Druck Pressure Sensor Technology Provides Hawk Racing with Competitive Edge Ahead of Local Donington British Superbike Round.
As the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship gears up for Donington Park, Hawk Racing is hoping to build on positives from the season so far, gaining a competitive edge thanks to sensor technology from partner Druck, a Baker Hughes business.
Druck engineers joined the Hawk Racing team and scrutinized data from the Oulton Park round with riders Josh Owens and Charlie Nesbitt, during a session held at Druck’s Leicestershire HQ this week (16 May 2023).
The duo each race onboard Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SPs this season, which are equipped with Druck’s high quality PMP4300 and PMP4400 pressure sensors, measuring front and rear brakes, fuel, air, oil pressures.These provide best-in-class accuracy and reliability – and help pinpoint gains that can be made.
Prior to the Round 3 assault at Donington Park, an analytical review of the Round 2 sensor data was led by Druck senior electronics engineer, Neil Sands, who also supports Hawk Racing as a data engineer. In conjunction with rider feedback and following detailed analysis of the suspension position and the front/rear brake pressure, the team has identified adjustments that will further optimize the bike and rider performance.
These insights and others will guide the Hawk team and help deliver some marginal gains and a competitive advantage as they prepare for Donington, which is the local race for the Mallory Park-based family run team.
“This is our 25th year in racing,” said Steve Hicken, owner of Hawk Racing, “making us the longest established team in British Superbikes – and we want this season to be one to remember. Adopting world-leading sensor technology from Druck, alongside our new Honda machinery and two talented riders, we believe we can make a big impact. With the data we now have access to from Druck, combined with GPS data, wheel speed and other intelligence, we can take decisions round-by-round and tweak our approach. We believe this will set us in good stead for the series and help us see off some strong competition.”
The Druck sensors can perform at temperatures from -20 to 175 Degrees Celsius, and withstand the extreme vibration and shock associated with professional motorsport.
“With a 50-year legacy in pressure measurement, we’re proud that our unrivalled pressure measurement technology is providing Hawk with a competitive advantage and helping them improve performance,” said Jonny MacGregor, Global Engineering Leader at Druck, who is also a GT (Gran Tourer) racing driver in the Britcar British Endurance Championship. “We’re one of the few companies worldwide manufacturing piezo-resistive high quality motorsport sensors from silicon wafers, into a finished product that can withstand the punishing environment of top tier motorsport. Our lightweight sensors provide accuracy and reliability and deliver race teams marginal gains, which on the circuit are critical.
“We hope this collaboration, of two regional firms at the forefront of this industry, will deliver a best-ever season for Hawk Racing on the British Superbike circuit.”
During the visit, the Hawk Racing team and other guests went behind-the-scenes at Druck’s UK production facility, home to almost 700 employees, where around 100 individual processes are completed as part of the assembly of a high-performance pressure sensor.
Since 1990, Druck products have been successfully applied across the motorsport sector, with its products chosen by teams from all leading motorsport series.
Druck is a global leader for pressure measurement supporting customers in more than 70 countries. Its technology is trusted by customers in critical applications across many industries including aerospace, automotive, semiconductor, oil and gas, power generation, meteorology and hydrology.
Copyright Mike Sewell 2023 16th May 2023 Druck announcing their sponsorship of Hawk Superbikes.
Infront Moto Racing and Dunlop have further extended their partnership. The race-winning tyre brand has signed a new multi-year agreement to remain an Official Tyre Partner to the series.
Teams competing in MXGP, the highest level of motocross, have a free choice of tyres. In recent years, Dunlop’s race-winning tyres have been the choice of several top teams including Kawasaki Racing Team, Standing Construct Honda, Husqvarna Nestaan MX2, and a selection of top WMX teams.
MXGP at the forefront of Dunlop Geomax development
The renewal of this partnership signifies the continuation of a highly fruitful collaboration that has served as an ideal testing ground for the latest technologies and patterns introduced in Dunlop tyres over the last decade. The Geomax line of tyres has undergone continuous improvement over the years, with notable advancements from the MX51 and MX3S to the latest MX33 and sand-specific MX14. These tyres feature unique designs and performance features that are accessible to motocross riders across the globe of all levels, ensuring the best performance on any terrain.
Dunlop Geomax MX14, which is designed for softer and sand surfaces, was introduced last summer. The MXGP Championship was instrumental in testing this new product, highlighted by the Lommel GP win in 2021 for Febvre while still in the development phase. In 2022 Brian Bogers was the undisputed king of Lommel together with the new MX14.
Dunlop, a brand at the heart of motocross
Dunlop’s pioneering spirit is evident throughout motorcycle racing, including its success in motocross. These tyre innovations have been instrumental in shaping the sport and raising the bar for performance, further cementing Dunlop’s position as a leading brand in motocross.
The full Geomax line is also the product of more than 173 national AMA championship titles Dunlop has facilitated, including every title in both the AMA Pro Motocross and Supercross championships since 2010.
Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo:“Dunlop is a historical partner of MXGP and we are very happy to announce that it will continue for three more years. The MXGP World Championship is a fantastic laboratory to continue to develop new technology for the tyres thanks to the diversity of its track, from sand to hard ground soil. I would like to thank Dunlop for their trust and collaboration and I am sure we will continue growing this fruitful partnership.”
Wim Van Achter, Motorsport Manager, Dunlop: “We are thrilled to continue promoting our tyres through the MXGP championship and utilising it as an essential part of our tyre development process. Our range of tyres, including the versatile Geomax MX14 and MX33 models, reflect the hard work and dedication exhibited during competition, which is made possible by collaborating with esteemed riders such as Romain Febvre and Kay De Wolf.”
For more Dunlop Tyre news check out our dedicated page Dunlop Tyres
Team Classic Suzuki will field Danny Webb and Alastair Fagan at this weekend’s opening round of the European Endurance Cup.
The duo will race the team’s new GSX-R1000 K1 in a four-hour endurance race around the famous Paul Ricard circuit.
Webb boasts a long history with Team Classic Suzuki, and has raced both XR69 and RG500 machinery for the outfit at the Classic TT on the Isle of Man. He’s also no stranger to endurance racing – with much EWC experience – or classic endurance racing – having raced for Team Classic Lincs Suzuki around Spa Francorchamps on a GSX-R750.
His teammate for the weekend will be experienced former British Superbike racer Alastair Fagan, standing in for an injured Bob Collins, who was set to make his debut for the team before suffering an injury at Castle Combe.
Fagan, too, is no stranger to Team Classic Suzuki, having ridden the team’s Katana at a previous event.
Danny Webb said, “I’m really looking forward to this weekend. It’s going to be quite an experience riding a GSX-R1000 K1 around the incredible Paul Ricard circuit. The team’s done another awesome job in preparing the bike and it really does look mint as well. We’ve got a good team around us, and the aim is to get a good setting in the bike on Friday ahead of the race. Of course, the goal is to win if we can and I think we’re in with a shout, but this is endurance racing and we all know that anything can happen.”
Alastair Fagan said, “I’m obviously gutted for my mate Bob but, at the same time, I’m honoured to have had the call to replace him on the Team Classic Suzuki GSX-R1000. When you get a call for this gig you don’t say no. I’ve never raced at Paul Ricard but I know the team and I know the bike will be more than up for the job, and I’ll be doing everything I can to help the team get a result.”
Team manager Nathan Colombi added, “I think we’ve got a strong lineup for this weekend’s event. Obviously we know Danny very well, he’s done a lot with us before, his CV speaks for itself, and he’s got a lot of experience. Alastair is joining us a bit last minute, as he’ll be deputising for an injured Bob Collins, but again, we’ve worked together before, he’s a fast, reliable, safe pair of hands with lots of experience on a range of bikes. It’s obviously the first proper outing for the bike so we’ll have a bit of work to get through in practice, but I don’t think we’ll be miles away in terms of setup. There are a lot of good, professional teams in this championship and a lot of fast riders, but hopefully we can have a good race, manage our pit stops well, and come away with a strong result.”
This year’s Mallory Park Bike Bonanza, in association with Lexelle and Mackenzie Hodgson Insurance, on July 15/16, replaces what was known as the Festival of 1000 Bikes as the premier event at the Leicestershire racing circuit.
The action-packed weekend, organised by the circuit’s management team Real Motorsport Limited, promises an array of interesting bikes and sidecar outfits that can be seen taking to the track in parades throughout the weekend. Saturday is all about road machines, whilst Sunday focuses on road and race machines, and the highly anticipated Mallory Masters parade.
Mallory Park boss Stuart Hicken said: “When the VMCC decided against promoting the Festival of 1000 Bikes at Mallory for this year, we felt the best option for us and our customers, was to turn our own Bike Bonanza into a premier event that we can develop and promote not just this year, but for the foreseeable future.”
The 1.35-mile circuit, nestled within the heart of the Leicestershire countryside, will host the ‘Mallory Masters, parades for racing stars past and present, including Niall and Tarran Mackenzie, Michael Dunlop, Michael Rutter, John Cooper, who will be descending on the venue which is often dubbed the ‘Friendly Circuit’ for this not-to-be-missed family event.
There will be several special tributes to past Mallory Masters too; including Phil Read MBE, Chris Vincent, Paul Smart, Percy Tait, Tony Rutter and Colin Seeley, with really special displays of bikes and memorabilia representing these legends.
Away from the tarmac track there will be some 50 Owners’ Club stands, trade stands, an autojumble, national championship dirt track racing presented by the Dirt Track Riders Association, a Pre-65 Trial, a display of military vehicles and much more.
Live music on Friday and Saturday evening will take guests from a wonderful day of race action into an evening of entertainment for all the family.
The FIM is delighted to announce that it has signed an agreement with EBK GP Ltd, an experienced international sport promoter and organiser of E-Bike racing events. The new series aims to be the premier global E-Bike racing series.
EBK GP Ltd will organise, stage and promote the FIM EBK World Cup from 2023-2024. The FIM EBK World Cup will become a FIM World Championship from 2025, with the option to automatically extend to 2031, if the relevant sporting requirements are fulfilled throughout the initial four seasons.
The FIM EBK World Cup is the first series dedicated to high-speed crit-style E-Bike racing in cities around the world. The new series is gender inclusive and has a declared mission to use sport to champion the adoption of clean mobility solutions.
The 2023 season will constitute between four to six events on a minimum of two continents. Each participating EBK team will be composed of six riders, three male and three female. The first season will be contested by a minimum of six teams, with a maximum field of 60 competitors drawn from 10 teams.
The series will commence in the summer of 2023 with a proof of concept season, ahead of a global expansion to host cities around the world for season one in 2024.
The agreement with the FIM is another important building block for the new series alongside its confirmed partnership with BMC. As one of the world’s premier cycling innovators, BMC will provide the series with a bespoke and advanced racing E-Bike.
With its partnership with BMC and its agreement with the FIM, including a clearly defined pathway to becoming a World Championship, the series will unveil its initial calendar for 2023, its official BMC race bike and a roster of rider talent in the build-up to the first EBK race this summer.
Andy Moss – EBK Series Founder: “This announcement is an important milestone for the EBK Series and is built on the foundation of a strong relationship with FIM. This allows us to run a World Championship in the future and validates the series and the work of our team so far. We are incredibly fortunate to have held discussions with cities around the globe that have expressed interest in hosting an EBK event. We are finishing plans for a maiden season designed to showcase and offer proof of concept for the series ahead of the first full season in 2024. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months.”
Jorge Viegas – FIM President concluded: “It is important that the FIM has a clear future strategy to embrace and engage with developing two-wheel equal gender disciplines and technical challenges in order to complement our more established and traditional motorcycle disciplines. This forward-facing plan is even more significant when it includes alternative energies and reinforces and supports our commitment to delivering sustainable events that can also enhance the wider benefit of promoting green forms of transport and mobility. We are excited to be working with EBK GP Ltd to bring this series to life and help them to develop it to full World Championship status over the coming years.”
Infront Moto Racing is delighted to announce that Pirelli will continue the partnership as an official tyre supplier of the FIM Motocross World Championship until the end of 2025!
Over the next three seasons Pirelli will continue to be present at all the MXGP circuits around the world with the same determination and passion, offering outstanding product and services to the riders. Along with their tyre service truck, the brand will also receive a worldwide visibility around the tracks on the race calendar. Additionally, what makes Pirelli unique is that anyone can purchase the same tires found on the bikes of World Champions.
The Italian tyre manufacturer has been a part of the FIM Motocross World Championship for decades, winning a total of 79 World Titles over the years with riders such as Tim Gajser, Jeffrey Herlings, Jorge Prado, Tom Vialle and other legends including Antonio Cairoli, Stefan Everts, André Malherbe, Eric Geboers, Jöel Smets,David Thorpe and many more.
The main choices of tyres in MXGP are part of the Pirelli Scorpion MX range, with the Scorpion MX32 Mid Soft and the Scorpion MX Soft. Pirelli tyres are chosen by many of the top riders and teams in MXGP and MX2 because they trust that the product will deliver top results.
Across the FIM Motocross World Championship classes around 60 riders use Pirelli, such as Jeffrey Herlings, Tim Gajser, Ruben Fernandez, Jeremy Seewer, Glenn Coldenhoff, Maxime Renaux, Ben Watson, Alessandro Lupino, Jorge Prado, Mattia Guadagnini, Brent Van Doninck, Stephen Rubini, Calvin Vlaanderen, Hardi Roosiorg, Valentin Guillod, Alberto Forato in MXGP. And in MX2, Andrea Adamo, Liam Everts, Sacha Coenen, Tom Guyon, Simon Langenfelder, Jago Geerts, Thibault Benistant, Rick Elzinga, Camden McLellan, Cornelius Toendel, Muhammad Alfarizi, Emil Weckman just to name a few.
Official teams that use Pirelli include Red Bull KTM Factory Racing,Team HRC, MRT Racing Team Beta, Fantic Factory Team Maddii, Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing,Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP and MX2 Team, Team Gebben Van Venrooy Yamaha Racing, JM Honda Racing, Team Ship To Cycle Honda Motoblouz SR, and many more.
Pirelli dominated the 2022 Motocross World Championship Podium in MXGP with Tim Gajser, Jeremy Seewer and Jorge Prado, and in MX2 with Tom Vialle, Jago Geerts and Simon Langenfelder.
For more news check out our dedicated MXGP/MX2 News page
Pirelli is ready for the motorcycle challenges of its motorsport season which will kick off next week in Australia, with the first round of the FIM Superbike World Championship. For 2023, innovation and technology remain the cornerstones of the Bicocca company’s commitment to racing.
Giorgio Barbier, Pirelli Motorcycle Racing Director: “This year we will be busy in several disciplines. Development activities will focus on the Superbike World Championship where, for the first time ever, we will introduce a front solution in the soft SC0 compound in the premier class. At the same time, we will continue to work on the extra soft SCQ rear, which has officially become part of the DIABLO Superbike range and is therefore now on sale on the market. As for the other classes, in WorldSSP we will add to the 120/70 front size, used up to now, the new larger 125/70 front size that is already available in the Superbike class, while in WorldSSP300 we will introduce, starting from the Misano round, a new benchmark set that uses renewable materials in the tyres. The goal always remains the same: to improve our tyres year after year, to then pour this know-how into road products.” NEWS AND TARGETS FOR 2023
Competition has been part of Pirelli’s DNA for over 115 years and today there are over 100 two-wheeled championships, at international and national level, in which the Milanese company participates every year. There are several new highlights for 2023, especially within the FIM Superbike World Championship:
Introduction of a front SC0 soft compound
After expanding the DIABLO Superbike range in past seasons with the introduction of rear solutions in softer compounds (SCX in 2020 and SCQ in 2022), Pirelli has decided to complete the development by working on a front soft SC0 compound that is capable to balance the very high level of grip offered by the soft solutions on the rear axle. This new front solution will be offered to riders starting from the first European races and this year it will be subject to constant development in order to make it a standard solution for 2024.
Inclusion into the DIABLO™ Superbike range of the SCQ rear
The SCQ rear solution was made available to Superbike class riders last season. This extra soft compound has been designed to offer the highest level of grip for short distance and therefore for use mainly in qualifying. In 2022, in some cases, it was also possible to use it to cover the 10 laps of the Superpole Race as well as in some local championships. Accepting requests from customers, riders and promoters of national championships, Pirelli has decided to include it in the DIABLO™ Superbike range that is regularly on sale. Therefore, from this year it will be available to all championships, professional riders and amateurs who want to use it. At the same time, in the Superbike World Championship, Pirelli will continue to develop this product so that it guarantees greater mileage and can cover the 10 laps of the Superpole Race on all circuits.
New 125/70 front for WorldSSP
In the Supersport class, Pirelli will introduce the new larger size 125/70, already supplied to Superbike riders, in addition to the current 120/70 size. This will also offer WorldSSP riders a better front-to-rear axle balance.
New benchmark set for WorldSSP300
Starting from the fifth round, the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna round at Misano, the riders of the Supersport 300 World Championship will use a new set of DIABLO Superbike tyres, in the front SC1 and rear SC2 compounds, which uses a percentage of renewable materials to replace those of fossil origin. However, since the first round, compared to past seasons, the riders will no longer use the SC1 rear compound but the SC2.
WORLDSBK: PLATFORM OF TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION SINCE 20 YEARS
Pirelli’s technical partnership with the FIM Superbike World Championship represented the first example of a single tyre supply in the history of top motorsport competitions and, twenty years later, proved to have been a winning choice, as followed by other two and four wheel championships. Pirelli’s strong commitment in this championship is not only justified by the important results in terms of media visibility and brand awareness growth but above all from a technological point of view. For Pirelli two-wheel competitions represent an open-air laboratory for developing and testing, with some of the best riders, their tyres, the same ones that are then put on the market and made available to all motorcyclists around the world. Since 2004, when the Pirelli single tyre supply began in the top production bike derived championship, the Milanese company’s approach has been to remain faithful to the philosophy of the Superbike World Championship by deciding not to supply prototype solutions but normal standard tyres. And, while always remaining faithful to this philosophy over the years, Pirelli has continued to make technological innovation its workhorse by dictating, from time to time, the new parameters of the racing tyres used all over the world: first, in 2013, with the historic transition from 16.5-inch to the new 17-inch tyres, and then, starting from 2018, with the adoption of new larger sizes.
PIRELLI IN MORE THAN 100 COMPETITIONS
Faithful to the strong sporting spirit that has always characterised it as a company, this year Pirelli will participate, in some cases as sole supplier and in others in an open competition between tyre manufacturers, in over 100 of the most important international and national motorcycling competitions, both on track and off road. Among those on asphalt, in addition to the FIM Superbike World Championship, also the FIM Endurance World Championship and, at national level, the British Superbike, Italian Speed Championship(CIV), German IDM Championship and French Superbike Championship, to name just a few. The commitment in off-road competitions has also been confirmed, primarily in the FIM Motocross World Championship in which the Italian tyre company boasts a palmarès of 79 world titles and of which it will be an official tyre supplier until 2025. Then there is the FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX) and AMA Supercross, as well as numerous national motocross competitions. Pirelli participates in all these championships using standard tyres, DIABLO Superbike and DIABLO Supercorsa for track and SCORPION MX in off-road competitions, all regularly on sale on the market and available to all motorcyclists
For more Pirelli Tyre news check out our dedicated page Pirelli Tyres
Ticketmaster is proud to announce it has signed a partnership with Isle of Man TT Races, an annual motorcycle racing event run on the Isle of Man in May/June of most years since its inaugural race in 1907.
There are very few sporting events in the world with the tradition, heritage, and prestige of the Isle of Man TT Races. Despite being the world’s oldest continuous motorsports event, the TT remains, however, as fascinating and relevant today – continuously inspiring new generations of riders to come and race the Mountain Course.
Largely unchanged since 1911, the 37.73 miles of public roads simply capture the imagination like no other motorcycling venue can. The TT Course, whilst difficult to learn, is even harder to master – requiring immense levels of skill and concentration as speeds nudge an incredible 200mph.
The Isle of Man TT Races takes place Monday 29th May – Saturday 10th June.
Ticketmaster will look to supply top-of-the-market ticketing solutions with innovative features to facilitate entry to The Isle of Man TT Race fans’ experience with:
– Full mobile optimisation
– Digital tickets, compatible with digital wallets
– The ability to directly manage upgrades and transfers to friends and family
– Accessibility features
Ticketmaster’s technology will give Isle of Man TT access to the best and most comprehensive suite of tools in the industry. TT fans will see huge improvements in their ticketing experience as well as a number of technological innovations that will revolutionise the way fans interact with the event.
Paul Philips, Business Development, Isle of Man TT Races commented: “Putting customers first is one of the key strategic pillars for the Isle of Man TT Races. It’s important that we deliver an exceptional customer service experience and offer our fans excellent value for money for the products, services and experiences we deliver. Our partnership with Ticketmaster enables us to provide fans with a seamless experience that supports our vision, as fans around the world are able to book Grandstand tickets or a hospitality experience online in a secure and easy to access way.”
Chris Gratton, Managing Director, Ticketmaster Sport commented: “We’re very thrilled about working with Isle of Man TT races to allow fans to benefit from Ticketmaster’s cutting-edge technology. Fans will enjoy a seamless ticketing experience that will allow them to focus on what is essential to them: supporting their rider.”
Ducati’s electric chapter gets underway: production of MotoE bikes for the 2023 championship begins.
A little more than a year after the first test with Michele Pirro at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, work has begun on the “V21L” prototypes that will be the protagonists of the 2023 FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship season. The production of the bikes started in December and the 23 units will be ready by mid-February. In addition to the 18 motorbikes that will be raced, five spare units will be made available to the organisation. Each prototype is assembled by expert technicians in the Ducati MotoE Racing Department with the same process, precision and attention to detail typical of the high craftsmanship used to build a MotoGP bike.
The start of production of the “V21L” prototypes represents the beginning of a new and important chapter in Ducati’s history. For the Bologna-based company, this project was born with the aim of developing skills for its future, maintaining the approach that has always fuelled Ducati’s DNA: experimenting with technological solutions in the world of racing and working to ensure that everything developed in this area can then be used on motorbikes destined for enthusiasts all over the world. To do this, Ducati created the world’s most technological, refined and sophisticated electric motorcycle, the result of the joint work of Ducati R&D engineers and the Ducati Corse team. “V21L” is the MotoGP of electric motorbikes, combining the electronic technologies and chassis dimensions developed by Ducati Corse with the design process and project management typical of a road bike like the Panigale V4. It is the combination of the best skills of the two worlds, racing and production, a prototype with which Ducati experiments in a world yet to be discovered, that of electric sports bikes.
Claudio Domenicali, CEO Ducati: “The start of production of the Ducati MotoE is a historic moment for our company, which with this project is thoroughly studying the technologies of the future for the world of motorcycling. It is an important area of experimentation, in which we are investing to build know-how, so that we will be ready when battery technology should allow the creation of an exciting electric road bike with the weight, performance and range that enthusiasts expect from a Ducati. We are therefore embarking on this new adventure with the aim of developing the people and skills within the company to shape what the character of a future Ducati electric road bike might be. The MotoE project represents a decisive step for Ducati to contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions on the product side, alongside research into synthetic fuels (eFuel) that can reduce the total CO2 emissions of internal combustion engines to zero. Environmental sustainability is something that all individuals and all companies must consider a priority if the delicate balance of the planet is to be preserved. Ducati is committed to this also at industrial level, and the construction of the new Finitura e Delibera Estetica area classified as Nearly Zero Energy Building is just the latest example”.
After a year of development tests that have seen Michele Pirro, Alex De Angelis and Chaz Davies take turns riding the “V21L” prototype, the Ducati MotoE project is getting closer to the moment when the bikes will take to the track. The first test with the riders and teams that will compete in the 2023 World Championship is scheduled for the 6, 7 and 8 March at Jerez, followed by three more test days on the 3, 4 and 5 April at the Montmelò circuit in Barcelona.
The race debut will take place at the French Grand Prix on Saturday, 13 May. The 2023 MotoE World Championship calendar is spread over eight Grands Prix with two races per weekend, both on Saturdays. After the French debut, the MotoE World Championship will be present in all the following European races until the Misano GP, thus will continue at Mugello on the weekend of 11 June, at Sachsenring on the following weekend and at Assen on the 25 June. After the summer break, the Ducati MotoE bikes will return to the track at Silverstone on 5 August, before tackling the final three Grands Prix at the Red Bull Ring (20 August), Catalunya (2 September) and Misano (10 September).
For more Ducati news check out our dedicated page Ducati UK News
The seventh round of the FIM Motocross World Championship is heading back to the legendary Maggiora Park this weekend for the MXGP of Italy.
Last season, Maggiora Park made its much-anticipated return to the MXGP calendar, after closing its doors in late 2016. In that time, the well-known Italian circuit was revived and made its World Championship return, re-introducing a beloved old-school traditional circuit with some modernised touches.
The hillside track based in the north of Italy has a rich history having hosted numerous FIM Motocross World Championship events since the late 60’s, including the most memorable 1970, 1986 and 2016 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations.
Maggiora stats & facts:
First GP hosted in 1966 and was won by Paul Friedrichs
Host of the legendary 1970, 1986 & 2016 Monster Energy FIM MXoN
10 GP’s hosted in total since 1966 – this year will be the 11th!
Jeffrey Herlings has won the most GPs in Maggiora than any other rider (3 – 2013, 2014 & 2021)
Joining the MXGP and MX2 riders this weekend will be the EMX categories with rounds three and four of the EMX250 and EMX Open Championships. In EMX250, after two rounds Hutten Metaal Yamaha Racing’s Rick Elzinga leads the championship with 93 points over Fantic Factory Team Maddii’s Cornelius Toendel and Oriol Oliver of WZ Racing. Elzinga has won both of the first two rounds in Lombardia and Portugal, so it will be interesting to see if he can carry on his winning streak, or whether a new rider will rise to the occasion.
Meanwhile in EMX Open, just a point separates Raths Motorsports’ Michael Sandner and Jose Butron from JD Gunnex KTM Racing Team in the championship standings, after Sandner’s DNF in race one at the Latvian round saw him in danger of losing the red plate. Butron will enter the Italian round following his first overall victory of the season, so it will be interesting to see whether he can repeat his success and take control of the series.
As we head into round seven of the series, news broke that defending world champion Jeffrey Herlings of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will sit out the remainder of the season. Herlings will undergo two corrective surgeries and will instead focus his efforts on being ready for 2023. Meanwhile there is still no news on Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP’s Romain Febvre and his return.
At the moment Team HRC’s Tim Gajser is in the driving season of the championship and after the perfect scorecard in Latvia last weekend and his fifth GP win of the season, the Slovenian will be looking to continue his winning streak and deliver a much more positive result this time around in Maggiora, compared to last year’s 5-6 scorecard for seventh overall.
Gajser has previously won in Maggiora back in 2015 though this was in MX2, and he is yet to win in the MXGP category at the hillside venue. As it stands, Gajser currently leads all of the stats so far in terms of pole positions, laps led, race wins, GP victories and podiums, therefore having him as a top contender for the win this weekend wouldn’t be that surprising.
Of course, his closest title rival and the rider who follows him in all of those stats is Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado. Prado will be looking to bounce back after a disastrous weekend in Kegums. A 12thand 13th in the races saw Prado now drop to 66 points behind Gajser, so maximum points will be needed for the Spaniard in order to not lose grip on his chance to go for his first MXGP championship.
Standing Construct Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Pauls Jonass will enter the Italian Grand Prix off the back of a very successful weekend on home soil that saw him battle at the front of the field and challenging Gajser for race wins on his way to his first podium of 2022. In the end Jonass confirmed he needed to “keep his feet on the ground” which was a very mature decision by the Latvian, in order to deliver a solid result rather than risk it all. Now having had a race weekend where he was consistently fighting with the championship leaders, this should give him confidence for the rest of the year and it will be interesting to see how he can follow up with that.
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’sGlenn Coldenhoff was among the three riders that were tied on points for the GP victory last season in Maggiora. The Dutchman finished on 40 points alongside Red KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings and Antonio Cairoli, with Herlings’ race two victory eventually overruling the scores of the other two riders. Having those memories will be a bonus for Coldenhoff who has been building for a podium finish this season and has been looking strong ever since Portugal where he won the qualifying race and has been close to a spot on the box ever since.
His teammates Maxime Renaux and Jeremy Seewer have also been in the mix at the sharp end consistently. Though when it comes to looking at the numbers, Renaux is currently the most successful rider on the team this season, if we measure ‘success’ by podium finishes, which the Frenchman has three under his belt compared to Seewer’s one. Seewer also revealed that he struggled in Latvia, as did Renaux, so it would be good to see the pair back at the top this time around.
Honda 114 Motorsports Ruben Fernandez is a rider to watch this weekend. The Spaniard secured his first MXGP podium of his career in Latvia, going 3-4 for third overall. Now it will be interesting to see if that first podium will change anything for Fernandez and whether he can follow up with more.
Gebben Van Venrooy Yamaha Racing’s Arminas Jasikonis is on the entry list for the Italian Grand Prix and will hopefully make his come back after missing the last four GPs. Looking at the current entry list, Beta SDM Corse’s Alessandro Lupino will also return to racing
Making a wildcard appearance for this GP will be David Philippaerts who is a usual regular when it comes to racing the Italian GP’s.
Home rider Alberto Forato of SM Action Racing Team YUASA Battery will be looking to put on his best performance on home soil and continue delivering the strong results that he has been showing so far. He currently sits ninth in the championship standings which is pretty impressive. There are quite a few Italians to watch out for in general this weekend including Fantic Factory Team Maddii’s Nicholas Lapucci and Filippo Zonta among quite a few others who will wildcard this weekend.
2021 MXGP of Italy Top 3 – MXGP:
1. Jeffrey Herlings (40 pts)
2. Glenn Coldenhoff (40 pts)
3. Antonio Cairoli (40 pts)
MXGP – World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 286 points; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 220 p.; 3. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 215 p.; 4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 187 p.; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, YAM), 177 p.; 6. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 163 p.; 7. Brian Bogers (NED, HUS), 154 p.; 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, BET), 140 p.; 9. Alberto Forato (ITA, GAS), 124 p.; 10. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HUS), 120 p.;
In MX2 things are getting interesting at the top of the championship standings as Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jago Geerts took back the red plate in Latvia with a clean 1-1 overall victory, though he remains tied on points with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle. So, it’s back to square one for the pair, as they basically start from zero, which should make for some very interesting racing.
In Latvia, Geerts was on top of his game and keen on making up for lost ground in Trentino where a DNF saw him lose the championship lead. Meanwhile, Vialle struggled to find his rhythm all weekend long in Kegums, so will be looking to bring his A game this weekend and take maximum points. Last year the MXGP of Italy was not the best for Vialle, who after getting injured a few weeks prior, only managed a few laps of the races.
What would be nice to see this weekend is something special from Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing’s Mattia Guadagnini. Last season, Guadagnini had a dream weekend in Maggiora, winning a race and then subsequently winning the GP (his very first one and on home soil) as well as taking the red plate! Of course, expectations are going to be high this weekend, as the Italian is yet to finish on the podium this year and this weekend could be his best opportunity to do it.
The second Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing rider Simon Längenfelder is currently third in the championship, sitting on the same points as Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Kay de Wolf and Big Van World MTX Kawasaki’s Mikkel Haarup. Since his podium in Great Britain, Längenfelder has come close to the podium, but consistency its what’s letting him down lately. Meanwhile, de Wolf has also had some very solid results this year, he’s been on the podium twice but has also had a couple of races, where consistency was the reason why he narrowly missed out on a spot on the box. Either way both Längenfelder and de Wolf are still a pair to watch out for this weekend.
Meanwhile Haarup had a tough weekend in Latvia after an unavoidable crash, on a landing of a jump where another rider had already fallen, took him out of the running for his fourth consecutive podium. Before that, Haarup was running well and had presented himself as a real threat at the sharp end, so hopefully he can bounce back this weekend and see the beginning of another podium streak.
F&H Kawasaki Racing’s Kevin Horgmo had a near perfect weekend in Kegums and continued the team’s success in Latvia, securing his first podium in MX2 with second overall. Horgmo led an impressive 11 laps of the second race, before getting caught by Geerts, nonetheless, the Norwegian showed that he is fast enough, fit enough and most importantly confident enough to lead races which is a huge confidence boost in itself. It will be interesting to see what the next race has in store and whether the result in Kegums will be like a springboard for Horgmo for the rest of the season.
The Italian GP this weekend will also be a home round for SM Action Racing Team YUASA Battery’s Andrea Adamo. Since his podium in Mantova, Adamo has struggled to put together two consistent results. Also not scoring points in race two at the MXGP of Trentino didn’t help his overall standings as he currently sits in 8thbehind Guadagnini. A home GP is usually special for any rider, so hopefully that extra boost of motivation to perform well on home soil will see Adamo fighting with the leaders once again.
Gianluca Facchetti of Team Beddini Racing KTM is also on the entry list, along with another local rider Daniel Gimm who will make a wildcard appearance this weekend.
2021 MXGP of Italy Top 3 – MX2:
1. Mattia Guadagnini (47 pts)
2. Maxime Renaux (37 pts)
3. Jago Geerts (34 pts)
MX2 – World Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 244 points; 2. Tom Vialle (FRA, KTM), 244 p.; 3. Simon Längenfelder (GER, GAS), 181 p.; 4. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 181 p.; 5. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, KAW), 181 p.; 6. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, KAW), 176 p.; 7. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, GAS), 161 p.; 8. Andrea Adamo (ITA, GAS), 153 p.; 9. Isak Gifting (SWE, KTM), 136 p.; 10. Stephen Rubini (FRA, HON), 121 p.;
TIMETABLE (Local Timing CEST)
SATURDAY: 09:45 EMX Open Free Practice, 10:15 EMX250 Free Practice, 10:50 MX2 Free Practice, 11:20 MXGP Free Practice, 12:10 EMX Open Qualifying Practice, 12:45 EMX250 Qualifying Practice, 13:25 MX2 Time Practice, 14:00 MXGP Time Practice, 14:45 EMX Open Race 1, 15:30 EMX250 Race 1, 16:25 MX2 Qualifying Race, 17:10 MXGP Qualifying Race.
The 2022 season is ready to ignite as the next generation of Champions takes to the track this weekend.
A new season, new possibilities, and a land of opportunities. Celebrating 25 years of providing the future stars of World Championship action, the 2022 Finetwork FIM JuniorGP™ World Championship fires up this weekend at the Circuito do Estoril, Portugal. In what is one of the most anticipated seasons, there’ll be a fresh feel at the front of all classes as ever, as reigning Champions move on and fast rookies graduate to all classes. Starting this weekend in Portugal and finishing in Spain at the end of October, the 25th season is a mouth-watering prospect.
JuniorGP
Starting with JuniorGP™, there’s plenty of familiar names in the class for 2022. The top four, including reigning Champion Daniel Holgado, all move on from the class and onto the next stage of their careers, meaning the highest placed returnee to the class is Spaniard David Salvador (Laglisse Academy). Two podiums in 2021 left him fifth overall and still chasing a first win. Colombia’s David Alonso (Aspar Junior Team) is the next-best returnee to the class, with the 2020 Hawkers European Talent Cup winner targeting a first win in the class for himself and likewise for his country after two podiums in 2021. The third-best rider who remains in the category from 2021 is Syarifuddin Azman (SIC Racing), the Malaysian being the only race winner on the 2022 grid, whilst all three have FIM Moto3™ World Championship experience under their belt.
Whilst there’re familiar names at the front, a new guard will look to take charge, as bright prospects graduate from the Hawkers ETC. 2021 runner-up Adrian Cruces (Cuna de Campeones) moves up, as do Xabi Zurutuza (Angeluss MTA Team) and Alvaro Carpe (STV – MT Helmet – MSI), all of which were race winners in 2021. Carpe will join from Round 3 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya due to the minimum age limit. Jacob Roulstone (Aspar Junior Team) likewise graduates, the Australian also a race winner in the Hawkers ETC class of 2021; his sole win came at Estoril before he finished with two podiums. In total, there’ll be 17 nationalities on the grid in 2022, of which three will enjoy their first representation. Soma Görbe (Artbox), Torrin Collins (AGR Team) and Facundo Llambias (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) will fly the flag for Hungary, Canada and Uruguay respectively.
Moto2
The duel in the Moto2™ European Championship will again be fierce as plenty of 2021 protagonists return. German rider Lukas Tulovic (Liqui Moly Intact JuniorGP Team) is one of the biggest names back in the class, as he hopes for a first win in his Moto2™ ECh career after a good few podiums. Xavi Cardelus (Promoracing) also goes in search of a first victory, but there’s plenty of opposition to fend off. Double Moto2™ ECh runner-up and multiple race winner Héctor Garzó (MV Agusta Forward Junior Team) is back, as Tommaso Marcon (MMR) and Marco Tapia (Easyrace Team) also join the class to bring some serious competition. The fight for the Stock crown will also, as ever, be a great race within a race.
ETC
The Hawkers ETC is another class which features some familiar faces, with reigning Champion Maximo Martinez (Team Laglisse Honda) back in action for another season. With three wins last year and finishing four of the last five races on the podium, the 14-year-old will aim to make more history in 2022. The next-best returning rider is Brian Uriarte (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0), with fourth overall last year and one victory. 2021 podium finishers Joel Esteban (Aspar Junior Team) and Alberto Ferrández (Finetwork Mir Junior Team) are back, as is Irish hopeful Casey O’Gorman (VisionTrack Racing Team), the reigning Honda British Talent Cup winner. His teammate is Johnny Garness, who is back in Hawkers ETC after race wins in the BTC at the start of 2022. In all, 21 nationalities from six continents make for a packed field once more in the Hawkers ETC.
The Sunday race schedule for the opening round of JuniorGP™ is as follows:
11:00 – Hawkers ETC Race 1: 16 laps
12:00 – Moto2™ ECh Race 1: 18 laps
13:00 – JuniorGP™: 17 laps
14:00 – Hawkers ETC Race 2: 16 laps
15:00 – Moto2™ ECh Race 2 : 18 laps
Now In Its Eighth Season As Official Tire Supplier To MotoAmerica, Dunlop Onboard Through 2025 With New Three-Year Deal.
MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is pleased to announce that Dunlop will remain as the Official Tire Supplier to the championship through 2025 with the series inking a new three-year contract with the high-performance tire manufacturer.
The 2022 season marks Dunlop’s eighth as the spec tire for all six classes of the Auto Parts 4 Less MotoAmerica Championship.
“Dunlop has been a wonderful partner with us since we started MotoAmerica in 2015,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “This will be our third three-year agreement with Dunlop and that shows the confidence we have in each other going forward. Dunlop uses our series to develop product that ultimately gets passed down to consumers and the tires they provide for our racers continue to get better. With improvement in grip, feel, and durability, lap times drop, our riders get faster and everyone in the series benefits. We’re looking forward to the coming season of racing and our continued relationship with Dunlop.”
“Racing is very important to Dunlop and racing in the MotoAmerica series has proven to be beneficial to the development of our high-performance tires,” said Dunlop Senior Vice President Mike Buckley. “Our design and service teams are passionate about what they do at MotoAmerica races and ultimately what we learn at the track is passed on to the high-performance tires we make for our customers, many of whom are racing fans. We’ve had a great relationship with MotoAmerica since they took over the series in 2015 and we’re happy to be able to continue that for at least another three years. The 2022 season is already off to a great start, and we’re thrilled to be a big part of it.”
The Auto Parts 4 Less MotoAmerica Championship and the MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Series just concluded its opening round at Circuit of The Americas with round two slated for April 22-24 at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia.
For more news check out our dedicated MotoAmerica News page MotoAmerica News
As the Yamaha Racing Heritage Club (YRHC) gears up for its inaugural year, Yamaha Motor Europe outlined their plans for the project in 2022 at the Lyon Motor Show, France. Explaining the exclusive benefits that members will receive and the type of race bikes that will be eligible, Yamaha also announced four official YRHC events that will take place at the Autodromo di Varano (6th-8th May), Circuit Paul Ricard (10-12th June), Sachsenring (15th-17th July) and Donington Park (30th-31st July).
Launched at EICMA in 2021, the YRHC’s aims are simple: to allow members to ride at some of the most iconic tracks in Europe, give exclusive access to advanced technical support, and provide the opportunity to register their machines on the official YRHC database. The focus for the YRHC in 2022 is to celebrate Yamaha’s success in road racing before expanding in 2023 to include events dedicated to showcasing Yamaha’s triumphs in the world of motocross and rally.
Each YRHC event in 2022 will present an opportunity for members to meet and showcase their bikes, plus provide a chance for fans to see some of the iconic machines and riders that helped shape Yamaha’s racing legacy. The first official event will take place at the ASI Moto Show at the Autodromo di Varano in Italy on the 6th-8th of May, followed by the Sunday Ride Classic at Circuit Paul Ricard in France on the 10th-12th of June. The third event is the Sachsenring Classic at the Sachsenring on the 15th-17th of July, and the final event of 2022 is the Classic Motorcycle Festival at Donington Park on the 30th-31st of July.
The Varano event will celebrate all things two-stroke, with several historic bikes from across the GP classes already confirmed. These include Kenny Roberts’ 1981 YZR500 OW53, along with Eddie Lawson’s 500cc World Championship winning YZR500 OW81 from 1986, plus his 1987 race-winning YZR500 OW86. There will also be a YZR500 ROC from the independent chassis era in Grand Prix racing during the 1990s, plus the YZR500s ridden by Norifumi Abe and Gary McCoy in 2002. On top of this, Phil Read’s 250cc TD2 and 350cc TR2 from 1969, Carlos Lavado’s two championship-winning TZ250s from 1983 and 1986, and Luca Cadalora’s iconic YZR250 from 1990 will also be at the event.
When it comes to riders, Yamaha racing legends such as 15x World Champion Giacomo Agostini, 3x World Champion Luca Cadalora, 2x 250cc World Champion Carlos Lavado, 3x 125cc World Champion Pier Paolo Bianchi, and former 250cc World Champion Christian Sarron are already confirmed to attend the first event at Varano. On top of this, local GP heroes Loris Reggiani and Gianfranco Bonera will also be present, along with a selection of current Yamaha riders and managers from official MotoGP, WorldSBK, and EWC teams.
Since the launch of the YRHC in 2021, it has already received over 100 applications for membership and requests for over 400 bikes to be registered on the official database. To be eligible to become a member, you need to own a Yamaha race bike that falls into one of the below categories:
Grand Prix
– Any official GP factory or production two-stroke race bike from 1955 to 2003. These can include bikes built with an independent chassis, specials, and official replicas.
WorldSBK, WorldSSP, & EWC
– Any official four-stroke race bike from these classes between 1987 and 2009.
MX
– Any official two-stroke MX race bike up until 1999.
Dakar
– Any official Dakar rally bike up until 2007.
For more information, the complete list of the eligibility terms and conditions, and to find out how to sign up to become an official member of the YRHC, please email yrhc@yamaha-racing.com.
For more Yamaha Motorcycles UK news check out our dedicated page Yamaha Motorcycles UK
The iconic French brand will continue as tyre supplier to MotoE™ until at least 2024.
Dorna Sports is pleased to confirm that Michelin will remain the sole, official tyre supplier to the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup until at least 2024, extending a partnership that has bred success and close competition since it began – both on-track and off.
Michelin has been a partner of MotoE™ since its inception in 2019, playing a vital role in the creation of the Cup’s identity as a fast, ultra-competitive motorcycle series racing alongside the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship. Michelin’s racing DNA is already showcased to perfection by the company’s ongoing tenure as sole tyre supplier to the MotoGP™ class, which began in 2016, and their commitment to quality and competition has continued shining through in MotoE™ since the series began.
Michelin’s commitment to MotoE™ goes beyond competition, with the company achieving increased and ever-increasing sustainability in their MotoE™ tyres, including the use of recycled and bio-sourced materials. The front tyres are composed of 33% sustainable resources and the rear tyres 40%, including materials such as lemon and orange peel, pine resin, sunflower oil, worn car and truck tyres, and scrap steel.
This seamless intersection between sustainability and performance makes Michelin the perfect match for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup. This new agreement until 2024 strengthens the partnership between Dorna and Michelin yet further, maintaining the iconic tyre brand’s presence across MotoGP™, MotoE™ and the MotoGP™ eSport Championship, of which it was also a founding partner.
Maria Esperanza Gaspar Aguilon, Michelin Senior Vice President Business Line 2 Wheels Worldwide: “Michelin is investing significantly in all the forms of motorsport that place the emphasis on sustainability and forward-looking technologies. Such series include the FIM MotoE World Cup. For three years now, it has provided Michelin with an invaluable laboratory for the development of tyres that contain a high proportion of bio-sourced, recycled and regenerated sustainable materials. We are delighted today to be extending our commitment to MotoE and to see the trust its players have in Michelin. For us, MotoE serves as a first-class opportunity to work hand in hand not only with Dorna Sports, but also with the teams and riders to take our innovations forward for the benefit of all Michelin road tyres in the future.”
Marc Saurina, Senior Director of Commercial Partnerships at Dorna Sports: “We’re very proud to confirm that Michelin will continue as the tyre supplier for MotoE. Since the Cup began, the close competition has been a calling card for the series and Michelin is a cornerstone of that, with exceptional performance. Their proven commitment to increased sustainability is also vital to MotoE, and a perfect fit for the Cup. Racing is one of the best laboratories to develop new technologies and solutions, and we’re very proud that Michelin has committed to MotoE as the perfect place to develop, test and assess what will likely become the tyre technology of the future for millions of vehicles.”
Motorcycle Communications Technology Leader Set For Third Season Of Sponsorship.
MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is pleased to announce that Cardo Systems, with its advanced PACKTALK lineup of motorcycle communications technology, will again be an official partner for the 2022 Auto Parts 4 Less MotoAmerica Championship.
Cardo Systems specializes in the design, development, manufacturing and sale of state-of-the-art communications and entertainment systems for motorcyclists. Since its inception in 2004, Cardo has pioneered the vast majority of innovations for Bluetooth motorcycle communications systems, including the creation of the first rider-to-rider product and innovating connectivity with the introduction of its Dynamic Mesh Communication (DMC).
Through its official partner relationship with MotoAmerica, Cardo will continue to showcase its advanced PACKTALK lineup, which features industry-leading connectivity, to road racing fans via the MotoAmerica series.
“This is the third year that we’ve had Cardo onboard as an official partner,” said Lance Bryson, MotoAmerica’s Director of Sponsorship. “We’ve used the Cardo Systems in the past on some of our race broadcasts and MotoAmerica Live+ programming and we will continue to do so. The system works well for us and it’s also an effective way to showcase the product to our fans and Cardo’s current and future customers. The upcoming season promises to be the best yet and we’re ready to get started.”
“Our partnership with MotoAmerica has been a good one,” said Dan Emodi, Cardo Systems’ Chief Marketing Officer. “The series has shown our product in a positive way to our existing and new customers. Being involved in MotoAmerica road racing puts us front and center to a very important audience for Cardo, both those at the events and those watching from home. We’re excited to start our third season as an official partner of the series.”
As the category leader, Cardo offers a wide range of products designed for multiple-use cases. Cardo’s newest FREECOM X and SPIRIT lines offer two variations of Bluetooth communications systems, while the PACKTALK line utilizes the “always-on” mesh connectivity via Cardo’s proprietary DMC.
For more Cardo Systems news check out our dedicated page Cardo Systems News
The 2021 MotoGP™ season had more twists and turns than ever. From Miguel Oliveira’s flawless Catalunya victory, to title contenders crashing out in a championship-defining race, to Brad Binder’s sensational rain-soaked win in Austria that absolutely no one saw coming, there is no way of knowing what will happen in 2022.
What we do know, however, is that the best way to experience racing at this level is in the flesh. KTM invites all race fans and dedicated orange-bleeders to immerse their senses with the sights and sounds of full-throttle, action-packed, unscripted, and untamed racing.
Without a doubt, the sight of motorcycles passing at fantastic speed, the sounds of high-revving V-4 engines, and the smell of burnt rubber make it a spectacle for the senses – and arguably, the greatest show on earth.
KTM will once again be offering THE ULTIMATE ORANGE MOTOGP™ EXPERIENCE, which includes exclusive entry into KTM grandstands at key racetracks, along with KTM FAN PACKAGES loaded with race-day essentials.
13 – 15 May 2022 Grand Prix de France | Le Mans
03 – 05 June 2022 Gran Premi de Catalunya | Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
17 – 19 June 2022 Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland | Sachsenring
24 – 26 June 2022 TT Assen | TT Circuit Assen
05 – 07 August 2022 British Grand Prix | Silverstone Circuit
19 – 21 August 2022 Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich | Red Bull Ring
14 – 16 October 2022 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix | Phillip Island
The 2022 MotoGP season gets started in March 2022 with THE ULTIMATE ORANGE MOTOGP™ EXPERIENCE tickets on sale now.
Three-Time World Champion To Be Reunited With Yamaha YZR500
The following release is being distributed on behalf of the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Goodwood is proud to announce that three-time 500cc World Motorcycle Champion Wayne Rainey will make his first appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard (June 23-26).
Renowned for its unrestricted access to the mighty machines of motorsport and the riders and drivers who made them famous, this year’s Festival of Speed will be no exception. Across the weekend, fans will be able to watch Rainey take to the iconic Goodwood hillclimb on the Yamaha YZR500, with which he won the 1992 World Championship 30 years ago.
Goodwood is delighted that the Festival of Speed will reunite Rainey with a racing bike for the first time in 29 years, following the accident at the 1993 Italian Grand Prix that left him paralyzed from the chest down. Rainey’s exploits at the Festival of Speed follow his first return to riding in 2019 at the Sound of Engine Festival in Suzuka, Japan.
As we prepare to celebrate ‘The Innovators – Masterminds of Motorsport’, Rainey’s ride will be made possible by the innovation of the Yamaha Motor Company as they reconfigure the 30-year-old Yamaha YZR500 so it can be ridden using handlebar controls alone. Rainey himself has masterminded his way through a career in motorsport spanning four decades, first as a three-time World Champion, then as a team manager, and currently as President of MotoAmerica.
Wayne Rainey said: “I’m incredibly excited to not only be attending my first Goodwood Festival of Speed this summer, but to be riding my 1992 Yamaha YZR500 up the famous hillclimb. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and one that I just couldn’t pass up. I want to thank the Yamaha Motor Company for preparing my 1992 YZR500 and adapting it for me to ride, MotoAmerica for helping make the entire project fly, and The Duke of Richmond for really making this a reality. I can’t wait to meet the fans who come from all over the world for the Goodwood Festival of Speed.”
Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing Srl said:“The Goodwood Festival of Speed is an amazing event that is a showcase for two and four-wheel motorsports legends – both human and mechanical. Wayne Rainey is a true motorcycle racing legend who achieved three 500cc World Titles with Yamaha before his career-ending accident and injury. The thought of Wayne riding the legendary 1992 Factory YZR500 bike that he rode to his final championship victory is something truly amazing that I for one never imagined could be possible. I know it will mean so much to Wayne, and it will be something truly special for all the fans at Goodwood and all around the world. We are proud to be able to support Wayne make his dream come true.”
The Duke of Richmond said: “I am absolutely delighted that Wayne and his family are able to join us at this year’s Festival of Speed and that we will see him take to the Hill on the bike with which he won his last World Championship 30 years ago. Every year the Festival showcases spectacular stories from the world of motorsport, and we are privileged that Wayne is sharing his with us this summer.”
Wayne Rainey
With 82 500cc Grand Prix starts, Wayne Rainey won 24 races and took 64 podiums while his battles with arch-rival Kevin Schwantz have become the stuff of motorcycling legend. At the time of his accident in 1993 he was leading the World Motorcycle Championship and was just three races away from winning his fourth title.
Following his accident, Rainey became the team manager of the Marlboro Yamaha Team before retiring in 1998. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2007, named a FIM Grand Prix ‘Legend’ in 2000 and has a corner of the Laguna Seca Circuit named in his honour.
Savings to be made on tickets bought before 1 April 2022
Those planning to attend the Festival of Speed this summer have the opportunity to save on tickets when bought by 31 March 2022. The 2022 Festival of Speed qualifies for the UK Government’s ‘creative industry tax relief’, with a reduced VAT rate of 12.5% until 31 March 2022. We are pleased to be able to pass this saving on to our customers, which will apply to a number of entry products. Ticket prices will remain at the reduced VAT rate until the end of March, when it will return to the full rate of 20% from 1 April 2022.
For more news checkout our dedicated MotoAmerica News page MotoAmerica News
Quartararo, Bagnaia and Rins walk the red carpet as two more episodes of MotoGP™ Unlimited are screened in Paris.
On Wednesday it was Madrid, now, Paris. The Elysées Biarritz hosted the second premiere for MotoGP™ Unlimited, with two more episodes of the new docuseries about the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship screened on Thursday – less than a month ahead of the series’ worldwide launch on the 14th of March.
2021 MotoGP™ World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) was joined at the event by Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), with the three taking to the red carpet and then the stage. After a Q&A, it was time to sit back and enjoy the two episodes.
MotoGP™ Unlimited will launch exclusively on Prime Video in France, Italy, Spain, and more than 170 countries and territories worldwide – including the UK and U.S. – on the 14th of March. Produced by THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO in collaboration with Dorna Sports, the series comprises eight 50-minute episodes and follows a number of premier class stars, including riders and team managers.
The docuseries takes fans behind the scenes, allowing viewers an intimate and exclusive look at the challenges faced by riders and teams during the season, both on and off the track. The docuseries follows in the footsteps of other Prime Video sports content productions also produced by THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO, such as Fernando; following double Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso, Six Dreams, and the acclaimed series All or Nothing. The executive producers are Laura Fernández Espeso, Javier Méndez, and Bernat Elías, and the directors are Arnau Monràs and Jaume García.
Make sure to tune in on the 14th of March!
For more MotoGP info checkout our dedicated MotoGP News page
The FS-3 Racing Kawasaki team, the official Team Green entry in the Bennetts British Superbike championship, has today unveiled a striking new retro-inspired livery that will be used for all 11 rounds of the 2022 season.
Keeping with the same exciting line up of Lee Jackson and Rory Skinner, 2022 will be the sixth season that the Coventry-based team has partnered with Kawasaki. With both riders having had a year of development on the new Ninja ZX-10RR, they have firmly set their sights on building on their podium-finishing potential from 2021.
Following an incredible reaction to the ZX-7RR-inspired livery that World Superbike star Jonathan Rea used at the Argentinian round last year, the FS-3 Racing team has decided to create a similar retro-inspired them for their 2022 livery. The hugely popular design has been a hit across the UK, and for this year, customers who purchase a new ZX-10R or ZX-10RR from an authorised Kawasaki dealer can upgrade their bike to have the matching livery.
Unveiled for the first time at the MCN London Motorcycle Show, race fans will be able to see the striking liveries in action for the first time when the season gets underway at Silverstone on April 15th.
Ross Burridge, Head of Marketing & Racing Department at Kawasaki UK: “Having witnessed the incredibly positive feedback from racing fans across the globe after seeing Jonathan’s machine in Argentina, and then on our standard road bike at Motorcycle Live on the Kawasaki stand, we knew we had to see it on track in the UK this year. The guys at FS-3 Racing also fell in love with the design and are excited to see Lee and Rory debut the new look on track at round one in April later this year.”
RST is delighted to announce the signing of Suzuki Ecstar MotoGP Test Rider and Suzuki Endurance Yoshimura SERT Motul Racing team rider, Sylvain Guintoli.
The 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race winner will wear RST’s flagship airbag suit using In&motion’s airbag technology.
Guintoli will debut his RST suit from Monday 31st January during testing for the 2022 season in Malaysia.
Sylvain Guintoli said: “The racing products and the airbag technology has been moving on a lot in recent years. It feels like the right time. Everything is working well at RST right now and the suits are getting better and better. When you crash at 150mph, you need to have a suit that is going to take the abuse, take the sliding and tumbling. It’s very important, not only performance, but for the safety of the riders.”
Zoe Turner, Race Department Manager, said: “It’s a fantastic signing for us. We’re so proud that a rider of Sylvain’s quality has trusted RST with his race suits for 2022 and we’re looking forward to supporting him in the MotoGP and EWC season.”
About Sylvain Guintoli Sylvain Guintoli (born 24 June 1982 in Montélimar) is a French professional motorcycle racer. He was FIM World Superbike Champion in 2014. He is contracted to the Suzuki MotoGP team as a test rider with occasional race entries, as a wild card or replacement rider. In 2021, he was the winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race on Suzuki together with Xavier Simeon and Gregg Black.
About RST RST is the UK’s number 1 motorcycle apparel provider with collections designed for Sport, Adventure & Urban riding. Trusted by the world’s most successful motorcyclists, including Ian Hutchinson (IOM TT, BSB), Conor Cummins (IOM TT), Alex Lowes (WSBK) and Kenny Foray (FSBK), RST is also the proud Official Safety Partner of the Isle of Man TT (IOM TT).
For more RST Apparel News check out our dedicated page RST News
