On-Track
Jack Miller – MotoGP

Kicking his August off with a 12th in the Sprint after starting 14th in Catalunya, this was a solid effort in a bout where he displayed some excellent pace and engaged in some fierce battles throughout. In the main race, he recovered from early adversity to secure 14th place, fighting his way back into the points after being pushed wide by Brad Binder on the opening lap, which had dropped him to the back of the field. Keen for more at Misano, Jack Miller (#43) began his weekend with a decent 14th in the Sprint, clawing his way back from 20th on the grid despite him not feeling overly confident on the bike. He followed that up with a gritty ride to 12th in Sunday’s main race, once again carving through the field – this time from 21st – to round out what was another tidy body of work.

“It’s been a relatively good day, considering where we started and where we finished. I lost quite a bit of time in the opening laps while settling into my rhythm, but from around lap eight until about six laps from the end, I felt pretty good and confident on the bike, even setting my best lap of the race in that stint. From then on, with a low fuel load and worn tyres, the bike started moving around a lot, and it was difficult to manage the weight transfer – that‘s something we need to work on. Overall though, I’m satisfied: I had a solid Sprint and a solid Sunday. We’re still missing a bit of speed, but the team did a good job. We have an important test, where I’ll try the new Yamaha YZR-M1 V4 prototype,” he commented.

Read our previous Aussies Racing Abroad columns here…

Speaking of the test, and Miller was content following his first outing on Yamaha’s new V4, noting that there’s much to like already even though there’s huge scope for improvement given the project’s still in its early stages.

Senna Agius – Moto2

Despite banking an impressive P8 in qualifying, Senna Agius frustratingly could only manage 14th in the race, as he was hindered by a sluggish start, grip issues and a long lap penalty on his return from his brutal crash in Austria. Eager to come out swinging in Misano, this is exactly what the Aussie flyer did, for he produced a sterling showing, which began with a strong P7 in qualifying: just 0.190 seconds off the fastest time. He then positively transferred his pace into the race, with him riding with plenty of intensity and fight to clinch fifth, which secured him a valuable points haul to propel him from tenth to eighth in the Moto2 standings.

“It was a good race, I can’t complain. Fourth place would have been the best I could have hoped for today. Maybe even a little better, because I saw the podium and relived that feeling I’ve been missing over the last months. But I got a little kick from behind and ended up on the kerbs, where I almost lost control of the front on the outside. I almost had a serious crash because it was at a fast place. Fifth place at the end is good, and we’ve made up a little ground in the championship, which is nice.” Agius reflected.

Joel Kelso – Moto3

Joel Kelso rocketed to P2 in qualifying at Barcelona, setting himself up nicely for an uplifting race. However, he was unable to fully convert that speed when it counted, slipping as far back as 14th before fighting back to finish a respectable seventh.

At Misano, Kelso wanted to carry that momentum. And he did just that by bagging an eye-catching P3 in Friday practice. He duly backed it up with another front-row start in qualifying and went on to finish fourth in the race to cap off a fine round at the office.

“Not the smoothest race today – made it to the front but got shuffled back after a small mistake. Fought my way through to finish with solid points. Happy to have the good feeling back on the bike and ready to build for the second half of the season. Time to tidy up a few things and go again next weekend,” Kelso stated.

Jacob Roulstone – Moto3

While he was dissatisfied with only logging P11 in qualifying, mainly due to getting stuck behind others on slow laps at Catalunya, Jacob Roulstone was ready to show his class in Sunday’s showdown. But his race ended in devastation after a technical issue forced him to retire.

“Really unfortunate once again. It seems that when everything is going good, I can’t catch any luck. I don’t know how many ladders I walked under this year, but I am really upset. It is the third time this year that I am having this issue. I know it is out of the team’s control, so it’s just a really big shame. I felt really strong from lap one, I showed top speed, so it is sad,” he lamented.

It was a weekend of highs and lows in San Marino too. After securing the first front row of his GP career with a superb P3 in qualifying, tyre issues meant P11 was the best he could salvage in the race.

“We felt good at the start. I tried to manage myself, but I quickly struggled with the tyre drop, and I was a bit lost. I am a bit disappointed, of course, but we take the positives from this weekend, and let’s keep working,” admitted Roulstone.

Remy Gardner – World Superbike

Despite feeling sore from his Balaton spill, Remy Gardner produced a valiant effort on the physically demanding Magny-Cours circuit to register a brave sixth in the opening race. An 11th in the Superpole Race then followed for the #87 before he picked up an admirable P13 in the final race to close out the French round.

“Unfortunately, in the sprint race we couldn’t hold our position early on, even though our pace was good in the closing stages. That meant starting one row further back for race two, which made things a bit tougher. We tried to work our way through the field and kept a consistent pace, but it wasn’t quite enough to gain more places. Now we’ll focus on Aragon and take some time to rest,” Gardner said.

Oli Bayliss – World Supersport

While beginning race one from the back after a collision with Kaito Toba prevented him from completing a qualifying lap, Oli Bayliss mounted a spirited charge, gaining 18 spots to finish 12th over the 19-lapper. Bayliss once again put in a remarkable comeback in the second stanza, where, having started from the back, the Australian steadily sliced through the field at a rate of over one place per lap, showing both pace and determination. His remarkable surge to tenth at the chequered flag was certainly a supreme effort.

“It was a frustrating kind of a weekend. We had a pretty good free practice, and as we all know, we got taken out of the first lap of qualifying, so we had to start at the back of the grid. We were really close to making the lap time in race one to start one of the first nine in race two, we just missed out, so we had to start at the back again. We made good progress throughout the race and finished tenth. We were really fast at the end of the race, it’s annoying because I think we could have had some really good results, but we are just going to have to try again next time,” he noted.

Off-Track
Jett Lawrence – SuperMotocross

Jett Lawrence capped off an extraordinary 2025 season with another sensational performance at the SMX finale in Las Vegas to secure his third consecutive SuperMotocross 450 Championship. Entering the final round with just a six-point edge over his brother Hunter and facing a triple-points format, Jett was under intense pressure in a winner-take-all duel. And he delivered when it mattered most, overcoming average starts in both motos to go 1-2 on the night. A critical late-race pass on Eli Tomac in the second moto clinched the overall victory and the title, netting him $1 million and his 10th career AMA crown – tying him with legends Jeremy McGrath and Ryan Villopoto. At just 22, Jett remains the only rider to have claimed every premier category SMX title since the series began in 2023, cementing his place as one of the sport’s all-time greats.

“It was a good race weekend. Hunter rode well and executed two starts, which made it hard on me. The first moto, I was able to dig deep and get that moto win, thankfully, it saved me for sure. In the second moto, I got another bad start, and the boys were riding well. Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to be able to catch Eli to make the pass, but in the last few laps I was able to close up. I saw an opportunity to pass and jumped on it real quick. I was able to make it stick and get the win. It’s awesome to go 1-2 with Hunter and me,” Jett explained.

Hunter Lawrence – SuperMotocross

Hunter Lawrence may have narrowly missed out on the SMX 450 title, but his exertions in Las Vegas were nothing short of impressive. With the championship on the line and only six points separating him from his younger brother Jett, Hunter came out all guns blazing. He led both motos early and even held on to win the second, showcasing his speed, maturity and racecraft. His third in moto one and triumph in the second earned him second overall on the night and in the final standings – along with a hefty $500,000 payout. While he fell just short of the title, Hunter’s consistency and ability to push his brother to the limit underlined why he’s a top-tier contender in the premier class.

“Yeah, I’m gutted. I did everything I could in that one, felt like I just gave it 110% every time I went on the track. Just came up short,” Hunter insisted.

Jake Cannon – EMX250

Aussie Bud Racing ace Jake Cannon ended his EMX250 season well despite enduring some adversity. Although all the signs were looking good in race one, where he was running fourth, his moto was scuppered when he got run into by another rider, which relegated him to eleventh. Recalibrating his focus swiftly, he notably fought back to finish seventh.

Then, in the second moto, Cannon didn’t let being pushed wide condition his race, as he rapidly regained his composure, and charged from ninth to fourth. His resilient output saw him secure fourth overall and eighth in the final EMX250 standings.

Liam Owens – EMX250

Liam Owens wrapped up his 2025 EMX250 crusade in style by powering himself to the podium at the finale in Turkey to close out the term with back-to-back podiums to clinch an outstanding fifth in the gruelling EMX250 championship.

While battling a bout of food poisoning wasn’t ideal in race one, Owens charged from 13th on the first lap to finish an excellent fourth. Feeling better on Sunday, the hotshot found his groove again to take home third to earn third overall.

“Back-to-back podiums to finish my 2025 EMX250 campaign. This weekend in Turkey was definitely an experience, from eating the wrong food and throwing up in race one to riding in the altitude and bikes feeling slower because of it,” Owens posted.

The post Aussies Racing Abroad | September 2025 appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

On-Track
Jack Miller – MotoGP

Jack Miller began his June with a determined showing at the Aragon round. Despite receiving a long-lap penalty following a second-lap incident with Joan Mir, he fought hard to secure 13th in the Sprint race. Then, in Sunday’s main event, the Australian got off to a strong start, jumping from 14th to 10th on the opening lap. However, as the race wore on, tyre degradation took its toll, and he eventually crossed the line in 14th.

“Not the day we wanted, but we’ll take it. At least we finished with a couple of points. At the beginning I felt I had a good speed, after a few laps I also tried to attack Fabio at turn 12, but it was hard to stop, went a little wide, and from that moment my pace dropped. And it was really difficult to get back to the rhythm. I could see the issues he was having, very similar to mine, and when he lost the bike at turn one, I almost did the same. It was not an easy weekend for us, but that is how it goes sometimes,” he reflected.

Read previous Aussie’s Abroad here...

Venturing to Mugello next, Jack Miller embarked on an early charge from 13th to 10th in the Sprint, but his difficulties with the hard tyre saw him slip back to 16th in the punishing heat. Hoping for a stronger result on Sunday, Miller’s exertions were cut short when a clutch issue forced him to retire on lap 10, just when he was hoping to bag some valuable points.

“Right from the start, the clutch basically burnt itself out as soon as I let it go – even though my launch was good. For the first three laps, it was slipping badly. I was short-shifting everywhere, trying to bring it back to life. It recovered somewhat, but every time I hit a bump, it felt like a kick and threw me wide. I got passed by everyone, and after contact with someone on the first lap, I also lost a wing, which had me wheeling all over the place. Then we had a fuel issue that made the bike even more aggressive. At that point, it was basically unrideable. I tried to keep going, but in the end, I had to retire. It was a tough one, but we‘ll reset and look ahead,” lamented Miller.

Senna Agius – Moto2

Although Senna Agius was left frustrated with 13th in qualifying at Aragon, he produced an admirable comeback in the race, powering through the pack to log an impressive fourth. Showing tremendous maturity and discipline, Agius managed his pace well despite battling tyre issues, turning a challenging start into one of his finest performances of the campaign.

An unsatisfactory qualifying at Mugello saw Senna Agius lose his best lap to a yellow flag, leaving him further down the grid than hoped. Starting 17th, he initially fell back amid the early chaos but rebounded from this adversity by putting in a spirited performance. Surging through the field with a host of commanding overtakes and advancing a hefty ten positions, there was much to like about his efforts in Mugello.

“My race began with a really bad start, and then I was pushed wide by another rider. So, I dropped back to P23 or P24 on the first lap. Then I just tried to make up as many positions as possible until the end. My pace wasn’t bad, but the position doesn’t reflect the step we made today. We have to work on qualifying, that was the big problem this weekend, and it cost us a better result today. I can be a little bit satisfied with the pace at Mugello, but we will start again at Assen, where we will try to get back to a normal position,” Agius told the Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP squad’s website.

Sitting sixth in the Moto2 standings after nine rounds, he’ll be eager for an improved display at the historic Assen.

Joel Kelso – Moto3

Joel Kelso kicked off June with another commendable body of work at Aragon, where he battled to find his rhythm. Despite that, he earned a hard-fought seventh to underline his resilience. Given his fierce approach and desire to come out swinging, seeing how he fared at Mugello would be fascinating.

“Difficult weekend for us, we never really found our flow. Seventh is never a result I’m happy with, but this weekend we did a good recovery job. Already looking ahead to Mugello and how I can be best prepared to fight for that win! Let’s keep moving,” he declared.

Despite dealing with a tricky headwind in qualifying at Mugello, the Australian ace managed a solid ninth on the grid to make the most of a difficult session. On race day, he was in the mix early on, but a run-in with Guido Pini disrupted his momentum, limiting his chances of pushing further up the order. Ninth was therefore the best he could salvage under the circumstances.

Jacob Roulstone – Moto3

Jacob Roulstone began his Aragon in style with a wonderful sixth in qualifying, setting himself up for a productive race. Unfortunately, his encouraging run was cut short by a technical issue beyond his control, forcing him to retire on lap five while running near the front.

Heading to Mugello for the subsequent stop on the calendar, his speed and skill were clear for all to see, with him marauding to fifth in qualifying. Although he led for the first time in a Moto3 race, luck wasn’t on his side, for he had to avoid two crashes around him, which dropped him way back. To his credit, he valiantly kept pushing to clinch a respectable 13th. He’ll extract the positives and hope to carry his momentum into Assen next weekend.

“To be honest, I think I would have more luck winning the lottery than in that race! I got caught up with two incidents, which I had to avoid, so I lost a lot of positions. I am very disappointed, of course, because I had once again taken a good start, and I was up there with the front group in the first laps. Anyway, we have a lot of positives to take away from this weekend – the pace has been there and the confidence is back, so I just need to keep trying. Luckily, we already have another round coming next week in Assen, so I am just already focused on that one, and hopefully we can finally get a strong finish,” stated a dejected Roulstone.

Remy Gardner – World Superbike

While Remy Gardner experienced a turbulent day on Friday at Misano, with two spills scuppering his progress, it was notable how he pulled it all together to bank fifth. Despite a strong qualifying to grab sixth, Gardner annoyingly crashed out of race one while showing excellent speed, with grip issues serving as the catalyst for his misstep. The Australian was keen to make amends and stamp his mark in the Superpole race but failed to translate his pace into a podium, with him ultimately settling for P8.

“Unfortunately the feeling was not too great, but we were still able to battle in the sprint race, trying our best to secure a good result and a decent starting grid position for race two. At the end, we managed to finish eighth, which wasn’t great, but not too bad either. We then tried to improve the performance in the afternoon, but the feeling was not amazing overall, to be honest. It was enough to try to fight with those around, but unfortunately I was hit by another rider, and I couldn’t do anything, and the race was over. Not the way I wanted to finish the weekend, but that’s racing. Let’s try to move on and stay positive for the next rounds,” asserted Gardner.

Oli Bayliss – World Supersport

Oli Bayliss endured a rough opening to round six at Misano, sliding from P12 to P18 in race one, as he toiled with the bike throughout the bout, before crossing the line 19th. Although improvement was evident in race two, as he moved from P13 to 11th, a red flag halted his progress to end the race early.

“A step in the right direction today. Made good progress but didn’t have the pace to go in the first couple of laps. After that we kept a nice pace until the red flag,” insisted Bayliss.

His racing for June wasn’t done there, for Bayliss made an impressive BSB debut at Snetterton, enjoying a fantastic weekend and marking the occasion nicely by securing second in the second race aboard the Macadam Triumph Factory Racing steed in place of the injured Max Wadsworth.

“Really happy with my weekend here in Snetterton for the BSB Championship. First of all, I need to thank Dave and the whole Macadam Triumph Factory team for getting me here in the first place and for getting these results, which is a great confidence boost. We finished fourth yesterday and second in the last race, so we’re really happy with that, especially with Luke getting the win too. I had a really great weekend, and we’ll see what happens in the future. Big thank you to the team and all my sponsors,” he commented.

Luke Power – World Supersport

Luke Power experienced a forgettable Misano, with a fall in Friday’s free practice leaving him 28th. He then proceeded to qualify 30th following a crash. Even though he retired in the first race, there was much to like about his race two, where he propelled himself to 18th before a crash cut his race short on lap nine.

“Overall, it was a disappointing weekend. I was quite confident and hopeful of a good result coming into Misano, but sometimes you get weekends like we had. A couple of technical problems and a couple of crashes were not ideal, but in the second race we found a bit of pace and a bit of confidence, which we will take. We had a good round in Phillip Island and a decent round in Most where we showed some speed, so we need to keep the momentum going as we head to Donington. I am looking forward to a smooth weekend in the UK, where we can build from FP1 and everything comes together, and we can show our potential. I am not happy with Misano, but I am motivated for the rest of the season,”explained Power.

Off-Track

Jett Lawrence – AMA Pro Motocross

Jett Lawrence has been unstoppable in the first four rounds of the 2025 AMA Pro Motocross season on his way to reigning supreme to win the overall at each event. In what’s been a phenomenal return from his nasty ACL injury that sidelined him during AMA Supercross, the outrageously talented Aussie has looked a cut above his adversaries, consistently outpacing the field and holding the edge. Firmly established as the title favourite, watch for more as the series resumes at Southwick this weekend.

Here’s what he had to say about his latest victory at High Point: “Another win in the books, but I really had to work for this one! The first moto was decent – I made a few mistakes but was able to capitalise. Then in the second one, it started pouring out of nowhere, and the track soaked up every bit of water – it got slippery really fast. I didn’t get the best start, but I managed to fight through and finished third for the overall win. I’m super-pumped on that, and now I’m looking forward to the break.”

Hunter Lawrence – AMA Pro Motocross

Hunter Lawrence has opened his Pro Motocross crusade with solid 3-5-5-2 results, demonstrating his consistency, racecraft and all-round skills. Returning from a shoulder injury, the elder Lawrence brother is steadily gaining form and confidence. With each round, he’s edging closer to the front and is expected to be a serious contender for wins in the coming weeks.

Having been just one point short of his first 450 overall outdoors win, all eyes will be on the sands of Southwick to see if he can triumph there.

“High Point was a good day – another step forward and definitely better than Thunder Valley. We actually had the overall in our hands, but Jett made his way through a few more guys, and we lost it by just one point – so a little bittersweet, but still a lot of positives to take away. I’m happy heading into the break, and we’ll keep on working,” said the #96 following the recent round.

Jake Cannon – EMX250

Jake Cannon registered his maiden podium finish in the fiercely competitive EMX250 with a brilliant performance in Great Britain. Setting the tone with some handy jumps of the gate, Cannon went 3-3 to claim third overall at the iconic Matterley Basin circuit. It was a breakthrough result for the young Australian, who’s mixed the highs with the lows this crusade.

“I’m very happy with how everything went all day. It started well with P4 in free practice, then sixth in timed practice to give me a good gate pick for the races. That is what has been missing; it’s been my anchor. I took a top-five start, rode to the conditions and got through to second behind my teammate. I had a really nice battle with Reisulis; unfortunately he got me near the end. I always knew I could do it, but it was all in my head. Anyway, it was a nice birthday present for the boss to put us both on the podium today,” recalled Cannon.

Liam Owens – EMX250

June has been a standout month for Liam Owens, who’s rewarded his efforts with quality results. On top of making his MX2 World Championship debut, he crucially delivered a superb fifth overall in EMX250 Latvia, which he backed up by claiming a terrific seventh overall at Matterley Basin in the UK. With momentum building, Owens is clearly heading in a promising direction, as he keeps illustrating his undeniable talent on his Cat Moto Bauerschmidt Husqvarna machine.

“So yeah, this weekend was nothing to jump and skip about, but it was also not horrible. Riding and speed were there; starts were not, but I did love the jumps. Race one: P7, I came from 16th to 7th. Race two: P7, started just outside the top 10, and my speed was good, but I didn’t make passes happen and ran out of tear-offs. Disappointed in myself, and I will be looking to bounce further up the ladder in the coming rounds,” shared Owens.

“We have a three-week break from racing now after 11 weekends in a row of racing. We will take a breather and then keep on keeping on. Thanks to the whole team for pushing to be their best selves, and see you in Finland.”

The post Aussies Racing Abroad | June 2025 appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

Remy Gardner – World Superbike
Beginning his month at Donington Park, Remy Gardner endured a difficult weekend at the office due to the tricky conditions and his lack of prior track knowledge. Although encouragement could initially be extracted from his charge from 18th to 10th in race one, the Superpole race and race two proved very difficult, for he could only muster 15th and 12th place finishes respectively.

Looking for an improved effort at Imola, frustratingly this wasn’t to be, as the Yamaha pilot struggled to adapt to another unfamiliar circuit in the sweltering heat. Bagging 11th in both races to go with his 11th in the Superpole race in a weekend where he displayed solid race pace to recover from way back, an upbeat Gardner took the positives and will now switch his attention to the next round.

“It was once again a very hot day, and the weekend hasn’t been easy, but we have to focus on the good parts – the races today were not bad at all, the race pace was decent, and we could fight to recover positions. We took some valuable points and we gained good data for the future. Let’s move forward to the next round in Most,” said the man who occupies 11th in the standings.

Oli Bayliss – World Supersport
Entering the Imola stop of the World Supersport calendar under a serious injury cloud following the dislocated shoulder and subsequent ligament damage sustained at Donington during qualifying, Oli Bayliss ultimately had to withdraw after FP1 due to his ailments despite giving it a crack.

“Unfortunately, the seventh round has come to an early end for myself here at Imola. I’ve been declared unfit for the rest of the weekend. After the crash at Donington Park we had an MRI done and found one ligament sliced through and one sliced halfway through proving we did dislocate the shoulder in the crash,” he divulged.

“I thought I might have at least been able to ride this weekend, however, after struggling to ride a bicycle early on in the week, I knew it would have been a difficult situation. We now have to look at all options to get myself back to 100% so I have no problems in the future with an old injury. Thank you to everyone for the support, and of course my team, D34G Racing for everything they are doing for me. Hopefully we’ll come back strong very soon.”

Senna Agius – European Moto2
Aussie sensation Senna Agius mixed the highs with the lows in July, with an emphatic victory in Portugal starting things off superbly before a frustrating crash in Catalunya ended his month disappointingly. Having logged first in all the sessions and both races to keep up his imperious form to ensure he extended his ascendancy atop the standings, another statement blow was landed by Agius to his adversaries at Portimao.

A nasty spill at Catalunya sadly ended his weekend here on the Friday, though, thus meaning he missed both races and the chance to wrap up the title.

“Portimao two weeks ago was, on the whole, very pleasing from our point of view. First of all, great praise to Senna, who delivered a fantastic weekend. To top it, he won both races, which he really dominated,” said Dirk Reissmann of the LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP Junior Team.

“For Barcelona we had hoped to continue at this level with him, but unfortunately this came abruptly to an end by a crash. Fortunately, Senna is doing well, apart of course from the two fractures he suffered in his hand. This was shown by a scan very clearly. At the moment it looks like no surgery will be necessary, as there is a long break until the next race. In any case, we wish him all the best for a quick and uncomplicated recovery. Nevertheless, it is a great pity that this weekend is over for him.”

Harrison Voight – European Moto2
Making vital progress with every passing outing, there’s been much to admire about Harrison Voight’s latest offerings. To start with Portugal, and his impressive charge from 10th to fifth was a major highlight on a weekend that was ruined in the second race by a front brake problem. Another step in the right direction was then made in Catalunya, with a 13th and a sixth in the races supplementing his third in FP1, fourth in FP2 and eighth in qualifying.

“Felt good to gain more experience today in both races. In race one, I got off to a good start and was gaining positions early although I started having issues with arm pump and getting pain in my lower back. Race two was much better, having more pace and consistency considering the pain in my back. Nevertheless, I’m satisfied to finally get a decent result after the past rounds we’ve had. Big thank you to the team, sponsors and supporters that make this happen,” he recalled.

Jacob Roulstone – Red Bull Rookies Cup & JuniorGP Moto3
Continuing to make impressive strides forward, Jacob Roulstone’s July has been littered with upside. Kicking things off at the JuniorGP at Portimao with a fifth in qualifying before going ninth in the opening race, where mistakes cost him, and 14th in the second, where he was running fourth until being pushed wide on the penultimate lap, he left Portugal knowing his results didn’t match his speed.

Eager for more at Catalunya, Roulstone’s wicked pace was evident from the outset, as he not only banked fourth and second in the free practice sessions, but also qualified a striking second. He then carried his momentum into race one on his way to claiming a fantastic second to reward himself for all his hard work. Even though he was taken out in the second stanza to end the event on a sour note, he still left feeling content with his output.

“A second podium in FIM JuniorGP today in race one by finishing in P2 and so very happy to share this with everyone who works hard for me to be able to race. Race 2: DNF after being taken out along with three other riders. But we won’t let that take the shine off an awesome weekend,” he reflected. “Thanks to the Aspar Team, Santi, Antonio and Fran for all their amazing work all week. We go on summer break now for this championship until October. In the meantime a little time to relax and then training hard to keep aiming higher.”

Josh Brookes – British Superbike
Beginning the first of the two BSB rounds in July wonderfully at Snetterton, Josh Brookes propelled himself onto the podium in two of the three bouts. While his pair of seconds in the sprint race and the opener were brilliant, the fact he was forced out in the finale courtesy of a sensor issue while leading scuppered his weekend.

Topping the opening practice session and locking in third in qualifying at Brands Hatch, the signs were excellent that this was a precursor for a strong weekend ahead. Getting 12th in a wet sprint race definitely wasn’t what he envisaged, and neither was finishing ninth and crashing out in the Sunday races respectively to end his round in an unsatisfactory manner. Wanting to put this one in the rear vision mirror, both he and the team’s attention will now rapidly shift to the upcoming Thruxton, as Brookes and co. will be striving for an upturn in fortunes.

“The weekend started out well and it was looking promising, we topped the first practice, the pace and everything was consistent throughout practice and even in qualifying we had a last-minute shower and we were on the front row for the first race. But then it seemed everything turned bad and sour. The first race, I can only imagine we had a bad tyre or something as the bike just didn’t perform in wet conditions, we got a poor result, which meant I had a bad position on the grid for the dry race today. I made up a couple of places, but not enough to be satisfied. We tried to make something of the final race, but I got squeezed in the first turn, which ended up in a crash – so I have nothing really good to take away from the weekend. We’re frustrated, annoyed – all the emotions you can have. We’ll now regroup ahead of Thruxton and hope we can turn it around there,” he lamented.

Jason O’Halloran –  British Superbike
Racing out of the blocks at Snetterton to grab pole and a third in the sprint, Jason O’Halloran couldn’t have hoped for a better way to start the fifth round of BSB. Backing this up with a fifth and a sixth in the races, these solid outcomes were as good as he could’ve hoped he admitted, with the Ducati and BMW men enjoying a clear speed advantage.

Brands Hatch then awaited the McAMS Yamaha man, as the wet surface and grip issues saw him only capable of fifth in race one to start the round in decent fashion. A pair of sixths then followed on the Sunday, which left him feeling disappointed and eager for more at the next one at a happy hunting ground of his at Thruxton, where he’s won five of the previous six. “It’s been a tough weekend to be honest. I’d be lying if I said I was happy about it. I’m getting quite frustrated at the minute, but that’s life, you’ve got to keep fighting with what you’ve got.” he expressed.

“I thought Brands would be good for us, but it was just a difficult weekend. We don’t really seem to have any strong points at the moment, which is hard to believe really. We need to put our heads together for Thruxton, I’ve won five of the last six races at Thruxton and if I get beaten there it’ll be tough. It’s not ideal, but we’ll work through it and find a solution.”

Jett Lawrence – AMA Pro Motocross
Jett Lawrence has kept up his scintillating form in the 450 class in AMA Pro Motocross by extending his streak to eight straight overall victories and 16 consecutive moto triumphs. Getting the job done in the last four rounds at RedBud, Southwick, Spring Creek and Washougal, the Aussie continues to underline his class, with his ability to manage races, adapt to the conditions at hand and ramp up the intensity when need be being nothing short of remarkable.

How he’s expertly held off the challenge of his teammate, Chase Sexton, has been another key factor, for the #23 has been pushing hard in recent weeks but without reward due to Jett’s mastery. With an undefeated season edging closer and closer and the championship all but sealed for the Aussie dynamo, it’ll be fascinating watching to see if he can achieve a rare perfect season, as just three rounds remain.

Hunter Lawrence – AMA Pro Motocross
While Hunter Lawrence still holds the lead in the 250 class in AMA Pro Motocross, things certainly haven’t been easy, for he’s faced his fair share of adversity in the form of crashes, a mechanical DNF and through battling injury. To his credit, though, the ultra-competitive and determined Hunter keeps fighting on doggedly.

Even though he’s been far from satisfied with his last four overalls as a whole, that read 9-13-1-3, that quality work from the beginning of the series has ensured he still has a slender three-point advantage over Haiden Deegan. Looking forward to the three-week break to rest, recover and recalibrate his focus, expect the #96 to come out swinging in the final three rounds in his quest for glory.

Mitch Evans – MXGP
Having missed the pre-season and the subsequent first part of the season, Mitch Evans continues to play catch up on his competitors. Making steady gains this month, as he’s now claimed four top 10 overalls in the last five rounds, the aim for him is now to venture into the top five in the stacked MXGP class. Indeed, this is something that’s easier said than done, which was illustrated last weekend in the brutal sands of Lommel, where he duked it out valiantly to claim 13th overall.

“Moto one was really good; I pushed through really well to eighth and was happy with my riding. I got a better start in race two, but got caught up in turn two and lost a heap of positions. I came back through again, but then I felt a lot of cramping in my lower back. There were a lot of positives again; just the last ten to fifteen minutes could have been better,” asserted Evans.

Have we missed anyone? Leave a comment letting us know who you’d like to see us keep you up to date with their international two wheeled successes! 

The post Aussies Racing Abroad: July 2023 appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

Jack Miller – MotoGP
Although Jack Miller couldn’t end his season in style at the MotoGP finale at Valencia on his Ducati farewell, there’s still been many positives to be gained from his 2022 season.

Starting the race second on the grid, the number 43 mixed it with the frontrunners for the majority of the race and was looking on track for a potential podium finish. Sadly, however, disaster struck for the charismatic Aussie when he crashed out with roughly four laps remaining while in third.

“I’m really sorry about the crash today. I was pushing hard because I knew Aleix [Espargaro] didn’t finish the race, and 25 points would put me ahead of him in the standings, which was my goal,” Miller lamented. “Unfortunately, the start didn’t go exactly as I expected, and it was really hard to overtake today, except by taking advantage of other people’s mistakes. However, I am very happy for Pecco [Francesco Bagnaia], who has had an extraordinary year, never giving up and proving to everyone that he is the best. My last race with Ducati brings with it some sadness because, with this team, I had a great time and built fantastic relationships with all the people in the team, but now I will focus on my near future.”

Ultimately ending the campaign fifth in the standings having bagged one win and five podiums, the 27-year-old will now immediately recalibrate his focus to 2023, where he’ll be eager to get cracking and assimilate rapidly into life with the Red Bull KTM Factory team.

Remy Gardner – MotoGP
Remy Gardner concluded his MotoGP crusade on a positive note by finishing an outstanding 13th in Valencia. Despite starting way back in 20th, Gardner settled into his groove quickly and rapidly went about carving his way through the pack. Making short work of those ahead of him with a series of incisive passes, there was much to admire about his efforts that eventually propelled him into 13th.

“My start was so-so but after that I was on a mission and was picking them off. I got up to 14th and was about to pass Alex Marquez when he crashed and I had to pick it up and almost crashed myself,” explained the Tech3 pilot. “I lost two positions there but, well, still finished in the points. The rear tyre had dropped but I just kept my head down. I tried to fight as hard as possible, especially against Raul! It was quite fun and I had a decent burnout at the end! A good way to end the year. Onto the next.”

Although his debut term in the premier class was littered with problems, the former Moto2 champion still showed on many occasions he had what it takes to compete at the level even with him being faced with plenty of adversity. Gardner will now turn his attention to 2023, where he’ll be switching to the World Superbike paddock to race for the GYTR GRT Yamaha team.

Senna Agius – Moto2
Recalled to the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team for the final round due to Sam Lowes’ absence through injury, Senna Agius yet again underlined his talent with another wonderful effort. After qualifying way back in 19th as he worked his way into the weekend, the 17-year-old wasted little time finding his rhythm for the race, as he produced a masterful display to blast through the pack on his way to claiming an exceptional ninth.

Grasping his opportunity with both hands once more, the man who bagged second in the European Moto2 Championship continues to demonstrate what a bright future he has ahead of him.

“Was really tough to make quick overtakes early in the race today that cost me, but we have to be happy with what we achieved this weekend. After these four appearances in the world championship, I’ve gotten a taste and I’ll be back for much more soon,” he insisted.

“Again, a really big thank you to the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team for this opportunity. It has been so surreal to walk into such a working environment. It has been amazing. Being overseas has helped me develop a lot as a rider and a person. I’ve learnt a lot this year, especially doing the four rounds in the world championship (Moto2) and it really helped me mentally prepare for taking on new situations, how to handle pressures and keep my focus on the job.”

Joel Kelso – Moto3
Joel Kelso rounded out his 2022 by recording a 21st at Valencia, with things not going his way. All things considered, though, Kelso should be proud of his efforts in his first full Moto3 campaign, where he displayed flashes of brilliance and highlighted what a gifted rider he is.

While his season was scuppered by injury, which is why he ended the championship in 23rd, the Darwinian is primed for a full assault on Moto3 next season, where he’ll be lining up for CF Moto Pruestel GP. Delighted at the prospect of working with his new team and learning from ultra experienced former racer, Tom Luthi, 2023 looms as an exciting year for Joel Kelso.

Oli Bayliss – World Supersport
Oli Bayliss made another positive step at the penultimate round of the World Supersport championship at Mandalika by claiming a pair of 14th place finishes. Getting out to a solid start in the opening race, this left him believing a top 10 was a real possibility. But as the race progressed, his hopes faded due to his tyres deteriorating, with him admitting he chose the wrong compound.

Despite missing the warm-up due to a technical problem that hindered his preparation for the second stanza, Bayliss valiantly battled on to a credible 14th again, with him happy with his switch to the harder tyre that enabled him to at least feel more comfortable.

Up next for Bayliss was the season ending race at Phillip Island, where he was desperate to put on a show for the home fans in attendance to close his year on a high. Crucially familiar with the famous track, which was a pleasant change for the 19-year-old, Bayliss performed admirably. Faced with treacherous wet conditions in race one, he brought his Barni Ducati home in a solid 12th. Then, for the final race of the season, the youngster produced a wonderful ride to finish eighth, despite getting off to a shocking start, to close out his 2022 with a confidence boosting performance.

“That’s a wrap on the 2022 FIM Supersport World Championship,” Bayliss stated. “The Barni Racing Team and I finished the year off with an eighth place, after starting from 13th on the grid today. In terms of the race, I got one of the worst starts in my life. I managed to gain some positions back. I believe if I got a better start and a better qualifying position I could have possibly stayed with the front group. It has been a good day. Eighth place is ok. In saying that, as a racer you always expect more of yourself.”

“It has been a tough year, but at the same time it has been a big learning year. To be able to be on the back of some of the guys we were racing with today who have probably been here more times than I have was a good way to end the year. Thanks to everyone for coming to the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit over the weekend. It was good to put on half a show for everyone today. I hope everyone enjoyed today and the whole weekend.”

“I can’t wait to return to the Island in February in 2023 for round one of the WorldSBK Championship and hopefully get a better result for you all. Massive thanks to my team for the year. I can’t thank them enough for everything they have done. It’s been great working with them all, and of course, our team sponsors.” he finished.

Jacob Roulstone and Harrison Voight – Red Bull Rookies Cup and Moto3 Junior World Championship
Obtaining valuable experience with every passing round, young Aussies Jacob Roulstone and Harrison Voight were back on track for the Moto3 Junior World Championship and the Red Bull Rookies Cup.

To start with Voight, and he ended his season in style by bagging fantastic finishes in both the Red Bull Rookies and the JuniorGP. Recording outstanding 10-8 finishes in the former and going 6-4 in the latter series, Harrison Voight produced two excellent efforts that were full of upside.

“A big thank you to the Red Bull Rookies Cup for these past two years together. It was a childhood dream to be given the opportunity and take part. Achieving a podium was something I can’t describe after all the injuries I’ve had in the last 12 months,” Voight explained. “Now it’s time to go home to reflect and remember the memories that were made this year because it sure was one to remember. Can’t wait for the next chapter to begin.” he said

He then added this on his JuniorGP exertions: “Pretty happy to end the season off with PB results in JuniorGP. Race one I struggled to maintain the pace that the front group had when my front tyre dropped. Race two we changed a little bit of the setup and it was much better to stay in the fight for the podium the whole time and having the second fastest lap of the race. I would like to thank the team for these past three years. Together we have grown a lot. I will always remember these years together.”

Meanwhile, for Roulstone, there were many positives attached to his work in both classes, with him showing fantastic speed to frequently mix it with the frontrunners even if his pace didn’t entirely translate into the results.

Feeling confident and fast at the JuniorGP, Roulstone eye-catchingly pieced together a fine charge from the rear of the field to secure 13th in the first race. Then, for the second race, a coveted top 10 finish appeared on the cards. But when the race was stopped courtesy of an on-track spillage, he was forced to settle for 11th as that’s where he was at the time of the red flag. Bagging a 13th and a 15th in the Rookies, Roulstone, who struggled with rear grip, was left content with his efforts in the stacked class, as he concluded his very productive 2023 brightly.

“Not the results I was hoping for in the final round of the Red Bull Rookies in Valencia but what a great experience it has been this year. And I’m pleased to confirm that I have been invited back to compete in 2023. I would like to thank all the Rookies staff for giving me another year to continue to learn and prove myself in this class,” he reflected. “Overall a challenging season but I’m very excited for next year and ready to get into working for next year’s season.”

Matt Moss – Paris Supercross
After a brilliant weekend of racing, Matt Moss was crowned Prince of Paris Supercross, with him steering his Bud Racing Kawasaki to glory at the showpiece. Securing the crown with an exceptional performance on the Sunday to win all three races, the Aussie impressively claimed his first win of any kind in six-and-a-half years to break his drought.

Handling the conditions with aplomb and keeping it on two wheels, there would be no denying the experienced veteran, whose pass on Jace Owen in the last main event propelled him to victory.

“This feeling is why I race, you can’t beat it. It was great, but I just want to make a special mention to Bayden Blanchette, if it wasn’t for you mate, I wouldn’t be in the position I am. So I am forever grateful for you believing in me from the start. You’ve had two years of having to put up with me, but thank you mate. There needs to be more people like you in our sport. So this is for you, I love everything you’ve done for me,” gleamed a jubilant Moss afterwards.

The post Aussies Racing Abroad: November 2022 Update appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

Show Up In The Right Gear
This is a huge one, it might sound simple but it’ll save you some heartache of being turned away from the track. At the bare minimum, most tracks will require you to have one or two piece leathers, leather gloves, riding boots (most tracks will not allow riding shoes) and an Australian/European approved helmet. Some tracks will require a back protector, this is something you should chuck on anyway as it could save you from being paralyzed.

Now, that’s the bare minimum. To ensure your safety it’s best to have a GOOD CONDITION one piece set of leathers, an ill fitting and damaged set could cause you harm in the instance of a crash. Buy yourself a decent helmet, lid’s aren’t meant to be used after being dropped so if you dust of that helmet that’s fallen off your handlebars multiple times, you’re only putting yourself at risk.

Set Up Your Bike Property
We have a fair few articles on bike preparation but the rules for a track day are straight forward, no fluids leaking, no ear-drum rupturing exhausts and decent tread on your hoops. Not only will the scrutineer turn you away if they see your tyres have no tread, but you’ll have a terrible time battling the bike with crusty old tyres on.

Check out our tech articles here…

Oil and fluid leaks are self-explanatory. If your bike is leaking oil while road riding, imagine how much will flow out while revving it to the redline. Don’t ruin someone else’s day by spewing oil down the track, check those drain and filler plugs.

Find The Right Group For You
You’ve bought yourself the top-of-the-line 1000cc machine? Awesome! However fast you think you are on the road, you’ll probably be quite slow learning a track. Don’t choose the “Fast” or “Racer” group just because you have the fastest bike in a straight line. There is absolutely no harm in starting in the slow and intermediate groups while you get to grips. If you’re too fast, the organisers will move you up a skill group.

If you’re off the pace but are unleashing all the power on the straights in the fast group, you are a bit of a danger to the other riders on the course, especially those on smaller capacity machines. Entering the “Race” or “Fast” groups, most riders will be expecting you to be on the racing line, so if they go to overtake and you suddenly chop them up you could end up injuring someone. No one cares what colour your wristband is…

Relax And Stay Calm
Say someone hasn’t taken the last bit of advice and they’re slow as all hell in the fast group. Just drop back and give them space, it’s no use dicing with an unpredictable rider. If you have serious concerns then you can bring it up with the organisers.

I’ve had this happen to me on plenty of occasions, in fact, one of my biggest accidents was caused by not letting a YZF-R6 go while I was on a CBR250RR. The YZF-R6 rider took an unpredictable line and grabbed the brakes mid corner, I was on the pace and fully committed to the downhill at Wakefield Park when I speared off the track to avoid them, resulting in me and the bike cartwheeling through the air. This would’ve been avoided if I had just taken a slow down through the pits and raised my concerns with the organisers.

Tape Up Those Mirrors And Speedo
You do not need to be looking at your Speedo on a track day. 100% of your focus should be on the road, the world passes by very fast when you’re at full pelt on a motorcycle, taking that split second to look at your speedo could result in you missing your braking point or running up the back of someone. If you really want to know how fast you’re going, strap a GPS tracker or GoPro to your bike.

Check out our article on transporting your bike to the track here…

The mirrors have the same theory but it also comes back to that unpredictability too. If there is a faster rider behind you, they’ll find a way past, don’t distract yourself by constantly looking in the mirrors. It’s best to just fold them in or cover them.

Helmet Cameras
Most tracks will not allow you to have anything on your helmet. This goes for add-on intercoms too. Find a nice spot for you to put your camera, my preference is on the tail or the tank, and make sure it’s stuck down well and proper. Last thing you want is the camera to be lost the first time you accelerate!

“No one remembers the fastest person, they remember the one who crashed.”

Have Fun, It’s Not MotoGP
This is the most important point of the lot. Go out to have fun, not to break a lap record (which probably wont happen). All the track days I attend, I don’t even check the lap times, I’m there to have fun and I can improve on my times at the next race meeting.

I find that not bothering to time myself will allow me to leave the track glowing with happiness rather than disappointment. Some track day organisers don’t offer timing too, which I believe is a good thing, it stops people from pushing too hard and going beyond their abilities. Just go out and have fun, a MotoGP rider spotter isn’t going to be at your local track day. As the saying goes: no one ever remembers the fastest person, they remember the one that crashed.

That’s about all to have a nice time during your first track day. Don’t be afraid to ask fellow riders for some help, make some friends and enjoy your time! You’re not racing for sheep stations so don’t be a dick.

Additional Advice 

• Trailer your bikes – You are going to be knackered at the end of the day, last thing you’ll want to do is ride home in your leathers.
• Bring your own lunch and water – Every track I’ve been to charges a bonza for food and drinks. Pack a nice lunch and plenty of water.
• Bring spare fuel – The fuel at the track will be expensive. It doesn’t hurt to fill up some jerry cans.

The post Advice: The Do’s And Don’t’s Of A Track Day appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

Jack Miller – MotoGP
Hoping to carry the momentum from his sensational victory in Japan into October, Jack Miller’s enjoyed a largely positive month aboard his factory Ducati.

Kicking things off with a wonderful second in Thailand to bag his seventh podium of the season, Miller handled the wet, treacherous conditions masterfully, as he jumped to the lead early on. Although Miguel Oliveira eventually got past the Aussie, to his credit, Miller didn’t go down without a fight, as he only finished 0.730 behind the Portuguese star.

The MotoGP circus then made its way to Australia, where Miller was desperately hoping for a weekend to remember on home soil at Phillip Island. But it wasn’t to be for Miller, who was cruelly taken out by an overzealous Alex Marquez following a good start that saw him mixing it with the frontrunners.

The 27-year-old then turned his attention to the penultimate round of the season in Malaysia, where he claimed an impressive sixth place finish. Having to charge through the pack following a shocking start, it was a joy to watch him carve through the field with incision. “It wasn’t the ideal day but it wasn’t the worst either, I’m happy enough with my performance,” he said.

“Being beaten on the first lap to 21st place probably didn’t help, it was one of my worst starts in my MotoGP career, you could say. The start itself was okay, I was blocked off by the row in front of me. I had to get out early and then I was more or less stuck on the outside and I had to basically hold on but at least I managed to safely get through the first lap and start my run from there. I kept my head down the whole race and was able to work. We had decent pace the whole race and we were able to show it.” said Miller

Currently sitting fifth in the standings ahead of the final round at Valencia, Miller will be keen to close out what’s been an excellent crusade on a high before switching to KTM in next year.

Remy Gardner – MotoGP
Even though he started the month with a crash in Thailand, where he rode really well and looked a decent shout for a top 10 finish, Remy Gardner bounced back admirably to register 15th at Phillip Island and 18th at Sepang. Wanting to put on a show in front of his home fans, especially after the Australian round wasn’t on the calendar during his triumphant Moto2 title winning season, he showcased his skills nicely.

Having gotten off to a blistering start to propel him inside the top 10, it was great to see him piecing everything together, as he cut a fast and confident figure. While tyre issues ultimately shuffled him back, he gave the fans plenty to cheer about in the final stages of the race by blasting past Maverick Vinales to secure a deserved point.

Switching his focus to Malaysia, and Gardner, who was dealing with rear grip problems, valiantly rode to an 18th place finish in the gruelling hot and humid conditions. “Today’s race was tough physically. We started okay but I knew it would be difficult with the heat and humidity. I tried to save the tyres as much as I could but the rear was dropping quickly. I gave all I could today,” insisted the 24-year-old.

Joel Kelso – Moto3
Joel Kelso continues to showcase his undeniable talent, in what’s been an upside littered last few races by the Darwinian. His 12th in Thailand was a huge step in the right direction, which served as a huge confidence booster in what’s been an injury hit season.

Wanting to build on this result for his home GP, Kelso did precisely that by grabbing a terrific, career-best eighth. Working his way through the field expertly and riding in a calculated manner, his brilliant efforts in front of the delighted Phillip Island crowd was a fitting way to celebrate his home round.

“It was an awesome race, I felt strong through the whole race and at the beginning there I thought a podium was on the cards. I was sitting in that group, saving the tyre and I said ‘let’s sit in the group, enjoy, play a little bit and try to save the tyre for the end’ and when I did there was a little gap that opened up,” Kelso gleamed.

“I went to the front of the group as soon as possible and started pushing to catch the leaders and matched their lap times for two laps in a row but I just didn’t have enough to close them in so I thought I would save it for the end. Happy to come out P8, feeling really strong on the bike, strongest I’ve felt all season and looking forward to bringing this into Malaysia as well.”

Although 18th was all he could muster in Malaysia, the Aussie will now turn his thoughts to Valencia, where he’ll be hoping to close out the season in style.

Jason O’Halloran – British Superbike
Jason O’Halloran’s frustrating end to the season continued in BSB, with things outside of his control ensuring he failed to score points at the finale at Brands Hatch.

Despite scoring a credible sixth on Saturday, his Sunday sadly didn’t go to plan, for his race two was ruined when he was once again knocked down with a podium in his grasp. Then, in race three, the “O Show” was disappointingly forced to retire due to a technical problem. 

Ultimately ending the season fifth in the championship, which was not what he had in mind after being in title contention for the majority of the campaign, he tried to remain as positive as possible when summing up his year.

“There aren’t many words really, this hasn’t been the end to 2022 any of us wanted but that’s BSB and as we have found out, anything really can, and will happen! It’s hard to be positive right now, but we’ve had a good year – I’ve won seven races, had a load of podiums and the team had many 1-2 finishes so there’s a lot to be proud of. Thanks to the whole team and everyone involved.”

Oli Bayliss – World Supersport
Although the results haven’t always been there this term for Oli Bayliss, he’s importantly gaining valuable experience with every passing round that will undoubtedly hold him in good stead for the future. Back on track for the Portuguese stop on the schedule, the youngster performed admirably as he struggled with bike setup on his way to going 20-16 in the two races.

Wanting to regroup and recalibrate, next up was Argentina, where he started the weekend feeling good and happy on the bike. Unfortunately, this didn’t completely translate into his results even if a 15th in the opening race was solid before he was cruelly ousted early on in the second stanza.

“The Barni Racing Team and I made a big change in warm up that gave me a good feeling with the Ducati Panigale V2, which is very promising as we head into the final two rounds of the 2022 WorldSBK Championship,” he concluded. I am happy that as a team we have a good starting point for next round. Disappointed about the outcome today, but happy we made a step with myself and the bike. Bring on Mandalika in two weeks’ time.”

Jacob Roulstone and Harrison Voight – Red Bull Rookies & Moto3 Juniors
Jacob Roulstone and Harrison Voight were back on track for the Moto3 Junior World Championship at Aragon, with the gifted pair both able to take positives from their efforts. 

To start with Voight, and his weekend got off to a flyer, as he flexed his muscles by claiming second in practice and ninth in qualifying. Things didn’t go to plan on race day, however, for he annoyingly bowed out of the race after a fast start that initially saw him battling within the top five. “Solid start to the weekend, doing quick and consistent lap times alone. In qualifying I couldn’t put it all together to crack the 58s without needing a tow,” he said.

“For the race, it’s a disappointing way to end the weekend yet I’m satisfied with how I went from ninth to being in the top five within the second lap. Making gaps to pass was something I improved so I’m taking the positives and moving on. The last dance is at Valencia so let’s make the most of it!”

Voight also revealed his exciting plans for 2023, with the talented Aussie announcing he’s stepping up to the FIM CEV Moto2 Championship with the Yamaha Stylobike Racing Team for 2023.

Meanwhile, in the case of Roulstone, he put in one of his best weekends yet, for not only did he bag seventh fastest in practice and 11th in qualifying, but he also secured 14th in the race. Duking it out at the front for a large chunk of the race, there was much to admire about his first points scoring effort in this series.

“From the first lap on Thursday, I felt very strong, comfortable and confident on the bike – a lot more than the rest of the year. Q1 on Saturday got a good lap, which put me in P7. Then for Q2, I wasn’t able to improve my time but four others were able to, so it pushed me back to start the race in 11th,” he recalled. Then for the race, got a good start but just with the lack of experience at the front of this class and with the high pace early I fell back. With the bike setup for a group battle once I lost the group it was difficult to do the lap speed the frontrunners were. I managed to push through till the end to finish in 14th and score my first Junior World Championship points. “Overall it was a very productive race and with a big change from my side in my approach to the whole weekend. I have seen the benefits and know more rewards are coming.”

Wil Ruprecht – FIM EnduroGP World Championship
Wil Ruprecht ended his season on a high by claiming his first world title in the E2 class to cap off what’s been an overwhelmingly outstanding 2022.

With all eyes on Ruprecht and Josep Garcia to see who would win their battle for E2 supremacy, the former rode a smart round to ensure he got the job done, as he limited the mistakes to maintain his points advantage.

Cutting an overjoyed figure afterwards, Ruprecht was clearly stoked with his achievement, declaring: “To win my first world title has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid. But they don’t come easy. It’s been a good year, great results mixed with some tough days, so to finally lock it down is incredible.”

The post Aussies Racing Abroad: October 2022 Update appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

Jack Miller – MotoGP
Jack Miller ended the month of September in scintillating fashion by recording an outstanding victory in Japan. Looking fast all weekend and riding full of authority, composure and intelligence, there would be no denying the likeable Australian, on a day where he finished 3.409s ahead of Brad Binder in second.

Recording his first win since he was triumphant at Le Mans last year, an emotional Miller couldn’t hide his delight with his triumph. “It was an emotional one that’s for certain, as it always is with me, I don’t know why. I was crying like a baby on the in-lap. It was awesome, I didn’t know I had that in me, it was amazing to lead from almost start to finish,” he disclosed.

“When you’re riding or racing like that, the biggest opponent you’ve got is the man inside your head – so I was just trying to not listen to him too much, and it was relatively easy to not listen to him today when the bike’s working as well as it was. I got asked afterwards whether that was the race of my life, and I’d have to say 100 percent yes. Ever since we kicked things off here in Japan on Friday afternoon, I felt incredible on the bike. Everything felt like it was coming relatively easy. The bike was working fantastic and every little thing we tried was getting better.”

While the rest of the month saw him mix the highs, such as coming fifth in Aragon, with the lows, his 18th at San Marino, Miller now heads into Thailand buoyed with confidence following his win in Japan.

Remy Gardner – MotoGP
Having confirmed his switch to World Superbikes for next season after a frustrating campaign that’s been littered with obstacles, such as being axed by KTM, niggling injuries and issues with the bike, Remy Gardner has admirably kept plugging away.

Obtaining a decent 19th in San Marino, a great 16th at Aragon, where he fought doggedly before ultimately missing the points, and a 19th at Motegi, it’s hard to fault his recent efforts considering the circumstances he’s in.

Knowing he hasn’t got the package to beat the big guns in the class, he’s still finishing his races and gaining vital experience in this elite class that will surely hold the former Moto2 World Champion in good stead for his future endeavors.

Senna Agius – Moto2
Serving as Sam Lowes’ replacement for two more rounds as the Brit recovered from injury for the Marc VDS Racing Team in Moto2, Senna Agius keeps highlighting his class. After an unsatisfactory round at Misano, where he unintentionally took out Filip Salac to DNF, the man who usually competes in European Moto2 got back in the groove at Aragon.

Grabbing a terrific 16th in what was his third Moto2 race, things could’ve been even better for him had he not had to perform two long lap penalties – one for the aforementioned Salac move and one for exceeding track limits. Putting in lap times that rivalled those inside the top 10 and gaining crucial experience duking it out in this fiercely competitive division, the Sydneysider will have learned plenty yet again while instilling himself with the belief he can compete at this high level.

“I felt really mentally solid out there today. After the first long lap I just put my head down and caught the group again. I was managing the drop of the tyres really well compared to the last races where I kind of lost my way a bit. I met some personal goals there,” he insisted. “In the end I was pushing a bit hard and on the exit of turn 10 in the third sector, I ran onto the track limit. I knew I had made a mistake. But I didn’t give up on the last lap. A top twelve was definitely on the cards today. We have to take these two penalties into consideration and be happy about today.”

Joel Kelso – Moto3
Although his last three races haven’t been what he’s looking for, positives can still be extracted from Joel Kelso’s September even though he had a DNF at the Japanese GP last weekend. To start with Misano, and the way he scorched through the field from 30th to finish 14th was very impressive indeed, as he demonstrated his super speed.

Off to Aragon with momentum, sadly his race day was scuppered when Ryusei Yamanaka crashed near him on the first lap, thus forcing Kelso to avoid him, which cost him valuable time. Pushed to the back and effectively ruining his race, ultimately had to settling for 21st.

Another interesting piece of news surrounding the 19-year-old comes in the form of the announcement that he’ll be switching teams to CFMOTO for the 2023 Moto3 crusade. “First of all, I’m really excited about this new project for next year, being a part of the team and racing for CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP,” gleamed Kelso.

“Honestly, the goal is to be in the front in most of the races and I think it’s a doable task for me. Especially since the team is very strong, experienced and competitive. I want to show my speed, so I’m grateful to have the opportunity at CFMOTO to fight for podiums.”

Jason O’Halloran – British Superbike
Having endured some challenging recent rounds that saw him relinquish the championship lead, Jason O’Halloran was desperate to get back on track at the first of the three Showdown rounds. Starting his weekend promisingly to secure third in qualifying, things took a turn for the worse in the races, though. Crashing twice after collisions in two of the races, it just wasn’t his weekend at all, with luck clearly not on his side at Oulton Park.*

When speaking after the first spill, it was clear the weekend’s action left him devastated and dejected. “I’m disappointed, we’ve worked all year for this and someone that’s not even in it has just absolutely cleaned me out,” he lamented.

“Physically I’m alright, the bike is bent in half so the boys have got a big job on tonight. I’m gutted, I was lining Tommy up for a pass into the last turn, it should have been 20 points for us and now we are a pretty big chunk behind. I’ve worked my balls off all year for this and I’ve been taken out just like that. I felt like I was riding really well, we did a couple of 1:33s in the race which I was really happy about and I had the pace to match Tommy, Brad had a bit more but I definitely had enough for second so I’m sure we’ll be in the fight tomorrow.”

With his title charge as good as over with two rounds left, the Aussie should still be proud of his efforts, as he’s shown consistently what an accomplished rider he is.

Jacob Roulstone and Harrison Voight – Red Bull Rookies & Moto3 Junior World Championship
Jacob Roulstone and Harrison Voight returned to action in the The Red Bull Rookies Cup at Aragon, as both enjoyed solid weekends at the office.

In the case of Roulstone, it was another valuable weekend of work, for he displayed some handy pace in the first race especially, where he methodically worked his way through the field after a rocky start to finish 13th. The second race didn’t go as well for him courtesy of him getting bumped off the track and then getting hit in the head with a knee slider, thus dropping him way back. To his credit, though, Roulstone recalibrated his focus and stuck at it, with him eventually clawing himself back to 17th.

Meanwhile, Voight’s Aragon adventure got off to a sparkling start, qualifying in an outstanding fourth position to kick off his weekend wonderfully. Desperate to translate his pace into race day, unfortunately things didn’t go as well as he envisaged. But Voight nonetheless registered a commendable ninth in the opening race and 11th in the final stanza of the day. “A good start to the weekend yet a not so satisfying end. Although I have a positive mindset knowing I had a crack & also what I need to work harder on,” he said afterwards.

Sitting 10th in the championship in a class that’s full of gifted youngsters heading into the final round, there’s every chance he could rise even higher if everything goes to plan at the Valencia round.

Josh Hook – FIM EWC Endurance
Drawing the curtain on his 2022 season by becoming EWC Champion, Josh Hook rounded out the year in fine style.

Getting the job done by virtue of their fourth placed finish at the 100th anniversary of the Bol d’Or at Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet, the Aussie and his TSR Honda France teammates in Mike Di Meglio and Alan Techer couldn’t have been happier at the completion of the gruelling 24 hour race.

Having faced some adversity with tire and radiator problems during the race, which dropped them back to 27th, they produced a magnificent comeback as a collective to ultimately secure fourth place to ensure their status as World Champions.

“I have learned from the past to never take a result for granted before the chequered flag. We have come back from complicated situations in the past and nothing is ever certain,” a delighted Hook told the Honda website. “Like everyone else, we did our race and never gave up. We did very well, all three of us were fast, especially at night. We were quickly no longer in a position to fight for victory, so we focused on the championship, which was clearly the priority goal. We chose to take care of the engine as much as possible to avoid the problems that most of our competitors have. And it’s done!”

Mitch Evans – MXGP
Ending a largely positive MXGP season 10th in the hugely competitive class, Mitch Evans should be proud of his efforts even though his results didn’t always match his undoubted pace. While he produced some exceptional rides, such as his qualifying race win in Sweden, the popular Aussie was still slightly disappointed he couldn’t achieve his goal of securing a podium. But all things considered, it was fantastic to see him come back from his long-term wrist injury to complete the entire season.

Building as the campaign progressed and showing he had the speed to match it with the frontrunners on a variety of surfaces, there was much to admire about his crusade.

Marcus Pereira de Freitas, HRC MXGP General Manager, gave an insightful summary of his 2022, explaining: “For Mitch, we really thought he could achieve his goal of a podium, and for the first part of race one it looked really likely. However, we are still proud of his efforts because he never gave up and put in all the work necessary to get back to the front of the field. The results might not always show it, but he is one of the best motocross riders on the planet.”

Jed Beaton – MXGP
Starting the season off with a bang in MXGP by banking a masterful sixth overall at Matterley Basin, Jed Beaton proved he has what it takes to duel with the elite pilots in MXGP. Frustratingly, though, he was unable to replicate this effort for the remainder of the term due to a shoulder injury he suffered at Mantova, which severely impacted the rest of his term.

Forced to sit out a few rounds after initially attempting to carry on, upon his return to action, the F&H Kawasaki man bravely rode through the pain to put in some credible results on his way to closing the season with nine top fifteen overall finishes.

“It’s been a tough and struggling year to say the least, I don’t really have too much to say about it as it’s done now and I can just move forward. I’m sure this year will make me a better person/athlete overall in the future,” he stated. “I just want to say a huge thank you to every single person at F&H Kawasaki Racing Team, they all play a part in us going racing week in, week out. They were all behind me in the good and bad times, and I’ll be forever thankful for that! Even though it wasn’t a good year on the bike it was still awesome to be a part of the team this year – thanks for having me.”

Jett Lawrence – AMA Pro Motocross
Clinching his second consecutive 250 AMA Pro Motocross championship in style by claiming the overall at Pala II to accompany his 250 East Supercross title, Jett Lawrence was unquestionably a cut above his competitors once more.

Winning nine of the 12 rounds, there was no stopping the gifted 19-year-old on his path to glory. Riding with consistency and with a maturity that belies his tender years, the ultra fast Australian’s crown was the latest step in a career that’s destined to be littered with even more silverware.

Limiting the damage on his off days and able to cope if he got a poor start, the effortlessly speedy Honda HRC wizard cut a content figure when reflecting on his outdoor campaign. “It’s awesome to get it done back-to-back. I’m definitely grateful,” he asserted.

“The team has been awesome this year. Honda brought out an awesome new CRF250R and I’m super pumped to be on it again in Supercross next year. I’m also excited to ride the 450 in Pro Motocross next summer.”

Hunter Lawrence – AMA Pro Motocross
Not riding to his full potential, making some uncharacteristic mistakes and enduring the odd bike issue, Hunter Lawrence incredibly finished his motocross season without an overall victory unfortunately.

Knowing he has the speed to match it with anyone on his day, the older Lawrence brother still impressively recorded nine overall podiums. Engaging in some captivating battles with Jett and Jo Shimoda and highlighting what a skilful operator he is, claiming third in the standings wasn’t a bad outcome in the end. Eager to come out swinging in 2023 to truly stamp his mark and win a title after coming close indoors and outdoors, expect him to be a major player in both disciplines.

Team Australia Motocross of Nations
Entering the Motocross of Nations as one of the favourites, Team Australia, that consisted of the Lawrence brothers and Mitch Evans, did their country proud by bagging a tremendous third overall. Starting off the showpiece tidily, their third place in qualifying served as a good omen for things to come, as the Aussies looked comfortable and fast on the RedBud circuit.

Come race day, and all three men did their job in the rain soaked, treacherous conditions to propel the boys from Down Under onto the podium. While Evans and Hunter Lawrence proved their quality to claim ninth and second in their respective classes, Jett’s debut on the 450 was particularly impressive, as the 19-year-old immediately found his rhythm to win the Open class ahead of seasoned stars like Chase Sexton and Dylan Ferrandis.

“It is great to get on the podium with Team Australia. It hasn’t happened much in our history, so to be part of a team that’s done it is a massive honour,” Evans stated after the event. “The first moto went well, just rode a nice consistent race and kept a good pace throughout. I knew it was important to get us off to a good start and together with Hunter we did that in race one. Jett and Hunter then did a great race two to give us a solid shot at the podium, and that’s what happened in race three.”

“I would have liked to have done a bit better but it’s motocross and anything can happen, but thankfully we still did well enough to land on the podium. A big thank you to all of the team for the job they did in what ended up being really tough conditions, and I can’t wait to be part of this event again, where we will try to do even better.”

The post Aussie’s Racing Abroad: September 2022 appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

Jack Miller – MotoGP
Jack Miller’s June has unquestionably been an eventful one. With rumours rife that Miller would be leaving factory Ducati’s ranks, this news was finally confirmed with the announcement that the Aussie speedster would be joining Red Bull Factory KTM on a two-year deal.

Set to be reunited with his former Pramac Ducati manager in Francesco Guidotti, the move is littered with upside for Miller, who can now focus on the rest of the season without any speculation surrounding him. In terms of his racing, this month has seen him notch a frustrating 14th at Catalunya, where he struggled from a lack of grip all race, a superb third in Germany and a thrilling sixth at Assen.

Producing a wonderful performance to podium in the scorching conditions at the Sachsenring despite receiving a long lap penalty for crashing under a yellow flag in FP4, Miller deserves tremendous credit for sticking at it when faced with such adversity.

“It was probably one of the hardest races physically I’ve ever done,” Miller asserted. “I did the long lap right away and almost crashed because of some rocks that were in the way. I got in behind Martin and Di Giannantonio and managed to pass their two Ducatis pretty easily. I pushed hard today and am very happy with this result!”

Then at Assen, Miller, who again had to deal with a long lap penalty, battled hard to put himself in podium contention before making a small mistake when attempting to get by Maverick Vinales. Miller then incredibly got passed by Aleix Espargaro and Brad Binder in the final corner of the last lap, forcing him to settle for sixth.

Remy Gardner – MotoGP
Having grabbed his best ever MotoGP finish in Catalunya, where he made a huge step in the right direction to come home in 11th, this served as a testament to his talent and adaptation to life at the highest level of the sport. “For sure I think we all expected a bit more from the start, but our last race was good,” he recalled.

“I felt like we were making steps forward really from Jerez and Le Mans. I don’t think we’ve had too much luck between those races, so don’t think we could show that improvement as much as we wanted to, but I think finally in Montmelo we finally played our cards right and we had a really good race. It seems to be coming. There’s a lot to learn with the big bike, it’s just taking it step by step.”

While he couldn’t replicate his heroics in Barcelona at Sachsenring or Assen, he manfully plugged away to record an admirable 15th in Germany and 19th in the Netherlands.

Joel Kelso – Moto3
In what’s been an injury interrupted crusade for Joel Kelso, he’s crucially still proved he’s right at home in the ultra demanding and competitive Moto3 class both during qualifying and on race day.

Battling impressively with the lead group in the last few races, the Darwinian has embraced the chance to duke it out with the plethora of elite riders in Moto3. Although he crashed out in Germany when near the front, ultimately faded back to 12th in Catalunya and had a sickening highside while in 13th at Assen, much encouragement can be extracted from his latest rides.

Oli Bayliss – World Supersport
With just the one round of World Supersport in June, Oli Bayliss came into Misano with plenty of confidence, for not only had he recorded an encouraging 12-6 at Estoril, but he was also familiar with the track due to previously testing there.

Sadly, it was a weekend to forget for the Barni Spark Racing Team sensation, who crashed out of both races, with the only real bright spot arising from the fact he obtained more valuable minutes on the bike and that he qualified 10th.

“It wasn’t the best weekend for us. Yesterday we completed a strong qualifying but then we didn’t finish either of the races. I’m really sorry for the team and for having involved Orradre in the crash. Now we’ll focus on making up for things at Donington,” Bayliss said.

Jason O’Halloran – British Superbike
Backing up his outstanding double victory at Donington Park with another crushing two race triumph at Knockhill in round four of the British Superbike Championship, Jason O’Halloran emphatically stamped his authority on the series.

“We’ve had four wins in the last six races, six podiums from six races and we are closing down the podium points and championship leads,” gleamed the McAMS Yamaha star. An awesome couple of weekends, I’m feeling super strong in the races, in complete control and I can’t wait to keep progressing and getting stronger as the season moves on.”

Josh Brookes – British Superbike
Building steadily as the season goes on, two-time BSB Champion, Josh Brookes, enjoyed a solid round four by going 10-6-7. Looking much more comfortable on his MCE Ducati, there were many positives to be gained from his weekend, which came in the form of him running third at one stage in the final race and how he recorded the sixth and fourth fastest lap times in race two and three respectively.

Jacob Roulstone – Red Bull Rookies & Moto3 Junior World Championship
Despite results not going his way in June, with on-track incidents, mechanical problems and bike setup issues stifling him, the 17-year-old is crucially learning all the time against the premier prospects in junior road racing.

There has, however, been many promising signs that he’s making tangible improvement, for he’s shown the speed to mix it with the frontrunners at times in both classes and continues to feel more at ease on the bike. Desperate to rekindle his early form, which saw him impressively grab seventh at the first race of the Red Bull Rookies, expect the hard working youngster to get back in the mix sooner rather than later.

Harrison Voight – Red Bull Rookies & Moto3 Junior World Championship
Coming back from an injury following a crash in May, the 16-year-old prodigy wasted little time getting back up to speed by notching 6-8 race finishes at round three of the Moto3 Juniors at Catalunya.

He then kept up this momentum for the German round of the Red Bull Rookies, where, after qualifying seventh, he bagged an amazing second place in race one before bringing home a solid seventh in race two (only 0.593sec off first) to round out a great weekend.

Josh Hook – FIM EWC Endurance
Endurance World Champion Josh Hook is back again for another tilt at glory aboard his F.C.C. TSR Honda France machine. Starting the FIM EWC season with a third at the first round at the Le Mans 24 Hour race alongside teammates Gino Rea and Mike De Meglio, Hook and co. battled hard to claim a podium finish after a gear selector issue and a broken muffler threatened to scupper their weekend.

The second race at SPA in Belgium then saw Hook and his colleagues race to another third, in what was an action packed 24 hours of racing that featured plenty of spills and the race being red flagged for two hours due to oil being on the track. Upon the resumption of the race for a final burst, Rea’s heroics ensured the team snuck home for third by just 0.5 seconds, which propelled the Honda France squad into second in the standings.

“So far our season has been going well, not as good as it could have been but that’s all part of endurance racing,” Hook explained. “We are second in the championship and still well and truly in contention for the championship which is our goal. I’ve missed going to Suzuka as it’s my favourite race of the year so it will be amazing to be back in Japan on Honda’s home ground in front of all the Japanese fans. We know our bike works really well at this circuit so I’m expecting a great result. Overall I’m excited to be back in Japan racing again. Looking forward to seeing everyone there.”

Anthony West – FIM EWC Endurance
Anthony West’s EWC campaign got off to a challenging start in Le Mans courtesy of his Maco Racing Team being forced to complete the race with just two riders. Fighting valiantly with teammate Enzo Boulom, the Maco boys were rightfully awarded the Anthony Delhalle EWC Spirit Trophy for their incredibly brave efforts.

Having three fit riders for the second stanza of the series in Belgium, things began nicely at SPA, as the team were running in the top 10 and on track for a quality finish. But unfortunately the tide turned, for West suffered a horrendous bout of food poisoning, causing him to vomit three times inside his helmet. As a result, he had to rest for two hours during the race to try and recover as best as possible. West courageously then got back on the bike for a two hour spell, helping his team record a credible 14th place finish against the odds.

Mitch Evans – MXGP
Putting in his best displays yet at the recent rounds in Germany and Indonesia, Mitch Evans has taken a giant leap forward, in a season that’s seen him build steadily as he recovers from injury. Starting off the German GP weekend in style by getting fifth in the qualifying race, he then went 8-6 in the motos for seventh overall. Evans then backed this up at Indonesia with his best performance yet by going 6-5 for a deserved fifth overall. Seeing as he’s now banked six top 10 finishes in his last eight motos and has risen to 11th in the rankings, things are certainly now trending upwards for the likeable Aussie.

“Another season-best performance so I am very happy with that, especially after feeling so bad earlier in the day. I really had to fight hard in both races to keep my pace up and keep the riders behind me, so this was a massive effort and it feels great to have that effort pay-off. Scoring 31-points and getting sixth overall after six-five moto scores is a nice boost heading into these couple of weeks off, so now I will keep working hard and keep this momentum for the next round in the Czech Republic,” stated the Team HRC Honda rider.

Jed Beaton – MXGP
Slowly regaining his fitness from his nasty shoulder injury from earlier in the campaign and taking small steps towards returning to his best, Jed Beaton’s gone 13-13 in France, 14-14 in Germany and 10-13 in Indonesia.

Enduring a challenging first term in the stacked MXGP class, the talented Tasmanian’s now hoping to get right back on track in the Czech Republic after a three week break, as he hopes to recapture his classy form from the beginning of the season that saw him claim sixth overall at round one in England.

Jett Lawrence – AMA Pro Motocross
Sitting pretty atop the 250 AMA Pro Motocross leaderboard, the outrageously gifted Jett Lawrence has won the overall at all of the four rounds so far in the series. Going 1-1-3-1-2-2-2-1 in the eight motos, his form has been nothing short of exceptional.

Considering he was suffering from an illness at two of the rounds, this makes his efforts even more remarkable. Showing no signs of slowing down, it’ll take something special for someone to stop the 18-year-old from winning another outdoor title.

Hunter Lawrence – AMA Pro Motocross
Riding beautifully and looking almost as good as Jett, Hunter Lawrence has proven he’s capable of taking the challenge to his younger brother. Even though he’s yet to win an overall, Hunter, who’s gone 2-3-2-2, has shown he has the speed to match anyone in the 250 class.

Fresh from signing a two-year contract extension with HRC Honda, the elder Lawrence brother put in his best display yet at High Point, where he went 2-1 following a captivating battle with Jett, which would’ve instilled him with immense confidence that he’s ready for a title push. With the consistently superb Lawrence boys winning six of the eight motos so far and seemingly in a class of their own, the stage is set for a fascinating battle between the siblings who are currently only separated by 12 points in the standings.

The post Aussies Racing Abroad: June 2022 Update appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

Jack Miller – MotoGP
With speculation rife that Jack Miller could be losing his factory Ducati ride at the end of the season, the Australian’s brilliant second at Le Mans went some way towards blunting those rumours. Handling the treacherous track conditions in France superbly and not pushing beyond the limit, Miller’s accomplished display was littered with upside as many of the big guns crashed out.

Bagging his second podium and third top five of the season, there’s no doubting Miller has the speed to run upfront. But with him already crashing out twice and getting a 14th this season, the popular Aussie knows he can’t afford any more unsatisfactory weekends if he’s to remain in the title hunt and keep his ride. Miller’s current teammate Francesco Bagnaia offered the Ducati hierarchy some food for thought on who he prefers as his stablemate, emphatically standing in support of Miller. “He‘s been criticised too much lately, and I’m very happy for him too,” he explained to Sky Sport Italia.

“Keep him and touch nothing now that there is this perfect harmony? I feel very, very good with him; we also work a lot together, and I don‘t think we can do it with other riders.”

Currently 40 points behind Fabio Quartararo in fifth in the standings, how he fares in the next month will be pivotal in not only deciding how his season goes but also where his future lies. Miller ranks highest in the championship among Ducati riders on the GP22 bike.

Remy Gardner – MotoGP
Unable to get any sort of comfort on the bike and suffering a slew of crashes as a result, Remy Gardner’s finding things tough at present. Lacking in all areas and way off the blistering pace at the front, Gardner wasn’t shy in explaining the difficulties the KTM RC16’s throwing up, which have been exacerbated in the recent European rounds. “I’m not enjoying my life right now,” the MotoGP rookie asserted forcefully.

“Every week I have a new injury, the constant scrapes and burns are getting to me. Whenever I try to push, I end up in the gravel. I hope we get some updates for the bike soon.” Even if things are far from ideal for the reigning Moto2 champ, some encouragement can be extracted from his point scoring finishes at Qatar (15th in his MotoGP debut) and in Portugal (14th).

Joel Kelso – Moto3
Embarking on his first full campaign in Moto3, rookie Joel Kelso has shown some flashes of quality in what’s a highly competitive and combative class. Kicking things off with a solid 15th in Qatar, where he battled all race long for 12th, this offered him a good gauge of the level and pace required.

Really springing into life in Argentina, the teenager strikingly notched P5 in qualifying before crossing the line on race day in a credible 10th. When the series shuttled back to Europe, he marked this switch with his best effort yet by recording an accomplished ninth place at Portugal. His fortunes disappointingly took a turn in Jerez, however, with a nasty crash in morning warm up forcing him to withdraw from the last two rounds. But if all goes to plan, there’s every chance he’ll return to the fray this weekend at Mugello.

Oli Bayliss – World Supersport
Oli Bayliss’ debut effort in the World Supersport class couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start when he broke his right ankle in preseason testing. But since recovering, much reason for optimism has emerged, for he’s been getting better with every session aboard his Barni Racing Ducati.

After going 21-19 at Aragon in round one and 14-11 at Assen, round three at Estoril proved a massive step forward for him, as he went 12-6 to reward himself for all his hard work, determination and persistence. Moreover, how he held his own and battled in the top group in race two will have been a massive boost for him. Gaining vital experience running with the heavy hitters and handling the pace admirably, the fact he finished the race 4.7 seconds off first place underlined his outstanding effort.

In what’s set to be a learning year in the class for the 18-year-old, all the early signs have been extremely positive that he can continue to go from strength to strength as he further adapts to life at this high level.

Jason O’Halloran – British Superbike
Running comfortably inside the top 10 for the first two rounds of the BSB season while he and the team got the Yamaha R1 sorted, all that work paid off handsomely at Donington Park for Jason O’Halloran. Producing an absolute masterclass to go 2-1-1 to accompany his pole position in qualifying, there was no denying the ‘O Show’ was the fastest rider and a deserved winner at round three. Now sitting second in the championship, the man who won more races than anyone else in 2021 appears destined for another title tilt this time around following his wizardry at the weekend.

Josh Brookes – British Superbike
Making a solid yet unspectacular start to his season, two time BSB champion Josh Brookes is yet to hit his usual lofty heights so far. Going 4-10-8 at Oulton Park at round two and 13-11-18 at a difficult round one, this left the 39-year-old back in 13th in the standings.

Hoping to breathe life into his season, his recent podium finish at the famous Irish street race, the North West 200, and solid 13-6-8 at Donington, might just be the catalyst he needs to return to the upper echelons where he belongs.

David Anthony – AMA Superbike MotoAmerica
Getting off to an encouraging start to his MotoAmerica season at Texas by virtue of an eighth in race one and an 11th in race two, Anthony left the opening round content. Next up was Atlanta and Virginia for the ADR Motorsports man, with a 9-DNF in the former and an 11-11 at the latter displaying his solid consistency.

Mitch Evans – MXGP
After missing the entire 2021 MXGP season with a troublesome wrist injury, it’s been terrific to see Team Honda HRC’s Mitch Evans back at the races.

While progress has been steady as he gets back to full fitness and regains his confidence, there’s been many glimpses that he’ll be back to his best in the near future. Catching the eye with a third in the qualifying race at Trentino, an eighth in Argentina and a ninth in the tricky conditions at Maggiora, this has provided tangible evidence he’s on the right path. Stating he should be back at a level resembling his best 10 rounds in, expect his trajectory to trend upwards as we approach this milestone.

Jed Beaton – MXGP
Although Jed Beaton hit the ground running in his MXGP debut by recording a brilliant sixth overall at Matterley Basin, he’s found life much more difficult thereafter, with a shoulder injury at round two in Mantova scuppering his campaign. Struggling with the pain, the Tasmanian valiantly battled to 13th in Argentina and a pair of 15th places in Portugal and Trentino before deciding to take time off to heal up.

Missing the last three GPs at Kegums, Maggiora and Sardegna, hopefully the F&H Kawasaki pilot’s ready for a return to action in Spain this weekend so he can get his debut crusade in the premier class back on track.

Jett Lawrence – AMA Supercross
What a series it was for young Honda HRC hotshot Jett Lawrence, as he claimed the 250 East Supercross title in dominant fashion to go with his 2021 AMA 250 Motocross championship. Joining elite company in the form of James Stewart, Ricky Carmichael and Ryan Villopoto to hold both indoor and outdoor crowns at 18, this serves as a testament to what a tremendous talent he is.

Clearly the fastest rider in the class, the gifted Queenslander rode with maturity, confidence and style on his way to winning four races to finish a whopping 34 points ahead of RJ Hampshire despite missing the final round.

Hunter Lawrence – AMA Supercross
Falling just short of making it a clean sweep for the Lawrence brothers in the 250s, Hunter was forced to settle for second in the 250 West standings, a measly 10 points behind Christian Craig.

Winning four races and standing on the podium at every round bar one when he suffered a DNF, Hunter showcased he has what it takes to duke it out for titles. Considering he now has two runner ups in 250 Supercross and finished third in 250 Motocross last term, the 22-year-old appears destined for glory sooner rather than later. A Lawrence brother claimed a podium at 16 of the 17 races.

Geran Stapleton and Jy Roberts – AMA Supercross
Another couple of Aussies that deserve mention are Geran Stapleton and Jy Roberts, who proved their SX skills, with Stapleton propelling himself into an impressive four main events and the late arriving Roberts making one.

Jay Wilson – Japanese Motocross
Jay Wilson continued his unbeaten start in the 250 IA2 division in Japan by winning round two at the Kanto track. After qualifying fastest, Wilson made it a perfect weekend on race day. Suffering early adversity in both motos due to getting terrible starts, he quickly got his head down and flexed his muscles to come out victorious again by going 1-1.

Extending his winning streak to five races on his Yamaha following his win in the opening round triple challenge format, the 27-year-old’s certainly going to be tough to stop in his quest for the title.

Wil Ruprecht – EnduroGP
Sitting pretty atop the FIM EnduroGP world championship at the completion of two rounds, Aussie Wil Ruprecht’s enjoyed a sensational start to his season. Backing up his fantastic 3-4 from the opening round with a sensational 1-1 in Portugal, Ruprecht’s handled the rugged terrain with aplomb so far.

Max Fricke – Speedway GP
Max Fricke roared into life at the FIM Speedway GP of Poland by producing a magnificent display in front of a packed house in Warsaw to claim a special victory.

Showing the die-hard Polish supporters why he’s such a formidable racer, the Victorian dynamo incredibly achieved the rare feat of winning a GP event despite not competing in Poland’s top flight (as he followed Zielona Gora down when they were relegated). Having scored just two points in round one, Fricke’s remarkable triumph now propels him right back into contention with the frontrunners in the championship hunt.

The post Aussies Racing Abroad: May 2022 Update appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

To prepare for this round I was drinking lots of water and I spent time watching videos of people riding the track because it was my first time riding at Queensland raceway, so it was important to learn all the tricks and braking points of QR.

I was super excited to hit the track on the Friday morning, nice and early for practice. After a few laps around, I started to get a hang of the track. I think my favourite sector of QR was the first one because it has two fast right hand corners meaning I just throw the R15 through them.

It wasn’t my favourite track though, the thing that I disliked about it was the bumps and how it is not as challenging to ride as some of the other tracks on the calendar. My R15 was a bit hard to turn around the tight corners at this track, out of the second corner it was running wide so I couldn’t hold the throttle on as much I could of.

“I’m looking forward to getting back on the track this weekend. I’m having lots of fun this year on track and off track, which is the main thing”…

On the Friday morning I started to feel sick but I thought that is was dehydration so I drank some more water but that didn’t help. On the first session on Friday I had a headache, it was hard to focus and in qualifying I felt even worse because my throat was starting to feel bad.

To be safe, on Saturday I took a COVID test and it said negative so I kept on riding but it was getting worse! Every time I put my helmet on my face would get really hot and and after I was done riding I would need to sit down. On Sunday it was the worst so before the last race we went to race safe and they said I should not ride.

Check out our Guide To Riding Wakefield Park by Andrew Pitt here…

I was a bit disappointed that we had to leave early but I just couldn’t race any longer. It was lucky that we left when we did as when I got home I took another Covid test and it was positive. I had to do seven days in isolation, it wasn’t all bad as all I did was stay in bed and eat pineapple!

Now I’m fully recovered but unfortunately I did not make it to the unofficial test at Wakefield Park, which I was a bit sad about. It’s not a big deal though as I have experience at Wakefield which makes my hopes higher for next round. But, any practice is good practice and the fact I did not get to do the testing will make me fall behind a bit.

I’ve been trying to keep up with the MotoGP this year for some racing inspiration. To be honest, I think that the MotoGP world champion will be Enea Bastianini he seems to be the best at keeping the tyres fresh during the race and he’s already got a good points lead.

I’m looking forward to getting back on the track this weekend. I’m having lots of fun this year on track and off track, which is the main thing. On track I get to race really aggressively and off track everyone is mates! Make sure you head down to Wakefield Park this weekend to see the action. If you can’t get there, check it out on TV or on the live FB feed on the ASBK page. Wish me luck – James #71

Congratulations to the Queensland podium, you can see all of the results for the OJC here… 

My sponsors are: motoDNA, motoCHAMPIONS, Bendix Brake Pads, Bendix Workshop
Series Sponsors are: Ricondi, Shark, Dunlop, Ohlins, IRC Components, DID chains, Yamaha bLU Cru

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