The F17 Gardner Kabuto features an EPS liner and COOLMAX fully detachable and washable interior liner, is Pinlock ready and has a quick release visor system. Each Remy Gardner Kabuto F17 has its own unique serial number on the side of the helmet, and is ECE 22.06 and FIM approved.

Handmade in Japan, Kabuto helmets are exceptional quality. The F17 has MIPS (Multi-direction Impact Protection System), A.C.T shell construction, Multi-direction aerodynamics, side and top aero ventilation, Emergency System cheek pads, and DEOFACTOR antimicrobial treatment inside.

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Check out our BikeReview.com.au reviews and articles on Kabuto helmets here…

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Jack Miller – MotoGP
Australian Red Bull KTM star Jack Miller ended his 2023 MotoGP campaign in mixed fashion, with some solid efforts in Malaysia and Qatar before closing out his campaign with a DNF at Valencia in the finale.

Beginning the month of November with a strong display at Sepang, where his highlights included a third in Friday practice, a handy sixth in the Sprint and a crafty eighth in the race. Miller was, however, concerned with his lack of speed and how he couldn’t find any specific reasons as to why he was way back from the frontrunners.

Moving on to Qatar for the penultimate round of the campaign, a ninth in the race was actually a decent result considering he struggled throughout the weekend and was 12th in the Sprint. Then for the last stop on the calendar at Valencia, Miller showcased good speed all weekend, with him notably securing fourth in qualifying and scorching into the lead in the race before disappointingly crashing out with nine laps to go.

“Not much to say. I didn’t do much different compared to the previous lap. I’d had a few moments with the front so decided to take it easy and not do anything too savage and, yeah, she just got away from me. It could have been an amazing result, but we’ll take stock and bounce back,” he reflected.

“It has been a year of firsts in many ways and a bittersweet way to end because it’s nice to know we have pace and we’re heading in the right direction. We have been working our butts off. The rider is just one small part because there is so much going on behind the scenes. Everyone has worked tirelessly, so I thank them all for that.”

Ending the season 11th in the final MotoGP championship standings on his first year with Red Bull KTM, he’ll now enjoy a well-deserved break and then get straight back to work in his quest to enjoy an even better 2024 and get back up the front.

Joel Kelso – Moto3
Starting off his November in fine style, Joel Kelso bagged an excellent seventh in Sepang, with him thankfully surviving the carnage around him to finish where he began the race. Venturing to Qatar, there were many positives to be extracted from his output here despite enduring an untimely mistake during the main bout while in the top five. The Darwinian admirably recovered to 13th to still salvage some points, as he was ultimately left to rue what could have been at Losail.

Concluding his 2023 term at Valencia, it was great to see him finding his form in the early stages of the event, for he was third quickest on Friday and qualified fourth by virtue of his rapidity on the Saturday. Enjoying a successful body of work in his Pruestel GP team’s last race in Moto3 as the CFMOTO factory squad, Kelso transferred his speed over nicely into the main event and handled the occasion smartly to claim a credible seventh – crossing the line less than five seconds behind the winner.

“The second half of the season has been good; we moved up six places in the standings and were on the front row of the grid five times, almost six yesterday! Happy enough. This is motorsport so it can go anyway and I started off with a broken leg! Thankfully the second half of the year has been better and I hope I did the team proud. I always gave my maximum and I think they appreciated that. An emotional time,” Kelso explained.

The young Aussie sensation on the rise will now look to carry his momentum into 2024, where he’ll be lining up in Moto3 under the BOE Motorsports awning.

Remy Gardner – World Superbike
In what’s been an up and down debut season in WorldSBK, it was positive to see Remy Gardner end his crusade on a high. Looking the goods at Jerez from the outset, grabbing a fifth in Superpole was a nice way to kick things off. Frustratingly, while in podium contention in race one, a nasty crash not only dashed his chances but also saw him suffer a painful wrist contusion and a deep cut on his right elbow.

Bravely opting to fight through the pain to suit up, his decision paid off emphatically, for he got the ball rolling with a sixth in the Superpole race even though he had issues with rear grip. Coming out swinging for the finale, the #87 put in an outstanding shift aboard his GYTR GRT Yamaha to equal his season-best finish to secure fourth.

“To be honest, today I wasn’t even sure about racing due to the crash I suffered yesterday. After warm-up I felt I could do the races, but it was painful, I’m not going to lie. The Superpole race was a decent one, unfortunately due to the red flag our rear tyre was quite used, and I struggled with grip in the latter stages of the race,” he told the Yamaha Racing website.

“Then, in race two I could smell the podium, we finished so close, and I could catch the group fighting for the victory. Unfortunately, I missed a bit of pace in the end as I pushed a lot to close the gap and I felt a bit of pain as well, which maybe prevented me from doing more. Anyway, it’s not a bad way to finish the year, we’re aware we have good potential and that we can have a strong 2024. To finish on the top of the Independent Teams is also nice, and I would like to dedicate this win to Mirko (Giansanti), who sadly passed away a few months ago.”

It also warrants mention that Gardner impressively recorded the fastest lap time on both days of the post-season test at Jerez, which will certainly give him some crucial confidence heading into next year.

Oli Bayliss – World Supersport
Having been out since July when he tried to ride at Imola following a shoulder injury that he initially suffered at Donington Park, Oli Bayliss made his long-awaited return to action for D34G Racing at the season closer at Jerez.

While he inherently had a difficult time getting comfortable with the bike and the track, plus had to adapt to being back in the heat of the battle, concluding his 2023 with a pair of 18th place finishes wasn’t too bad at all considering the circumstances.

“That’s a wrap on the 2023 World Supersport Championship. Struggled a fair bit this weekend. Wasn’t exactly what I was after, but I have to remember that I have not been on a bike for quite some time due to my shoulder. So, looking at the bigger picture, it was nice to be able to just get back to racing and finish the year out with the D34G Racing team and build into the 2024 season from here,” he stated.

“Massive thanks to my team, sponsors and everyone who supports me. We’ll regroup, and now turn our attention to next year. Hopefully I can give you guys some news soon, but it’s looking like I’ll see you at round one at the end of February.”

Senna Agius – European Moto2 Championship and Moto2
Senna Agius rounded out his scintillating championship winning European Moto2 crusade in the best way possible by powering to an exceptional victory. His incredible feat was made all the more magnificent due to the fact he was forced to start from 17th courtesy of being handed a penalty for slow riding in qualifying two. Relishing the challenge ahead, the gifted hotshot rose to the occasion masterfully, as he carved through the field after a searing start that saw him launch up to eighth by the conclusion of lap one.

From there, he went from strength to strength to steadily pick up positions as the race progressed. Agius eventually propelled himself to within striking distance of leader Alberto Surra in the dying embers of the race before incisively getting past his rival to claim a phenomenal triumph against the odds.Having already inked a deal to move up to the Moto2 World Championship next term, more exciting times appear to be on the horizon for the 18-year-old ace.

Jacob Roulstone – Red Bull Rookies Cup & JuniorGP Moto3
Talented youngster Jacob Roulstone wrapped up his season with another accomplished performance in the JuniorGP series to bag upside-filled finishes of ninth and sixth to supplement his fifth in qualifying in the challenging cold and windy conditions.

“It has been a great year in the JuniorGP Championship, taking two podiums and front row starts. My goals going into the season were to be fighting at the front consistently and hard as well as to secure a Moto3 World Championship ride. I have achieved both,” he said.

“I would like to thank the Aspar Team for the past two years. It has been an honour to ride in these colours and for this successful team. I have come a long way as a racer and they have helped me develop. Thank you to Nico and Sergio for all you have done, as well as Amadeo and Pula for everything you do to get us there as a team. And the whole Aspar crew.”

“But most of all thank you to Santi and Fran for being two great mechanics and Antonio for all the hard work in the data area, and all three for being great mates. We made a fantastic team this year. As well thank you to my Dad, Mum and Sister who work their ass off to support me and make my dreams come true. Thank you to NHK Helmets and Furygan for supplying me with the best gear to wear. Can’t thank them, the rest of my family, my sponsors and everyone behind the scenes enough for everything that they do to contribute to my racing.”

With a hugely bright future ahead of him, it’ll be captivating watching how Roulstone fares in 2024, where he’ll be making the step up to the Moto3 World Championship with Red Bull KTM Tech3.

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

Jack Miller – MotoGP
Starting his September with a solid eighth in the heat at Catalunya, this was a good way for Jack Miller to end the weekend considering he missed Q2, meaning he had to start the Sprint and the main race 13th. Desperate for improvement on the Sunday after 16th in the Sprint, the team worked their wonders by making some crucial bike changes, with these the key catalyst to him being able to push through the pack to claim eighth.

Struggling again at Misano on the Saturday, 15th in the Sprint was the best he could muster. Frustratingly this was as good as it got for Miller, who was bundled out of the race by Michele Pirro when running 14th. The first ever Indian Grand Prix was next on the cards for the KTM ace, and Miller began the round strongly by charging from 16th on the grid to secure an admirable 7th in the Sprint.

The Sunday posed a new set of challenges for the number 43, as he battled for feel and grip, which ensured he wasn’t able to keep up with the frontrunners to ultimately come across the line in 14th.

“Not too high, not too low this weekend,” he reflected. “I struggled today. I didn’t have the grip I needed from the get-go both front and rear. I couldn’t carry any corner speed at all. I had a bit of contact into turn one as well, which wasn’t ideal and then tried to make up too many positions in one go on the second lap. It was an uphill battle from there and our pace wasn’t anything like Saturday. It is a bit of a head-scratcher. Fingers crossed we can work on what we found out this weekend and what we tried at the Misano test for Motegi.”

Joel Kelso – Moto3
Even though his 2023 campaign has been littered with ups and downs, Joel Kelso deserves credit for sticking at it, as he continues to illustrate his talent.

The highs this month have included him bagging another front row spot in qualifying at Catalunya and from how he had some fantastic early pace in Misano. Meanwhile, the negatives have arisen from him admitting he needs more aggression in the races and from him crashing out in India.

“I got caught up in turn one and then made four positions on the first lap  but I had contact with a rider into turn three and that ruined my exit. When I opened the gas – race over,” he told the team’s website. “I’ve been struggling a bit with being aggressive in races so that first period before the crash was a small positive from today. We’ll be ready for much better in Japan. We’ll be fighting.”

With plenty to work on and the Darwinian motivated to close the term on a good note in the upcoming outings, it’ll be intriguing seeing if he can piece it all together starting in Japan.

Senna Agius – Moto2
Back in action in Moto2 filling in for Darryn Binder on the Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact team, Senna Agius’ stint started in unsatisfactory fashion at Catalunya, with him falling short of his expectations on an eventful weekend that ended with him crashing out on the Sunday.

Eager to put that effort behind him, a fired up Agius demonstrated some notable pace in qualifying at Misano – coming in less than eight-tenths from the pole sitter. An early crash in the race ruined his momentum, however, with the youngster high siding to end his day. Leading the European Moto2 Championship, Agius will recalibrate his attention to this competition in his quest to reign supreme come season’s end.

Jacob Roulstone – Red Bull Rookies Cup & JuniorGP Moto3
Fresh from finishing fifth in the hugely competitive Red Bull Rookies Cup following his 6-10 race finishes at Misano, in a year that’s seen him make some brilliant progress, Jacob Roulstone has been rewarded by earning a ride in Moto3 for 2024 with the outstanding Red Bull KTM Tech3 outfit.

Following in the footsteps of the likes of Miller, Miguel Oliveira, Brad Binder, Deniz Oncu and Pedro Acosta, who have all come through this KTM pathway, the Aussie prospect is in good hands to continue along on his upward trajectory.

“I’m really excited to be joining Red Bull KTM Tech3. They are a very experienced and professional team that have brought through many great riders. Stepping up from the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and FIM JuniorGP won’t be easy, but with the team, the people around me as well as my own determination, I believe we can have a decent rookie season,” a delighted Roulstone explained.

“Thanks to Herve, KTM and Red Bull for this amazing opportunity. I cannot thank my family enough for all their support so far. I want to end this year strong and then I cannot wait to get into the 2024 season already.”

Josh Brookes – British Superbike
After enduring some difficult rounds, plentiful positivity could be extracted from Josh Brookes’ round at Oulton Park. Kicking off this stop on the calendar with fifth in qualifying, this set the tone for him to enjoy a handy weekend at the office aboard his FHO Racing BMW. Going on to notch a trio of fifth place scores, this represented a quality, consistent event for Brookes, which was a much-needed uplift given his recent struggles.

Situated seventh in the championship hunt, Brookes offered some fantastic insight in his post-race debrief, stating: “We scored three fifths this weekend, which is an improvement on previous rounds; I wasn’t even going to be greedy, I was hoping for a podium this weekend rather than a win.

“The three fifth places are the best we could achieve, the last race was strong and I stayed close to the lead group for the longest period of time, but we’re still missing a couple of tenths, and we have to be realistic that the lap times I’m able to do aren’t good enough to rival the podium. We have got to keep our heads down, keep working away and improving. I think coming to a track we’ve been to already this season meant we didn’t have to make adjustments, we just set the bike up the way it was before and focused on the electronics.

“People forget we’ve got a new bike this year, so every time we go to a new track none of the information we have from years before is valuable, and in fact it does us an injustice as those settings compromise our progress because the bike is different now. I think people just assume you’re going to go to the next round and pick up where you expect and it’s proven not to be like that, as we’ve had a lot of work to do. But I think coming back to a circuit we’ve been to before has boosted our results and the next two rounds we’ve also been to before, which I anticipate to work in our favour.”

Jason O’Halloran –  British Superbike
While he was unable to carry over his sensational form from Thruxton to Oulton, Jason O’Halloran did his best throughout on his way to claiming two eighth places and a ninth. Aside from experiencing a minor bike issue, the team and rider were largely left searching for answers as to why they were missing that little something extra compared to their competitors.

“It’s been a difficult weekend really. It’s not ideal but I did the best job I could – we’ve just been lacking something and no matter what we did we couldn’t improve the feeling,” he lamented.

“I finished all the races which is positive, so we’ll go through everything and try to understand. Donington is a different track compared to Oulton, so hopefully we can turn up there in a different place, reset after this weekend and go again.”

Onwards and upwards will be the order of the day as the series heads to Donington Park, where an uptick in performance will be on the cards for O’Halloran, who sits sixth in the standings, and the McAMS Yamaha squad.

Jett Lawrence – AMA Pro Motocross and SMX
Having achieved the absolutely remarkable feat of going undefeated in his debut campaign in the 450 class of AMA Pro Motocross, Jett Lawrence immediately altered his focus to the new SMX Playoffs. And he didn’t disappoint by reigning triumphant in the three race format, with his clutch effort at the finale at the LA Coliseum to go 1-1 ensuring he got the job done and took home the one million reserved for the winner.

“On the track it’s a one-man show, but behind the scenes it’s so many people,” he explained after his SMX success. “The team is awesome, and that’s what allows Chase, me and the other riders to have the best equipment we can. That also goes for my trainer O’Show [Johnny O’Mara], my dad was a big key, and also my brother – every day we were grinding to try and be better. To go out and get that [championship] is not only a massive achievement for me; it’s a big thank-you to the people who support me and helped me get to where I am now.”

Up next for the Aussie sensation is the Motocross of Nations in Ernee, where Australia, whose team consists of the Lawrence brothers and the immensely experienced Dean Ferris, head in as one of the favourites.

Hunter Lawrence – AMA Pro Motocross and SMX
After wrapping up the 250 AMA Pro Motocross title at the final round to accompany his 250 Supercross crown, Hunter Lawrence was ideally poised to join his elite sibling to claim SMX glory. But sadly it wasn’t to be for Hunter, as a nasty crash in qualifying at the LA Coliseum forced him to miss the night show due to him aggravating an existing back injury.

“Unfortunately, Hunter Lawrence will not take part in tonight’s motos at the Los Angeles SMX round. The reigning AMA Motocross 250 champ and 250SX East champ was already banged up from a hard fall in free practice yesterday. Then in today’s second timed qualifying session, he landed wrong from a jump and aggravated his back to the extent that he’s in too much pain to race. Get well soon and great job on an amazing season,” read the team’s statement.

His focus will now immediately shift to his recovery ahead of the MXoN at Ernee as well in his search to be at full fitness for the prestigious event.

Mitch Evans – MXGP
Mitch Evans’ MXGP season ended in disappointing fashion, with the superbly skilled pilot having to miss the last two rounds courtesy of his previously injured wrist flaring up. In immense pain and wisely opting to head to Belgium to begin treatment, sadly the injury also meant he had to take himself out of the running for the MXoN, which came as another brutal blow to end what’s been a hugely challenging term for the departing Kawasaki star.

“It’s a real shame to miss the final race of the season and my last race with the team; however it is time to take the right steps to heal correctly. I would like to thank Kawasaki and the team for their understanding and patience and for always believing in me this year. Unfortunately we weren’t able to achieve the results we both deserved, but I thoroughly enjoyed my time working with such professionals. I want to wish the team and Romain the best of luck for Matterley and the Motocross of Nations,” he insisted.

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, September 2023 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
Having started his season off in positive style with a seventh in the opener in Portugal, Jack Miller’s continued to make solid progress. Keeping his momentum going into the second stop on the calendar in Argentina, much upside could be extracted from his weekend in hugely challenging conditions.

After claiming 10th in the sprint race on Saturday in the dry, the weather turned on the Sunday, which suited the highly skilled Aussie nicely. Making moves briskly from way back on the grid, the #43 rose to the occasion to power through the pack to eventually bag sixth. Not bad at all considering the circumstances. Heading to America for round three, things didn’t go to plan despite the signs looking promising for Miller, with a crash in the race while in third and looking fast a source of frustration for the popular pilot.

“Unfortunate one. I felt really good from the get-go. I made a decent start, felt comfortable and was settled into the race,” Miller mused. “I swapped a map and then she let go of me. I was really trying to manage the tires and I felt we had a great chance of being there until the end. The positive part was the speed and how we were up there with the guys. We’ll take that from the weekend. We’ll learn from the negatives and go towards Jerez with a clean mind.”

Next up for Miller and his Red Bull KTM team is Jerez, where he’ll be hoping to build on his largely encouraging start to the campaign.

Joel Kelso – Moto3
After banking a quality ninth in the season opener, disaster struck for Joel Kelso just after the race had finished when he and another rider collided in a clash that saw the Darwinian devastatingly suffer a broken ankle. Forced to sit out all the rounds since, Kelso’s aiming to return at Jerez this weekend, where he’ll be eager to pick up where he left off.

Remy Gardner – World Superbike
Back on the grid for the WorldSBK stop at Assen, there was much room for upside to be gained from Remy Gardner’s weekend, as he continued making headway in his rookie term in the class.

Not only did he top the timesheets in FP3, but he also recorded a solid eighth in the first race before claiming a superb sixth in the second. Although his 11th in qualifying and 12th in the Superole were not ideal, the GYTR GRT Yamaha hotshot still left the iconic Dutch venue content with his efforts, knowing precisely where improvement is needed.

“Not a bad race two, although unfortunately, we had bad luck in the sprint race. For sure we need to work on our qualifying sessions, once again starting from behind didn’t help. In the last feature race, our pace was fine and I enjoyed it,” he explained. “The tyre choice was the correct one in my opinion, it was just a shame I lost a lot of time in the opening laps as I got forced wide, but we were still able to perform a good recovery. Let’s keep rolling and progress further, we know there’s potential.”

Oli Bayliss – World Supersport
Oli Bayliss suffered an unfortunate setback at Assen, with a crash that broke a couple of toes in the first free practice session ensuring he ultimately had to pull out despite valiantly trying to soldier on in FP2, qualifying and race one. Unable to shift gears and clearly in pain, Bayliss is now doing all he can to get back as soon as possible.

“Definitely not how I wanted the weekend in Assen to go. After a crash in FP1 I broke a couple of toes on my left foot and I was declared unfit Sunday morning. Really disappointing after the potential we had. Time to get some recovery and training in before Barcelona and come back strong. Thank you to my sponsors and supporters,” the gifted speedster said.

Josh Hook – FIM World Endurance Championship
Josh Hook and his TSR Honda France team started off their FIM World Endurance Championship title defence in fine fashion by reigning triumphant at the Le Mans 24 hours. The Aussie and his teammates, Mike Di Meglio and Alan Techer, managed the challenging surface masterfully to navigate the race with aplomb. Getting their pit stops spot on and sustaining excellent speed across the event, it was impressive to see Hook and co. maintain their focus and concentration in the gruelling conditions on their way to a memorable victory.

“We were champions last year without winning a race, but we want to win, we want to show that we are the best, so to win here in the first race of the season is incredible,” stated Hook. “Congratulations go to the team who have put together a winning package. We couldn’t have asked for anything better; the bike was perfect. We were also lucky, but with the work done this winter it is a deserved result. It’s not often that you can do a 24-hour race without any problems, neither in the box nor on the track, it’s an exceptional day for us.”

Jacob Roulstone – Red Bull Rookies Cup
Young Aussie Jacob Roulstone kicked off his Red Bull Rookies Cup campaign with an encouraging ride at the picturesque Portimao. Even though qualifying didn’t go as he envisaged due to the headwind and him admitting he positioned himself poorly in the pack, Roulstone got things back on track in the races. Storming through the field from 20th to claim 13th in the first hit-out, he then backed this up admirably with a wonderful ninth in the second, as he underlined his immense talent and race pace.

“In both races, I was very happy with myself and the way I rode from where I started so far back in P20. But made good opening laps and finished P13 on Saturday afternoon. And then with the quick turnaround on Sunday morning finished in P9 and ended the round at P10,” he explained in his insightful Red Bull Rookies blog.

Josh Brookes – British Superbike
Josh Brookes couldn’t have dreamt of a better way to begin his BSB crusade, as the experienced pilot rode sublimely to guarantee he holds the championship lead after the season opener at Silverstone. Commencing his weekend ideally by bagging a podium in Saturday’s sprint race, this served as a fine precursor for what was to come on Sunday. Stamping his mark in the first race emphatically and settling into his groove quickly, Brookes grabbed the lead five laps in and never looked back to register an outstanding win.

The final race was another one littered with upside for Brookes, who let his riding do all the talking again by securing a polished second to cap off his brilliant body of work that saw him notch his first win since 2020. “I’ve spent a long time speaking about this moment, when I was winning regularly I used to think the next one is at the next race and then the last two years have been quite hard to accept knowing I can’t get the results,” the ecstatic BMW rider asserted.

“People start to doubt you and I don’t blame anyone for that. It’s only natural, whether it’s fans or other teams, maybe they’re thinking you’re slipping and you’re getting old. I have thought about this moment a lot the past couple of years, so I don’t really have quite the emotional words to say, but it certainly feels good to win for myself and for the team.”

 “It’s perfect leading the championship after the first round. We are always optimistic that we are going to have a good bike, a good package, but to get into the opening round and already have three podiums it’s just ideal! We are in a perfect place to build for the rounds to come.”

Jason O’Halloran –  British Superbike
The likeable Aussie contender got his 2023 BSB series off to a consistent start by going 4-5-4 at Silverstone. Raking in a tidy points haul on a weekend where he highlighted his speed and all-round skills, he left feeling content with his output even if he knows there’s room for refinement.

“The weekend hasn’t been too bad. I felt pretty good in myself and felt like I was riding well and I was in the front group in all of the races. We’re just struggling a little bit with a few things so we have to keep working at it,” disclosed the ‘O Show’. “We’ve got a test coming up this week so we need to work through a few things as quick as we can and turn up to Oulton with the hope of being a bit stronger.”

Jett Lawrence – AMA Supercross
The sensational young hotshot is one step closer to claiming another title Stateside, with his April efforts seeing him flex his muscles over his competitors.

On top of winning his first Triple Crown at Glendale by virtue of 1-3-1 moto scores, he also registered a handy second in the mud at East Rutherford, where a last lap charge almost saw him reel in Max Anstie before an overzealous RJ Hampshire took him out. Thankfully, he was able to remount and not lose any positions in the 250 East/West Showdown.

“The ending of the race changed pretty quickly. I tried to cut down on Max [Anstie] but ended up spinning. I figured that was gone but at least I had second locked up. In the last turn I just saw this giant wave come towards me; I had no chance to react,” Lawrence revealed. “Luckily, I kept the bike running and could get going right away. Tonight was a race where taking a risk for two points could cost you 20 points, so I just wanted to race my race and stay off the ground. We’re happy to make it through to the chequered flag.”

Hunter Lawrence – AMA Supercross
In excellent form and having won six of the eight races he’s competed in, Hunter Lawrence is within touching distance of claiming his maiden title in America. Having raced to another superb victory in Atlanta and grabbed a third in treacherous conditions at the Showdown at East Rutherford despite dealing with a groin injury, only a miracle can stop him now.

“My mechanic had put on the board ‘P5, calm,’ so I knew to just take it easy where I was. The worst thing to do in a mud race is to fall—your gloves get all muddy and slippery and just make riding a nightmare. I saw RJ and Jett start to battle a little, and just capitalised on how it all unfolded somehow. I’m pretty happy to stay off the ground and finish the race,” he explained after East Rutherford.

Riding exceptionally and in the form of his life, if all goes to plan this weekend in Nashville, Hunter will be crowned 250SX East champion, which would be a fitting reward for all his hard work and the resilience he’s displayed to overcome all the adversity he’s faced since moving to America.

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Jack Miller – MotoGP
Having made the high-profile switch to Red Bull KTM for 2023 and with excitement high that Jack Miller can achieve big things this year, the fact his latest test didn’t go so well in Sepang has tempered expectations. With Miller only able to record a pair of 16ths and a 19th in the fastest times charts, this doesn’t bode well for the crusade ahead.

“The expectation was quite high. We missed something, to be completely honest and fair. In the next few weeks we have to work to get the best potential from what we tested,” said team manager Francesco Guidotti. “But I’m not trying to find excuses. We are working hard to give our riders the best possible [bike]. The expectation was a little bit too high, maybe. I don’t know.”

Miller then shared his typically honest thoughts on how things went, expressing: “We sort of hit a wall a little bit, so just understanding the geometry and getting myself more comfortable. We made a step right before lunch and were pretty happy with that. We’re making another step just to understand what is the limit and to basically gauge where we’re at in terms of balance.”

“We can see on the data that I’m struggling quite a bit compared to the other boys mid corner and just getting things to rotate and to get it off the corner. It’s all about going through these motions and trying to understand the bike and to adapt with it the best we can. No one likes seeing themselves in the bottom half of the timing screen. But that’s not the main focus for us. The focus is to try and build this thing up and get it somewhere reasonable for Portimao.”

The popular #43 did also importantly mention improvements are still being made all the time and he’s excited about the process of making further strides in their quest to ensure the bike is as competitive as possible come the season opener.

Remy Gardner – World Superbike
Even though Remy Gardner’s World Superbike debut on home soil at Phillip Island will be remembered mostly for him accidentally taking out teammate Dominique Aegerter in the Superpole race, he still enjoyed a decent weekend under the GRT Yamaha awning.

Showcasing his impressive skills and speed, his race finishes of 12th and 10th respectively were admirable to begin his season in light of the circumstances.

“It’s been a complicated weekend, not just for the races, but because of the weather. We didn’t expect to have a wet race in Race One and I struggled a lot in the wet yesterday,” he explained. “I was hoping for dry [weather] and we had a good start to the Superpole Race and I felt quite strong to be honest. But then I made a mistake in turn four and went in too deep and made contact with Domi.”

“First of all, I would like to apologise to Domi and the Team for the Tissot Superpole Race crash. I’m really sorry, we both could have made a good result. Anyway, we have to be happy with our pace; and we were fighting for the podium positions, which was beyond our expectations before this weekend. Starting from so far back on the grid in Race Two with a long lap penalty didn’t help, but that’s a lesson for the future.”

Gardner will now shift his attention to the second round in Indonesia, where he’ll be keen to enjoy a drama-free second stop on the calendar.

Oli Bayliss – World Supersport
Oli Bayliss endured a lively day in World Supersport to start his season on the home confines of Phillip Island. Grabbing sixteenth in race one, this wasn’t what he had in mind as a gamble on using slick tyres didn’t come to fruition courtesy of the rain returning. But there was a marked improvement in the second stanza, with him well and truly in the mix for a top five finish before ultimately dropping to tenth in the red flagged race when another rider suffering a mechanical issue got in his way.

“It’s a pity how the weekend went results-wise, because I felt good on the bike and we had the potential to do much better. We worked well together and showed good speed, but unfortunately the two races were quite eventful and surely not favourable to us,” the Team D34G Racing talent said. “We have to keep working hard in the same direction and try to capitalise in Indonesia in less than a week.”

Jett Lawrence – AMA Supercross
The inordinately gifted Aussie phenom keeps on flexing his muscles Stateside, as he looks set to add another 250 title to his list of honours before moving up to the 450 when AMA Pro Motocross begins in May. Currently sitting atop the 250SX West standings by 20 points over R.J Hampshire having won three of the four main events and bagged second in the other, it’ll take something special to stop the 19-year-old grabbing the title.

Clearly a cut above the competition and riding with a maturity and skill that belies his tender years, the Team Honda HRC star continues to take the sport by storm.

A massive hit on and off the track, it’s easy to see why the likeable youngster is such a drawcard already. Despite all the noise surrounding him, it’s important to note that his dad and trainer, the legendary Johnny O’Mara, keep him on the right path needed to fulfil his immense potential.

Hunter Lawrence – AMA Supercross
Hunter Lawrence has been in similarly excellent form, as he’s following his brother’s lead impressively on his way to winning two of the three 250SX East rounds. Producing the goods and well placed to win his first championship in America, Hunter’s leading the title chase by 11 points from Max Anstie.

Taking his game to another level in 2023 and riding with tremendous confidence, composure and speed, it’s been a joy to watch him strut his stuff, with his last corner win in Tampa especially catching the eye.

Wilson Todd – AMA Supercross
Making his AMA Supercross debut at the start of the year, Wilson Todd deserves enormous credit for putting in all the hard work to reach this milestone. Although things haven’t gone entirely to plan for the talented pilot, there’s vitally been signs of his undeniable speed.

Racing in the 250SX West division, crashes, bad luck and injury have frustratingly scuppered his progress despite his pace in qualifying and practice underlining he has what it takes to mix it inside the top 10. While a torn ligament in his thumb hindered him, Todd’s focus now shifts to the Australian ProMX series, where the reigning MX2 Champion will be back in action on the 250 for the start of the season this weekend in Wonthaggi.

Matt Moss – AMA Supercross
Securing a fill-in ride with the BarX Suzuki squad to race 250SX West, experienced veteran Matt Moss showed his class in his first race for the team in Oakland.

Kicking off his day in fine style by bagging the sixth fastest time in combined qualifying before transferring comfortably to the main by virtue of his third place heat race finish, this was an exceptional way to stamp his mark. Disappointingly, he couldn’t carry his momentum into the main event, for an early crash that injured his thumb ended his night due to him unable to grip the bike well enough.

“I was feeling really good all night, and finished third in my heat. Got an okay start (in the main). I was sitting in fourth when I landed awkwardly on my thumb. I could barely hang on. Disappointing, but overall happy with my speed, a few things to work on. Looking forward to being back behind the gates at the next round. Thanks for the support legends,” he insisted.

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

Bringing in so much positive momentum and with him trending in a distinctly upward trajectory, unfortunately things didn’t go to plan for the gifted Australian, as problems with the bike and his team, plus some niggling injuries, scuppered his chances of truly putting his best foot forward.

Read our other updates about Aussies racing abroad here…

Although his debut term in the premier class was littered with adversity, the Tech3 KTM speedster still showed glimpses of his class on many occasions and that he had what it takes to compete at the elite level. Even though he couldn’t secure a coveted top ten finish, he still claimed an admirable four points scoring finishes in the crusade on his way to regularly outperforming his highly rated teammate, Raul Fernandez, who also endured his fair share of frustration last year.

With a season’s best of eleventh at Catalunya, this demonstrated he could mix it with the heavy hitters on his day and on a track that suited the bike. But these days were few and far between, in a season where he frequently toiled fruitlessly on his way to finishing 23rd in the final standings.

The saddening news then arose that KTM weren’t going to keep him on for 2023, which came as a devastating blow to Gardner, who forcefully expressed his opinion on the decision. “I felt like I always gave my 100 per cent for them [KTM]. My intention was to stay here and give my best and honestly, they’ve broken my heart,” Gardner explained.

“I felt like maybe there’s not an appreciation for the [Moto2] World Championship I brought them as well. I was just giving my best all the time and I guess it wasn’t good enough. The feeling was and the impression was, yeah, we should continue and in Austria we’ll get it done… I don’t know, I’m just as confused [by it].

“I think it hasn’t been a disaster. I mean, if you have a look at the times and everything and how close I am to the factory guys usually. It’s still my first year! I honestly think it was not bad and honestly it was positive vibes from them [KTM]. But yeah, we got to Austria and it’s basically ‘you’re out’. Wasn’t expecting it to be honest. I’ve always given 100% and unfortunately I don’t think it was good enough [how they handled the situation].”

Despite him feeling like he was harshly and unfairly treated, there was no denying what a fantastic learning experience racing a full crusade of MotoGP was for him even if he went through a tough adaptation to the category.

Indeed, gaining such valuable track time against the best riders in the world and extracting so much knowledge in terms of riding style, line selection, bike setup, race strategy, preparation and so much more should crucially hold him in good stead for his future endeavours.

Left without a MotoGP ride, the 24-year-old will now turn his attention to 2023, where he’ll be switching to the World Superbike paddock to race for GYTR GRT Yamaha. Excited for the challenge ahead and having already tested the bike, which he said he enjoyed, it’ll be fascinating seeing how he fares in what’s set to be a stacked class this year.

Andrea Dosoli, Yamaha Motor Europe Road Racing Manager, gave Remy a warm welcome to the team, stating: “Remy is an exciting young talent, who boasts an impressive career inside the Grand Prix paddock. We are obviously delighted to have a rider on board who’s not only shown great progression but has experience at the top level of motorcycle racing. We believe that he is the perfect fit for Yamaha’s WorldSBK program and are keen to see what he can do on one of our Yamaha YZF-R1 WorldSBK machines.”

To shine the spotlight on his recent test at Jerez last week, and much upside could be extracted from this hit out even though he was nearly two seconds off pace-setter Toprak Razgatlioglu, as Gardner rattled off 86 laps in the first day alone around the Spanish circuit to bank the 14th best time. Gardner then impressively made headway on day two, for his fastest lap was over a second quicker than the previous day and saw him secure the 10th quickest time, which was roughly one second off Toprak.

Giving him a fantastic chance to log some laps in the dry, after his first test was scuppered by rain in December, while he familiarised himself with the bike, the tyres and the team, the number 87 cut a content figure afterwards.

“Yeah it was fun!” Said Gardner “Very different to what I’m used to. New tyres, which I think is the biggest thing at the moment and just understanding how much confidence the front tyre gives and how much support as well. Did lots of laps, but it was just good to understand what I need to adapt and change. I have some bad habits from last year that I’m trying to kick. Just [need to] ride easier and more fluid. Last year I had to ride like an animal every single lap and every single corner to go half-fast.

Possessing all the ingredients to be a success, in the case of Gardner, KTM’s loss is certainly Yamaha’s gain..

“After a year of that and also the tyres are very different as well. I’ve got to let it flow a bit more. At the moment, that’s just what we wanted to do. I enjoyed myself a lot and, at the end of the day, I felt a bit more comfortable.”

Set to continue using the number 87, which is a tribute to his father Wayne’s memorable 1987 500cc World Championship, 2023 looms as a massive year for Gardner, as he looks to get things back on track after a forgettable 2022. Full of talent, extremely motivated for the challenge ahead, in the prime of his career and possessing all the ingredients to be a success, in the case of Gardner, KTM’s loss is certainly Yamaha’s gain.

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Day One testing for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto was a busy affair as teams and riders got their first 2023 running under their belt. 2021 Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK) topped the times ahead of reigning Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) by two tenths of a second, with Bautista crashing in the afternoon, while rookie Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) shone brightly on his debut.

Three rookies were taking part in the Jerez test as they got adjusted to new surroundings, teams and bikes. Petrucci took sixth spot at the end of the day with a 1’39.790s, just over a second slower than Razgatlioglu. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK) was ninth fastest on his first day in dry conditions with the Yamaha R1, lapping in 1’39.934, as he worked on linkage, swingarm and electronic components.

Teammate Remy Gardner was close behind in 14th place and six tenths back from Aegerter. Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha), learning the Championship and bike along with his team, was the lowest-placed rookie with 19th place as he took to the Yamaha R1 for the first time.

Testing at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto came to a conclusion for the teams and riders from the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship that attended. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK) was able to bounce back from his crash in the morning to record the fastest time with a 1’31.269s set in the afternoon; attempting to break the 1’37s barrier. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was second on Day 2, less than a tenth behind Razgatlioglu while 2022 WorldSBK Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) took third place.

After a strong showing on Day 1, three WorldSBK rookies finished the test inside the top ten on Day 2. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was sixth fastest after posting a 1’39.193s, with Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) taking eighth place after setting a 1’39.311s. Aegerter’s GRT Yamaha teammate, Remy Gardner, took tenth spot but was only three tenths slower than Aegerter at the end of Day 2; showing how tight the WorldSBK field is in 2023.

Most teams will now be headed to Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal for another two-day test to be held on Tuesday 31st January and Wednesday 1st February.

Read the full report from Day 2 in Jerez on worldsbk.com

JEREZ WORLDSBK TEST 2023 GALLERY

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The number 93 also had a helping tow from Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the two lapped in tandem, with Pecco just pipped to it but still completing the front row. It was a big day at the Aus MotoGP…

Martin had been on the pace as soon as Q2 started, punching out a 1:28.112 out the gate – the fastest lap of the weekend to that point. He would hold onto that honour for just a lap as Bagnaia clocked a 1:28.054 next time through, and they were the top two at the end of the opening runs, with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) third on a 1:28.174. Marc Marquez sat fifth on a 1:28.313, having been forced into one of his trademark front-end saves exiting ‘MG’ on his second flying lap which saw him veer onto the grass.

With the second runs on in earnest, Johann Zarco jumped to the top with a 1:28.007 before Martin made it a Prima Pramac Racing one-two with the first lap of Phillip Island that was quicker than Lorenzo’s 1:27.899 in 2013.

Marquez then tagged on behind Bagnaia for the final few minutes of the session, and with the chequered flag about to come out, the number 63 moved up to second on a 1:27.953 but was beaten almost immediately by the Honda rider in his slipstream, who set a 1:27.780. That made for a top four of Martin, Marc Marquez, Bagnaia, and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia), with Quartararo edging back up to fifth thanks to a 1:27.973 on his final lap.

When all’s said and done, Bagnaia is the first of the title contenders as a few stack up from third back, with Aleix Espargaro heading Row 2 in fourth and Championship leader Quartararo right alongside. Quartararo was the final rider in the 1:27s, with Zarco just into the 1:28 bracket. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) slots into seventh.

It was a tougher session for Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) as he’ll start eighth – although he did win from seventh at Motegi. For fellow challenger Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP) it was an even tougher one, however, as the number 23 was in Q1 and then failed to make the cut – after also getting held up by Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). The Portuguese rider did a practice start too early and then was slow on the line, gaining a three-place grid penalty and a Long Lap.

Zarco was the quickest in Q1 and moved through alongside Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) as the two pipped Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) and Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) late in the session. The latter duo therefore line up P13 and P14.

Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) starts ninth as he joins Marini and Miller on an all-Ducati Row 3, with Rins forced to settle for tenth ahead of automatic Q2 graduate Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol).

Qualifying didn’t go to plan for Maverick Viñales and he’ll start P12. After topping the timesheets in FP4, ‘Top Gun’ will certainly be ready to move forward on race day.

Jorge Martin: “For sure, Lorenzo won’t be super-happy today now, but for sure, it’s time to beat those records because the bikes are much faster now. Yesterday, I was a bit lost because this track is so fast – it’s my first time here so I had to take the measurements – but finally today, I had good pace. I feel strong for the race also, and for time attack, I thought I could also be competitive – not that much, for sure. Making a 27, it’s amazing, but I’m feeling good and I think we can fight to the end tomorrow.”

With five riders in 40 points, there’s more and more at stake as the time to make a comeback gets shorter and shorter. Just three races now remain, and the first of those is sure to be a stunner as Phillip Island hosts for the first time since 2019. Make sure to tune in at 14:00 (GMT +11) to see who can tame the Island!

MotoGP Phillip Island Saturday Top Three (Full results here)
1 Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) – Ducati – 1’27.767
2 Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) – Honda – +0.013
3 Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – Ducati – +0.186

Moto2 Saturday
Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) set a stunning new lap record at Phillip Island on Saturday as a 1:32.233 puts him on pole for the Animoca Brands Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. Championship leader Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) missed out by just 0.073, with Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) in third making it both Boscoscuros on the front row.

Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), who trails Fernandez by just 1.5 points in the Championship, has qualified 13th after a tougher weekend so far, although the Japanese rider won from the same position at Motegi.

Buriram winner Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing) heads the second row ahead of Aron Canet (Flexbox HP 40), with Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) in sixth. Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp) is an impressive seventh on an all-rookie Row 3, with Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Jeremy Alcoba (Liqui Moly Intact GP) alongside.

The remaining riders between Fernandez and Ogura are Filip Salač (Gresini Racing Moto2), in 10th fresh from his first intermediate class podium, Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) in a solid P11 and Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) in P12. Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) is just behind Ogura, in P14 after a tougher Saturday.

Fermin Aldeguer: “I’m so happy with my whole qualifying, because I pushed so much. It was a very good lap all the way round and I made the pole position, so it’s incredible to be here. Thank you to my team for their support in all the past races and my family and all the sponsors.”

After 17 races in the intermediate class, just 1.5 points separate Fernandez and Ogura with three rounds remaining. Another 25 are up for grabs on Sunday, so tune in from 12:20 (GMT +11) to see another chapter of incredible Moto2 competition.

Moto2 Phillip Island Top Three (Full results here)
1 Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools Speed Up) – Boscoscuro – 1’32.233
2 Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – Kalex –  +0.073
3 Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools Speed Up) – Boscoscuro – +0.310

Moto3 Saturday
Another week, another new lap record! This time it’s Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) as the number 71 backed up his fastest lap on Friday with the fastest lap of Phillip Island ever, taking pole by nearly two tenths and putting in the only 1:35. Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) is the only other rider in Sasaki’s postcode, and he has a half-second gap behind him back to Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) as the rookie completes the front row.

Championship leader Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) heads up Row 3 in seventh place, giving him a reasonable launch position ahead of his first match point in the fight for the crown. He has an advantage of 49 points and needs more than 50 by the flag on Sunday to secure the Championship. Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing), now his closest challenger, lines up in P12 on Row 4 – his equal worst result of the season as he failed to improve late on.

Row 2 is Carlos Tatay (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP), Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) and Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team). Between Guevara in seventh and Foggia in 12th are Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo), Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) – for whom it’s a best ever qualifying – and David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports). In the session, one dash of spice saw Muñoz get a behaviour warning for getting a little close to Masia, too.

Ayumu Sasaki: “Well, before qualifying, I knew that it’s going to be a group, as always, in Moto3. So, my target was to put a new tyre on at the beginning and try to make a lap time. I went out quite far from the group, but I guess that group was slowing down in our out laps, so I could catch them perfectly in two laps, so that helped me a lot as well. But, a good two laps, I felt good on the bike, and after that, I thought there was no point using another tyre. I wanted to keep it for tomorrow. So, that was the plan, and I had good enough laps, so it went as a plan and it was good lap.

“As you can see, the last three races have been very good for me; we have consistency. I came here, the bike was working very well admittedly, so I didn’t change the set-up so much as well. I just felt good on the bike. Here, it’s always a big group in the race, but this year, top riders in Moto3 seem to be at a higher level than the rest, so that’s why you can see may times this year that if someone gets to the front, we can separate the group. Here, I feel like I have the pace to pull the group, so that’s my plan. Last race, it was Foggia and we can see four or five riders every time that are competitive, can pull from the group, and I guess that I have the chance to do that, so hopefully we can make it a small group and fight for the win.”

The first Championship of the season is on the line on Sunday, and the grid sets us up for a stunner. Tune in for Guevara’s first match point at 11:00 (GMT +11)!

Moto3 Phillip Island Top Three (Full results here)
1 Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) – Husqvarna –  1’35.854
2 Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) – GASGAS – +0.187
3 Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) – Husqvarna – +0.725

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Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) doubled up on Friday Down Under, fastest in both FP1 and FP2 – but it was incredibly close by the end of play. The Frenchman leads on the combined timesheets by just 0.038 from rookie Marco Bezzecchi. From: MotoGP Press

So where are the title challengers at the Animoca Brands Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix? Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was fourth and within a tenth of the 44, with Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) seventh, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) eighth and Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing MotoGP) ninth. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) was P13 on Day 1 and will be the first looking for a lot more from a flier on Saturday.

Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) was P13 on Day 1 and will be the first looking for a lot more from a flier on Saturday…

There were four different manufacturers in the top five as Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) was just behind Quartararo, the number 12 starting off strong at a venue he’s ruled before. The gap between Quartararo and Viñales, 0.131, is the only gap in the top 18 that’s bigger than a single tenth.

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) in P6 makes a pair of Hondas in the top ten for MotoGP, and the number 93 was also seen out on track trying out some new aero – a new add-on to the tail unit in FP1 and then a new aero body in the afternoon.

Marc Marquez, Viñales, Quartararo was how the top three sat ahead of the time attacks, with Aleix Espargaro in the danger zone in 10th and Bagnaia one position outside the provisional Q2 cut-off. With cool conditions expected on Saturday morning, the stakes were high and lap times started to tumble again, with Bezzecchi, Viñales and Quartararo all taking turns at the top. Bezzecchi had been shuffled back to sixth when he fired in a 1:29.513 to go fastest again in the final minute, but that was bettered by Zarco by 0.038 seconds just before the chequered flag.

As it stands, Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) is the first to miss the Q2 cut in P11, just ahead of the returning Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) – just meaning 0.021. Will FP3 allow the field to improve? 

MotoGP Friday Top Three (Full results here)
1 Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) – Ducati –  1’29.475
2 Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) – Ducati – +0.038
3 Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) – Honda – +0.052

Moto2 Friday
Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) dominated Friday in Australia, pulling out nearly four tenths ahead of Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) and Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp), with the Boscoscuro duo completing the top three. Lopez, however, was also given a Long Lap for the race after causing a crash in FP1 with Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team).

Championship leader Augusto Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) topped FP1, and he ends the day in P7 overall – with key rival Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) struggling to P17 on Friday.

Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) was fourth quickest, ahead of a fast Friday for Sam Lowe (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) as the Brit continues his comeback from injury. Aron Canet (Flexbox HP 40) slots into sixth ahead of Fernandez. Buriram podium finisher Filip Salač (Gresini Racing Moto2) was eighth, with Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) and Albert Arenas (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) completing the top ten, the former despite a crash in FP2, rider ok.

Moto2 Friday Top Three (Full results here)
1 Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) – Kalex – 1’33.767
2 Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpedUp) – Boscoscuro – +0.382
3 Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpedUp) – Boscoscuro – +0.461

Moto3 Friday
It was a Japanese 1-2 on Friday last time out and it’s the same as the Animoca Brands Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix gets in gear. Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) was quickest by 0.189 ahead of Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing), with rookie Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) impressing in third on his debut at The Island – after also topping FP1.

As conditions improved, in FP2 every single rider also improved their time significantly by the end of the session. Behind Sasaki and Suzuki there were a few tenths back to Moreira, but then it tightened up again and it’s Championship leader Izan Guevara (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) who ends the day in fourth – despite a crash in FP1.

Still, he’s only 0.025 ahead of teammate Sergio Garcia (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team), and Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing) is close behind in sixth as they, and Sasaki, look to stop Guevara taking the crown. The number 28 is 49 points clear and needs more than 50 in hand by the flag to secure the title.

Andrea Migno (Rivacold Snipers Team), Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team), Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Adrian Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Tech3) complete the top ten… and Fernandez has a double Long Lap to take this weekend for his part in a crash in Buriram.

Moto3 Friday Top Three (Full Results here)
1 Ayumu Sasaki (Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max) – Husqvarna – 1’37.797
2 Tatsuki Suzuki (Leopard Racing) – Honda –  +0.189
3 Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) – KTM – +0.408

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