Carrasco Wins After Incredible Season Finale

Courtesy of KRT – Kawasaki Racing Team

Ana Carrasco (DS Junior Team Kawasaki) became the first female winner of a full FIM World Championship road-racing category when she finished just one single point ahead of her closest rival in the WorldSSP300 championship race at Magny Cours.

Starting in a lowly 25^th position on the grid Carrasco was involved in a fight for 20^th place for much of the race but she made progress to 19^th spot. In the closing laps she moved to a 13^th place that would be enough to give her a one-point lead over Mika Perez (Kawasaki ParkinGO Team) in the final points table.

Perez was in a position to win the championship himself on the last sector of the final lap but his race leading position was taken from him with two corners to go, and his 20 points were not quite enough to give him the crown.

Carrasco was unaware that she had won the championship on her slowdown lap almost until her team stopped her for a trackside celebration, with her championship-winning T-shirt having the phrase ‘Ride Like A Girl” emblazoned on the front. In her post-race interview Carrasco dedicated her championship win to the late Moto2 rider Luis Salom, who was a friend of Ana’s and the cousin of David Salom, her team manager.

In another astonishingly close and battling WorldSSP300 race, Scott Deroue (Motoport Kawasaki) was also in contention for both the race and title wins until he was forced out with a technical issue.

Perez and Deroue battled it out for the championship up front but when Deroue suddenly slowed with problems changing gear, Perez was in the lead. He was then the driving seat for the championship itself until Daniel Valle ambushed him in the final two turns. Perez lost out on the title by just 0.168 seconds, in a race that was so close that Carrasco, in 13^th place, was only 2.468 seconds behind the race winner.

Kawasaki wrapped up the championship at the previous round, and finally ended up with a 61-point advantage at the end of the eight round championship.

Nick Kalinin (GP Project Kawasaki was seventh today, but front row qualifier Robert Schotman (Motoport Kawasaki) did not finish. Enzo de la Vega (GP Project Team Kawasaki) led the race twice but finished ninth, while Dorren Loureiro (DS Junior Team Kawasaki) tenth. Tom Edwards (Nutec – Benjan Kawasaki) was another non-finisher.

In the final championship standings Carrasco has 93 points, Perez 92 and Deroue 80, putting three Kawasaki Ninja 400 riders in the top three positions overall.


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Ana Carrasco, stated: “It is unbelievable to win the championship and we worked so hard to be here. I did not know I had won on the slowdown lap. I tried to see some TVs to check but I did not see any. I only realised when I got to turn five and I asked the spectators if I was first. I can only say thank you to a David Salom and all the Kawasaki DS Junior Team, it is for all of them. I also want to say thank you to my family who have done so much for me. I want to dedicate this title to Luis Salom. The day we lost him I promised to dedicate my first title to him. At the moment I am happy because we have achieved our goals, but I do not realise all of the things about being the first woman in history. I think after a few days I will be more conscious of this.”

Mika Perez, stated: “I gave my maximum today. I knew it was win or crash, and finally I got second. I tried everything and the team did a great job. We were very close to the win but we have to congratulate Ana and the race winner Dani because they did an incredible job.”

Scott Deroue, stated: “We had a really good weekend until now and I think we were one of the fastest. Every session we were in the top positions so I was feeling really good. I felt the same in the race and I was in the top three all the time. Then with seven laps to go my gear lever broke and it was over. We had good speed this season and were really consistent but in Misano we had a problem and today we were supposed to finish on the podium again, and then this happens.”

#NinjaSpirit

Kevin Brumann Wins YZ125 bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup SuperFinale

Courtesy of Yamaha Racing

 

Wrapping up a perfect weekend with victory in moto two, young Swiss rider Kevin Brumann is the 2018 YZ125 bLU cRU FIM Europe Cup SuperFinale overall winner. Claiming the runner-up spot in moto two Great Britain’s Joel Rizzi secured second overall, with Denmark’s Magnus Smith earning the third spot on the final podium.

Kicking off the race action at the Imola motocross circuit on Sunday, the second and last race of this year’s SuperFinale saw YZ125-powered youngsters continue their quest for an invitation to Yamaha’s bLU cRU Masterclass. With race officials working overnight to create the ideal track conditions, the Yamaha riders were faced with slick and challenging conditions on Sunday morning.

With 39 young racers storming out of the starting gate aboard their GYTR-kitted Yamaha machines, it was Great Britain’s Joel Rizzi who took the holeshot in the second moto. Leading the way through the first few corners, the young Brit was then passed by Brumann right before the end of the opening lap.

The two youngsters Brumann and Rizzi were involved in a close battle, which lasted for a number of laps and eventually saw the Swiss rider Brumann open a small gap at the front of the pack. With Brumann getting the victory, Rizzi crossed the line eight seconds behind the winner to claim the runner-up position. Third in race two was Michele Pablo D’Aniello, with the young Italian winning a three-way fight with Magnus Smith [fourth] and Vincent Marti [fifth].

The double moto victory brought Kevin Brumann to the top step of the podium at the YZ125 bLU cRU Cup SuperFinale. “It feels great to win both motos,” admitted the 14-year-old Swiss competitor. “I am just so, so happy for this victory. We had two tough motos and I did the best I could from start to finish. Every rider had been giving their best and it really means a lot to get both moto victories during the weekend here at Imola.”

Securing his spot at the upcoming bLU cRU Masterclass, SuperFinale podium finishers Joel Rizzi and Magnus Smith have also earned an invitation to Yamaha’s unique annual event. Following their strong performances at the SuperFinale, also selected to attend the bLU cRU Masterclass are wild-card riders Liam Hanstrom and Simon Depoers.

All five of the aspiring, young talents who made the final selection will attend the bLU cRU Masterclass – a three-day event supervised by highly-acclaimed Yamaha ambassadors. Yamaha’s Arnaud Tonus and Kiara Fontanesi have already confirmed their participation at the 2018 edition of the event.


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Designed to inspire and educate young motocross riders, the 2018 bLU cRU Masterclass will also determine the 2018 YZ125 bLU cRU Cup winner. Automatically securing a place on the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 Team, the winner will be able to race a GYTR-kitted YZ125 machine in the 2019 EMX125 Championship.

2018 YZ125 bLU cRU Cup SuperFinale – Race 2 Classification [Top-6]
1. Kevin Brumann (SUI), Yamaha, 20:05.941
2. Joel Rizzi (GBR), Yamaha, 20:14.268, +0:08.327
3. Michele Pablo D’Aniello (ITA), Yamaha, 20:14.510, +0:08.569
4. Magnus Smith (DEN), Yamaha, 20:17.577, +0:11.636
5. Vincent Marti (FRA), Yamaha, 20:20.985, +0:15.044
6. Sam Nunn (GBR), Yamaha, 20:25.468, +0:19.527

2018 YZ125 bLU cRU Cup SuperFinale – Overall Classification [Top-6]
1. Kevin Brumann (SUI), Yamaha, 50points
2. Joel Rizzi (GBR), Yamaha, 44pts
3. Magnus Smith (DEN), Yamaha, 34pts
4. Michele Pablo D’Aniello (ITA), Yamaha, 33pts
5. Simon Depoers (FRA), Yamaha, 31pts
6. Liam Hanstrom (SWE), Yamaha, 30pts

To view the full results, please click here.

2019 Bennetts British Superbike Championship provisional calendar

Courtesy of Bennetts British Superbike Championship Media

The 2019 Bennetts British Superbike Championship provisional calendar has been announced today (Sunday 30 September) following approval by its governing body, the MCRCB. 2019 provisional calendar 19 – 21 April Silverstone (National) 4 – 6 May Oulton Park (International)* 24 – 26 May Donington Park (National) 14 – 16 June Brands Hatch (GP) 28 – 30 June Knockhill 12 – 14 July Snetterton (300) 2 – 4 August Thruxton 16 – 18 August Cadwell Park 6 – 8 September Oulton Park (International) 20 – 22 September Assen 4 – 6 October Donington Park (GP) 18 – 20 October Brands Hatch (GP) * denotes Bank Holiday Monday main raceday https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; var siteURL = window.location.hostname; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot(‘/57671086/DigitalThrottle_InPage_Outstream’, [1, 1],’div-gpt-ad-1467074319797-0′) .addService(googletag.pubads()) .setTargeting(“Site_Domain”, siteURL); googletag.enableServices(); googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1467074319797-0’); }); For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit http://www.britishsuperbike.com

Bryan Smith Victorious in Shocking Minnesota Mile Finish

Courtesy of AFT – American Flat Track

Briar Bauman and Jared Mees DNF; Carlile and Bromley go 1-2 in AFT Singles

Photo Credit: Scott Hunter/American Flat Track

SHAKOPEE, Minn. (September 29, 2018) – Bryan ‘Mile Master’ Smith (No. 4 Indian Motorcycle Racing backed by Allstate Scout FTR750) scored a crazy, surprise-twist victory in Saturday evening’s AFT Twins presented by Vance & Hines Main Event at the Indian Motorcycle Minnesota Mile – a race in which 5000-plus hearty spectators turned out in 45-degree temperatures to experience.

 

Briar Bauman (No. 14 Zanotti Racing Indian Scout FTR750), fresh off his first victory of 2018 at the Williams Grove Half-Mile, looked certain to continue his devastating form. He was basically running away from the field and powering to his first-career Mile victory to complete the Grand Slam when disaster struck. With just two of 25 laps remaining and holding a massive lead over second, Bauman’s Scout FTR750 ran out of fuel and he was forced out of contention.

 

Smith was more than happy to storm by the helpless Bauman after earlier doing the same to reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle Rogers Racing SDI Scout FTR750), who encountered a mechanical problem late in the race while trailing the speedy Bauman.

 

Smith said, “I saw Jared peel off and I thought, ‘Okay, I’ve got second. This is good, but there’s no catching Briar, he’s putting the clinic on everyone today.’ And then I did a double take and thought I saw the #14 pulling off. ‘Am I leading this thing?’ I’d rather be lucky than good any day!”

 

The evening marked American Flat Track’s first trip to the Minneapolis area and Canterbury Park since 2010, with preparation of the soft and sandy horse-racing surface a key issue. Several days of track prep yielded a racetrack that was both groove and cushion, and one that offered multi-line racing – which typically yields more exciting action and more passing opportunities for riders. While there were some rough spots, most riders felt the track to be challenging and one that rewarded bravery, skill and creativity.

 

“This is definitely one of the toughest, most challenging, technical Miles we race,” Smith said. “It was a free-for-all. Everybody was taking different lines and doing different things.”

 

Bauman and Mees appeared most ready to capitalize, the two engaging in a thrilling back-and-forth dogfight during the race’s opening half before Bauman broke Mees’ challenge. Bauman was well on his way to a statement-making victory before the dramatic twist finish.


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In addition to Smith’s surprise win, runner-up Henry Wiles (No. 17 Bandit Industries/Wilco Racing/Willy Built Indian Scout FTR750) and third-place Robert Pearson (No. 27 R/J Performance/Hite Trucking Indian Scout FTR750) saw top-five rides transformed into podium performances.

 

The DNF ends Mees’ hopes at equaling the legendary Ricky Graham for most wins in a single season at 12. However, if he concludes his season with an 11th triumph in next weekend’s 2018 Meadowlands Mile finale, Mees will lay claim to the highest single-season win percentage in American Flat Track history.

 

AFT Singles

 

The AFT Singles Minnesota Mile Main Event proved to be a head-to-head battle of champions.

 

2017 class champion Kolby Carlile (No. 1 Estenson Racing/McCandless Truck Center Yamaha YZ450F) engaged in a war for supremacy with the man who usurped his throne – newly crowned class champion Dan Bromley (No. 62 KTM North America/Bromley Motorsports 450 SX-F).

 

Carlile edged Bromley for the holeshot and immediately put his head down. His breakaway strategy allowed him to successfully break free from all pursuers – save one.

 

Carlile continued to hold point despite coming under intense pressure. Bromley demonstrated superior corner speed late in the shootout but simply could not find a way past 2017 champ Carlile, who held on to claim the checkered flag by a 0.196 seconds margin of victory and who’s quickly becoming a bit of an AFT Singles ‘Mile Master’ himself.

 

The win was Carlile’s third Mile triumph of 2018 after going winless during his championship-winning season. He’ll also have an opportunity to gain another small measure of revenge in next weekend’s season finale where he could equal Bromley for most wins in 2018 at four.

 

After the race the ‘Flying Tomato’ explained that his win was even more dramatic than it appeared from the fences: “Mentally, the win was huge because we had an electrical issue come in with about four laps to go. As soon as I let off the gas, the power would die to the bike. I would have to get it back to wide open for it to start up again. I looked back after the third time it happened and Dan was right on my tail. Luckily, he’s a great rider and no one ran into each other out there. Fortunately, the bike didn’t shut off. The last time coming through 3 and 4 I was really scared; I just wicked it right on and the thing kicked out sideways. Luckily the old girl fired up one more time.”

 

Bromley’s runner-up finish was his 12th podium in 17 races this season.

 

Tristan Avery (No. 16 Ron Ayers/Mr. Sign Honda CRF450R) fought his way forward throughout the 15-lap affair, making up for his poor start to ultimately clawing his way into a pack battle for third. In the end he secured the position to garner his first podium finish of 2018. Ryan Wells (No. 94 RMR/Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda CRF450) and Cameron Smith (No. 44 D&D Cycles/Basciani Foods/Greg Vietri Honda CRF450R) filled out the top five.

 

Next Up:

American Flat Track’s 2018 finale happens next weekend at the Meadowlands Mile presented by Ducati at the MetLife Sports Complex in East Rutherford, NJ on October 6. Live coverage can be viewed on FansChoice.tv starting at 3:30 pm ET with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to get underway at 6:15 pm ET. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here: https://www.showclix.com/event/meadowlands-mile

 

For a thoroughly in-depth Indian Motorcycle Minnesota Mile experience with flag-to-flag coverage of both Main events enhanced by drone and onboard footage, be sure to catch the NBCSN telecast of the Minnesota Mile on Sunday, October 14 at 5:00 pm ET (2:00 pm PT). Be sure to check your local listings, or for the complete broadcast schedule for AFT on NBCSN, please visit http://www.americanflattrack.com/events-nbcsn

How to Watch:

NBCSN and FansChoice.tv are the official homes for coverage of American Flat Track. For the 2018 season, NBCSN’s coverage of AFT moves to highly-coveted, weekend afternoon programming slots within two weeks of each event. The complete schedule for AFT on NBCSN can be viewed at http://www.americanflattrack.com/events-nbcsn/. FansChoice.tv remains a cornerstone of AFT’s digital strategy, providing live streaming coverage of every event on AFT’s live page while previous events and exclusive features are available on AFT’s VOD page.

 

About American Flat Track:
American Flat Track is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on American Flat Track, please visit http://www.americanflattrack.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check us out on Instagram, live stream the events at FansChoice.tv and catch all the American Flat Track racing action on NBCSN.

Qualifying Highlights – MXGP of Italy 2018 – Imola

Courtesy of MXGP-TV Media Service Team

Herlings and Prado take Final Qualifying Wins of 2018 in Italy!

Courtesy of Youthstream Media Service Team

IMOLA (Italy) 29 September 2018 – Imola’s Autodromo Enzo & Dino Ferrari circuit host the MXGP season finale this weekend and today was the final qualifying day of the year. Starting of their race like countless other Saturdays this year was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings and Jorge Prado as they took dominant Qualifying wins. The famous Imola circuit has hosted racing events in nearly all forms and while this weekend was the first MXGP race in its history the track first hosted Motocross International races 70 years ago! The world renowned road circuit was transformed into to a FIM Motocross World Championship track with over 25,000 cubic meters of soil brought in. With the natural elevation change of the venue as an advantage the track has already hosted great racing. In addition to the always present MXGP and MX2 classes this weekend also hosts the season finale of both the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship and EMX300 presented by FMF Racing. The first race of the Women’s final round was watched closely with Italian Kiara Fontanesi holding the championship leaders red plate on her MXFONTA Racing Yamaha. Fontanesi’s closest competitor Nancy Van de Ven came into the race with a 8 point deficit on the defending champion from Italy but took the lead early today and after tight racing Van de Ven took the win. Fontanesi took second and lost 3 points narrowing her gap to only 5 points for tomorrow’s championship deciding race 2. The EMX300 presented FMF Racing championship was not nearly as close as the Women’s but is still far from decided. GL12 Racing’s Mike Kras was 27 points behind the championship leader Brad Anderson from Verde Substance KTM coming into the weekend. Race 1 saw Kras take the lead as Anderson struggled and dropped from 4th to 7th before finally rebounding to finish 5th. Anderson took the win with Erik Willems 2nd and Team Maddi Racing Husqvarna’s Mattia Guadagnini 3rd. The championship lead of Anderson is now down to 18 from 27 and will be decided tomorrow morning.   With the championship already decided Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings could have simply just taken the weekend easy but the “Bullet” is no dud and was on fire today. Starting from the Free Practice through to the Qualifying race with Time Practice between Herlings was the fastest. Taking the lead off the start and out of the first turn Herlings led the race from start to finish. Team HRC’s Tim Gajser was second but lost track of Herlings quickly while the Italian hero, Antonio Cairoli from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, was back in 10th. Another Italian was impressing the crowd at the front however as Gebben Van Venrooy Kawasaki’s Alessandro Lupino was 3rd ahead Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle and Julien Lieber. Following the 3 Kawasakis were the Yamaha triplets of Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP Team’s Shaun Simpson, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Jeremy Van Horebeek, and another Wilvo Yamaha ridden by Jeremy Seewer. Desalle took 3rd from Lupino on lap 3 and at the same time Seewer made his way by Van Horebeek as did Cairoli. One lap later Cairoli was also past Seewer as Lupino fought Desalle to take 3rd back. Cairoli however went off track on the following lap and hit the ground hard. Slow to get up Cairoli decided to pull out of the remainder of the race but has since confirmed that he will race tomorrow. Fellow Italian and friend of Cairoli, Lupino, lost positions on the following laps to Desalle and Lieber while Seewer worked his way past Simpson to take 6th. At the finish it was a massive win for Herlings finalizing his total number of 2018 pole positions to 13. Desalle took second after passing Gajser on the final laps while Lieber was 4th and Lupino took 5th. Jeffrey Herlings: “The main goal is to win the championship and we have done that in Assen but I don’t want to just come here and ride around. I still want to go and prove myself. I will do my best to get some good starts. It would be nice to finish out a great year like this with my 84th career GP win, so that is the goal for tomorrow.” MXGP Qualifying Race Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 24:37.982; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:23.909; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:26.654; 4. Julien Lieber (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:29.770; 5. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Kawasaki), +0:33.970; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:34.981; 7. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:35.982; 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:37.879; 9. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:45.519; 10. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), +0:48.658.         MXGP Photos Main Photo: Jeffrey Herlings Bottom Photos: 1. Clement Desalle; 2. Tim Gajser https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; var siteURL = window.location.hostname; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot(‘/57671086/DigitalThrottle_InPage_Outstream’, [1, 1],’div-gpt-ad-1467074319797-0′) .addService(googletag.pubads()) .setTargeting(“Site_Domain”, siteURL); googletag.enableServices(); googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1467074319797-0’); });   Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado came to Imola this weekend as the MX2 World Champion after learning his main competitor Pauls Jonass, also from Red Bull KTM, would be unable to race after having knee surgery. With a weekend similar to that of Herlings in the sense that he doesn’t need to push for the win Prado went out and took an impressive win today regardless. At the start of qualifying however it was Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 Team’s Ben Watson taking the first advantage and lead. The Brit and his teammate Anthony Rodriguez put Prado in a Yamaha sandwich for the opening lap but the young Spaniard was into the lead by the completion of the first official lap. Chasing down Watson and Rodriguez was Honda 114 Motorsport’s Hunter Lawrence and Yamaha SM Action MC Migliori’s Michele Cervellin. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Kjer Olsen closed in fast though taking 5th from Cervellin on lap 2 and 4th from Lawrence 2 laps later. Rodriguez was the next to fall victim to the speed of the tall Dane as he dropped to 4th while Lawrence lost momentum and dropped to back to 7th. The Aussie rebound well though and made a handful of passes to get back up to 4th. Olsen tried to get by Watson and the two touched on the final lap sending Watson off track and slowing Olsen but the two finished 2nd and 3rd nevertheless. Prado’s win was by over a 12 second margin and sets him up perfectly to take a pair of good starts tomorrow. Jorge Prado: “Coming into this GP I am for sure happy after the news earlier this week. This is kind of like a second home GP with team De Carli being from Italy and for all the guys it is important and a really special GP plus it is the last one of the season. I am feeling good with my Qualifying Race today I am ready for tomorrow.” MX2 Qualifying Race Top Ten: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 23:38.441; 2. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:12.012; 3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +0:15.022; 4. Hunter Lawrence (AUS, Honda), +0:19.087; 5. Anthony Rodriguez (VEN, Yamaha), +0:22.926; 6. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Yamaha), +0:26.372; 7. Henry Jacobi (GER, Husqvarna), +0:28.018; 8. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +0:31.592; 9. Samuele Bernardini (ITA, Yamaha), +0:36.033; 10. Morgan Lesiardo (ITA, KTM), +0:46.045         MX2 Photos Main Photo: Jorge Prado Bottom Photos: 1. Ben Watson; 2. Thomas Kjer Olsen   Click here to obtain the complete results All the photos from the MXGP of Italy will be available HERE!   MXGP of Italy – QUICK FACTS Circuit length: 1,500m Type of ground: Hard Temperature: 25° Weather conditions: Sunny MXGP will be available across the board in high definition and is also globally available to view live and in HD on MXGP-TV.com. Click here for the complete list of countries and cooperating MXGP broadcasting networks.   TIMETABLE  Sunday: 08:45 EMX125 Race 2, 09:45 WMX Race 2, 10:25 MX2 Warm-Up, 10:45 MXGP Warm-Up, 11:30 EMX250 Race 2, 13:15 MX2 Race 1, 14:15 MXGP Race 1, 16:10 MX2 Race 2, 17:10 MXGP Race 2   LINKS Youthstream FIM FIM Europe MXGP of Italy

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Early retirement from qualifying race for Vlaanderen at Imola

Courtesy of Honda Racing Corporation

MX2 of Italy MX2 2018   Round 20 Team HRC Calvin Vlaanderen’s qualifying performance at Imola’s Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari was cut short after a handful of laps as the 22-year-old from Cape Town was forced into an early retirement due to a technical issue. Calvin was running in ninth position as the MX2 field swept past the first few turns of the moto and, after moving up to eighth place, he set his sight on Henry Jacobi in seventh.At the end of lap five, however, Vlaanderen made his way back to the pit-lane and did not get back into the race. MX2 action will resume tomorrow morning at 10:45 local time (GMT +2) for the warm-up session, which will be followed by the final two races of the season at 13:15 and 16:10. https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; var siteURL = window.location.hostname; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot(‘/57671086/DigitalThrottle_InPage_Outstream’, [1, 1],’div-gpt-ad-1467074319797-0′) .addService(googletag.pubads()) .setTargeting(“Site_Domain”, siteURL); googletag.enableServices(); googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1467074319797-0’); });

Calvin Vlaanderen  10 I’m obviously very disappointed for not finishing this race as it was very important to get a good gate-pick for tomorrow. It’s not easy to pass at this track and the first turn is very narrow. Having said that it is what it is: we know we have the speed so we’ll try to do our best in order to be as high as we can at the finish line.

Marcus Pereira de Freitas HRC General Manager – MXGP It’s a shame that Calvin’s performance drew to a close so early: he was building up a good speed and it looked like he could have made up a few places before the chequered flag. That’s racing and we know it, but surely his job will be much harder now. I’m sure he’ll be fired up for tomorrow!

Qualifying race Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Time/Gap 1 Prado Garcia Jorge 61 SPA Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 23:38.441 2 Watson Ben 919 GBR Kemea Yamaha Yamalube Racing Team +12.012 3 Kjer Olsen Thomas 19 DEN Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing +15.022 4 Lawrence Hunter 96 AUS Honda 114 Motorsports +19.087 5 Rodriguez Anthony 127 VEN Kemea Yamaha Yamalube Racing Team +22.926 6 Cervellin Michele 747 ITA Yamaha SM Action – M.C. Migliori +26.372 7 Jacobi Henry 29 GER STC Racing +28.018 8 Covington Thomas 64 USA Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing +31.592 9 Bernardini Samuele 321 ITA TM Racing Factory Team +36.033 10 Lesiardo Morgan 44 ITA Marchetti Racing Team KTM +46.045 11 Weltin Marshal 56 USA F&H Racing Team +47.051 12 Geerts Jago 193 BEL Kemea Yamaha Yamalube Racing Team +49.448 13 Vaessen Bas 98 NDL Honda 114 Motorsports +50.325 14 Sterry Adam 811 GBR F&H Racing Team +56.634 15 Rubini Stephen 118 FRA KTM Silver Action +59.341 16 Goupillon Pierre 720 FRA BUD Racing Monster Energy Kawasaki +1:03.211 17 Sikyna Richard 102 SLK JD 191 KTM Racing Team +1:06.553 18 Furlotti Simone 95 ITA Yamaha SM Action – M.C. Migliori +1:12.042 19 van Doninck Brent 172 BEL Team Diga-Procross +1:13.065 20 Pessoa Gustavo 891 BRA Bike It DRT Kawasaki +1:14.944

 

Three Kawasaki’s qualify in the top five

Courtesy of KRT – Kawasaki Racing Team

Clement Desalle and Julien Lieber of the Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team and Alessandro Lupino of Gebben Van Venrooy Kawasaki all qualified top five for tomorrow’s MXGP finale at Imola in Italy.

With second fastest time to the new world champion in the timed practice session Desalle had already put himself in a commanding position to challenge for honours at the final round of the 2018 of the FIM World MXGP Motocross Championship around a man-made track at the famous Autodromo Enzo and Dino Ferrari on the banks of the River Saterno, just one kilometre from the ancient city centre, and the situation became even more satisfying from a Green viewpoint in the qualifying race as Lupino gated third with Desalle fourth and Lieber fifth. Desalle was in scintillating form to make third place his own by half distance and with four laps to go he ran down his rival for the series bronze medal and earn second gate pick for each of tomorrow’s points-scoring races. His KRT teammate Lieber followed him through to fourth and home rider Lupino maintained a strong fifth to the finish.


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Clément Desalle: « It was a good day. Here again the start was very important as the track is pretty short and the qualifying race seemed so long as we did fourteen laps! I was fourth for the first few laps and found it difficult to pass Lupino but finally I found a spot to overtake and then Gajser made a mistake when I was pushing him hard so I could pass him for second. The ground is slippery so we have to be careful; I will have again a good gate pick and I hope to get some good starts again. »

Julien Lieber: « I had a good feeling and a good rhythm all day and, even though I was only eleventh in the timed practice session, I was confident going into the qualifying race as there were six of us on the same second. I got a good start in sixth position, then passed Simpson and Lupino to finish fourth, so I will have a good gate for tomorrow. The track is narrow so you have to be careful, especially in the corners. »

Alessandro Lupino: « It’s another home GP for me and that always helps! I’m happy as I got another great start; I just went too wide in the first corner so one guy passed me for the holeshot! I pushed hard during the first few laps, but as I’m not as fast as a few guys I eventually lost a few positions but fifth is a really good result. Now I’m looking for a holeshot award tomorrow; it will make the race much easier and would be a great reward to the team for all of the hard work they have put in this year! »

Marshal Weltin confirmed his excellent form since returning to the Kawasaki fold with eleventh place in the qualification for the MX2 class with F&H Racing Team colleague Adam Sterry fourteenth. Pierre Goupillon was sixteenth on his GP debut for Bud Racing Monster Energy Kawasaki.

Marshal Weltin: « I struggled during the practice sessions and couldn’t post a top twenty time, but I had a pretty solid jump out of the gate in the qualifying race and I was fifteenth after the first few corners. This is one of those tracks where it’s difficult to pass; you have to be in control and not let the bike take control of you because the track is very technical. I had a pretty good feeling in the second part of the race as I was charging so I hope I can carry that into tomorrow’s GP motos.”