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11 points split four riders as the title race hots up heading to Germany

By
Frank Duggan
-
11 Points Split Four Riders As The Title Race Hots Up Heading To GermanyAssen served up a few slices of MotoE™ surprise as we now get set for a date with another classic – the Sachsenring.

The FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship chase was ignited in Assen as drama for Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team) and Kevin Zannoni (Openbank Aspar Team) – the leading duo in the standings – saw the hunters close in. Now, heading to Round 6, the Sachsenring plays host as just 11 points split the aforementioned duo, Oscar Gutierrez (Axxis-MSI) and Hector Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™).

Gutierrez and Garzo enjoyed fruitful weekends at the Cathedral of Speed, with the latter picking up his first win of 2024 in Race 1 – his first since his 2023 Sachsenring triumph. That was backed up with a P3 in Race 2, while Gutierrez produced two sublime comeback rides from P11 on the grid to pocket a pair of P2s.

It would have been a P3 for the Spaniard in Race 1 but Race 2 winner, Alessandro Zaccone (Tech3 E-Racing), was disqualified from the opening race results following a past-race tyre pressure penalty. That promoted Jordi Torres (Openbank Aspar Team) to the Race 1 rostrum results, with Zaccone – despite the DSQ – heading to the Sachsenring brimming with confidence after securing that first win since 2021 later in the day.

After being caught up in incidents involving other riders, Zannoni’s P7 and Casadei’s P8 in Race 2 were the only points they walked away from the Cathedral with. A response will be on the cards from both in Germany, a place where Casadei claimed a podium last year. After looking back on form in Assen, Torres will also be hoping a repeat – or better – of his P1 and P3 results at the Sachsenring last year resurface.

Heading to Germany, it’s Casadei leading Zannoni by two points, with Gutierrez now just three points away from the summit. Garzo, meanwhile, is 11 points away as we get set for another spellbinding showdown. Watch qualifying, Race 1 and Race 2 live on motogp.com and for free on YouTube!

For more info checkout our dedicated MotoE News page

Or visit the official MotoGP website motogp.com

©Words/Images are from official press release posted courtesy of www.motogp.com

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GIVI has quality for all budgets

By
Frank Duggan
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Givi Has Quality For All BudgetsGIVI presents the new V45 Arena plastic top case which is compatible with most motorbikes and maxi scooters on the market.

The Italian motorbike and motorcycling equipment company expands its varied catalogue with the new V45 Arena top case, a perfect solution to solve users’ day-to-day storage problems. With a capacity of 45 litres, this innovative top case fits perfectly on most bikes, making it a great choice for two-wheeled enthusiasts who need a multi-purpose option for both everyday use and for longer getaways. It can also be complemented with different GIVI accessories.

Maxi scooters have a large storage capacity for day-to-day use. Yet when it comes to touring, they can fall a little short in that regard. One of the great advantages of this type of scooter comes with the potential to attach larger panniers than those that would be added to a normal scooter. Faced with this problem, GIVI, with 45 years of experience in designing saddlebags, cases, bags and various accessories, has introduced the new V45 Arena top case. This latest innovation aims to respond to the needs of motorcyclists, offering them the chance to increase the space on their motorbike, to carry everything they need in their daily lives or during the different trips they may take.Givi Has Quality For All Budgets

The V45 Arena features a large capacity of 45 litres and a maximum load of 10 kilos, which translates into enough space for two full-face helmets. What’s more, the Monokey® attachment system allows for easy installation and removal, which also makes the top case compatible with most motorbikes and scooters on the market. It also features a key locking system, which ensures that everything you store is safe and secure. Finally, GIVI guarantees a high degree of water resistance for its cases, as they are tested with a special machine that simulates rain with a flow rate of more than 20 litres per minute, which is essential for everyday use and in all circumstances.Givi Has Quality For All Budgets

One of the V45 Arena’s great advantages is the possibility to complement it with different optional accessories from the GIVI range. These include: the E95S backrest for the comfort of the passenger; the T502B internal bag, to transport luggage in a more comfortable manner; the S150 universal luggage carrier; the T11N elastic net; and the E206 folding trolley. All of these increase the functionality, comfort and possibilities of this new top case.

Givi Has Quality For All BudgetsThe GIVI V45 Arena top case is also available in the Tech version, with smoked reflectors. Both are available at a price of £220.00.

For more information about this product or any other accessories for your motorcyclevisit www.givi.co.uk or call 01327 706220.

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HRC sign Aleix Espargaro as Test Rider

By
Frank Duggan
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#graziecapitano: Aleix Espargaro Announces Retirement From Motogp In BarcelonaHonda Racing Corporation will bolster their testing program with the addition of Aleix Espargaro as a Test Rider in 2025.

With close to 250 premier class starts, the 34-year-old brings with him a wealth of experience on Grand Prix machinery as well as the pedigree of three victories and over 1,300 MotoGP points. He will join HRC stalwart Stefan Bradl in continuing the development of the Honda RC213V.

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Suzuki upgrades summer offer with 4.9% APR over four years

By
Frank Duggan
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Suzuki Upgrades Summer Offer With 4.9% Apr Over Four YearsSuzuki has upgraded its summer sales offer and is now offering 4.9% APR representative finance on more than 21 models over four years, with customers able to choose either a PCP or HP deal, all with no deposit required.

In addition, until 30 September, customers can also benefit from free side cases on selected models.

The brand new GSX-S1000GX is included, and on a four-year PCP deal, with a £3,463.57 deposit or trade-in, it can be had for just £129 per month. Also included is the new-for-2024 GSX-8R and its award-winning sibling, the GSX-8S, the GSX-S1000GT, GSX-S1000, GSX-S950, and the Katana.

The Hayabusa – including the 25th anniversary special edition – is also part of the offer, and from the V-Strom stable the 1050, 1050DE, 800RE, and 800DE are also featured, including the Tour variants of each, which add full aluminium luggage as standard.

Buyers of the DE models can also enjoy free side cases, as can buyers of the GSX-S1000 GX and GT.

Suzuki is also reducing the cost of its GSX-S and GSX-R125s by £500, meaning new riders or those looking to easily carve through city traffic on the commute can get S125 for just £3,999, or the R125 for £4,199.

Suzuki GB head of motorcycles, Jonathan Martin, commented, “We’re making it as affordable as possible for riders to put a new Suzuki on the road this summer. At a time of higher costs of living, we’re working hard to provide a lower APR and, in turn, lower monthly repayments on almost every model in our range, including the models that are new for this year.”

Find out more about Suzuki’s current range and use the finance calculator, here.

For more Suzuki GB news check out our dedicated page Suzuki GB News

For more information on Suzuki Bikes GB visit bikes.suzuki.co.uk/bikes/

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Herrin Wins, Superbike Title Chase Features Four At The Top

By
Frank Duggan
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Herrin Wins, Superbike Title Chase Features Four At The TopFour Riders Are Within Eight Points Of The MotoAmerica Steel Commander Superbike Championship Points Lead.

Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Josh Herrin won his second Steel Commander Superbike race of the season on Sunday at Ridge Motorsports Park, and it vaulted him into championship contention in what is arguably the closest Superbike Championship in AMA history at this point in the season.

After two races at Ridge Motorsports Park, four riders are separated by just eight points and there’s just a single point between first and second, making it anybody’s game with a two-week break before the series returns at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, July 12-14.

Herrin won his second race of the year in typical Herrin fashion. He got out front early, made a gap and held it, crossing the line with a tick over five seconds in hand. In addition to being his second win of the year, it was also his sixth podium of the year and his 12th career AMA Superbike victory.

Wrench Motorcycles’ Bobby Fong worked his way to second place with 11 laps to go when he passed Attack Performance/Progressive/Yamaha Racing’s Cameron Petersen. Fong set sail after Herrin and was able to pull back some ground but was never close enough to threaten.

However, second place on the day was enough to move Fong back into the lead in the 2024 Steel Commander Superbike Championship points lead after losing it in what was a rainy debacle for the Californian on Saturday.

Third place went to Petersen, a day after the South African won his third race of the season on Saturday. Petersen was some four seconds behind Fong and another four some seconds clear of Herrin’s teammate Loris Baz. His two podiums in the two races put him squarely in the hunt for the title.

Fifth place went to a rather lonely Sean Dylan Kelly on the TopPro Racing BMW M 1000 RR.

Real Steel Motorsports’ Hayden Gillim was an impressive sixth on his Stock 1000-spec Honda CBR1000RR-R SP after barely beating Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Xavi Forés with the Spaniard finishing seventh.

Five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Cameron Beaubier rode through the pain of his surgically repaired broken right heel to finish just off the back of Forés and seven seconds clear of three-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion Jake Gagne with the latter still struggling mightily with arm pump.

Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Brandon Paasch rounded out the top 10 finishers.

About that championship we were talking about earlier. How’s this for close? Fong leads Gagne by a single point, 158-157. Petersen is next with 151 and Herrin is fourth with 149, and that all translates to the fact that the top four in the championship point standings are separated by just eight points.

Herrin Wins, Superbike Title Chase Features Four At The Top
Herrin (2) moved around Petersen (45) and sped off to win his second MotoAmerica Superbike race of the season and the 12th of his career. Photo by Brian J. Nelson 

Superbike Race Two

  1. Josh Herrin (Ducati)
  2. Bobby Fong (Yamaha)
  3. Cameron Petersen (Yamaha)
  4. Loris Baz (Ducati)
  5. Sean Dylan Kelly (BMW)
  6. Hayden Gillim (Honda)
  7. Xavi Forés (Suzuki)
  8. Cameron Beaubier (BMW)
  9. Jake Gagne (Yamaha)
  10. Brandon Paasch (Suzuki)
Herrin Wins, Superbike Title Chase Features Four At The Top
(From left to right) Bobby Fong. Josh Herrin, Bobby Shek and Cameron Petersen celebrate on the Ridge Motorsports Park podium. Photo by Brian J. Nelson

Quotes

Josh Herrin – Winner

“Obviously, I wish I was further ahead and didn’t do so bad in all four of the rain races we had, but it’s exactly what the championship needs with a fight like this with a bunch of different manufacturers. So, I’m excited for that, especially since Laguna Seca is all of our home rounds. So, it’s going to be a lot of our family there cheering us on. It should be an exciting weekend. Race went great. Tires were great. Everything just clicked today, just like Road America. Like I said all year, we knew Barber was difficult, but every other race we’ve been right there with the exception of the rain. Maybe Dunlop will let us go use the rain track for the end of the year and try to get a little bit better. It’s mainly my fault with all the stupid choices I’ve made with tires the last couple years, running slicks in the rain. I’m just happy to be up here, happy to claw back in the points again. This is the closest we’ve been all year. Thank you to my entire team. Really excited to go to Laguna, not just for the race but Ducati DRE on Monday and hang out with all the Ducati fans and riders. Can’t wait to see you there.”

Bobby Fong – Second Place

“Like Josh said earlier, I need to capitalize on these rain races. I’ve done terrible, and it’s all on me. It’s something that I need to work on. To win this championship, you can’t just be getting 10th in the rain races. I’ve got to do better. That’s plain and simple. I’ve got to do better. But today was great. We rode good. I felt like the bike was quite good. We tried a new swingarm this morning and I was really unsure of it. I’m still unsure of it, but it worked great. We’re always pretty strong at the end of these races. The class is so tight now, you’ve got to qualify on front row to do something, unless you have crazy outright speed. Everybody is so close. When you’re trying to make your way up to Josh (Herrin), it’s basically too late. It’s like World Superbike nowadays. You got to qualify good, like MotoGP. I need to work on my qualifying. I’ve been struggling in qualifying a little bit. What can I say? We’ve got the points lead, but there’s still a lot of races to go. Each weekend, there’s a dogfight up front. You never know what’s going to happen. We’re all on the limit, so anybody can make a mistake. We’re just going to try to stay consistent.”

Cameron Petersen – Third Place

“Yeah, great weekend. Can’t complain with two podiums. The only reason why I’m a little bit frustrated was just we had a bike that was capable of winning both races. The bike felt really good in the beginning. I felt comfortable. Even when Josh (Herrin) came past me I felt like I had a really good rhythm and pace. Was just losing a little bit in the last sector. I was really good everywhere else. About halfway through the race, my left arm just completely locked up. My hand came off the handlebar a few times. It got a little bit scary out there. Just super stoked at the weekend. Like you said, points are close. So, overall, a great weekend. We learned a bunch this weekend and look forward to the rest of the season. Congrats to Josh (Herrin) and Bob (Fong). They rode an incredible race. I think it’s going to be a dogfight for the rest of the season every race we go to, so I’m looking forward to it.”

For more news check out our dedicated MotoAmerica News page MotoAmerica News

Or visit the official MotoAmerica website motoamerica.com/

©Words/Images are from official press release posted courtesy of motoamerica.com/

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Gillim Miscues, Uribe Wins In Ridge Stock 1000 Battle At Ridge Motorsports Park

By
Frank Duggan
-
Gillim Miscues, Uribe Wins In Ridge Stock 1000 Battle At Ridge Motorsports ParkHigh Drama In Supersport As Top Two Riders Come Together.

Real Steel Motorsports’ Hayden Gillim made his second mistake of the season in Sunday’s Stock 1000 at Ridge Motorsports Park and it was again a double whammy as it not only cost him victory and championship points, but it also handed a second victory to his thus-far series rival Jayson Uribe.

OrangeCat Racing’s Uribe was hot on Gillim’s tail when the defending MotoAmerica Stock 1000 Champion crashed in turn 14 on the fourth lap with the pursuing pack of Uribe, Benjamin Smith and Ashton Yates zooming past. By the time Hayden remounted he was 14th and had some work to do.

With Uribe pulling away to an eventual 9.7-second win over FLO4LAW Racing’s Smith and Jones’ Honda’s Yates, Gillim set about gaining as many points back as possible. At the completion of the 13-lap race, the Kentuckian was up to fourth place.

However, Gillim went straight after the finish line and didn’t make the turn-one chicane and was thus handed a two-second penalty, which gifted fourth to Visit Indiana/Tom Wood Powersports’ Nolan Lampkin and fifth to AMD Motorsport RK Racing’s Richard Kerr, the last two riders Gillim had passed prior to the finish line.

That put Gillim sixth and cut his championship points lead over Uribe to six points after six races.

BPR Racing’s Bryce Prince, OrangeCat Racing’s Travis Wyman, Team Brazil’s Danilo Lewis and Prince’s BPR Racing teammate Deion Campbell rounded out the top 10.

“It’s always a bummer when you see someone else crash, but the biggest thing for me was getting a better start and being able to be there in the beginning,” Uribe said. “Yesterday I gave myself a little bit too much to work towards. I think that it could have been possible, but I was taking a lot of risks just to keep up. Today we kind of came out with a new plan to just be there, be aggressive, be rough. I feel like we were pretty good at doing that at the start. Like you said, when Hayden went down, it was a bummer but for me it was a realization of, ‘Now I need to conserve. Now I need to stop pushing so hard and save the tire, save the bike, save my body.’ That’s really what I tried to do. I caught a false neutral going into 14 one of those laps and it made me pretty nervous. I thought for sure someone was going to come up the inside. Luckily, we were able to get it back into gear. That OrangeCat BMW was running really good. Kind of like what everybody else was saying. All these bikes have strong points and weak points. I feel like the BMW is really good on the brakes. I can really push that thing going into corners. The biggest thing for us is just being able to get power to the ground on the exit. We’re working on it. We’re working every time we get on that bike to try something new and improve. It’s going good.”

Gillim Miscues, Uribe Wins In Ridge Stock 1000 Battle At Ridge Motorsports Park
Supersport race winner Mathew Scholtz (11) battles PJ Jacobsen (15) in Sunday’s race. The two made contact a few laps from the end with Jacobsen crashing out. Photo by Brian J. Nelson

Supersport – Scholtz Wins With High Drama

Strack Racing’s Mathew Scholtz won his sixth Supersport race of the season at Ridge Motorsports Park, but this was the first one that came with a big dose of drama.

Scholtz had finally caught up to the fast-starting PJ Jacobsen on the Rahal Ducati Moto Panigale V2 with two laps to go. The South African then made an inside move on the New Yorker and it didn’t end well. The two came together and Jacobsen went down, ending his run of finishing on the podium in all the nine previous races.

Jacobsen obviously wasn’t happy with the outcome as the championship was turned on its head. Scholtz went from having a three-point lead to what is now a 28-point lead.

Jacobsen got a flier of a start and instantly put his head down. Scholtz, meanwhile, had a slower start and had work to do to get to second. Once he did, he started to run the New Yorker down. With five to go, the two were together. With two to go, the accident happened, and it was called a racing incident by race control.

It takes a lot to overshadow Kayla Yaakov, but her teammate’s crash did just that. Yaakov raced to her best-career Supersport finish of second, just a day after she finished third. Quite a weekend for the 17-year-old Pennsylvanian.

Yaakov had come out best in a battle with Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott that went to the finish line with Yaakov .214 of a second ahead at the finish line. Meanwhile, her teammate Corey Alexander was just as close in fourth place.

Wrench Motorcycles’ David Anthony had his best finish of the year in fifth.

When asked about the racing incident with Jacobsen, Scholtz said “I thought that I made the move pretty clean past him and ran slightly wider than you would usually do. But I feel that he just tipped in and knew that I was there and carried on turning and hit the side of my foot peg. I felt him there, but I carried on turning and I looked back and I saw that he had crashed. Obviously, that’s not something I want, but I feel that I got to the point of making the pass fair and he should have given me room. But I think that if you’re on their side, they’re going to say that I was wrong. I feel that maybe PJ was slightly wrong. So, we’ll just take it as a 50/50. But overall, I feel that I definitely had the pace and just really happy to pull the championship lead a little bit further. Looking forward to the next couple rounds. Laguna Seca is one of my favorite tracks. Myself and PJ had a massive battle there last year on the Superbikes, so I’m sure we’ll do the same thing there.”

Gillim Miscues, Uribe Wins In Ridge Stock 1000 Battle At Ridge Motorsports Park
Jake Lewis (85) won his first career Mission Super Hooligan National Championship race on Sunday over Tyler O’Hara (1) and Cory West (13). Photo by Brian J. Nelson

Mission Super Hooligan National Championship – Lewis!

Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson’s Jake Lewis did what everyone has been waiting for him to do on Sunday at Ridge Motorsports Park – he won a round of the Super Hooligan National Championship on his Harley-Davidson Pan America.

Always thought of as the fastest guy in the class to have not yet won, Lewis made good on the promise he’s shown by storming into the lead and pulling away to win by a tick over two seconds. And that’s with a final-lap blunder that put him off track momentarily.

Lewis’s victory helped make up for his first-lap crash in wet conditions in Saturday’s race.

Lewis beat S&S Cycle/Indian Motorcycle’s Tyler O’Hara with the defending series champion earning his second podium of the weekend and this one put him atop the championship standings after two rounds and four races.

Third place went to Lewis’s teammate Cory West, who also made up for his crash from the lead in yesterday’s wet race.

O’Hara’s teammate Troy Herfoss ended up fourth after a race-long battle with KWR’s Hayden Schultz.

“I’m two for four on Hooligan finishes,” Lewis said. “Last night I was just so pissed off and bummed. Both Cory and I. It just feels really bad. It feels like you let your team down doing that. Especially me on the first lap. I felt good during the little warmup before the rain race and then, first lap, just threw it on my head and didn’t get any points. Now it’s kind of do or die for me. It’s like my only chance is to try to go out there and win every single Hooligan race. I put in some good, consistent laps this morning and we changed a little bit of setup stuff from yesterday qualifying, and it was a better direction, and it made it even a little bit better for the race. I saw Cory struggling in a couple little spots and felt TO come up my inside there at a couple spots. I thought he was going to stuff me, but I think he played it a little bit nice. I knew once I got by Cory just to put it in first, especially that first lap, two or three good, hard sprint laps, which I did. My lap time was quite a bit faster than I qualified. Then I looked over and saw I had a little gap on TO and just kind of maintained that. But then on that last lap, that lapper, it was just my fault. He broke a lot deeper than I thought he would, and I kind of missed my brake marker and ran off the track. Luckily I had a big lead.”

Gillim Miscues, Uribe Wins In Ridge Stock 1000 Battle At Ridge Motorsports Park
Mikayla Moore dominated both of the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. races at Ridge Motorsports Park. Photo by Brian J. Nelson

Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. – Another Record For Moore

Mikayla Moore said after her victory on Saturday that she uses lap times for part of her motivation. Her best lap time was a 2:02.801. On Sunday she went even faster, setting a new lap record with her 2:02.683 on the sixth lap to set the bar is even higher for the next wave of Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. racers. Oh, and she also won. By 44 seconds.

The win was Moore’s fifth of the year.

Second place today went to Lauren Prince, the Nashville, Tennessee, resident earning her first MotoAmerica podium a day after crashing on the sighting lap with a cold front tire. Even today wasn’t easy on Prince as her rear tire warmer got stuck and she was forced to start from the back of the pack.

Aubrey Credaroli rounded out the top three with her first podium finish of the season.

“Yesterday I did a 2:02.8 and if I rounded up the numbers, that’s technically still a 2:03,” Moore commented. “So, I was like, I wanted more. I talked with the K Tech guys and they suggested a lot of things that I was nervous about, because I had already done my warmup lap. So, it was really about trusting myself and the bike that I’ll be able to accomplish my goal. I was super happy I was able to do it on the seventh lap. I just kept watching myself drop time. To be able to do the 2:02.3, super happy. I wanted to go for that 2:01, but hey, I’m happy with the 2:02. I exceeded my expectations, like I always do. Super happy to be here.”

For more info checkout our dedicated MotoAmerica Support Series News page motoamerica-support-series-latest-news/

Or visit the official MotoAmerica website motoamerica.com/

©Words/Images are from official press release posted courtesy of motoamerica.com/

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Bagnaia retains Assen crown ahead of Martin, penalty for Marquez

By
Frank Duggan
-
Bagnaia Retains Assen Crown Ahead Of Martin, Penalty For MarquezFrancesco Bagnaia’s Motul TT Assen couldn’t have been better. The Ducati Lenovo Team rider did the double from pole, with a Sunday masterclass cutting the Championship deficit to just 10 points as Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) was forced to follow him home and focus on limiting the damage.

Bagnaia is the first rider to win three successive MotoGP™️ Grand Prix races in a single season since he did it in 2022 with four in a row from Assen to Misano, it’s his third win in a row at the TT Circuit Assen, and he equals Casey Stoner’s 23 wins with Ducati to tie the MotoGP™ Legend as the two most successful riders with the Borgo Panigale factory. All that said, Martin will now look to use his right of reply in Germany.

Meanwhile, Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) charged up from a tougher qualifying to complete the podium, denying Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing). Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was also denied after crossing the line in fourth, with a tyre pressure penalty dropping him to P10.

Bagnaia Retains Assen Crown Ahead Of Martin, Penalty For MarquezAs the lights went out, Bagnaia nailed the start to take the holeshot, with Viñales just holding onto second to deny Martin. Still, the #89 launched it to near perfection from his P5 after that three-place penalty, and soon enough he did get it done to take over in second. Marc Marquez, meanwhile, was on the march and soon put his own moves on Viñales to slot into third.

That duo stayed glued together as the battle behind was hotting up. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) had shot up past front-row starter Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), but soon it was Di Giannantonio on the move, and he made it past Acosta at Turn 1, caught the Marquez-Viñales duo and then pounced on the Aprilia at the final chicane. Next up: #MM93.

By 19 to go, the yellow flash of the VR46 machine went past, but with Marquez also seeming to gesture at the Italian and make it a little easier for him too. Expecting to have been in a group fight and set up for it? Wanting a reference to follow? Either way, the two Ducatis stayed close together, with Viñales on their tail and Acosta on his. Lap by lap, however, Bastianini was cutting the deficit to the podium battle.

He made it past the rookie by nine to go, and a lap later the group shuffled again. Diggia was wide, Marc Marquez didn’t seem to want to take advantage, and Viñales shot past both. Bastianini was then right on that trio once again, and by seven to go was past Diggia. A lap later he did a near carbon copy on Marquez to take over in fourth, with a bit of a closer racing kiss for the #93, who headed wide but recovered it in time to keep Di Giannantonio at bay. At the time, anyway, before the two started duelling, Acosta got involved once more, and it looked like Viñales and Bastianini had disappeared up the road. But not so.

At the final chicane, the ‘Beast’ struck for the podium and got past Viñales with four full laps remaining, and from there the group couldn’t quite stay with him. By the penultimate lap it then looked like a Viñales-Marquez duel for the podium, but there was still drama to come.

Bagnaia Retains Assen Crown Ahead Of Martin, Penalty For MarquezOn the final lap, Acosta slid out at Turn 7, and then Viñales headed just wide enough to allow Marquez through, leaving it an Aprilia-VR46 drag to the line for fifth instead. But when all is judged and confirmed, Viñales was forced to drop one position due to exceeding track limits at the chicane, promoting Diggia to fifth, and then the tyre pressure penalty for Marquez saw the #93 drop to P10.

When the dust settles, Bagnaia’s masterclass puts the cherry on top of a weekend that saw him top every session bar Warm Up, but Martin took a valuable second. Bastianini takes back-to-back podiums to recover from a P10 qualifying, and it’s Diggia classified fourth ahead of Viñales, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) taking P6 after a quiet but valuable ride. Alex Marquez takes P7 ahead of a solid result for Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) in eighth, with Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) next up ahead of the #93 completing the top ten. Check out the full results below.

Unfortunately, one piece of tougher news on the grid was for Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), who suffered a big crash at Turn 1 and was declared unfit for a right wrist fracture.

Now, the paddock heads for Germany. It’s ten points in it, a venue we’ve seen Martin deny Bagnaia before… and some of the most successful turf Marc Marquez has ever raced. Will the number 93 be able to find that form at one of his true signature tracks, or do his rivals have a statement of their own up their sleeves? Join us next weekend to find out!Bagnaia Retains Assen Crown Ahead Of Martin, Penalty For Marquez

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For more MotoGP info checkout our dedicated MotoGP News page

Or visit the official MotoGP website www.motogp.com

©Words/Images are from official press release posted courtesy of www.motogp.com

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Ogura fends off Aldeguer for Assen victory

By
Frank Duggan
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Ogura Fends Off Aldeguer For Assen VictoryIn Triumph’s 100th race powering Moto2™, Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) claimed a second victory of 2024 as a tense fight for victory played out between the Japanese star, second place Fermin Aldeguer (Folladore SpeedUp) and Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) at the Motul TT Assen.

Ogura grabbed the holeshot from his first front row start of the season but by Turn 5, Aldeguer pounced into the race lead. The #54 clicked into his groove immediately and was a second clear of the chasers by Lap 5, as Garcia – having dropped to P5 – then carved his way up to P2.

For the next few laps, the gap stabilised at just over a second with Garcia and Ogura edging clear of Alonso Lopez (Folladore SpeedUp), who in turn had a train of Kalex riders in tow, including Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) and Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team).

With 11 to go, Ogura passed teammate Garcia for P2 following a small mistake from the latter, with Aldeguer’s lead now up to 1.6s. Then, with nine laps left, Aldeguer was handed a Long Lap penalty for exceeding track limits. Once completed, Aldeguer dropped behind Ogura and Garcia, with the top three now split by 0.8s with six laps to go.

With four to go, a blanket could cover the top trio. It was Ogura vs Garcia vs Aldeguer for victory, but Garcia then made a mistake at the start of Lap 20 of 22 to see him drop 1.5s off the 25-point haul fight. Heading onto the last lap, it was Ogura vs Aldeguer. The Japanese rider unearthed a stellar last lap to pull clear of the Spaniard to win for the second time in three races, with Aldeguer settling for P2 and Garcia crossing the line in a lonely P3.

Dixon led the Kalex charge with a solid P4, with Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) completing the top five as we look forward to next weekend’s German GP.Ogura Fends Off Aldeguer For Assen Victory

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Ortola denies Veijer the home turf dream by just 0.012

By
Frank Duggan
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Ortola Denies Veijer The Home Turf Dream By Just 0.012Until the final time into the final chicane, Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Intact Husqvarna GP) looked set to take home glory at the Motul TT Assen, but Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) had other ideas.

The Spaniard led the early stages and the Dutchman the latter, but by the final lap it was a duel for Dutch TT honours – and Ortola went round the outside into the chicane to grab the glory by just 0.012.

David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) completed the podium after overhauling Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Championship leader David Alonso (CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team).

After Ortola and Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) led the way in the initial stages, Veijer brought the group back onto the duo. By nine to go it was a true Moto3™ battle, with Veijer moving through to the lead, and the Dutchman then started to get the hammer down himself to make a gap. But as the pack shuffled, Ortola picked his way back into second and was able to claw back the deficit to Veijer, setting the stage for a duel.

As the final lap began, Ortola was right on the rear wheels of the home hero, and the two were in a private battle with a second in hand on the rest. The move came at the final chicane as the Spaniard went round the outside to steal it, with Veijer then trying to get him back on the drag to the line. He almost did as they crossed the line side-by-side, but Ortola took it by just 0.012.

The masterclass is the #48’s first win of the year, for Veijer its his fourth podium in 2024. For both, it’s points gained in the title fight too. After Alonso came home fifth and fellow frontrunner Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) took P12, Alonso’s lead is now down to 39 points and ahead of Veijer.

Check out the full results below and then come back for more next weekend as Moto3™ take on the Sachsenring!Ortola Denies Veijer The Home Turf Dream By Just 0.012

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Kove Moto UK Announce Pricing at ABR Festival 2024

By
Frank Duggan
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Kove Moto Uk Announce Pricing At Abr Festival 2024Kove Moto UK has announced the recommended retail pricing for its 800X and 510X Adventure models, using ABR Festival 2024 as the launch for what is arguably the most competitively priced adventure bike range in the UK market, with truly high levels of specification and tech as standard.

Showcasing Kove’s adventure lineup for the very first time on UK shores, inspired and developed off the back of the brand’s Dakar Rally success, Kove Moto UK made Europe’s largest adventure bike festival the launch of the brand in the UK, with the hotly anticipated adventure range being the first models to arrive.

With the all-new 800X Pro on display, alongside the smaller capacity, value busting 510X, ABR Festival goers visited the stand in droves, with pricing announced on the Friday morning of the Ragley Hall based event in Warwickshire.

Kove Moto Uk Announce Pricing At Abr Festival 2024
510x

Kove Moto UK’s Lee Westbrook, announced the pricing, commenting, “We are extremely excited to be at ABR Festival 2024 showcasing the adventure range, and now able to confirm the recommended retail pricing for both the 800X Pro and the 510X. We truly believe that the introduction of Kove represents a significant milestone in the adventure bike scene, but also in the UK market overall, bringing extremely capable, highly developed products to the market at previously unseen levels of value. The 800X Pro has a recommended retail price of just £8,499, while the 510X will be available for just £5,999, with all the levels of after sales care and backup you’d expect from a major brand”.
With the 800X Pro, those levels of technology and specification include: a 799cc parallel-twin DOHC engine producing 95bhp @9,000rpm and 80Nm @7,500rpm, a lightweight chassis (185kg) featuring KYB adjustable suspension front and rear, a 21-inch front wheel, 18 inches of ground clearance, a TFT dash, ABS as standard, aluminium sump guard, crash bars and more.

Kove Moto Uk Announce Pricing At Abr Festival 2024
800x

While the 510X is arguably the best value, small-mid capacity adventure bike, offering unprecedented levels of technology for the price, including: a 498cc parallel-twin DOHC engine producing 46bhp @8,500rpm and 45Nm @7,000rpm, a lightweight chassis featuring KYB adjustable suspension front and rear, Nissin Brake Calipers with ABS, a 19 inch front wheel, backlit switchgear and TFT dash as standard.

Westbrook continued, “The response at ABR Festival 2024 has been genuinely overwhelming, with incredibly positive feedback from virtually everyone that visited the Kove Moto UK stand. We will soon announce details of our first Kove Super Centre opening, where interested customers will be able to find out more and test ride the 800X Pro and 510X. In the meantime, those wishing to find out more online and register their interest in the first models to arrive in the UK can do so on our website – www.kovemotouk.com by clicking the Contact Us button. We wish to thank everyone for their interest and overwhelming positivity for Kove at ABR Festival 2024.”

visit www.kovemotouk.com for more model information.

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Marco Morelli unpassable in Assen Rookies Race 2

By
Frank Duggan
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Marco Morelli Unpassable In Assen Rookies Race 2

After the red-hot Race 1 on Saturday, the Dutch clouds cooled the Assen track surface for Sunday afternoon and perhaps that helped Marco Morelli inspire a record pace and a superb victory.

The Argentine can celebrate his 17th birthday on Wednesday in great style after his second win of the season.

A wonderful turn-around from his first lap crash yesterday and a superb demonstration of skill and consistency over 15 laps, 13.695 seconds quicker than Saturday’s race. Álvaro Carpe, the 17-year-old Spaniard chased him across the line (2nd) with 16-year-old Finn Rico Salmela (3rd).

6 KTMs had broken away from the field, towed by Morelli at a pace faster than Qualifying. At the finish, the rest of the field was 15 seconds behind, the same riders who had all finished in the lead pack on Saturday.

That 6 put on a thrilling, on-the-limit-at-every-corner, display. On the final lap, Saturday’s winner Brian Uriarte and 3rd place man Valentin Perrone both almost crashed as they tried to better Morelli.

Morelli’s perfect race
“Super good, I knew that I could do it, I feel that at all the tracks I am fast, I can be fast alone or with a group. So when I had the crash yesterday I was thinking, yes I am sad but tomorrow is another opportunity.”

“The group was much smaller, less overtaking less battles, less crazy people. All the race I pushed, and on the last lap I pushed more, I almost touched the green twice on the final lap and I was thinking, ‘oh, oh, oh.”

“At the last chicane, I braked absolutely as late as possible and I took victory. I think this is better than the win at the start of the year in Jerez. I dedicate it to my Dad and his birthday plus the little boss of my Junior Team Macauley Webb and also for me,” he grinned.

Carpe right there
“The race was so fast with Marco leading. Not too many overtakes, the group was smaller, the race was faster. The bike was more on the limit, tyres, bike, everything.”

“I was studying Marco to see if I could pass him on the last lap but had a small problem in Turn 5 coming out onto the straight and they all passed me. I pushed and coming back to the final corners I got to 3rd. Then Valentine made a save and I overtook for 2nd. I was trying to catch Marco and brake later in the last chicane but he was a bit too far.”.

Salmela on the limit
“It was a really difficult race, Marco was fast, I was struggling a lot, pushing hard and on the limit, more than yesterday, I could follow but I didn’t feel super confident with the front to try and overtake.”

“In the last lap, the plan was to pass a few riders but I had some chatter and ran wide. Then in the final fast left something happened and they gave me the opportunity, I took it.”

Uriarte went for it
“I got back with the group for the final lap,” explained the Spanish 15-year-old Cup points leader. “But in the fast chicane just before the final fast left I hit the rev limiter and couldn’t overtake. Then I went super hard into that last left and I tucked the front a little bit, also I saw Valentine tucking the front and I had to release the gas, everyone passed on the inside. I had calculated to pass Valentine and in the last corner Marco but it didn’t turn out, sometimes you learn and P4 has to be enough.

Perrone went even harder
“Marco made an amazing race, every lap, pushing and pushing like crazy. I have to give him congrats,” smiled the Argentine 16-year-old. “In the last lap, I overtook Carpe and Brian and was P2. In the last fast left, I tried to overtake Marco and win but lost the front. I did a massive save and P5 is not so bad, good points for the championship and we’ll continue like this.”

Ruche Moodley hung on for 6th
“The pace was really fast today,” said the South African 17-year-old. “I think today I made a better race than yesterday because today I think I did everything I could have done. I was battling with Brian, I made a block pass and we lost the group. I couldn’t catch the group after that, the pace was quicker than Qualifying.”
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The Sun Shines In West Nusa Tenggara As Prado And De Wolf Put The Rest In The Shade

By
Frank Duggan
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In the relentless heat and humidity of the MXGP of West Nusa Tenggara at the Selaparang circuit on the island of Lombok, the racing never faded in its intensity as the MXGP elite put on a spectacular display of racing stamina in the Indonesian sun!

The MXGP World Championship saw another change in momentum, as reigning Champion Jorge Prado took a superb Grand Prix win for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing, although mistakes for all three leading competitors were a feature of the racing as he took a chunk out of the points lead of Team HRC’s Tim Gajser.

In the MX2 class it was the points leader who took control again for Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing, asred plate holder Kay de Wolf won both races on the day for the first time this season to further extend his advantage at the top of the table!The Sun Shines In West Nusa Tenggara As Prado And De Wolf Put The Rest In The Shade

Saturday had seen the RAM Qualifying Race won by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings for the first time this year and he had even set the fastest time in Warm-Up to make it a near-perfect start to the weekend.

It was Kawasaki Racing Team rider Jeremy Seewer who took his third Fox Holeshot Award of the year, but Herlings used his inside start gate to great effect and grabbed the lead into the second corner! Gajser was in third initially, but Prado charged around the outside to get past the Slovenian!

Before the start of the first full lap, both Prado and Gajser had nudged past Seewer to give chase to the flying “Bullet” out front. Jeffrey put the hammer down with consecutive fastest laps in the first three full circulations, building a small gap from the start of the race over Prado.

Behind the leading three, Calvin Vlaanderen managed to jump alongside and past his Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP teammate Andrea Bonacorsi for fifth place, before closing in on Seewer, catching the Swiss rider at the end of lap 12. He met with spirited resistance, but ultimately the South African-born Dutch star fought his way into fourth place, with Bonacorsi also passing the Kawasaki as the two-lap board came out! The Italian claimed fifth at the finish, the best result yet of his young MXGP career. Seewer had to settle for sixth.

Prado got as close as two seconds to the leader Herlings, while Gajser struggled with a tyre choice that he said later put him at a serious disadvantage and took the points for a solid third.  “The Bullet” eventually was able to pull out a ten second gap at the chequered flag, his fourth race win of the year, ahead of Prado.

Race two’s first corner was a mightily close contest for the Fox Holeshot Award and Gajser took it by half a tyre thickness from Prado, but both were immediately passed by Herlings into the second corner! At the top of the circuit, Prado was caught out by the track and  jumped off the circuit, losing a second to Gajser, as a fast-starting Vlaanderen also looked menacing.

The Yamaha man, however, then had his own mistake as he dropped the bike in a right hander before the end of the first full lap. He picked it up in seventh, as Seewer, Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Mattia Guadagnini and Kevin Horgmo of the Ship To Cycle Honda Motoblouz SR team went past him while he was stationary.

On lap four, Herlings jumped into a patch of mud and went down, gifting the lead to Gajser as Prado started to catch them both! As the top two in the series took the finish line jump together, the Spaniard held the inside line, but slowed as the Slovenian went for the cutback, mis-timed it and tripped over Prado’s rear wheel!

Gajser only just got back up ahead of Jeffrey, but seemed to be more affected by his crash than the Dutchman was, and Herlings found his way past on lap eight. A further crash for Gajser on lap nine dropped him behind Seewer and a recovering Vlaanderen, and they finished from third to fifth in that order. Vlaanderen’s fourth position was enough to earn him his, and Yamaha’s, first MXGP podium result of the season!

Herlings had a ten second gap to Prado when he got past Gajser and despite looking up for him at every opportunity, was unable to hack it down by much.  The Spaniard backed off on the final lap which cut the final margin of his victory to 5.4 seconds, but it meant that the GASGAS man claimed his 10th Grand Prix win for the brand, and 45th of his amazing career.

The results mean that from 34 points at the start of the weekend, Gajser’s series lead has been cut down to just 22.  Herlings is also closer to the lead, now just 58 points behind the Slovenian. What a way to kick off the second half of the season!

Jorge Prado: “I’m so happy with the victory! I’ve been riding very good all season long. It’s a pity lost point along the way with some mistakes like in the last race in Maggiora and the DNF, so came back strong in Indonesia. The condition were very tough, very very physical but super happy with my performance. Not the perfect starts that I’m used to but it was good enough to take the overall! Super happy. Now a good week of training and rest and ready for round two in Indonesia.”

Jeffrey Herlings: “It was a shame; it should have been a 1-1-1 for me today but I made a mistake. I crashed by myself and hurt a little bit my knee but we should be good for next week. In the end 1-1-2 over a weekend is pretty good too! “

Calvin Vlaanderen: “I had a very first race and battle with Jeremy (Seewer) for quite a bit. I was off to a good start in the second race and I made a stupid mistake, went down and I knew I had to pass a couple of riders to get to the box. Then Tim (Gajser) also made a mistake which allowed me to go through so I’m so happy to be back on the box. It’s been a hard-fought couple of years since I’ve been on the podium so it’s nice relief for myself and also the team who works so hard. I just want to say a big thanks to my family, my girlfriend and everyone! “

MXGP – Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:51.779; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), +0:10.164; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:16.761; 4. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:23.402; 5. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:26.398; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Kawasaki), +0:29.577; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:34.304; 8. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Honda), +0:39.618; 9. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +0:41.304; 10. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:58.446

MXGP – Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), 35:11.222; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:05.367; 3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Kawasaki), +0:09.683; 4. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:13.663; 5. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:21.219; 6. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +0:26.978; 7. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:40.570; 8. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, KTM), +0:54.924; 9. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +0:58.174; 10. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +1:00.429;

MXGP Overall – Top 10 Classification: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 47 points; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 47 p.; 3. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 36 p.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 36 p.; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KAW), 35 p.; 6. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 27 p.; 7. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, HUS), 25 p.; 8. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, YAM), 25 p.; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 24 p.; 10. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 21 p

MXGP – World Championship – Top 10 Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 555 points; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 533 p.; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 497 p.; 4. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 381 p.; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KAW), 374 p.; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 327 p.; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 327 p.; 8. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HON), 274 p.; 9. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 238 p.; 10. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 224 p

MXGP – Manufacturers Classification: 1. Honda, 572 points; 2. GASGAS, 533 p.; 3. KTM, 509 p.; 4. Kawasaki, 474 p.; 5. Yamaha, 419 p.; 6. Fantic, 353 p.; 7. Husqvarna, 157 p.; 8. Beta, 142 pThe Sun Shines In West Nusa Tenggara As Prado And De Wolf Put The Rest In The Shade


Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Lucas Coenen had taken the win in the RAM Qualifying Race on Saturday, but it was his brother, and winner of the last two GPs, Sacha Coenen, who put his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing across the Fox Holeshot Award line first, although Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing man Simon Laengenfelder dived inside to immediately lead into turn two ahead Sacha’s teammate Andrea Adamo, although De Wolf got through into second after a few corners! The reigning champion then made a mistake through a corner, had to pause, and lost two places to the Monster Energy Triumph Racing rider Mikkel Haarup, and a slower-starting Lucas Coenen.

Lucas dropped the bike a lap later as a berm gave way from beneath him, and a a similar fate later befell Laengenfelder, so keen to grab his first race win since Trentino in April that he just pushed a little too hard and toppled over on lap eight!  De Wolf accepted the race lead, and never relinquished it, although a mistake in a left-hand corner near the end of the race nearly allowed Haarup into the lead!

Sadly for the Dane, he then tipped over on the very last lap, costing himself second place as Adamo pounced gratefully. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing ‘s Liam Everts managed to push through into fourth, passing his teammate Sacha Coenen with three laps to go, while Laengenfelder slipped down the field to sixth after looking like he had hit the wall physically.  He still made ground on his rival for second in the series, as Lucas Coenen could only get back to seventh after his crash, after winning another Husqvarna vs Triumph clash against Camden McLellan, who looked strong in his first race back from injury.

Amazingly, Sacha Coenen took yet another Fox Holeshot Award in race two, making it a clear 50% holeshot ratio for the season with his eleventh of the year! He managed to hold a tight line to keep the lead this time, ahead of his brother Lucas, as Team HRC’s Ferruccio Zanchi squeezed past Laengenfelder for third as they hit turn two.

Halfway around the lap, both De Wolf and Haarup, who had also got past the German, got around the rookie Italian at the same time and set about chasing the brothers out in front.  It didn’t take them long, and the two Husqvarna men battled back and forth in a stunning display of clean racing that lasted for two laps before the series leader made the decisive move!

De Wolf then set after Lucas’ twin and at half-distance, lap eight, he jumped alongside and blasted around Sacha to take the lead! The three teenagers who have dominated the MX2 class in recent weeks then held station, until within sight of the two-lap board Sacha lost two positions to Haarup and Adamo.  Incredibly, it was to be last-lap heartbreak for Haarup as he fell to gift Adamo a position for the second straight race, more heavily this time, and Sacha Coenen got past as well, leaving the Triumph man a dejected fifth, but still fourth overall, the two crashes doubtlessly costing him the overall podium finish.

Laengenfelder finished a distant sixth, ahead of Everts but as Lucas Coenen chased his teammate over the line in a race that got very close at the front, it puts the Belgian back ahead of the German into second in the standings.

However, it was to be Kay de Wolf’s day, collecting his first double win of the season, his first GP win for nearly three months and pushing his advantage in the Championship to a mammoth 65 points, meaning that he will definitely return to Europe with the red plate on his Nestaan Husqvarna!

The series will stay at Selaparang as the circuit gets worked on to run in the opposite direction for next week’s MXGP of Lombok.  Be sure to join us for another epically hot duel near the equator on the 6th & 7th of July!

Kay de Wolf: “It was two different races but I made some good passes in the opening lap and felt very comfortable out on track. I’m very happy with the changes made with the team in-between the races. So I’m looking forward for next weekend!”

Andrea Adamo: “It was a good weekend. I’m happy to be on the podium. It was two completely different races and the starts were really important and I didn’t really have the best starts. It was a bit more difficult to come back in the second race but I’m so happy with my speed my riding so let’s go the second one”

Lucas Coenen: “It wasn’t the best weekend. I was still learning the track and it’s not my ideal track as it’s hard to ride smoothly. Due to its characteristics, it’s probably more. You need to attack you cannot. Now I now the track so next week I’ll show my real speed. Let’s see how will be the new layout but next I’m going to show!”

MX2 – Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification:  1. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), 35:10.052; 2. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:02.638; 3. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Triumph), +0:11.678; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +0:19.781; 5. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:23.319; 6. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:36.206; 7. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:39.953; 8. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +0:56.497; 9. Rick Elzinga (NED, Yamaha), +1:26.088; 10. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, Kawasaki), +1:29.423

MX2 – Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), 35:20.858; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:00.745; 3. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:21.415; 4. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:25.768; 5. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Triumph), +0:36.271; 6. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:38.050; 7. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +0:41.968; 8. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), +1:09.094; 9. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +1:16.687; 10. Jens Walvoort (NED, KTM), +1:20.622

MX2 Overall – Top 10 Classification: 1. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 50 points; 2. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 42 p.; 3. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 36 p.; 4. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, TRI), 36 p.; 5. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 34 p.; 6. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 32 p.; 7. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 30 p.; 8. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, TRI), 25 p.; 9. Rick Elzinga (NED, YAM), 22 p.; 10. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, HON), 20 p

MX2 – World Championship Classification: 1. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 532 points; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 467 p.; 3. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 463 p.; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 432 p.; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 417 p.; 6. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, TRI), 355 p.; 7. Rick Elzinga (NED, YAM), 322 p.; 8. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 312 p.; 9. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 226 p.; 10. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, KAW), 217 p

MX2 – Manufacturers Classification: 1. Husqvarna, 584 points; 2. KTM, 548 p.; 3. GASGAS, 470 p.; 4. Triumph, 380 p.; 5. Yamaha, 380 p.; 6. Kawasaki, 244 p.; 7. Honda, 230 p.; 8. Fantic, 152 p.; 9. TM, 39 p

MXGP OF WEST NUSA TENGGARA QUICK FACTS:
Crowd Attendance: 40,000
Circuit length: 1640m
Type of ground: Semi Volcanic
Temperature: 30°
Weather conditions: Sunny

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Splish-Splash It’s Petersen Over Gagne In Wet Ridge Race One

By
Frank Duggan
-
Splish-splash It’s Petersen Over Gagne In Wet Ridge Race OneCameron Petersen Tops Teammate Jake Gagne In Surprise Wet Race At Ridge Motorsports Park.

Rain races are difficult. Rain races when you’re not quite sure if they are going to stay wet are even worse. Turns out that the surprise rain on Saturday at Ridge Motorsports Park ended up truly surprising a lot of the field – but not the Attack Performance/Progressive/Yamaha Racing and Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki teams.

The result was a runaway one-two finish for the Yamaha squad with Cameron Petersen beating his teammate Jake Gagne by just .032 of a second in the red-flag-shortened race that was already shortened because of the conditions. The two crews had fitted Dunlop rain tires to Petersen’s and Gagne’s YZF-R1s and it paid dividends.

Third place went to the other factory team that got it right with Xavi Forés earning his first-career MotoAmerica Steel Commander Superbike podium by splish-splashing his way to third on the Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki with its full Dunlop rain tires. Forés ended up 9.5 seconds behind the Yamaha duo and some three seconds clear of Team Brazil’s Danilo Lewis with the Superbike Cup series leader also on rains.

The first of those using slick racing tires was eighth-placed Loris Baz on the Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati with the Frenchman somehow keeping the Panigale V4 upright to cross the line a minute and 13 seconds off Petersen’s winning pace.

In between Lewis and Baz came AMD Motorsport RK Racing’s Richard Kerr, the Irishman at home in the conditions. Then came Stock 1000 podium finishers Ashton Yates with his Jones Honda and Real Steel Motorsports’ Hayden Gillim in seventh and eighth, respectively.

Forés’s teammate Brandon Paasch had rains fitted and came back from an off-track excursion to finish ninth. He was also given a five-second penalty for working on the bike on the grid.

Some big names who gambled with slicks paid the consequences, including Baz’s teammate Josh Herrin (11th) and Wrench Motorcycles’ Bobby Fong (14th).

Tytlers Cycle Racing’s JD Beach started from pit lane after opting to swap to rain tires after the warm-up lap. He rode through a lot of the pack to finish 10th, turning in the fifth-fastest lap of the race in the process.

Among the non-finishers were Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Cameron Beaubier and TopPro Racing’s Sean Dylan Kelly, both of whom opted out after starting on slicks and realizing it was a mistake.

With his third win of the season, Petersen jumps to third in the Steel Commander Superbike Championship with 135 points. Gagne, who has been struggling with arm-pump issues, got some reprieve with the rain, and his second-place finish moved him past Fong and into the lead, 150-138.

Ducati teammates Herrin and Baz are fourth and fifth, respectively, 124-109.

Splish-splash It’s Petersen Over Gagne In Wet Ridge Race One
Petersen (45) and his teammate Jake Gagne (1) flew in formation for most of the race. Petersen took the victory, his third of the season. Photo by Brian J. Nelson 

Superbike Race 1

  1. Cameron Petersen (Yamaha)
  2. Jake Gagne (Yamaha)
  3. Xavi Forés (Suzuki)
  4. Danilo Lewis (BMW)
  5. Richard Kerr (Honda)
  6. Ashton Yates (Honda)
  7. Hayden Gillim (Honda)
  8. Loris Baz (Ducati)
  9. Brandon Paasch (Suzuki)
  10. JD Beach (BMW)
Splish-splash It’s Petersen Over Gagne In Wet Ridge Race One
Xavi Forés (34) finished third while pole sitter Loris Baz gambled on slick tires and finished sixth with Danilo Lewis (94) ending up fourth. Photo by Brian J. Nelson

Quotes

Cam Petersen – Winner

“Like Jake (Gagne) said, as a team, we kind of sat down and decided to go with the rains and it worked out. It definitely was the right choice. But it was just such a fun race. It’s really fun racing with JG (Gagne) when you know that nothing crazy is going to happen. Nobody is going to throw a shot at you that’s sketchy or dangerous. It was funny because literally, like Jake said, we locked eyes going down the straightaway. I looked into his eyes, and I just started cracking up. The team did an incredible job in the short amount of time they had, with getting the bike somewhat into a wet setting. Just a good day overall. Third win on the season. I think coming into this season, I only had three Superbike wins. So, super stoked to get that in one season. Just looking forward to tomorrow. Looking forward to a dry race. I’ve felt good all weekend here, so I think tomorrow should be a good one and a dogfight. Congrats to these two boys for being on the podium. Congrats to Xavi (Forés) on his first (MotoAmerica) Superbike podium. Let’s go get it tomorrow.”

Jake Gagne – Second Place

“The little sighting lap thing we had, it was already really sketchy. Just to kind of be safer, I thought it would be a good call. It was a tough call, but these bikes work really good in the rain. Like Xavi (Forés) said, it was only 10 aps, so even if it started drying, we could just burn up that tire. Fortunately for us, it kept raining. It got really, really tricky even on rains there at the end. Hats off to Cam (Petersen). It was fun racing him down to the wire again. Red flag caught me by surprise, too. I only saw his hand. But good day. Obviously, it’s been a tough couple races. To be back on the podium is good. One, two for the team is awesome. So, we’ll see what happens tomorrow.”

Xavi Forés – Third Place

“Honestly, when I saw the race distance was 10 laps, it was still light rain. I said, ‘We have to take the chance to go with wet.’ Also, I saw the guys (Petersen and Gagne) putting the rain tires and said, ‘Let’s do the same.’ It was not a very long-distance race. The track was a bit tricky at the beginning. If you got the chance to get the gap at the beginning with the rain tires, by the time they are catching you, the race is nearly finished. Then we had also a red flag. So, it was a little bit of a gamble, but we managed quite well. I was happy. The first part of the race, I tried to follow them, but I was taking so much risk. I was spinning a lot. We didn’t have the chance to go softer with the springs in the rear, so I said, let’s take this podium back home and get the feeling and start here. Tomorrow, maybe if it’s dry, we’re going to have another chance to stay in the top five. We made some good changes this weekend. I changed nearly the whole bike from yesterday to today. The pace is there, so I’m very happy. After Brainerd when I crashed, my shoulder is still not 100 percent. To be here on the podium is good. Pretty happy. Looking for more, for sure.”

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Scholtz Takes Over Supersport Points Lead At Ridge Motorsports Park

By
Frank Duggan
-
Scholtz Takes Over Supersport Points Lead At Ridge Motorsports ParkMathew Scholtz Takes Over At The Top, Kayla Yaakov Podiums.

Strack Racing’s Mathew Scholtz took over at the top of the Supersport Championship point standings for the first time this season on Saturday at Ridge Motorsports Park with the South African beating series rival PJ Jacobsen and his Rahal Ducati Moto Panigale V2 by 2.1 seconds.

The race was a battle with as many as seven riders at the front in the early going, but that whittled down to four and ultimately three. And then there was one with Scholtz taking his fifth win of the year and his third in a row to move into the lead in the championship standings by just three points over Jacobsen.

Third place went to the impressive Kayla Yaakov with the Rahal Ducati Moto racer landing on the Supersport podium for the second time in her career and the first in dry racing conditions.

Well, not completely dry as there were spits of rain throughout the race, but never enough for rain tires to be even a consideration. This one was definitely a dry race and she ranked it above her first podium last year in the rain at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

“This was a real podium,” Yaakov said after battling with the best of the best.

Yaakov ended up just 4.5 seconds from the lead as she’s finally found a set-up with the Rahal Ducati Moto Panigale V2 that she’s comfortable with.

Altus Motorsports’ Jake Lewis came out on top of a three-rider battle for fourth, besting Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Stefano Mesa by just .162 of a second and .384 of a second over Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Teagg Hobbs.

Wrench Motorcycles’ David Anthony, Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Tyler Scott, Rahal Ducati Moto’s Corey Alexander and N2 Racing/BobbleHeadMoto’s Blake Davis rounded out the top 10.

“It was a bit of a weird one. Obviously, my starts sucked, as usual. Kayla (Yaakov) cut me off good. It was crazy. I think her and Corey (Alexander) touched and I kind of got bogged down a little bit. Made my way up to third or second following PJ (Jacobsen) and Tyler (Scott). I felt comfortable. I think we were doing 44.8s by then. I was like, ‘This feels slow, guys. Come on.’ Then I got up to first and I was doing 44.5s. I was riding over my head. I was almost highsiding coming out of corners, losing the front. It was just a difficult race. I think that when you followed somebody, it felt comfortable doing it, but when you got to the front, you couldn’t really know how much harder you could push. When it’s like that, you lose grip extremely quickly. You don’t really feel what the bike is doing. I don’t have enough torque to keep the rear tire spinning coming out of the corners. So, once I lose it, it goes really, really quick. I had a pretty decent moment at 13 at the top of the hill. Then I kind of settled into a pace and was doing high 44, low 45, which is a lot slower than we had been going. But overall, I was getting worried with about seven laps to go, that it was only .3 of a gap. So, I was thinking maybe I should let PJ pass me and we would just battle out in the final lap. Then I think with maybe five laps to go, I started picking up the pace and opened it up to a second gap. I kind of knew that it was my race to lose from then. Overall, just looking forward to having a fully dry race tomorrow and doing 42s and 43s, what we should be doing. Not like nearly crashing doing 46s out there. So that was a sketchy one, but obviously happy to take the championship lead. I think that the team have been working hard and they deserve this right now.”

Scholtz Takes Over Supersport Points Lead At Ridge Motorsports Park
Hayden Gillim (1) led into turn one/two and was never headed in the Stock 1000 race on Saturday in Washington State. Jayson Uribe (360) finished second. Photo by Brian J. Nelson 

Stock 1000 – Gillim’s Fourth

Real Steel Motorsports’ Hayden Gillim won his fourth race of the five-race-old Stock 1000 season at Ridge Motorsports Park on Saturday with the defending series champion winning by a controlled 2.4 seconds on his Honda CBR1000RR-R SP.

The man who kept Gillim in check was OrangeCat Racing’s Jayson Uribe with the Californian earning his second podium of the season and just one race removed from his first-career Stock 1000 victory at Brainerd International Raceway two weeks ago.

Third place went to Jones Honda’s Ashton Yates with the Georgian trailing Motorsport Exotica’s Andrew Lee for most of the race before making his move on Lee and his BMW M1000 RR.

The podium was Yates’ third in a row.

Lee had his best finish of what has been a difficult season thus far with his fourth-place finish.

FLO4Law Racing’s Benjamin Smith came out on top of a battle with Visit Indiana/Tom Wood Powersports’ Nolan Lamkin with those spending a lot of the race right at the tail of the Yates/Lee battle.

Gillim crashed out of race two at Brainerd a few weeks ago and he learned a lesson from that.

“After that race at Brainerd, I told everybody at the team, ‘Hey, I need y’all to keep my head on straight.’ We’re racing Stock 1000, not trying to chase the Superbike times, necessarily. We can do it in practice and everything, but the races need to be a little bit more controlled. So, I tried to do that, but Jason was pushing me. I wanted to push a little harder and see what I could do, but also, I have been having some little moments on the front here and there and didn’t want to override it. I knew if I could get through a couple spots pretty good, it would be really hard to make a pass. So, I just felt like if I was consistent and kept my lines tight, ran everything smooth, was getting off the corners good, I thought I could at least keep them behind me. I knew with the track being a little cooler maybe the tires would go off a bit. I felt pretty good once that started happening this weekend. So, I felt like once we could get to that point, maybe I could get a little bit of a gap. But it was a good race. I’m happy. I’m most happy just about my starts this year. Everything has been going good right off the line. So, as long as I can keep that up, it makes my life a little bit easier. The whole Steel Commander Southern Powersports Honda team has given me a really great bike this whole year. The Honda has been really good. It surprised me a bunch right from the beginning how good the thing was. I expected there to be a little bit more of a learning curve for me. It’s been really good. I’m loving it. I’m enjoying riding. The thing is super, super competitive. I’m just having fun. Got the family with me at all the races. We’re making a little road trip out of this West Coast swing. Just enjoying it.”

Scholtz Takes Over Supersport Points Lead At Ridge Motorsports Park
Mikayla Moore dominated the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. race on Saturday at Ridge Motorsports Park. Photo by Brian J. Nelson

Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. Moore Continues Domination

Mikayla Moore won her fourth race of the five-race-old season on Saturday in the Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. and she did so in typical Mikayla Moore fashion. By a country mile.

Moore led by 10 seconds after three laps, 15 seconds after four laps… you get the picture. At the end of the eight-lap race, she was almost 34 seconds clear after setting a new lap record with a 2:02.801.

Aubrey Credaroli crashed out of second after battling with Camille Conrad and that handed Conrad her fourth podium finish of the season while also moving her to second in the championship.

Third place went to podium-first-timer Kira Knebel, some three seconds behind Conrad and well clear of Emma Betters, who was bouncing back from a big crash on Friday. Miranda Cain rounded out the top five finishers.

So how does Moore motivate herself?

“Being out there, being in the front, I know if I’m able to set the pace for the group, if they want to come along with me, they can,” Moore said. “I really don’t start picking up speed until probably the second lap. So, the first lap is really just getting through the first few corners and then once I cross the finish line, it’s on to racing. There have been times like last year at Ridge, Kayleigh (Buyck) stuck with me pretty much the whole time. So, for me, it’s really just about setting lap records to show anyone else that comes to this track on a Royal Enfield that that should be your goal, to be able to beat my lap record.”

Scholtz Takes Over Supersport Points Lead At Ridge Motorsports Park
(From left to right) Hayden Schultz, Cody Wyman and Tyler O’Hara celebrate their podium finishes in the Mission Super Hooligan National Championship round at Ridge Motorsports Park. Photo by Brian J. Nelson

Mission Super Hooligan National Championship – Wyman!

Two races were held in the rain on Saturday afternoon at Ridge Motorsports Park and the last race of the day was the wettest – the second round of the Mission Super Hooligan National Championship. The racer who took the most advantage of the conditions was KWR’s Cody Wyman, with the youngest of the three Wyman brothers riding to a 7.9-second win over his teammate Hayden Schultz.

For Wyman it was his first career Super Hooligan victory, and it also made him the first rider in MotoAmerica history to score a podium finish in four different classes – Junior Cup, Twins Cup, Stock 1000 and the Mission Super Hooligan National Championship.

Schultz was happy with second on his Kyle Wyman-owned Harley-Davidson Pan America with the Arkansas resident 5.3 seconds ahead of S&S Cycle/Indian Motorcycle’s defending series champion Tyler O’Hara who battled with a surging throttle for the entire race to finish on the podium.

Roland Sands Design’s Hawk Mazzotta was a career-high fourth in the class, some five seconds ahead of Travis Wyman.

With the win, Cody Wyman takes over the championship points lead, 54-49, over O’Hara. Cory West, who led the title chase after Daytona, slips to third with 41 points after crashing out of today’s race.

“For sure, happy to see the rain,” Wyman said. “We were pretty far behind from yesterday. Like I said, we really missed out on a lot of track time. Mostly my fault. But Hayden (Schultz) really stepped up as a teammate to help me with gearing and just get me back up to speed. We’ve learned so much in just a few days really riding these Pan Americas. This learning curve is really steep at first. So, we’re really getting a lot out of these bikes. Stoked with the rain. I always love the rain. I knew that would help me kind of get a little bit more equal to the guys up front. Crazy race, though. Everyone was dealing with their own little issues, maybe more than others. But I knew this place was good in the rain. So, I had some confidence. I’ve done a lot of Champ schools here and ridden in the rain on DOTs. It was the longest four-lap race I’ve ever had. Just so thankful for Harley-Davidson and for my brother for doing so much. Gene Burcham building the bikes. I didn’t expect to be winning today. So, pretty awesome.”

For more info checkout our dedicated MotoAmerica Support Series News page motoamerica-support-series-latest-news/

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©Words/Images are from official press release posted courtesy of motoamerica.com/

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Uriarte steals Race 1 Rookies Cup win at Assen

By
Frank Duggan
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Uriarte Steals Race 1 Rookies Cup Win At Assen
Brian Uriarte, Red Bull Rookies Cup race 1, Dutch MotoGP 29 June 2024
Brian Uriarte scored a sensational victory with a 6th to 5th gear masterstroke on the final, incredible, passing inundated lap of Assen. Taking Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Race 1 in the Netherlands and the Cup lead.

The 15-year-old Spaniard led Rico Salmela (2nd) and Valentin Perrone (3rd) in a flash across the line with just one second covering the top 8 KTMs.

9 riders went into the race needing to perform long lap penalties after issues in practice, mainly slow and inconsiderate riding. This reorganised the lead group in the early laps but the fastest riders like pole man Alvaro Carpe, Salmela and Perrone soon got back to the front.

Carpe fought to hold the lead for much of the race but had shown his cards and got trumped on the final lap.

Uriarte had the answer up his sleeve
“As I said yesterday, there was no plan before the race because it just gets so crazy. I rode a lot on my own in practice and I felt I had a really good flow here. I felt that in the race too, I was really comfortable. I did have a big front wheel slide, saved it, a bit of skill, a good bit of luck.”

“Alvaro was fast through the final section but as I followed him I realised that he was doing the last very fast left-hander in 6th and I was doing it in 5th. That gave me the better drive down to the chicane.”

“I didn’t want to show him earlier, on the last lap I went for it and got in front of him before that. I knew I had it then he would not get past.”

Salmela missed by 0.112 seconds
“It wasn’t easy starting with a long lap penalty but I felt confident all race and I didn’t need to rush to go to the front,” stated the 16-year-old Finn. “I tried to stick with Carpe and Perrone all race. Carpe had a good speed, I felt like I could have gone faster but I didn’t want to fight too much.”

“The last lap didn’t go like I wanted, I had a good slipstream down the back straight, got in a good position but was not quite close enough to Brian down to the chicane at the end to go for it. But still, P2 is not bad.”

Perrone podiums
“I’m happy about this race because yesterday I made some mistakes in Qualifying and I got a long lap penalty,” explained the Argentine 16-year-old. “But in the race, I did the long lap so fast and I caught the lead group back quickly and I was in P2 to P5 all the laps.

“In the last lap, I lost some positions in the last corner because there was almost a collision but I made a good exit and overtook Carpe and made the podium, for tomorrow I will try to do even better.”

Veda Pratama an impressive 4th
“I’m really happy with the result for Race 1,” enthused the 15-year-old Indonesian. “In the last lap, I tried to get on the podium but I missed a gear exiting a corner into the fast section before the finish and then I shifted and touched someone so lost places. I finished P4 and I’m still happy but I want more tomorrow.”

Ruche Moodley loses early advantage
“When I got to the front I tried to push hard so that it would break up the group a little bit,” explained the South African 17-year-old. “I thought that I had the pace from yesterday. But when they came back from the long lap penalty I got passed and dropped too far back. So tomorrow I need to pass someone as soon as they pass me and not allow myself to drop back.”

Carpe clipped at the finish
“I was running a good pace with a lot of confidence,” stated the Spanish 17-year-old who still holds 3rd in the points table.” I had to do the long lap but then in less than 2 laps I caught the group and I led almost all the race. But then on the last lap, 2 riders overtook me in the back straight out of the slipstream.”

“Then one more on the brakes into the chicane on the last lap. Then another rider touched me quite hard, at the last corner. I am happy to take P6 because it could be a lot worse, it could have been a nasty crash.”
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Zaccone stuns for Race 2 victory in Assen

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Frank Duggan
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Zaccone Stuns For Race 2 Victory In AssenFor the first time since 2021 the Italian claims a MotoE™ win as Gutierrez and Garzo complete the rostrum.

After going agonisingly close at Mugello and in Race 1 at the Motul TT Assen, Alessandro Zaccone (Tech3 E-Racing) finally claimed another victory in MotoE™ as the Italian dominated Race 2 to pocket those craved 25 points.

1.9s behind in second was Oscar Gutierrez (Axxis-MSI) as the Spaniard produced another stunning comeback ride to the podium, with Hector Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) completing the top three in P3 despite having to drop one position on the penultimate lap.

With Kevin Zannoni (Openbank Aspar Team) and Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team) finishing P7 and P8 respectively in Race 2, the Championship chase has been blown wide open ahead of the German GP next weekend.Zaccone Stuns For Race 2 Victory In Assen

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Garzo grabs first win of 2024 with sublime last lap move

By
Frank Duggan
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Garzo Grabs First Win Of 2024 With Sublime Last Lap MoveThe #4 returns to the top step in Assen as the Race 1 victory fight goes to the wire.

Thanks to a beautiful last lap pass, Hector Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) came out on top in a phenomenal Race 1 FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship battle at the Motul TT Assen.

The #4 carved up the inside of polesitter Alessandro Zaccone (Tech3 E-Racing) at the rapid Turn 13 to win for the first time in 2024, with Zaccone forced to settle for P2 at the chequered flag.

However, a post-race tyre pressure penalty saw the Italian disqualified from the Race 1 results, so P2 went the way of comeback king Oscar Gutierrez (Axxis-MSI) as the Spaniard fought back expertly from P11 on the grid.

Following Zaccone’s penalty, Jordi Torres (Openbank Aspar Team) was promoted to the podium places in P3.

Elsewhere, drama unfolded for the top two in the World Championship as Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team) was taken out at Turn 1, while Kevin Zannoni (Tech3 E-Racing) and Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) crashed out following contact in the closing stages at Turn 5.Garzo Grabs First Win Of 2024 With Sublime Last Lap Move

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Bagnaia takes sublime Sprint win to close in on Martin

By
Frank Duggan
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Bagnaia Takes Sublime Sprint Win To Close In On MartinTaking back-to-back Sprint wins for the first time, the reigning Champion’s statement weekend continues as he denies Martin and Viñales.

Francesco Bagnaia’s (Ducati Lenovo Team) statement weekend at the Motul TT Assen continued on Saturday afternoon as the reigning Champion took the Tissot Sprint win – making it back-to-back victories on Saturday afternoon for the first time in his career. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) followed him home in second to limit the damage in the standings, but the two are now split by just 15 points. The pressure amped up further at the end of Saturday’s action too, with Martin handed a 3-place grid penalty for Sunday after being deemed to have been slow on line and disturbed Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) in qualifying.

Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) completed the Sprint podium as his speed at the Cathedral continued, with drama hitting for Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) as he slid out early on.

Bagnaia Takes Sublime Sprint Win To Close In On MartinAs the lights went out, Bagnaia held on to the holeshot from pole, with Martin keeping second but Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) attacking and taking over in third. That put Viñales on the attack to take it back, but by the end of Lap 2 the Aprilia had homed back in and shot past at the chicane.

Meanwhile, that drama had hit for Marc Marquez. On the tail of that duel, the #93 overcooked it and suddenly slid out, no way to get back in it and forced to watch the Sprint from the sidelines.

Back at the front, Bagnaia had the hammer down. Still, the gap was hovering around seven tenths, going up and down here and there as Martin held on. But by seven to go, it was the gap back to Viñales the #89 had to watch instead, with Bagnaia edging clear and the Aprilia homing in.

Martin responded quickly, however, pulling it back out to a second – but it didn’t get him any closer to Bagnaia. The top three were in a holding pattern just as the battle behind them was starting to heat up.

Bagnaia Takes Sublime Sprint Win To Close In On MartinBrad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had been on the tail of Alex Marquez since Viñales got back past the #73, but by half distance the two had some company: a queue of Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team), Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) had arrived on the scene.

Once there, Bastianini struck quick, past Binder and then immediately glued to the rear of Alex Marquez. The ‘Beast’ stalked him round the rest of the lap and then attacked at the chicane, taking over in fourth and pulling away. The #73 was then given a Long Lap for track limits, and soon after there was another key move in the group, also at the chicane, with Diggia attacking Binder. The VR46 rider headed a little wide, both affected but keeping it pinned, just as Alex Marquez had suffered his own little wobble. Into Turn 1 for the final lap, the net result was Diggia leading Espargaro leading Binder, with the #73 dropping to the back of the gaggle and still with that Long Lap to serve.

Up ahead, there were no dramas for the top three. No one had an answer for Bagnaia as the reigning Champion won his second Sprint in a row for the first time ever, and Martin took an important second place as the Championship gap just starts to get closer once more. Viñales’ podium is another positive as he looks to better it on Sunday and beat Aprilia’s best MotoGP™ result at Assen as yet: third.

Bastianini took that P4 after his charge up from outside the top ten on the grid, and in the grand battle behind, Diggia completed the top five ahead of Binder. After not taking it in the remaining laps, Alex Marquez’ LLP was converted into the equivalent time second penalty and drops him down the order to eighth – moving Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) up into seventh, from P13 on the grid. Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) completed the Sprint point scorers, with rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) losing out in P10.

Espargaro slid out fast late on, losing his chance at that battle to the flag and heading for a check up. He will be reviewed on Sunday morning before Warm Up.

Now it’s reset for Sunday and the Grand Prix race, with Bagnaia looking sublime but Martin and Viñales eager to home in over full distance, Martin from that extra hurdle down in P5 on the grid. Can anyone overhaul the #1 on Sunday?Bagnaia Takes Sublime Sprint Win To Close In On Martin

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NEW IN Trackhouse 2024 Replica T-Shirt: https://store.motogp.com/en/track-house-racing/trackhouse-2024-replica-t-shirt/t-1623566268+p-685589489951+z-7-2220343367

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Aldeguer fronts Boscoscuro 1-2-3 in Assen qualifying

By
Frank Duggan
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Aldeguer Fronts Boscoscuro 1-2-3 In Assen QualifyingFor the first time since the Spanish GP, Fermin Aldeguer (Folladore SpeedUp) will launch from pole position as the #54 beat Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) to Moto2™ pole position by 0.230s at the Motul TT Assen.

The Japanese star earned his first front row of the season and will start alongside Championship leader and teammate Sergio Garcia at the Dutch TT, as Boscoscuro riders lockout the front row.

Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresin Moto2™) leads the Kalex charge from P4 on the grid, with home star Zonta van den Goorbergh (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP) coming through Q1 to earn a P14 place on the grid.

Following his Friday afternoon crash, title-hunting Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing) was declared unfit for the Dutch TT after it was confirmed he sustained a fractured right collarbone.

Tune into the Moto2™ race at 12:15 local time (UTC +2) on Sunday afternoon!Aldeguer Fronts Boscoscuro 1-2-3 In Assen Qualifying

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Piqueras pockets maiden pole as Veijer crashes but secures P3

By
Frank Duggan
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Piqueras Pockets Maiden Pole As Veijer Crashes But Secures P3Home hero Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) will launch from the front row in P3, but the Dutchman lost out on a Motul TT Assen pole following a final chicane crash which cost the #95 a chance of improving his time in the closing stages.

World Championship leader David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) had to settle for P13 in Q2 as the Colombian aims to battle back through the pack from a season-worst Saturday result.

It was also a low-key Q2 for title-chasing Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3). The rider second in the overall standings will launch from P15 as he aims to claw back some points on Alonso.

The lightweight class go racing at 11:00 local time (UTC +2) at the Cathedral of Speed, don’t miss a single lap over on motogp.com on Sunday morning.Piqueras Pockets Maiden Pole As Veijer Crashes But Secures P3

Offers / Codes

29/06 – 01/07: RIDER20 (20% OFF *Exclusions Apply)

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Herlings & L.Coenen Beat The Heat In The West Nusa Tenggara Ram Qualifying Races

By
Frank Duggan
-
The FIM Motocross World Motocross Championship saw the first action of the Indonesian double header today, as the Ram Qualifying Races in both classes decided the order for tomorrow’s gate pick and gave the riders a chance to add to their points tallies as we start the second half of the campaign.

The circuit was heavily watered to combat the 30-plus degree heat, and several sections gave multiple line choices which resulted in some excellent racing!

In MXGP it was a first RAM Qualifying Race win of the year for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing legend Jeffrey Herlings, after moving past Team HRC’s Tim Gajser on the fourth lap and holding off a late charge from reigning World Champion Jorge Prado, who claimed second for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing.

The race lead in MX2 was like hot potato, as first Sacha Coenen dropped out of the lead for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, then Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Kay de Wolf also fell from the front! Ultimately it was Kay’s teammate Lucas Coenen who collected the win, while De Wolf recovered to take second ahead of Simon Laengenfelder, who took third for Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing.

Herlings & L.coenen Beat The Heat In The West Nusa Tenggara Ram Qualifying Races

After Gajser had topped the timesheets in Free Practice, Herlings just edged out the Slovenian for first gate pick in the early afternoon’s Time Practice session. Prado took third pick, showing no ill signs from his Italian GP crash.

Gajser levelled with Prado into turn one and steered the GASGAS rider to the outside, while Herlings tucked up the inside to hold second behind the Honda man.  Calvin Vlaanderen started up in third for Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP, but spun sideways, and nearly off the bike, in the second corner.  He had to fight back through to an eventual fifth.

Brian Bogers grabbed third for Fantic Factory Racing, but landed short on the big triple jump at the top end of the circuit and although he didn’t crash, the Dutchman immediately pulled off the circuit and back to the pits. We wait for information on what went wrong in the end. Simultaneously, Mattia Guadagnini crashed on the same jump and was lucky to not get hit by riders behind him!  He went into the pits so that his Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing mechanics could help to straighten out the bike.

This left Jeremy Seewer in third for Kawasaki Racing Team, until Prado leapt passed him with an excellent line through a wave section.  Jorge was also clearing that big triple jump when none of the top riders were doing so, and was using the time gained to haul in the leaders!

After jumping past Gajser, Herlings had built a small gap over his fellow five-time World Champion.  Prado got to the rear wheel of the Honda, and nearly landed on it, before pulling an excellent switchback move to take second place from the red plate holder!

Seewer held onto fourth, while Vlaanderen moved forward for fifth, ahead of the Ship to Cycle Honda Motoblouz SR pairing of Kevin Horgmo and Valentin Guillod. Jan Pancar finished a fine eighth for TEM Racing JP253 KTM, with Vlaanderen’s teammate Bonacorsi ninth, and Bogers’ teammate Glenn Coldenhoff claiming the final point in tenth.

Prado couldn’t quite get his claws into Herlings and had to be careful of a charging Gajser to hold on to second place. The gap at the top of the table is now 33 points after “The Bullet” took his first RAM Qualifying Race win since Latvia in 2023, over 12 months ago!

Gajser keeps leading the race for the RAM Truck driving Experience  in front of Prado.

Jeffrey Herlings: “It’s been a lot today for sure! It was last year in Latvia since I won a ‘Quali’. So it feels nice! It was not easy as you couldn’t make mistake on this track but anyway, I took the 10 points and I really look forward for tomorrow now!”

MXGP – RAM Qualifying Race Classification:  1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 25:09.310; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), +0:03.034; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:06.061; 4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Kawasaki), +0:13.719; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:19.963; 6. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +0:27.916; 7. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Honda), +0:32.476; 8. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +0:33.552; 9. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:39.936; 10. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:43.362

MXGP – World Championship Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 519 points; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 486 p.; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 450 p.; 4. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 345 p.; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KAW), 339 p.; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 327 p.; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 303 p.; 8. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HON), 274 p.; 9. Brian Bogers (NED, FAN), 213 p.; 10. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 211 pHerlings & L.coenen Beat The Heat In The West Nusa Tenggara Ram Qualifying Races


The three fastest in practice for MX2 were the same in both sessions, although Sacha Coenen led from Lucas and Kay in Free Practice and the red plate holder claimed the first gate pick in Time Practice.

Sacha Coenen once more bolted into the lead from the start ahead of De Wolf and, after he passed Laengenfelder coming out of turn two, Lucas Coenen.  However, the KTM speedster dropped the bike after the big triple jump and in getting back on track actually cut a corner.  This led to him being penalised by five positions, ending up as classified in 12th position.

De Wolf then led, until he then made a mistake by clipping a bank into a right-hand corner and sliding to the ground! Lucas gratefully inherited the lead and pressed on to win by a solid six seconds.  De Wolf managed to pick the bike up in third and set about catching and passing Laengenfelder, which he did on the penultimate lap!

Sacha Coenen’s teammates Liam Everts and Andrea Adamo matched their Championship positions in fourth and fifth, and Monster Energy Triumph Racing’s Mikkel Haarup fought past Ferruccio Zanchi to claim sixth.  Jack Chambers was enjoying heat similar to his native Florida, and claimed eighth for Bike It MTX Kawasaki ahead of Haarup’s teammate Camden McLellan, with Oriol Oliver scoring the final point for WZ Racing.

Lucas Coenen’s win brings to just two points shy of Laengenfelder for second in the series, while De Wolf’s second gives him a 49-point lead heading into tomorrow’s MXGP of West Nusa Tenggara!

Lucas Coenen: “I knew the track was a bit tricky. It was an easy one for myself in the end. I made a good start and then I was following Kay (de Wolf) who was leading the race. He made a little mistake and then he crashed so I took the lead and could do my own race! Now let’s see tomorrow how it is going to be!”

MX2 – RAM Qualifying Race Classification:  1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), 25:05.501; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:05.880; 3. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GASGAS), +0:07.339; 4. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:10.013; 5. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +0:21.661; 6. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, Triumph), +0:23.264; 7. Ferruccio Zanchi (ITA, Honda), +0:52.813; 8. Jack Chambers (USA, Kawasaki), +0:56.321; 9. Camden Mc Lellan (RSA, Triumph), +0:57.682; 10. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +1:01.138

MX2 – World Championship Classification: 1. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 482 points; 2. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 433 p.; 3. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 431 p.; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 400 p.; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 375 p.; 6. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, TRI), 319 p.; 7. Rick Elzinga (NED, YAM), 300 p.; 8. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), 278 p.; 9. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 226 p.; 10. Quentin Marc Prugnieres (FRA, KAW), 197 p

MXGP OF WEST NUSA TENGGARA QUICK FACTS:

Circuit length: 1640m
Type of ground: Semi Volcanic
Temperature: 31°
Weather conditions: Sunny
WEEKEND TIMETABLE (LOCAL TIME GMT+8)

SUNDAY: 10:25 MX2 Warm-up, 10:45 MXGP Warm-up, 12:15 MX2 Race 1, 13:15 MXGP Race 1, 15:10 MX2 Race 2, 16:10 MXGP Race 2.

For more news check out our dedicated MXGP/MX2 News page

Or visit the official MXGP website mxgp.com

©Words/Images are from official press release posted courtesy of www.mxgp.com

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Bagnaia denies Martin to take first pole of 2024, Marquez crashes in Q2

By
Frank Duggan
-
Bagnaia Denies Martin To Take First Pole Of 2024, Marquez Crashes In Q2The reigning Champion plays it cool, the Championship leader runs him close, and Viñales grabs third as Marquez slides out on his Q2 charge.

On Thursday, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) predicted a 1:30.899 as the pole position time at the Motul TT Assen, and on Saturday he proved himself very, lap-record-smashed wrong. His actual time around the iconic TT Circuit Assen is stunning 1:30.540 to take his first pole of 2024, and even then it was only enough to deny key title rival Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) by 0.081s as the duo head the grid.

The two then have a little breathing space ahead of Maverick Viñales as the Aprilia Racing rider completes the front row, 0.330s further back, although the #12 was the only rider within Bagnaia’s postcode for much of the weekend until Q2. He’ll be looking to turn the duel into a group battle from the off.

Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), meanwhile, starts seventh after a crash in Q2 when going for a move on Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), going past the Aprilia and then sliding straight out. Rider ok.Bagnaia Denies Martin To Take First Pole Of 2024, Marquez Crashes In Q2

Q1
Q1 had some big names looking for a way through, as ever, and at the end of the first runs it was Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) leading the way from Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) by just 0.034s, with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) lurking in third. The Frenchman then took over on top, Acosta hit back, but finally Diggia found another little slice of time to slot into second behind Acosta. The rookie finished the session with a crash, rider ok, but remained quickest despite the final small twist of drama.Bagnaia Denies Martin To Take First Pole Of 2024, Marquez Crashes In Q2

Q2
By five and a half minutes to go, Bagnaia was already looking back over his shoulder after completing his fastest lap. The reigning Champion unleashed his 1:30.5 by the conclusion of the first runs, and for him it was the conclusion of his running full stop. He went back to the box and watched the rest take aim at his benchmark on TV. Martin was second, over three tenths back, with a similar gap to Diggia holding third.

The second runs saw the track get busy, and Marquez was one who didn’t quite find the space he’d wanted. He was just behind Espargaro, trying to slice through on a fast one after the #41 had passed him earlier, and the #93 overcooked it and slid straight out once he was past the Aprilia. That left Marquez waiting to see who would be able to pip him further down the order from the P5 he held at the time. One of them would turn out to be… Espargaro.

Meanwhile, Viñales was on a flying lap. It wasn’t quite enough to be an assault on pole, but keeping it clean round the final sector saw him cross the line to take the final place on the front row.

Martin was then left to try and make his statement. And despite’s Bagnaia’s incredible dominance of the weekend so far, the #89 ran it close. Over the line the Championship leader came up just 0.081s short, but he starts right alongside his closest rival in the standings.Bagnaia Denies Martin To Take First Pole Of 2024, Marquez Crashes In Q2

THE GRID
Behind Bagnaia, Martin and Viñales, Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) heads the second row as his impressive weekend continues, having taken P3 on Friday. Espargaro lines up P5, with Diggia next up on the outside of the second row despite coming through Q1.

That leaves Marc Marquez down in P7 after his crash, ahead of Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Acosta in P10. Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) complete the Q2 runners, with Quartararo next up from Q1. Can he move forward once the lights go out?

We could have a duel to remember, a masterclass, a shock twist, a huge group battle or many of the above on our hands with a tantalising grid at the Motul TT Assen. So make sure to tune in!

SATURDAY
TISSOT SPRINT: 15:00 (UTC +2)
SUNDAY
GRAND PRIX: 14:00 (UTC +2)

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©Words/Images are from official press release posted courtesy of www.motogp.com

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The Moto Guzzi Open House returns, together with the Città della Moto Guzzi rally

By
Frank Duggan
-
The Moto Guzzi Open House Returns, Together With The Città Della Moto Guzzi RallyFrom 12 to 15 September, Mandello del Lario once again opens its doors to Moto Guzzi fans and motorbike enthusiasts from all over the globe.

And as ever, it looks set to be an incredible late-summer weekend with the colours and landscapes of the eastern shore of Lake Como, brimming with friendship, new encounters, stories of adventures and many, many Moto Guzzi bikes. All this will take place in the birthplace of Moto Guzzi, where the brand has been manufacturing its extraordinary motorbikes for more than a hundred years.

The celebrations will kick off on Thursday 12th of September, when the full programme of the Motoraduno Internazionale Città della Moto Guzzi will begin.

On the 13th, the Moto Guzzi Museum will welcome visitors to the 2024 edition of its Open House event, with thousands of guests expected. The historic factory in Via Parodi is being fully renovated as part of a revolutionary project, and the works in progress will continue over the next few months, before reopening in Mandello as an ultra-modern facility which will be the production site of the Moto Guzzi bikes of the future, as well as a new environment with open spaces for public use. It will also serve as a community hub and a special destination for motorbike fans from all over the world. As part of this year’s edition of the Open House, the Moto Guzzi Museum, with its priceless collection of more than 150 historic Moto Guzzi from every era, will welcome visitors.

As ever, the MOTO GUZZI OPEN HOUSE event will place passion for motorbikes at the heart of the celebrations, and as such, free test rides of motorbikes from the Moto Guzzi range will be available to visitors. On the breathtaking trails that wind along the side of the lake, fans will be able to get to grips with the classic V7 and V85 or the V100 and Stelvio bikes, powered by the new liquid-cooled, one-litre “Compact Block” engine.

The Moto Guzzi shop presents the perfect opportunity for splashing out on a shopping spree, with a host of branded merchandising and accessories.

The Moto Guzzi Open House Returns, Together With The Città Della Moto Guzzi RallyThe MOTORADUNO CITTÀ DELLA MOTO GUZZI programme is full of exciting events, and as ever, will involve the entire town of Mandello del Lario, as it gets ready to welcome Moto Guzzi fans from all over the world to a weekend overflowing with excitement and events.

It all begins in Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, which – with its monument to Carlo Guzzi – will be the site for the Exhibition of Historical Motorcycles, featuring racing models from the eagle brand’s glorious sporting history, surrounded by a host of other incredible mass-produced or specially-tuned motorbikes.

This special exhibition will also feature artist Antonio Ligabue’s very own Moto Guzzi. Thanks to the Casa Museo in Gualtieri, the Square Art Centre in Via Volta will be exhibiting the GTV 500 of the famous painter, who was such a fan of Moto Guzzi that he owned a grand total of sixteen bikes!

Remaining on the subject of Ligabue, on Friday 13th of September, the biographical film “Volevo Nascondermi”, dedicated to the artist and presented by the managers of the Casa Museo, will be held at the Fabrizio De André municipal theatre.

110 kilometres, more than 300 bends, 2 museums and a restaurant: for anyone who doesn’t want to miss out on a trip in the enchanting lakeside surroundings, the Gruppo Amici di Maggiana (GAMAG) will lead a museum tour on Thursday 12th of September, travelling between Mandello, Menaggio, Pianello del Lario and Piona to enjoy the stunning nature and visit 2 museums. For more info: museotorremaggiana@gmail.com.

Moto Guzzi riders have always had the nerve to embark on crazy rides on their bikes, and for them, there is no bridge too far: Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Sudan, Japan…they will be on hand to tell the tales of their adventures and answer any questions at the “Le vie del Naco” stand in Piazza Garibaldi.

The Moto Guzzi Open House Returns, Together With The Città Della Moto Guzzi RallyElsewhere, the Eagle Market dedicated to Moto Guzzi motorbikes and related spare parts will be back by popular demand this year. The multifunctional space at the Lido will play host to the gallery of works and drawings dedicated to Moto Guzzi by the great artist Ettore Gambioli, who also created the monument to Carlo Guzzi and that dedicated to Giorgio Parodi: an unmissable collection of lights, colours and portraits of our favourite bikes.

The Automotoclub Storico Italiano (ASI) will also be in attendance at the rally in an official capacity with a dedicated stand, located in the car park near the Moto Guzzi factory: here, visitors will be able to find gadgets and information for vintage restorations as well as any other kind of advice they may need.

A major exhibition of Moto Guzzi motorbikes will also be held at the San Lorenzo Oratory. The passion for Moto Guzzi has always also touched the forces of law and order too: as such, the Moena Police Alpine Training Centre and the Padua Police Force will be at the event in Via Manzoni, giving guests the opportunity to admire one of the most unusual vehicles to emerge from the Mandello factory up close: the 3×3 Mulo Meccanico, with two V7 Police side-cars.

This year once again, there will also be a test track for childrenin order to teach the smallest visitors how to use electric mini-bikes; an initiative created by the Associazione Bimbi in Moto, which has attended the rally since 2019.

Piazza Italia will be the backdrop for the fascinating Fashion and Motorbikes event, with the girls from the Polisportiva hitting the catwalk in stunning wedding dresses, with the Moto Guzzi bike from the same year at their side.

During the days of the rally, the Associazione Gruppo Amici di Maggiana is kindly providing the opportunity for guests to visit the famous Maggiana Tower – which dates back to the 12th century and where Barbarossa took refreshment – as well as enjoying its museum and the marvellous view of the surroundings.

The grand party at the Motoraduno Internazionale Città della Moto Guzzi is always accompanied by superb live music: on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, the tunes will be pumping out from the stage in Piazza Garibaldi – try sitting still when you hear that rock’n’roll! The Committee’s website (www.motoradunomandello.com) will be updated with set lists for the three evenings of live music.

The Via Medaglie Olimpiche will be home to the stands of the best Moto Guzzi tuners and customisers, with a number of real gems on display, including whole motorbikes and special parts: no true Moto Guzzi fan should miss it!

And finally, one of the most beloved and eagerly-awaited events returns once more – the Motoraduno Lottery will offer a series of exceptional prizes, including the most coveted of all – a fabulous Moto Guzzi V7 Stone in exclusive colours, dedicated to the event. Second place will win a four-day Mediterranean mini-cruise. Meanwhile, third place will take home a Moto Guzzi leather jacket, fourth a Moto Guzzi V85TT helmet and the fifth a Moto Guzzi leather top case.

For more Moto Guzzi news check out our dedicated page Moto Guzzi News

or head to the official Moto Guzzi website motoguzzi.com/gb_EN/

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Baz Leads The Way On Opening Day At Ridge Motorsports Park

By
Frank Duggan
-
Baz Leads The Way On Opening Day At Ridge Motorsports ParkIt’s A Ducati One-Two With Baz And Herrin On Top In Washington.

Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati’s Loris Baz and Josh Herrin had a perfect afternoon at Ridge Motorsports Park with the pair riding their Ducati Panigale V4 Rs to the top two spots on the front row provisionally heading into tomorrow morning’s Q2 session.

The pair were just .063 of a second apart after the 40-minute Q1 session on a sunny Friday with both setting their best laps on their 12th go-around. Baz lapped at a best of 1:40.034 with Herrin turning in a 1:40.197.

MotoAmerica Steel Commander Superbike Championship points leader Bobby Fong ended up third quickest on his Wrench Motorcycles Yamaha YZF-R1 and just .270 of a second behind Baz.

Next came the two Attack Performance/Progressive/Yamaha Racing’s Cameron Petersen and Jake Gagne with those two the last two riders in the 1:40s.

Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Cameron Beaubier was sixth fastest in his return to action after undergoing surgery three weeks ago on his broken right heel. Beaubier’s session was shortened with a slow tip-over and he ended up just a tick over a second from Baz’s best lap.

Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Xavi Forés was seventh and the best Suzuki and just ahead of EasyHealthPlans.com/TopPro Racing’s Sean Dylan Kelly and his BMW M 1000 RR.

Real Steel Motorsports’ Hayden Gillim and Tytlers Cycle Racing’s JD Beach rounded out the top 10 heading into tomorrow’s Q2 session.

Stock 1000 – Gillim Over Uribe
Real Steel Motorsports’ Hayden Gillim was the only rider to lap in the 1:41s with him and his Honda CBR1000RR-R SP breaking the lap record in the Stock class with his 1:41.180 on Friday, which was .870 of a second better than OrangeCat Racing’s Jayson Uribe.

Gillim has won three of the first four Stock 1000 races of the season with Uribe winning the fourth.

Jones Honda’s Ashton Yates, who earned his first podium finish of the season at the past round in Brainerd, Minnesota, ended the day third fastest with FLO4LAW Racing’s Benjamin Smith and OrangeCat Racing’s Travis Wyman completing the top five in Q1.

Baz Leads The Way On Opening Day At Ridge Motorsports Park
Mathew Scholtz set a new lap record en route to earning provisional pole position in the Supersport class.
Photo by Brian J. Nelson

Supersport – Scholtz!
Strack Racing’s Mathew Scholtz broke the Supersport lap record on Friday afternoon at Ridge Motorsports Park on Friday en route to earning provisional pole position on his Yamaha YZF-R6.

Scholtz, who sits second in the Supersport series point standings coming into the Ridge Motorsports Park round, led championship points leader PJ Jacobsen and his Rahal Ducati Moto Panigale V2 by .450 of a second to earn provisional pole.

Altus Motorsports’ Jake Lewis ended opening day third and .493 of a second off Scholtz’s best lap.

Rahal Ducati Moto w/Code 3 Associates’ Corey Alexander ended the day fourth fastest and just ahead of his teammate Kayla Yaakov with three Rahal Ducatis in the top five on opening day.

Mission Super Hooligan National Championship – O’Hara Starts It Off
S&S Cycle/Indian Motorcycles’ Tyler O’Hara led the way in the Mission Super Hooligan National Championship class on Friday with the defending series champion earning provisional pole position.

O’Hara ran off track early in the session but bounced back to lap at 1:46.432 and top championship points leader Cory West and his Saddlemen/Harley-Davidson Pan America by just .017 of a second.

West’s teammate Jake Lewis ended the day third fastest with KWR/Harley-Davidson’s Hayden Schultz and Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Stefano Mesa rounding out the top five. Lewis was just .260 of a second behind O’Hara

O’Hara’s teammate Troy Herfoss, who sits second in the title chase, only did four laps before his Indian had a technical issue and only completed two laps on a track he’d never seen before. Herfoss ended the day 11th.

Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race – Who Else But Moore
Mikayla Moore did what she normally does on a Friday, on a Saturday and a Sunday. She went fast. The Upper Marlboro, Maryland, rider started off her weekend with provisional pole position and a new lap record on her Royal Enfield Continental GT 650.

Moore lapped at a best of 2:04.845, which was 4.455 faster than second-placed Aubrey Credaroli. Lauren Prince had her best effort to date with the third fastest lap of the day and less than a second off Credaroli’s best.

Kira Knebel and Emma Betters rounded out the top five.

For more news check out our dedicated MotoAmerica News page MotoAmerica News

Or visit the official MotoAmerica website motoamerica.com/

©Words/Images are from official press release posted courtesy of motoamerica.com/

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Zaccone on song to claim pole at the Cathedral

By
Frank Duggan
-
Zaccone On Song To Claim Pole At The CathedralThe #61 beats Garzo and Zannoni to Dutch TT pole as Casadei looks for a comeback on Saturday

Alessandro Zaccone (Tech3 E-Racing) will launch from pole position for a second consecutive race weekend as the Italian claimed a Friday P1 at the Motul TT Assen.

Zaccone’s advantage over second place Hector Garzo (Dynavolt Intact GP MotoE™) was a healthy 0.338s at the flag, with third place Kevin Zannoni (Openbank Aspar Team) coming through Q1 to sit 0.571s away from the #61’s impressive 1:39.444 lap record pole time.

Meanwhile, Championship leader Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team) had to settle for a P9 starting slot, giving him work to do when the lights go out.

On Saturday, it’s lights out at 12:15 local time (UTC +2) for Race 1 before Race 2 gets underway at 16:10 local time.

Zaccone On Song To Claim Pole At The CathedralOffers / Codes

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Bagnaia slams in new lap record to edge out Viñales at the Cathedral

By
Frank Duggan
-
Bagnaia Slams In New Lap Record To Edge Out Viñales At The CathedralThe reigning Champion ends both sessions fastest, edging out Viñales by 0.065 as Alex Marquez heads the chasing pack.

With rumours, tension, and excitement swirling around the paddock at the Motul TT Assen as we get back in gear, the battle for direct entry to Q2 did not disappoint in the hour-long Practice session on Friday afternoon. Ending the day at the top of the timesheets it’s Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), who completed a perfect day in the Netherlands. The #1 set a blistering time early on in Practice before improving later in the session, setting a brilliant 1:31.340. In a remarkable stat, Bagnaia going fastest in the first session on Friday was also the first time he’s ever done that in the premier class, despite two premier class World Championships and a full CV by nearly every metric.

Nevertheless, it was close at the top by the end of the all-important afternoon Practice session, with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) claiming second after improving yet again on his final fast lap – ending the day only 0.065s shy of Bagnaia. Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) had a positive end to Friday after a magnificent lap allowed the #73 to round out the top three, leading the chasing pack but with a small deficit to the top duo… and one he’ll be looking to bridge on Saturday.Bagnaia Slams In New Lap Record To Edge Out Viñales At The Cathedral

It was a dramatic session throughout which all came down to the final 15-minute time attack. Bagnaia was at the top as red sectors began to pop up everywhere, and it was Viñales who took over for the first time this weekend. Bagnaia soon responded on his next flying lap, however, securing that P1.

There would be drama heading into the final run elsewhere though, with Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) having a close moment with Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), but utlimately no hard done.

Further back, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) took fourth and showed great pace throughout the session – completing over 20 laps. However, the #41 suffered a crash in the closing minutes at the final corner, ending his session just before the flag came out. He’s been given the all clear and passed fit to race, but remains a little bruised. Behind the Spaniard was compatriot Martin, who rounded out the top five.

Sixth place went the way of Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), who had an incredible front-end save during the session – improving on his 22nd lap. Brad Binder was next up, flying the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing flag inside the top 10 with his teammate Miller down in 18th place at the end of Friday.

Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) held onto eighth place and a spot inside Q2 despite suffering from a crash of his own with three minutes to go. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing) took ninth as his solid form continues to hold, with Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) taking the final spot inside the top 10 and the final direct entry spot into Q2.

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) was the rider in P11 just missing out, ahead of Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and his teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio. They’ll be some of the first looking to attack in Q1 to move through. Join us on Saturday morning for that, before the Tissot Sprint lights up the TT Circuit Assen.

Bagnaia Slams In New Lap Record To Edge Out Viñales At The CathedralFP2: 10:10 (UTC +2)
Q1: 10:50
Q2: 11.15
Tissot Sprint: 15:00

Offers / Codes

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Aldeguer sets new lap record as Roberts suffers Assen blow

By
Frank Duggan
-
Aldeguer Sets New Lap Record As Roberts Suffers Assen BlowFriday’s Motul TT Assen Moto2™ honours went the way of Fermin Aldeguer (Folladore SpeedUp Racing) as the Spaniard set a new intermediate class lap record – a 1:35.912 – to lead Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) and Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing).

However, the latter endured a Turn 7 highside which resulted in the American suffering a right collarbone fracture, ruling him unfit for Saturday and Sunday’s action.

World Championship leader, Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI), ended Friday a close fourth as under three tenths split the leading quartet heading into Saturday’s all-important Practice 2 and qualifying sessions.

Home stars Bo Bendsneyder (Preicanos Racing Team) and Zonta van den Goorbergh (RW – Idrofoglia Racing GP) have placed themselves inside the provisional automatic Q2 places in P12 and P14 respectively, with both aiming to stay there when Practice 2 on Saturday morning draws to a close.

And said session begins at 09:25 local time (UTC +2), before qualifying starts at 13:45. Tune into every lap over on motogp.com

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For more Moto2 info checkout our dedicated Moto2 News page

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©Words/Images are from official press release posted courtesy of www.motogp.com

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Veijer bags home turf top spot as Alonso crashes twice

By
Frank Duggan
-
Veijer Bags Home Turf Top Spot As Alonso Crashes TwiceHome hero Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) bagged top spot on Day 1 at Assen as the Dutchman set a 1:40.259 to head the lightweight class field by 0.294s.

Ryusei Yamanaka and his MT Helmets – MSI teammate Ivan Ortola enjoyed fruitful Fridays as the Japanese and Spaniard head into Saturday’s action in P2 and P3 respectively.

World Championship leader David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) crashed, unhurt, twice in the afternoon’s Practice 1 session, with the Colombian ending a trickier-than-expected day in P9.

Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), the rider second in the title race, goes into Practice 2 sitting 10th as the top two in the standings hunt to cut the current deficit to Veijer.

Tune into Moto3™ Practice 2 at 08:40 local time (UTC +2) on motogp.com on Saturday morning, with qualifying going green at 12:50.

Offers / Codes

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NEW IN Trackhouse 2024 Replica T-Shirt: https://store.motogp.com/en/track-house-racing/trackhouse-2024-replica-t-shirt/t-1623566268+p-685589489951+z-7-2220343367

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For more Moto3 info checkout our dedicated Moto3 News page

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©Words/Images are from official press release posted courtesy of www.motogp.com

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Ducati DesertX Discovery, the bike ready to embark on adventure without limits

By
Frank Duggan
-

Ducati Desertx Discovery, The Bike Ready To Embark On Adventure Without LimitsThe DesertX Discovery is the Ducati that comes ready to experience unforgettable adventures on and off-road thanks to “full optional” equipment that makes it ready to discover any destination. With the new DesertX Discovery you can enjoy your travels like never before, thanks to components designed to increase the comfort and protection of the bike and rider, sure not to go unnoticed with the gritty new Thrilling Black/Ducati Red livery.

The DesertX Discovery was created to be unstoppable on any terrain and for this reason it is equipped as standard with reinforced hand guards and engine guard with protection for the water pump, radiator grill and reinforced sump guard to protect the bike on the most difficult sections. The  heated grips and the larger windshield increase comfort at low temperatures, and the central stand makes the motorcycle more stable, facilitating access to luggage during stops and maintenance operations on the chain and rear wheel.

DesertX Discovery is in fact equipped as standard with 76-litre aluminium cases, which combine functionality and style, allowing you to carry everything you need for limitless adventures*Ducati Desertx Discovery, The Bike Ready To Embark On Adventure Without LimitsThe DesertX is the ideal travel companion even on road routes thanks to a nimble and precise chassis, which ensures easy and intuitive riding. For this reason, the Turn-by-turn navigator, which can be used through the Ducati Link App, guides the rider towards his destination clearly by showing the directions directly on the dashboard.

The DesertX is a versatile motorcycle, at ease on mixed alpine routes as well as on dirt tracks, thanks to a chassis based on a steel trellis frame, with long suspension travel, which makes it suitable for any adventure. At the same time, the triple homologation for the tyres allows you to choose between different possibilities: from solutions that favour road driving, to others more oriented towards off-road.

The heart of the DesertX is the 937 cc liquid-cooled Testastretta 11° desmodromic distribution engine with 110 hp at 9,250 rpm and maximum torque of 92 Nm at 6,500 rpm, optimized for specific use in the gearbox and electronic equipment. On DesertX, in fact, three Riding modes are dedicated to road use while two are specifically designed for off-road riding. Thanks to a tank with a capacity of over 21 litres, it is possible to travel whilst limiting refuelling stops to a minimum.
Ducati Desertx Discovery, The Bike Ready To Embark On Adventure Without LimitsThe DesertX family (which can be customized through the new configurator), in addition to the new Discovery, also includes the Rally model, dedicated to the sportiest and most daring off-roaders, to those who love rally raids and competitions, developed and tested on fields of racing like the Erzbergrodeo. It is characterized by having the best racing-derived components: specialist and powerful off-road solutions have been adopted on the DesertX Rally.

The Ducati DesertX 2025 in standard trim remains available in the Matt Star White Silk livery only. Both versions are also offered in a 35 kW depowered version for A2 license holders.

The Bologna-based motorcycle manufacturer also offers  the “4Ever Ducati” guarantee*, valid for 4 years with unlimited mileage, guaranteed by the entire dealer network, on all DesertX models.

Retail price in the UK for the DesertX Discovery is £17,295

#Ducati #DesertX #DreamWilder

*In countries where applied.

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TT Assen MotoGP Merchandise Promo

By
Frank Duggan
-

Tt Assen Merchandise Promo

Offers / Codes

29/06 – 01/07: RIDER20 (20% OFF *Exclusions Apply)

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This Weeks HOT Products

NEW IN Trackhouse 2024 Replica T-Shirt: https://store.motogp.com/en/track-house-racing/trackhouse-2024-replica-t-shirt/t-1623566268+p-685589489951+z-7-2220343367

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Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. sign Multi-Year Partnership Agreement with Prima Pramac Racing

By
Frank Duggan
-

Jerez Test: Diggia Pips Viñales To P1, Yamaha Unveil New-look Bike

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. are pleased to announce that Prima Pramac Racing will be Yamaha’s ‘second Factory Team’ from 2025 onwards, while remaining an independently owned team.

The multi-year programme foresees a close cooperation between the two parties which includes Yamaha providing same spec Factory YZR-M1 bikes, riders directly contracted by Yamaha, and MotoGP engineering staff contracted by Yamaha working together with Prima Pramac Racing team staff.

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. are delighted to announce their multi-year agreement with Prima Pramac Racing which will see two extra Factory Yamaha YZR-M1s lined up on the MotoGP grid from 2025 onwards. The new second Factory Yamaha team will remain independently owned and keep their base in Rugby (UK). The 2025 Prima Pramac Racing rider line-up will be announced in due course. By doubling Yamaha’s current presence on the MotoGP™ grid next year, Yamaha aim to make a strong statement of their intentions to return to winning ways in the near future.

LIN JARVIS
Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Racing
These are busy times for Yamaha, both on track and behind the scenes. Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (YMC) and Yamaha Motor Racing (YMR) have made it no secret that they are putting all their effort into bike development.

We now enter the next phase – one that we have been looking forward to for a long time: the arrival of a second Yamaha team.

The new partnership with Prima Pramac Racing will take a different form than we have used in the past.

Rather than a satellite team, with this new agreement Yamaha have put their trust in Pramac Racing, and we will be providing them with Factory bikes of the same specification used by the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team.

The targets are to accelerate bike development, which remains YMC and YMR’s key priority in our quest to return to winning ways, as well as having four competitive riders in the MotoGP championship in two top-class teams.

In addition to the MotoGP programme, our collaboration includes a future Moto2 project to provide a platform to groom future MotoGP riders. It is too early to give details about this programme right now as this will be developed in the months ahead.

I would like to extend my personal appreciation and thanks to Paolo Campinoti, CEO of Pramac, and Gino Borsoi, Team Manager of Prima Pramac Racing, for their faith and trust in Yamaha. We have the greatest respect for their team, and we assure them of our full commitment to make this new partnership highly successful for many years to come.

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V-Strom 800DE Rally Edition build by SR75 Suzuki World Team

By
Frank Duggan
-
V-strom 800de Rally Edition Build By Sr75 Suzuki World TeamSR75 World Team Suzuki has applied its off-road racing experience and expertise to the new V-Strom 800DE to create a new Rally Edition, which it plans to race later this season.

Building on a platform already designed to be the most off-road focussed V-Strom ever, the SR75 Rally Edition is equipped with a robust AS3 sump guard and AS3 handlebar risers, atop which sits a set of RM-Z450 ‘bars.

Giving the 776cc parallel twin more bark is a modified FMF titanium exhaust system, while the standard 21” and 17” wheels have been swapped for a 21” and 18” wheel set from ENVY. They are shod with Dunlop D209RR tyres and mousses.

The whole package is finished off with an SR75 Suzuki livery from GP Grafix.

SR75 Suzuki team owner, Geoff Walker, commented, “Racing RM-Zs around the world might be our bread and butter but we’re also always up for a project build like this. We produced the SR75 V-Strom 650XT a couple of years ago, and as soon as the 800DE was launched we were always keen to get our hands on one. This is really stage one of the build and we will make some more modifications before we go racing, but we think we’ve taken what was already a solid base package for an adventure bike you could hard ride off-road or into town for a coffee – it’s that versatile and usable – and turned it into a bike that can hold its own in a competitive rally.”

The UK-based team is known primarily for its success in the world of supercross and arenacross, with multiple Arenacross UK titles and championships in France and Denmark, plus appearances in the AMA Supercross Championship and the FIM World Supercross Championship.

In standard form the V-Strom 800DE is off-road ready, and comes with 220mm of ground clearance, a tough steel frame with separate bolt-on subframe, and fully-adjustable suspension from Showa with 220mm of travel.

The SR75 Suzuki V-Strom 800DE Rally Edition will be on display at the Adventure Bike Rider Festival at Ragley Hall this weekend, 28-30 June, along with Suzuki’s range of V-Strom models, with on and off-road test rides available.

For more event information, click here. 

For more Suzuki GB news check out our dedicated page Suzuki GB News

For more information on Suzuki Bikes GB visit bikes.suzuki.co.uk/bikes/

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Y.100 Helmet is the NEXX Level

By
Frank Duggan
-
Y.100 Helmet Is The Nexx LevelAccessibly-priced full-face helmet made in Europe

New to the NEXX range, the Y.100 is an entry-level full-face helmet designed and manufactured in Europe.

Its Polyfusion shell has a sleek design that enhances stability and minimises noise, while maintaining a lightweight profile that meets the latest ECE22.06 standards.

Up front the X-SWIFT Quick Release visor sits in an extra wide aperture, for maximum all-round vision. It’s rated optical class 1 and comes ready to accept a Pinlock anti-fog insert. There’s a drop-down Sun Visor to help deal with glare.

The Y.100’s shell and lining is also designed to reduce the impact of exterior noise, keeping the rider fully focussed on the road, with a thick neck roll that blocks noise and wind from entering from underneath the helmet.

Adjustable ventilation ports front and back, and a fresh air chamber between the EPS liner and the padding, provide a cooling flow of air when the temperature rises.

The interior is made from soft-touch X.MART Dry fabric, which is removable and washable,with anti-sweat and anti-allergen properties.

For those who need to stay connected, the Y.100 comes ready to accept X-COM3 Bluetooth 5.0 comms. Both the X-COM3 standard and X-COM3 Pro – with 2.0 Mesh Technology, and sound by Harman Kardon – will fit straight in.

There’s even a removable side mount for easy attachment of a Go-Pro action-camera.

Like all NEXX helmets, the Y.100 is 100% designed and made in Europe. It comes in three model options: the ‘Pure’ in Black, which retails at just £109.99; the ‘Core’ in Titanium or White Pearl, at £139.99; and the ‘B-Side’ which costs £169.99 and is available in three graphic options.

Both the Core and B-Side come with a Pinlock 70 insert, and Go-Pro mount.

For full spec and colour options, visit nexx-helmet.co.uk

For more Nexx Helmet news check out our dedicated page Nexx Helmet News

For more information on Nexx Helmets products visit nexx-helmets.com

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