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Inaugural FIM MiniGP Australia Series Ready To Fire In 2022  

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Motorcycling Australia and Ohvale Australia have worked closely over the past 12 months to secure Australia’s involvement in the 2022 FIM MiniGP World Series. The FIM MiniGP World Series is a Road to MotoGP initiative between Dorna, FIM and Ohvale Europe which made its debut in 2021.

“The FIM MiniGP World Series is a Road to MotoGP initiative between Dorna, FIM and Ohvale Europe…”

Australia now joins Italy, Malaysia, France, Netherlands, North America, Spain, UK, Alpe Adria, Indonesia, Ireland, Portugal, Qatar and Austria as host countries, launching the FIM MiniGP Australia Series for 2022.

The Series provides an ideal entry level platform for young Australian riders looking to begin their two-wheeled motorsport journey. The new Road to MotoGP program will take part utlising Ohvale GP-0 160 machinery designed specifically for racing on karting circuits – a perfect entry level platform for kids aged between 10-14 years old, new to the sport.

“Motorcycling Australia CEO, Peter Doyle, said the FIM MiniGP World Series was an exciting opportunity for riders.”

The winner from each national, regional or continental MiniGP Cup will have the opportunity to participate in the World MiniGP Final in Europe. The FIM MiniGP Australia Series is the first in the Oceania region, which will feature 10 races over five rounds on the Ohvale Australia racing machines. Motorcycling Australia CEO, Peter Doyle, said the FIM MiniGP World Series was an exciting opportunity for Australian riders.

“Motorcycling Australia is very excited to see Australia join the 2022 FIM MiniGP World Series putting Australia’s sensational racing talent on the World stage,” Mr Doyle said. “We are pleased to support Series promoters Ohvale Australia, and the 2022 FIM MiniGP Australia Series will not only provide spectacular on track action but give riders their first steps to potentially becoming a future World Champion. We see the FIM MiniGP Australia Series as a crucial steppingstone for young riders wanting to develop their skills.”

Wayne Maxwell is a household name in Australian racing, he has become the brand promoter for Ohvale Australia.

Ohvale Australia and joint promoter multiple Australian Superbike Champion, Wayne Maxwell said this was an exciting opportunity for young Australia riders and encouraged them to register their interest now.

“We are very thankful for the support of Motorcycling Australia and the FIM in securing what will be a phenomenal first for Australia, the 2022 FIM MiniGP Australia Series,” Mr Maxwell said. “We are very excited for what this Series will bring to racing and the development of young riders. My dream is to one day see a young talent from Mini GP become a World Champion We are expecting a flood of interest, so we are definitely encouraging prospective riders to register their expression of interest now at https://ohvale.com.au/australian-ohvale-minigp-series/.”


 

MotoGP eSport Final Wrap Up

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The MotoGP™ eSport Championship was back with a bang at the ValenciaGP and a nail-biting finale saw Italian superstar claim overall victory in the 2021 Global Series with two flawless rides.

Trast73 made eSports history with his third crown on the weekend at the MotoGP eSports final.

The Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia, Spain played host to a star-studded final round – the first on-site event for the MotoGP™ eSport Championship since 2019 – with two GP riders making appearances. The promise of a range of glitzy prizes and two drama-packed racing had the full attendance on the edge of their seats from start to finish! 

Presenter Immy Barclay hosted the event with MotoGP™’s Jack Appleyard and Jack Gorst on commentary duties for the evening. Multiple MotoGP™ race winner Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) also made an appearance and joined the commentators, and Moto2™ superstar and Tissot Ambassador Thomas Lüthi (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) joined the show. A number of other Grand Prix riders and team members were also in attendance to watch the action unfold live.

Jack Miller was on hand to commentate the grand finale of the eSport championship.

And Trast73, the winner of the 2017 and 2018 MotoGP™ eSport Championships, walked away with the main prize of the night – a brand new BMW X4 M40i – after some incredible success, an achievement which compliments Yamaha’s crown won with Fabio Quartararo. 

All was on the line before the final races started. After three drama-packed rounds, just 20 points covered four gamers – Repsol Honda’s Adriaan_26, Monster Energy Yamaha’s Trast73, Ducati Lenovo eSport Team Rider AndrewZh and new name PieroRicciuti55, representing LCR Honda Castrol eSports Team – coming into the final round. The stakes were raised with double points being on offer for the final two races. 

The MotoGP eSports championship has been gaining traction over the years, it’s now a heavily competitive series…

The first, held on the Circuit of the Americas in Austin Texas, had an incredible start. Pole sitter Trast73 took an early lead, but a turn one crash for Pramac Ducati’s RiccardoBottaro64 took down title contenders Adriaan_26 and AndrewZh, relegating them to tenth and eleventh respectively. Out front, Trast73 produced a ride of perfection, coming home 2.6s ahead of PieroRicciuti55, with Adriaan_26 fighting back for a superb third place after clinching the final podium spot from Jack Hammer4658 on the final lap. 

That result meant Trast73 had a handy 11-point lead going into the final race. But before the second race started, Tissot Ambassador Thomas Lüthi was on hand to present the prize for the best qualifier during the Global Series, a Tissot T-Race MotoGP™ Chronograph watch, to AndrewZh. What’s more, Jack Miller then joined the two Jacks to commentate on the season finale! 

Alex Rins was also at the final, watching the exciting, face paced racing. Somethings he’s used to in real life!

And AndrewZh made fantastic use of his pole position to speed into an early lead, ahead of PieroRicciuti55 and Trast73. The order stayed that way until the chequered flag, with RiccardoBottaro64 frustrating Williams_Cristian and Adriaan_26’s attempts to get toward the leaders. That was enough for Trast73 to clinch the crown by 15 points!

2021 was another vintage year for the MotoGP™ eSport Championship with a championship fight that went all the way to the wire. The series will return bigger and better next year, so join us again for more in 2022 – and congratulations to Trast73!

Axel Mittler, BMW M Head of Cooperation MotoGP™,  presents the BMW X4 M40i key to Trast73.

Check out all the results here


 

Ducati Lenovo clinch the 2021 MotoGP Teams’ World Title

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At the Gran Premio de la Comunitat Valenciana, the final Grand Prix of the 2021 MotoGP season held last weekend at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Cheste (Spain), Ducati secured a podium lockout, as with Pecco Bagnaia’s win, the second place of Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing Team) and the third place of Jack Miller.

It was a Ducati lockout at Valencia on the weekend with Pecco Bagnaia’s win, the second place of Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing Team) and the third place of Jack Miller.

For the Borgo Panigale manufacturer, which was crowned 2021 MotoGP Constructors’ World Champion just seven days ago in Portimão, this is another historic achievement that has never been reached before in the premier class.


Read the full race report here…


Pecco Bagnaia scored another sensational win today, the fourth this season and the second consecutive after a win at the Portugal round. As he was starting from second on the grid, the Italian rider was able to keep the same position after the start, behind Jorge Martin, who started from pole position. With 12 laps to go, Bagnaia made his decisive move on the fellow Ducati rider, taking the lead, where he remained until the chequered flag.

“Pecco Bagnaia scored another sensational win today, the fourth this season and the second consecutive after a win at the Portugal round.”

Behind Jorge Martin, in third, was Bagnaia’s teammate Jack Miller. As he departed from the third spot of the grid, the Australian rider dropped back into sixth place in the early stages of the race, but as soon as he found his rhythm, he could close the gap on his rivals and get back into the podium fight. Third, with nine laps to go, Miller got closer and closer to Martin but could not overtake him, eventually finishing the race in third place, confirming his fourth position in the Championship.

“I’m thrilled with the victory today. To win wearing Valentino Rossi’s helmet was incredible and the best way to celebrate his last race. Today’s success was incredible, and now we know we are ready to fight for the riders’ title next year. During this season, we have improved the bike’s setup race after race, and at the end of 2021, the Desmosedici GP has become very strong, as well as its riders. We have a very good base for next year, and I hope to start as we finish. We have gained a lot of experience, and we have grown a lot! The team is unbelievable, and the atmosphere inside the garage is amazing! I’m really happy, and I thank Ducati for all this”. said Francesco Bagnaia.

With both riders on the podium, the Ducati Lenovo Team secured the 2021 MotoGP Teams’ World Title. For the Italian team, this is the second title since the first one taken in 2007.

“I’m delighted, even though I would have liked to have achieved something more today. Unfortunately, I lost some time at the start and had to recover to get back in the fight for the podium. It was a good race, and I had a lot of fun. Valencia is a track I really like, and it’s nice to finish the season like this. It’s the first time three Ducatis have finished on the podium, and it’s great to be part of this important achievement. I’m sure our bike will be even better next year, so I’m looking forward to the 2022 season and trying to fight for the riders’ title. This year we finish fourth, and it is my best result ever in the MotoGP Championship, so I hope to do even better next year.” said Jack Miller.

With the 2021 season over, the Ducati Lenovo Team riders will only have a few days off as on 18th and 19th November, they will already be back on track at the Circuit de Jerez – Angel Nieto to face the first two days of winter testing in preparation for the 2022 season.


 

MotoGP: Bagnaia victorious in Valencia, Rossi bids farewell

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Valentino Rossi, the absolute GOAT. VR46 has entertained us for 25-years. We will all miss him in MotoGP!
Valentino Rossi, the absolute GOAT. VR46 has entertained us for 25-years. We will all miss him in MotoGP!

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) took victory as the Italian led home a historic Ducati 1-2-3 at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana, he once again perfectly-poised as he saw the flag just ahead of Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) and Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) for a Bologna lockout.

The race will forever be remembered as Valentino Rossi’s (Petronas Yamaha SRT) last dance too, and The Doctor delivered a P10 in his farewell MotoGP™ appearance in front of a packed Circuit Ricardo Tormo crowd. Pecco also dedicated the win to his mentor.

Danilo Petrucci (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) saw the chequered flag in P17 as the Italian premier class race winner also says goodbye to Grand Prix racing in an emotional Sunday in Valencia, teammate Iker Lecuona heads for WorldSBK after scoring a final point of the year.

Rewinding to lights out and polesitter Martin grabbed the holeshot into Turn 1 as fourth place Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) got a great start to get the better of Bagnaia, with Miller slotting into second. Rossi made a good start and was up a place into P9, whereas World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was P6. Up ahead, Miller then dived up the inside of Martin at Turn 1 on Lap 2 to take the lead, but it was short-lived. Martin and Mir cut through on Lap 2, and Miller down to third, then it was fourth, then fifth – the Australian was going backwards after briefly leading.

The Suzukis were charging though – hard. Mir was harassing Martin, before Pecco then used the GP21’s superior grunt to take P2 off the 2020 Champion. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) then snuck past Mir at Turn 6 on Lap 3, as the top four – Martin, Bagnaia, Rins and Mir – started to create a gap to now fifth-placed Quartararo. Miller was down to P6, seemingly struggling in the early stages.



The race then settled as the front runners held station, but Martin, Bagnaia and Rins were now 0.7s ahead of Mir. After a few laps of following the World Champion, Miller was back through on Quartararo and up to P5, as Rins set the fastest lap of the race. However, at Turn 6 on Lap 11 of 27, Rins then went down. The Spaniard tucked the front of his GSX-RR, handing teammate Mir third. Rossi, meanwhile, was now 10th, 0.6s down on Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) who, as things stood, was losing out on the Rookie of the Year crown with Martin leading…

Bagnaia was swarming all over the back of the race-leading rookie though and with 12 laps to go, at Turn 14, Pecco pounced. Now, with some clear air, what could the Italian do? The fastest lap, a 1:31.042, came next and the hammer was well and truly down. His mentor Rossi was still 10th with 11 laps to go, but VR46 Academy’s first World Champion and fellow Yamaha star Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was behind him…



Up front though, Martin was not letting Pecco pull clear. On two consecutive laps, the rookie was quicker than Bagnaia, and a second or so behind, Miller grabbed P3 off Mir at Turn 2. It was a Ducati 1-2-3 with eight laps to go, and history was on the cards for the Bologna factory. Miller wasn’t done yet either, the Australian 1.3s back when he passed Mir, but by five laps to go, he was just 0.7s off Martin.

With two laps of the season to go, Pecco was 0.8s clear of Martin and it seemed the battle would be for second. Miller was closer than ever to Martin, but the rookie was holding firm. Unable to make a move, Miller couldn’t quite make it a factory Ducati 1-2 as Bagnaia crossed the line to win for a fourth time in 2021, although Martin clinched the Rookie of the Year crown with a P2. Miller, in third, helps Ducati make history with their first 1-2-3 in MotoGP™ with his fifth rostrum. In addition, Bagnaia’s P1 and Miller’s P3 helps Ducati take the Teams’ Championship, adding to their Constructors’ crown.



Mir held onto P4 by just 0.2s in the end as Quartararo homed in, but El Diablo takes P5 to cap off a title-winning season. Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) was P6, Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was P7, with Bastianini’s P8 was not quite good enough for the Rookie of the Year title – nine points split the Italian and Martin in the end. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) struggled in the latter stages and slipped to P9, finishing one place ahead of The Doctor.

Valentino Rossi took P10, where he started, to bow out in style. There aren’t enough superlatives to describe the Italian’s glistening Grand Prix career, as one of the world’s biggest sporting icons bids a fond farewell to the sport he loves – and the sport that loves him. Grazie Vale, from millions of fans around the globe!

Morbidelli crossed the line less than a second away from Rossi as the Italian now aims to get fully fit for 2022, Andrea Dovizioso (Petronas Yamaha SRT) had a good final weekend of the season to finish in P12, and Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol), Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and WorldSBK-bound Lecuona take home the final points of 2021. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) joined Rins in suffering a DNF in Valencia, the Japanese rider was perfectly ok after his Turn 6 crash.

And that, as they say, is a wrap. The curtain comes down on 2021, as we say ciao to the icon that is Valentino Rossi. The number 46 will be missed immensely on and off track in 2022 and beyond, but MotoGP™ couldn’t be in a better place. The next generation is here, Rossi’s legacy will live on with his VR46 Academy and new MotoGP™ team, and Yamaha and Quartararo will be aiming to defend their title against a whole host of unbelievable bikes and riders. What a year! And #GrazieVale!


Francesco Bagnaia: “It’s the only possible thing today – to give a present for Vale. With this helmet, to do a race like that so I want to dedicate this race to him and say thanks to him for what’s he done for us in the academy. So it’s for him, I’m very happy because before the weekend I wasn’t sure it was possible to do a race like this but all the improvements we made this year with my riding style and the bike, finally, we arrived here and were one of the fastest. I’m very happy we won today and it’s an incredible way to end the season.”


MotoGP™ podium (Full Results Here)

1 Francesco Bagnaia – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 41’15.481
2 Jorge Martin* – Pramac Racing – Ducati – +0.489
3 Jack Miller – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – +0.823


Moto2
In a tense, red-flagged race at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana, Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was crowned the 2021 Moto2™ World Champion after finishing P10 on Sunday afternoon. Teammate and title rival Raul Fernandez won for an incredible eighth time to finish just four points down in the overall standings, as Fabio Di Giannantonio (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) and Augusto Fernandez (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) claimed podiums.

The Moto2™ title decider got underway but a crash involving Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46), Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Lorenzo Baldassarri (MV Agusta Forward Racing) brought out the red flags, with an oil spillage occurring between Turns 2 and 3. All riders were ok, a brief pause in proceedings happened with a clean up operation underway before the race got back in business.

There was a little more drama though. After claiming his first pole since 2012 on Saturday, Simone Corsi (MV Agusta Forward Racing) pulled into pitlane after the Warm Up lap and the experienced Italian was out of the race with a technical issue. Meanwhile on track, Augusto Fernandez led Raul Fernandez into Turn 1, with the latter taking the lead at Turn 6 on Lap 2. Gardner made a steady start and was ninth.

Raul Fernandez wasn’t having it all his own way at the front though. Di Giannantonio came through on the Spaniard to lead on Lap 4, with Gardner slipping backwards. Jorge Navarro (Termozeta Speed Up), Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) and Tom Lüthi (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) all passed Gardner and suddenly, the Australian was P11 – and had former teammate Tetsuta Nagashima (Italtrans Racing Team) swarming all over the back of him. Still, though, as things stood – Raul Fernandez P2, Gardner P11 – the title was heading to Gardner.

With six laps to go, the Australian found a way past Lüthi at Turn 4 into P10. The top three – Diggia, Raul Fernandez and Augusto Fernandez – were split by nothing, with Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) 1.2s back on the podium scrap in P4. Then, with four to go, Raul Fernandez pounced on Diggia at Turn 2. A classic block pass from the Spaniard saw him take the lead, but with Gardner 10th, it still wasn’t enough. Gardner, in turn, was two seconds behind Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) in ninth, although only 0.6s ahead of Nagashima in 11th…

Two laps to go saw Raul Fernandez P1, Gardner P10. Diggia and Augusto Fernandez were still in touch with the race leader too, and Gardner was keeping Nagashima at bay. By the last lap, a tense 0.3s was the advantage Raul Fernandez held over Diggia and Augusto Fernandez, and Gardner was still 10th – able to just keep his own three-tenth advantage over Nagashima on the chase. Raul Fernandez was holding up his end of the bargain and so was Gardner, but as the rookie sensation crossed the line to take a Marquez-beating, mesmerising eighth victory of the season, taking the chequered flag in P10 made Remy Gardner the the 2021 Moto2™ World Champion.

Diggia and Augusto Fernandez rode superbly to finish just behind Raul Fernandez in P2 and P3, and rookie Vietti ended his campaign with an equal-best result in P4. Aron Canet (Inde Aspar Team) rounded out the top five, with Vierge finishing P6 despite being involved in the red-flagged crash, a great result for the Spaniard who heads off to WorldSBK in 2022.

Lowes, Navarro and Schrötter crossed the line in 7th, 8th and 9th respectively, before Gardner claimed 10th. It was a nervy race, but 10th was more than enough. Nagashima claimed P11, and Lüthi – in his final Grand Prix – notched up P12 as we bid a fond farewell to the fourth highest Grand Prix appearance maker after 318 starts. Stefano Manzi (Flexbox HP40), Marcos Ramirez (American Racing) and WorldSBK-bound Hafizh Syahrin (NTS RW Racing GP) claimed the final points.

A simply outstanding title race between Gardner and Raul Fernandez ends with the Australian coming out on top. A staggering season by both, now we get ready to watch them move to MotoGP™ with Tech3 KTM Factory Racing in 2022. Tune in for more next season as they switch orange for… orange!


Raul Fernandez: “It was a fantastic race, I did my job and won. I’m happy with that. We did an incredible season, in the end we didn’t win the Championship but in was the best season of my life, I enjoyed it like a kid and we won eight races. Before we started if anyone told me I’d win two or three I wouldn’t believe it. Now we have eight.” 


Moto2™ podium (Full Results Here)

1 Raul Fernandez – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – 25’38.612
2 Fabio Di Giannantonio – Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 – Kalex – +0.517
3 Augusto Fernandez – Elf Marc VDS Racing Team – Kalex – +0.786


Moto3
Xavier Artigas (Leopard Racing) is a Grand Prix winner! The rookie played it to perfection with a last corner lunge on Sergio Garcia (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team) to take his first Moto3™ win in style, with the number 11 forced to settle for second. Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) rounds out the season on the rostrum, with drama earlier on the final lap as contact between Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) and World Champion Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) saw the latter crash out.

Off the line it was as you were for the front row, with Acosta getting a great start from pole to lead the freight train away. Izan Guevara (Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team) soon struck to take second from Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) though, and drama came early just behind. Lorenzo Fellon (SIC58 Squadra Corse) crashed out, and almost simultaneously Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing) had his own higside mid-track, forcing a few into avoiding action. Ryusei Yamanaka (CarXpert PrüstelGP) wasn’t able to and also went down, riders ok but the group taking a few corners to settle.

At the front, the leaders were a train of 12. Acosta, Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Artigas, Masia, Guevara, Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team), Garcia, Filip Salač (CarXpert PrüstelGP), Foggia, Stefano Nepa (BOE Owlride) and Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team). As ever, the chopping and changing saw plenty of places exchanged.

Another frisson of drama then saw Öncü and Salač both get Long Laps for track limits, which they took quickly – but they slotted back in at the back of the group. In turn, that helped the second gaggle of riders, led by Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia VR46 Academy) tag onto the group, and he brought the likes of John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) – the Japanese rider from the very back after an incredible charge after a tough qualifying – into the mix. Next, Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) crashed at Turn 1 too, making one less in the group.

As the final few laps dawned, the melee turned into a 2021 Moto3™ classic at the front: Acosta vs Foggia. And heading onto the final lap, the Leopard machine led the Red Bull KTM Ajo rider over the line, with Artigas, Garcia and Öncü for close company.


Acosta attacked at Turn 1, and Foggia lined him up to return the favour at Turn 2. But the Leopard rider was in too deep and there was contact between the two, with the newly-crowned World Champion then unable to hold it and skidding off into the gravel. Rider ok and Foggia continued, but the incident was under investigation by the Stewards.

Artigas picked their pockets in the melee and in turn, Garcia then attacked the number 43. The GASGAS rider took over in the lead, holding on as the corners ticked down. Masia also got past Öncü with some well-judged aggression, but it all went down to the last apex.

As they headed into the final corner, Artigas attacked for the lead as Öncü attacked for third. The rookie – and wildcard Valencia podium finisher – pitched it to perfection to slot past Garcia, but Öncü headed well wide. On the drag to the line, Garcia tucked in to try and hit back but Artigas held on, the rookie taking his first win and completing the set for the three frontrunning rookies this season: Acosta, Guevara and Artigas have now all won races after an incredible season.

Garcia was forced to settle for second but returns to the podium after his injury struggles, and Masia completes the rostrum to end the year on a high. Öncü was picked off by Salač as the Czech rider took one of his best finishes in his last Moto3™ race, with Öncü relegated to fifth by the flag. 

Stefano Nepa (BOE Owlride) took sixth after an impressive Sunday, with Guevara just behind. Carlos Tatay (Avintia Esponsorama) was next up as he made good progress to take a good haul of points, with Antonelli taking ninth to sign off from Moto3™ in the top ten. Completing that top ten was Sasaki after a stunning recovery ride from the number 71, coming from the very back to P10.

McPhee took P11 ahead of Fenati, another who leaves for Moto2™, after the veteran Italian exceeded track limits on the final lap and was demoted a position behind McPhee. Meanwhile, the result of the Stewards’ investigation relegated Foggia to thirteenth as the Italian was given a three-second penalty for the Acosta incident.

An incredibly tight three-way fight for P14 saw Adrian Fernandez (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) just take it, with Jeremy Alcoba (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) taking the last point to deny Riccardo Rossi (BOE Owlride). KTM also wrapped the Constructors’ crown, their fifth in the class, with a KTM needing to finish in the top nine and that more than fulfilled with one on the podium in P3 with Masia.

That’s a wrap on 2021, with pastures new for some and a recharge and reset for others. It’s been a truly remarkable season and the Champion now moves up, so join us again next year to see who succeeds Acosta and writes their own chapter in the history books!


Moto3™ podium (Full Results Here)

1 Xavier Artigas – Leopard Racing – Honda – 38’30.302
2 Sergio Garcia – Valresa GASGAS Aspar – GASGAS – +0.043
3 Jaume Masia – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM – +0.232


 

MotoGP 2021 Awards Night, Champions Crowned

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2021 MotoGP World Champion, Fabio Quartararo.

Already a legend, Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) has been inducted into the MotoGP Hall of Fame and is now an official MotoGP Legend! The nine-time World Champion was surprised with the honour at the MotoGP Awards Ceremony.

Valentino Rossi has been officially added into the hall of fame after hanging up his leathers for the last time on the weekend.

The emotional lap of honour after the race and hero’s welcome were only the start on Sunday, and those came after a weekend already painted yellow in the number 46’s honour. Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta presented Rossi with the MotoGP™ Legend trophy on the stage, celebrating 26 seasons of history made and hearts captured around the world. Nine World Championships, 115 wins and 235 podiums across all classes are incredible numbers, but the legend is even more than those.

The Italian joins a long list of greats that have been made MotoGP™ Legends that includes Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan, Geoff Duke, Wayne Gardner, Mike Hailwood, Daijiro Kato, Eddie Lawson, Anton Mang, Angel Nieto, Wayne Rainey, Phil Read, Jim Redman, Kenny Roberts, Jarno Saarinen, Kevin Schwantz, Barry Sheene, Marco Simoncelli, Freddie Spencer, Casey Stoner, John Surtees, Carlo Ubbiali, Alex Crivillé, Franco Uncini, Marco Lucchinelli, Randy Mamola, Kork Ballington, Dani Pedrosa, Stefan Dörflinger, Jorge ‘Aspar’ Martinez and the late, great Nicky Hayden.

“The Italian joins a long list of greats that have been made MotoGP™ Legends.”

Valentino Rossi, MotoGP™ Legend: “I always think of this day like a nightmare, because it’s the end of the a long career and I think it would be in Valencia but in the end I enjoyed it a lot so I have to thank everyone, everyone who has worked with me, the whole paddock, the other riders… it was an unforgettable day and I enjoyed it. It was a long career, and always a pleasure.”

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports: “The only thing I can say to Vale is thank you very much. It’s been amazing since 1997 in Malaysia, we saw a guy doing fantastic races but also very special for so many reasons. We started to talk with him and since that time, everything we’ve done together, with everyone who works in MotoGP it’s been amazing.

Rossi was presented with the medal in an emotional ceremony by Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta.

“First of all Valentino has been an incredible rider, even yesterday, at 42, he was within tenths of Fabio. But also his personality, the situation he’s helped us to create, the Safety Commission, it’s something very special… Grazie, Valentino!”

The Champions and winners in 2021 also took centre stage, including – of course – newly-crowned MotoGP™ World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) fresh from Moto2™ glory and the Moto3™ history maker himself, rookie World Champion Pedro Acosta.

Quartararo made history and takes the premier class crown as the champions of each class took home their trophies.

The 2021 Awards were hosted by Gavin Emmett and Andrea Schlager, with FIM President Jorge Viegas and Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta in attendance to present the range of awards throughout the evening to all the winners this season.

Quartararo was the MotoGP™ main event as he received his trophy after making history as the first French premier class World Champion, and he picked up the BMW M Award for best qualifier in the MotoGP™ class once again. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducat Lenovo Team) was on stage as runner up, and 2020 Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was once again in the top three.

The 2021 Moto2, Motogp and Moto3 champions respectively… Gardner (L), Quartararo and Acosta (R).

The Tissot Pole of Poles winners this season were Bagnaia, Raul Fernandez and Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) in MotoGP™, Moto2™ and Moto3™ respectively, and they picked up their prizes.

The top three in the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup were also honoured: Cup winner Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40), runner up Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt IntactGP) and third overall Matteo Ferrari (Indonesian E-Racing Gresini MotoE), with Aegerter receiving his award remotely.



The top Independent Team rider title went to Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) after another season of consistent speed and excellence from the Frenchman, and this year’s MotoGP™ Rookie of the Year award was presented to his teammate Jorge Martin after a stunning debut for the Spaniard – including a first premier class win, a host of poles and another podium to round out the year too.

In Moto2™, Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Raul Fernandez, after breaking some of Marc Marquez’ records in the class, was crowned Rookie of the Year. In Moto3™, by definition it was also a clear winner as a rookie stormed the Championship: Pedro Acosta.

The top three in the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup: Aegerter’s stand in Joan Maixe Valls, Cup winner Torres and Ferrari.

Ducati swept the Team and Constructor titles in the premier class, with the Bologna factory taking their highest number of podiums ever – and earlier in the day having taken their first ever 1-2-3. Ducati Lenovo Team were the Team Champions too. Kalex came out on top in Moto2™, and KTM in Moto3™. The Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup winner David Alonso and FIM MiniGP World Series Champion Izan Rodriguez were also applauded for their seasons. 

And so the curtain falls, and we bid farewell to a rider who sparked the soul of the sport. Ciao Vale, grazie – and let’s celebrate an incredible career before the lights go out in 2022 for more incredible racing!


 

Tissot to continue as Official Timekeeper of MotoGP

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Dorna and Tissot have announced the renewal of their contract that sees the Swiss watchmaker remain Official Timekeeper of the FIM MotoGP World Championship for several years to come. 

This extends the longstanding partnership and also includes an expanded commercial presence within MotoGP, taking the collaboration to new heights.

Founded in 1853, Tissot became the Official Timekeeper of MotoGP in 2001, with this season therefore marking the 20th anniversary of the collaboration. As the competition continues to gets closer and closer, with races and even Championships decided by such small margins, Tissot’s role has become ever more vital with each passing season.  

Off-track, the partnership between Tissot and MotoGP™ also makes the headlines. The brand takes inspiration from the world of MotoGP™ to create stunning collections of timepieces and watches, reflecting a shared commitment to excellence, accuracy and precision. The rider on pole position in each class at each Grand Prix is also awarded an exclusive watch and Tissot pole position certificate, in addition to the Pole of Poles prize given at the end of the season to the rider in each class with most pole positions.  

“As the competition continues to gets closer and closer, with races and even Championships decided by such small margins, Tissot’s role has become ever more vital with each passing season.”

Tissot also enjoys an emblematic trackside presence at prime locations throughout the calendar and has recently added a new role as title sponsor for a number of Grands Prix in the last two seasons, further strengthening the collaboration between the watchmaker and the world’s fastest motorcycle racing Championship. This headline presence is now confirmed to continue as part of this new contract, with the Tissot name to take top billing at a Grand Prix each and every season. 

Sylvain Dolla, CEO of Tissot: “The technological world of motorcycling reflects the nature of Tissot perfectly. It shares our passion for products, continuous development and a drive to keep pushing boundaries. It is also a source of inspiration to create unique watches with features that illustrate stunning details of the bike, which can be seen in the Tissot T-Race MotoGP Collection. We look forward to continuing to work with Dorna and to keep inspiring one another to deliver results both in Timekeeping and in our products, for athletes and fans alike.”

The offical time keeper, Tissot and MotoGP collaboration celebrated their 20 year anniversary in 2021…

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO at Dorna Sports: “We’re delighted to celebrate over two decades of collaboration with Tissot with another important announcement, extending our partnership once again. With Tissot as Official Timekeeper, it ensures our sport will continue in safe and capable hands, and we’re looking forward to seeing each new collection of timepieces inspired by MotoGP too. The Tissot name taking top billing at a Grand Prix each season is also fantastic news, ensuring the Tissot name retains its top line presence in the paddock into another new era of partnership.”


 

Video Interview: Alan Wilzig and Wilzig Racing Manor

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Imagine your wildest motoring fantasy and Alan Wilzig is living it. Check out the Willy Wonka motoring equivalent that is Alan Wilzigs everyday life. Get an insight into every motoring fans dream house in this video!

For most well-heeled New Yorkers, the Taconic State Parkway just outside of the hustle and bustle of the city represents a cathartic path to peace and quiet. But for one, Alan Wilzig, the rolling hills and seclusion of Taghkanic, in Columbia County, would provide catharsis of a different kind, best enjoyed on two wheels, or four and right on the limit of traction.


Check out the full write up and tour of the Wilzig Manor compound here…


Topped out with one of the most impressive private collections of bikes, cars and other racing machines, the Wilzig Manor compound is an impressive display from a man who is living his best life. The Wilzig Manor compound also hosts a bi-directional private race track for Alan and his mates to sharpen their skills whenever they like.

Surprisingly, there aren’t many new bikes in the collection, just lots of awesome classics…

Check out the video above to see what it’s like living on one of the best properties in the world, having your own racetrack and owning some of the rarest motorcycles to ever go on sale. Graeme Warring catches up with Alan to get the full story.


Wilzig Manor


New Products: IXON Vendetta Evo Jacket

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IXON say their new Vendetta Evo Jacket is just as efficient and even more versatile than it’s racing counterpart. Check out the video Cassons have put together on this great leather jacket that will keep you safe on the road and even at track day events!

The new Vendetta Evo jacket benefits from all the same innovations of IXON’s racing development in MotoGP while providing optimised ventilation and freedom of movement, without any compromise to the riders’ safety. Featuring a thick & supple cowhide, highly ventilated Aerodynamic hump with air extractors, dual density shoulder cups and certified to level AAA. Contact Cassons for stock availability information!

The Vendetta Evo Jacket is on sale in Australia now for an RRP $799.95, contact Cassons for more info!

IXON Vendetta Evo Jacket Features

  • RRP $799.95
  • CE model- AAA
  • Elbow-shoulder CE protectors Level 1
  • Securized stitching
  • Thick and supple cow leather
  • Compatible with Ix airbag-U03 vest
  • Reinforcements with material complexing on areas exposed in case of fall (double layer of leather, 3D AIR SPACER mesh) for safety and and better airflow (chest, biceps, triceps, shoulders)
  • High abrasion resistance synthetic fabric reinforcements to secure stitching on forearms
  • Thumb loop straps (which prevent the sleeve from coming up in case of a fall)
  • Reflective stripes on biceps and bottom back

Riding Tips: Choosing The Right Riding Gear

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One of the most important, but often overlooked areas of motorcycling is the clothes we wear when riding. I use the term clothes; because in its basic form, that is what it really is, it is the garments we put on to go riding.

As dramatic as it sounds, your choice of clothing on the bike could be a matter of life or death when you come off.

Being humans, we are very individual in the way we think, act and appear, clothing is a very personal and individual thing, it is for some a way of expressing who they are, who they follow in racing, what they want to project to another person or they just simply want to have protection from the elements and in the worst case scenario, from a crash.

This thought can then be extended into the different areas of motor cycling, trail riders, Motocross riders, Trials riders, Road racers, weekend riders, commuters, tourers, learners, pillions and casual riders.

It may be daunting at first to choose what you’re going to buy, but there are plenty of trusted brands!

Open any motorcycle magazine and you will find pages of ads that are promoting a certain brand, style, comfort level and safety level in their clothing. Clothing also extends to Helmets, boots, gloves, eye protection, body armour and so on. For all of us this can be quite daunting when trying to work out what may be the best or in many cases the most affordable items to by for your riding style and type.


Looks or Style:
To many riders, this is a very important part of their individuality and motorcycle life. We can have extremes at both ends of this, ie, the outlaw bikie, the tattooed and unwashed of the motorcycle world, they wear nothing but what the club has laid down in their laws, as riders they tend to shun away from safety gear, wear open face, cheap helmets, sunglasses are optional for eye protection, Jeans, boots rarely gloves and plenty of patches. 

We can also have the weekend warrior, the Claytons clubbie, they can usually be found in groups outside the local Cafe sipping on latté, they are normally much cleaner, the bikes are cleaner and they also have the open face helmets, although they tend to be less stubborn on this subject and will wear a full face if the weather is bad.

We aren’t saying you need to head out on the road in one piece leathers all the time but it pays off to have every part of you covered with some quality material.

Then we have the Beach rider, thongs, board shorts and singlet, these guys are actually good value, their bikes are always very low in kilometres when they sell them, probably to do with the amount of time they sit in the shed waiting for the owner to re grow skin to 90% of his or her body after the crash on the first day of summer two years ago.

There are also a lot of us that have our hero’s in the racing scene, many of us buy replica leathers, helmets, gloves, boots and so on, even the bikes we ride we copy our hero’s, I swear, last weekend I saw Rossi, Stoner and Baylis on the Old Road! For others, it is nothing more than being very practical in what we wear and ride in, we look for weather protection and safety first and then think about the style of the item.

Worried about the rain while you’re out on track? Don’t stress, you can get wet weather covers to go over your leathers and riding gear.

Weather protection:
Everyone has a comfort zone, everyone has a expected or accepted level of protection they want. We see it every time we go for a ride. On hot days, the guys that wear T shirts because it’s hot, the guys that still wear leather jackets in the heat. The riders that at the first drop of rain stop, normally under a bridge or overpass and put the wet weather suit out, or the rider that will take the gamble and not have a wet weather suit.

The distance of your ride can have a big impact on your choice of weather protection, there’s nothing worse than getting soaked to the skin in the first km’s of a thousand km trip. It can also be just as frustrating to spend 15 mins getting into your wet weather gear to find it turns into a 38 degree day just 10 mins up the road.



Budget:
One of the biggest influences on what we buy. Everyone has a budget, everyone has an opinion on what is too expensive or too cheap. This is where you have to do your home work, shopping around with different suppliers of product, getting feedback from people about a particular brand or style of clothing or helmet, getting into stores and physically trying stuff on. These things all help to give you a chance to make a valued decision on how much you are prepared to spend.

Safety Helmets are required by law in Australia to meet a certain level of safety, from the very cheap helmet to the most expensive, they all must meet that level of safety to be sold in this country. The more exotic the materials the more you pay, the flasher the paint work, the more you pay. Yes some brands offer a much higher level of protection, but the final choice is yours. There are no regulatory standards for clothing for road use, different suppliers offer certain information on their product, abrasive tests and so on. Try to buy what you can afford but with the highest level of protection for your money.

“You may learn the hard way after a crash that the thongs and shorts weren’t such a good idea after all.”

Understanding:
A strange category. What I mean by this, is an understanding of what you want from your safety gear. Do you want the maximum protection from a crash? The maximum protection from the elements? Clothing that offers some built in protection but not over the top in both price or safety? Do you want to just ride in jeans and T shirt and not  be concerned about the consequences? Many riders don’t understand these questions and don’t know how to come to a decision as to what is best or needed by them. Experience is one of the ways to learn how to make that choice, but experience can come at a cost, you may learn the hard way after a crash and then realise that the thongs and shorts weren’t such a good idea after all. Each rider has to make that decision before he rides, and each of us as individuals, will make different decisions. Let’s all hope we make the right ones.



Type of riding:
This goes back to what was said earlier, there are so many different forms of riding, from racing to road riding. If you were doing a track day, you wouldn’t turn up in jeans and runners, you would make sure that you had the appropriate clothing for the day, the same goes for riding down to the corner shop, it’s easier to leave the thongs and shorts on, but is it really the correct way to ride? The old saying, horses for courses is true, pick you clothing to suit the riding. Types of safety gear out there is immense, let’s look at what you can get and what you really need for a particular discipline of riding.

Trail riding / motocross:
Weekend trail riding in one of the biggest actives in the world. Protective clothing is a must, There are very few of us that go all day on the trails without some sort of fall or obstacle being flung at you. Helmets are different to road helmets, usually very light, large peaks and open frontal areas for goggles to fit. Boots are very tough robust and rigid to support the foot, ankle and lower leg from injury and obstacle ( rocks, stumps and the like) that may be in your way or you land on.

Body armour is very extensive, Back, chest, knee, elbow, neck and hands all need to be protected for motocross.

Body armour is very extensive, Back, chest, knee, elbow, neck and hands all need to be protected. The type and style of this can vary, but it is very very different from what you may have as a road rider. Pants and shirts are usually light and offer minimal protection, the armour is relied on quite heavily to do this task. Cuts, grazes, bruising and broken limbs are part of the sport so protection is a must.

The Scratcher
This type of rider is there in big numbers, many have a type of bike that has some form of link to racing or has been modified to be better than stock. The riders usually take pride in what they ride, as a result they know that protection is vital if they are going to have a play on their favourite bit of road. These riders tend to have two piece or one piece leathers, back protectors, armour in their leathers, good quality gloves and good quality helmets. 

Just remember, chicks dig scars, tattoos get erased with gravel rash, bones break, sometimes bones don’t heal, but we are only here once, and we should all try to make it a long and happy riding life.

The track rider / racer
At the high end of the sport where speed and pushing to the limits is an everyday occurrence, the need for top quality safety gear is a must. One piece leathers with built in armour, additional back protector and chest protector are the norm, quality gloves, top level boots and helmets are also a must for these riders. Coming off the bike at extreme high speed requires a very, very high level of safety gear.


 

 

All The Australian Racing & Track Day Contacts You’ll Need!

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If you want to kick start your racing career or just head out for a track day then we have you sorted. Check out the list of contacts below, with everyone from Motorcycling Australia to SMSP Ride Days, there’s someone on hand to help out with any questions you may have!

Thinking about getting into racing or just want to do a track day? Check out our list of contacts to help get you started.

Road Racing State Governing Bodies

MOTORCYCLING NEW SOUTH WALES 

  • Address: 9 Parkes Street,
  • Harris Park NSW 2150
  • Phone: (02) 9635 9177
  • Web: motorcycling.com.au

MOTORCYCLING QUEENSLAND

  • Address: 2/8 Gordon Street,
  • Ipswich Qld 4305
  • Phone: (07) 3281 2255
  • Web: mqld.org.au

MOTORCYCLING WESTERN AUSTRALIA

    • Address: 46 Seventh Avenue,
    • Marylands WA 6051
    • Phone: (08) 9371 5333
    • Web: motorcyclingwa.org.au

MOTORCYCLING SOUTH AUSTRALIA

  • Address: 251 The Parade,
  • Beulah Park SA 5067
  • Phone: (08) 8332 9000
  • Web: motorcyclingsa.org.au

MOTORCYCLING VICTORIA

  • Address: Suite 125/9 Hall Street
  • Port Melbourne, Vic 3207
  • Phone: (03) 9673 0600
  • Web: motorcyclingvic.com.au

MOTORCYCLING TASMANIA

  • Postal Address: PO Box 269,
  • Port Sorell Tas 7307
  • Phone: (03) 6428 7567
  • Web: mtas.org.au

MOTORCYCLING NORTHERN TERRITORY

  • Postal Address: PO Box 154,
  • Howard Springs NT 0835
  • Phone: (08) 8983 2200
  • Web: mant.org.au

RIDE DAY COMPANY CONTACTS 

CALIFORNIA SUPERBIKE SCHOOL

  • Ph: 1300 793 423
  • phillipislandridedays.com.au
  • superbikeschool.com.au
  • Locations: Phillip Island, Vic

CHAMPION’S RIDE DAYS 

  • Ph: (07) 3287 4144
  • championsridedays.com.au
  • Locations: Broadford, Winton, Queensland Raceway, Barbagallo, Lakeside, Mallala 

TOP RIDER  

  • Ph: 1300 13 13 62
  • toprider.com.au
  • Locations: Marulan, Eastern Creek, Gold Coast

TRAKDAYZ 

  • Ph: 0401 484 898
  • trakdayz.com.au
  • Locations: Barbagallo, Collie

XTREME RIDE DAYS

  • Ph: (02) 4823 5711
  • formula-xtreme.com.au/RideDay
  • Locations: Wakefield Park, NSW

RIDE DAYS WA 

  • Ph: (08) 9409 1002
  • ridedayswa.com.au
  • Locations: Barbagello, Collie