3, the CBR rides the few bumps there and feels so nimble. Into the uphill T3 it is the only superbike I’ve been able to easily get in tight and neat quickly, stand it up and fire it off without feeling like I’m going to run out of track as I come onto the short straight at T5.
Between T5 and T6 the Castrol Honda is so fast but that braking stability I felt into T10 appears again at T6. The rear of the bike gets unstable and throws me out a bit. I do like the back of a bike to come around a bit on the hard brakes, it helps me have some sort of feel for the rear, but it throws me off a little on the Castrol Honda. I put it down to my 85kg weight. Still, no problems to turn it tight and fire it off up the hill out of the corner.
Nissin/Yutaka floating 220mm rotor, single caliper.
I have one more flying lap and that’s it. I might never get this kind of opportunity again. I’m going to enjoy this. I truly, honestly put my head down. If I crash then that would really suck but what would suck more is if I don’t ride a real WSBK bike in anger when I have had to opportunity to do so, I’ve fallen off about nine million bikes so it’s not going to be the end of the world.
The SC1 tyres fitted are so, so incredible. They were new when I jumped on the bike so after the first lap they are in that perfect place. Again the bike shakes its head gently over the crest onto the chute, I click fifth gear and bury my big head. I go as close as I have yet to the crest of the hill before rolling off and braking, the bike stays so stable because I’m calmer and slowed my actions down.
“On my final lap I decided it was time to put the hammer down for real and give the bike everything it has.”
I peel into T1 harder and with more lean angle than I have all day and crack the throttle much earlier, and wider, for the run up to T3. Again into T3 I’m braking harder and with more lean angle than before. I’m pretty much at my limit, which is domestic A grade and it’s been the same limit for 20 years. I head towards T6 with much more speed and really have one of those hard braking, turning, hold my breath shit I’m going to die entries into T6.
The bike absolutely hauls up the hill and through the fast T8 and again I’m getting that feeling of injury as I brake at what seems to be an impossible lean angle into T9. Up over the crest carrying more speed and rpm, the bike doesn’t try and spit me over the back like it did when I was going slower.
2011 Castrol Honda WorldSBK.
PI Research PECTEL fuel injection, 46mm throttle-bodies, HRC airfilter and airbox.
I go through the dip flat in third (pretty sure the WSBK guys do it in fourth!) and brake hard for T10. Fire it down the hill for and suddenly I’m again in need of Oxygen as I think I’ve overshot T13 but Jesus Christ these brake and tyres are insane. I almost fall off as I change direction for T14 but I get the bike in there really nice and tight and get on the throttle hard, using every inch of track on exit before rolling off gently and entering pit lane.
I’m shaking as I hop off the bike and grinning ear to ear. When you spend your life riding motorcycles for a job and ride your own bikes on weekends, it takes something special to really get that buzz you got the very first time you rode a bike. Well, I got that buzz on the Castrol Honda. I’m glad I didn’t crash, I’m glad I took the risk, I have no idea how fast or slow I was. I’m just stoked that I had the chance to experience how good these machine and their riders really are.
Balanced, fast, quick steering yet stable and needed much less lean angle than any of the other bikes out there.
The Castrol Honda was amazing. Balanced, fast, quick steering yet stable and needed much less lean angle than any of the other bikes out there (aside from Melandri’s R1), to get through a corner at the same speed. It felt safer to ride. Used less track and also left more room for error and more lean angle up your sleeve if it all goes wrong.
Jonathan Rea Interview (2011 end of season).
Jonathan Rea spoke about how the 2011 Castrol Honda had some major changes all throughout the seasons between 2008 to 2011. He also gave his opinions on what needed to be changed and what he struggled with the most across the season on the bike.
How could you not love that timeless livery? Check out what Jonathan Rea had to say about the bike…
JW – How much did the 2011 machine change between 2008 and 2011?
Jonathan Rea – As a race machine my bike has got much easier to ride. Mid-way through 2009 we swapped from WP to Ohlins suspension and together with my Team we have developed the PI electronics package to what it is today.
Under the fairing, the honda looks tidy and relatively stock with all the secrets hidden away.
JW – What are two key strong points and weak points of the 2011 machine?
Jonathan Rea – Strongest points of the bike are high-speed direction change and it’s quite easy to ride. Weakest points are top speed and corner entry stability before the PI ride-by-wire was introduced mid-way through 2011.
JW – What are the main two key improvements you have asked for 2012?
Jonathan Rea – We will now work with the Factory Ohlins suspension guys as well as one of their suspension technicians and my team are working hard to find some horsepower.
Finding more horsepower was a main concern of Rea’s going into the 2012 season. The Honda struggled compared to some of the other machines on the grid.
JW – Did you have fun riding the 2011 Castrol Honda?
Jonathan Rea – To be honest in the middle of the season I was enjoying riding it at all – and then I got injured – which was maybe a blessing as when I came back we started to work towards the 2012 bike which meant changes with electronics, Cosworth PI and the ride-by-wire introduction.
The Honda has stream-lined curves that make it like a dart through the air…
2011 WSBK Castrol Honda Fireblade Specifications
Power: Over 215hp
Wet weight: Under 165kg
Fuel capacity: 22L
Engine: Liquid-cooled 16-valve inline four-cylinder four-stroke
Bore and stroke: 76 x 55.1mm
Displacement: 999.8cc
Fuel delivery: PI Research PECTEL fuel injection, 46mm throttle-bodies, HRC airfilter and airbox
Exhaust: Arrow four-into-one titanium
Gearbox: HRC kit cassette style with 1.717 primary ratio, race shift with quickshifter
Clutch: STM wet multi-plate slipper clutch, cable actuation, 520 chain final drive
Frame type: Diamond aluminium composite twin-spar
Wheelbase: Adjustable
Rake: Adjustable
Trail: Adjustable
Front suspension: Ohlins FGR900 forks with TTX system
Rear suspension: Ohlins TTX36 with hydraulic preload adjuster added
Front brakes: Nissin/Yutaka floating 320mm rotors, radial-mount monoblock calipers
Rear brake: Nissin/Yutaka floating 220mm rotor, single caliper
Front wheel: PVM Magnesium forged seven-spoke, 16.5 x 3.50in
Rear wheel: PVM Magnesium forged seven-spoke, 16.5 x 6.25in
Front tyre: Pirelli Slick, 120/70 – 16.5
Rear tyre: Pirelli slick, 190/50 or 200/65 – 16.5
Instruments: PI Research race dash
2011 WSBK Jonathan Rea Honda Fireblade Gallery
The Honda has stream-lined curves that make it like a dart through the air.
Jeff said the Castrol Honda’s were always a favourite of his when he was growing up. Let’s be honest though, they were everyone’s favourite too..
Nissin/Yutaka floating 220mm rotor, single caliper.
“The bars were surprisingly wide and flat.”
Multiple maps switches and remote front brake lever adjustment.
2011 Castrol Honda WorldSBK.
PI Research PECTEL fuel injection, 46mm throttle-bodies, HRC airfilter and airbox.
Under the fairing, the honda looks tidy and relatively stock with all the secrets hidden away.
Ohlins FGR900 forks with TTX system.
Finding more horsepower was a main concern of Rea’s going into the 2012 season. The Honda struggled compared to some of the other machines on the grid.
How could you not love that timeless livery?
Riding a number of the fastest bikes in the world on one of the best tracks on the calendar is on every racing fans bucket list…
Balanced, fast, quick steering yet stable and needed much less lean angle than any of the other bikes out there.
Jeff recalled that the acceleration, even in the higher gears, is out of this world on these bikes.
The iconic Castrol livery is instantly recognisable. Over a decade later, it’s one of the best looking liveries to grace racing grids.
Ohlins TTX36 with hydraulic preload adjuster added.
