Bulega impresses with blazing fastest lap while Bautista explores combined weight set-up

Nicolo Bulega continued to set the pace at Jerez, clocking an impressive 1’37.809s lap time that remained untouched throughout the day.

Jonathan Rea and Toprak Razgatlioglu, adjusting to their new teams, concluded the second day with the second- and fourth-fastest times, respectively. Scott Redding claimed the third spot on the timesheets.

Challenges arose for Alvaro Bautista, the reigning WorldSBK Champion, as he navigated the Jerez test, focusing on adapting to the new weight regulation.

On the second day of testing at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, Andalucía, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) continued his dominance, setting an exceptional lap record pace, leaving his competitors trailing by more than half a second. In contrast, teammate Alvaro Bautista encountered difficulties, finishing in 16th, lapping in 1’39.583s. Ducati showcased strength with Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) securing fifth place while Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) also delivered a solid performance, finishing seventh. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) claiming ninth while Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) was 15th on his sole day of testing.

Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) showcased Yamaha’s prowess, securing second place with a 1’38.345s, while teammate Andrea Locatelli completed the top ten. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) secured eighth place, while Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) took 12th.

In a surprising turn, Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) surged late to claim third place with a 1’38.572s, pushing Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) to fourth. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) also performed well, securing sixth place. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) finished 13th with a best time of 1’39.224s.

Leading the Kawasaki camp, Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) finished in 11th place, focusing on race pace, with Axel Bassani improving to 14th. Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was 18th.

Honda had a challenging day, with Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) leading the team in 16th, and teammate Iker Lecuona finishing 19th.

The WorldSBK Paddock is set to move to Portimao, continuing its testing program on January 29th and 30th.

Nicolo Bulega | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati

“It was a solid test. We tried things that I liked. The time attack was very good, and the pace was consistent all day with race tyres. I’m very proud and happy of my fast lap. It’s our first test of the year, and we already have this great feeling with the bike. It wasn’t easy, but when I saw the dashboard with 1’37.8s, I was smiling. I’m happy with all the work done during this first test of the year. I’m already looking forward to the next one. We’ll continue working this way and keep improving the feeling with the bike in Portimao.”

Jerez Test Day 2 Results:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’37.809, 69 laps

2. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 1’38.345s, 78 laps

3. Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) 1’38.572s, 77 laps

4. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’38.638s, 78 laps

5. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) 1’38.744s, 61 laps

6. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) 1’38.832s, 74 laps

7. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) 1’38,852s, 91 laps

8. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) 1’38.871s, 76 laps

9. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 1’38.907s, 73 laps

10. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 1’38.943s, 73 laps

2023 WorldSSP runner-up Stefano Manzi (Pata Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) took top spot in the World Supersport field with a 1’41.338s, completing 64 laps. He was three tenths clear of Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in second as he continues his comeback from arm surgery, while Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) took P3. With Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) in fourth, four different manufacturers were inside the top four at the end of Day 2.

More, from a press release issued by Team HRC Honda:

Team HRC preps for the 2024 WorldSBK Championship with a two-day test at Jerez

Team HRC has kicked off preparations for the upcoming 2024 Superbike World Championship with two days of testing at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Spain.

Benefiting from almost ideal weather conditions on both Wednesday and Thursday, with clear skies and mild temperatures for the time of year, factory riders Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge made the most of the track time, riding from 10.30am until 6.00pm.

The squad focused on identifying a solid base-setup for the new CBR1000RR-R. This involved testing a series of upgrades made to different areas of the machine, and building on the work completed in November when the bike made its debut outing at Jerez. In addition to this setup work, the team also tested the new E40 sustainable fuel, the use of which is part of the 2024 Superbike regulation, in order to gather data and insights.

Lecuona and Vierge made an impressive number of laps over the course of two intense days, further developing their understanding of the bike’s performance and potential as a result.

Team HRC now looks ahead to its next testing session at Portugal’s Autódromo Internacional do Algarve on 29-30 January, when the preparations for the upcoming racing season will continue.
 

 
Xavi Vierge  97

“I’m happy to be back working with my squad and all the members of my team. We’ve had two days of ideal weather conditions here in Jerez, which has allowed us to complete a lot of laps and get through a significant amount of work. It’s true that we’ve had a little more difficulty than expected, especially during the traction phase, so one of our main goals here was to improve traction and grip. The overall feeling on the bike is quite good, but as soon as we close the throttle, we cannot exploit the power and have too much spin. We’ve made a number of adjustments to the bike setup and electronics, and now it will be crucial for the engineers to analyze all the data and come up with a solid plan for Portimão, so that we can quickly make progress.”
 
 

Iker Lecuona  7

“Over the winter I had a small surgery on my left hand, as I’d been having some issues last season, an after-effect of having broken my hand back in 2021. Although I’ve had to scale back my gym work a little, I’m almost 100% and am now training properly again; I feel strong physically but also mentally and was looking forward to getting on the bike yesterday. I see 2024 as being an important year for me, and so I want to do my best to be ready for it. I feel we’ve taken a step with the aero package, and the bike overall seems to work in a different way, thanks to updated electronics and the like, which helps us to improve in certain areas. Having said that, the bike is new, and we’re still struggling with certain aspects. I wanted to find better front feeling this week, and we worked hard to achieve that but are not there yet. The next two days of testing at Portimão will be important, giving us the chance to understand how the bike feels at a completely different track and to establish the best possible base before we head to Phillip Island.”

More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:

Bulega in great form at Jerez (P1). Intense set up work for Bautista. Huertas does well in WorldSSP (P3)

The first two days of testing for the 2024 WorldSBK season concluded at Jerez de la Frontera (Spain).

At the Angel Nieto Circuit, Nicolò Bulega proved to be already at ease on the Ducati Panigale V4R of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, finishing first on both Day 1 and Day 2 and setting an impressive chrono of 1’37.809, the fastest time ever set at the Angel Nieto Circuit by a World Superbike rider.

Extremely intense work by Bautista: for the first time, he was able to test the bike in the 2024 configuration, with the extra kilos of ballast required by the new regulations. The Spanish rider (still not at the top of his condition after the scary crash he was involved in during the previous winter test at Jerez) carried out extensive set-up work with his team, completing 149 laps in two days. The time of 1’39.583 (P17) is not indicative, as Bautista was one of the very few riders not taking to the track on a qualifying tire.

Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #11)

“I am happy because we took another step forward, even compared to yesterday, and the feeling has grown steadily. We worked well on the time attack and that means I was also able to improve on the qualifying tires. I think it was an important test and now we go to Portimao to continue on this path. Today’s lap time? It doesn’t change anything: I remain a rookie and my objectives are different to the top riders”.

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #1)

“I am satisfied because on Day 1, due to some pain, I didn’t get the best feeling; today things went better and this is undoubtedly a good sign. I can say that my condition has even improved. We worked a lot on the set-up, especially in light of the new regulations, and we got some important indications. We haven’t tried a time attack but that wasn’t the priority of this testing. I am looking forward to being at Portimao to continue on this path and to get further feedback on my condition”. 

WorldSSP

Good start for Adrian Huertas and the Ducati Panigale V2 of the Aruba.it Racing WSSP team. The Spanish rider completed 124 laps, lowering today (1’41.942) by more than 6 tenths of a second the time recorded on Day 1 and finishing in third place among the 13 WorldSSP riders on track.

Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WSSP #99)

“I am very satisfied with the work we did. We tried many solutions and we were able to understand which of them could be useful and which ones did not work well. We didn’t focus on the lap time but we will have a chance to do that in the upcoming tests.” 

More, from a press release issued by Elf Marc VDS Racing:

Lowes steps up WorldSBK preparations in Jerez
 

With their debut season in the WorldSBK Championship fast approaching, the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team and Sam Lowes were back on track for the first time in 2024 to complete a positive two-day test session at the Circuito de Angel Nieto in Jerez.
 

Riding in the stunning new Elf Marc VDS WorldSBK livery for the first time, favourable weather conditions enabled Lowes to continue his adaptation to Ducati’s Panigale V4 R machine in impressive fashion.
 

With the majority of this year’s star-studded WorldSBK line-up on track in Jerez, Lowes finished the test in a hugely encouraging eighth position, with plenty of data and experience gained ahead of next month’s season opener in Australia.
 

The Elf Marc VDS Racing Team now leaves Spain to cross the border into Portugal for another two-day test session at the spectacular Algarve International Circuit next week.
 
 

Sam Lowes 
 

/// 8th, 1:38.852, 173 laps
 
 

After the winter break, Lowes was busy on track on day one to complete 82 laps, with his prime focus on finding a base set-up while also gaining crucial experience of Pirelli’s hard compound tyres.
 

Lowes ended the first day only 0.3s behind reigning World Champion Alvaro Bautista, with continual improvements made throughout, which was reflected in his fast and constant pace in race trim.
 

More valuable set-up work was accomplished in a marathon stint of 91 laps on the second day, which saw Lowes use Pirelli’s super grippy soft rear tyre for his first time attack on the Ducati Panigale VR 4.
  

His performance on softer rubber was particularly eye-catching, with Lowes able to lap 1.3s faster compared to his best time on day one and he ended eighth overall with a fastest lap of 1:38.852 to finish third fastest Ducati on track.
 
 

“This test was full of positives”
 

“I’m really happy with how the test finished. I improved a lot compared to the first day and I felt a lot better on the bike. That’s a normal evolution as I get more used to the Ducati and know what I need to be fast. The team has done an amazing job in helping me understand more how to ride a superbike and I’m starting to feel like this is my bike. I did a lot of good laps on my own and today was the first time I tried the super soft Pirelli tyre. My time was fast, but I only used one tyre, so I’m sure I could go even faster again. We must be happy with the job we’ve done, and I know there is a plenty more to come as we do more laps and get more comfortable with the Ducati. We did a lot of laps in Jerez, and I feel pretty tired now, but I can’t thank the team enough for all their hard work. We tried a lot of different set-ups to help us get very important information and now I’m looking forward to going to Portimao next week to understand the bike on a completely different track. This test was full of positives and gives me a big boost heading to Portugal.”

The post WorldSBK: Bulega Under Lap Record As Testing Concludes At Jerez appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Ducati’s Rookie Nicolo Bulega stealed the spotlight, clocking the fastest time on the day on soft tyres.

Having recently switched teams, BMW’s Toprak Razgatlioglu and Yamaha’s Jonathan Rea delivered on their promises with rapid lap times.

Making their WorldSBK debuts, Andrea Iannone seized the seventh spot, while Sam Lowes holds his ground at 15th, setting the foundation for what promises to be an exciting rookie season.

On day one of the WorldSBK test at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, Andalucía, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) set the pace with an impressive lap time of 1’38.292s, leaving competitors over a second behind by electing to gain some mileage on the Pirelli SCQ tyre. However, teammate Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) faced challenges, finishing tenth as he strategized for the new 2024 weight rules.

In the Kawasaki camp, despite health issues, Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) secured the second position with a fastest lap of 1’39.474s, while teammate Axel Bassani finished 14th, familiarising himself with the ZX-10RR setup. Independent rider Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) aimed for progress with a factory bike from KRT.

BMW had a noteworthy day, with Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claiming third place with a time of 1’39.521s, and Michael van der Mark securing fourth. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) and teammate Scott Redding made significant contributions to BMW’s testing program, securing the eighth and 13th positions, respectively.

Yamaha showcased strength, with Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) leading in fifth place with a time of 1’39.679s, closely trailed by newcomer Jonathan Rea (Pata Yamaha Prometeon) in sixth. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon) just missed the top ten, securing 11th place, while Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) claimed 12th.

Team HRC’s Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge focused on adapting to the new CBR1000RR-R machine, with Lecuona finishing 16th.

Notable performances from Independents included Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) in seventh, Danilo Petrucci (BARNI Spark Racing Team) in ninth, and Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) in 15th.

More on worldsbk.com

Nicolo Bulega | Aruba.it Racing – Ducati

“I had a good feeling today. I could push almost 100%, so this is important. I had fun today with my bike and my team. We are starting to understand each other well, we’re on the right path, and we just need to spend more time on the bike. Today, I focused on my position on the bike because I need to adapt my body to the bike. We tried some different things to have a good base. Tomorrow, we’ll continue the work we did today, try to keep improving, and maybe improve with used tyres.”

Jerez Test Day 1 Results:

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’38.292s, 71 laps

2. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1’39.474s, 31 laps

3. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’39.521s, 74 laps

4. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’39.531s, 72 laps

5. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) 1’39.679s, 83 laps

6. Jonathan Rea (Pata Yamaha Prometeon) 1’39.682s, 72 laps

7. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) 1’39.664s, 67 laps

8. Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) 1’39.763s, 73 laps

9. Danilo Petrucci (BARNI Spark Racing Team) 1’39.773s, 66 laps

10. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’39.847s, 68 laps

The WorldSSP field was led by Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) as the German posted a 1’42.015s to claim P1 ahead of Stefano Manzi (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) with just a tenth separating the two. Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was third as he took to the track on his ZX-6R featuring upgrades, while the Turk was also building up fitness following surgery on his arm over the winter. He was only 0.015s behind Manzi, while Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) completed the top four.

The post WorldSBK: Rookie Bulega Best On Day One Of Testing At Jerez appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Angles won the ASRA Superstock 1000 and ASRA Supersport 600 races, Keesee took first place in ASRA 400, and Ed Sullivan, the Crew Chief of MotoAmerica Superbike racer Mathew Scholtz, earned the victory in ASRA Thunderbike.

The post ASRA: Angles, Keesee, Sullivan Win At Homestead-Miami Speedway appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Brad Binder and Marco Bezzecchi were second and third, respectively, and fourth on his Ducati debut was Marc Marquez. Marquez’s 1:29.424 best lap on a 2023 Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici was less than two-tenths slower than his qualifying lap on Saturday on his Repsol Honda RC213V. 

Two-time World Champion Francesco Bagnaia finished 11th on his Lenovo Ducati, and 2023 title challenger and runner-up Jorge Martin crashed early and could manage only 15th on his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati.

Bagnaia, Binder and Bezzecchi tied for the highest top speed at 337 kph (209.402 mph), with Binder’s KTM the only non-Ducati of the fastest six machines.

Among the other riders who switched to new motorcycles Tuesday:

Luca Marini, Marquez’s replacement at Repsol Honda, finished 10th with a 1:29.956 on his new RC213V.

Franco Morbidelli was 16th with a 1:30.206 on his new Prima Pramac Racing Ducati.

Johann Zarco ranked 17th with a 1:30.283 on his new LCR Honda.

2023 Moto2 World Champion Pedro Acosta was 18th with a 1:30.476 in his debut ride on his new GASGAS machine.

And Alex Rins ended the day 19th with a 1:30.564 on his ex-Morbidelli Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1, which was only half a second slower than his new teammate Fabio Quartararo’s 12th-quickest 1:30.022.

The post MotoGP: Vinales Fastest At Post-Season Valencia Test appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

The all-time lap record for a Moto2 machine was set on Saturday by Fermin Aldeguer at 1:33.264. Lopez topped Monday’s Moto2 timesheets with a 1:33.061 in the first session, just edging Aron Canet’s best of 1:33.074, also set in the first session.

Holgado took a little longer to get down to his best time, waiting until the second session to set a 1:37.300 to set the benchmark for the 23 riders who set a time. The all-time Moto3 lap record was a 1:38.286 set by Darryn Binder in 2020.

Pirelli will serve as the control tire supplier for the Moto2 and Moto3 series from 2024 through 2026.

More, from a press release issued by Pirelli:

Pirelli’s era in Moto2 and Moto3 begins with all time lap records

In the first 2024 official test, on Pirelli tyres, Lopez in Moto2 and Holgado in Moto3 were the fastest riders, setting the all time lap record for the Valencia circuit in their respective classes

Today the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia hosted the first official 2024 test for the Moto2 and Moto3 riders which also marked the beginning of the Pirelli era in these championships.

Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp – BOSCOSCURO) was the fastest rider of the day in Moto2 with a time of 1’33.061, setting a new all time lap record for this circuit and class.
Likewise, Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) was the fastest in Moto3 in 1’37.300, actually improving the lap record for this class by a second.

Lopez set the new all-time lap record in the first session on his 24th out of 26 laps completed, improving the record set by Aldeguer this year in FP3 by two tenths. Holgado did the same in the second session on the 13th out of 17 laps, shattering Binder’s previous record (1’38.286) from 2020.
 
All riders used DIABLO Superbike slick tyres in soft and medium compounds for both the front and rear. In Moto2 in size 125/70 R17 front and 200/65 R17 rear, in Moto3 100/70 R17 front and 120/70 R17 rear.

These are standard tyres and not prototypes, meaning they can be purchased by any motorcyclist because they are regularly on sale.

Giorgio Barbier, Motorcycle Racing Director

All time lap records: the best way to start the Pirelli era
 

“We are very satisfied with the results obtained in this first official 2024 test with the Moto2 and Moto3 riders and teams. For us the goal was to confirm the good impressions seen at the beginning of September on the Montmelò circuit. On that occasion, as it was a private test, no official times were provided, whereas today it was possible to make a direct comparison with the times of the weekend just gone, in similar weather conditions and temperatures. Achieving the all-time lap records ever for this track in the respective championships, in the case of Moto3 even improving it by a second, is certainly clear and easily quantifiable proof of the excellent performance that our tyres are able to guarantee. Some riders ran more laps than the race distance using the same set of tyres, even if not consecutive, with limited drop and good wear. All the compounds performed well, clearly the softer ones are generally those that allowed the riders to achieve their best times. We know that the tests, although representative, are never like a race weekend and that each track makes history in its own right but we can say that the conditions for doing a good job next season are all there.”

More, from a press release issued by Marc VDS Racing Team:

Elf Marc VDS Racing Team kick off 2024 Moto2 preparations in Valencia
 

Less than 24 hours after the conclusion of the 2023 Moto2 World Championship in Valencia, the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team made a rapid return to the Ricardo Tormo Circuit to commence important preparations for next season’s title challenge.
 

On a vital test day that saw the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team welcome Filip Salac as Tony Arbolino’s teammate for 2024, the focal point of today’s action was to allow the duo time to assess the performance of tyres from new exclusive supplier Pirelli.
 

In warm and sunny conditions, Arbolino and Salac completed over 140 laps of the 4km Ricardo Tormo Circuit before heading off on a well-deserved winter break.
 
 

Tony Arbolino 
 

/// 7th, 1:33.383, 79 laps

Runner-up in the 2023 Moto2 World Championship campaign, Arbolino’s bid to go one better next year got off to a busy but positive start, as the Italian completed nearly 80 laps in three sessions.
 

Immediately finding confidence with the new Pirelli rubber, Arbolino ended with a best lap of 1:33.383 to finish just one-hundredth-of-a-second outside of the top six.
 

Arbolino’s best lap was nearly a second faster than his qualifying pace during last weekend’s season finale in Valencia, with the 23-year-old excited at the prospect of racing the new Pirelli tyres for the first time in Qatar’s season opener next March.
 

“The Pirelli tyres suit my riding style”
 

“Today has been an important test to try and recover a good feeling on the bike because it was a difficult race weekend for us here in Valencia. I have to say we did a great job because I felt confident again on the bike and that was the main objective. The first touch with the Pirelli tyres was very positive and they suit my riding style. You get a lot of feedback, and you feel so comfortable, and I think it is going to be an interesting season next year. I’m happy also to see Filip in the garage because I think we can help each other improve next season. Now I will spend the winter training hard and studying data to understand where we can be even more competitive in 2024.”
 
 
 

Filip Salac
 

/// 17th, 1:33.723, 62 laps

Today’s test was very much a familiarisation exercise for the Czech rider, who was getting acquainted to his new crew at Elf Marc VDS Racing while also assessing the new range of Pirelli rubber.
 

Salac immediately felt comfortable in his new surroundings and his hard braking style was instantly a positive match with the new Pirelli tyres.
 

He was able to make constant progress throughout the day to improve his lap time by 0.6s to finish within touching distance of the top 10.
 
“I’ve enjoyed this first experience in the box and immediately I have a positive feeling”

 
“It has been an amazing day for me today and I want to thank the Team for giving me such a warm welcome. I’ve enjoyed this first experience in the box and immediately I have a positive feeling. The communication is already very good with my crew, and we have been able to get positive sensations from the new Pirelli tyres. I have to say my feeling with Pirelli is amazing and we also tried some set-up changes on the bike that all helped us make steps forward. The difference between Pirelli and what we have used previously in Moto2 was bigger than I expected. The front tyre I think is going to be really good for my riding style and we haven’t come anywhere near to finding the limit of their potential and I’m already quite fast. It feels like it will be slightly more difficult to manage the tyres in the race, but I think this is a great step for Moto2. Now I’m hoping that the next three months go really quick because I can’t wait to be back on the bike again.”

More, from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM Tech3:

FIRST TASTE OF 2024: HOLGADO SETS NEW ALL TIME LAP RECORD IN VALENCIA, ROULSTONE MAKES DEBUTS IN MOTO3

We got a small taste of what 2024 will look like for Red Bull KTM Tech3 on Monday in Valencia as the lightweight class participated in the Valencia Moto3 Official Test. Daniel Holgado tried the 2024 KTM bike as he will stay with the team for a second season, and he was joined by new recrue Jacob Roulstone, from Australia, who made his debuts in the Moto3 class with his new team. The lightweight class had three different sessions to get on with their testing plan, as they shared the track with the Moto2 class.

Twenty-rounds all over the world were completed in 2023, but the Red Bull KTM Tech3 crew still needed what was left of Daniel Holgado’s energy on Monday as the Moto3 class began its 2024 campaign. The number 96 was able to try the 2024 bike provided by KTM, in addition to the new Pirelli tyres, and it is fair to say that everything seemed to go well as the Spaniard set a new all time lap record at the circuit Ricardo Tormo with a 1’37.300, 0.986 seconds faster than the 1’38.286 of Darryn Binder from 2021. Dani rode two of the three sessions, completed a total of thirty-six laps with his new package, and headed to the off season fastest of the final official day on track of 2023.

The Red Bull KTM Tech3 welcomed eighteen year-old Australian Jacob Roulstone coming from the FIM Junior Grand Prix with the Aspar Team, in addition to having participated in the 2023 edition of the Red Bull Rookies Cup. The goal of the day was to take this first day to discover his new bike and get his first feeling of the Moto3 class. The young boy rode a total of 58 laps across the three sessions with a best lap 1’38.511 from Session 3. 

The next time Red Bull KTM Tech3 will hit the track with Daniel Holgado and Jacob Roulstone will be in February 2024, at the Portimao Moto3 Test on February 22nd and 23rd.

Daniel Holgado
 

Position: 1st

Time: 1’37.300

Laps: 36
 

“I am really happy with our test day because we had both the new KTM bike and Pirelli tyres, and I was really fast.  The grip was also very good. Everyone worked really well, so I want to thank both KTM and the Tech3 team for this amazing day, because we head to the off season on a really positive note. It is now time to rest and recover from this intense year.”

Jacob Roulestone
 

Position: 12th

Time: 1’38.511

Laps: 58
 

“I am very happy with my first day in the team. Everyone has given me a warm welcome, and all the team is very nice! My first runs were a bit challenging, but then the feeling started to come as the day went by. Lap after lap I got more used to the tyres and it became easier. In the last session, we tried the new 2024 bike and it felt amazing! Happy going to the winter break with a nice feeling!”

Hervé Poncharal

Team Manager
 
 

“What a better way to start our 2024 season with the Moto3 team than taking the new all time lap record in Valencia! Today was a really interesting day, because we were able to test the new 2024 bike prepared by KTM, but it was also our first official day with Pirelli, who will be the official tyres supplier for the Moto3 class in 2024. Right out of the box, Daniel Holgado felt really confident, everything was almost perfect, even if he was still suffering from his left foot injury sustained in qualifying Saturday. He did a few laps and broke the all time lap record by nearly a second, which is amazing. He can now go to rest and spend the winter break with a positive frame of mind. On the other side, we were pleased to welcome Jacob Roulstone who will do his rookie season in Moto3 with us next year. He worked really hard, in a very constructive way with his new team and finished twelfth in the combined standing, which is really good for a first day. He already feels very comfortable with the new crew, and that is a key thing for a rookie, so we are happy to have been able to get a first day on track before the winter. I am positive, and I believe that we are set to have a great 2024 season! Thank you to everyone, and I wish the whole staff a good winter!”

The post MotoGP: Lopez, Holgado Top Combined Moto2/Moto3 Pirelli Test At Valencia (Updated) appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Francesco Bagnaia kept calm in a chaotic season-ending MotoGP race in Valencia, taking his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici to the win and his second straight MotoGP World Championship. Prima Pramac Ducati challenger Jorge Martin ran wide and later crashed out. KTM’s Jack Miller crashed out of the lead, while teammate Brad Binder ran wide while leading. Gresini Racing’s Fabio Di Giannantonio finished just behind Bagnaia in second, with Johann Zarco third. A post-race penalty for a tire pressure infringement dropped Di Giannantonio to fourth, promoting Zarco to second and Binder to third.

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

#BACK2BACKgnaia: Pecco Bagnaia is the 2023 MotoGP World Champion!

A dramatic finale sees #PECCOvsMARTIN conclude with some history made for Bagnaia as the reigning Champion defends the #1

Sunday, 26 November 2023

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) is the 2023 MotoGP World Champion! Becoming the first rider to successfully defend the #1 plate since Mick Doohan, Bagnaia has also become the first rider to take back-to-back premier class crowns since Marc Marquez in 2019. And he rounded it off in style, taking his seventh win and 15th podium of the season in Valencia as drama hit for his sole remaining title rival Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing).

Born in Turin, Bagnaia first found success on MiniMotos before his career took to the international stage in 2011, racing in what was then known as the CEV on a 125. He moved up to the Moto3 World Championship for 2013, before joining the VR46 Riders Academy and moving to the SKY VR46 the following season. In 2015 he moved to the Aspar team and raced a Mahindra, partnering with none other than Jorge Martin both that season and the year after. Pecco took his, and Mahindra’s, first Grand Prix wins in 2016 – winning him a bet with the team that saw him get the chance to ride their MotoGP bike at the Valencia Test too.

2017 saw a new challenge: Moto2, and back with Sky Racing Team VR46. He took a number of podiums and was named Rookie of the Year, setting the perfect foundation for an assault on the crown the following season. His form was imperious, and he wrapped up his first title at Sepang to become the 2018 Moto2 World Champion. From there he moved to MotoGP with Pramac and despite some serious speed in testing, it proved a tougher rookie although he did take a best finish of fourth at Phillip Island. 2020 saw him take a first premier class podium at Misano, before a move to the factory Ducati team for 2021.

That’s when his ascent really began. Three podiums and a pole in the first four rounds were a good start, and come crunch time he was the last remaining challenger to Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) after a late season charge. Incredibly, his first win was a gloves-off duel with Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) at Aragon, and his second victory came just a week later at Misano. He ended the year with victory too, but Quartararo took the crown and the world awaited a rematch in 2022.

Ultimately, that’s what we got. But it was a rollercoaster season for both, first for Bagnaia and then Quartararo. Still, arriving into the final round in Valencia the Italian had reeled in a 91-point deficit to lead the Championship by 23 points, making it the biggest potential comeback in history. And sure enough, he took ninth in the race, enough to secure the crown, and celebrated his first MotoGP World Championship as Quartararo fought to the end but couldn’t quite threaten for the win.

2023 began with a headline even before the wheels turned: Bagnaia would run the #1, becoming the first rider to do so since Casey Stoner in 2012. The year began fittingly enough with a masterclass in the season opener in Portugal, with Pecco winning both the first ever Tissot Sprint and the first GP race of the season. But it was a difficult weekend in Argentina with a P6 in the Sprint and a P16 in the race following a crash, meaning Pecco needed to bounce back in Austin. It was job done on Saturday as a second Sprint victory was secured, but Sunday saw Bagnaia crash out of the lead. Two zero points scores on consecutive Sundays were an early blow to the Italian and Ducati’s charge to try and retain the crown.

In Jerez, Bagnaia responded. A double podium – including a stunning Sunday victory holding off a KTM assault – saw him banish the Americas demons. But as the paddock descended on Le Mans, a dose of bad luck saw another Sunday DNF rear its head as Bagnaia and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) collided.

However, a stunning run of races would follow as a busy European leg began. Doing the double on home turf at Mugello acted as the springboard, with Germany providing us with a battle for the ages between what would become the two main title protagonists. Martin edged out Bagnaia at the Sachsenring, but Pecco would win a week later as his beloved TT Circuit Assen. At that stage, Bagnaia – having fallen behind in the first three races – boasted a pretty healthy 35-point Championship lead heading into the summer break.

A fourth consecutive Sunday top two result in a fascinating Silverstone encounter saw his title lead grow to 41 points post-summer before a commanding Sprint/race double in Austria meant his advantage climbed to 62 points. Then it was time to head to Barcelona.

P2 in the Sprint behind home hero Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) helped increase Bagnaia’s lead atop the Championship table. The latter was in a confident mood heading into Sunday and starting from pole position, Bagnaia grabbed the holeshot. As drama unfolded behind at Turn 1, Bagnaia’s race would end prematurely with a highside on the exit of Turn 2. Luckily, despite having his leg run over by Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Pecco escaped serious injury, but it was a setback. And one that paved the way for Martin to begin to claw back points in the race for the title…

It began at Misano. The venue is the VR46 Academy’s backyard but it was Martin who bagged a full fat 37 points, with two podiums taken through the pain barrier nevertheless seeing Bagnaia’s points lead shrink to 36 ahead of the final leg of the season – eight races in 10 weeks, starting in India.

Bagnaia’s first visit to the Buddh International Circuit was a tougher one, with an unforced error seeing the #1 suffer a DNF on Sunday as Martin finished P2 to back up his Sprint win. Motegi then saw Martin take a clean sweep despite the incredible pressure of heavy rain and Bagnaia on his tail on Sunday. And so, heading to Indonesia, the gap between the Italian and Spaniard was just three points. It was game on.

The pendulum swung back in Bagnaia’s favour in Mandalika though. Martin crashed out of the lead on Sunday as Bagnaia carved his way through the pack from P13 on the grid, not having made it through to Q2, to win his first Sunday race since the Austrian GP. A huge result followed in Australia too. Martin was on course for a runaway victory at Phillip Island but an unforgettable final couple of laps saw Bagnaia finish P2 – with Martin slipping to P5 as his strategy to bolt early didn’t pay off.

Thailand saw the momentum shift back towards the purple corner in what was another epic duel. Bagnaia took P3 on Sunday behind Sprint and race winner Martin and Red Bull KTM’s interloper Brad Binder, but a track limits penalty for the South African then saw Pecco promoted to P2. Heading into the final three races of the season, Bagnaia’s lead was a slender 13 points.

A trip to Malaysia kicked off the triple-header of races that would decide whose hands would hold the 2023 crown. Martin beat Pecco in the Sepang Sprint but it was the red corner who returned the favour in the main event, with Bagnaia finishing P3 and Martin a distant P4.

Qatar was the next port of call. Martin won the Sprint in fine fashion and with Bagnaia struggling to a P5, the points gap was down to seven points ahead of the penultimate Grand Prix race of the season. The tables turned on Sunday though. Bagnaia finished P2 with Martin P10 after a tough race playing defense, and heading to the season finale in Valencia, Bagnaia was defending a 21-point lead – familiar territory for the 2022 title winner.

On Saturday it was a tense Sprint but a glorious display from Martin to pile on the pressure. The Spaniard won it as Bagnaia took only fifth, cutting the gap to 14 points ahead of the final race of the season.

Fittingly, the early stages of the Grand Prix race saw the two contenders locked together at the front, before drama then hit for Martin as he ran on into Turn 1, having been right on Pecco’s tail. He got back on track down in P8 and then tried a fight back, but it wasn’t to be as he later crashed out after colliding with Marc Marquez.

At the front, Bagnaia had his own battle still to fight, despite becoming Champion by default after Martin’s crash. After a tense final lap he just held off Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP) on the drag to the line, signing off the season with a win and becoming the Champion of our 75th season of racing.

Complimenti, Pecco!

#BACK2BACKgnaia IN STATS

Having been crowned MotoGP World Champion in 2022 and 2023, Francesco Bagnaia becomes the third rider to take back-to-back MotoGP titles since the introduction of the class in 2002, along with only Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez.

Bagnaia is the first rider to successfully race and defend the #1 in the premier class since Mick Doohan in 1998.

Bagnaia is the first Ducati rider to take more than one premier class world title. He is also the third Italian riding an Italian bike to take more than one premier class world title along Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta) and Umberto Masetti (Gilera).

With 15 podiums in 2023, Bagnaia becomes the Ducati rider with most podiums in a single season, overtaking Casey Stoner, who held the previous record of 14.

Bagnaia becomes the fourth Italian with more than one premier class world title along with Giacomo Agostini (8), Valentino Rossi (7) and Umberto Masetti (2).

With 18 premier class wins, all with Ducati, Bagnaia sits in second on the list of Ducati riders with most wins in the class behind Casey Stoner (23).

With 35 premier class podiums so far, Bagnaia is the third Ducati rider with most podiums in the class behind Casey Stoner (42) and Andrea Dovizioso (40).

Bagnaia is the fifth rider who has clinched the title at the end of the year winning the opening Grand Prix race since MotoGP was introduced in 2002 along with Marc Marquez (2014), Jorge Lorenzo (2012), Casey Stoner (2007 and 2011) and Valentino Rossi from 2002 to 2005.

This season Bagnaia has stood on the MotoGP podium more than any other rider (15 times), including seven wins.

How does it feel?
“Incredible. I feel the happiest I’ve ever felt in my life. The thing is I’m happy also because I won the race. With the circumstances of today winning the race didn’t mean anything but it’s a goal that I’ve always want to do. I want to win a title with a win so I’m happy. It was quite scary out there because in the last five laps I started to feel cold on the bike and I was very scared about the front tire. I’m very happy right now I can’t breathe, it wasn’t an easy day because I was under quite a bit of pressure but I’m very happy!”

Do you agree that defending a title is harder than winning one?
“It was difficult because last year I arrived here and I was under more pressure than this year. I managed it quite well because I was thinking just about the race and I was conscious yesterday that we made the wrong choice with the tire, but I was prepared for today with a medium. It helped me to understand what the drop of the tire was so for me, it was useful.

“Barcelona was a turning point, from then on we started to struggle a lot. Not in Misano, there my big problem was being able to ride the bike because I was very much in pain with my leg. After that moment I started to struggle a bit with my speed in terms of qualifying and in terms of the Sprint. In the second part of the season I was always struggling in the Sprint. I wasn’t as fast as I was expecting. I wasn’t as fast as I was last season so next year for sure I’ll have to improve but in the past races I’ve done a big step forward, we just got a little bit unlucky. I’m very proud of my team and I’m very happy for their efforts because I think we did an amazing job. And I’m very happy and very proud of my family and my girlfriend, who have always been helping me in every situation and have showed me how happy I can be.”

The post MotoGP: Race Results From Valencia (Updated With Revised Results) appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Fermin Aldeguer won his fourth Moto2 race in a row with his victory in Valencia. Aldeguer, on a Boscoscuro, finished 3.986 seconds ahead of Aron Canet, who was more than two seconds clear of Alonso Lopez on the second Boscoscuro. American Joe Roberts was eighth and fellow countryman Sean Dylan Kelly was 26th.

The post Moto2: Race Results From Valencia appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Ayumu Sasaki won his first Moto3 race of the year in the season finale at Valencia. Riding a Husqvarna, Sasaki edged out the GASGAS of David Alonso, Ivan Ortola on a KTM and teammate Collin Veijer. 2023 World Champion Jaume Masia finished 13th.

The post Moto3: Race Results From Valencia appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

The post MotoGP: Zarco Fastest In Warmup At Valencia appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.

Jorge Martin kept his MotoGP title hopes alive with a win in Saturday’s Sprint race at Valencia. Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia finished fifth and now leads the title chase by 14 points, 442-428, over Martin. Brad Binder took second ahead of Marc Marquez, the eight-time World Champion on the podium in his final weekend with the Repsol Honda team.

The post MotoGP: Results From Sprint Race At Valencia appeared first on Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News.