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V for… virtual! Alex Marquez wins the first ever MotoGP™ Virtual Race

V For… Virtual! Alex Marquez Wins The First Ever Motogp™ Virtual RaceThe Repsol Honda rider takes the spoils as drama hits early for Quartararo and Viñales.

Repsol Honda Team’s Alex Marquez managed to avoid the chaos around him to clinch an impressive victory on his MotoGP™ debut in Sunday’s first ever Virtual MotoGP™ Race. The inaugural #StayAtHomeGP was filled with thrills and spills as ten MotoGP™ riders put on a show to bring a little light relief and entertainment to a tougher time for many MotoGP™ fans around the world – with more than twenty households connected up behind-the-scenes to make it a reality.

Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Fabio Quartararo started the race from familiar territory after the Frenchman stormed to pole position in the five-minute qualifying session that preceded the race, a quarter of a second clear of Pramac Racing’s Francesco Bagnaia and over half a second clear of Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Maverick Viñales, who completed the front row.

It was then drama from the off as the lights went out, with polesitter Quartararo alongside Viñales, Alex Marquez and Bagnaia on the run into San Donato and the holeshot anyon’e guess. It was Quartararo who ultimately emerged ahead but he was clearly too late on the brakes when the front-end of his Yamaha M1 washed out from beneath him, incredibly and unfortunately taking out 2021 teammate Viñales in the process.

Alex Marquez and Bagnaia avoided the incident and were able to break clear, with reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) settling into third place after an attempted lunge up the inside by Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Joan Mir. Further back, Quartararo was fighting back through the field after his spill, up to fifth after getting the better of Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) and the rookie highsiding in spectacular style whilst trying to get back ahead of the Frenchman…

As the leading two crossed the start-finish line at the end of the opening lap there was absolutely nothing between them, having already swapped places, and paint, a good few times. Bagnaia would once again dive past Alex Marquez into Turn 1, but the Spaniard responded immediately after as the Italian ran wide.

Meanwhile, chaos was breaking out behind the leading two. Mir was the first to crash out after getting an almighty shunt from his teammate Rins, of all people, and Quartararo wasn’t too far behind, tucking the front at Turn 1 for the second lap in a row. However, the Frenchman respawned on track… before Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) then rode straight into him and the pair crashed out, dropping the polesitter even further down the order.

Onto Lap 3 and Alex Marquez was beginning to edge further and further clear of Bagnaia at the front, with the gap starting to stretch to over half a second. The Pramac rider wasn’t throwing in the towel just yet, however. Just behind them, Viñales was recovering well from his earlier incident and had Marc Marquez in his sights after taking advantage of a mistake from Rins to take fourth.

Alas, Viñales then crashed out after braking too late into Correntaio and running into the gravel trap, the factory Yamaha rider visibly annoyed at himself as he slapped his controller in fury. Seconds later though, Marc Marquez would have a crash of his own, allowing Viñales to blast back ahead of the Repsol Honda and into the final podium place.

As the pack filtered through to start the penultimate lap, the podium looked decided but there a battle heating up between Marc Marquez and Quartararo for fourth place. The first MM93 vs FQ20 fight of 2020 would unfold with the Frenchman coming out on top thanks to a move at Casanova-Savelli, despite Marquez throwing everything he had into Arrabbiata 1 as he tried to stop the Yamaha man breaking clear…

Back at the front, Alex Marquez kept his nerve on the final lap to take victory by over seven seconds, joined on the podium by Bagnaia and Viñales. Quartararo ended up fourth, despite setting the fastest lap of the race with his final lap, with Marc Marquez completing the top five. Rins came out on top in the battle of the Suzuki teammates after he took sixth, ahead of Mir in seventh, with Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), Lecuona and Espargaro completing the top ten.

An incredible and historic #StayAtHomeGP had pretty much everything: crashes, clashes and a rookie taking the victory! The good news is we don’t have to wait long for the next Virtual MotoGP™ installment either, with a handful of other premier class stars getting their chance to shine in the coming weeks…

Alex Marquez: “I’m so happy! I knew before the race I wasn’t the fastest one, especially on one lap, so my target was to be as consistent as I could be. I had a good fight with Pecco in the opening laps until he had his crash at Arrabbiata. I want to say thank you to Putut Maulana [Moe27 – an Indonesian MotoGP™ eSport rider], who gave me some setup tips!

“I didn’t pass the tips to Marc because yes he’s my teammate but he’s my rival also! I’m looking forward to doing another race now. I want to do it again, but I want a little more notice! I only had a few days to prepare, so to have a week would be better for next time…”

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Brno: MotoGP™ is back in business

It’s time to reset, bounce back and get ready for the second half of the season
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) is in good shape heading into the second half of 2019. The reigning Champion has 58 points in his pocket, he’s won more than half the races so far and there’s been little sign of many chinks in his armour since his crash out the lead at the Circuit of the Americas. But this is MotoGP™ and the course of racing rarely did run smooth, with Brno next up – the circuit that ended his omnipotent run in 2014 – and there is still a maximum of 250 points up for grabs in the remaining ten races. Can his rivals reset, bounce back and start taking the fight to the number 93?
His closest challenger remains Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) despite a couple of more difficult races for the Italian, and the good news for him is that he won in the Czech Republic last year, in some style. So it’s a good track to begin his assault on the second half of the season, with confidence and good memories nothing to be sniffed at when glory and defeat can be thousandths apart. But Dovizioso’s teammate Danilo Petrucci is now pretty hot on his heels, only six points back, and he could complicate life for the now two-time runner up in the Championship. And ‘Petrux’ knows the bike he’s now on took a 1-2 at Brno last year. Will it repeat the feat in 2019? And if so, in which order?
Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), meanwhile, is the man looking for a little more redemption. After two DNFs in a row, both from near the front, the Suzuki man went into summer on the back foot despite having some serious speed at both races. He’s now 84 points off Marquez and fourth in the Championship, but the upside is Rins now races with much less pressure. He’ll simply want to win and win as much as possible in the remaining ten rounds. He’s already taken a MotoGP™ victory, so why not again?
That’s also true of Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and nine-time World Champion teammate Valentino Rossi, although they arrive the second half of 2019 with very different recent runs of form. Viñales opened his victory account for the year at Assen and then followed it up with a podium, heading into summer looking like a serious threat. Can he start back up where he left off? If yes, it’ll be the first time he’s taken three premier class podiums in a row. For Rossi, it’s the opposite – with three DNFs prefacing an eighth place in Germany, the ‘Doctor’ needs to bounce back and turn it around. But his CV at Brno is a good one, with a win in every category he’s raced there – including five in the premier class. After such a stellar start to the season, can Rossi come back out swinging for round two?
Then there’s the fight for top Independent Team rider. Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) currently leads it by virtue of consistency and that impressive podium earlier in the year, but he’s only three points ahead of rookie sensation Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT). The Frenchman is another looking to bounce back at Brno but only from one mistake in Germany – incredibly, his first DNF caused by a crash – and if his form so far in 2019 hasn’t been quite ominous enough, he’ll now be much more recovered from the arm pump surgery that nevertheless didn’t hold him back from the podium. At full power, Quartararo will doubtless be bothering the field for more than the accolade of top Independent Team rider or Rookie of the Year. Brno, beware.
Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol), however, will want to be one of those making that as difficult as possible. The Brit is equal on points with Quartararo and his unforgettable first win came at Brno in 2016 as Crutchlow was impeccable in difficult conditions – so he’s another for whom the Czech venue holds good memories. He also took his second podium of the season in Germany despite recovering from a cycling mishap and is another who will be in much better shape heading into the second half. A podium contender? Don’t doubt it.
The fight throughout the top ten has been tight this year and the likes of Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu), Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) and Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) will all be gunning to remain key presences in the battle, with all having taken some top finishes in 2019 so far. And what of Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and teammate Andrea Iannone? And they’ll also have someone else to contend with: Stefan Bradl, Honda test rider, who replaces the absent and recovering Jorge Lorenzo at the Repsol Honda Team. The German has put in some solid rides and could cause the odd headache in the fight for Q2 and good points.
As we head for Brno for the 50th time, we’re back in business for 2019, with ten races remaining and 250 points on the table. Healed, reset and fired up to go racing again, the field is deep and gunning for glory…with everything far from decided. Another twist could be just around the corner in Czechia, so tune in on Sunday 4th August for the Monster Energy Grand Prix České republiky at the Automotodrom Brno.
Championship standings
1 – Marc Marquez (SPA – Honda) – 185
2 – Andrea Dovizioso (ITA – Ducati) – 127
3 – Danilo Petrucci (ITA – Ducati) – 121
4 – Alex Rins (SPA – Suzuki) – 101
5 – Maverick Viñales (SPA – Yamaha) – 85






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Random News Story

Helmets, Industry News, Latest News, Manufacturers, Suzuki

Suzuki and Arai release MotoGP-inspired Chaser-X

Suzuki and Arai have joined forces to create a Team Suzuki Ecstar, MotoGP-inspired Chaser-X limited edition helmet, which comes with an RRP of £550 and is available now through authorised Suzuki dealerships or online.

The helmet gets a striking blue, white, and yellow design with bold Suzuki lettering, reminiscent of the firm’s GSX-RR MotoGP racer, and is ACU Gold Standard certified. It also uses a double d-ring chin strap fastener, Arai’s new shield latch system, and includes liner speaker pockets.

Available in sizes XS-XXL, it is available through authorised Suzuki dealerships or online via Suzuki’s web store, here.



Akrapovič, EICMA

Akrapovic Ready for the Future Today at EICMA

Akrapovič has always been the byword for the leaders in high-performance exhaust systems and a company that is not satisfied with just keeping up with trends, but setting them. This year’s booth at the prestigious EICMA show – which runs from Thursday, 8 November until Sunday, 11 November at the Milan Fairgrounds (Fiera Milano) – showcases everything that Akrapovič stands for: high-performance, high-quality, durable exhaust systems that deliver optimized performance and throttle response with a unique sound and innovative design.

Akrapovič is a leading and innovative producer of high-performance exhaust systems in the motorcycle segment. Through the pioneering use of titanium, super-alloys, and carbon composites, it has moved the industry standard to new heights. Due to these constant innovations – which are displayed for all to see at the stand – Akrapovič is constantly evolving and making sure it is Ready for the Future Today. The technological enhancements it ceaselessly strives to provide each and every product its unique quality, whether it is better sound, optimized performance, improved handling, or an enhanced and futuristic design. Every single product is thoroughly tested and crafted to the highest possible standards, and this is highlighted at this year’s EICMA.

Akrapovič’s unstinting desire to keep its position ahead of the competition is further demonstrated at the stand with its latest high-tech machine, the real durability dyno robot. Visitors have already had a chance to witness this robot first-hand and see how an Akrapovič exhaust is subjected to intense durability tests to make sure the company delivers the best products available to its customers. This investment is also highlighted by Akrapovič’s forward planning in EC/ECE type-approval regulations, and with future planning Akrapovič is already prepared for the upcoming Euro 5 standards, as well as having a large portfolio of Euro 4 products available, many of which are on display at the stand.

New products are always at the forefront of an Akrapovič show stand, and this year at EICMA it is no different because completely new exhaust systems for the Ducati Scrambler 1100, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R, Kawasaki Versys 1000, Yamaha Niken, and Triumph Tiger 1200 are on display. There are also new offerings for the off-road market, with exhausts for the 2019 Yamaha YZ250F, Kawasaki KX450F, and Honda CRF450R, plus the latest designs for the scooter market. Combined with the unveiling of new Akrapovič exhaust shapes for the BMW S 1000 RR and BMW R 1250 GS, with special imprints on the titanium muffler outer sleeve and carbon-fibre endcap, this makes for a comprehensive line-up showcasing the technology and finish that Akrapovič is synonymous with.

Located in Hall 24 at Stand M56, Akrapovič has an exciting booth that has already attracted a lot of attention. The company’s many racing successes and strong ties with leading racing teams and manufacturers have led to an unprecedented and enviable amount of technical knowledge that Akrapovič translates to the end user. The stand also features a stunning array of 2018 MotoGP™ racing machinery, with bikes from Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Ducati Team, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, and Team SUZUKI ECSTAR all on display, which is a unique collection and one that has already seen a huge amount of interest from visitors. Alongside these machines is the Experience Room, where the sounds of Akrapovič exhaust systems are being enjoyed by guests. There will also be many visits by racers from many disciplines throughout the show, including riders from MotoGP, WorldSBK, and MXGP, so come along and see who is visiting Akrapovič to witness that it is Ready for the Future Today.

Akrapovič at EICMA is one of the highlights in the company’s calendar. It offers the opportunity to meet and greet friends, racers, customers, and many others who will all be coming together at the stand, and Akrapovič hopes you too can join in to get Ready for the Future Today.