News and stories from the world of the Powersports business.
Beach Does It Again at Arizona Super TT
Progressive American Flat Track TT master JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) added another chapter to his legend by reigning supreme at Saturday’s ZO CBD Arizona Super TT presented by RideNow Powersports at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona.
Beach, who has now claimed victories in seven of the most recent eight Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle TT Main Events, ultimately proved worthy of his status as the heavy favorite coming into the weekend. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t have to work for this one.
That work started in the race’s opening corner after initially getting displaced to third behind reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) and points leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT).
The biggest danger moment for Beach came when Daniels took control of the lead two minutes into the Main. The on-form Daniels – who actually out-qualified Beach earlier in the day – looked to rip open an advantage while his teammate was stuck behind Mees on a track that presented few opportunities to pass and plenty of opportunities to mess up.
Almost exactly a minute later, Beach (literally) flew by Mees over the start-finish jump to slot into second. And almost exactly one minute after that he pulled a carbon-copy of the high-flying move on Daniels to take the lead for himself.
Daniels did well to keep Beach honest as they left the remainder of the field in their wake. However, he ultimately gave up the chase with a couple minutes remaining on the clock, content to cruise to second.
When asked how he managed to charge around a racetrack that almost everyone else had to tiptoe around, Beach joked, “Growing up, I was told you either had to be smart or dumb, and I chose dumb. I was going for it. No, it was a great race. I knew Dallas had my number all day long. He’s been riding so good. All season, he’s been hauling the mail. It’s been frustrating for me because we’re on the same bike, and he’s been whupping my butt. Today, I’ve got to thank my crew. They worked so hard all day long. We were kind of on the back foot, but they didn’t give up. They kept working, and that’s what I did in the Main Event too.”
Behind the Estenson Racing 1-2, Mees ran in third with Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 890 Duke) in determined pursuit. That is until Mees’ machine became unsettled over the bumps and then lost the rear. While Mees did an admirable job to pick up and remount his factory Indian as quickly as was humanly possible, he still lost a few positions in the aftermath of the mishap.
That elevated Bauman to his second podium in four starts on the Rick Ware Racing KTM. It also rewarded Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Mission Foods Indian FTR750) and Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) with fourth- and fifth-place finishes, respectively.
Mees salvaged sixth and was joined by Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing/2 Wheelz KTM 890 Duke), Kolby Carlile (No. 36 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing Yamaha MT-07), and Ryan Wells (No. 94 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) in the bottom half of the top ten.
Title hopeful Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) was a Main Event scratch after suffering a fall during practice at the start of the day.
Following four of 18 races, Daniels leads with 92 points, followed by Beach (73), Mees (71), and Bauman (62).
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
2019 Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champion Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F) closed to within one point of the ‘23 points lead with a precise and patient ride to victory at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park.
Gauthier established himself as the favorite going in with his strong pre-race performance but ended up corralled behind Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450) in the early going after Cose dove down from the outside of Row 1 to claim the lead coming out of the race’s opening corner.
Gauthier sat close on Cose’s rear wheel as they circulated the slick, one-line track, hoping to either find or force a mistake from the leader. All the while, Gauthier faced similar heat from behind, with a long string of riders jammed up behind them, spearheaded by Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F), who himself was flanked by Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) and Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F).
Just as the race approached mid-distance, Gauthier made his move, landing along- and inside of Cose as they completed a jump and slid into the subsequent left-hander.
Kopp attempted to slip underneath Cose at the same time but was denied. While Kopp and co. regrouped to map out another assault, Gauthier opened a two second lead at the front. The reigning champ did finally push his way up the inside of Cose a couple minutes later and was joined in the overtake by Whale and Brunner.
A late red flag added the potential for some unexpected drama to a race that appeared all but settled when Andrew Luker (No. 11 Rackley Racing/Keeran Racing Yamaha YZ450F) crashed with just 10 seconds remaining on the clock.
That set the stage for a staggered restart and three-lap shootout. However, Gauthier successfully survived the second launch and cleared off to grab his first checkered flag of the season. The win was his third career TT victory and sees him remain the only rider in the field to have finished on the podium in every race this season.
“We worked our butts off this offseason putting this program together,” Gauthier said. “It’s going great. I’ve been on the podium every round and KTM has won every race so far. I’ve got to thank my whole team… There’s so many people that help our program out. It’s only going to keep getting better, and I’m super stoked on this one.”
Kopp held for second to retain his points lead over Gauthier (86-85) despite third-placed Whale and fourth-placed Brunner applying maximum pressure over the final laps.
Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) completed the top five, followed by Hayden Gillim (No. Comstock Energy/Vance & Hines KTM 450 SX-F), who made his way from a crash in his heat to the LCQ to an eventual sixth-place ride.
Cose was the biggest loser in the red-flag reshuffle, winding up ninth after leading the opening half of the race and running in the top-two for the bulk of the contest.
Next Up:
The world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series will tackle its first Half-Mile of the 2023 season on Saturday, April 22, with the Mission Dallas Half-Mile presented by Roof Systems at Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas.Visit https://www.tixr.com/promoters/americanflattrack to secure your tickets today.
For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FansChoice.tv is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://www.fanschoice.tv.
FOX Sports coverage of the ZO CBD Arizona Super TT presented by RideNow Powersports, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, April 9 at 1:30 p.m. ET (10:30 a.m. PT).
For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.
FERNANDEZ SUPERB TO NEAR MOTOGP™ TOP TEN FINISH IN ARGENTINA AS DIXON MAKES THE MOTO2™ PODIUM!
GASGAS Factory Racing’s MotoGP story wrapped another chapter today as Augusto Fernandez swallowed more experience of this highly demanding and technical series with a decent 11th place finish at a wet Termas de Rio Hondo. The Spaniard, and the GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 crew, pushed through 25 sodden laps of the Gran Premio Michelin de la Republica Argentina to rack-up world championship points for the second weekend in a row.
- Top 11 for GASGAS in their second ever MotoGP Grand Prix and first appearance on South American soil in the series
- Fernandez shows maturity and fast development once more to fight on the fringe of the top ten after starting from 17th position on the grid
- The reigning Moto2 world champion is the sole runner for the team and the brand in Argentina as Pol Espargaro continues his recovery from the crash in Portugal nine days ago
- Jake Dixon makes the podium breakthrough in Moto2™ with 3rd place as Ryusei Yamanaka charges to the top ten in Moto3™
Stormy conditions around Termas de Rio Hondo made for a rainy and grim race day. The second round of 21 in 2023 MotoGP represented the eighth visit by the series to the fast and flowing layout in northern Argentina and the teams and riders negotiated the second ever MotoGP Sprint on Saturday before starting to think about the 25-laps that would run on Sunday.
Fernandez made decent progress during the weekend and had his first taste of MotoGP class action in tricky mixed conditions as well as dealing with the low grip nature of the track. The GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 team worked up to the Grand Prix chase on Sunday afternoon and Fernandez made a positive start from the sixth row. He then gained positions and fought off far more experienced racers. 11th place meant 5 points, his personal best and a time less than 20 seconds from the winner.
After two action-packed weekends in Portugal and Argentina, the GASGAS crew can now breathe and get back to Europe for a few days before flying across the Atlantic again to COTA in Texas for the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas.
Augusto Fernandez, 19th: “I’m happy. It was a fun race and I had some good battles in the group. Step-by-step I was getting into my pace, making good laps and moving forwards. I enjoyed myself and it was a good experience to have that first wet race in MotoGP. Happy!”
Nicolas Goyon, GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 Team Manager: “Another strong race from our super-rookie who managed to score points in his first MotoGP race in fully wet conditions. It was a great result and he was less than twenty seconds from the leader, which is a decent accomplishment. His learning process is still ongoing and in just two races he has encountered a lot of conditions and challenges that will make him an even better rider in the future. Congratulations to him. He improved session after session and was fighting with MotoGP winners and world champions. He was not far away. So, let’s keep working like this.”
Results MotoGPGran Premio Michelin de la Republica Argentina
1. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Ducati 44:28.518
2. Johann Zarco (FRA) Ducati +4.085
3. Alex Marquez (ESP) Ducati +4.681
11. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3 +19.380
World Championship standings MotoGP
1. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Ducati, 50 points
2. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati, 41
3. Johann Zarco (FRA) Ducati, 35
14. Augusto Fernandez (ESP) GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3, 8
Moto3 and Moto2
The first race on the schedule at Termas de Rio Hondo allowed David Alonso and Ryusei Yamanaka their second bite of Moto3 business with the GASGAS Aspar Racing squad. The Spaniard and the Japanese are new to the roster for 2023 and with promising signs from Portugal last weekend aimed to slide into the leading group from the off in Argentina.
Alonso was eager but the soaking wet conditions meant a cautious approach through the 19 laps. David found regular lap-times that put him in contention for the top ten but it was Yamanaka who powered through from outside the top twenty, eventually reaching 9th and improving on his result from Portugal. Alonso crossed the checkered flag in 14th to grasp his first points for GASGAS.
Ryusei Yamanaka: “Very wet conditions and I couldn’t find much confidence at the beginning but lap-by-lap I took more feeling and pushed a bit more. I caught the front group and was able to finish in the top ten, which was positive. This weekend we struggled a bit but the final result was decent and we need to work more for the next race in the USA. I still haven’t shown my potential.”
David Alonso: “Argentina over! It was a wet race and it was important to finish and I’m content to get my first championship points. I made a good start but I didn’t really have the feeling to follow the leaders in the wet. I wanted a top ten and tried to push more with the riders I was with but didn’t quite have the confidence. We learned about our wet base setting this weekend and I knew it was crucial just to make the flag.”
Jake Dixon was one of the stars of the Moto2 class once more. He launched away from the top of the second row of the grid after missing out on Pole Position on Saturday by just two tenths of a second. The slot was still good enough for the Briton – who became a new father on Saturday evening – to probe for possibilities with the leaders. Jake led the running on the first lap and then rode carefully in the fight for the podium. He was less than two seconds behind winner Tony Arbolino for his first podium finish of the season and enough points to ride to 4th in the championship. Jordi Torres admirably filled in for the absent Izan Guevara – who is making gains after a wrist injury – and the Spaniard crossed the line with 16th place, just missing his first GP points.
Jake Dixon: “The last 24 hours have been a blur! I’ve been ill, I want to say how much I love my wife and new daughter and then that was a difficult race! I struggled to see 8 laps from the end and had to lift up my visor in places. I want to thank the team: to come away with a podium here, and have a 6th and 3rd to start the season is pretty good.”
Gran Premio Michelin de la Republica Argentina photographs can be found HERE
Results Moto3 Gran Premio Michelin de la Republica Argentina
1. Tatsuki Suzuki (JPN) Honda 35:18.099
2. Diogo Moreira (BRA) KTM +4.571
3. Andrea Migno (ITA) KTM +4.699
9. Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN) GASGAS Aspar Team +12.844
14. David Alonso (ESP) GASGAS Aspar Team +27.524
World Championship standings Moto3
1. Daniel Holgado (ESP) KTM, 38 points
2. Diogo Moreira (BRA) KTM, 36
3. Tatsuki Suzuki (JPN) Honda, 27
14. Ryusei Yamanaka (JPN) GASGAS Aspar Team, 7
21. David Alonso (ESP) GASGAS Aspar Team, 2
Results Moto2 Gran Premio Michelin de la Republica Argentina
1. Tony Arbolino (ITA) 26:.26.606
2. Alonso Lopez (ESP) +0.663
3. Jake Dixon (GBR) GASGAS Aspar Team +1.961
16. Jordi Torres (ESP) GASGAS Aspar Team +31.901
World Championship standings Moto2
1. Tony Arbolino (ITA), 41 points
2. Aron Canet (ESP), 33
3. Pedro Acosta (ESP), 29
4. Jake Dixon (GBR) GASGAS Aspar Team, 26
ANDREA VERONA GETS 2023 UNDERWAY WITH DOUBLE ENDURO2 WIN IN ITALY
GASGAS Factory Racing’s Andrea Verona has got his 2023 FIM EnduroGP World Championship underway in style, fighting hard throughout his home GP to earn his first podium results of the new season. Switching from the Enduro1 class to the Enduro2 category for this year, despite the Italian event marking his first world championship outing on the EC 350F, the defending EnduroGP World Champion still ripped on home soil, claiming an Enduro2 class win on both days, while also going 2-2 in EnduroGP!
- Verona opens 2023 world championship account with double Enduro2 victory
- Defending EnduroGP champion places second overall on both days
- Home round sees Italian set impressive pace on EC 350F
After dominating in 2022 on his EC 250F, Verona was eager to see how things stacked up for 2023 on his new EC 350F. Despite the added pressure that a home round brings, the Italian was up for the fight and delivered a fast and considered performance throughout the event.
Building into things on day one, Andrea fought his way into the top three overall. A crash on the third cross test forced him to dig deep, but deep he dug. Topping the final extreme test and cross test, he ended his day second overall in EnduroGP and first in Enduro2.
Happy to get day one out of the way with a solid showing, Andrea was up to speed early on day two. With some more special test wins coming his way, he looked increasingly comfortable on his EC 350F as the conditions worsened. Capping off the day with the fastest time on the final test, Andrea again placed second overall, while winning the Enduro2 category.
The EnduroGP World Championship continues with round two in Spain on May 5-7.
Andrea Verona: “It’s been a really solid start to the season. With two wins in Enduro2 and twice second in EnduroGP, I’m happy with that for sure. I was a bit nervous to kick off the championship as the defending EnduroGP champion on home soil in Italy. A home race always brings a bit of extra pressure and stress, but thankfully it went pretty smooth. To be honest the crowd support on the tests was crazy with so many people cheering. I’m still adapting and learning the EC 350F all the time and figuring out new things as we go, but overall it’s been good. We have some time until round two to build on what we learned here and push to be even stronger in Spain.”
Results – 2023 EnduroGP World Championship, Round 1
Day 1 – Enduro2
1. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:13:51.52
2. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:13:55.11
3. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 1:14:35.99
Day 1 – EnduroGP
1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:13:27.06
2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:13:51.52
3. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:13:55.11
Day 2 – Enduro2
1. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:05:40.05
2. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:05:49.16
3. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 1:06:42:54
Day 2 – EnduroGP
1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:05:23.86
2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:05:40.05
3. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:05:49.16
Championship Standings – 2023 EnduroGP World Championship, (after Round 1)
Enduro2
1. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 40 pts
2. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 34 pts
3. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 30 pts
EnduroGP
1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 40 pts
2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 34 pts
3. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 30 pts
Sasaki vies for the win at the Argentine Grand Prix as Binder scores Moto2™ top six
Round two of twenty-one delivered MotoGP directly from the sunshine of Portimao and the western tip of Europe to the confines of a sweltering and stormy Termas de Rio Hondo in Argentina. The LIQUI MOLY Husqvarna Intact GP team and the rest of the paddock had travelled across the ocean and into South America for what was the eighth visit to Termas since the site first appeared as a Grand Prix venue in 2014.
Based near San Miguel de Tucuman in the north of the country, Termas has been an annual mecca for the passionate motorcycle racing fans in the country. The 4.8km track features fourteen corners and a flat, fast layout with a long principal straight. The course holds good memories for Ayumu Sasaki: the Japanese star recorded his first podium finish with the FR 250 GP there last year – the first of nine top three results in the 2022 season – so Husqvarna Motorcycles headed to the circuit with good expectations. Especially after Sasaki had taken Pole Position the previous Saturday and was fighting for the win at Portimao.
On Saturday Sasaki was again the reference. He attacked the Argentine asphalt to record his second Tissot Pole in a row by over half a second from the next nearest rider. The Japanese cut a bright figure in his Husqvarna Motorcycles white and through the dark rain and slippery conditions of the 18-lap race come Sunday morning. Sasaki was again immensely competitive but was caught out exiting Turn 13 just past mid-race distance. He had been running in 2nd place at the time and the bike was too damaged to re-join the fray.
Collin Veijer was discovering Termas for the very first time. The Dutch youngster secured 17th on the grid, which meant a sixth row start. From that launch he did his best in the rain and classified 22nd.
Ayumu Sasaki: “Disappointing. It was our first wet race and I started calmly. I knew I had a great feeling with the bike and the set-up was very good so I began to push a little bit. I collided with someone and it was racing accident but they gave me a penalty and I had to let that rider past. So slowed down and then overtook him once more and started to find my rhythm again. Maybe I was rushing a bit too much and it caused the crash. I’m disappointed with myself. It was my mistake. The positive thing is that we had great speed in both wet and dry conditions. Our results don’t show how fast we are at the moment. Now we just need to be more focused, and we go again in the USA.”
Collin Veijer: “Not the best race. I didn’t get the best feeling in the rain. I needed to push more but I didn’t have the confidence. It was hard to make a good job. In the dry we made a good step this weekend so we will take this experience to the next GP.”
Darryn Binder was closing on the top five for Husqvarna Motorcycles Moto2 debut in Portugal seven days previously and the exciting South African was again buzzing through the class in Argentina. In just his second outing in the division Binder was half a second away from the Pole Position time on Saturday and eventually qualified 11th. A good start placed Binder in the tussle for first five places and as the rainy conditions in Termas de Rio Honda continued to create tricky grip limits. Binder kept strong and steady and recorded his first points with 6th.
Lukas Tulovic did not make the trip to Argentina. The German was struggling with the right wrist that caused him to attempt – but then withdraw – from the Grand Prix in Portugal. The team are hopeful Tulovic will be able to race at round three in a fortnight.
Darryn Binder: “The second race of the year and the first time riding the bike in full wet conditions. Going to the grid I felt pretty confident; the bike was giving me good feedback and I felt it from the sighting lap. I had a good start and found myself up to 4th at one stage. I just didn’t have the same pace as the guys going for the podium. I’m still learning and find out about the limits and I was nervous to go too hard and make a mistake. I kept my own rhythm and tried my best to attack for 5th on the last lap but couldn’t pull it off. I’m happy with the full weekend and the extra experience. Step-by-step we are coming.”
The Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas means a relatively ‘short’ trip to North America and to MotoGP’s adopted home of COTA, near Austin, Texas. Round three takes place from 14th-16th of April.
Gran Premio Michelin de la Republica Argentina photographs can be found HERE
Results Moto3 Gran Premio Michelin de la Republica Argentina
1. Tatsuki Suzuki (JPN) Honda 35:18.099. 2. Diogo Moreira (BRA) KTM +4.571. 3. Andrea Migno (ITA) KTM +4.699. 22. Collin Veijer (NED) Husqvarna +55.636. DNF. Ayumu Sasaki (JPN) Husqvarna
World championship standings Moto3
1. Daniel Holgado (ESP) KTM, 38 points. 2. Diogo Moreira (BRA) KTM, 36. 3. Tatsuki Suzuki (JPN) Honda, 27. 12. Ayumu Sasaki (JPN) Husqvarna, 10. 19. Collin Veijer (NED) Husqvarna, 4.
Results Moto2 Gran Premio Michelin de la Republica Argentina
1. Tony Arbolino (ITA) 26:.26.606. 2. Alonso Lopez (ESP) +0.663. 3. Jake Dixon (GBR) +1.961. 6. Darryn Binder (RSA) Husqvarna +12.274
World championship standings Moto2
1. Tony Arbolino (ITA), 41 points. 2. Aron Canet (ESP), 33. 3. Pedro Acosta (ESP), 29. 12. Darryn Binder (RSA) Husqvarna, 10
BILLY BOLT IMPRESSES AT ENDUROGP ROUND ONE
Making a wildcard ride at the FIM EnduroGP World Championship opener, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt has once again shown he can mix it with the world’s best classic enduro racers, taking on the opening round of the EnduroGP series in Italy this weekend. Finishing in a highly commendable sixth place in the competitive Enduro2 category on Saturday, Bolt maintained his pace to secure seventh on Sunday, despite a big crash early on.
Reigning 2023 SuperEnduro World Champion Bolt chose to race the opening round of EnduroGP to help build both his speed and endurance ahead of the start of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship following a winter of sprint style SuperEnduro events and races. Choosing to ride his favoured FE 350 saw him step into the Enduro2 category and compete against multiple EnduroGP world champions and classic enduro specialists. Billy wasn’t fazed however and came out swinging in the sandy Friday evening Super Test to place an impressive seventh in class.
Into the first full day of competition, Bolt was able to hold his own on the dry, rough Italian tracks, claiming two top-three test results on his way to sixth place in E2. Sunday continued in very much the same way, and even after suffering a crash in the enduro test, Billy held on to the finish, ultimately claiming seventh place in Enduro2 – a solid result for the indoor and extreme enduro specialist.
Bolt now switches his focus to the opening round of the 2023 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship – the Xross Hard Enduro Rally, held in Serbia from May 17-20.
Billy Bolt: “I’m here at the finish and in one piece, which is definitely a positive. Yeah, I knew what I was getting in to, and it’s certainly been a tough weekend, but I’ve enjoyed it. The tests today were a lot rougher than yesterday obviously, so I tried a different setting on my forks, which didn’t help me, so I was struggling straight away. I had a fairly big crash in the enduro test, which lost me quite a lot of time, so after that I didn’t want to push too hard and risk too much. I’ve finished both days and built my stamina back up, which will be a real help ahead of the Hard Enduro World Championship – I’ve only really done six-minute races since last July. Racing in Italy is always cool – even when you mess up a test and you’re feeling a bit sorry for yourself, you look up and there’s a huge crowd of people cheering for you. It’s hard to beat that feeling. The top guys here are on another level, but I’ve really enjoyed having a go and would definitely like to improve and be a little better prepared for next time. I’ve got the HEWC to focus on now, but I’ll be back in the EnduroGP paddock sooner or later.”
Download images from the EnduroGP of Italy here.
Results – 2023 EnduroGP World Championship, Round 1, Day 1
Enduro2
1. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:13:51.52
2. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:13:55.11
3. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 1:14:35.99
…
6. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 1:16:47.53
EnduroGP
1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:13:27.06
2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:13:51.52
3. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:13:55.11
…
17. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 1:16:47.53
Results – 2023 EnduroGP World Championship, Round 1, Day 2
Enduro2
1. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:05:40.05
2. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:05:49.16
3. Hamish MacDonald (Sherco) 1:06:42:54
…
7. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 1:09:10.32
EnduroGP
1. Brad Freeman (Beta) 1:05:23.86
2. Andrea Verona (GASGAS) 1:05:40.05
3. Steve Holcombe (Beta) 1:05:49.16
…
21. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 1:09:10.32
MILLER PLOUGHS THROUGH ARGENTINA MOTOGP™ RAIN TO REACH THE TOP SIX
The Gran Premio Michelin de la Republica Argentina provided swift momentum and a small landmark for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. On Sunday Jack Miller and Brad Binder rode to 6th and 17th positions just twenty-four hours after Binder had steered the KTM RC16 to victory in the second MotoGP Sprint.
- Jack Miller earns decent 6th position in a wet Grand Prix and sits 6th in the world championship
- Brad Binder rides to 17th after a first lap fall but retains 12 points after his – and KTM’s first Sprint success
- Daniel Holgado retains Moto3™ world championship lead with steady rain ride to 4th
- After two intense weekends to launch the 2023 campaign, MotoGP now rests for a week before looking to the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas in the USA
Termas de Rio Hondo dawned wet and dark for the second Grand Prix of the year and after giving MotoGP teams and riders their first taste of mixed conditions through Saturday’s busy event agenda of qualifying and the Tissot Sprint. Brad Binder’s aggressive and brilliant win on Saturday afternoon was typically battling while also full of promise at the same time.
On Sunday the 25-lap full distance Grand Prix gave the South African and Jack Miller (setting off from 15th and 16th on the grid respectively) another chance to chase points and further definition of the race bike package for the long season ahead. Miller rode well to rise from the sixth row of the grid and slid into the contest for the top five. He then fought closely with Fabio Quartararo and succeeded in keeping the former world champion at bay to make sure of 6th. Binder was not able to replicate his first lap prowess from Saturday and his tumble on the first lap after contact with another rider meant a long ride to 17th.
Miller has 25 points and is 6th in the standings, just 10 away from the top three. Binder is close behind in 8th. The Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas gathers the paddock together for round three on April 14-16.
Jack Miller, 6th: “We wanted a bit more from this wet race but I tried my best from the beginning. It was really tricky in the first few laps to find a position and make a few overtakes on the other guys. Just before mid-race I had some clear track and was catching the guys but had a few issues and couldn’t push any more. I played around with the maps and got comfortable to the point where I could make some moves again. A learning day for us. All-in-all a good weekend and we found out a lot more about our package and our potential. We’ll have another go in Austin.”
Brad Binder, 17th: “I was quite excited to have a wet race; it’s been quite a while since we had one. I felt pretty good. Unfortunately at the end of the back straight I had a bit of a connection with someone and the back-end spun around on me. I picked up and restarted and then just tried to ride. If there had been a red flag or some other incident then I would have had another chance. Anyway, we finished the race: it was really tough and super-long! Overall, it was a good weekend with the win yesterday, I’m looking forward to starting again in America.”
Francesco Guidotti, Red Bull KTM Team Manager: “We knew starting from where we were on the grid that the race would be tricky in these conditions: visibility is poor and you cannot attack into the first corner and around the first laps like Brad showed us yesterday. Jack did a great job from 16th. A shame for Brad and the crash; it ended his race so early. Overall, the weekend was good but we started the GP quite far from the best setting. From that point though we worked well and did a positive job.”
Results MotoGPGran Premio Michelin de la Republica Argentina
1. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Ducati 44:28.518
2. Johann Zarco (FRA) Ducati +4.085
3. Alex Marquez (ESP) Ducati +4.681
6. Jack Miller (AUS) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +10.562
17. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing +48.106
World championship standings MotoGP
1. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA) Ducati, 50 points
2. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) Ducati, 41
3. Johann Zarco (FRA) Ducati, 35
6. Jack Miller (AUS) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 25
8. Brad Binder (RSA) Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 22
KTM GP Academy
KTM’s influence and presence in Moto3 continues to color the class. Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Deniz Öncü was the fastest qualifier with the KTM RC4 and after his top ten in Portugal was hunting a bigger points bounty in Argentina. The Turk was typically positive in the first two laps but slipped out of a small lead and was forced to restart far behind the pack, eventually reaching 24th
Portuguese Grand Prix winner, Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Daniel Holgado, started from the fourth row. The Spaniard was inside the group charging for 2nd and 3rd positions and settled for a solid 4th. The result keeps Dani at the peak of the championship standings. Filippo Farioli and Jose Rueda were discovering Termas de Rio Hondo for the first time and the Italian reached the finish line in 20th while the Spaniard was 23rd.
Pedro Acosta came to Argentina as the Moto2 championship points leader and after a masterful win in Portugal. The Spaniard, who has only raced at Termas de Rio Hondo on one occasion, was close to Pole Position on Saturday and his 5th place on the grid was just two tenths from the best time. The pace again hinted at Acosta’s potential but the treacherously wet conditions for the 14-lap distance meant that he had to take a measured approach. Teammate Albert Arenas also continues to show competitive promise with top ten pace. The Spaniard rode to 9th for another decent points-haul.
Results Moto3 Gran Premio Michelin de la Republica Argentina
1. Tatsuki Suzuki (JPN) Honda 35:18.099
2. Diogo Moreira (BRA) KTM +4.571
3. Andrea Migno (ITA) KTM +4.699
4. Daniel Holgado (ESP) KTM +8.814
20. Filippo Farioli (ITA) Red Bull KTM Tech3 +47.380
23. Jose Rueda (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo +56.852
24. Deniz Öncü (TUR) Red Bull KTM Ajo +83.159
World championship standings Moto3
1. Daniel Holgado (ESP) Red Bull KTM Tech3, 38 points
2. Diogo Moreira (BRA) KTM, 36
3. Tatsuki Suzuki (JPN) Honda, 27
9. Jose Rueda (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo, 13
16. Deniz Öncü (TUR) Red Bull KTM Ajo, 6
NC. Filippo Farioli (ITA) Red Bull KTM Tech3, 0
Results Moto2 Gran Premio Michelin de la Republica Argentina
1. Tony Arbolino (ITA) 26:.26.606
2. Alonso Lopez (ESP) +0.663
3. Jake Dixon (GBR) GASGAS Aspar Team +1.961
9. Albert Arenas (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo +13.649
12. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo +16.913
World championship standings Moto2
1. Tony Arbolino (ITA), 41 points
2. Aron Canet (ESP), 33
3. Pedro Acosta (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo, 29
10. Albert Arenas (ESP) Red Bull KTM Ajo, 15
DOUBLE PODIUM RESULT FOR JOSEP GARCIA AT ENDUROGP OF ITALY
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Josep Garcia has made an impressive start to his 2023 FIM EnduroGP World Championship campaign by finishing as runner-up on day one in the Enduro1 class before going on to claim victory today, day two. Garcia now leads the Enduro1 world standings ahead of his home round of the series in Lalin in five weeks’ time.
After a difficult start to the GP of Italy, where Garcia placed 11th overall on the opening Friday night Super Test on the beach in Arma di Taggia, the KTM 250 EXC-F racer then suffered a crash early on Saturday, which saw him lose precious time to his rivals and also knocked his confidence. Initially struggling to find a good rhythm, Josep regrouped for the final lap of special tests to close in on the class leader and ultimately secure his second-place finish in the hotly contested Enduro1 class.
Carrying that speed and momentum into day two, Josep hit the ground running, opening up an early lead in E1 and going on to top the class in each of the 12 tests. Completing the day with an 97-second advantage at the head of the E1 class, Josep also finished fourth in the overall EnduroGP category, missing out on the podium by less than four seconds.
Leading the Enduro1 championship standings and lying fourth overall in EnduroGP, Josep now looks ahead to the second round of the series – the GP of Spain, held May 5-7 – where the 26-year-old will be hoping to claim EnduroGP honors on home soil.
Josep Garcia: “The weekend didn’t start well for me. My Super Test performance wasn’t perfect and then on the first lap on Saturday, I had a big crash in the enduro test. Although I didn’t lose too much time, the biggest effect it had was on my rhythm – I found it really tough to get comfortable again and push. For the final lap on Saturday I found some focus and was able to claw back some time to make sure I finished second in E1. I knew I had good speed, so I tried to carry that into Sunday. I think I did a good job, and I definitely gave it my all. To win E1 feels good, but I’m still a little disappointed to have missed out on the EnduroGP podium on Sunday. We head to Spain now, and there are a few things the team and I can work on before then, so hopefully I’ll be able to challenge for the overall win next time out.”
Results – 2023 FIM Enduro World Championship – Round 1, Italy
Day 1
Enduro 1
1. Zach Pichon (FRA), Sherco, 1:14:32.07
2. Josep Garcia (ESP), KTM, 1:14:48.23 +16:16
3. Theo Espinasse (FRA), Beta, 1:16:04.51 +1:32.44
4. Thomas Oldrati (ITA), Honda, 1:16:06.67 +1:34.60
5. Jamie McCanney (IRL) Husqvarna, 1:16:22.39 +1:50.32
EnduroGP
1. Brad Freeman (GBR), Beta, 1:13:27.06
2. Andrea Verona (ITA), GASGAS, 1:13:51.52 +24.46
3. Steve Holcombe (GBR), Beta, 1:13:55.11 +28.05
4. Zach Pichon (FRA), Sherco, 1:14:32.07 +1:05.01
5. Hamish MacDonald (NZL), Sherco, 1:14:35.99 +1:08.93
6. Josep Garcia (ESP), KTM, 1:14:48.23 +1:21.17
Day 2
Enduro 1
1. Josep Garcia (ESP), KTM, 1:05:52.80
2. Thomas Oldrati (ITA), Honda, 1:07:30.11 +1:37.31
3. Theo Espinasse (FRA), Beta, 1:07:46.48 +1:53.68
4. Zach Pichon (FRA), Sherco, 1:07:55.27 +2:02.47
5. Roni Kytonen (FIN), Honda, 1:08:27.93 2:35.13
EnduroGP
1. Brad Freeman (GBR), Beta, 1:05:23.86
2. Andrea Verona (ITA), GASGAS, 1:05:40.05 +16.19
3. Steve Holcombe (GBR), Beta, 1:05:49.16 +25.30
4. Josep Garcia (ESP), KTM, 1:05:52.80 +28.94
5. Hamish MacDonald (NZL), Sherco, 1:06:42.54 +1:18.68
Championship Standings (After Round 1)
Enduro 1
1. Josep Garcia (ESP), KTM, 37 pts
2. Zach Pichon (FRA), Sherco, 33 pts
3. Thomas Oldrati (ITA), Honda, 30 pts
4. Theo Espinasse (FRA), Beta, 30 pts
5. Roni Kytonen (FIN), Honda, 20 pts
EnduroGP
1. Brad Freeman (GBR), Beta, 40 points
2. Andrea Verona (ITA), GASGAS, 34 pts
3. Steve Holcombe (GBR), Beta, 30 pts
4. Josep Garcia (ESP), KTM, 23 pts
5. Hamish MacDonald (NZL), Sherco, 22 pts
KODY KOPP AND MAX WHALE DELIVER RED BULL KTM PODIUM DOUBLE IN ARIZONA SUPER TT
CHANDLER, Arizona – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing duo Kody Kopp and Max Whale both earned podium results in Saturday’s fourth round of the 2023 American Flat Track Championship at the Arizona Super TT, with defending champion Kopp continuing to hold the AFT Singles points lead.
Kopp dug deep throughout the day at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park after qualifying in eighth position, powering to third place in Heat 2 and setting him up with a second-row start in the Main Event. From there, a strong start saw him immediately in podium contention, eventually able to slot his way into a well-earned P2 result following a late restart.
Kody Kopp: “We definitely rode our heart out, left it all out on the track! I qualified eighth, which was my second-worst of the year, and we had to dig ourselves out of a hole. I had the first pick on the second row for the Main, and that was probably one of the better starts of my career. That helped me so much, because I had the speed, but just couldn’t get a start earlier on. I ran third for the first four minutes of the race, made a really risky pass on Chad Cose going into turn one, and made it stick – that was all I had! You’ve gotta sometimes just take what you can get, can’t push it too much on a sketchy track, so hats off to my team for this P2, we still have a one-point championship lead and still have the red plate.”
Following his victory last time out in Senoia, Whale had momentum on his side and qualified in position two. He continued that form with second in Heat 2, before claiming fourth in the Dash-for-Cash. That set him up for a strong Main Event and, while he too displayed significant pace, track position led him to third place on the podium and he’s also P3 in points.
Max Whale: “I qualified second, was second in my Heat race and I felt like the track was really one-lined today. The start was very different from one side to the other, so I had tough starts all day and had to work my way through… We were fourth in the Dash and finished third in the Main, just ran out of room to pass and it was just difficult out there in this one.”
The Arizona Super TT AFT Singles Main Event was won by KTM-mounted 2019 champion Dalton Gauthier, making it a KTM 450 SX-F podium sweep at round four of the 2023 season.
Next Race: Dallas Half-Mile – Mesquite, Texas – April 22, 2023
Round 4 Results
AFT Singles Main Event
1. Dalton Gauthier, KTM
2. Kody Kopp, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
3. Max Whale, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
OTHER KTM
6. Hayden Gillim, KTM
8. Justin Jones, KTM
16. Olin Kissler, KTM
2023 AFT Singles Point Standings
1. Kody Kopp, 86 points
2. Dalton Gauthier, 85
3. Max Whale, 71
OTHER KTM
9. Justin Jones, 36
13. Logan Eisenhard, 22
15. Hayden Gillim, 14
18. Travis Petton IV, 12
19. Shayna Texter-Bauman, 11
20. Hunter Bauer, 11
22. Tanner Dean, 9
29. Clarke Morian V, 5
30. Olin Kissler, 4
Dunlop Tires Tiger Run: Motorcycle Race Report – Ricky Russell Earns First Win in 2023
The Grand National Cross Country Series presented by Specialized, an AMA National Championship, (GNCC Racing) concluded round four, Dunlop Tires Tiger Run, on Sunday April 2, 2023, in Union, South Carolina. The day saw sunny and warm conditions throughout the day, a very different scene from the previous round of racing.
As the green flag waved and the bikes fired up, it was Babbitt’s Online/Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green’s Josh Strang grabbing the $250 All Balls Racing XC1 Holeshot Award. Yet it wouldn’t take AmPro Yamaha’s Ricky Russell long to make his way into the early lead. Russell would continue to hold the lead for the duration of the race, coming through to earn his first victory of the 2023 season.
Behind Russell the positions were constantly changing throughout the three-hour race, but it would be Rocky Mountain/Tely Energy KTM Racing’s Steward Baylor making a last lap pass for the second place position after working his way up front from a fifth place start to the day. Magna1 Motorsports/Husqvarna’s Jordan Ashburn would cross the line in third overall, rounding out the podium, after running second for majority of the race.
As he came through scoring in ninth on the opening lap, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Craig DeLong would battle his way towards the front only to crash and work his way back up through the pack. DeLong would go back-and-forth between third and fourth for the last couple of laps, ultimately coming through fourth to finish the day.
After making a mistake early in the race FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Ben Kelley would find himself working his way up for majority of the race. Kelley would end up fifth overall on the day, maintaining his second place position in the points standings.
Babbitt’s Online/Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green’s Josh Strang would come through third on lap one after earning the holeshot, but he would have a setback on lap two forcing him to battle towards the middle of the pack for most of the race. Strang would come through sixth overall at the fourth round of racing. FMF/KTM Factory Racing’s Jonathan Girroir would finish seventh on the day after a rough start put him at the back of the pack. Girroir would continue to push for the duration of the race, as he continues to improve each week.
Making his way up to eighth overall after an eleventh place start to the day in his home state of South Carolina was the Babbitt’s Online/Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green-backed racer, Grant Baylor. Coastal GASGAS Factory Racing’s Thad Duvall would have an up-and-down day as he continued to push, crossing the line ninth in XC1 and 14th overall.
Rounding out the top 10 in XC1 was GASGAS/FXR/Scott Goggle’s Layne Michael. However, Michael was only able to complete three of the laps and was forced to push his bike back to his pit area. Michael was having a great run, coming through second and then in the third place position before his machine quit.
As the XC2 250 Pro class took off it was Trail Jesters KTM Racing’s Mason Semmens grabbing the $250 Steel City Men’s Clinic Holeshot Award, however the racing action behind him was heating up as the racers made their way through the woods on the opening lap. AmPro Yamaha’s Liam Draper would hold the early lead, but he would soon have Phoenix Racing Honda’s Ruy Barbosa right behind him ready to make a pass for the lead.
Barbosa would make a pass for the lead, but he would find himself engaged in a heated battle with Draper for majority of the race as the two swapped the lead position back-and-forth. Barbosa’s teammate, Phoenix Racing Honda’s Cody Barnes would enter the mix upfront and make a pass for the lead later in the race. Barnes would hold the lead for two laps, but a mistake on the last lap would let Barbosa make the pass stick for the first place position. As they emerged from the woods it would be Barbosa coming through to earn his first-ever XC2 class win. Barnes would finish second, with Draper coming through to round out the XC2 top three.
Current points leader FMF RPM KTM Racing’s Angus Riordan would finish fifth on the day, as the defending champion Babbitt’s Online/Monster Energy/Kawasaki Team Green’s Lyndon Snodgrass had a rough day coming through seventh in class. The Coastal GASGAS Factory Racing’s Ryder Lafferty, XC2 class front-runner earlier this season, would suffer from mechanical issues through the day.
In the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class it would be Beaver Creek Cycles/Bells Electric/Wossner Pistons’ Toby Cleveland battling his way up through the pack to take home his third win of the season and extend his points lead in the class. Hall’s Cycles/Enduro Engineering/Moose Racing’s Jhak Walker would make his way onto the podium once again as he came through second in the class. Carolina XC/Moose Racing/KTM’s Zack Hayes would round out the top three in the FMF XC3 class on the day. FXR/X Brand Goggles/6D Helmet’s Dakoda Devore would earn the $100 Lojak Cycle Sales XC3 Holeshot Award to start the race.
Earning the Tiger Run Top Amateur honor was Michael Delosa who came through 18th overall, and first in the 250 A class. Coming through second on the Top Amateur podium was second place 250 A finisher, Jason Tino who came through 20th overall, while Joseph Cunningham rounded out the Top Amateur podium and 250 A top three finishers on the day. Cunningham would come through 24th overall.
When the WXC class took off for the morning race it was GASGAS/Over and Out/RG Factory Racing’s Rachel Gutish jumping off the line to grab the $100 Trail Jesters WXC Holeshot Award. However, when the pack of racers came through timing and scoring on the opening lap it was Trail Jesters KTM Racing’s Korie Steede leading the way.
However, it would not take long for AmPro Yamaha’s Rachael Archer to close the gap and make the pass into the lead position. Archer would continue to push and place a gap over the field, crossing the line first and earning her second win of the season while taking over the points lead in the class after four rounds of racing. GASGAS/Over and Out/RG Factory Racing’s Rachel Gutish would continue to push, coming through to earn second in the class. Rounding out the WXC podium was KTM/FXR/Enduro Engineering’s Shelby Turner as she battled her way up to third as the white flag came out. Turner would put her head down and push, earning her first podium finish of the season. Unfortunately for Steede, she would fall back to third and fourth before being unable to take the checkered flag due to a mechanical issue.
In the morning youth race, it would be Ryan Amancio coming around first to earn the Youth Overall and YXC1 Super Mini Sr. class win in South Carolina. This is Amancio’s second win of the season, he currently sits second in the points standings behind Austin Tsakanikas. Caleb Wood would come through to earn second overall, and first in the YXC2 Super Mini Jr. class, followed by Brayden Baisley coming through third overall in the youth race and second in YXC2. Canyon Richards and James Jenkins would round out the top three in the YXC1 class, while Jiggs Fustini rounded out the YXC2 top three.
In the 85 Big Wheel (11-15) class it was Colton McQuarrie taking home the win, while Travis Lentz earned his fourth-straight win in the 85 (12-13) class. Ace Tokar earned the 85 (7-11) class win, and Evan Porter came through first in the 65 (10-11) class. After earning the win in Saturday’s Micro Bike race, Maverick Boyer earned the 65 (9) class win. Tripp Lewis would win the 65 (7-8) class and Addison Harris kept her win streak alive by earning the Girls Super Mini (12-16) class win. Sahara Robinson took the Girls 85 (7-13) class win, and Paisley Harris earned her second win in the Girls 65 (7-11) class. Cale Dejarnett won the Youth Trail Rider (7-15) class at Tiger Run.
The AMSOIL Moto Hero was awarded to Broc French at this weekend’s Tiger Run GNCC. Broc is from Southport, Florida and serves in the United States Air Force. Broc has been in the USAF for 15 years and has served in 4 deployments to the Middle East. Broc received numerous leadership awards while in the service and has nominated over 25 times by family, friends and fellow racers in the series. It was said in almost every nomination that Broc is what a true moto hero is all about. Broc received a $250 AMSOIL Shopping spree, a set of Kanati Truck Tires courtesy of GBC Tires, a commemorative American Flag and gift certificate from Columbia Sign and Company as well as a camouflage pair of 100% Goggles.
The next round of GNCC Racing will take place in Society Hill, South Carolina with the FMF Camp Coker Bullet on April 15-16, 2023. For more information on the event, and to buy tickets online click HERE.
Catch GNCC Pro ATV and Motorcycle Racing free via RacerTV.com all season long. Pro ATV Racing starts Saturday’s at 2pm ET, with the exception of Big Buck, Snowshoe and Ironman events where they will start at 1pm ET. GNCC Pro Motorcycle Racing will begin at 1pm ET on Sunday’s. Later in the year GNCC Racing will premiere on MAVTV with event highlight episodes.
For more information on the GNCC series, visit the official website at www.gnccracing.com or call (304) 284-0084. Join the conversation on the series Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and be sure to always hashtag #GNCC.
- Facebook: @gnccracing
- Instagram: @gncc_racing
- Twitter: @gnccracing
- YouTube: @racertv
Dunlop Tires Tiger Run Results and Points Standings
Union, South Carolina
Round 4 of 12
Sunday, April 2, 2023
XC1 Pro Event Results:
- Ricky Russell (YAM)
- Steward Baylor (KTM)
- Jordan Ashburn (HQV)
- Craig DeLong (HQV)
- Ben Kelley (KTM)
- Josh Strang (KAW)
- Jonathan Girroir (KTM)
- Grant Baylor (KAW)
- Thad Duvall (GAS)
- Layne Michael (GAS)
*Overall National Championship Standings:
- Steward Baylor (98)
- Ben Kelley (92)
- Craig DeLong (85)
- Ricky Russell (69)
- Jordan Ashburn (64)
- Grant Baylor (55)
- Josh Strang (53)
- Angus Riordan (43)
- Ruy Barbosa (40)
- Lyndon Snodgrass (38)
*Indicates that the Overall National Championship Standings will determine the 2023 National Champion.
XC2 250 Pro Event Results:
- Ruy Barbosa (HON)
- Cody Barnes (HON)
- Liam Draper (YAM)
- Mason Semmens (KTM)
- Angus Riordan (KTM)
- Grant Davis (KTM)
- Lyndon Snodgrass (KTM)
- Michael Witkowski (HON)
- Jesse Ansley (KTM)
- Nathaniel Tasha (KTM)
XC2 250 Pro Series Standings:
- Angus Riordan (83)
- Ruy Barbosa (81)
- Ryder Lafferty (78)
- Lyndon Snodgrass (75)
- Cody Barnes (74)
- Liam Draper (73)
- Mason Semmens (59)
- Evan Smith (56)
- Grant Davis (48)
- Michael Witkowski (47)
To get the latest GNCC Racing clothing and merchandise visit https://www.mototees.com.
MAVERICK AND ALEIX FINISH THE ARGENTINIAN GP
The GP of Argentina, raced in wet conditions on the Termas de Rio Hondo track, proved to be rather difficult for the Aprilia Racing riders who finished with placements far from the performance they had opened the weekend with.
The race was held in a situation of light rain and the asphalt never showed signs of drying out. In these conditions, both Maverick and Aleix, who started respectively from the second and third row, progressively and consistently lost positions and fell out of contact with the leading group, finishing at the edge of the points zone.
For the Italian team, the task ahead will now be to analyse the data and identify the causes, but evidently the technical choices made on the bikes to prepare them for the wet race kept Aleix and Maverick from expressing their potential, which had been clearly demonstrated on this track throughout the weekend.
Aleix Espargaró
“A bad race – maybe the hardest and longest since I’ve been with Aprilia. It’s really a pity after what we had demonstrated in the dry, but we can’t make excuses. In MotoGP, you must always be fast, no matter the conditions. Today I started well. In the early laps, I was even able to maintain the pace of the leading group. However, at a certain point, the bike began to slide around a lot and I couldn’t give it gas even on the straight. It was a very strange feeling. Considering Maverick and Raùl’s difficulties as well, we’ll need to work with the engineers to figure out what went wrong and make sure it doesn’t happen again”.
Maverick Viñales
“I gave it my all with what I had available. It was 4 points today, but we need to make sure that it’s a lot more for the next wet race. The problem was the traction. Braking and going into turns, I felt strong and made up ground, but coming out of the corners, there was nothing I could do. At a certain point, I assessed the situation and just focused on getting the bike to the finish line and shifting the goal to Austin”.
MARQUEZ EXCITES WITH WET ARGENTINE PODIUM
A superlative weekend draws to a close for Team Gresini MotoGP with Alex Marquez who after a pole position and a fifth place in the sprint race managed to step on the podium at the end of an extenuating race that was complicated by weather conditions.
Today’s third place marks the Spaniard’s first trip to the rostrum in 896 days – the previous one dated back to Aragon 2020 – and allows his to leave Argentina with the fourth place in the championship standings.
A morale boost came also from the other side of the pit-box as Fabio Di Giannantonio is very much alive: he battled for fifth place for the majority of the race before “settling” for a top-ten finish, which granted him the first points of the season.
3rd – ALEX MARQUEZ #73 (4th in the standings with 33 points)
“We did a smart race: it was important to stay upright and score points. The race was extremely long, and I would have signed up for this type of results before the trip to Argentina. We’re leaving here in a very satisfied mood: Zarco had something more in the final stretch of the race and it’s good this face. I wasn’t expecting such a start to the season. Maybe being fourth in the championship is a bit of an irrealistic position, but we’re improving day after day and we’re there.”
10th – FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49 (16th in the standings with 6 points)
“The weekend has been a really positive one, and the first one in which I felt really competitive. The race went well, we started really aggressive and I was really quick at the beginning of the encounter. Something stopped working from halfway point with the electronics and I couldn’t be quick on corner exit – and that means that I got passed by several riders. We need to work hard in that area and let’s hope to be ready for Austin and to be among the protagonists.”
Bagnaia closes the Argentina GP at Termas de Rio Hondo sixteenth after crashing out while he was second
The Grand Prix of Argentina, the second round of the 2023 MotoGP season, held this afternoon at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit, had an unfortunate ending for Francesco Bagnaia, who finished the race only sixteenth.
Despite the tricky track conditions with the rain and the wet asphalt, the Ducati Lenovo Team rider managed to get off the line well, maintaining third position. Having recovered the gap on Alex Márquez, who was ahead of him, Pecco finally managed to overtake him, but he ran into a crash with eight laps to go. Bagnaia immediately rejoined the race but could only finish in 16th place.
In the Argentina GP, three Ducatis made it to the podium for the second time in MotoGP history. Marco Bezzecchi took his first success in the premier class, ahead of Johann Zarco, author of an incredible comeback, and Alex Márquez.
After today’s race, Bagnaia is second in the overall standings, which sees Bezzecchi in the lead, followed by fellow Ducati riders Zarco (third) and Alex Márquez (fourth). Ducati remains first in the constructors’ standings.
Francesco Bagnaia (#1, Ducati Lenovo Team) – 16th
“It was a complicated weekend, but in the race, we had managed to be competitive and fight for the podium. Marco was really fast today, and I would have been happy to end the weekend with second place, but unfortunately, I crashed. I apologize to my team, who did a great job throughout the weekend. Now I will focus already on Austin, where we will try to redeem ourselves.”
The Ducati Lenovo Team will be back on track from 14th-16th April at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, USA, for the GP of the Americas.
Heroic Performance by Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Riders in Wet Argentina GP
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP‘s Franco Morbidelli negotiated tricky wet conditions in today‘s Gran Premio de la República Argentina MotoGP Race to secure fourth place and thirteen important championship points. Fabio Quartararo showed his maturity as a rider. Despite being pushed wide by a rival on the opening lap, he recovered to seventh position.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP‘s Franco Morbidelli added another fourth-place score to his tally in today‘s Gran Premio de la República Argentina MotoGP Race. Fabio Quartararo showed supreme pace in the wet to salvage seventh position after finding himself in last place on the opening lap.
Morbidelli launched from fourth on the grid and was fighting for the holeshot again, just like in yesterday‘s Sprint. But while holding the outside line through Autódromo Internacional de Termas de Río Hondo‘s Turn 1, he fell back to fourth place. The 25-lap race soon became a bit of a lonely ride for the Italian. Yet he remained adamant to not relinquish his podium hopes.
The Yamaha man kept his concentration in difficult conditions and with Francesco Bagnaia crashing out from second place on lap 17, Morbido was lifted into third place. But it wasn‘t to last. He was relegated a position due to a charging Johann Zarco in the final laps. Still, he negotiated the M1 across the finish line in fourth place, 7.581s from first, taking important championship points.
Quartararo had a decent start from 10th on the grid and tried to push, despite spray at the seriously wet Termas track making visibility minimal. The Frenchman was unlucky to be clipped by a rival on the opening lap when he was in ninth position. He kept his Yamaha upright but did drop to 16th place.
El Diablo had to keep his head cool and use his experience to gradually climb back up the order. With nine laps to go, he was back where he started the race, in tenth place. With Bagnaia crashing out, the number-20 rider moved up to eighth after overtaking Luca Marini, and he kept pushing. He had the pace to secure seventh and close the gap to the rival in sixth place but came just short of being able to put in a move. He took the chequered flag in seventh position, 11.095s from the race leader.
Today‘s result sees Morbidelli move up to 9th place with 21 points. Quartararo stays in 10th in the overall standings with now 18 points. The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team are in shared 6th place in the team championship with 39 points, and Yamaha remain 4th in the constructor‘s championship with 27 points.
The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team will have one week off before they start Round 3, the Grand Prix of The Americas, in Austin, Texas.
Franco Morbidelli
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP
“I’m very happy. Different conditions and situations, and we were able to perform well on all occasions, so we’ll take that. We know what to work on. We know we need to improve some areas, and the team is on it and really wanting to recover the lost ground. I was sorry to see that Johann was catching up. I gave everything to keep the podium spot, but I couldn’t. That was a pity. I had a whiff of the podium yesterday, and I smelled it today but couldn’t quite get it. Anyway, it was a great weekend for me, and we need to build onto this. We need to see what happens in Austin. The feeling that I had this weekend was good. I would also like to have it in Austin.”
Fabio Quartararo
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP
“I’m both happy and sad. There’s always someone who makes my race difficult in the opening laps for no reason. My start was pretty good, and I was more or less in the same position as where I started. I was not that far, but Nakagami made that move as if it was the last lap, but it was not. The positive thing today is going from last place to seventh. Our pace in the wet was pretty good, so I’m happy about that. But I think a top-5 position would have been possible today had things been different.”
Massimo Meregalli
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP
“We really hoped for a podium for Franky yesterday in the Sprint and today we came close again. In the end, we had to settle for fourth place, but we are still satisfied. The conditions were so tricky out there. When the track is like that, the riders must keep their wits about them and ride in a smart way. Franco‘s 13-point gain is highly valuable. The same can be said for Fabio‘s 9 points. He was unlucky to be pushed wide by an overly ambitious Nakagami. We don‘t understand why this action was not punished, considering it impeded Fabio‘s race completely. Luckily, Fabio‘s pace in the wet was so strong that he still recovered to seventh place. We now have one week off before Round 3 at COTA where we aim to reconfirm our improved performance.”
TOP-FIVE RESULT AT TIGER RUN GNCC FOR FMF KTM FACTORY RACING’S BEN KELLEY
UNION, S.C. – FMF KTM Factory Racing rider Ben Kelley claimed fifth position in a challenging fourth round of the 2023 Grand National Cross Country Series, as XC1 Open Pro teammate Johnny Girroir pushed to an eventual seventh-place result at the Tiger Run GNCC.
Former champion Kelley started strongly in eighth at the conclusion of the opening lap and then he dropped to P10 on lap two, but was able to recover and move forward from there. The determined 26-year-old made his way into fifth by the second half of the race and that’s where he would go on to finish. That result sees him maintain P2 in the series.
Ben Kelley: “Tiger Run wasn’t the best race for me, I just didn’t execute and felt a little off all day. I gave it my best and got into a good position there on the first lap in fourth. I could see the leaders, but made a mistake – a bad judgment call – and got caught up with another rider. I dropped way back in the pack, then worked my way back up to a decent position again until another crash set me back a few positions, about halfway through the race. At that point everyone had figured the track out and was going pretty fast – it was tough to make up time and make passes, so I ended up fifth.”
A series of crashes in the early stages didn’t deter FMF KTM Factory Racing teammate Girroir at Tiger Run, completing the opening lap in a lowly 12th position, before climbing his way up the order to eighth by halfway and then into his final finishing position of seventh by race’s end. He has now moved up to eighth in the XC1 Open Pro standings.
Johnny Girroir: “Today started off pretty good and then I had a big cartwheel, which set me back. I picked myself up and was working my way through the pack, but had another big crash, unfortunately. I fell back a little bit more, was around eighth, and then was able to get going the last two laps. The guys in front of us were a little bit out of sight, but I felt good and am improving with each race. I’m feeling stronger and stronger every week, so I’m excited to keep building and to keep moving forward.”
A runner-up result from KTM-supported Steward Baylor saw him extend his XC1 Open Pro series lead to six points following round four, while a third-place finish was achieved by Shelby Turner in the WXC category.
Next Race: Camp Coker Bullet GNCC – Society Hill, SC – April 16, 2023
XC1 Open Pro Results – Tiger Run GNCC
1. Ricky Russell, YAM, 2:53:40.518
2. Steward Baylor Jr, KTM, +17.741
3. Jordan Ashburn, HQV, +7.130
OTHER KTM
5. Ben Kelley, KTM
7. Johnny Girroir, KTM
11. Benjamin Nelko, KTM
Overall Championship Standings
1. Steward Baylor Jr, 98
2. Ben Kelley, 92
3. Craig DeLong, 85
OTHER KTM
8. Johnny Girroir, 31
11. Benjamin Nelko, 6
FMF KTM FACTORY RACING’S DANTE OLIVEIRA EXTENDS NGPC LEAD WITH 29 PALMS WIN
29 PALMS, Calif. – Defending champion Dante Oliveira and FMF KTM Factory Racing claimed a third Pro Class victory of the 2023 AMA National Grand Prix Championship (NGPC) with success in the fifth round of the season at 29 Palms, while team fellow rider Mateo Oliveira battled sickness on Sunday to a 12th place finish.
Elder of the Oliveira brothers, Dante, started the race in second position before charging into the lead during the first lap. From there, the KTM 450 XC-F rider sprinted to open his advantage at the front and managed the encounter to take a clinical victory. He now leads the Pro Class championship standings by a commanding 21 points.
Dante Oliveira: “It was a good day on the bike, got off to a second-place start and put my head down, and charged – got into the lead about three to four miles into the first lap, and just finished out the race smooth. I put on a hard charge for the first half, then once I fueled up, got a little second wind back in me and charged again. Thanks to the whole team.”
Pro Class rookie Mateo Oliveira battled a less-than-ideal physical condition come race day, ultimately classified 12th in the Pro category for the fifth round. That disappointment just further sparks the motivation of FMF KTM Factory Racing rider, who showed promising form and progression in the build-up to 29 Palms.
Mateo Oliveira: “I was feeling really confident coming into race day with I how rode and felt comfortable after Saturday’s practice. But, I woke up on race day with body aches, which is a disappointing deal as I’ve been riding really good during the week! It’s just a matter of time.”
The weekend also saw a third victory in a row for KTM-mounted Mikayla Nielsen in the Pro Women category, extending her advantage to 15 points in the standings as Kaitlyn Jacobs also featured inside the top three at round five thanks to a P3 result.
Round 6: Primm, Nevada – April 29-30, 2023
Results: Round 5
Pro Results
1. Dante Oliveira, KTM
2. Cole Martinez, HON
3. Austin Walton, HQV
OTHER KTM
12. Mateo Oliveira, KTM
Pro Women Results
1. Mikayla Nielsen, KTM
2. Ava Silvestri, GAS
3. Kaitlyn Jacobs, KTM
Pro Championship Standings
1. Dante Oliveira, 136 points
2. Ryan Surrant, 115
3. Cole Martinez, 95
OTHER KTM
6. Mateo Oliveira, 67
KTM PROUDLY SUPPORTS AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL RACERS WITH 2023 PODIUM-FOCUSED CONTINGENCY PROGRAM AND TRACKSIDE SUPPORT
MURRIETA, Calif. – KTM North America, Inc. continues to offer its highly competitive race contingency program and Trackside Support for the 2023 race season. Standing behind its READY TO RACE commitment, KTM is once again offering more than $7 million in race rewards for amateur and professional racers at over 180 series across the country.
Exciting updates for 2023 include an increased payout in American Flat Track, where racers of the SuperTwins class will benefit from industry standard payout, as well as increased Pro payouts in all major offroad series. With many incentives to ride orange, the KTM brand continues to be a popular choice for professional racers in motocross/supercross, offroad, flat track and road racing with a competitive payout via the KTM Pro Cash debit card. For KTM’s rising stars, the KTM Cash dealer credit program gives amateur riders the opportunity to earn cash value credits that can be used to purchase KTM products at any participating KTM North America dealership.
KTM’s Trackside Support kicked off the year with support for all brand riders at GNCC, Daytona Amateur Supercross, Freestone Spring Championship and Spring a Ding. Orange bleeders can expect emergency parts and service throughout the year at events and series such as the AMA National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s, Mini Olympics, Arizona Open, and all rounds of GNCC and the AMA National Enduro series.
KTM offers incentives for amateur (dealer credits) and professional (cash) riders when they earn top finishes while riding KTM motorcycles at select national and regional racing events across the United States. For more information on the full 2023 contingency program, payout structures and to sign up, visit KTMCash.com.
MORE MONEY, MORE FUN! GASGAS NORTH AMERICA ANNOUNCE 2023 CONTINGENCY PROGRAM
A new race season has kicked off here in the U.S. and we’re stoked to launch our 2023 GASGAS Motorcycles contingency and trackside support program! Along with our industry-leading trials contingency program, amateur and professional riders participating in motocross/supercross and offroad racing can enjoy increased contingency rewards all across the country, while also welcoming AFT Singles racers to the party for the first time in 2023!
Beginning at our roots, GASGAS is pleased to continue supporting the MotoTrials USA National Championship by once again offering our most competitive per-round payouts throughout the season. Making stops all across the U.S., the GASGAS Trials Team is excited to compete at the highest level in trials competition, while also rewarding fellow riders with over $71,600.00 in possible rewards.
Thanks to our very own Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing heroes like Justin Barcia, Michael Mosiman and Pierce Brown, we have made a successful entry into the U.S. AMA Supercross and Motocross Championships. As a result, GASGAS has created a strong platform for aspiring riders to enjoy contingency rewards in their favorite racing series in their path to stardom. Furthermore, we couldn’t be more pleased to add the American Flat Track Singles Class to our contingency support lineup – more money, more fun!
Check out a full list of motocross/supercross and offroad race series and payouts here!
Already kicking off the season with lots of fun at the Ricky Carmichael Daytona Amateur Supercross and Freestone Spring Championship, we’re once again offering up support at the Loretta Lynn’s Amateur National Motocross Championship and Winter Mini Olympics. We’re excited to add the Arizona Open and all 12 rounds of the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series to our robust trackside support lineup in 2023. Additionally, GASGAS will be going racing and supporting select regional motocross and offroad series across the country, giving even more riders the chance to enjoy our contingency rewards!
To register for GASGAS Motorcycles contingency or view race series and payouts, visit our official contingency website at GASGASRacer.com.
HUSQVARNA MOTORCYCLES ANNOUNCE 2023 CONTINGENCY PROGRAM
Husqvarna Motorcycles North America, Inc. is pleased to announce details for the 2023 Husqvarna Motorcycles Contingency Support Program on RaceHusky.com, offering over $7 million in possible rewards for amateur and professional racers across all major forms of racing in the U.S.
With increased payouts across all segments, contingency rewards will be available at both national and regional events in motocross, supercross, flat track and off-road racing. New for 2023, pro riders competing in the major off-road racing series can expect a competitive increase in offerings. Amateur riders earn cash value credits that can be used to purchase products at any participating authorized Husqvarna Motorcycles dealership in North America, and professionals can earn Husqvarna Motorcycles Pro Cash awards, which are paid directly through a debit card.
On top of delivering a progressive contingency package, Husqvarna Motorcycles will once again offer Trackside Support at the major Amateur Racing events such as Loretta Lynn’s Amateur National Championship, Winter Mini Olympics and Arizona Open Championship, on top of the recent support provided to riders at the Daytona Ricky Carmichael Amateur Supercross and Freestone Spring Championship. New for 2023, our trackside support efforts will span to all 12 rounds of the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series.
To view participating series and payouts or to register for 2023 contingency, visit RaceHusky.com or find an authorized Husqvarna Motorcycles dealer near you.
NGPC PODIUM SUCCESS FOR ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA’S AUSTIN WALTON AT 29 PALMS
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Austin Walton has secured a well-earned Pro Class podium in the 2023 AMA National Grand Prix Championship (NGPC) round at 29 Palms, finishing a solid third place and directly followed by teammate Dalton Shirey in P4.
Walton completed the opening lap of the race in fourth position onboard his FX 450, before elevating into second on lap two. He maintained that position until two laps to go when he was relegated to third, holding a place inside the top three until race-end. That has him P4 in the current point standings.
“All done for 29 Palms, where we ended up with a third place, and we can’t be mad at that one,” Walton recalled. “Super happy with the finish today, we worked hard for it. Everything came together and we had some opportunities out there, which we capitalized on. All really positive, I can’t thank the whole Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team enough, and now we’re excited about moving on to Primm.”
Meanwhile, a spirited charge from Rockstar Energy Husqvarna teammate Shirey saw him recover from a fall and being outside of the top six to have a podium finish within sight during the closing stages. He displayed exceptional race pace to claw his way through the field and achieve a season-best result of fourth in the Pro Class.
“The end result was a good one, even though it was a rough day and not the greatest start for me,” said Shirey. “I don’t know what lap it was, but I fell early on and it bent my bars a little bit. I was able to recover from there and put on a good charge to catch Austin, but ran out of time. We were almost on the podium and look forward to the next one now.”
Next Round (6): Primm, Nevada – April 30, 2023
Pro Results
1. Dante Oliveira, KTM
2. Cole Martinez, HON
3. Austin Walton – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
4. Dalton Shirey – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
Pro Championship Standings
1. Dante Oliveira, 136 points
2. Ryan Surratt, 115 points
3. Cole Martinez, 95 points
4. Austin Walton – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 86 points
…
10. Dalton Shirey – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 60 points
FOURTH KEEPS CRAIG DELONG IN CONTENTION FOLLOWING TIGER RUN GNCC
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider Craig DeLong continued his strong run of form in the Grand National Cross Country Series at the Tiger Run GNCC, finishing just outside of the podium in P4 to remain in XC1 Open Pro contention.
Fresh from winning round three, DeLong was once again among the front-runners, despite a crash dropping him down the order in the opening stages. He was ninth at the end of lap one and made it into third by lap four, but would eventually take the checkered flag in a deserved fourth position. He sits third in the title race, only 13 points outside of the lead.
“I got a decent start and made a couple of passes early on to get into around fifth or so,” commented DeLong. “And then I had a crash, went all the way to the back, and had to claw myself back up. In two laps I came from last to fourth, then just went back and forth between third and fourth through the rest of the race. Fourth was a good result in the end and the consistency is getting there, so wewill keep pushing in these coming rounds.”
Sixth position following the opening lap marked a solid start for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Trevor Bollinger, however, he unfortunately fell soon afterward and injured his shoulder. Despite remounting and running as high as fourth position, the effects of his crash ended Bollinger’s day on lap two. He is currently 12th in the XC1 Open Pro standings.
“I finally felt like myself coming into the weekend – I was feeling racey,” recalled Bollinger. “Got a bad start, but made some good moves in the first few miles. Unfortunately, around the four-mile mark, I crashed and landed on my shoulder. I got back up and was riding good, eventually making it up to fourth again, but my shoulder just wouldn’t allow me to go anymore. I’m super disappointed about this one.”
Husqvarna Motorcycles-backed Jordan Ashburn raced to his first podium of the season, the reigning XC1 Open Pro champion claiming third position in South Carolina and is currently ranked fifth in the series.
Next Round (5): Society Hill, SC – April 16, 2023
Tiger Run GNCC Results
XC1 Open Pro Class
1. Ricky Russell (YAM)
2. Steward Baylor Jr. (KTM)
3. Jordan Ashburn (HQV)
4. Craig DeLong – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
…
12. Trevor Bollinger – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
Overall Championship Standings
1. Steward Baylor Jr, 98 points
2. Ben Kelley, 92 points
3. Craig DeLong – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 85 points
…
5. Jordan Ashburn, 64 points
12. Trevor Bollinger – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 4 points
Share