The QBE Barry Sheene Festival of Speed has always been another resounding success, as riders and spectators alike enjoy a weekend of historic and classic motorcycle racing, with the weather showing good form for three days of racing.
The Barry Sheene Festival Of Speed is a great event that sees three days of classic and historic racing at SMSP.
A change in the program saw racing commence after lunch on the Friday, providing additional events for the many keen racers as well as an even more action packed experience for everyone else.
Special guests included Phil Read MBE aboard a Yamaha TD3, who stunned spectators with his riding skills at a ripe old age of just 75, before leading the Parade Lap aboard a Yamaha TZ750. He took third in the Post Classic 250cc category aboard his Yamaha TD3 proving that age is just a number. Maria Costello MBE, FIM Ambassador of Women in Motorcycle Sports was also present, racing on a Honda RS125, VFR500 and Norton 500 Manx.
Donald and Dibs are no strangers to classic racing, always familiar faces at the BSFS.
In the Barry Sheene Memorial Race it was Cameron Donald and Michael Dibbs wowing the crowds, riding a 1981 McIntosh Suzuki 1135 and Honda F1 1150 respectively, with Donald setting a new lap record of 1:36:024 in the feature event.
In the Trans-Tasman Challenge – now entering its fourth year, competition was fierce as was to be expected with 22 competitors from New Zealand joining the Barry Sheene Festival of Speed to put on a great show with highlights including Chris Swallow winning all his races, while Scout Fletcher finished third in her events. Despite their best efforts however the Kiwi’s lost Round One of the Challenge 228 to 343, with Australian riders redeeming themselves after just losing out in the previous years years BSFS.
“Despite their best efforts however the Kiwi’s lost Round One of the Challenge 228 to 343, with Australian riders redeeming themselves after just losing out in the previous years BSFS.”
The Barry Sheene Festival of Speed was also the first round of the Australian Formula 1 and Formula 2 Sidecar Championships, with the James’s taking victory for the round in the F1 points score, while the Beare’s took top spot in the F2 category.
With the weekend proving a great success for all involved the PCRA thanked officials and flaggies for all their integral help, as well as sponsors QBE Insurance, Penrite Oil, Honda, HART Honda, Adams Print, Hawkesbury Honda, Whites Racing Products, VJMC and HELD, as well as the trade stands and bike clubs for their presence, providing off-track attractions.
Hopefully the BSFS will be back in 2022.
After a number of cancelations over the past few years.
Special thanks were also given to those who provided bikes for guest riders, including Ken Lindsay, Richard Stain, Rob Frances, Steven Kairl and Marcus De Caux.
Gaerne have released the latest in their boot line-up, the GP1 Evo. Made from lightweight materials and a comfortable yet sturdy structure, the GP1 Evo boots are perfect for those who are looking to upgrade their racing boots.
You can pick the GP1 Evo’s up in two different colour schemes for an RRP of $599.95.
Gaerne say the GP1 Evo is the ultimate racing boot from their research centre, developed in cooperations with professional riders. The floating system allows the foot to move naturally and prevents ankle twisting while the rubber inserts on the inner calf and heel provide additional grip while protecting the leg from heat.
Made of carbon composite, the GP1 evo is lightweight and strong, the carbon composite also allows the foot to move without compromising flexibility and prevents hyper extension or compression. Along with the premium materials is a high-wear resistant magnesium toe slider to ensure that the boots will last you a long time.
There’s plenty of technology packed into these boots to keep you comfortable and safe while out on the track or on the road.
A non-deformable polyurethane heel cup has also been added, this is protected by that replaceable low-friction magnesium slider. The anti-shock heel feature an internal comfort enhancing decompression zone, located between the inside and sole.
If you’re interested in the GP1 Evo boots, you can head to the Gaerne website here. If you are interested in purchasing a pair, contact Cassons and they will find a store that stocks them near you or direct you to an online purchasing system.
Having a full-time job and racing in the Australian Superbike Championship, is more than a full-time job in itself, let alone taking on the responsibilities of owning and running a team with an additional two riders who compete in three classes. But that is exactly what Jed Metcher does! – MA.
In late 2019, Jed set about not only organising a permanent Superbike ride for himself, but successfully developed the Metcher Motorsport team which had its debut at ASBK in 2020.
Metcher, 31, is no stranger to ASBK fans, having had great success in Australian Championships spanning over two decades. He has competed in the 125cc and Supersport classes in the early 2000’s, raced at World Superbike, MotoGP and dominated overseas winning the 2011 European Superstock 600 Championship.
Metcher runs a three-bike team. Himself aboard a Yamaha R1 in the Superbike class, and manages and mentors two young guns in South Australian Ty Lynch in the Motorsports TV Supersport class aboard a Yamaha YZF-R6, and New Zealander Caleb Gilmore on a Yamaha YZF-R3 in the Dunlop Supersport 300 class and Yamaha Finance R3 Cup.
In 2020 Metcher scored a top ten finish, while Gilmore and Lynch, because of COVID-19 restrictions were unable to attend the final two rounds which ended their chances of a top ten finish.
Nearly two years on from setting up the team, Metcher has a committed crew and strong sponsorship support including Siemec, Yamaha, YRD, Valid Technologies, Fusport, YamaLube, Plus Racing, and Kabuto Helmets which have helped him break into the top ten of the Championship this year and now sits in 9th place.
As a team owner/manager/rider, Metcher still pinches himself at the success his team has had in such a short period, and yet he still has goals to achieve.
Metcher Motorsport spans across multiple categories, with Ty Lynch riding the R6 and Caleb Gilmore riding the R3.
Jed Metcher:“It is a dream that we get to do something that a lot of people would want to do. Having the team all be so excited on race weekend and everyone being happy and laughing that’s our win before we even get to win races. We want the team to be relaxed. That helps us attract sponsors as people want to be involved in it.”
“We have great support from Siemec who love being part of the team, they are a perfect fit, and we have a lot of support from Yamaha as well who are helping us develop the bikes and their support will continue into next year. It was always the goal to have a three-rider team and to be in a position where we are doing well is great. We are getting there now, I’ve recently been up in Queensland doing some testing and we have Stewart Winton helping us out, and he’s a massive wealth of knowledge as former crew chief to Josh Brookes – he has won a few championships.”
Jed says he has been been able to step back and appreciate what they have now with the team.
“It’s tough, I’m a tradie and I work hard during the week, do as as much exercise as I can after work and put in a lot of hours on the team as well. The secret ingredient is passionate people who are willing to put in time and effort. The reward is we love what we do, and we want to be involved. Everybody has a day job, Dad is our key guy, and he maintains the team, bikes and truck and does the elbow grease jobs. We have people who are passionate and love the sport and want to be involved in the team and Siemec have been a savior.”
“Working with Caleb and Ty is amazing, it’s part of the race meeting I really enjoy, especially seeing them progress. Ty had a really good pre-season, and was really fast, he is one of the elite riders in the same way that Troy Herfoss is, he is super fit. Ty is recovering physically, and he’s been on the bike a couple of times but its going to be hard for him. I hope that he is back to full strength this year. Caleb has come forward in leaps and bounds, and he is top three material. He’s matured in the last three months and has come a long way and definitely has the pace.”
Ty Lynch
Caleb Gilmore
“We still have a way to go with the Yamaha R1, but are making good progress. At Winton we should have been 4th or 5th, at Wakefield we struggled, and Darwin which I hadn’t been to before was a little tricky. Arthur Sissis is doing a great job, and the thing is a rocket ship with him on it. If we can compete with Arthur, and finish 4th or 5th then we’ve done a really good job. I think we will get a run on now, we have found a few things this week with testing the bike and that is certainly going to help us.”
“The last couple of years the Championship is really moving forward well. ASBK is doing an amazing job with Facebook and TV live coverage and social media, it’s given it a lot better reach, it’s amazing, and that’s what we need. The 300 class 100 per cent has reignited the Championship. ASBK has brought in an affordable class, that has opened up a whole new avenue for riders, where we now have motocross kids coming across. There are now 40-50 kids who all have Yamaha R3s who want to race each other, and it is super competitive.”
Caleb Gilmore is the Dunlop Supersport 300 and Yamaha Finance R3 Cup competitor for Metcher Motorsports.
Metcher will next year have a three rider team again as he hopes to develop his younger riders further as well as chase Championship glory himself, in the mean-time it’s back to further testing his Yamaha machinery in the hope to get the best out of the machines. Keep up to date with the latest news on the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, via their website and following ASBK on Facebook and Instagram.
The NXR2 is the latest in SHOEI’s long standing RF/NXR Series helmets, combining more than 60-years helmet design experience with the latest manufacturing technology. You can pick one up in stores now!
Shoei say the The versatile Sports Performance helmet can be used for all riding conditions from road touring and commuting to the racetrack.
The NXR2 is a step up from the original NXR, sporting improvements in ventilation, comfort and hold as well as refined aerodynamics to produce a significant reduction in drag and lift, reducing the strain on a rider’s neck. SHOEI has developed vortex generators on the side of the visor to reduce wind turbulence and noise, while new, more voluminous cheek pads further restrain wind noise within the helmet, without blocking informative road sounds.
Scanner livery.
Nocturne Pink livery.
Nocturne Black livery.
Nocturne White livery.
Each NXR2 features the new CWR-F2 visor system which provides riders with protection from 99% of UV rays and is 10% larger for improved lateral vision. The visor has a conveniently located centre closure and locking mechanism and new first position shield opening feature for advanced defogging.
“Each NXR2 features the new CWR-F2 visor system which provides riders with protection from 99% of UV rays and is 10% larger for improved lateral vision.”
Whilst the NXR2 does sport new features, staples of the SHOEI range are included, such as the Emergency Quick Release System to help first responders safely remove your helmet with minimal load on a rider’s neck. The NXR2 has also been designed and tested in SHOEI’s state-of-the-art wind tunnel facility to ensure optimum aerodynamic and ventilation performance.
Riders are kept cool with six air intakes and four exhaust outlets, with the large three position lower vent shutter designed for ease of use with riding gloves. The strategically shaped air-intake streamlines the profile of the helmet design, with a compact integrated spoiler helps reduce the forces placed on a rider’s head.
The new NXR2 is also one of the first helmet models to be certified to the latest European Standard ECE 22.06 update.
These designs are in store now!
The full range of NXR2 helmets will arrive over the coming months, with six new graphic designs in a range of colours, and six solid colours to choose from, including matt, gloss and metallic options. Prices start from $799.90 for solid colours and $949.90 for graphics. The 5 graphic designs will all be in SHOEI dealers across the country from the start of September, with Matt Black, Gloss Black and White following later in the month. Head here for more info.
Shoei NXR2 Highlights
New CWRF-2 visor is 10% larger and features new centre closure & locking mechanism
Improved Aerodynamics and stability
Increased Ventilation – 6 inlet vents and 4 exhaust.
Compact 4 shell sizes – specific to each rider’s head size
Multi-density multi-layer EPS – EPS density tailored to each wearers head size and weight
New more voluminous cheek pads reduce wind noise
Fully customisable liner and various thickness cheek pads available
Certified to the new European Standard ECE 22.06 update
AIM Fibreglass composite shell with constant thickness for maximum protection
For the last weekend in January the penguins, koalas and kangaroos have to take a back seat as Australia’s largest historic motorcycle race event and the third largest motorcycling event on the Australian calendar behind the MotoGP and World Superbike events rolls into town, it’s the International Island Classic!
The International Island Classic is one of the biggest events on the Australian Motorcycle Racing calendar.
This event has everything – there is kick arse action on track and off track it’s almost as exciting! Things such as free pit access where the fans get to rub shoulders with some of the best riders in the world and check out some serious bike porn in the pits too. Not only is bike porn in the pits, it’s also in the parking area as well, where fans gets to park their pre 1990 non-competition motorcycle pride and joy close to the pit area and turn it into a ‘showroom like parking lot’.
On the Sunday afternoon they even get to do a demonstration lap in the Shannons Parade Lap show as well and a welcome return was trade alley in the back of the paddock where you could buy official Island Classic merchandise.
It’s not all just about the on-track action. The pitlane and parking lots are full of beautiful bikes everywhere!
Another big-ticket item is the Saturday night welcome dinner with Sir Alan Cathcart interviewing all the main players including UK’s new star recruit, John McGuiness. Even Alan Cathcart thinks this event is amazing, saying, “I have been coming to the Island Classic on and off for the past ten years. It’s been fantastic to see how it has grown. Having the International Challenge was a brilliant idea. The whole event is a great success.”
In regards to the International Teams Challenge, if you’re wondering what that is all about, well, in simple terms it is a fiercely contested weekend which sees Australia V the Yanks V the Kiwis V the Poms, all going hammer and tongs to score top points to win for their country. For individual honours, riders were all battling it out to win the Ken Wootton memorial trophy and the famous Karen ‘Nurse’ Wootton’s homemade chocolate brownies.
Riders are battling it out to bring honour to their country and to score the Karen Wootton brownies!
2014 saw UK’s best line up of riders that were ready to rock and roll and go toe-to-toe with the Aussie riders and the other two teams. They brought an army of their best riders such as ex 250/500cc GP star Jeremy McWilliams, Gary Johnson and Mike ‘Spike’. At the eleventh hour, Irishman Ryan Farquhar was called in to replace Steve Brogan because of family commitments. But the biggest name to make the headline act was without a doubt, the man from Morecambe, Lancashire, 41-year old John McGuinness.
The 26-race victor at the Isle of Man TT and an accomplished endurance racer was glad to be back on Australia soil. But when he asked what it was going to be like to race his IOM TT rival Cam Donald, he said, “It’s going to be hard to deal with Cam around here that’s for sure.” “He passed me yesterday and showed me who was the ‘boss’ around Phillip Island. But we will slowly catch up and hopefully towards the end of the weekend we won’t be a million miles away.
Big names like Steve Martin are regulars at the Island Classic.
“But the likes of Shawn Giles, Steve Martin Robbie Phillis are superfast around here. Even Brendan Roberts. I have experience racing against him in BSB Superstock and he is lighting fast as well. I have a load of respect for all of these guys.”
The English team may have had their strongest line up of riders, but quite frankly the Aussie team did too… Riders such as the 1999 Australian Superbike and 2009 World Endurance champion Steve Martin, Martin’s teammate Shawn Giles. ‘Mr Superbike’ Robbie Phillis, Tasmania’s Malcolm ‘Wally’ Campbell, Current Australian Superbike racer Beau Beaton, Brendan Roberts and another IOM TT legend, Cam Donald just to name a few.
Cam Donald is another rider who is no stranger to the Island Classic, riding for Team Australia.
On track action, well it started off with an Aussie blitz from Donald. From the word go he was the early pace setter in qualifying one and looked like he was going to be the man to catch for the whole weekend. Donald steered his Manta Engineering Suzuki XR69 to a 1:38.368 in the 15-minute opening qualifying session, just 0.403s faster than countryman Beau Beaton on the K.H. Equipment/Austart Air Starters Irving Vincent.
In qualifying two however it was McWilliams (Team Winfield) who got the upper hand snaring pole position over Donald by .017sec! Giles rounded out the front row. McWilliams kept his form going in the two opening racers on Saturday beating Donald who played second fiddle to him in both racers. Race two was nothing short of a bell ringer! McWilliams, Donald, Giles and Roberts all battled it out for the whole six laps, and at the end of the race the time difference was just .272 between the four riders!
Despite the riders just battling for a trophy, the competition is fierce as all of the ex and current racers ignite the competitive part of their brains!
Race three belonged to Donald as he led from start to finish but it was not made easy as Giles gave chase the whole way. Giles’s team-mate, Roberts finished third while McWilliams had to settle for fourth,with his bike cutting out down the main straight on the first two laps which cost him any chance of victory. With this result it set the stage for an epic battle for the final race of the weekend. Donald was just one slender point ahead of McWilliams with Giles just three points off Donald.
In the most stunning outcomes, Roberts pipped McWilliams by the smallest of margins (.004s) to claim second spot behind Giles in race four. The result meant that both Giles and McWilliams finished the International Challenge races on 155-points apiece, and were subsequently declared joint winners – the first time it’s happened since the International Challenge began in 2005. Giles and McWilliams now ‘share’ the Ken Wootton Trophy as the highest individual point scorers in the International Challenge.
McGuinness and Edwards battling it out like the old days, thats the beauty of the International Island Classic!
Third place went to Roberts with a 6-4-3-2 result while Beaton was fourth with a 4-6-7-4. Rounding out the top five was McGuinness on the Harris F1 after he strung a 7-8-8-7 result. A pretty impressive result seeing McGuinness did not even sit on the bike till the Thursday at the Island Classic!
As Australia celebrated Australia Day on Sunday the 26th of January it was quite fitting that Australia retained the International Trophy for the teams challenge award winning it with 692 points on the board from the United Kingdom on 617. New Zealand was third with 367 and America in fourth with 341.
Hopefully COVID-19 restrictions will permit this great event to restart in 2022, make sure you get to Phillip Island if it does!
The final word should go to the circuit’s Managing Director, Fergus Cameron. “It’s been a fantastic weekend. The Island Classic took another step forward this year. It was always going to be hard to follow on from last year when Giacomo Agostini came out. But the International Challenge and the other entire racing certainly served it up. The level of competition is a whole lot fiercer. To have John McGuinness out here this year has been great, he has already told me that he will be back again next year for sure. This event is magnetic. People, who want to get involved, want to stay in involved. And believe me the American’s will come back next year a whole lot stronger as well.”
The Broadford Bike Bonanza is always a spectacle like nothing else on the Australian calendar, with thousands turning out to celebrate classic motorcycling, honouring the Castrol 6 Hour production race and the BP Sunraysia Desert Rally.
The Broadford Bike Bonanza has something for all kinds of motorcycle racing fans!
There is just so much going on, it’s a must-see event that rivals the Phillip Island Classic in numbers despite being a celebration of classic motorcycling rather than a race meeting. Exact crowd numbers are unconfirmed but the 8,000 each year mark would be a good estimate. The numbers are high for a reason – there was something on offer for everyone!
GP Racing
Classic Motocross
Trials/Enduro riding.
And even Speedway Sidecars!
With a road race circuit, speedway circuit, motocross track, dirt track and trials area at the Broadford complex, all disciplines of pre 1989 motorcycle were covered. There were also trade stands catering for all disciplines and clubs on hand for those wanting to join one and the pits were open to the public.
Turnouts are always impressive.
You can choose to stay the weekend if you desire!
If you wanted to enter as a participant, all you needed was either an MA licence or a day licence and to either pre enter or enter your bike on the day. The classes were Roadbike, Road Racing Bike, Road Racing Sidecar, Dirt Track Solo, MX Pre 1980, MX Pre 1990, Dirt Track Sidecar, MX Sidecar, Enduro, Speedway Solo, Speedway Sidecar and Trials! Something there for everyone! The cost to ride was great value, only $120 at the gate, $100 early bird or $80 super early bird. A road circuit garage was $400 for the weekend but could be shared while pits in the off road area were $100.
The team responsible for the weekend just want to see you out on track.
They have plenty of affordable options to get you riding.
Just show up with your gear, MA licence and bike!
Choose your discipline.
Camping was allowed and only $10 per head, including motorhome or tent campers! Sidecar passengers only had to pay $50 and there were heaps of off road sessions all weekend, while tarmac riders got four 15-minute sessions per day – great value. The tarmac groups were split into Road Bikes Novice/Intermediate/Expert, Race Pre 63/75/89, 6 Hour bikes and Sidecars.
All classes are packed full of riders.
Not just a great weekend for riders, but amazing for spectators too!
Arriving at the event was easy, although the line was huge, pre-entered people such as myself, or those who pre-purchased tickets, had express entry by waiving ticket at security on the front gate/road. Then it was a quick sign in at the main office, where bike numbers/stickers and wristband was collected and that was it for the weekend.
Broadford is one of the great tracks where you can see all of the corners on the GP circuit from the grandstand!
Getting around was easy, you could ride your bike anywhere as long as you wore a helmet or drive your car, however, it was very crowded so driving and parking was an issue, riding was the better option or walking and taking in the surroundings, which was all a bit too much to take in at once sometimes!
Castrol six-hour memorial races.
Classic motocross is always a great watch!
Everything is period correct!
There’s so much to check out over the weekend!
There was plenty of food available from various stands located around the complex, as well as drink stands selling soft drinks, tea, coffee and plenty of grog at reasonable prices too. BYO was also welcome, which was fantastic, even fires were allowed in steel drums! There was PBBB merchandise for sale as well and everyone got a free showbag on arrival.
Just get your bike scrutineered and head out on track!
Since it’s not a competitive weekend, the gear rules are a little bit looser.
But it’s always best to wear the best gear to stay protected.
Be sure to check everything out!
You had to have your bike scrutineered before riding and good riding gear to participate, however, jeans were allowed, which I highly disagree with personally. There was a rider’s briefing each morning at 8:30am to make sure everyone is informed of flag rules and other info and aside from that it was easy going, with plenty of announcements of each upcoming session. Shuttle busses ran throughout the complex from 9:00am to 4:00pm and there was even 24-hour security to ensure all is kept safe.
The Broadford Bike Bonanza is always a highlight for Sir Alan Cathcart, who can be found thrashing a number of different bikes out on track.
On Saturday night there was a huge Gala Dinner with 100 limited tickets sold for $90 each. The dinner was a dress up event hosted by our own [RCBE] contributors Graeme Crosby and Sir Alan Cathcart, with the range of stars also there; it is no wonder it sold out. Renowned Goulburn Valley Chef Bernard Hayes served a 5-Star three-course meal with wines by Tahbilk. Tickets were $95, a great deal, and a great memorable night.
Make sure you get out there one year!
Its a great few days of racing.
On an amazing compound!
The organisers are currently working out a date for 2022.
The event was sensational, walking around with the sights and smells of the classic era absolutely consuming. Everywhere one looked there were famous faces – Graeme Crosby, Murray Sayle, Kevin Magee, Shannon Johnson, Alan Cathcart, Steve Butler, John Warrian, John Woodley and even Cam Donald and many more famous racers floating around and riding their old bikes. There were plenty of original Castrol 6 Hour bikes and that was fantastic to see, a highlight seeing Kev Magee on his old Marlborough FZ750 though, for me, that was magical.
Broadford Bike Bonanza Gallery
Just get your bike scrutineered and head out on track!
Since it’s not a competitive weekend, the gear rules are a little bit looser.
Decent riding gear is very important, get a reputable brand as you don’t want anything other than the best if you come off your bike at 200km/h+
But it’s always best to wear the best gear to stay protected.
Turnouts are always impressive.
Everything is period correct!
You can choose to stay the weekend if you desire!
Choose your discipline.
Classic Motocross
On an amazing compound!
And even Speedway Sidecars!
Classic motocross is always a great watch!
The team responsible for the weekend just want to see you out on track.
Be sure to check everything out!
Riders will often have a few different combinations for different styles of riding.
Make sure you get out there one year!
Trials/Enduro riding.
Just show up with your gear, MA licence and bike!
There’s so much to check out over the weekend!
Not just a great weekend for riders, but amazing for spectators too!
GP Racing
They have plenty of affordable options to get you riding.
The Broadford Bike Bonanza
Castrol six-hour memorial races.
The organisers are currently working out a date for 2022.
Broadford is one of the great tracks where you can see all of the corners on the GP circuit from the grandstand!
Its a great few days of racing.
The Broadford Bike Bonanza is always a highlight for Sir Alan Cathcart, who can be found thrashing a number of different bikes out on track.
All classes are packed full of riders.
You have to decide what you want out of your gear.
The Penrite Broadford Bike Bonanza this year was an amazing event with a great atmosphere and plenty going on… Words: Jeff Ware Photography: Russell Colvin
Fabio Quartararo is the 2021 FIM MotoGP™ World Champion! After a dramatic decider at the Gran Premio Nolan del Made in Italy e dell’Emilia Romagna, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP rider sliced from 15th on the grid to fourth as sole rival for the crown, Francesco Bagnaia, crashed out from the lead.
Read the race reports from Misano here…
The Tissot and MotoGP collaboration celebrated their 20 year anniversary in 2021…
Crash
With five victories, ten podiums and a sublime season of speed, Fabio Quartararo is the history-making 2021 MotoGP™ World Champion! Félicitations!
“With a 52-point advantage, starting 15th and seeing Bagnaia on pole wasn’t ideal, but El Diablo kept calm and carried on.”
It took him only two more races in Moto3 to get on the podium as he took second in Texas
An emotional victory for the Frenchman, as he takes home the championship with two rounds to spare.
Fabio Quartararo is the 2021 FIM MotoGP™ World Champion! After a dramatic decider at the Gran Premio Nolan del Made in Italy e dell’Emilia Romagna, the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP rider sliced from 15th on the grid to fourth as sole rival for the crown, Francesco Bagnaia, crashed out from the lead.
Quartararo is the first French premier class World Champion in history, he is also the first Yamaha rider to lift the crown since 2015.
Quartararo was four years old when his father Étienne – a former French 125cc Champion – gave him a Yamaha PW50. It’s a familiar story for future MotoGP™ riders, and although Quartararo’s rise would prove stratospheric, there were definitely a few challenges and difficult seasons along the way.
After getting that first bike, he began riding at different mini circuits around his home Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region to master the basics before then going racing in Italy and Spain. And the success began early: the 50cc, 70cc and 80cc titles in the Catalan Championship and the pre-Moto3™ title in the Mediterranean Championship showed promise, but once the young Frenchman arrived in the FIM CEV Repsol, or the Spanish Moto3™ Championship as it was then, that promise exploded into something a lot bigger.
Fabio climbed the ranks quickly, cementing his dreams to become a MotoGP world champion one day.
Winning the series that has now become the FIM Moto3™ Junior World Championship is one of the biggest achievements for a young rider. So becoming the youngest to do it in 2013 and then defending the crown the year after even more so. That allowed the opportunity to move into Moto3 earlier than previously allowed and when he did, remaining in Estrella Galicia 0,0 colours, the momentum for the young Frenchman rolled on.
Quartararo debuted in Moto3™ with 7th in Qatar in 2015, and it took him only one more race to get on the podium as he took second in Texas. Two more top sixes followed, he was on pole at Jerez, and he was back on the podium at the TT Circuit Assen too. The whispers of “the new Marquez” grew into assured articles, ramping up the pressure on a rider who was already, despite the moniker from some corners, very much the first Quartararo.
It took him only two races in Moto3 to get on the podium as he took second in Texas back in 2015.
Later that season however, the first key challenge of his Grand Prix career saw El Diablo break his ankle at Misano. That meant he missed most of the final races of the year, only returning at Valencia but not scoring. So he ended the year in 10th, making a solid impression but not displaying the domination expected after his searing path to the World Championship.
So, for 2016 there was a change as Quartararo moved to Leopard Racing alongside Joan Mir and Andrea Locatelli. However, the team fielded KTMs and that proved an extra challenge to adapt to as the Frenchman arrived from a rookie season contested on a Honda. And the points finishes kept coming, but only six top tens – and no podiums – saw the excitement of his early success give way to a tougher patch as ‘El Diablo’ looked to move forward.
Moving up the ranks quickly again, it wasn’t long before Fabio was on a Moto2 bike.
At that point, under pressure to perform, a bigger change of direction was needed. Enter Éric Mahé, who came on board a Quartararo’s new manager, and a crucial decision that started to build the foundations of the future premier class crown: for 2017, Quartararo would move to Moto2™, taking on a new challenge on a bigger bike to press the reset button.
It started well, with a seventh place finish on his intermediate class debut in Qatar – the same result that, in Moto3™, had prefaced a first podium soon after. But this time around there was no rostrum around the corner and 2017 swiftly became his toughest season yet, culminating in the Pons team and Quartararo parting ways for 2018.
“No one had an answer for the number 20, and he took his first Grand Prix win by nearly two and a half seconds.”
Enter another key figure in the rise of El Diablo: Luca Boscoscuro. El Diablo moved to the Speed Up team with Boscoscuro at the helm for 2018, and on Moto2™ take two it actually started worse: a 20th in Qatar and 22nd in Argentina. But then it started to come together: a 15th at COTA, a 10th at Jerez, an 8th at Le Mans… 11th at Mugello interrupted the pattern, but it was another solid result as Quartararo started to get back in the groove.
At Catalunya, the stars aligned. Saturday saw the Frenchman take his first Moto2™ pole and on Sunday, he unleashed the first truly dominant performance of his Grand Prix career, fastest lap included. No one had an answer for the number 20, and he took his first Grand Prix win by nearly two and a half seconds. Next time out at Assen, it was another podium too. The return to the rostrum and that first victory had seemed a long time coming, but the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
It wasn’t long before he was on a MotoGP bike with Petronas Yamaha SRT, eventually swapping spots with Rossi.
By the time Quartararo took that win, there appeared to be a split between those who’d been waiting for the success they saw as inevitable and those who’d written the Frenchman off. The new Petronas Yamaha SRT outfit, and Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis, were definitely not the latter and at Silverstone it became official: Quartararo would join MotoGP™ in 2019. So he finished the 2018 Moto2™ season with a solid run of form and then left the intermediate class to saddle up in MotoGP™… and the rest is history in the best possible way.
On the pace from the off, Quartararo’s stunning debut season silenced the doubters. Fast and consistently so, and somehow making it look easy, it wasn’t long until the number 20 was an established, expected presence at the front. Jerez saw him become the youngest polesitter in the premier class, and he took five more that season. He also came up against then seven-time World Champion Marc Marquez in some incredible last lap duels – not quite defeating the number 93, but making life impressively difficult. Seven podiums saw Quartararo end the year fifth overall, take Rookie of the Year and the overall top Independent Team rider title. Fabio Quartararo had arrived.
“In 2020, it started with a dream double win at Jerez and the Yamaha rider seemed the man to beat.”
In 2020, it started with a dream double win at Jerez and the Yamaha rider seemed the man to beat. But after some twists and turns, it wasn’t until Barcelona that El Diablo got back on top. Some more struggles later, the crown was instead nabbed by Joan Mir at Valencia and Quartararo went into winter pushing to reset and reload, vowing to iron out the kinks and fight for the crown again.
That he did, and he did it in Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP colours as he took on a new chapter with the factory Yamaha outfit. Off the podium in Qatar to start the season, he hit back in Doha to take his first victory of the year. At Portimão he was in a league of his own for another win, but then a speed bump appeared at Jerez as the Frenchman suffered with serious arm pump, taking only a handful of points. Surgery ahead of his home Grand Prix wasn’t the best run up to the event, but still El Diablo took a podium at Le Mans and then another win at Mugello.
With five victories, ten podiums and a sublime season of speed, Fabio Quartararo is the history-making 2021 MotoGP™ World Champion! Félicitations!
Barcelona saw a little drama unzipped, but a solid 10 points and another rostrum in Germany prefaced victory at Assen, sending the number 20 flying high into the summer break. He was a man on a mission, although next up was Styria – Ducati and KTM territory. But still, one podium and then a salvage job of seventh in a crazy Austrian GP later, Quartararo remained firmly holding the cards as the paddock returned to Silverstone.
It had been a while since MotoGP™ had raced the British behemoth and not the best event for Quartararo when they did, but 2021 was a different story: one of domination. Another 25 points in the bag saw him increase his lead again, and after a tougher Aragon, the Frenchman took a little more risk to push key rival Bagnaia at Misano but ultimately settled for second as crunch time approached. Second in Texas, behind Marquez but ahead of Bagnaia, turned crunch time into match point at the Emilia-Romagna GP.
“With a 52-point advantage, starting 15th and seeing Bagnaia on pole wasn’t ideal, but El Diablo kept calm and carried on.”
With a 52-point advantage, starting 15th and seeing Bagnaia on pole wasn’t ideal, but El Diablo kept calm and carried on, slicing back through the pack to fourth. It wouldn’t have been enough had Bagnaia not crashed, but the Ducati rider’s final stand was ultimately just over the limit – guaranteeing Quartararo the crown with two races spare.
#ELD1ABLO IN STATS
Quartararo is the sixth-youngest rider to clinch a premier class world title, aged 22 years and 187 days old, behind John Surtees (22 years and 182 days old) and ahead of Valentino Rossi (22 years and 240 days old).
In the MotoGP™ era, Quartararo is the third-youngest Champion behind Marc Marquez (20 years and 266 days old) and Casey Stoner (21 years and 342 days old).
In addition, Quartararo became the youngest Yamaha rider to clinch the premier class world title, ahead of Jorge Lorenzo, who was 23 years and 159 days old when he took the title in Malaysia back in 2010.
Quartararo became the first French rider to clinch a premier class world title and the seventh overall in GP racing along with Johann Zarco (two titles), Mike Di Meglio (1), Arnaud Vincent (1), Olivier Jacque (1), Christian Sarron (1) and Jean-Louis Tournadre (1). Thanks to Quartararo, France became the seventh different nation to win a premier class Championship.
Quartararo became the first European rider to clinch the premier class world title without having previously taken a title in one of the smaller GP classes since Franco Uncini in 1982. Overall, Quartararo is the 17th rider to do so along with Les Graham (first Championship season in 1949), Umberto Masetti, Libero Liberati, Barry Sheene, Kenny Roberts, Marco Lucchinelli, Franco Uncini, Freddie Spencer, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Gardner, Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwantz, Mick Doohan, Kenny Roberts Jr., Nicky Hayden and Casey Stoner.
In the MotoGP™ era, Quartararo is the third rider to clinch the title without having previously taken a title in one of the smaller classes along with Nicky Hayden and Casey Stoner.
By taking the crown, Quartararo brought to an end a sequence of nine premier class titles from Spanish riders: six with Marc Marquez, two with Jorge Lorenzo and one with Joan Mir (the longest sequence for a country in the class).
Quartararo became the first Yamaha rider to take the premier class crown since Jorge Lorenzo in 2015 and the seventh overall along with Giacomo Agostini (one premier class title), Kenny Roberts (3), Eddie Lawson (3), Wayne Rainey (3), Valentino Rossi (4) and Jorge Lorenzo (3). This is the 18th title for a Yamaha rider in the premier class.
Quartararo is tied in sixth place with Max Biaggi and Maverick Viñales on the list of Yamaha riders with most premier class wins, just behind Kenny Roberts (22 wins). Valentino Rossi leads the way with 56 premier class wins with Yamaha.
With 20 premier class podiums so far, Quartararo is the French rider with most podiums in the class ahead of Christian Sarron (18 podiums).
With eight premier class wins so far, since his maiden premier class wins at the 2020 Spanish GP, Quartararo has almost tripled the number of French victories before him (one for Régis Laconi, plus Christian Sarron and Pierre Monneret).
This season Quartararo has stood on the MotoGP™ podium more than any other rider (10 times), including five wins. This is this first time that a Yamaha rider has taken five (or more) premier class wins since Jorge Lorenzo in 2015 (seven). The last Yamaha riders with more than 10 podiums in a single season were Valentino Rossi (15 podiums) and Jorge Lorenzo (12) in 2015.
For the seventh successive year, the rider who clinched the premier class world title failed to win the opening race of the season. The last to do so was Marc Marquez in 2014.
The first ever French premier class World Champion!
Fabio Quartararo:“I already don’t have my normal voice just a few hours after, I’ve cried a lot an screamed a lot! It feels amazing. When I crossed the finish line I thought about all the tough moments I had, and to be World Champion in MotoGP is something I never expected when I was in bad situations only a few years ago. So right now I feel like I’m in a dream and I don’t realise what’s happening to me right now!
“Of course I had extra nerves, I never started further back than P11 in MotoGP, and I’m starting P15 in one of the most important races of my career! We chose the safe, let’s say, tyres but for us the hard would have been better and I think the podium was there with the hard. I didn’t have stability when I was with the group, I couldn’t overtake. But I’m really happy with my race, even if I hadn’t won the Championship it’s great to finish P4. Super happy about the race and of course with the Championship it’s something extra.
An emotional victory for the Frenchman, as he takes home the championship with two rounds to spare.
“Just before starting the race I was with Tom in the office and I was nervous, feeling stressed and he said, ‘just think about the last three races you had last year’. They were a total disaster and I just wanted to finish the Championship whatever the position was. And today I started the race that made me World Champion. I think everything that happened last year helped me a lot to win the title today. Thanks to the people for supporting me in these tough moments, I think I learned a lot during these years in MotoGP and still have a lot to learn to achieve more results like that.
“To be honest, last year we fought to have the factory bike but with Covid and everything, the 2019 bike was better. But with the 2021 bike I felt much better, the feeling with the front is what has made me win this year, I think. The feeling I had. We know the power is something we have to work on, but the feeling on the braking to overtake – not this race but in general – has been much higher than 2019 and 2020. Yamaha has worked a lot, we still have a lot to improve for next year because we know that power is something important, but right now with the bike I was feeling like on, I’m enjoying riding. Also today I had a lot of struggles with the front but I still enjoyed it a lot, and that was the most important thing of the day.”
Royal Enfield’s first year of competitive Flat Track racing on European soil came to a perfect finish securing a clean sweep of season wins in the “Twins Class” category (UK). Team mates Gary Birtwistle and Aussie Paul Young together claimed all five rounds, clinching both 1st and 2nd places in the Championship.
Royal Enfield have taken home the DTRA Flat Track twin cylinder class trophy in their first year of flat track racing.
This fifth and final round of the 2021 DRTA season culminated in a unique TT circuit at Greenfield Dirt Track, Lincolnshire. With an additional right-hand turn and a jump incorporated into the track, it was all to play for going into the final round of the season.
With Royal Enfield’s principal rider, Gary Birtwistle having his season cut short with a broken scaphoid bone in his wrist (after having won all of the first three races), it all came down to teammate Paul Young to secure the Championship Crown for the Royal Enfield Team. Relatively new to flat track, but with years of GP2 racing experience under his belt, Paul flew through the qualifying heats and found himself at the front of the grid heading into the final.
“With Royal Enfield’s principal rider, Gary Birtwistle having his season cut short with a broken scaphoid bone in his wrist, it all came down to teammate Paul Young to secure the Championship Crown for the Royal Enfield Team.”
While being pushed hard all the way to the final lap, the chequered flag and the 2021 Championship Crown was destined to be claimed by Paul and Royal Enfield. The result marked Royal Enfield’s first “factory” European Championship win since the legendary Johnny Brittain won the ACU Star at the National Trials Championship back in 1956. After a hiatus of 65 years, this marks an exciting new milestone for Royal Enfield as it further develops its footing in the world of competitive racing.
Jett saw success last year, becoming the first Aussie to win the AMA Pro Motorcross 250MX Championship.
Australian motocross sensation Jett Lawrence created history on the weekend becoming the first Aussie to win the AMA Pro Motorcross 250MX Championship. In just his second full season as a professional, the 18-year-old scored eight wins and four overall victories to snatch the title.
“Australian motocross sensation Jett Lawrence created history on the weekend becoming the first Aussie to win the AMA Pro Motorcross 250MX Championship.”
“Oh my goodness, it’s a good day in the end,” Jett Lawrence said. “I think that’s the worst I’ve ridden in a while, but I still got the title…. It feels so great, as we’ve been working quite a while to get this. I’ve got to thank the whole crew for getting me here—my brother, my whole family, my manager and all of Honda and HRC. It’s awesome and we’re going to enjoy it for a little while, but then it will be back to the drawing board for next season to hopefully back it up.”
The Championship title to Jett and the third placing for Hunter has capped of a fantastic year for the brothers. Hunter, who at the start of the year was still recovering from serious injury was always in the Championship chase, topped off a great year with his 3rd placing. The Lawrence brothers began their racing careers in Landsborough, Queensland, and it wasn’t long before they were making their mark on the international stage.
Older brother Hunter finished third in the Championship becoming the first brothers to finish in the top three.
Jett won the 2014 FIM Junior Motorcross World Championship in Belgium, and it was after this victory the Lawrence family moved to Europe with Jett chasing victory in the German ADAC series and 85 European Motocross Championship. At just 14, Jett then moved to the very competitive 250 European Motocross Championship.
In 2019, the family relocated to the USA where both Jett and Hunter raced for the Factory Connection team on Honda’s with Hunter turning Pro and initially Jett racing as an amateur before turning 16 and making his professional debut midway through the AMA Pro Motocross season.
Both riders made a big impact straight away when they arrived in the US, and were the talk of the Championship.
Last season Jett scored his first overall victory at the final round and took the Marty Smith Rookie of the Year Award, With the Factory Connection team folding, Jett and Hunter were signed by the factory Team Honda HRC.
“I’m so proud of Jett and the entire Honda team for this accomplishment,” said Brandon Wilson, Manager of Sports & Experiential at American Honda. “Working with Jett and his family has been an absolute pleasure—obviously for his on-the-bike accomplishments, but also because they’re just good people. On behalf of everyone at American Honda and HRC, thank you Jett, for putting Honda back on top in AMA Pro Motocross. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for you.”
