Panpayak confident of victory over rival Superlek in ‘Incredible’ 7th meeting
Jul 28. 2020Panpayak Jitmuangnon and Superlek Kiatmoo9
By THE NATION
It’s not uncommon for two Muay Thai fighters to face each other in the ring multiple times throughout their careers. But when Muay Thai sensation Panpayak Jitmuangnon meets rival Superlek Kiatmoo9 at the end of this month, it will be for an incredible seventh showdown.
The two Thai warriors have faced each other six times prior. They face off again in a Muay Thai contest with 4oz. gloves at ONE: NO SURRENDER, scheduled for Friday, 31 July in Bangkok, Thailand.
It’s ONE Championship’s first live show since February. The event, which will be held in a closed-door, audience-free venue, features some of the most exciting martial arts talent from Thailand.
“I think he (Superlek) has gotten much better than the last time we faced each other in the ring, particularly his kicks. This will be the 7th time I’m going to face him, which is incredible if you think about it,” said Panpayak.
“This fight is going to be much different from the previous times we fought, because we’re using 4oz. gloves. The show is getting close, and I’m ready to perform. I’m confident that I’ve done everything necessary to prepare for this fight.”
Looking back at an intense rivalry over the years, each of their six bouts previously went to a judges’ decision. Panpayak however believes this time, he can finally earn the finish and beat Superlek definitively.
“I don’t believe I have many weaknesses. I just need to fully concentrate on training and the results will show on fight night. Of course, I’m going to look to finish. That’s the one thing missing from our series,” said Panpayak.
“But I can win on points too, if needed. I’m going to win this fight.”
Speaking to media just weeks ahead of their high-profile encounter, Panpayak is thankful he can showcase his skills in the ring once again. He’s also immensely confident and ready to give fans a show.
“I’m very thankful to get the chance to compete in ONE Championship again. In the world now that is filled with uncertainty, it’s just fortunate that we can still do what we love to do. I want to keep fighting and rising through the rankings, until I get the chance to fight for the World Championship,” said Panpayak.
“All I can say is the fans can expect fireworks. I can’t underestimate him at all.”
ONE: NO SURRENDER is ONE Championship’s first live event since February. The promotion deliberated carefully on safety protocols, and made the necessary adjustments to its operations.
The main event features a rubber match between reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon, and the challenger, former ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion “The Baby Shark” Petchdam Petchyindee Academy.
In the evening’s co-main event, defending ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy will put his World Title on the line against legendary “The Boxing Computer” Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex.
Also on the card is a ONE Super Series Kickboxing Super-Bout between striking superstars Superbon Banchamek and “The Killer Kid” Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong.
Undefeated: Quartararo bolts to victory ahead of Viñales and Rossi
Jul 27. 2020Fabio Quartararo
By THE NATION
The Frenchman’s reign continues as Yamaha lock out the podium for the first time since the 2014 Australian GP
For the first time since Phillip Island 2014, Yamaha locked out the podium in a 1-2-3, but it was Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) who once again scorched to victory on Sunday at the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia. Maverick Viñales and Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP teammate Valentino Rossi had a memorable fight for the rostrum in which the number 12 came out on top for second – but nevertheless it was The Doctor’s first podium since the 2019 Americas GP as he took P3.
Quartararo got the best launch and from pole, with Rossi also getting away well from P4, but drama unfolded behind as fifth place Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech3) crashed in a Turn 1 melee that also then involved Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Bradley Smith (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini). The Portuguese rider was down and out of the race, with Binder running off circuit and dropping to the back and Smith’s race compromised too.
There was a three-way Yamaha scrap at the front though, and it was Quartararo leading Viñales and Rossi, who had a slight gap to the two Pramac Racing riders of the quick starting Jack Miller and Francesco Bagnaia just behind. Quartararo was getting down to business quickly though with the hammer well and truly down, and Viñales went wide at the final corner trying to pounce. Instead, that let The Doctor through into second, with Quartararo starting to escape and Viñales having lost out some significant ground. Just behind, Bagnaia went for P4 underneath Miller as well but was also wide, before making a miraculous save to keep his GP20 upright.
Quartararo’s lead on Lap 4 was up to 1.5 seconds, and Viñales couldn’t find a way through on Rossi to try and give chase. The Pramac Racing duo were also breathing down the YZR-M1 rider’s neck as the number 20 Petronas Yamaha SRT started to clear off into the distance, and Rossi couldn’t do anything about Quartararo’s pace either. By Lap 6 the Frenchman’s lead was nearly three seconds.
With 10 laps down that lead was looking unassailable, with Bagnaia making progress to get through on Miller and Viñales, as the Italian locked his radar onto the boss’ rear wheel. The race in Jerez was quickly starting to become a race of attrition in the blistering Andalusian heat, however – with some parts of the track over 63 degrees. Then Miller slid out of contention at Turn 9 having made his way through on Viñales at the beginning of the lap, and teammate Bagnaia pounced Rossi for second place.
Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) had made steady progress and was the fastest man on track as he got in the hunt for that illustrious first MotoGP™ podium, but drama was just around the corner in a cruel end to the Italian’s race as he encountered engine troubles with nine laps to go. Heartbreak for Morbidelli, and there would be more incoming for his compatriot Pecco Bagnaia. Safely in P2 ahead of Rossi, smoke started to stream out of his GP20 and onto the back straight, just six laps away from spraying the Prosecco, Bagnaia was out of contention.
This saw Rossi back up into second, with Viñales back in the podium places just behind. El Diablo’s lead was up to nearly nine seconds and the win – barring any mistakes or reliability issues – was surely his. Viñales was clambering all over the back of the number 46, but Rossi was a demon on the brakes and it was really looking like Viñales just wouldn’t be able to find a way through. Then though, after not having put a wheel wrong the whole race, Rossi was slightly wide at Turn 9 – and Top Gun pounced. Viñales was up to second and was able to immediately get some bike lengths on the veteran Italian, although the Doctor couldn’t relax with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) just eight tenths down the road…
At the front though it was all about one man. Quartararo made no mistakes in the brutal conditions to take his second consecutive victory, cementing his lead in the Championship over second place Viñales. The Spaniard salvaged 20 points which could be crucial in the long run, but he had no answer for his 2021 teammate in Jerez. Rossi’s return to the rostrum was more than welcomed for the 41-year-old, the number 46 putting in a mesmerising ride to notch up his 199th MotoGP™ podium, and his 235th across all classes.
Nakagami’s P4 was the Japanese rider’s best ride in the premier class as he finished just 6.113 off the win and half a second from the podium, putting the Japanese rider 4th in the Championship heading to Brno. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) banished the demons from the Spanish GP to finish 5th seven days later too – his equal-best in MotoGP™. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), meanwhile, recovered from a P14 starting slot to take sixth in Jerez after a third place finish last weekend, with Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in P7 the only KTM to finish in a tough day for the Austrian factory with Oliveira, Binder and Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech3) all crashing out.
Just 1.8 seconds behind Pol Espargaro was Repsol Honda Team’s Alex Marquez, the reigning Moto2™ World Champion producing an impressive ride in just his second MotoGP™ race, in the toughest of conditions, to take the chequered flag in P8. The lone Repsol Honda managed to beat Johann Zarco (Hublot Reale Avintia) as the Frenchman took P9, with the remarkable Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) defying the odds to complete the race and take 10th. An unbelievable and super-human effort from the Spaniard after suffering a dislocation-fracture to his shoulder eight days ago. Tito Rabat (Hublot Reale Avintia), Smith and the second injured rider on the grid, Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol), were the final finishers – a sterling effort from the latter to complete the laps.
Binder once again showed his cracking pace after dropping back in the Turn 1 incident, but the South African rookie then sadly crashed out unhurt at Turn 13. Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) also crashed – riders ok.
50 from 50: Quartararo has had a perfect couple of weekends in Jerez and will head to Brno as the points leader, with Viñales taking home two second places – far from a disaster – and looking to build on a successful weekend. Also expected in Czechia is the return of reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) to the MotoGP™ arena… and we can’t wait for more.
Fabio Quartararo: “Oh my god! That one was tough. Actually we normally start with a new tyre on the grid, and today we decided with Yamaha to make the warm up lap three laps to see if the tyre was ok, everything… I’m so happy we had amazing pace from the beginning to make the gap, so fast, I was so happy because I made my pace. It was really tough, when I got to two seconds, to make it four was so difficult. An amazing feeling! What can I say? Just thanks to my team, they did an amazing job, worked a lot during the races, and to my family at home… for sure they’re starting to get drunk already now to celebrate! But honestly, this feels so good to win back-to-back here in Jerez.”
MotoGP™ podium L-R: Viñales, Quartararo and Rossi
Bastianini blasts to first Moto2™ win
The Italtrans Racing Team rider takes his first intermediate class win and leads an Italian 1-2-3 as Sky Racing Team VR46 complete the podium
Italtrans Racing Team’s Enea Bastianini is back on top of a Grand Prix podium for the first time in two years after the Italian clinched a debut Moto2™ victory at the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia. ‘The Beast’ had some familiar company on the podium in the form of Sky Racing Team VR46’s Luca Marini, with Marini’s sophomore teammate Marco Bezzecchi taking his first Moto2™ rostrum finish in third. That made it an all-Italian top three in the intermediate class, for the first time since Imola 1998.
Bezzecchi took the holeshot from pole position but the only held the lead for half a lap, with Bastianini making a brave dive up the inside at Turn 6 to steal it. Bezzecchi then soon also lost out on second after teammate Marini squeezed through just three turns later, the veteran seeming eager to try and stop Bastianini escaping early on. The Italtrans Racing Team man had eked out a comfortable advantage of about three or four tenths already, and the clock was ticking…
Further back, Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up) lunged up the inside of Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) at Turn 6 for fifth place, but the Spaniard ran wide and allowed last week’s podium finisher back through. Thanks to the Spaniards squabbling over fifth place, second, third and fourth in the running, Marini, Bezzecchi and EG 0,0 Marc VDS’ Sam Lowes, were then able to open out a second and could focus on cementing a podium place.
Navarro then got through on Martin, again at Turn 6, but yellow flags were waving due to an earlier crash for Kasma Daniel (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team). As a result, the Speed Up man was forced to hand a place back but did so in a pretty smooth manner, running wide at Turn 13 on purpose before then squeezing back in behind Aron Canet (Openbank Aspar Team Moto2), who had battled his way through to fifth.
Back at the front, Bastianini’s gap was at 0.8 with 17 to go, but last week’s race winner Marini had found his groove, halving that advantage in just a lap. The Sky Racing Team VR46 rider then sat in behind his compatriot with 15 laps remaining, looking like a lion ready to pounce on its prey. In that battle for a top five finish, Navarro then suddenly crashed out at Turn 9.
As the laps ticked away, the pressure built on Bastianini and it looked like he’d cracked after running ever so slightly wide at Turn 8, with Marini suddenly glued to his rear wheel. With 12 to go Marini had his biggest look up the inside of the number 33, showing his front wheel, but not managing to squeeze through.
At seven to go, Bastianini pulled the pin. Suddenly moving a second clear, and then 1.5 a lap later, he eventually came across the line 2.1 seconds ahead of Marini to take his first win in the intermediate class. And for the first time since 1998, in a race won by Valentino Rossi, Italy had a podium lock-out as Bezzecchi held off Lowes to joined his compatriots on the box.
The Brit was less than a second in further arrears as they came across the line and again took fourth place, as he did seven days ago. The final place inside the top five went to rookie Canet, again impressing many with his performance, ahead of Martin in sixth. Liqui Moly Intact GP’s Tom Lüthi took seventh.
The fight for eighth went right down to the wire, with Championship leader Tetsuta Nagashima (Red Bull KTM Ajo) the man to lose out at the final corner after running wide. Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) emerged out of that gaggle of riders at the front, before Stefano Manzi (MV Agusta Forward Racing) and Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) clinched the final top ten spots. Nagahima’s 11th place finish moved him onto 50 points in the World Championship though, and it’s enough to hold onto the lead heading into Brno.
That’s only a week and a half away, with engines on soon in the Czech Republic and Moto2™ ready to battle it out again.
Moto2™ podium
1 Enea Bastianini – Italtrans Racing Team – Kalex 39:23.922 2 Luca Marini – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex +2.153 3 Marco Bezzecchi – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex +3.243
Enea Bastianini: “I’m really happy because also this morning I was fast, and this afternoon in the race, I thought inside me I could win because I’m fast and after pushing from the first laps, the last ten laps I kept a bit of a gap to Marini and it’s a brilliant race. The bike was really incredible, thanks to my team! I dedicate this victory to Livio, my great friend, who is no longer here with us.”
Moto2™ podium L-R: Marini, Bastianini and Bezzecchi
Suzuki sublime to stay ahead of the game in Jerez
Japanese rider takes his first win of the year and becomes the first rider to win at Jerez in Moto3™ from pole
Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) is the first man to convert pole position in the Moto3™ class at Jerez into a win, taking victory in the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia as he held off John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) and Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) in another fabulous final corner decider. There was drama in the World Championship standings too, with points leader Albert Arenas (Soliunion Aspar Team Moto3) and previously second-placed Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) crashing out.
Suzuki got the launch he would have been looking for from pole position as the Japanese rider grabbed the holeshot into Turn 1, with Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) and Ogura exchanging P2 and P3 at Turn 1 and Turn 2 as the riders safely negotiated Lap 1 in Andalucia. A rider who was negotiating the pack efficiently was Darryn Binder on the CIP Green Power KTM, too, as the South African was up to the point-scoring positions on Lap 2 – from 25th on the grid and setting two fastest laps in a row to boot…
Suzuki was eager to stay at the forefront of the fight, and the Japanese rider kept himself in or near the lead throughout. Rodrigo and Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) had a look at the 24 on a few occasions and despite getting by, Suzuki would then simply bite straight back at the first opportunity. The came the first Championship contender drama as Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) took out Ogura at Turn 9, tucking the front.
At the front of the race though, it remained a lead group of 10 with 10 laps left. Suzuki remained at the head of the train, with Rodrigo having another pop, but the Japanese rider was again back at the front a few corners later. McPhee had slowly picked off his rivals too and was up to third and then second at Turn 5 with nine laps to go, but it seemed it was set to be another classic scrap for the win and podium places between the top 10.
The second big bout of drama for the Championship then hit. With eight laps to go, Arenas had been looking comfortable in the lead group but the Spaniard was suddenly down at the fast Turn 11 right-hander, taking a heavy tumble and heading to the medical centre for a check-up – rider ok. With the previous top two riders in the title race out, it was suddenly a big opportunity for the likes of McPhee and Suzuki to capitalise…
Ultimately, it would end up as a six-way scrap for victory in the latter laps as Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team) dropped off the pace, as did Fernandez, with birthday boy Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Tech3) also then crashing from the group at Turn 5.
Could anyone get the better of Suzuki? Ultimately not, with the shuffle at the final corner free of drama this time around and the Japanese rider able to keep ahead to the line. McPhee avoided the bad luck of his Spanish GP and was only half a tenth off in the end, with Vietti a similarly tiny gap back in third.
Binder completed the fairtyale comeback this weekend as he took an amazing fourth place – up 21 positions from where he started – with Rodrigo completing the top five. Fernandez took sixth, ahead of a P7 for Jeremy Alcoba (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) after the rookie was awarded a three-second penalty for not complying with a Long Lap penalty. He crossed the line fourth.
Eighth went to Sergio Garcia (Estrella Galicia 0,0) as he took some solid points, ahead of an impressive first top ten finish for his teammate, rookie Ryusei Yamanaka. Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team) completed the top ten.
That’s it until Brno, with Arenas still leading the way but Suzuki now up into second… and McPhee lurking not far off. What will Moto3™ serve up in Czechia? Find out soon!
Moto3™ podium
1 Tatsuki Suzuki – SIC58 Squadra Corse – Honda 39:18.861 2 John McPhee – Petronas Sprinta Racing – Honda +0.064 3 Celestino Vietti – Sky Racing Team VR46 – KTM +0.134
Tatsuki Suzuki: “I’m very happy, more than let’s say Misano, because in this race I was always in front, leading the group, and I didn’t care when I got pushed behind, I was aggressive and tried to stay at the front. This makes a huge difference! Last weekend I was very disappointed with my race, but today I’m the happiest!”
Moto3™ podium L-R: McPhee, Suzuki and Vietti
The first time a manufacturer has locked out the podium since 2014: a Yamaha 1-2-3
That sweet winning feeling…
Another weekend, another record…
Undefeated: it’s fifty points from fifty for Fabio
Viñales took another hard-earned 20 points
Rossi was back on the podium for the first time since COTA 2019
Two for two! Quartararo with his two trophies
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP celebrate their double podium
Aegerter escapes the melee to take maiden MotoE™ win
Jul 27. 2020
By THE NATION
The Swiss rider takes to the top of the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup standings as Ferrari and Granado collide
Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP) picked up his first FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup victory after a dramatic race at the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia, escaping the chaos to unleash some serious pace at the front as reigning Cup holder Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) collided with Spanish GP winner Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) with two laps to go. Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40) made it a rookie 1-2 as he came home second and avoided the clash, with Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadra Corse) completing the podium and back on the box for the first time since Misano last year.
It was a frantic start for the MotoE™ riders as the opening lap saw plenty of swapping and changing. Aegerter got the holeshot from pole position but Ferrari dived under the inside at Turn 5, although it wouldn’t last long as the Italian ran wide and Aegerter was back in the lead. The scrap for first was hotly contested, with home hero Alejandro Medina (Openbank Aspar Team) the next rider making their way to the front from P6 on the grid.
After running deep Turn 6 – taking Lukas Tulovic (Tech3 E-Racing) wide with him – Granado had work to do if he was to pick up his second victory in seven days. Aegerter had slipped to third behind Ferrari and Medina, but the Swiss rider got back up to P2, before Medina crashed out at the beginning of Lap 4 – handing P3 to Granado. The Brazilian then made a slick move underneath Casadei for second, setting the fastest lap along the way to sit a second behind race leader Aegerter with two laps to go…
Huge drama was about to unfold at Turn 6, however. Down the back straight, Ferrari was late on the brakes, but it really was too late as the inaugural MotoE™ Cup winner couldn’t get his Energica Ego Corsa stopped at all. Granado was in the wrong place at the wrong time as Ferrari careened through and clipped him, both hitting the deck. That left Aegerter with a comfortable cushion over second, and the Swiss rider made no mistakes on his final lap to win his first MotoE™ race by an impressive 2.6 seconds. Torres kept hold of P2, with Casadei managing to recover from running wide after Ferrari and Granado’s crash and the Italian picking up his second MotoE™ podium.
Alex de Angelis (Octo Pramac MotoE) pipped Niccolo Canepa (LCR E-Team) by 0.053 to grab P4 in Jerez, with Canepa completing the top five. Tulovic took home P6 after getting pushed wide early on, with Mike Di Meglio (EG 0,0 Marc VDS), Josh Hook (Octo Pramac MotoE), Xavier Simeon (LCR E-Team) and Xavi Cardelus (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) completing the top 10. Granado managed to limp home to P13 in the end, taking what could end up being a valuable three points…
At the end of a breathless race, Aegerter leads the overall standings by 11 points from Torres, with Granado third – 13 adrift of the top. The MotoE™ riders will be back in business in Misano, as more twists in the 2020 MotoE™ World Cup storyline await.
Dominique Aegerter: “I’m very happy about taking my first MotoE victory, we were working very hard all week, we tried to take the data from last weekend and check the small details because it’s very important to try to improve and we were able to improve in every session. The conditions were the same as last weekend so it was good to compare some different settings, The team worked very well in the hot conditions in the tent, thanks to them. The race was quite hard, it’s just six laps but we were battling hard in the first two laps and I knew that I had to stay in front. I knew that I had the pace to go away a little, and I could do it and take my first win. Thank you very much for everything, and I hope the fans at home enjoyed the race!”
MotoE™ podium L-R: Torres, Aegerter and Casadei
The grid head into Turn 1 – with Aegerter not relinquishing his lead
Torres took his first podium in the Cup
And number 27 Casadei was back on the box for the first time since Misano last year
Aegerter takes his first win in only his second MotoE™ race
Marquez withdraws from Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia
Jul 26. 2020
By THE NATION
The reigning Champion will not race in Jerez, despite being classed fit to ride on Thursday
Reigning MotoGP™ World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) has confirmed his withdrawal from the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia. Marquez, who broke his humerus in a crash during the Spanish GP, was declared fit to ride on Thursday but ultimately will not race due to the risk and pain caused by doing so.
After putting in his first laps back on track in FP3 and continuing in FP4, the number 93 then left his garage during Q1. The Repsol Honda Team confirmed he would take no further part in that session, before it was revealed he would in fact take no further part in the race weekend.
Marc Marquez: “Of course, it’s something that I’m here. I already understood it would be very difficult to ride the bike, and to be able to finish the 25 laps in the race but honestly speaking after surgery I saw there was a small possibility so I needed to try. When you are a sportsman and you have a passion for something, you try, and today I will sleep well, because I tried. It wasn’t possible but what I did is only follow my body, my body said that I must try and that’s what I did.
“I spoke with Honda and this was the plan, try on Saturday morning, check the level and condition on the track and it was really good! I was surprised to ride a 37 and ride in a good way, but in the afternoon I started again, and in the first round I felt good, I was kind of surprised by the rhythm on used tyres! But for some reason I stopped in the box and when I went out again, immediate it went down, in the elbow; more than the bone it was the elbow, the nerve or something. I lost power and this becomes dangerous.
“What I did is what I did already all week – follow my body and my body in that moment said stop. I stopped in the box and said to Honda I will try one lap in Q1, and if I have the same feeling I will stop and we give up. And it’s what we did but I want to say thanks to all the doctors, the physios, to my team, because they did really hard work. We tried, it wasn’t possible, but already in the next hour I will start to work for the Brno GP.”
Alberto Puig, Repsol Honda Team Manager: “This morning the objective was to make first contact with the bike and we saw that Marc could still be fast. In the afternoon the plan was to do a longer run. Either due to the heat or fatigue from the morning, he experienced more problems and found it more difficult. Obviously we have understood that it was better not to take more risks. We have followed the plan, which was to miss Friday and see how Marc felt today. Now we have analyzed the situation and made the decision not to participate in tomorrow’s race.
“We have followed the plan, always checking the physical condition of the rider. Marc has tried to listen to his body, to see how he responded. When he saw that he could not, we have all decided not to race tomorrow. Marc is very strong. He wanted to try, and we wanted to give him the opportunity to do it, we have supported him at all times. I think we have made the right decision at all times. A champion cannot stay at home if he thinks he has the option or a slight chance. Now he has a lot of inflammation, but it will pass. There are many races ahead and the goal is to arrive in Brno in the best way.”
Quartararo vs Viñales: the duel for pole goes down to the wire Last minute drama, amazing pace from Independent Teams and some big reveals for race day characterise Saturday at Jerez
Saturday, 25 July 2020
Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) has claimed back-to-back pole positions at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto thanks to a 1:37.007 at the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia, beating Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) to the honour as the number 12 had his fastest effort cancelled for exceeding track limits. The last minute slice of drama makes it three poles in a row at the venue for Quartararo after his rookie heroics in last year’s Spanish GP, and his fourth pole in a row stretching back to Sepang 2019. Completing the top three was an impressive performance from Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing), with the Italian taking his first premier class front row start and doing it as top Ducati to boot.
The session was set up for a duel from the off, and that’s what we got. Quartararo was hitting first and ultimately it all came down to Viñales: the gauntlet was thrown, a 1:37.007, but could the Spaniard hit back? The answer appeared to be yes and it was advantage Viñales, but not long after he crossed the line, the drama hit and the lap suddenly disappeared off the timing screens. Where he had seemed a tenth clear, the Spaniard was pushed down to second and the replay showed why: track limits. A small infraction but a clear one, the pole was handed to ‘El Diablo’.
Behind that, Bagnaia’s impressive pace from last weekend has only been increasing and the Italian made another step forward with a landmark first premier class front row, and less than a tenth off Viñales. He was also a nice little chunk of time clear of mentor of sorts Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), with the ‘Doctor’ bumped down to head the second row.
That second row is nevertheless a big leap forward for the nine-time World Champion after a tougher time out in the Spanish GP at times, and he beat a stunning performance from Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) to keep the Portuguese rider in fifth by only a couple of thousandths. It’s Oliveira’s best, however, and he’s top KTM after a slightly tougher Saturday afternoon for the Austria factory than promised. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) completes the second row.
Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) will be looking for revenge against his less experienced teammate Bagnaia from P7, and the Australian having only narrowly missed out on a podium last week so he’ll want a good launch off the line with, which his machinery may help. Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) had another impressive session to join Miller on Row 3, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) locking that out in P9. The South African didn’t quite replicate his searing Friday, but he seems one to watch once the lights go out, with serious speed. He has also won from the back at Jerez in Moto3™ – a stat that becomes even more impressive considering no one has ever won from pole in the class…
Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) leads the Suzuki charge in tenth, with Hamamatsu factory teammate Alex Rins on the superhuman comeback from injury and starting 20th after managing a few more laps on Saturday. 11th went the way of Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team), with P12 filled by Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) after a heartbreakingly-timed crash in Q2. Rider ok, and ready to light it up again on Sunday as KTM’s pace continues to impress.
Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) put in a mammoth effort to go from surgery on a broken scaphoid only a few days ago to almost getting through from Q1, and he’ll start P13, ahead of a difficult day at the office for Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), who’ll be looking to launch forward. Johann Zarco (Hublot Reale Avintia Racing) starts P15.
That’s it from another scorching Saturday in Jerez, tune in for more action on Sunday with MotoE™ at 10:05 (GMT +2), Moto3™ next, Moto2™ after that… and then another stunning MotoGP™ battle at 14:00.
Fabio Quartararo: “At the end today was really a good day for us, FP4 was so positive, we did 10 laps in a row with good pace which was important for us. But today I was so surprised to get pole position. I did a 36.9 and I thought ‘this will be a front row’. And at the end it was pole! So, happy. The conditions were strange because in FP4 it was really great, then in quali it was a bit windy and not so good, but I’m happy we got pole and have really good pace for tomorrow.”
MotoGP™ front row L-R: Viñales, Quartararo and Bagnaia
Bezzecchi scorches to first intermediate class pole
The Italian is back on top, beating Lowes and Bastianini to pole in Jerez
Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) took his first Moto2™ pole position on Saturday in the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia, ending Q2 0.037 ahead of Sam Lowes (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) to take the honour and show more top pace in 2020. Behind Lowes, who has won at the venue before, it’s Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) who completes the front row – and after coming through Q1.
Under the scorching Andalucian sun, it was Bezzecchi and Sky Racing Team VR46 teammate Luca Marini who were at the summit from the off, with the Italians working well in tandem once again, but Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up) then hit back to get in the mix. Bezzecchi wouldn’t be denied though and the Italian put in another stunner to take back the provisional pole, with Bastianini then shooting up to P2. Lowes looked like the last man to threaten but ultimately just fell hundredths short and takes second.
Navarro starts fourth and will be hoping his luck will change after his Turn 1, opening lap crash at the Spanish GP last week. He’s joined by Spanish GP winner Marini, who couldn’t improve on his last run, and last weekend’s polesitter Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) on the second row.
Aron Canet (Openbank Aspar Team Moto2) had another strong showing in P7, with the impressive rookie set to lead the more experienced Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) and Tom Lüthi (Liqui Moly Intact GP) away from the third row. Lüthi’s teammate Marcel Schrötter rounds out the top 10 having had an off-track excursion at Turn 1 in Q2.
Championship leader Tetsuta Nagashima (Red Bull KTM Ajo) had to settle for P15 in Q2, and he’ll be one looking for some points and progress on Sunday. The Japanese rider is on the comeback from a heavy FP3 crash, and may be set on damage control in the Sunday heat.
Tune in for the Moto2™ race at 12:20 local time (GMT+2) in Jerez as Bezzecchi goes all in to change pole to victory!
Moto2™ front row
1 Marco Bezzecchi– Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex – 1:41.728 2 Sam Lowes – EG 0,0 Marc VDS – Kalex +0.037 3 Enea Bastianini – Italtrans Racing Team – Kalex – +0.117
Marco Bezzecchi: “It’s important to be here, especially for me, because I had a difficult season last year and the injury, so a tough period, but today I was very strong. I’m very happy for this because the team worked really well, and this this pole is for the Sky Racing Team, they saved me. I’m very happy so I want to thank the team, the academy, Vale, everyone. And now I’m focused for tomorrow because it will be difficult with the hot conditions and my foot, but for the moment I’ll enjoy it and I’m very happy!”
Moto2™ front row L-R: Lowes, Bezzecchi and Bastianini
Suzuki stuns again for third consecutive pole
The Japanese rider heads Ogura and Rodrigo as Moto3™ get ready for another battle in Jerez
Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) showed three is very much a magic number for the number 24 in 2020, taking a third consecutive pole position in the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia in style. The Japanese rider also had an even bigger gap than last week as he got the better of compatriot Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) by 0.285, with Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) completing the third row, just a further 0.011 in arrears.
Hot temperatures and clear skies were once again the name of the game, and once again Suzuki came out on top and stamped some authority on Saturday. The gap back from the front row to the second was nearly two tenths too, with Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) putting that in for fourth. He’s joined on Row 2 by Spanish GP podium finisher Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team), only thousandths off, with Championship leader Albert Arenas (Solunion Aspar Team Moto3) in sixth just 0.002 off Arbolino.
Reigning FIM Moto3™ Junior World Champion Jeremy Alcoba (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3) took seventh and got the better of veteran John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing), with Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) making a big move forward on Saturday to take ninth. Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) completes the top ten.
Andrea Migno (Sky Racing Team VR46) was one crasher in the session, and the Italian paid the price as he starts 18th. Two more riders to likely look out for on Sunday coming from a little further back will be previous Jerez winner Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse), who just missed out on moving into Q2 after he sat out the final couple of minutes of Q1 and starts 20th, and Darryn Binder (CIP Green Power), who’s in 25th but stormed through the pack last week. Can they get back in the mix?
Tune in for Round 3 of Moto3™ on Sunday from 11:00 (GMT +2)!
Moto3™ front row 1 Tatsuki Suzuki – SIC58 Squadra Corse – Honda 1:45.410 2 Ai Ogura – Honda Team Asia – Honda +0.285 3 Gabriel Rodrigo – Kömmerling Gresini Moto3 – Honda +0.296
Tatsuki Suzuki: “I don’t know how I took this pole position. You know, usually I’m fast on Saturday and struggle a bit on Sunday in the race, so this weekend we concentrated on race distance and I’m very surprised about this laptime, especially in the hot conditions. The laptime makes me more confident, tomorrow I hope I’ll fight for the podium and stay as far forward as possible.”
Moto3™ front row L-R: Rodrigo, Suzuki and Ogura
Viñales went a tenth ahead on his final run – but was outside track limits so it’s P2 for round two at Jerez
Bagnaia impressed to take his first premier class front row AND as top Ducati
The rookie heads the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup grid, ahead of Ferrari and another impressive lap from Tulovic
Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP) converted his Free Practice form into his maiden FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup E-Pole in Round 2, with the Swiss rider back on top for the first time since taking pole for the 2014 German Moto2™ Grand Prix. He beat second fastest Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) by 0.267. and two rookies will line-up on the front row once again as Lukas Tulovic (Tech3 E-Racing) set a 1:48.525 and mastered the final sector to sit third.
Track temperatures for the MotoE™ riders sat at a sizzling 60+ degrees on Saturday afternoon as Cup standings leader Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) went in search of his second pole in seven days. After Jakub Kornfeil (WithU Motorsport), Maria Herrera (Openbank Aspar Team) – the Spaniard having her lap time cancelled for exceeding track limits – and Alessandro Zaccone (Trentino Gresini MotoE) had completed their laps, Josh Hook (Octo Pramac MotoE) fired in a low 1:49 so set the other riders which a good benchmark time to beat.
Next thought it was a disaster for Tommaso Marcon (Tech3 E-Racing) as the Italian left pitlane too late, seeing the rookie getting a black flag in his second E-Pole session. There were no such errors for Tulovic though as the German slammed in a stunning lap time, his aforementioned 1:48.525 a tenth faster than Granado’s E-Pole time at the Spanish GP – and that time was going to take some beating.
Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40) and Alejandro Medina (Openbank Aspar Team) slotted in behind Tulovic’s time despite their best effort, but Ferrari was able to knock the German off his perch to nick provisional pole by a tenth. Then came Granado, with all eyes on the Brazilian. Could the runaway Spanish GP winner put another chink in his opponents’ armour by taking pole? The number 51 had two moments on his flying lap – most notably the back getting squirmy out of Turn 6 – and that would ultimately cost him pole position as he slotted into P3, with Aegerter still to go
Could he take the pressure? More than. The former Moto2™ winner made no mistakes on his run to grab pole position by over two tenths, demoting Ferrari to second and Granado off the front row. Torres and Medina will start 5th and 6th on the second row, with the experienced Alex de Angelis (Octo Pramac MotoE) heading row three. Mattia Casadei (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Niccolo Canepa (LCR E-Team) and Hook complete the top 10
Tune into the second MotoE™ race of 2020 when the electric class kick off race proceedings at 10:05 local time (GMT+2).
Dominique Aegerter: “For me I’m very happy to start as poleman, we did a great job, we worked very hard this week, we were checking the data from last weekend, the team was working very hard to improve, and me to get more used to the bike! They did a greatjob, it was very hot working in the E-paddock! And as a rider on the track it’s very hot as well. The E-pole is very special, you cannot risk too much and you need to pay attention to track limits, so you need to push and we made a perfect lap. This will be a good chance for me tomorrow to start better than last weekend. I’m looking forward to it.”
MotoE™ front row L-R: Ferrari, Aegerter and Tulovic
Ferrari takes his first front row of the year
And Tulovic was back up there again
Granado won’t start from the front row…
Torres completed the top five
Aegerter took his first E-Pole after a little less drama this time around…
Thailand’s Kiradech turns focus to 2020-21 PGA TOUR Season for his comeback
Jul 25. 2020
Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat has decided to channel his energy and focus toward the new 2020-21 PGA TOUR Season starting in September.
The Asian golf star, who turned 31 on Thursday, opted to skip the TOUR’s return to golf last month after flying home to Bangkok in mid-April following the initial suspension of the TOUR due to COVID-19.
While he has missed competition, the enforced break has proven to be a blessing in disguise as it has allowed him to rest and recuperate from a lingering knee injury sustained over a year ago.
Kiradech said he is now planning to return to his U.S. base in Orlando, Florida, sometime next month to prepare for the new season, which is tentatively set to begin September 10 at the Safeway Open in Napa, California. The U.S. Open is scheduled for the following week at Winged Foot Golf Club.
“If everything falls into plan, I will go back to Orlando in a few weeks’ time,” said Kiradech, the first Thai to hold a full PGA TOUR card. “It should give me time to prepare for the new season which will be my main focus. I will need to get ready as I want to come back stronger and regain my form. I plan to play in everything that I can get into from September onwards. I really miss the game and I want to go back to work.”
The burly Kiradech, who is often referred to as ‘Asia’s John Daly,’ has played in only six tournaments in the current 2019-20 season, with a best finish of T8 at THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES in Korea last October. He finished tied for 27th at the Puerto Rico Open in February and missed four other cuts. He currently sits at No. 182 on the FedExCup points list.
With the PGA TOUR extending playing exemptions through the 2020-21 season due to an abbreviated year, Kiradech felt his decision to start afresh in the new season was the best option.
“I’ve not played much golf at home but I’ve stayed fit and healthy. It has been good spending time with my family. I haven’t spent too much time on golf and I hope this (health) situation will pass quickly,” said Kiradech, a former Asian Tour No. 1 and four-time European Tour winner.
With the TOUR playing its seventh tournament in the return to golf this week at the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities, Kiradech said he has refrained from watching the action on TV.
“I have missed golf but I’ve not watched any of it or searched for golf news. I just wanted to get away from watching as I would miss it even more knowing I’m not there playing,” said Kiradech, whose world ranking has dipped to No. 168.
“I normally play 30-plus weeks a year, so to skip tournaments is a tough thing to do.”
Having turned 31 this week, Kiradech spent his special day with family visiting a temple in Ubon Ratchathani, east of Bangkok. In 2014, he spent a week in a Siamese temple where he learnt the ways of a monk, which included shaving his head and eyebrow, waking up at 4.30 a.m., meditating and walking bare feet for kilometres to gather food for village folks.
“It’s a Thai culture, something that we do on our birthdays whenever we can to seek blessings from the monks,” he said. “I pray that I’ll come back strong. I believe I can win on the PGA TOUR when I get back out there and I also want to move back into the world’s top-50.”
Monster Energy Yamaha duo go 1-2 on Friday as Binder leads a charge of three KTMs in the top six
Maverick Viñales and teammate Valentino Rossi made it a Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP 1-2 on Friday in the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia, holding back an incredible charge from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder as the rookie completed the top three in another impressive showing at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto. Once again it was FP1 laps that decided the combined timesheets for many in the field, and a good few familiar faces need to move forward in FP3 to make it to Q2…
With the weather as scorching as ever in southern Spain and looking unlikely to change overnight, however, there is plenty time for the field to fight back to get into Q2, including Spanish GP winner Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) as the Frenchman ended the day outside the top ten once again – just as he did a week ago. It did get a little racy for ‘El Diablo’ in FP2 though, with Viñales tagging onto the back of Quartararo at the beginning of the session and the two heading round in a brief cat and mouse with a number of laps close together… and later in the session, the Frenchman kicked up some dust as he ran afoul of track limits too, although no harm done.
Rossi had a less dramatic day as the ‘Doctor’ was back near the top of the timesheets from his FP1 time, and remained within a couple of tenths of teammate Viñales in FP2 – something that could bode well after a podium for the latter last week, and given the temperatures in the second session mirror race time more closely. Protégé of sorts Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) was a fitting 0.046 off the nine-time World Champion on the combined timesheets too as the number 21 took P4 overall, ending the day as top Independent Team rider.
Maverick Viñales and teammate Valentino Rossi made it a Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP 1-2 on Friday in the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia, holding back an incredible charge from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder as the rookie completed the top three in another impressive showing at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto. Once again it was FP1 laps that decided the combined timesheets for many in the field, and a good few familiar faces need to move forward in FP3 to make it to Q2…
With the weather as scorching as ever in southern Spain and looking unlikely to change overnight, however, there is plenty time for the field to fight back to get into Q2, including Spanish GP winner Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) as the Frenchman ended the day outside the top ten once again – just as he did a week ago. It did get a little racy for ‘El Diablo’ in FP2 though, with Viñales tagging onto the back of Quartararo at the beginning of the session and the two heading round in a brief cat and mouse with a number of laps close together… and later in the session, the Frenchman kicked up some dust as he ran afoul of track limits too, although no harm done.
Rossi had a less dramatic day as the ‘Doctor’ was back near the top of the timesheets from his FP1 time, and remained within a couple of tenths of teammate Viñales in FP2 – something that could bode well after a podium for the latter last week, and given the temperatures in the second session mirror race time more closely. Protégé of sorts Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) was a fitting 0.046 off the nine-time World Champion on the combined timesheets too as the number 21 took P4 overall, ending the day as top Independent Team rider.
Then came the rest of the KTM armada, as the top six was a tale of two factories: Yamaha and KTM. Binder’s incredible P3, off the back of race-leading pace shown in the Spanish GP despite his early run off relegating him from the top ten, backs up both the South African’s speed and that of KTM. Teammate Pol Espargaro, despite a tip off, was fifth fastest on Friday and third fastest in FP2 after equalling the Austrian factory’s best dry weather result last week, and Red Bull KTM Tech 3’s Miguel Oliveira extended the impressive showing as he completed the combined top six.
Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) was the top Ducati on Friday as he took seventh, and the Australian had Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) for close company as he took P8. The number 30 also became the first Japanese rider to top a full session since Shinya Nakano in 2006 as he scorched to the top in FP2, slamming in two fast laps for good measure. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) was ninth quickest, with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) – Spanish GP podium finisher – completing the top ten overall.
Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) beat Iker Lecuona (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) to 11th despite a crash for the latter, ahead of Johann Zarco (Hublot Reale Avintia Racing) in P13. The Frenchman was also crasher on Friday with a lowside tip off in FP2, but he also showed some impressive speed in the hot afternoon conditions and ended the second session of the day in second, just a tenth and a half off Nakagami’s FP2-topping 1:37.715. Quartararo was 14th on Day 1, one position ahead of where he finished last week on his way to winning that race, with rookie Alex Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) locking out the fastest fifteen on Friday.
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) did not ride on Friday, his plan is to return to action on Saturday. Fellow comeback kings Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) and Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) did, however, ending the day in P20 and P21 respectively as they evaluate their respective conditions.
Come back for more on Saturday morning as the field head out for FP3 at 9:55 (GMT +2), before qualifying to decide the grid for the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia begins from 14:10.
MotoGP™ fastest on Friday 1 Maverick Viñales – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – 1:37.063 2 Valentino Rossi – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – +0.142 3 Brad Binder – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing – KTM – +0.307
Top Independent Team rider 4 Franco Morbidelli – Petronas Yamaha SRT – Yamaha – +0.353
Bezzecchi, Nagashima and Navarro covered by a tenth on Day 1 The Italian heads a top three split by less than a tenth, with the top 22 within a second on Friday
How close do you like it? On Day 1 of the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia, the Moto2™ top three were split by less than a tenth of a second, with Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) taking the spoils by virtue of a 1:41.525. The Italian crashed later in the day – rider ok – but held onto the top with his FP1 time, ahead of Championship leader Tetsuta Nagashima (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up), who was just 0.065 off the top.
Another Andalucian summer day; another set of soaring track temperatures dealt to the riders, and consequently it was the FP1 times that made up the combined standings for the majority. Bezzecchi headed that before his FP2 tip off – and small brief fire that engulfed the bike – but he was quick in the afternoon too, just 0.081 off the fastest time set by his teammate and Spanish GP winner Luca Marini. Nagashima was still just 0.059 off Bezzecchi in FP2 though, with some familiar names rising to the top in both sessions.
Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) topped the timesheets on Day 1 of the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia, putting in a 1:45.896 in FP1 and remaining the only rider to dip into the 1:45s by the end of play. Last weekend’s polesitter Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) was second fastest, with Filip Salač (Rivacold Snipers Team) within a tenth of the Japanese rider to complete the top three. The combined timesheets were so tight on Day 1, only five of the gaps splitting the 31-strong grid were over a tenth of a second…
It was another baking hot Friday under the Andalucian sun, and the majority of the combined timesheets once again featured a majority of laptimes set in the slightly cooler conditions of FP1. The afternoon instead saw John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) in charge for much of FP2, with the Scotsman seven tenths clear, then three, and then finally just 0.045 ahead after a late dash from Andrea Migno (Sky Racing Team VR46) and Championship leader Albert Arenas (Solunion Aspar Team Moto3), who also got within a tenth of the Brit.
Overall though it’s Fernandez, Suzuki and Salač in charge from their FP1 times, with last week’s Friday showstopper, Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3), slotting into fourth. Migno completed the top five as the Italian was once again up at the sharp end in Jerez.
Next up on the Friday timesheets it was a battle for supremacy between the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and the FIM CEV Repsol, with 2019 Rookies Cup winner Carlos Tatay (Reale Avintia Moto3) taking the spoils in P6 to edge out reigning FIM Moto3™ Junior World Champion Jeremy Alcoba (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3). They finished the day just ahead of Spanish GP podium finisher Tony Arbolino (Rivacold Snipers Team) and FP2’s fastest man McPhee, who were eighth and ninth respectively. Stefano Nepa (Solunion Aspar Team Moto3) completed the top ten after a solid showing.
The final four currently enjoying a provisional place in Q2 are Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing), two-time 2020 podium finisher Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia), Ayumu Sasaki (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) and, in an uncharacteristic P14, Championship leader Arenas. The likes of Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) and Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) are currently set to miss out, the latter after also suffering a crash, and will be looking for more…
Maximilian Kofler (CIP Green Power) was the only other rider to take a tumble on Friday, although teammate Darryn Binder had a small skirmish and run off. The South African will be another looking for improvements in FP3 after mounting an amazing comeback through the field before a crash in the Spanish GP last weekend.
How will FP3 shuffle the pack on Saturday morning? Find out from 9:00 (GMT +2), before qualifying decides the grid from 12:25.
Moto3™ fastest on Friday
1 Raul Fernandez – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM 1:45.896
2 Tatsuki Suzuki – SIC58 Squadra Corse – Honda +0.216
3 Filip Salač – Rivacold Snipers Team – Honda +0.309
Viñales was the man to beat – just – as he topped the timesheets on Friday
After a tougher Friday last week, the ‘Doctor’ was back in the mix from the off
Binder was third quickest and top KTM on a top day for the Austrian factory
Morbidelli was the top Independent Team rider on Friday
Aegerter heads top three split by half a tenth on Day 1
Jul 25. 2020
By THE NATION
The Swiss rider just gets the better of Granado and Casadei, with the top three FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup riders covered by just 0.059 on Friday
Round 2 of the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup looks even closer than the first after Friday’s action at the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia. Dominique Aegerter (Dynavolt Intact GP) leads the field at the end of play thanks to a 1:48.024 in FP1, but points leader and first race winner Eric Granado (Avintia Esponsorama Racing) came close to knocking the rookie off the top in the afternoon in FP2 as the Brazilian finished just 0.032 in arrears overall. Mattia Casadei (Ongetta SIC58 Squadracorse) kept it even closer in third as he finished the day 0.059 off Aegerter, the Italian’s lap also his fastest from his FP1.
The morning session was drama free for the field and the majority set their fastest lap therein, with Aegerter leading Cadasei. Granado joined the top three party in FP2 as one of only two in the top ten to improve, but the next riders up on the combined timesheets were all faster in the morning.
Alex de Angelis was fourth overall for Octo Pramac MotoE, with 2019 Cup winner Matteo Ferrari (Trentino Gresini MotoE) completing the top five. Jordi Torres (Pons Racing 40) was sixth quickest in another solid showing for the rookie, ahead of only the second man in the top ten to improve in FP2: rookie Alejandro Medino (Openbank Aspar Team). Niccolo Canepa (LCR E-Team) was eighth, with Mike Di Meglio (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) in P9 thanks to his FP1 time – but the Frenchman suffering a crash in FP2, rider ok. Xavier Simeon (LCR E-Team) completes the top ten.
Niki Tuuli (Avant Ajo MotoE) was P11 on Friday as he continues to struggle slightly to replicate is 2019 pace, and the Finn also suffered a crash in FP2 at Turn 6. Rider ok, and both he and Di Meglio – race winners last year – will be looking for a little more going forward, as will rookie Lukas Tulovic (Tech 3 E-Racing). The German finished 14th on Day 1, ten places lower than his finishing position in Race 1.
Now it’s time to reset and recharge for FP3, and then make sure to tune in for the one-lap-dash E-Pole session at 16:05 (GMT +2) on Saturday!
Record-breaking Atthaya lifts first pro title at 17
Jul 25. 2020Atthaya Thitikul (credit to sportsaperture)
By THE NATION
Teen prodigy Atthaya Thitikul lifted her first title as a professional after beating Dolnapa Phudthipinij by two strokes to win the 3rd Singha-SAT Thai LPGA Championship today (July 24).
Atthaya Thitikul (credit to sportsaperture)
After making headlines in 2017 by becoming the youngest Ladies European Tour champion at the age of 14, Atthaya fired an unblemished final round of 67 for a 17-under-par 199 at the par-72 layout over 6,439 yards at Kabin Buri Sport Club in Prachin Buri.
The 17-year-old finally lived up to her early promise, after mediocre results – including a joint 40th in the second leg at this course earlier this month – in her three previous tournaments. However, the teen golfer was quick to dismiss suggestions she was suffering the pressure of expectations since turning pro in January.
“I wasn’t so concerned about others’ expectations or putting myself under pressure,” said Atthaya, who took home the winner’s cheque of Bt100,000.
“After the last three tournaments, I just concentrated on what was missing in my game, what went wrong and what I needed to improve,” said the youngest player to win two Ladies European Tour events after her victories in 2017 and last year at the Thailand Championship.
After clinching her first title as a pro, the young star has her eyes set on more success in the years to come.
“This win proves that I am going in the right direction. I’ve been working pretty hard coming to this week and it paid off,” she added.
Overnight leader Donlapa, 29, from Nonthaburi, had to be content with second after an uneven round of 70 landed her at 15-under-par 201. Former LPGA players Pavarisa Yoktuan and Budsabakorn Sukapan shared third spot on 202.
The fourth leg of the Thai LPGA Tour will take place at the Water Mill Golf and Country Club in Nakhon Nayok from August 6-8.
The reigning Champion has been given the go-ahead to take part in the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia
Two days after undergoing surgery on a fractured humerus, reigning MotoGP™ World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) has been declared fit to ride at this weekend’s Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia after passing a medical check in Jerez.
Marquez broke his humerus in a crash during the Spanish GP and returned to Barcelona on Monday. He then underwent surgery on Tuesday, performed by MotoGP™ Traumatology specialist Dr Xavier Mir, and returned to the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto on Thursday morning.
The number 93 was passed fit to ride alongside fellow competitors Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) and Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), who also sustained injuries during the Spanish GP race weekend. Crutchlow suffered a broken scaphoid and Rins a dislocated shoulder – as well as a small fracture – and all three have been given the go ahead to take part in the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia.
MotoGP™ Medical Director Dr Angel Charte: “As you all know, Marc Marquez had a crash where he suffered an injury, which was a diaphyseal fracture to the humerus. He underwent a surgical intervention where they plate it and 48 hours later, as is stated in the medical regulations, he has the right to request a medical evaluation to participate in the next race. Today he came to the medical examination unit, where they tried all of the movements that involve this kind of injury and it turns out he’s able to do them perfectly. There were no signs of pain or mechanical inability of his right arm, and therefore the exhaustive medical examination, although it seems strange to us, has been positive. It proves the rider is perfectly ready to race. At what percentage, that can’t be told, but he fulfils the rigorous medical protocol for this type of injury.
“Crutchlow had another crash and fractured his left scaphoid. A nail was placed in the fragment that was fractured and he has undergone the medical check-up which we do for this kind of injury, as each injury has its own protocol for examination. He’s okay and can race perfectly. In the case of Alex Rins, exactly the same. He had a scapolumeral subluxation of the left shoulder with a small fracture to part of the humerus’ head. This morning he underwent a nuclear magnetic resonance scan and the edema which was a result of the contusion has gone down ostensibly, and so we did the examination that have to do, and the rider is fit.”
Marquez is expected to be back on track on Saturday.
“Everyone is fast here”: we’re back in the ring for Round 2
The Pre-Event Press Conference gears us up for this weekend’s Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia – with plenty of talking points
The pre-event Press Conference gave a good few more talking points on Thursday ahead of the Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucia too. Joining Spanish GP race winner Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) were his fellow podium finishers Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), as well as fourth-placed Jack Miller (Pramac Racing), and Moto3™ Championship leader Albert Arenas (Solunion Aspar Team Moto3). Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) and Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) joined the stage too, talking to the media ahead of their returns from injury this weekend.
Quartararo spoke first, the Frenchman still riding high on the feeling from Sunday’s race.
“It was an amazing feeling. I didn’t really feel the pressure of winning my first race but as soon as I won I felt like I’d taken some pressure off me. This is really positive but in the end the first thing that I did after the photos and everything was to have a briefing with my team to try to improve even more, try to find some small details to make even more of a difference and we’ll try to do our best again this weekend!”
“It was quite physical at the end with the hot conditions. In the end it was more than seven months since we had a race in Valencia, and the first one is always tougher. So the second one we should be getting a bit more used to it but, as you said, it will be tough again.”
And what about his fellow riders returning to the fray so soon? And Marquez’ comeback?
“It’s not only about Marc; Alex and Cal are back. Cal also had surgery two days ago, so it’s quite amazing when you’re a rider, you want to come back as soon as possible. Surely they’ll give their maximum with the pain they have and I’m happy for them to be back on track.”
Next to speak was Maverick Viñales, who was first asked about his tyre choice on Sunday…
“It looks like I need to work on the hard! But anyway it’s a totally different race. We needed to focus on the start of the race to be with Marc, somehow we made a good strategy and even if I struggled a lot we took 20 points, which is really good for us. For sure this weekend we have another race in Jerez to try understand the bike. I’m really excited, the feeling is the same as the first race, I feel ready, the atmosphere inside the team is fantastic and I cant wait for us to start!
“Here in Jerez most of the riders have a lot of experience, all the manufactures have many laps and we came from a test. Everyone is fast here. That’s why it was important to start in the first places, pushing and trying to make a gap at the beginning because in the last laps there are many riders that can go fast. There are many manufactures that can win the race but still we need to improve and be ready for this second race.”
One of those many manufacturers hoping to take to the top step is Ducati. Dovizioso, who took his first premier class podium at Jerez last weekend, was next to talk.
“It was really hard last weekend, especially in the race. I was struggling and I couldn’t write the way I wanted. It was very physical for me. From the beginning to the end. To finish on the podium was very important for the championship, being in Jerez. I’m happy to be here again because after four days you’re able to work on some details, after you do the race, and that is the best way to work on the bike. We analysed a lot of things, we have a lot of ideas, let’s see if that will work because it’s what we need; to make a step on our speed, so let’s focus on that.
“About the future, nothing’s changed. Now we’re focused on racing because after that good result on Sunday, we have to keep the position we did on Sunday. It will be very hard because a lot of riders were really fast behind me, so we have to make a step. That’s the point and after that we can think about strategy and all the other stuff, but I’m really interested to try a new setup tomorrow.”
The man Dovizioso just beat to the podium on Sunday, Jack Miller, took to the mic just after, and he echoed how difficult that first time out had been – and revealed what he’ll be working on.
“Yeah, the race was as to be expected. Like the boys said, seven months off we all knew it was going to be tough. Struggles with feeling on the hand, I think it was more to do with position on the handlebar. Here is a lot of right-hand corners where you’re hanging out the side. I lost a bit of motion in my wrist towards the end of the race, I wasn’t able to be as smooth and I let a few blokes past. I mean, the beauty as they said is to be back here again, take two. My body was a bit stiff on Monday but had a few days to recover and try to work on what we struggled on last weekend, which seemed to be the last sector, and try again on Sunday.
“Ducati haven’t been that strong here in the past, I haven’t, all things honest. But things felt good in the test on Wednesday, we immediately felt a good connection. The GP20 is working really well, it’s down to my style to sort out the last sector, which was the biggest issue, if we can do that I think we can challenge. The boys up here who followed me for a few laps will tell you I was pretty much a roadblock through that second to last corner. So hopefully we can sort that out and it will be all systems go.”
Next we heard from Crutchlow, who missed the race last time out and is coming back from surgery to fix a broken scaphoid performed just two days ago. The Brit started with a debrief before looking ahead to this weekend.
“It’s always strange watching a race in your motorhome. I enjoyed it. Congratulations to Fabio, he rode great to have his first race win in MotoGP. I obviously crashed in the morning Warm Up, and it seems that everyone that crashed and went in the gravel quite fast broke bones; me, Marc and Alex. It seems that with the depth of the gravel we were tumbling quite a lot. At the time I went for CT scans on my head because I had quite a lot of bruising on my face and forehead, so I went for CT scans, they were clear and I was quite keen to race, but the doctors at the circuit took the decision that I wasn’t able to race, they wanted to wait 8 hours for the bruising to go down, which meant I couldn’t race. Then, as the painkillers wore off in the day, my wrist started to hurt.
“I didn’t feel it at the time and I felt it was a big problem. We had it examined here with an x-ray then with a CT scan back at the hospital again which confirmed I had a broken scaphoid, so I flew back to Barcelona and Dr Mir performed the operation on Tuesday to put a screw in to the scaphoid, which I believes makes it the strongest now because I can ride with it. It seems not too bad now. Let’s see how it is and if I can ride with it tomorrow. It won’t be easy to ride injured but the professionals that we are, riding injured – with Alex and Marc – we all know the decision taken either by ourselves with the medical team if we’ll be able to cope riding the bike. You don’t know until you get on the bike. We’ve all passed the fitness test but riding these bikes is a different story. I’ll see how it goes and I look forward to getting on the bike in the morning.
“Everywhere will be difficult. The scaphoid, as we know, is one of the worst bones in the body to break, especially if you’re trying to ride one of these bikes around Jerez. It’s really finicky and in such a small space, so it’ll be really painful in the braking zones for sure. I’ll let you know tomorrow evening!”
Next up was Alex Rins, another coming back from injury, after he dislocated his shoulder and suffered a small fracture in the Spanish GP.
“I’m so happy to be here. Saturday was a really bad crash, it’s a crash you don’t want to have. I lost the front at Turn 11 very early. To avoid Jack I tried to save the front tyre and I entered so fast into the gravel, and as Cal said the gravel here is so deep. I lost the rear, I jumped from the bike and I touched the gravel with the shoulder and it immediately came out, I broke a small piece too. Anyway I tried to recover all I can with the physiotherapist at the track. I decided to stay here to try and recover, to see my team and my bike, and to watch the race from our box – for sure it was strange. We passed the exam but let’s see tomorrow on the bike, I’m not at 100% and will feel pain but this is racing. For sure if I feel a lot of pain and I’m not secure to ride, I will stop!
“Especially after FP4, we did a very good lap time and race pace. After the crash I said let’s prepare the bike because I will race but the next day I was in bed with a lot of pain. Watching the race, it was unbelievable. Congrats to these guys because they did a great race with extreme conditions. If I could be there with my pace? We don’t know for sure. Let’s see….”
Finally, the man unbeaten so far in Moto3™ took to the stage. Albert Arenas has 50 points from 50 so far and is on quite a roll, so can anyone beat him this weekend?
“I was really happy after the victory because after four months you ride here with some expectations… ‘can I ride as fast as in Qatar? Let’s see what happens… you’re the leader and you have to manage this’. We did a great job day by day and I feel the same feeling as Qatar and we did a good job with the team. Finishing the race first, again, was incredible.
“Now I feel more experience and confidence but that was building from the last years, especially last year I had an injury at the beginning and I couldn’t have the season that I liked but I learned a lot from those races and that situation and now I am who I am because of that situation. I want to take advantage of all this that I’ve learned, keep learning, keep growing and one day be with these guys.”
Arenas and Moto3™ head out for FP1 at 9:00 (GMT +2) on Friday, before MotoGP™ gear up from 9:55. What will the future bring for those on the comeback? How will they fare once the green light goes on at the end of pitlane? We’ll find out soon…
Can Quartararo do it again?
Viñales will be aiming to deny him
Dovizioso says race data will be a serious ally on Sunday
Miller is focused on the final sector in particular
Rins was passed fit after missing the Spanish GP
…as was Crutchlow
Arenas joins the MotoGP™ riders in the Press Conference as he goes for three in a row
Panpayak Jitmuangnon and Superlek Kiatmoo9
Fabio Quartararo
Atthaya Thitikul (credit to sportsaperture)
Atthaya Thitikul (credit to sportsaperture)
Marc Marquez
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