Our full report for the WorldSSP Round 1 weekend can be found here…

The post WorldSSP 600 Gallery | Phillip Island, Round 1… appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

Friday practice and Saturday Superpole
WorldSBK

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #11) made it two from two on Friday to top both Free Practice 1 and Free Practice 2 sessions at the beautiful Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit as he fended off Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven #29) and teammate Alvaro Bautista (#19) on the opening day of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season. The #11 was the only rider in the 1’28s bracket on his way to securing top spot during the Australian Round.

Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team #9) completed the lead quartet of Ducatis as he took P4 with a 1’29.584s set in Free Practice 1. Despite being followed by El Turco, Bulega was able to claim pole position for the second time in Australia in a dramatic Tissot Superpole session.

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) continued to be the rider to beat during the Australian Round as the 2025 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season’s first competitive session ended with the #11 on pole. He was just under a tenth ahead of rival Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team #1) after the reigning Champion followed last year’s title runner-up on track to set his hot lap during Tissot Superpole at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

WorldSSP

A sunny afternoon at Phillip Island hosted the FIM Supersport World Championship grid, who sunk their teeth into the 2025 season with several key twists already in the season opening session. Dutch rider Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse #11) went fastest despite not finishing the session, suffering a heavy crash with eight minutes left in the session at Turn 2. The WorldSSP season looks like it will be hard to look away from, as the Tissot Superpole session featured 14 riders within a second of the polesitter.

Second placed Booth-Amos (#69) replicated his results from Free Practice earlier in the day with a P2 finish for his first front row in WorldSSP. Making a late jump up the time sheet, 2017 WorldSSP Champion Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA #94) staked his claim on the rostrum with a 1’32.635s time, his first podium since Round 2’s Race 2, where he also claimed third.

Saturday
WorldSK

WorldSBK Race 1

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship returned with a bang! Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) blazed around the track in Race 1, followed by Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in P2 and Alvaro Bautista in P3. Nicolo Bulega capitalised on his Tissot Superpole win, holding off the rest of the grid as he claimed the holeshot. Turn 1 was the closest any rider ended up coming to the Italian sophomore star, finishing with a margin of 4.811s ahead of 2024 World Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu

For his part, Toprak looked more comfortable atop his new BMW M 1000 RR, battling with Alvaro Bautista, Andrea Iannone and Scott Redding (#45) in the laps preceding the mandatory Pit Intervention, to claim P2. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) looked to be similarly growing in confidence with his setup, tenaciously defending his podium spot from persistent overtaking attempts from Scott Redding, Danilo Petrucci and Andrea Iannone.

Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) was composed as ever in Race 1’s return to WorldSBK action. Starting out in P5, he weathered assaults from a resurgent Scott Redding and rival Andrea Iannone to finish P4 and once again be top among the Independent riders in P4.

Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing #45) showed glimpses of his 2021 Ducati-riding form in Race 1, leapfrogging Bautista and Toprak at points to take P3. However, a late move from Petrucci at Turn 1 of Lap 18 narrowly prevented him from claiming the day’s top Independent position.

Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) looked strong to start the contest, claiming P2 exiting the first corner of Lap 1. The Maniac lost much of this early momentum, though, as he appeared to have an issue with his bike in Turn 4 of Lap 2, dropping from P2 to P6 in an instant as he hesitated entering the corner. Later on in the early running, he showed similar signs of a problem with his setup as he ran wide into Turn 1 of Lap 3. Much of his best riding on the day came after the pit stop, where he recuperated positions to finish P6.

“What a way to start the Championship! I’m happy because my feeling was good from the first session of the Monday test. Every time I get on the bike, I know what I can do and what I have to do. I’m just enjoying riding my bike, lap by lap, and it’s an amazing feeling,” explained Bulega.

WorldSBK Race 1 Results

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +4.811s
3. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +5.108s
4. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +6.813s
5. Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing) +6.986s

WorldSSP Race 1

Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing #62) held off a posse of hungry riders for P1 as he won the Yamaha R9’s inaugural race in the FIM Supersport World Championship. A sunny day in Phillip Island saw a dogfight for the podium positions as five riders brawled at the head of the pack.

Starting from P4, Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team #61) jumped into P1 from the second row for the season’s first holeshot. Behind him, Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing #69) held onto P2 exiting the first corner, while Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA #94) began the race fighting for the second and third positions.

Following the pit stops, the front five bikes developed a gap separating them from the rest of the pack. Manzi, who entered the pits on Lap 9, a lap later than Masia (#51) and Marcel Schroetter (WRP Racing #23), who he would spend the rest of the race battling with for the top of the podium, then took over at the front.

Masia was then given a 3.510s penalty for a Pit Intervention Time Infraction. Masia subsequently fell down the standings to P6, despite crossing the finish line second. On the final lap, at Turn 10, Manzi made a move, pushing Masia wide, although the Spaniard kept P2 on track. Just behind the pair, Schroetter and Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) battled for track position, with Booth-Amos holding Schroetter off to claim P2 once penalties had been applied.

Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse #11) finished P4 despite a 0.855s penalty being applied for a Pit Intervention Time Infraction. Home hero Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing #32) secured a credible P7 on his Triumph debut.

WorldSSP Race 1 Results

1. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)
2. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) +0.322s
3. Marcel Schroetter (WRP Racing) +0.480s
4. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +1.447s
5. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +2.513s

Sunday

Superpole Race

2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship runner up Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) dominated once again in the Tissot Superpole Race. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) recovered from his disappointing P6 result in race 1, giving Bulega a run for his money before he pulled away.

A chaotic Turn 4 fracas saw Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad Racing Team) and Alvaro Baustista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) run off track, hurting their race placement. Razgatlioglu’s P13 finish spelled the end of his streak of P1 or P2 finishes, stretching all the way back to his return from injury in Aragon in 2024’s Round 10.

Nicolo Bulega had much more competition than in his blowout Race 1 win, however, he still claimed P1 by a 2.3s margin ahead of Andrea Iannone. Iannone was tenacious in his leap into the first corner, jumping up from P6 into P2. He nipped at Bulega’s heels in the first laps of the race, posing the greatest threat of the session. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) rounded out the podium. And while a gap separated him from Bulega and Iannone in the top two spots, he did well to hold P3 following a spirited attack by Scott Redding (MGM Bonovo).

Toprak Razgatlioglu and Alvaro Bautista saw their Superpole sessions squandered as they both ran wide through the gravel and onto the grass in Lap 1’s Turn 4, ruining both their placements. Scott Redding once again found himself in the midst of the action and clashing with the other Independent Ducati machines – this time battling with Danilo Petrucci for P3. As Petrucci pulled away later in the race, the hunter became the hunted as Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team #14) challenged his fellow Englishman for his P4 position. Sam Lowes rose to the occasion and landed his best ever race result in World Superbike. His previous best was P6 in last year’s Race 2 in Assen.

Andrea Locatelli (#55) did what he does best at Phillip Island and secured another strong result, this time a P6 to score four points in the Championship.

Superpole Race Results

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) +2.324s
3. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +4.923s
4. Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing) +5.312s
5. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +5.452s

WorldSBK Race 2

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was untouchable in Oz as he completed his first ever hat-trick. He won with a very comfortable 2.6s margin to cruise past the chequered flag in style. While Bulega was running away with P1, not all the grid enjoyed such a carefree race. 2024 Riders’ Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) appeared to struggle from lights out, being applied a penalty for irresponsible riding after an aggressive overtake on Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team).

Nicolo Bulega was metronomic in his efficiency Down Under. Testing earlier in the week told a story that he would be a strong contender, but no one on the grid could handle the speeds he would bring to the season opening races. He claimed his career-first hat trick with a Race 2 P1, and speeds like these have to be a concern for the grid’s other riders, as they strive to keep up.

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) had a very strong showing in Race 2, fighting his way back from a P11 start after a poor result in the Tissot Superpole Race. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) joined the Ducati Factory riders on the rostrum. Having started second on the grid, he weathered the storm of other independent riders hot on his tail to land his second podium of the weekend.

Scott Redding (MGM Bonovo Racing) had another day of constant action, fighting tooth and nail with a swarm of other riders (particularly Danilo Petrucci). The 2024 Top Independent rider and Redding battled throughout the second half of the race after the Pit Intervention, exchanging overtakes. In the end, Petrucci came in P5 behind Redding, as this battle of the Independent Riders will be one to watch this season.

Aussie hero Remy Garner’s weekend did not go to plan, with a DNF in race one lap 11, a DNF in race two lap 16, and a 10th in the superpole race. He will be back next round!

“I’m really happy because this is my first hat-trick in WorldSBK. It’s incredible and an amazing feeling to do it at my favourite track and now I want to go back home to celebrate. I’m very proud of the job my team did. My bike was perfect from Monday until the last lap of Sunday in Race 2. I was able to push every lap and I enjoyed every lap, so thank you so much to them,” Bulega reflected.

WorldSBK Race 2 Results

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +2.603s
3. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) +3.980s
4. Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing) +8.043s
5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +10.009s

Championship Points

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 62 points
2. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 36 points
3. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) 35 points
4. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 31 points
5. Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing) 30 points

WorldSSP Race 2

Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) is now a FIM Supersport World Championship race winner after taking Triumph to the top step of the rostrum at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. The #69 took the British manufacturer’s second win in the Championship as he secured his second podium of the weekend during the Australian Round.

Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) etched his name into the list of FIM Supersport World Championship race winners as he topped the podium for his first ever WorldSSP win at Race 2 in Australia. With his win, Booth-Amos became the fourth rider to win a race in both World Supersport and World Supersport 300. He and Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) traded places from Race 1’s podium, as Manzi led the race for long stretches, but was outpaced on the Gardner Straight by Booth-Amos to give up P1.

Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) avoided much of the chaos at the front of the grid by nature of his poor start to the race. Having started the race in pole position, Bendsneyder fell to P13 only a few turns into Lap 1. He gritted his teeth and climbed back up to round out the rostrum in P3.

Atop the new Yamaha R9, GMT94 Yamaha teammates Michael Rinaldi (#21) and Lucas Mahias had a strong showing in Race 2, especially in the case of Rinaldi, who had not shown the same pace as Mahias in prior races this weekend. Splitting the two Yamaha teammates was Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki Racing Team #52), who climbed to a late P4 position. But after his 6.78s Pit Lane Infringement penalty was applied, he ended up P5.

How Did the Aussies Do?

Oli Bayliss represented for the home crowd to clinch P7 again, making it a very successful weekend for the PTR Triumph Factory Racing Team. Harrison Voight (D34G WorldSSP Racing Team #29 Ducati) and Luke Power (MotoZoo Me Air Racing MV Agusta #68) finished the weekend at The Island with Power taking 12th in race one, while Voight unfortunately had a DNF on lap 3. In race two Power went one better with 11th, while Voight finished 14th. Awesome results for the pair…

WorldSSP Race 2 Results

1. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing)
2. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +0.671s
3. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +1.125s
4. Michael Rinaldi (GMT94 Yamaha) +3.373s
5. Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) +9.467s

Championship Points

1. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) 45 points
2. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) 45 points
3. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 29 points
4. Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) 18 points
5. Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) 17 points

For the full WorldSBK Round One results in all classes for all days, click here...

The post WorldSBK Round 1 | Bulega bags sublime hat-trick appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

Check out our WorldSSP reports here…

Born in Monaco to three-times World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss, the 21-year-old Australian began racing in the Australian Supersport series in 2017 at the tender age of 13. A couple of successful years in the Australian Superbike domestic series followed before he took a step further in his career and embarked on his first season in the World Supersport Championship in 2022 where he achieved a best result of sixth position.

The following year, Bayliss was hit with injury halfway through the year which halted his progress but in 2024 has gone on to establish himself as a top 10 runner in the Championship. The move to PTR Triumph Factory Racing heralds a new beginning for Bayliss as he changes marque for the first time and has already tested the Triumph Street Triple 765 at Jerez in October.

Oli Bayliss, PTR Triumph Factory Racing:

“I am super excited to continue my World Supersport journey in 2025 with PTR Triumph. We had a test straight after the last round in Jerez and I felt good on the bike and gelled well with the team. I need to say a big thank you to Darrell Healey and GSE for their continuous support over the years and to Simon Buckmaster for giving me this opportunity. I think we can have a good season and achieve some goals.”

Simon Buckmaster, PTR Triumph Factory Racing Team Manager:

“It’s great news we have been able to finalise the deal with Oli Bayliss. He tested with us straight after the last round at Jerez this year and straight away he gelled with Tom, they know each other anyway and get on well. It’s fantastic for us as a team to have two strong riders working together data wise to help bring both of them on. We are really excited looking forward to 2025.”

Steve Sargent, Triumph Motorcycles Chief Product Officer:

“We are pleased to welcome Oli to the Triumph Factory team. He is an exciting young talent who we feel has the potential, alongside Tom to deliver a strong performance in 2025. We feel we have both the bike and the team to help get Oli the results that he deserves, and I am very much looking forward to watching what he and the team can achieve this season.”

The post Oli Bayliss Will Ride For PTR Triumph Factory Racing appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

Friday practice

WorldSBK

It had been a long wait for Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) but the #21 could finally say he led a MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship session again after topping Free Practice 2, and Friday’s running, at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto. The Italian used the SCQ tyre to set his best lap time as he finished 0.150s clear of Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in second while Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was third.

WorldSSP

The FIM Supersport World Championship was back in action on Friday afternoon at The Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, for the Superpole session and the Spanish spectators were treated to an exciting final five minutes as the riders battled for the top grid positions ahead of Saturday’s Race 1. Current title leader, Adrián Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) notched a lap time of 1’42.115s to secure the leading grid position for the eighth time this season.

Fellow Ducati rider, Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) set his best lap time, coming in 0.219s behind the #99 despite a disrupted session following a crash. An impressive session from Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) meant the German started Race 1 from third position.

Saturday

WorldSK
WorldSBK Race 1

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship took to the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto on Saturday afternoon for Race 1 of the Spanish round, and the 20-lap race resulted in Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) securing the 2024 WorldSBK Championship title as he rode a calculated race to bag second, whilst his closest rival Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) dominated the field, winning the first race of the weekend. Italian rider Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) claimed the final spot on the rostrum in third place.

Dry and sunny conditions set the stage for a memorable Race 1 at the Spanish circuit. Bulega had the holeshot at lights out, with Razgatlioglu hunting the Ducati rider down in second. Locatelli was strong off the start line, running in third ahead of Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) and BMW’s Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team).

The opening laps saw numerous riders unable to achieve positive starts to their race weekends, with both British riders Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) and Thomas Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) crashing out of contention at turn 6 on lap 1. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) also retired after a crash on lap one, whilst 2023 World Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was another victim to fall to the gravel. He managed to recover however and rejoin the back of the field, before crashing once again with just three laps of race distance remaining.

Back at the front, it was clear Razgatlioglu could not match the strong race pace demonstrated by Bulega, as Locatelli was unable to hunt down a consistent #54 in second. Kawasaki’s Lowes was closely matched with Lecuona just outside of the rostrum rankings, with Toprak’s stablemate, van Der Mark riding in sixth. The positions stayed much the same throughout Race 1, and dismissing any rider mistakes, it was clear the Spanish spectators were going to witness the 2024 World Champion claiming his crown on Saturday afternoon.

Check out our WorldSBK content here…

As the riders entered into the final lap of the race, the BMW garage prepared for what would be a historic day for them, as their #54 rode across the line in second place to seal the World Championship title in the first race of the Spanish round. The 28-year-old Turkish ace builds on his success in 2021, adding another World Superbike Championship to his name and achieving BMW’s first ever Championship win in the class. He marked his 25th podium of the season in style as he stood alongside Bulega and Locatelli on the Spanish podium to celebrate a special day in Jerez.

“I feel like a World Champion! I’m not feeling any stress. For me, the season’s finished now; we have two more races tomorrow, but I’ll just be enjoying it. It’s been a long season. Nobody believed in me or the BMW, but finally they understand we’re World Champions. This is incredible, especially with BMW; they’ve never won the title. Finally, I got my second title and BMW got their first,” Razgatlioglu gleamed.

WorldSBK Race 1 Results

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +6.067s
3. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +9.361s
4. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +11.249s
5. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) +13.597s

WorldSSP Race 1

The FIM Supersport World Championship was back for the first WorldSSP race of the weekend. The Spanish spectators witnessed their hero riding to glory as Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) sealed the title, claiming the 2024 crown on home soil. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) was keen to take the Championship decider to Sunday, and despite an outstanding ride where he dominated the field in first position throughout, he was unable to hold off the consistent Huertas. The Italian rider was strong from lights out, as he led Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) and Triumph’s Thomas Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph) in the first lap.

Chasing down a rostrum finish was Ducati’s Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing VerdNatura), who was ahead of the Championship leader #99 in fifth, with 14 laps remaining. His race was cut short however, as he was taken out of contention at Turn 13 by Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), with the #61 given a double Long Lap Penalty for the crash. Huertas moved up to fourth as a result, closely followed by Germany’s Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse). With the laps clicking by, the 2020 WorldSSP300 Champion found some late race pace, moving into third and attempting to chase down Montella.

As the race progressed, Huertas opted to sit behind Montella and even dropped a couple of seconds behind as he brought home a podium finish to take the 2024 crown to become the first rider to win both the WorldSSP and WorldSSP300 titles. Marcel Schroetter led Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) over the line as they finished fourth and fifth, whilst Booth-Amos and Dutchman Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta F3 800 RR MV Agusta Reparto Corse) claimed sixth and seventh.

WorldSSP Race 1 Results

1. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)
2. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +1.971s
3. Adrián Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) 3.793s
4. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +6.288s
5. Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) +6.581s

Sunday

Superpole Race

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship returned for the final Tissot Superpole Race of the 2024 season. Ten laps of the Spanish circuit resulted in the newly crowned World Champion, Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) settling for second place behind another impressive ride from Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who achieved his second win of the race weekend, as Britain’s Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) took the final step on the podium.

All eyes were on Razgatlioglu and Bulega for the morning Superpole Race, and with nothing to lose after claiming the title on Saturday, the #54 was looking to take the win. Both riders were strong from the outset, riding level into the first corner, but it was Bulega who led the field out of the exit of turn one, with Lowes right there in the battle. The 28-year-old Turkish rider soon took control however, as he overtook to move into first with nine laps remaining. At half race distance, Bulega found some increased pace, managing to overtake Razgatlioglu into first position, and soon gapped the BMW rider who was unable to respond. Bulega recorded his eleventh fastest lap in the Superpole Race, putting in a 1’38.528s around the Jerez circuit. The order stayed much the same for the remainder, with Bulega, Razgatlioglu and Lowes completing the rostrum at the chequered flag.

Superpole Race Results

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +2.375s
3. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +4.182s
4. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +5.511s
5. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +6.202s

WorldSBK Race 2

The final race of The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship took to the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto on Sunday afternoon for Race 2, and it was newly crowned Champion, Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) who sealed his remarkable season with a victory. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was aiming for a triple win but was denied it by the #54, as Dutchman Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed the final spot on the Spanish podium.

The second race of the day got going under clear blue skies at Jerez, and it was Bulega who got the jump off the line, closely followed by Razgatlioglu and Yamaha’s Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) in third. Eager to achieve his first win of the Spanish weekend, the #54 overtook Bulega on lap three into Turn 1, whilst the battle for third spot saw three riders abreast as they battled for a podium result. Van der Mark came out on top as Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) hunted him down.

Andrea Locatelli rode a strong opening race, catching the podium group, however a block pass from Lowes whilst they battled for fourth saw the Italian run out wide onto the track, losing positions, and ending up in sixth on lap four of the race. 2023 World Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) ran wide when fighting within the top six, falling to tenth. He managed to recover as a few laps passed, however then crashed out of contention on lap 10. A near crash for Iannone also at the halfway point saw him demoted to sixth as he clipped the rear tyre of van der Mark whilst attempting to take third position, but both remained upright.

Back at the front and with seven laps of race distance remaining, Bulega found some late race speed and closed the gap on Razgatlioglu, but the #54 proved too strong, with the #11 Ducati rider unable to find a way of getting through to take first. Iannone managed to recover from his earlier mistake, overtaking into fourth position ahead of Lowes, Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) and BMW’s Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW).

The 20-lap race was to be unexpectedly cut short with four laps remaining as Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) suffered a technical issue when his bike poured smoke and potential fluid on the track, with the race red-flagged and declared as a full result as more than two-thirds distance had been completed. As a result, Razgatlioglu took the win, with Bulega in second as the #54’s teammate, van der Mark, completed the rostrum. Andrea Iannone led Lowes and Petrucci across the chequered flag to complete the top six, whilst Gerloff and Locatelli claimed seventh and eighth.

Razgatlioglu banked his 57th career win after he was crowned the 2024 title winner on Saturday, and duly added to the BMW celebrations in Jerez.

“It’s been an amazing weekend. We’re World Champions with BMW. I got my second title and I’m really happy. The first one was very special for me because it was for my dad. This one’s for me. It’s been a long season, a very successful year. We had 13 wins in a row, an amazing season but finally it’s done,” Razgatlioglu reflected.

WorldSBK Race 2 Results

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.545s
3. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +10.938s
4. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) +12.399s
5. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +13.522s

Championship Points

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 527 points
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 484
3. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 357
4. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 316
5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 307

WorldSSP Race 2

The FIM Supersport World Championship delivered the final racing of the Prometeon Spanish Round as the riders attacked the 17-lap race at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto. The Spanish spectators witnessed another dominant performance from Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) as he led Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) to secure a Yamaha 1-2 result, whilst Dutchman Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) clinched third position in Race 2.

It was Turkish rider Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) who demonstrated a rapid launch from lights out as he led the field into the opening sectors of the Spanish circuit. His ascendancy was to be short lived however as he crashed at Turn 9 as the #61 suffered a low side into the entry of the corner, making way for Manzi to take first position, with Debise and Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) hunting him down.

With 12 laps of race distance remaining, just a second covered the leading trio, whilst further back it was Bendsneyder and Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) battling it out for a top four ranking. Just a few laps later however, the #64 Italian rider crashed out of contention at turn six, with Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) taking advantage of his mistake and moving up to sixth ahead of Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing VerdNatura).

As the final laps approached, Bendsneyder found some speed, closing the gap on Huertas and overtaking him to move into a rostrum position, leaving the #99 unable to respond. As the chequered flag came out, it was Manzi who stormed across the line to end his perfect weekend with two out of two race wins, followed by Debise and Bendsneyder who claimed his maiden podium result. Newly crowned World Champion, Huertas maintained a solid fourth position as he led Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Navarro over the line to round off the top six finishers.

WorldSSP Race 2 Results

1. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)
2. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) +0.275s
3. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +0.810s
4. Adrián Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) +3.504s
5. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +5.137s

Championship Points

1. Adrián Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) 439 points
2. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) 415
3. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) 382
4. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) 238
5. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 228

WorldWCR

WorldWCR Race 1

The FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship provided the first racing of the day at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, as the paddock took to the track on Saturday morning.

Despite a dominant ride from Championship leader Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team), she was unable to hold off her closest rival Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) from taking P1 in Race 1. The #22 managed to achieve P2 on the line from Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) who completed the Jerez rostrum. Race 2 would then decide who became the first ever FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship winner.

WorldWCR Race 1 Results

1. María Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team)
2. Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) +0.585s
3. Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +0.606s
4. Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) +14.322s
5. Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) +19.733s

WorldWCR Race 2

It was a historic day at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto for Race 2 of the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship as the first ever Champion was crowned in the final race of the 2024 season. Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) rode an outstanding race to seal the Championship, but it went down to the last corner of the race for it to be decided, as her closest rival Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) crashed out of contention before the final straight.

Ana Carrasco, the 27-year-old Spanish rider therefore made history as she became the first ever FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Champion, adding this title to her name along with the 2018 Supersport 300 World Championship title. Herrera achieved second in the 2024 Championship standings ahead of Race 2 winner Sanchez who took third.

WorldWCR Race 2 Results

1. Sara Sánchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team)
2. Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +0.368s
3. Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) +0.639s
4. Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) +0.722s
5. Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) +1.039s

Championship Points

1. Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) 244 points
2. Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) 215
3. Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) 191
4. Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 172
5. Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) 135

The post WorldSBK Round 12 Report | Razgatlioglu, Huertas and Carrasco reign supreme appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

Friday practice
WorldSBK
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was the fastest rider on Friday at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” despite a fall at the final corner in Free Practice 2. He was around a tenth clear of his rivals after the day’s action concluded for the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna Round, with his FP1 time – a 1’33.448s – enough to earn top spot overall on Friday.

Read our WorldSBK 2024 Round Three Report here…

The fastest rider for Ducati was Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), who was typically rapid out of the blocks. He was the first rider into the 1’33s in FP2 and his fastest time was a 1’33.552s, claiming P1 in FP2 and P2 overall, just a tenth behind Razgatlioglu.

Teammate Alvaro Bautista rode to third place overall, setting a 1’33.913s for his best time of the day in FP2. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) was fifth overall after setting a 1’34.192s in FP2. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) carried on his momentum from his Dutch Round podium with the fourth fastest time (1’34.462).

WorldSSP
The WorldSSP Superpole session saw yet more drama, speed and crashes as the picture for Saturday morning became a lot clearer, with the pacesetters at the top of the standings displaying their prowess and pace.

Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) was awarded pole position following the end of the Superpole session as Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) finished the afternoon session the same way he did in the morning – fast. His time of 1’36.843s was enough for P2 in Race 1. He thought that he had done enough to confirm pole, but found out that he’d exceeded track limits at turn 13, and was consequently demoted. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) rounded out the front row.

Elsewhere, the second row took on an interesting shape. France’s Valentin Debise (Evan Bros WorldSSP Yamaha Team) continued his promising form to grab P4, whilst Finnish rider Niki Tuuli (EAB Racing Team) bagged a spot in the top five.

Full Friday Superbike and Supersport results available here…

Saturday
WorldSK
WorldSBK Race 1
BMW’s star man secured a flawless Race 1 victory at Misano, a win that saw the Turk become the first BMW rider to lead the WorldSBK Championship since Marco Melandri in 2012. Once again, Toprak Razgatlioglu made all the difference on Saturday in Race 1 at Misano. “El Turco”, who started on pole following an epic Tissot Superpole session earlier in the day, initially surrendered his lead, but was able to regain it. However, this time, he never looked like relinquishing his advantage as the Turk stretched out a commanding gap before crossing the line in P1.

Full Superbike Superpole results here…

Nicolo Bulega and reigning World Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) both enjoyed successful races, with them finishing P2 and P3 respectively. Bulega, in particular, showed handy pace and stable consistency throughout Race 1. Reigning World Champion Bautista started to come on strong towards the end of the race, having struggled for pace in the opening laps.

A very interesting variety of riders was represented at the end of Saturday’s race. Yamaha, in particular, enjoyed a successful day on the Adriatic Coast, for Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) secured P4 and P6. Fellow Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki also enjoyed an admirable Race 1, with Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) rounding out the top five.

“It was a really hard race for everyone because of the hot conditions, the bike was just spinning. I felt the front tire not working a lot because I used it a lot, but I’m just focused on riding the bike and improving the pace. Finally, we won, and for BMW, the first winner here,” Razgatlioglu reflected.

WorldSBK Race 1 Results

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +1.782s
3. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +3.176s
4. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +10.337s
5. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +11.671s

View Full Results

WorldSSP Race 1
As has been the story of the season, Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) and Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) fought it out between themselves to determine the race win, as well as the lead of the Championship.

The Spaniard stalked Montella around the track for nearly the entirety of the race, before starting to close in on his rival towards the final sector of the track. By the time the final corner came, Huertas capitalised on a slight slide by Montella to level his bike alongside the Italian and just pip him to the line. A truly exciting battle indeed. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) rounded out the podium with a classy P3 performance.

Many of the Championship contenders rounded out the top six to keep up their title ambitions. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros WorldSSP Yamaha Team) quietly continued his impressive campaign to date as he locked in P4, whilst Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) claimed a very solid P5 placing. German Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) completed the top six.

WorldSSP Race 1 Results

1. Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team)
2. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.021s
3. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +4.667s
4. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) +5.892s
5. Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) +14.686s

View Full Results

Sunday
Superpole Race
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) keeps single-handedly shaping the narrative of the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship by putting on another epic display to win the Tissot Superpole Race by a comfortable margin.

Turkish superstar Razgatlioglu was once again the best rider on the grid, and ultimately made sure that the Superpole race ended in comfortable fashion. Starting on pole, “El Turco” was briefly overtaken by Bulega, who got the holeshot off the line, but Razgatlioglu was able to reclaim the lead and never looked like losing it from that moment.

Toprak also made some big WorldSBK history, overtaking WorldSBK legend Noriyuki Haga to become the fifth-placed all time leader in wins in WorldSBK with 44. Great Britain’s Alex Lowes capped a personally memorable weekend by converting his front-row start into a P3 finish.

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) then clinched P4 to remain the top Iwata-based bike on the grid. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) enjoyed a very positive Superpole in his home race by securing a P5 finish.

The big news from the rest of the action was that reigning World Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) suffered a crash at turn 10, but was able to finish the race in 17th. Australian rider Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) also fell after enjoying a tidy day up until then.

Superpole Race Results

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +1.651s
3. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +4.779s
4. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +8.061s
5. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) +10.913s

View Full Results

WorldSBK Race 2
Round 4 of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship will be firmly remembered as the weekend of one man. Toprak Razgatlioglu was untouchable all weekend, on his way to completing a first personal hat-trick in two years, as well as BMW’s first ever treble.

The Turkish rider was temporarily relegated to fifth place at the start of Race 2, before the inevitable comeback came. Nicolo Bulega and Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) were able to maintain the pressure by finishing Race 2 in P2 and P3 respectively, but neither could get close to “El Turco” at any point during the weekend.

Once more, Great Britain’s Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) banked an uplifting finish, this time registering P4 in Race 2. The British rider has consistently spoken about the progress made by the Japanese giants, and all their hard work is clearly paying off nicely.

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) kept flying the flag for Yamaha, remaining their highest finishing rider by virtue of his P5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) capped off a remarkable comeback at his home round by securing P6, a result not even the most optimistic of supporters could have seen coming.

A P7 finish in Race 2 saw Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) make some improvements. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) rode home to P8 while Iker Lecouna (Team HRC) obtained P9. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) again suffered a miserable start to his Race 2. Fortunately, his race ended better than it began, with the Ulsterman’s pace enough to seal a place rounding out the top ten.

“I’m really happy because when I came to Misano, I had just one target: three wins with BMW. I did it! We did a great job today,” Razgatlioglu explained.

WorldSBK Race 2 Results

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +2.980s
3. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +3.940s
4. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +9.951s
5. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +11.974s

View Full Results

Championship Points

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 179
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 158
3. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 155
4. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 124
5. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 94

View Championship Standings

WorldSSP Race 2
Adrian Huertas closed out an outstanding weekend in the FIM World Supersport Championship by winning a red-flagged Race 2. The Spaniard, who also won Race 1, once more proved why he sits atop the standings.

Yari Montella enjoyed a strong race too, but was forced to settle for P2 yet again following Huertas’ overtake towards the end of Race 2. French native Valentin Debise finished P3 to round out another quality weekend for the Yamaha pilot.

Elsewhere, within the Race 2 standings, many of the main title contenders maintained their push. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) sustained his momentum in the Championship by grabbing a P4 spot, finishing just outside the podium places.

Spaniard Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) logged a P5 finish in Sunday’s race, whilst Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) crossed the line in sixth.

WorldSSP Race 2 Results

1. Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team)
2. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +1.161s
3. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) +2.274s
4. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +3.176s
5. Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) +4.197s

View Full Results

Championship Points

View Championship Standings

1. Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) 136
2. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) 125
3. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) 114
4. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 104
5. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) 78

WorldWCR
Tissot Superpole
The first pole in the history of the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship was claimed by Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) as the Spaniard beat her rivals in a hotly-contested Tissot Superpole session.

As in the morning’s Free Practice session, the times kept improving as the session progressed. Herrera was able to set a 1’49.390s to claim the first ever WorldWCR pole, but it was fine margins, with just 0.051s between the #6 and Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) in second. Sanchez, who topped the FP session, set a 1’49.441s, to claim second ahead of Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) in third. Just 0.124s separated the top three in a closely fought Superpole session. However, towards the end of the session, it was announced that Sanchez was under investigation for slow riding, with Sanchez penalised with a three-place grid drop for Race 1.

Italian star Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) lined up from third following Sanchez’s sanction after fighting for pole position, finishing less than two tenths away from Herrera’s pole-setting time. South Africa’s Jessica Howden (Team Trasimeno) claimed fifth in the timings ahead of Chile’s Isis Carreno (AD78 FIM Latinoamerica by Team GP3).

WorldWCR Race 1
Saturday saw history made, with the maiden FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship Race 1 taking place at Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli”. In a day which saw several red flags, the fans were ultimately gifted the finish that such an occasion deserved, with Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team) beating rival Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team).

There was drama as soon as the lights went out for the initial start, with Ornella Ongaro (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) and Tayla Relph (TAYCO Motorsport) colliding at Turn 2, while wildcard Beatrice Barbera (Team GP3 AD11 by Tirso) crashed at Turn 4, as all three riders retired from the race. Relph was taken to the medical centre for a check-up, while the incident was investigated by the FIM Stewards after the race.

Herrera grabbed the holeshot from pole position, leading through the first half of the opening lap, but Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) didn’t let her have it all her own way. Although Herrera responded quickly to this attack, Carrasco didn’t let her get away, keeping the pressure on, with less than a second separating the top four.

On Lap 6, the race was red flagged for a crash by Mia Rusthen (Rusthen Racing) at Turn 16, when she came down at the end of Lap 5. Rusthen suffered a head concussion and received treatment at the Bufalini Trauma Centre in Cesena. Her condition is stable. The race was eventually re-started, and then immediately red-flagged again for a crash that involved Jessica Howden (Team Trasimeno). Howden also sustained a concussion, but was conscious following the accident. Following this incident, the remaining riders on the grid followed the quick start procedure and rolled back out onto the track for a five-lap race.

With just five laps to be completed, it ultimately proved to be Herrera and Carrasco that would fight it out to determine who would make history as the first ever race winner in the WorldWCR Championship. Herrera spent four laps monitoring Carrasco, matching her pace through every sector and turn. In the last sector, Herrera made her move, sliding the bike under Carrasco to take a lead that would ultimately prove enough to propel her to victory.

WorldWCR Race 1 Results

1. Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team)
2. Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) +0.067s
3. Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) +0.986s
4. Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) +1.454s
5. Beatriz Neila (Ampito/Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +1.591s

View Full Results

WorldWCR Race 2
Race 2 saw another thrilling fight, with Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) scoring her second win of the weekend after overtaking Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) at the final corner on the last lap. Both Herrera and Carrasco got superb starts as the lights went out, going side by side through the opening couple of corners before Carrasco came out in front. That didn’t last long, however, with the #6 responding almost immediately.

The lead group was made up of four riders – Herrera, Carrasco, Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) and Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) – with Turn 10 and the run to Curvone being the preferred overtaking places. With the lead group fighting hard, Sanchez looked to take advantage and got an excellent run out of Turn 10, using it to full advantage as she passed both Herrera and Carrasco to briefly lead even though she was unable to keep it.

Heading into the final three laps, Herrera was ahead of Sanchez while Neila had been in the top three prior to Carrasco reclaiming third on Lap 10. The #6 and #64 continued to trade fastest laps out front with the gap stabilising at around two tenths, but the final lap was a different story.

Herrera led on the exit of Turn 10, but Sanchez slipstreamed her way alongside, and ahead, of the #6. However, she didn’t take that lightly, fighting around the outside of Turn 14 before outbraking Sanchez at Turn 16 to claim victory. This demoted Sanchez to second, with Carrasco completing the podium after her fight with compatriot Neila, who came home in P4.

While the top four were fighting, home hero Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) took another strong result as she finished in fifth place, ahead of Isis Carreno (AD78 FIM Latinoamerica by Team GP3) in sixth, with the Chilean rider showing great potential once again as she returned to World Championship level.

WorldWCR Race 2 Results

1. Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team)
2. Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) +0.085s
3. Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) +1.305s
4. Beatriz Neila (Ampito/Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +1.352s
5. Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) +14.711s

View Full Results

Championship Points

1. Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) 50 points
2. Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) 36 points
3. Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) 36 points
4. Beatriz Neila (Ampito/Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 24 points
5. Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) 24 points

Download Full Standings

World SSP300 Championship Standings are here… And race reports here..

The post WorldSBK Round Four | Perfect weekend for Razgatlioglu appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

Friday
WorldSBK
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) continued his impressive start to the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship with P1 on Friday at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, beating two-time Champion teammate Alvaro Bautista by more than two tenths.

Read our WorldSBK 2024 Round One Report here…

Bulega went faster in FP2, and fastest overall, for Friday, with the two Ducati riders running split strategies to test SCX tyres in FP2. Bulega started on the development SCX C0900 tyre before switching to the standard, where he dipped into the 1:40s with a 1:40.907s. Across the box, Bautista began with the standard SCX, but went on the C0900 to end his session as they focused on race performance. In the end, Bulega’s 1:40.90s was the fastest time of FP2, and the day, with Bautista 0.247s back.

Barcelona is a circuit Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) hadn’t won at yet, but he put himself in contention after Friday’s running along with teammate Michael van der Mark as the pair took third and fourth in the combined classification.

WorldSSP
Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) stormed to a second pole position of the 2024 season on home soil with an almost three-tenths margin over his rivals at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The #99 came into his home round on the back of a podium last time out in Australia and was targeting a first victory in WorldSSP during the Pirelli Catalunya Round.

The session was red flagged around halfway through when Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) had a tech issue on the run into Turn 1, which led him into the gravel and officials working to clean up the track.

When the session resumed, it was a dramatic fight for pole. Huertas went head-to-head with Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) and Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing), with the #99 posting an incredible 1:44.197s to take his second pole of 2024 by 0.274s ahead of Oncu. The #61 was able to hold on to second ahead of Manzi, with the Yamaha rider finding time in the closing stages but just falling short, with the #62 still claiming a front row start.

Experience paid dividends for Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha), with the 2017 Champion often running in the top three before securing P4 for the Race 1 grid. He was joined by Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) in fifth after the German, who secured two podiums here last year, posted a 1:44.828s.

Full Friday Superbike and Supersport results here…

Saturday
Superpole
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed his first BMW pole position in record-breaking pace, setting a lap in the 1:39s to lead his rivals at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The speed up and down the grid was incredible with ten riders under the existing all-time lap record during the Pirelli Catalunya Round.

The first runs were completed with Razgatlioglu posting a barely-believable 1:39.489s to lead his rivals by more than two tenths. Initially, Michael van der Mark had been in P2 but lost his first, and best, lap in his first stint for a track limits infringement at Turn 13, with that time being a 1:40.088s. It left Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in second, 0.251s behind Razgatlioglu, with Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) provisionally completing the front row – half-a-second down on the #54. With the red-hot pace in the first run, Razgatlioglu’s time remained unbeatable as he claimed a first BMW pole position in his second round on the M 1000 RR.

Full Superbike Superpole results here…

WorldSBK Race One
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) led the majority of the race. At one point the Italian had opened a four second lead but in Catalunya tyre consumption is a key factor and with a harder front tyre Razgatlioglu could close down that margin. The BMW rider would take the lead on the 20th and final lap.

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), winner of six races in a row at this circuit, was handed a grid penalty that dropped him to the fifth row of the grid for the start. The reigning World Champion recovered to finish third and move up to fourth position in the Championship standings. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) continued to impress as a rookie with fourth.

Having smashed the lap record in the Superpole session, Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was aiming for a podium in Race 1 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Instead the Turkish star came from behind to claim the race victory in the opening race of the Pirelli Catalunya Round. “It’s been a dream of mine to win in Catalunya and this is unbelievable. Every day the team has done an unbelievable job and they have worked really hard,” insisted Razgatlioglu.

The win marked BMW’s first success since 2021 and validated Razgatlioglu’s decision to switch manufacturers for this season.

WorldSBK Race 1 Results

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.868s
3. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +5.338s
4. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) +8.543s
5. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +9.818s

Download Full Results

WorldSSP Race One
Adrian Huertas converted pole position into his first career victory in the Supersport class. The Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team rider kept a cool head under intense pressure from Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) to win by just over one second. The victory underlined Huertas’ title credentials.

Manzi was one of the few riders to opt to use a harder rear tyre and was rewarded with his second podium of the season. Marcel Schroetter’s (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) third place notably meant he emerged as the only rider to finish on the podium in each race this season (a streak he continued in the second race). The German was involved in a race-long battle with championship leader Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team), who finished fourth to hold an 11 point championship lead over Schroetter.

WorldSSP Race One Results

1. Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team)
2. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +1.277s
3. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +5.840s
4. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +8.653s
5. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) +9.798s

Download Full Results

Sunday
Superpole Race
The Pirelli Catalunya Round gave its second final lap showdown of the weekend with an absolute hair-raiser between Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), which went down to the final corner of the race. Off the line, it was another poor start from Championship leader Nicolo Bulega, whilst it was the traditional fast-starting Andrea Iannone who grabbed the holeshot from Race 1 winner Toprak.

Changing backwards and forwards, the race really exploded into life at Turn 5. Sam Lowes had been dropped down to P5 but at the front, the gloves came off as Razgatlioglu, Iannone, Alex Lowes and Nicolo Bulega battled side-by-side through Turn 5 up until Turn 9, when Toprak took two in one move to lead. Iannone settled down, but as was the case in the early stages, the #11 Bulega struggled in battle.

Bautista made his way into the podium places on Lap 7 when Iannone ran wide at Turn 10 and then battled back ahead of Bulega, putting the reigning WorldSSP Champion wide and allowing Bautista into third. Toprak, however, was leading and looking comfortable, even if Bautista managed to get ahead of Iannone with three to go, with the top four covered by a second into the final lap.

Making his move for the lead, Alvaro Bautista hit the front at Turn 1, out-braking Toprak. He wasn’t done there, as the favourite had many overtaking opportunities left yet.

Building through the downhill sweep of Turn 13, Toprak made a huge lunge at the final corner to pass Bautista in a replica of Valentino Rossi vs Jorge Lorenzo from MotoGP in 2009. Toprak forced Bautista to pick up, which allowed rookie Iannone to surge through his fellow Ducati rider, but he couldn’t quite get Toprak. Two from two, Razgatlioglu doubled up in Barcelona ahead of Iannone and Bautista, with Bulega and Alex Lowes completing the top five.

WorldSBK Tissot Superpole Race Results

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
2. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) +0.075s
3. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.260s
4. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.411s
5. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +1.611s

Download Full Results

WorldSBK Race Two
With Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK) surprising Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) to take the victory in the Tissot Superpole Race, the Turkish rider became the first BMW rider since Chaz Davies in 2013 to take back-to-back WorldSBK wins. Despite having to settle for a podium in Race 2, this was a superb weekend for Razgatlioglu who now sits fourth in the Championship standings.

The much touted battle of Alvaro Bautista versus Nicolo Bulega played out in Race 2. On this occasion, it was double WorldSBK Champion Bautista, who used his guile to win. The victory margin would eventually be just over two seconds, with Bautista completing a weekend of podium finishes having dropped from the lead to third at the final corner of the Superpole Race. “I feel really happy! It’s been a long time since my last win so we’re going to celebrate,” explained a delighted Bautista.

Bulega, from pole position in the Superpole Race, finished fourth before his second place finish in Race 2. The final race of the day also marked the first points of the season for Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha), who finished in eighth position. With four different winners from the opening six races of the season the 2024 WorldSBK season has started in style.

WorldSBK Race Two Results

1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +2.041s
3. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +7.005s
4. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +12.452s
5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +15.076s

Download Full Results

WorldSBK Championship Standings

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 87 points
2. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 75 points
3. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 75 points
4. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 71 points
5. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) 51 points

Download Championship Standings

WorldSSP Race Two
A red flag following a Piotr Biesiekirski (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) crash saw Race 2 shortened to just six laps for the WorldSSP field. Starting from pole position, Adrian Huertas was in contention for the victory, but the Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team rider suffered a late race crash while battling for the lead.

Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) emerged victorious with the Italian taking the sixth victory of his career. The win was the rider’s first of the season as he narrowly defeated Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) to the line. The result continued Schroetter’s perfect podium record for the season but the German is still awaiting his first victory.

On the podium for the first time since Estoril 2020, Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) was happy to round out the podium spots. Yari Montella continues to lead the Championship with the Barni Spark Racing Team rider finishing fourth to now hold an 11 point advantage.

WorldSSP Race Two Results

1. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)
2. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +0.086s
3. Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) +0.201s
4. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.681s
5. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) +0.714s

Download Full Results

WorldSSP Championship Standings

1. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) 76 points
2. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 72 points
3. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) 65 points
4. Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) 44
5. Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) 41

Download Championship Standings

WorldSSP 300
Having switched manufacturers for 2024 Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-PALIGO Racing) immediately showed KTM why he’s a double WorldSSP300 champion. The Dutchman proved his mettle by keeping a cool head to come through from the fourth row of the grid to claim the 12th victory of his career.

The victory was confirmed by the FIM Race Stewards after Inigo Iglesias (Fusport-RT Motorsport by SKM-Kawasaki) was handed a post race penalty for causing an accident on the last lap. The penalty dropped the Spaniard to 13th position in the classification. Rookie Aldi Mahendra (Team BrCorse) was classified in second position while Samuel di Sora (ARCO SASH MotoR University Team) was third having been forced to start the race from the back of the field.

WorldSSP 300 Race One Results

1. Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-PALIGO Raging)
2. Aldi Satya Mahendra (Team BrCorse) +0.040s
3. Samuel Di Sora (ARCO SASH MotoR University Team) +0.227s

Download Full Results

WorldSSP 300 Race Two
After a penalty dropped him to 13th position yesterday Inigo Iglesias Bravo (Fusport-RT Motorsport by SKM-Kawasaki) was officially confirmed as a race winner in the WorldSSP300 class. The Spaniard, in his 44th start, led across the line for the last three laps but critically held off the pack to claim the race victory.

A last corner reshuffle saw Julio Garcia Gonzalez (KOVE Racing Team) come through for second position and the first ever World Championship podium for the Chinese manufacturer. Bruno Ieraci (Team ProDina Kawasaki) finished third.For Race 2 the top nine positions on the grid are set by fastest laps in Race 1. Marc Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) will be rewarded for the fastest lap with pole position.

WorldSSP 300 Race Two Results

1. Inigo Iglesias Bravo (Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki)
2. Julio Garcia Gonzalez (KOVE Racing Team) +0.064s
3. Bruno Ieraci (Team ProDina Kawasaki) +0.116s

Download Full Results

WorldSSP 300 Championship Standings

1. Aldi Satya Mahendra (Team BrCorse) 29 points
2. Iñngo Iglesias Bravo (Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki) 28 points
3. Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-PALIGO Racing) 25 points

Download Full Standings

The post WORLDSBK ROUND TWO REPORT | TOPRAK AND BAUTISTA SHINE appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

With many Australians showcasing their skills abroad in a range of disciplines both on-track and off-road, our latest column focuses on how they’re faring battling it out with the best in their chosen classes. This month we have Jack Miller, Senna Agius, Jacob Roulstone, Joel Kelso, Remy Gardner, Oli Bayliss, Tom Edwards, Jett Lawrence and Hunter Lawrence.

On-Track
Jack Miller – MotoGP
Jack Miller’s endured a mixed start to the 2024 MotoGP season, with one unsatisfactory and one positive result. Kicking things off with a tough opener in Qatar, where an early fall dashed his hopes of achieving a strong outcome, this wasn’t ideal at all. But, to his credit, the popular pilot remounted to valiantly finish in 21st.

Moving on to Portugal, and he enjoyed a far better time at the iconic circuit, with his fifth on Friday and in the sprint underlining his speed and skill ahead of the Sunday action. The #43 then carried on the theme of the weekend by securing fifth in the main race despite encountering some tire problems to pick up some quality points to propel himself to ninth in the standings.

“We still have a bit of work to do but this was a massive improvement over Qatar.”

“I wanted a little bit more today. I wanted to go with the boys at the front early on but just didn’t quite have the pace mid-corner to get my claws-in and hang on for the [tire] drop. We got a bit lucky with some of the crashes at the end there…but we’ll take it. We have to have some luck sometimes! We still have a bit of work to do but this was a massive improvement over Qatar. The bike has plenty of potential, so we’ll do our homework, look at the data and come back for another go in Austin,” Miller mused.

Senna Agius – Moto2
Making steady progress in Portugal following his difficult weekend in Qatar, where he battled tire issues to ultimately claim 17th, Portimao was a valuable step in the right direction for Senna Agius. Gaining a boost of confidence by getting fourth in Q1, this held him in good stead to enjoy a solid weekend full of vital track time and learning.

Eventually clinching 13th in qualifying, not far off the pacesetters, Agius headed to Sunday aiming to secure a points scoring position. And that’s what he did, even though he was handed a long lap penalty for a pass when the yellow flag was out, to ride to 14th. Getting better with every passing race and gaining crucial experience in the elite confines of Moto2, expect him to keep levelling up when the series heads to America.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling. The first points of the season and the gap to the winner was the smallest I’ve had in the championship so far. Anyway, the first five laps were a good improvement, but during the race I had a little problem when I did an overtake under the yellow flag,” he reflected.

“A big thank you to the team, we are working well because I felt the best all weekend today and we are competitive.”

“Nevertheless, I had to give back the position and so I had to ride super slowly. In the end, the situation was a bit confusing, and it turned into a long lap penalty. So, I thought I’d do my best afterwards and bring the points home. A big thank you to the team, we are working well because I felt the best all weekend today and we are competitive. Unfortunately, the top ten slipped away from us due to one or two mistakes, but the most important thing is that we made a good step in pace and the overall feeling is good. A big thank you to the whole LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP team for the weekend, we are ready for Texas.”

Jacob Roulstone – Moto3
Having began his rookie campaign in Moto3 under the Tech3 awning with a solid 10th at the opening round, young Aussie flyer Jacob Roulstone backed that up with an 11th in Portugal. Making improvements all the time with the bike and in terms of his riding while he adapts to the class, Roulstone’s navigated the step up admirably so far.

“Quite happy with the race. I left it all out there, which was the main thing. The only thing that could be better was my first laps and I need to be more aggressive. Still, it was a step up from Qatar. I fought my way back as much as I could. The bike felt really good with a couple of changes we made for the race. The team is leading the championship, which is great, and I learnt a lot today.”

“The team is leading the championship, which is great, and I learnt a lot today.”

Immediately shifting his focus to Texas, it’ll be intriguing to see if he can keep along his upward trajectory and keep making strides in all areas.

Joel Kelso – Moto3
Starting his 2024 term with a handy eighth in Qatar on a night that could’ve been even better if his tires didn’t deteriorate so severely, Joel Kelso is proving what a class act he is. Continuing to flex his muscles in Moto3, the Australian’s speed was tremendous all weekend at Portimao, for the man who loves the thrilling circuit let his riding do all the talking.

Stamping his mark in the early sessions before bagging second in qualifying, this set him up nicely to put his best foot forward in the race. In the fight for victory throughout, super comfortable mixing it with the frontrunners and gelling superbly with the bike, Kelso ended the bout in fifth to round out a brilliant weekend of action.

“It was a good weekend, we worked really well. In the race the bike was perfect, so I’m really happy with how everything went.”

“We scored some good points today. It was a pity not to finish on the podium, but overall it was a very good race. In Moto3 it’s like a lottery, there are a lot of fights and anything can happen in the front group. It was a good weekend, we worked really well. In the race the bike was perfect, so I’m really happy with how everything went. We will have many more opportunities, the season is very long, it’s not how it starts, it’s how it ends. Every race we are stronger and we are already fighting at the front, we have shown that we are candidates for the victory,” he explained.

Remy Gardner – World Superbike
Although he knows there’s huge scope for refinement, the second stop on the WorldSBK calendar didn’t treat Remy Gardner too badly. Looking fast from the off and slotting neatly inside the top five in the early free practice session before nailing down eighth on the grid for race one, a frustrated Gardner battled with tire life to finish 15th.

Sunday saw an uptick in performance after some bike adjustments, though, allowing him to record ninth in the superpole race and sixth in race two, which was amended to seventh due to him being docked a spot for exceeding track limits on the last lap.

“The pace overall was good and in the sprint race everyone was close and I managed to finish ninth”…

“The day was okay, I think we made the correct choices. The pace overall was good and in the sprint race everyone was close and I managed to finish ninth, which allowed me to start again from the third row in race two. Then, I had a good getaway gaining places, ending up fighting for the top five; in the last lap I tried everything I could and crossed the line in sixth before being demoted to seventh due to track limits. I don’t think that’s right, even after checking, but it is what it is,” he insisted.

“We come back home scoring valuable points and being aware that we could enjoy a strong weekend in Assen. I’d like to thank the team for the great job done and the support, see you in the Netherlands.”

Oli Bayliss – World Supersport
Mixing the ups and downs in Catalunya, Oli Bayliss left round two with many positives to extract in his quest to get back to a level resembling his best. Struggling in the early stages of the event, which led to him only managing to grasp 17th and 21st in the superpole race and race one respectively, it was terrific to see him flip the script for the final race.

Blasting through the field in the red flag interrupted race, there was much to admire how Bayliss surged from 24th to 11th in just six laps. Showcasing his capabilities emphatically and giving himself a real injection of confidence, he’ll be eager to translate this momentum into Assen in April.

“It wasn’t an easy weekend, I struggled more than expected, but we did a good job in understanding what needed to be changed”…

“Obviously it feels good to finish the weekend off with a pretty good result, considering my starting position after the red flag. It wasn’t an easy weekend, I struggled more than expected, but we did a good job in understanding what needed to be changed and things went differently today. From my side, we know what I need to improve come qualifying in Assen and for the remainder of the year. Thank you to the team and all the sponsors for their great support,” recalled Bayliss.

Tom Edwards – World Supersport
Heading into the opening WorldSSP Challenge round mentally and physically in top shape, Tom Edwards was full of excitement that he could assert his authority early on a track he’d previously shown speed at. The Aussie did precisely that in his first outing with the D34G Racing squad to bank the win in his class, plus prove he has the pace to mix it with some of the WorldSSP heavy hitters.

While his weekend began on the wrong foot with a technical gremlin that the team subsequently resolved and a crash in race one, Edwards stuck at it manfully to produce an excellent second stanza to win his category by virtue of his 13th place finish (just behind Bayliss).

“Obviously. I was very disappointed with the race one crash, but we managed to make amends today”…

“I am happy with today and the weekend overall and I think it is a positive start to the season. Obviously. I was very disappointed with the race one crash, but we managed to make amends today – this is racing, after all. I feel like we have much more potential, and I am excited for what is ahead with the D34G Racing team. The team and I have learned a lot together over the weekend and are ready to fight further up the field in Assen. Big thanks to all the team who worked their hardest all week,” read his statement on the team’s website.

Off-Road
Jett Lawrence – AMA Supercross
Currently leading the championship by 16 points having won three of the last four races, Jett Lawrence continues to captivate audiences across the globe in AMA Supercross. Clearly the fastest man in the absolutely stacked 450 division, it’s been a joy to watch the Aussie sensation strut his stuff in March, and over the course of the campaign as a whole.

Although his three race winning streak this month was broken in Seattle, the fact he picked up third was fine, in a race where mistakes cost him. Owning the fastest lap time in the main event by over a second, an unfortunate incident with eventual winner Cooper Webb, in combination with some extra missteps, ensured he was unable to reign supreme in this one. Nonetheless, Jett still remains the man to beat with seven rounds left, as the series heads to St. Louis.

Jett still remains the man to beat with seven rounds left, as the series heads to St. Louis.

“It was a bit of an up-and-down day – good qualifying, good heat race, not that good of a start in the main. I had a really good flow for the first 10 minutes and started catching the guys in front of me. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t check up when I caught second in the sand and took the fall. I still got away with a third. I lost some points overall, but I’m excited to get them back in St. Louis,” Lawrence stated.

Hunter Lawrence – AMA Supercross
Considering he’s suffering with a lingering shoulder injury that kept him out of Birmingham, Hunter Lawrence deserves immense credit for charging through the pain barrier since. Indeed, his latest body of work in Seattle was a testament to the tenacious #96’s mental and physical fortitude, where he won his heat race, just like his brother, and went on to secure seventh in the main.

“It was awesome to get my first career heat-race win”…

“It was awesome to get my first career heat-race win; I wish we had the same kind of start in the main. I struggled the first 10 minutes, but I felt like I caught fire in the last half of the race and caught a bunch of guys, so that was epic. Thanks to the team because we put in a ton of work lately, and I can feel it paying off,” he concluded.

More than holding his own in the premier class, it’ll be a case of more of the same for Hunter in St. Louis, as the 250 champ’s next aim will be grabbing a coveted 450 podium finish.

The post RACING NEWS | AUSSIES RACING ABROAD APRIL 2024 appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

On-Track
Jack Miller – MotoGP
Although Jack Miller ended June with a frustrating crash at Assen, there was still plenty of upside attached to his month of action. Kicking things off with a solid seventh in Mugello in a race where he was in podium contention before struggling to keep the speed, he then backed this up with a super effort in Germany. Grabbing an impressive third in the Sprint, the Red Bull KTM star looked exceptional at the famed Sachsenring circuit.

Flying out to a wicked start in the Sunday race, all the signs were there that he could secure a podium, but a moment early on dropped him back. Battling on fiercely while he regrouped and toiled for grip, sixth was the best he could achieve to round out a solid weekend of work. With the first stage of the season now completed, Miller, who occupies seventh in the standings, spoke insightfully on how things have gone after the recent German GP.

“Not the way we wanted to finish the first phase of the season. I felt good and got a decent start. I ran deep into Turn 1 on the brakes and tried to pull a tight line to square-up and drive out on the exit but it was a couple of lean degrees too much, too early. We’ll take the positives. The bike was good again here and we fixed the vibration we had from yesterday with just a couple of little changes. It was a big gain,” he insisted.
“Anyway, two Sprint podiums and a main race podium as well as challenging at the front most of the time: I think it has been a good season so far”.

Joel Kelso – Moto3
Joel Kelso continues making positive strides in Moto3, with him clearly getting back on track with his fitness and feeling more and more comfortable running the pace near the head of the field. Qualifying in an eye-catching second at Mugello only to be relegated back to 21st due to a penalty for irresponsible riding, this was a tangible indication of his progress. Unable to translate his speed over to the race courtesy of a spill when trying to blast through the pack, Kelso quickly turned his attention to his team’s home round in Germany. Building on his form from Italy, Kelso banked another second in qualifying to flex his muscles before riding to a solid ninth in the race in this stacked class.

“We are almost there! I’m hungrier than ever to chase down that podium, but no complaints going into the summer break with a top ten finish. I’ll be working hard over the break to come back stronger,” he declared.

Remy Gardner – World Superbike
In the only event on the WorldSBK calendar in June, Remy Gardner endured a mixed weekend at Misano. Beginning the round soundly by snaring ninth in race one, things took a turn for the worse in the Superpole race, where he was involved in an incident between two other riders that forced him to crash out. After getting the all-clear to ride the final encounter, a battered and bruised #87 admirably fought on to claim a credible 10th, a result that leaves him 12th in the championship.

“What happened in the Tissot Superpole race was a pity, we had a good start and I felt good with the SCQ tyre and reckoned we could have done a good race to gain a better position on the grid. Unfortunately we didn’t get past turn two and personally I didn’t feel 100 percent physically after the crash. Anyway, we tried our best and we saved some points, let’s focus on Donington ahead,” he reflected.

Oli Bayliss – World Supersport
Having had his fair share of issues, as injuries have scuppered his campaign, Oil Bayliss made some steps in the right direction at Misano. Following an unsatisfactory start to the weekend to grab 13th in race one, the team and Bayliss ended on a high to punctuate his improvement, for he found some quality speed and comfort on the bike, as he logged 11th, but importantly had top 10 pace.

“Honestly it was a good weekend. We still have to perform better in qualifying, but the level of the field is really, really close,” said the Aussie. “In race one I made a little mistake on lap three and I lost touch with the group ahead. We made a good step forward in warm-up and in race two; I was able to recover many positions and once I got up to 11th place, the gap with the rider ahead was a bit too big to close it. Still, we showed great pace throughout the weekend and we were finally in a better physical condition, so if we keep working in this direction I’m confident we can get better results soon, too.”

Jacob Roulstone – Red Bull Rookies Cup & JuniorGP Moto3
Young talent Jacob Roulstone continued his striking recent momentum by producing some more polished rides in the Red Bull Rookies Cup. Stamping his mark by powering to his first front row in qualifying by virtue of his P3 in Mugello, this was another boost for the Aussie flyer. As the rain rolled in for the opening race, Roulstone maintained his composure in the treacherous conditions to finish seventh in the opener. The second stanza then saw him produce a fine rally to latch back onto the lead group, with him ultimately coming home in ninth – less than half-a-second behind the victor. Next up was Assen, and he yet again underlined his prowess with an outstanding fourth in race one and a sensational third in race two.

“Another podium in the Red Bull Rookies Cup. Battling to the end to finish in P3, just 0.117 from P1, and it feels really good. Got an okay start but needed to push hard and get into my rhythm. It was a very hot race so I tried to manage that as well as I could to make sure I could finish the race strong. I am super happy with this and to have both my mum and dad here is extra special,” he gleamed.

Josh Brookes – British Superbike
Fresh off his podium at the Isle of Man, Josh Brookes headed to Knockhill, where he scored points and was inside the top 10 in all three races, but left feeling unhappy due to problems with setup throughout. Brookes, who remains well and truly in the title fight, as he sits just 27 points of the leader, will now recalibrate his focus ahead of Snetterton.

“It’s been a difficult weekend to comment on really, it’s not been the results we wanted. We stayed on and finished all the races apart from a slip off this morning in warm-up, so in one way we’ve got points in all three races and were in the top ten. But it’s also been a frustrating weekend as we’ve not been able to make progress and fight for the higher places,” he lamented. “We’ve tried to remain positive, make changes, always fight to improve even if it’s just one sector, or one area of the bike to improve – but it just doesn’t seem to come here at Knockhill. We’ll now regroup as a team after a busy period with BSB and road racing, and we can head to Snetterton where hopefully we can look forward to some better results.”

Jason O’Halloran –  British Superbike
Possessing blistering speed and looking the goods at Knockhill for round four of BSB, Jason O’Halloran rode wonderfully to put himself on the box in two of the three races. Banking third in the Sprint and third in race two, everything was on track for him to cap off a dream weekend, but an untimely off meant his Knockhill ended in disappointment. Preferring to remain upbeat when assessing his body of work, it was good to see him extract the positives.

“Overall, it’s been a strong weekend with two podiums and good pace. We worked hard over the weekend and made steps in the areas we needed to,” he told the McAMS Yamaha website.

“The last race we got to the front and I knew I had to push but unfortunately bottomed out, which lifted the front and I crashed. It’s such a tough championship now with so many fast bikes and riders so you have to take some risks to get the rewards and that’s what I tried today and sadly it didn’t pay off. Still, two podium finishes is really positive and I can’t wait to get to Snetterton.”

Off-Road
Jett Lawrence – AMA Pro Motocross
Oozing confidence, charisma and incredible skill, Jett Lawrence’s step up to the 450 class has been nothing short of incredible on his way to winning all four overalls and every single one of the eight motos contested so far. Although the field is depleted, this shouldn’t detract from his achievements, for his riding, composure and speed has been a joy to watch.

His most recent outing at High Point offered a further testament to his quality on a day where he still went 1-1 despite the track being absolutely brutal, him having a small tip over and the 19-year-old getting challenged hard by the legendary Ken Roczen. Showing no signs of letting up, watching how long he can maintain his streak will be captivating in his quest for his maiden premier class championship.

Hunter Lawrence – AMA Pro Motocross
While Hunter Lawrence’s form in the 250 class hasn’t quite matched that of his brother, the elder sibling has been extremely formidable himself by winning all four of the overalls in his class with 3-1 scores.

Looking a cut above his rivals in terms of concentration, maturity, consistency and racecraft, it’s been admirable how well he’s negotiated the rounds, which have often seen him face adversity in the first moto and then crush the second one. Sitting pretty atop the standings and on the path for glory, it’d take a brave man to bet against him adding the 250 outdoors title to his 250SX East crown.

Mitch Evans – MXGP
Going from strength to strength with every passing round as he gets back to full fitness from his thumb injury, Mitch Evans’ uptick in form aboard his factory Kawasaki has been fantastic to see. The last two rounds have been especially encouraging in Germany and Indonesia, for he’s made major ground with his starts, pace, stamina and overall riding in the ultra-competitive MXGP class. Riding to seventh overall at Teutschenthal and eighth in the sweltering heat of Sumbawa, the signs are great that he’ll be back duking it out for podiums sooner rather than later.

“It’s nice to finally be in the battle again and going home with a smile on my face. We have made a lot of progress lately, both with my bike settings and my fitness. For a long time I wasn’t able to do full training, but pain-wise I’m now 100% and last week I changed my training program and I already feel much better,” 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! 

Editor’s Note: If you are reading this article on any website other than BikeReview.com.au, please report it to BikeReview via our contact page, as it has been stolen or re-published without authority.

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

Despite his FP1 crash, 2021 Champion Razgatlioglu was able to bounce back in FP2 to top the timesheets in the two-hour session with a 1’30.674s and that time was also good enough to top the times in the combined classification on Day 1.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was second and 0.099s slower than Razgatlioglu but he was able to finish ahead of teammate Bautista with the reigning Champion in third place and 0.134s down on Razgatlioglu. Six-time Champion Rea took fourth spot after setting a 1’30.889s with Rea the first rider to lap in the 1’30s bracket.

Several riders with Independent teams shone brightly in Australia on Day 1 of the test, with four finishing inside the top ten behind Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) in fifth place. Locatelli had topped FP1 with a 1’31.008s and was unable to beat that in FP2 with his time good enough for fifth place. German rider Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) took sixth spot and was the top Independent rider on his Ducati, lapping 0.921s slower than Razgatlioglu, while home hero Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was seventh and only 0.005s behind Oettl.

New BMW recruit Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) was the fastest BMW rider on Day 1 after he posted a 1’31.671s with the American improving his time by a second between FP1 and FP2, while rookie Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was ninth after posting a best time of 1’31.728s. Factory BMW rider Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) rounded out the top ten after lapping around a tenth slower than Aegerter.

Team HRC’s Iker Lecuona was the highest-placed Honda rider on Day 1 with 11th spot on his first visit to Phillip Island in WorldSBK after he missed the 2022 season-ending round through injury. His time, a 1’31.904s, was more than a tenth quicker than rookie Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) in 12th spot with the Italian almost 1.5s down on Razgatlioglu’s pace setting time. Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) took 13th spot with Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing) and Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) rounding out the top 15.

Frenchman Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) took 16th spot on his M 1000 RR machine, 1.619s down on Razgatlioglu’s time but only 0.015s away from a spot in the top ten. 2013 Champion Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was 17th with Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) 18th and Oliver Konig (Orelac Racing MOVISIO) 19th. Rookie Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha) took 20th on his first visit to Phillip Island on the Yamaha YZF R1 machine while MIE Racing Honda Team duo Hafizh Syahrin and Eric Granado were 21st and 22nd respectively. Granado had a crash at Turn 12 with around 40 minutes left in the session but was declared fit following a check-up at the medical centre.

WorldSBK Phillip Island Day One Test Top Three (Full Results Here)

1 Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) 1’30.674s
2 Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.099s
3 Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0-134s

WorldSSP
It was a disrupted first day of testing for the FIM Supersport World Championship during the Official Test at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit as Italian rider Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) was the fastest rider on the day after the two sessions as he posted a 1’35.527s to top the times after the fifth red flag of the day.

Both Bulega and Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) improved after the red flag with the pair briefly swapping places before Bulega cemented his place at the top, with Manzi finishing 0.216s behind. Local hero Bayliss, ahead of his second WorldSSP campaign on the Ducati Panigale V2, took third spot as he goes in search of his first WorldSSP podium after the Australian rider switched teams for the 2023 campaign.

Bayliss’ time of a 1’34.103s prevented an Italian 1-2-3 after Day 1 in Australia with Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing) in fourth and just over a tenth behind the Australian. Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was the lead Kawasaki rider with fifth place, more than seven tenths down on Bulega’s pace, while Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing), returning to the venue where he won his first WorldSSP race, was sixth after setting his best time of 1’34.345s in FP1, while Adrian Huertas (MTM Kawasaki) was seventh.

WorldSSP Phillip Island Test Day One Top Three (Full Results Here)

1 Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) 1’33.527s
2 Stefano Manzi (Dynavolt Triumph) +0.216s
3 Oli Bayliss (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.576

The post WorldSBK Phillip Island Test: Razgatlioglu tops Day 1, Bayliss Third In WorldSSP! appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

Reigning Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) topped the times on day two by just 0.009s ahead of six-time Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) as four riders went under the lap record set by Rea in 2022.

The pace was rapid from the get-go on Wednesday in the final European test before teams and riders head to Australia, with Bautista posting a 1’39.035s to obliterate Rea’s Superpole lap record from last year’s Portuguese Round. Bautista’s day, with the Spanish rider looking at bike stability, was disrupted by a crash at Turn 7 which brought out the red flag. His teammate was one of the four riders to go below the lap record with a 1’39.144s to take third place; backing up his top spot from Day 1.

Rea, the lap record holder with a 1’39.610s from last year’s Tissot Superpole, took second spot and was only 0.009s slower than Bautista at the end of the day’s running with the six-time Champion testing some new items from Showa and looking at chassis balance. His teammate, Alex Lowes, was tenth fastest on Day 2 as he worked on his ZX-10RR machine, posting a best time of 1’40.559s on Day 2, as he looked to work on exiting corners.

2021 Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) was fourth fastest as he also went under Rea’s existing lap record, posting a 1’39.441s on his way to fourth spot. As at Jerez, there was a lot of focus on the rear of his Yamaha YZF R1 machine in order to improve grip exiting corners. Teammate Andrea Locatelli was fifth fastest with the two Yamaha riders separated by around three tenths of a second; Locatelli was lapping only a tenth outside the lap record.

With Ducati, Kawasaki and Yamaha taking up five of the top six positions, Team HRC’s Iker Lecuona was able to put a fourth manufacturer in the top six on Day 2 at Portimao. Lecuona, who had a crash in the final sector in the morning, posted a 1’39.803s to take sixth spot as Honda looked to work on setups for the CBR1000RR-R machine, including long runs. Teammate Xavi Vierge was in eighth place, with Independent Yamaha rider Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team), looking for improvements with the SCX tyre, separating the two with seventh place. A late lap from 2013 Champion Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) propelled him up the order to ninth ahead of French rider Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) in 11th on his M 1000 RR to ensure all five manufacturers were represented in the top 11, while his teammate, Garrett Gerloff, was 14th.

Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) had a focus on new electronics and ran BMW’s brake covers on Day 2 on his M 1000 RR as he searched for more time on corner exit. The Dutch rider finished the day in 12th place after setting a 1’40.711s, while teammate Scott Redding was 16th on his machine with a best time of 1’41.002s. In between the two BMW riders was Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) in 13th place with the German rider working on the new Panigale V4 R including a different fork for rear grip as well as Gerloff and Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK), whose lap time of 1’40.844s put him in 15th.

Aegerter’s WorldSSP rival, Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha), was 17th and around four tenths slower than the two-time WorldSSP Champion. Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) took 19th spot with Axel Bassani (Motocorsa Racing), in his first test of 2023, in 20th spot. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) was 20th ahead of MIE Honda Racing Team duo Eric Granado and Hafizh Syahrin in 21st and 22nd respectively; Granado suffering a technical issue in the afternoon on his bike.

WorldSSP
Like his Ducati counterpart in WorldSBK, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba Racing WorldSSP Team) took top spot in WorldSSP running on Day 2 as he smashed the lap record. Bulega posted a 1’42.636 which gave him the quickest lap time, ahead of compatriot Federico Caricasulo (Althea Racing) and Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team); Ducati locking out the top three positions in WorldSSP. Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) continued testing four machines in Portugal and set the fourth best lap time, a 1’43.583s for fourth place, with Raffaele De Rose (Orelac Racing MOVISIO) in fifth.

New Ten Kate Racing Yamaha recruit Stefano Manzi took sixth spot ahead of Valentin Debise (GMT94 Yamaha) in seventh and Manzi’s teammate, Jorge Navarro, in eighth. Oli Bayliss (D34G Racing) was the lead rider from his team with ninth spot after setting a 1’44.978s, with Federico Fuligni (Orelac Racing MOVISIO) and Maximilian Kofler (D34G Racing) rounding out the field; Kofler had a crash in the afternoon which briefly brought out the red flags. Both Adam Norrodin (MIE – MS Racing Honda Team) and Tarran Mackenzie were on track on Day 2, but with no times recorded.

Check out all the results here…

The post WorldSBK Testing: New Lap Record On Day Two At Portimao! appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....