GasGas uncovers brand new factory MXGP program

News 29 Feb 2020

GasGas uncovers brand new factory MXGP program

MC 450F and MC 250F race bikes surface on the eve of 2020 season.

Image: Supplied.

The factory GasGas teams have been unveiled on the eve of the 2020 MXGP World Championship at the British Grand Prix, led by Standing Construct GasGas Factory Racing.

Now under Pierer Mobility AG ownership, GasGas MC 450F models will be ridden by Glenn Coldenhoff and Ivo Monticelli in the premier class.

“This is a very proud and important moment for all involved with GasGas Motorcycles – the start of an exciting new chapter and the beginning of the brand’s journey into top-level motocross racing,” stated Robert Jonas, VP motorsports off-road.

“GasGas has a rich heritage in off-road motorcycling, it’s a brand that is about putting the fun back into riding, and together with Standing Construct GasGas Factory Racing and Diga Procross GasGas Factory Juniors, we have two established and passionate teams that perfectly fit what GasGas is about.

“Like always, the first GP of every new season is a special moment, but we can say that for GasGas this is also an historic moment. We know that all of our riders have prepared themselves with full commitment and we’re looking forward to seeing how they perform this year.

“Matterley Basin, the British GP, is a milestone for GASGAS Motorcycles, a key moment as we start our push to establish the brand on a global scale.”

Becoming a part of Pierer Mobility AG at the end of 2019, GasGas Motorcycles will benefit from the group’s shared-platform strategy, alongside other brands – KTM and Husqvarna Motorcycles – within the company.

Faced with a minimal amount of time in which to be ready for the MXGP season opener, the specification of both the MC 250F and MC 450F machines used at Matterley Basin and throughout early-season GPs will evolve in-line with the arrival of the 2021 GasGas production models.

GasGas Motorcycles will be represented in the MX2 class by the Diga Procross GasGas Factory Juniors team. Fielding Jeremy Sydow and Simon Langenfelder, they are aiming for top 10 results in their first full season of the world championship.

Source: MotoOnline.com.au

Razgatlioglu edges Lowes in WorldSBK race one thriller

News 29 Feb 2020

Razgatlioglu edges Lowes in WorldSBK race one thriller

Redding and van der Mark lock out the top four in a photo finish.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha) narrowly edged out Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) to secure victory in race one at Phillip Island’s Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) opener, the gap separating them just 0.041s.

The 22-lap encounter got off to a chaotic start when pole-sitter Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK) clashed with five-time defending champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) in the opening laps, sending the number one off-track and to the rear of the field.

Rea later crashed heavily while attempting to work through the pack, while up front a four-way battle ensued between Razgatlioglu, Lowes, Redding and Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha).

It was a photo finish in that order, with Razgatlioglu winning by a mere 0.007s, while Redding was a further 0.034s back. Fourth’s van der Mark crossed the line 0.136s behind the winner, the Dutchman being out-dragged down the final straight after previously battling for victory.

Fifth went to Team HRC’s Leon Haslam ahead of teammate Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC), while the top 10 was completed by Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing), Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing Ducati), Sykes, and Michael Rinaldi (Team GoEleven).

The Superpole race and race two will be staged tomorrow.

Detailed results

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Toprak comes out on top in blockbuster WorldSBK opener

2020 WorldSBK
Round One – Phillip Island
Superbike Race One

With Chris Plumridge


During pre-season testing Jonathan Rea looked to have the race pace covered here this weekend. The KRT man was fast during testing early in the week, but once the race weekend got underway on Friday the reigning world champion had looked to perhaps be keeping his powder somewhat dry…

Tom Sykes (BMW) had taken a record breaking Superpole ahead of Scott Redding (Ducati), who had topped all the previous sessions, while Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) had finished P3 to make it an all UK front row.

Toprak Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) has also shown good pace all week and headed the second row alongside Leon Haslam (Honda) on the all-new Fireblade. That made for five different manufacturers filling the top five positions on the grid.

Michael van der Mark (Yamaha) rounded out that second row ahead of Loris Baz (Yamaha), Alex Lowes (Kawasaki) and Sandro Cortese (Kawasaki) while Xavi Fores (Kawasaki) rounded out the top ten qualifiers.

Tom Sykes looked very relaxed on the grid. The BMW pole-sitter choosing the Pirelli ‘B’ SC2 option front and rear, the only one in the top 15 to do so…    Redding was on ‘A’ SC1 at both ends while Rea had a mix of the two, a ‘B’ front and ‘A’ rear, a combination also favoured by Toprak Razgatlioglu.

We are away!

WSBK Rnd Phillip Island RbMotoLens

WSBK Rnd Phillip Island RbMotoLens

World Superbike 2020 gets underway! Image by Rob Mott

Jonathan Rea led the field through turn one and Southern Loop. Sykes went up the inside of Rea at Turn Four but then ran wide on exit, allowing Rea to sweep back under him to move back up to P1.

Rea and Sykes clash!

Sykes then had a look up the inside of Rea on change of direction at Hayshed, the two touched and Rea was sent wide and off on to the grass before Lukey Heights, the defending champion rejoining the race at the back of the field.

Tom Sykes the race leader from Scott Redding and Michael van der Mark. The recovering Rea though the fastest man on track, a 1m30.501 on his first flying lap through clear air behind the field. Rea was eight-seconds behind the race leaders…

Sykes lifted the front of the S 1000 RR on to the main straight and continued to hold sway over Redding. The Pata Yamaha pairing of Michael van der Mark and Toprak Razgatlioglu were right behind in third and fourth while Leon Haslam was giving the all-new Fireblade a great debut in a strong fifth position ahead of Alex Lowes, Loris Baz and Garrett Gerloff.

Redding made a thrust towards turn one but pulled out of the move and Sykes remained in the lead with 16 laps to run.

Meanwhile Jonathan Rea was slicing and dicing his way through the field, even making contact with Caricasulo on his way forward. His closing speed on the others making it look as though he was in a different race…

Jonathan Rea goes down

It all came to an end for Rea though after getting a little off-line at Hayshed, the front suspension pattering over bumps before unceremoniously dumping the Northern Irishman on his bum and sliding across the track and into the kitty litter.

Alex Lowes sneaked past Leon Haslam to take fifth place on lap eight. That pair had lost touch a little with the leading quartet and were now being chased hard by American Garrett Gerloff who was using all of his Pirelli rear, smoking his way across Lukey Heights.

Alvaro Bautista has done plenty of laps this week chasing set-up but despite not putting in any stunning laps during testing, practice or qualifying, it seemed the Spaniard had a reasonable race package. Bautista was up to eighth as the race approached half-way distance but he had Loris Baz and Xavi Fores in close company. Fores though crashed out of the race a lap later.

Polesitter and early leader Tom Sykes on the BMW

Polesitter and early leader Tom Sykes on the BMW

Sykes leads race one

Leon Haslam put in his new best lap of the race just before that half-way marker and was in sixth place behind Lowes. That entire top six were still covered only by a single second.

Bautista then moved up to seventh place after getting the better of Gerloff, but the Spaniard was five-seconds behind the leading pack.

Scott Redding had looked happy to follow Sykes but the BMW rider had slowed a little on the last lap, his ‘B’ option rear toasted… Redding went through to the lead as Van der Mark went to P2 and Razgatlioglu then pushed Sykes further back to P4.

Scott Redding on the Ducati Michael van der Mark Yamaha Alex Lowes Kawasaki

Scott Redding on the Ducati Michael van der Mark Yamaha Alex Lowes Kawasaki

Redding through to the lead

Two laps later Alex Lowes pushed Sykes wide at turn four which sent the BMW man to the back of that six-rider pack. That tussle had allowed the top three, Redding, van der Mark and Razgatlioglu to break away a little for the first time, only three-tenths covering that trio, fourth placed Lowes a further full-second behind.

Sykes was now struggling to maintain enough pace to stay in touch with that leading group. His tyres done, he was the only rider in the field running SC2 rubber at both ends.

Redding leads out of Siberia

Redding leads out of Siberia

Redding heads the pack out of Siberia

Redding then ran wide into turn four which allowed Razgatlioglu and van der Mark through as we reached two-thirds race distance. Alex Lowes and Leon Haslam had now joined that trio to turn it back into a five-way battle up front.

Haslam then up the inside of Lowes to take fourth place on lap 16. The Pata Yamaha duo were still keeping Redding at bay up front.

Further back Alvaro Bautista had managed to reel in Tom Sykes to take sixth place and was now less than four-seconds behind the leaders.

Lowes took fourth place back from Haslam with less than five laps to run. Only half-a-second covered that top five in what was turning out to be a brilliant race.

Alex Lowes up the inside of Redding into turn one but the Ducati man came back at him on entry to Southern Loop.  Lowes made the move stick though a few turns later to move up to P3, just as Michael van der Mark moved past his Pata Yamaha team-mate to take the lead for the first time.

Lowes started to challenge Razgatlioglu for second place with three laps to run. Nothing covered the leading four, but fifth placed Haslam was now out of grip and out of podium contention.

Alex Lowes leads from Scott Redding and Leon Haslam

Alex Lowes leads from Scott Redding and Leon Haslam

Lowes through to the lead

Lowes took the lead into turn one, but was then sandwiched by the two Pata Yamaha men as they tipped into Southern Loop, pushing the KRT man back to P3 again. Redding was still right there in P4 and most definitely had his hand in the game…

Absolutely nothing separated the top four as they got the last lap board. Razgatlioglu the leader at turn four, van der Mark second, Redding passes Lowes but then that pair swap positions once again…

The Turk leads around the Hayshed, holds on to it over Lukey and into MG… Toprak wound it up through turns 11 and 12 as Lowes challenged van der Mark between those two fast bends… The leading four all head onto the main straight swapping lines and tactics…  Razgatlioglu holds on though and does it!

Toprak Razgatlioglu the race winner from Alex Lowes while Scott Redding stole that final podium position on the line from Michael van der Mark.

Leon Haslam was nearly caught by his Honda team-mate on the final lap, the pair crossing the line fifth and sixth in a highly creditable debut for the all-new Fireblade.

New Fireblade smashes WSBK speed record

The Honda duo both broke the previous top speed record at Phillip Island for a World Superbike. The previous benchmark was set by Max Biaggi in 2012 when there was no engine RPM restrictions in WorldSBK, and no limit on the amount of engines a rider could use in a season. Biaggi is rumoured to have gone through 35 engines that season in the Aprilia RSV4. Restrictions on the number of engines allowed to be used were then introduced to counter this situation and last year only seven engines were allowed to be used by each rider over the course of the season. In today’s race Bautista raised the speed marker to 327.3 km/h. Ducati’s Chaz Davies also broke the previous record, hitting 326.3 km/h in that race while Haslam was third fastest on 325.3 km/h.

Top speeds are recorded near the 200 metre board heading towards turn one. There are two timing loops set 30 metres apart, the time taken to cross that 30 metres is what is used to calculate the official speed trap figures.


Toprak Razgatlioglu – P1

“I am really happy today, last lap too much sliding because tyre was destroyed, tomorrow we work to save the tyre.”

Turkey Toprak Razgatlioglu celebratory lap

Turkey Toprak Razgatlioglu celebratory lap

Toprak Razgatlioglu

Alex Lowes – P2

“My first race on the green machine, slow start to the week but just been building up confidence throughout and getting closer and closer. Really enjoyed that and look forward to tomorrow.”

Scott Redding – P3

“Didn’t know what to expect really from my first race… I had the pace to lead, but it is then easy for the others to follow, so I thought just go back into the pack and try to fight to the end. To be on the podium in my first WorldSBK race I am very happy.”


Toprak ..tops the podium

Toprak ..tops the podium

Toprak Razgatlioglu

2020 WorldSBK
Round One – Phillip Island
Superbike Race One Result

Pos No. Rider Bike Time/Gap Speed
1 T.   Razgatlioglu YZF R1 / 317,6
2 A.  Lowes ZX-10RR +0.007 322,4
3 S.  Redding V4 R +0.041 317,6
4 M. Van Der Mark YZF R1 +0.137 316,7
5 L.   Haslam CBR1000RR-R +3.910 325,3
6 A.  Bautista CBR1000RR-R +4.426 327,3
7 L.   Baz YZF R1 +4.493 312,1
8 C.  Davies V4 R +11.849 326,3
9 T.   Sykes S1000 RR +11.910 313,0
10 M. Rinaldi V4 R +11.922 320,5
11 E.  Laverty S1000 RR +11.949 320,5
12 F.   Caricasulo YZF R1 +20.720 314,9
13 S.  Cortese ZX-10RR +20.778 310,3
14 G.  Gerloff YZF R1 +26.039 314,0
15 M. Scheib ZX-10RR +34.385 316,7
Not Classified
16 13 T.   Takahashi CBR1000RR-R +8 Laps 305,1
17 12 X.  Fores ZX-10RR +12 Laps 316,7
18 1 J.   Rea ZX-10RR +17 Laps 316,7

Championship Standings

Pos Rider Total Pole
 1  Toprak Razgatlioglu  25  0
 2  Alex Lowes  20  0
 3  Scott Redding  16  0
 4  Michael Van Der Mark  13  0
 5  Leon Haslam  11  0
 6  Alvaro Bautista  10  0
 7  Loris Baz  9  0
 8  Chaz Davies  8  0
 9  Tom Sykes  7  1
 10  Michael Ruben Rinaldi  6  0
 11  Eugene Laverty  5  0
 12  Federico Caricasulo  4  0
 13  Sandro Cortese  3  0
 14  Garrett Gerloff  2  0
 15  Maximilian Scheib  1  0

Source: MCNews.com.au

Sykes secures 50th-career WorldSBK Superpole in Australia

News 29 Feb 2020

Sykes secures 50th-career WorldSBK Superpole in Australia

First WorldSSP pole position of 2020 earned by Locatelli.

Image: Supplied.

BMW Motorrad’s Tom Sykes captured the first Motul Superbike World Championship Superpole of the 2020 season with a record-breaking lap this afternoon at Phillip Island.

Sykes’ pole position means he becomes the first rider to get 50 pole positions in WorldSBK history as well as shattering the lap record at 1m29.230s.

Lining up alongside Sykes will be WorldSBK newcomer Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) and world champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) on the front row.

Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha) qualified in fourth place ahead of Leon Haslam (Team HRC Honda) in fifth. Haslam’s Honda teammate, Alvaro Bautista, finished the session in 15th place after he suffered from a crash at turn nine.

French rider Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) was the highest-placed independent rider in the session after qualifying in seventh place. Just behind Lowes in eighth was Sandro Cortese (Outdo Kawasaki TPR), who impressed despite little pre-season testing.

Kawasaki Puccetti Racing’s Xavi Fores in 10th place was the last rider within a second of pole-setter Sykes. Leon Camier (Barni Racing Team) did not compete in the session after he was declared unfit with a damaged left shoulder.

Image: Russell Colvin.

It was Bardahl Evans Bros. Yamaha rookie Andrea Locatelli who took the World Supersport pole position with a record-breaking 1m32.176s.

Locatelli led world champion Randy Krummenacher (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) by 0.147s, with Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) completing the front row. Fourth was Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha), with Raffaele De Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) fifth.

On debut and after winning race one of the domestic series earlier this morning, 16-year-old local wildcard Oli Bayliss (Cube Racing Yamaha) will make his world championship debut from 20th on the grid.

Detailed results

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Locatelli under lap record for WorldSSP pole at P.I.

2020 WorldSBK
Round One – Phillip Island
WorldSSP Superpole

With Chris Plumridge


Andrea Locatelli (Bardahl Yamaha) has smashed the qualifying lap record at Phillip Island in Superpole for the Yamaha Finance Round of the 2020 Motul FIM Supersport World Championship.

WorldSBK SSP Superpole R Phillip Island WorldSSP Saturday

WorldSBK SSP Superpole R Phillip Island WorldSSP Saturday

Andrea Locatelli

Locatelli claimed his first-ever pole position in World Supersport, in a session where the previous benchmark was beaten four times.

MV Agusta’s Randy Krummenacher will start alongside him, while Kawasaki’s Lucas Mahias completes the front row.


Air temperatures were around 19-degrees and a 25-degree track temperature greeted riders as they swarmed the track when the Tissot Superpole session got underway just before 1300 this afternoon at Phillip Island.

Corentin Perolari (GMT94 Yamaha) was the fastest of the first group to put in a lap with a 1:33.787 ahead of Danny Webb (WRP Wepol Yamaha) and Hannes Soomer (Kallio Racing Yamaha), before Phillipp Oettl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), and then Krummenacher going faster still, the latter with a 1:32.893. That only lasted 30 seconds or so, with Locatelli claiming provisional pole back with a 1:32.440 and breaking the all time fastest at Phillip Island (Sam Lowes in 2013, 1:32.545).

Can Oncu (Turkish Racing Kawasaki) was also quick, in third having posted a 1:33.507.

Steven Odendaal (EAB Ten Kate Yamaha) was campaigning in plain black replacement leathers today as a result of his huge crash on Jules Cluzel’s (GMT94 Yamaha) oil yesterday, sore but riding strongly.

With fifteen minutes to go, all but Raffaele De Rosa (MV Agusta), Soomer, Oli Bayliss (Cube Racing Yamaha) and Loris Cresson (OXXO Yamaha) were out on track with the others looking sideways at each other to see who would exit on qualifying tyres first.

WorldSBK SSP Superpole R Phillip Island WorldSSP Saturday

WorldSBK SSP Superpole R Phillip Island WorldSSP Saturday

Randy Krummenacher

Perolari was back out on track with the quick boots on, moving up into fourth with a 1:33.423. Teammate Cluzel was on a good lap before his foot came off the peg through the Hayshed, dropping half a second in the process, enough for fourth with a 1:33.413.

By this time the quick guys were out on track and were looking to shake things up. Krummenacher was only a tenth of a second off around the back of the circuit on his first fast lap out, but got shaky coming out of Turn 10 to mess up his lap and stay second, 1:32.440. Team-mate De Rosa put in a 1:32.946 to knock Oettl off the front row, while Locatelli lowered his mark even further, a 1:32.340 put him three tenths up on Krummenacher who was still sitting in the pit.

WorldSBK SSP Superpole R Phillip Island WorldSSP Saturday

WorldSBK SSP Superpole R Phillip Island WorldSSP Saturday

Andrea Locatelli

Finding clear track was becoming a struggle, with five minutes to go all except Oettl (fourth fastest) were on track. De Rosa was baulked by traffic and could not improve on his third place. Krummenacher was looking good through the final timing split, squeezing every inch of track as he ran the MV right to the grass to set a 1:32.323 for pole, before running straight onto the grass at Turn 1, perhaps not quite looking where he was going after that effort! Mahias also improved, 1:32.617 to take him to third behind Krummenacher and Locatelli.

As the chequered flag came out Locatelli was roaring past the Hayshed, eight hundredths off in the first sector but improved through his next sectors to claim pole back over Krummenacher by a tenth and a half. Locatelli finished the session on pole (1:32.176) ahead of Krummenacher (1:32.323) and Mahias (1:32.617). Aussie Wild Card Bayliss will start 20th after setting a 1:35.108.

We go racing for World Supersport tomorrow at 1315 from Phillip Island, as the Yamaha Finance Round signals the start of the 2020 Motul FIM World Superbike Championship.


2020 WorldSBK
Round One – Phillip Island
WorldSSP Superpole Results

Pos No.   Rider Bike Time/Gap Speed
1 A.  Locatelli YZF R6 1m32.176 276.9
2 R.  Krummenacher F3 675 +0.147 272.7
3 L.   Mahias ZX-6R +0.441 272.0
4 J.   Cluzel YZF R6 +0.715 274.1
5 R.  De Rosa F3 675 +0.718 268.7
6 P.   Oettl ZX-6R +0.783 267.3
7 S.  Odendaal YZF R6 +0.880 276.2
8 I.    Viñales YZF R6 +1.060 270.7
9 C.  Perolari YZF R6 +1.211 269.3
10 F.   Fuligni F3 675 +1.257 266.7
11 C.  Öncü ZX-6R +1.331 272.0
12 H.  Soomer YZF R6 +1.378 277.6
13 M. Gonzalez ZX-6R +1.506 276.2
14 D.  Webb YZF R6 +1.547 273.4
15 H.  Okubo CBR600RR +1.864 268.7
16 P.   Sebestyen YZF R6 +2.106 272.7
17 C.  Bergman YZF R6 +2.173 274.1
18 A.  Verdoïa YZF R6 +2.707 271.4
19 P.   Hobelsberger CBR600RR +2.847 267.3
20 O.  Bayliss YZF R6 +2.932 269.3
21 J.   Van Sikkelerus YZF R6 +3.043 264.1
22 L.   Cresson YZF R6 +3.221 272.0
23 G.  Hendra Pratama YZF R6 +3.383 270.0

Source: MCNews.com.au

First victory of ASBK season for Maxwell in Ducati debut

News 29 Feb 2020

First victory of ASBK season for Maxwell in Ducati debut

Opening Australian Supersport race of the year belongs to Bayliss.

Image: Russell Colvin.

The opening race of the 2020 Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) was won by Boost Mobile Ducati’s Wayne Maxwell in a debut victory for him aboard the V4 R.

Maxwell crossed the line 0.848s ahead of Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team), while Josh Waters (JW Racing Suzuki) completed the podium.

Starting from pole position, Maxwell controlled the 12-lap Kawasaki Superbike affair from the front with Halliday in tow once he managed to climb into P2 by the fifth lap. The leading pair were both Pirelli-equipped.

Waters was also impressive in his first outing on the private GSX-R, factoring inside the top three throughout and the first of the Dunlop entries, ahead of Bryan Staring (Kawasaki BCperformance), with a fighting Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing) fifth.

Herfoss had worked his way into the lead at one point on debut with Michelin tyres, dropped back to eighth in the mid-stages and then put on a late charge back into the top five.

Arthur Sissis (Unitech Racing Suzuki), Daniel Falzon (JD Racing Yamaha), Aiden Wagner (Yamaha Racing Team), Jed Metcher (Metcher Motorsport Suzuki) and Josh Hayes (Addicted To Track Yamaha) completed the top 10.

Defending champion Mike Jones (DesmoSport Ducati) encountered troubles before the race began, while Matt Walters (Kawasaki) had been inside the top five prior to a mechanical in the closing laps.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Winning the opening Australian Supersport Championship race of the year was Oli Bayliss (Yamaha), edging number one plate-holder Tom Toparis (Yamaha) by just 0.037s.

Third on the podium was Nic Liminton (Yamaha), followed by Tom Edwards (Yamaha), Jack Hyde (Yamaha), Max Stauffer (Yamaha), Rhys Belling (Yamaha), Broc Pearson (Yamaha), Ted Collins (Suzuki) and Aiden Hayes (Yamaha).

Setting the fastest lap of the race end leading his share ended in disappointment for Jack Passfield (Yamaha), unfortunately crashing out of contention with just three of the 10 laps remaining.

Race one of the Supersport 300 was won by Harry Khouri (Kawasaki) over Ben Baker (Yamaha) and Luke Johnston (Kawasaki), with race two of the Oceania Junior Cup being taken out by Lucas Quinn from Hayden Nelson and Lincoln Knight.

Detailed results

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Tom Sykes smashes lap record to take Superpole at P.I.

2020 WorldSBK
Round One – Phillip Island
Tissot Superpole

With Chris Plumridge


BMW’s Tom Sykes has put in the fastest ever for lap on a World Superbike around Phillip Island to take pole ahead of this afternoon’s opening 22-lap encounter.

The Yorkshireman clocking a 1m29.230 in Superpole for the Yamaha Finance Round for the 2020 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship.

Sykes secured top spot ahead of Scott Redding (Aruba.IT Ducati) in his first WSBK Superpole appearance, with Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) lining up in third to make it an all UK front row.

Alex Lowes (Kawasaki) was the fastest out of the blocks in the 25-minute session with a 1:30.212 on the soft tyre, with most of the field running the usual race tyre instead of the qualifying tyre.

Rea was on a quick lap four-tenths up halfway around but then lost some time in the final sector to only eclipse Lowes by two-tenths (1:30.025).

Redding had the third fastest time with 1:30.319, van der Mark (PATA Yamaha) sitting in fourth.

After the initial round of ‘banker’ laps in the first ten minutes many riders went back into the pits, with Lowes, Redding, Federico Caracusulo (GRT Yamaha) and Alvaro Bautista (Honda) amongst those still circulating.

Scott Redding had a flying lap ruined through Lukey Heights by Alvaro Bautista before a red flag. Xavi Fores (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) had dumped almost his entire belly pan off his Kawasaki on the front straight, sending shattered carbon fibre across the track like confetti.

After the clean-up crew had done their thing, pit-lane opened once again. We were poised ready to start talking about Redding who was looking quick in the first two sectors when Alvaro Bautista went flying through the gravel trap at the Hayshed and out of contention. Bautista came into the corner too hot, got onto the grass and pitched himself into the dirt and his bike into orbit. His best time until that point was a 1:30.963, ending the session a distant 15th.

Eugene Laverty (BMW) put in a 1:30.369 as one of the first on the qualifying tyre, said to be good for one lap and one lap only. He was sixth.

Team-mate Tom Sykes fared rather better, three-tenths up at the second split, then going to the top of the time-sheets with a new fastest ever lap round the Island, 1m29.230.

Redding got caught up in out-lap traffic once again, still struggling to find a clear shot at a flyer.

Lowes in third was getting huge speed out of the Kawasaki, clocking 322km/h through the speed trap.

Jonathan Rea and Scott Redding were line astern across the line and both briefly laid claim to second spot behind Sykes-  Rea was first with a 1:29.598 before Redding finally got the tow he wanted to clock a 1:29.569. By the time the clock reached zero the BMW team was already celebrating, with Sykes claiming the first pole position on offer for 2020.

WorldSBK Rnd Superpole Sykes

WorldSBK Rnd Superpole Sykes

Sykes took pole

That also marked the 50th pole for Tom Sykes, the most pole positions ever recorded in World Superbike.

Race 1 of Yamaha Finance Round of the 2020 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship will take place at Phillip Island this afternoon at 1500.


2020 WorldSBK
Round One – Phillip Island
Tissot Superpole Results

Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap Max
1 T.   Sykes S1000 RR 1m29.230 309.5
2 S.  Redding V4 R +0.339 314.9
3 J.   Rea Kawasaki ZX-10RR +0.368 315.8
4 T.   Razgatlioglu YZF R1 +0.539 314.0
5 L.   Haslam CBR1000RR-R +0.629 317.6
6 M. Van Der Mark YZF R1 +0.633 316.7
7 L.   Baz YZF R1 +0.740 301.7
8 A.  Lowes ZX-10RR +0.813 322.4
9 S.  Cortese ZX-10RR +0.842 309.5
10 X.  Fores ZX-10RR +0.992 309.5
11 M. Scheib ZX-10RR +1.119 313.0
12 F.   Caricasulo YZF R1 +1.139 314.0
13 E.  Laverty S1000 RR +1.139 310.3
14 M. Rinaldi V4 R +1.563 315.8
15 A.  Bautista CBR1000RR-R +1.733 321.4
16 C.  Davies Panigale V4 R +1.736 318.6
17 G.  Gerloff YZF R1 +1.997 311.2
18 T.   Takahashi CBR1000RR-R +4.649 303.4

Source: MCNews.com.au

Phillip Island qualifying led by Redding into WorldSBK Superpole

News 29 Feb 2020

Phillip Island qualifying led by Redding into WorldSBK Superpole

World Supersport sees Locatelli back on top during Saturday morning.

Image: Supplied.

Aruba.it Racing Ducati’s Scott Redding will lead the 2020 FIM Motul Superbike World Championship, Yamaha Finance round at Phillip Island into Superpole after remaining at the top on Saturday morning.

Redding posted a 1m29.896s lap-time – the line rider to break into the 29s bracket – in FP3 to lead Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha) by 0.129s.

Defending world champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) was third, followed by Loris Baz (Ten Kate Yamaha) and Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team), who completed the top five.

New Pata Yamaha signing Toprak Razgatlioglu was next in P6, followed by Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad), Xavi Fores (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), Eugene Laverty (BMW Motorrad) and Sandro Cortese (Outdo Kawasaki TPR). The top nine were all beneath 1m31s.

Image: Supplied.

In World Supersport it was Andrea Locatelli (Bardahl Evans Bros. Yamaha) back on top at 1m32.580s.

Locatelli was joined in the top three by Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) and defending champion Randy Krummenacher (MV Agusta Reparto Corse).

Fourth was a strong showing from Corentin Perolari (GMT94 Yamaha), the top five rounded out by Raffaele De Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse). Australian wildcard Oli Bayliss (Cube Racing Yamaha) was 15th on the time-sheets.

Detailed results

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

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Source: Jonathan Rea On Facebook

Maxwell wins ASBK Superbike opener at P.I.

2020 mi-bike Australian Superbike Championship
Round One – Phillip Island
Superbike Race One

By Trevor Hedge


Wayne Maxwell had dominated pre-season testing and did the same here during qualifying to earn pole position for today’s opening round of the 2020 mi-bike Australian Superbike Championship.

WSBK Rnd Phillip Island RbMotoLens ASBK R Grid Wayne Maxwell

WSBK Rnd Phillip Island RbMotoLens ASBK R Grid Wayne Maxwell

Wayne Maxwell on pole – Image by Rob Mott

Next to him on the front row was Cru Halliday and Josh Waters while Glenn Allerton headed the second row alongside Troy Herfoss and Mikes Jones.

The riders formed up on the grid in front of a quite reasonable and still building World Superbike crowd under skies that were a little overcast but did not look as though they would threaten rain. Famous last words and all that…

Mike Jones though failed to form up on the grid..The DesmoSport Ducati was on the grass with fluid escaping from the defending champion’s V4R.. His race over before it begun… When inspected after the race had started it looked as though it was actually a false alarm and the Ducati had been ready to race…

Josh Waters had the best clutch hand off the line and held his line heading towards one with Wayne Maxwell right behind him. Bryan Staring had started well and was up to third.

WSBK TBG WSBK Round Phillip Island R TBG

WSBK TBG WSBK Round Phillip Island R TBG

ASBK Race One gets underway at P.I. – TBG Image

Halliday up the inside of Staring to take third place at turn four but the Kawasaki man got him straight back. Herfoss was then up to fourth and ahead of Halliday, while Maxwell got the better of Waters to take the lead late on the opening lap.

WSBK Rnd Phillip Island RbMotoLens ASBK R Start Wayne Maxwell Leads from Josh Waters

WSBK Rnd Phillip Island RbMotoLens ASBK R Start Wayne Maxwell Leads from Josh Waters

Maxwell leads Waters and a busy ASBK Superbike pack – Image by Rob Mott

Cru Halliday stole fourth place back from Herfoss as they started lap two, the two swapping elbows and paint as they tussled for position at almost every turn.

Maxwell was still leading from Waters but he was not breaking away. Herfoss was up to third and then took second place from Waters as the Penrite Honda man put his head down to try and prevent Maxwell from breaking away.

Halliday then moved up to third place, relegating Waters back to fourth. The fastest man on track though was Aiden Wagner, the YRT man had started from the fifth row but a 1m32.290 on lap three had helped push him up to seventh position behind Glenn Allerton. Only two-seconds covered that top seven with nine-laps to run.

WSBK Rnd Phillip Island RbMotoLens ASBK R WayneMaxwell CruHalliday TroyHerfoss

WSBK Rnd Phillip Island RbMotoLens ASBK R WayneMaxwell CruHalliday TroyHerfoss

Maxwell leads Halliday and Waters – Image by Rob Mott

Herfoss through to the lead at Siberia! There is life in the old Fireblade yet!

The pack then tightened up even further. Herfoss leading Maxwell, Halliday, Waters, Staring, Allerton and Wagner the leading protagonists.

Maxwell used the power of the Ducati and a great run through turn 12 to move back through to the race lead. Halliday then pushed Herfoss back to third place.

WSBK Rnd Phillip Island RbMotoLens ASBK R Start Wayne Maxwell Leads from Cru Halliday

WSBK Rnd Phillip Island RbMotoLens ASBK R Start Wayne Maxwell Leads from Cru Halliday

Maxwell leads Halliday, Herfoss and Waters – Image by Rob Mott

Glenn Allerton and Aiden Wagner had a coming together and it was the BMW that came off worse with Allerton losing a number of positions. Wagner also lost some ground and the leading group was now down to five…

Herfoss very wide at turn one, perhaps a false neutral… Slipping back to fourth place with seven laps to run. He did very well to gather it up and not run off the circuit but the mistake did lose him plenty of time and his chance to fight for the win…

WSBK Rnd Phillip Island RbMotoLens ASBK R Wayne Maxwell CruHalliday

WSBK Rnd Phillip Island RbMotoLens ASBK R Wayne Maxwell CruHalliday

Maxwell leading Halliday – Image by Rob Mott

Cru Halliday was all over Wayne Maxwell around the back of the circuit but could not put a pass on the Ducati. Josh Waters had closed right up on the pair before a big slide through the Hayshed cost the Suzuki man some time.

Maxwell had a glance over his shoulder at MG Hairpin to look at Halliday. It was now down to this two and Josh Waters as Bryan Staring had started to lose touch with that trio. Herfoss had lost a number of positions, the Honda was down to eighth place behind Arthur Sissis, Daniel Falzon and Matt Walters.

Who would have enough tyre left to claim the win….

The top riders were still running mid 1m32s and torturing their rear tyres at that pace.

With three laps to go Josh Waters was now starting to struggle to match the late race pace of Maxwell and Halliday. Could the YRT man have the set-up and throttle hand to triumph over Maxwell and the Ducati…?

Halliday looked great around the back of the circuit and on corner entry but the combination of Maxwell and the Ducati through turns 11 and 12 looked almost unbeatable.

Matt Walters was running an absolutely brilliant fifth place on the Kawasaki but then he snapped a chain with two laps to go in a shocking blow for the Cessnock privateer.

Last lap board and Maxwell led Halliday by three-tenths but Halliday again closed in the corners. Maxwell a small mistake at turn one gave Halliday a sniff… Lapped traffic was also going to be a factor..

Halliday’s chance gone at turn four after getting baulked by lapped traffic. The YRT man playing it safe and the long game as he knew he had second wrapped up and was not wanting to gamble that 20 points away.

Maxwell the victor, his first race on the Ducati a great success. Wayne said after the race that he had controlled it from the front and always had it in hand. Some of Maxwell’s competitors are of the same opinion. From their close quarters combat hot seat some expressed thoughts that Maxwell was doing it easy on the Ducati, despite it not looking quite that simple from the sidelines. Wayne laid the boot in via his post race comments to further try and demoralise his competititors, the mental game on in earnest…

Halliday a strong fighting second place and Josh Waters proving the pace of his new privateer team with a highly creditable podium.

Waters stoked with his start to the season and finishing as the top Dunlop runner.

WSBK Rnd Phillip Island RbMotoLens ASBK R Podium WayneMaxwell CruHalliday JoshWaters

WSBK Rnd Phillip Island RbMotoLens ASBK R Podium WayneMaxwell CruHalliday JoshWaters

ASBK Race One Podium – Image Rob Mott

Bryan Staring was seven-seconds behind the race winner in fourth place but with ten-seconds over the Michelin shod Herfoss. The Penrite Honda man had got the better of Sissis, Falzon and Wagner to claim a fighting fifth place finish at the flag.

The second 12-lap bout of the weekend is scheduled to get underway at 1615 while the third and final contest is slated for 1030 on Sunday morning.


Wayne Maxwell – P1

“An awesome package, the bike was flawless and to get the first win for the V4R in Australia just shows how good the bike is.

“Behind the scenes Craig, endless hours to prepare an immaculate bike, we’ve seen the other Ducati stop and they’re the factory team so it shows you’ve got to know what you’re doing with the Ducati.

WSBK Rnd Phillip Island RbMotoLens ASBK R Parc Ferme Wayne Maxwell Family

WSBK Rnd Phillip Island RbMotoLens ASBK R Parc Ferme Wayne Maxwell Family

Wayne Maxwell congratuled by his family – Image by Rob Mott

“To Adrian that engineered the bike to make sure the chassis was good, massive thanks to him.

WSBK Rnd Phillip Island RbMotoLens ASBK R Parc Ferme Wayne Maxwell

WSBK Rnd Phillip Island RbMotoLens ASBK R Parc Ferme Wayne Maxwell

Wayne Maxwell congratulated by long time supporter Steve Thibou – Image by Rob Mott

“I was concentrating on not making mistakes, we’re having a few issues with back-shifting because we can’t change the electronics at all as yet, so when the tyre got warm it was spinning harder and the bike thought I was going to over-rev it so it wouldn’t let me shift gears. It’s a bit of a nightmare, so it’s something that we’re going to have to work on.”

WSBK Rnd Phillip Island RbMotoLens ASBK R Parc Ferme Wayne Maxwell

WSBK Rnd Phillip Island RbMotoLens ASBK R Parc Ferme Wayne Maxwell

Wayne with Adrian Monti – Image Rob Mott


Cru Halliday – P2

“When this place works for you it works really well, and when you don’t really have a good set-up it’s the worst place on earth. I think we’ve got a good package under us so that’s why I’m having fun with it.

“I think I used a lot of energy just to get back onto (Wayne), I was pushing the front a lot going through turn one cause I had a fair bit of corner speed on Wayne through there.

“There was some times there where he’d gap me and I’d force the issue to catch back up, which used a lot of tyre and then it would happen again the next lap, like a see-saw.

“He rode well too, didn’t make many mistakes I think he just made one little bobble out of Honda there, but at that time I was a bit back in the pack so I had other issues to take care of!

“This new 2020 Yamaha is feeling good under my feet so we’re looking forward to the next one.”


Josh Waters – P3

“Little bit shocked, extremely happy! It was a difficult race, I got a little bit tired at the end so that was my fault, but I haven’t been able to put in the effort that I think my other competitors have in the lead up. But no excuse, everyone was in the same race. A huge thanks to everyone who believed in me and the guys that are supporting me.

“I was happy riding around thinking “how cool is this!”, so it’s good to enjoy it again. I’ve got a small team but a good little team. We made an improvement from yesterday and we’ll keep trying to make it better.”

Troy Herfoss – P5

“I made a mistake and went off the track, and I really get angry when I make mistakes. I hit a false neutral into turn 1 and I lost the group a little bit, and again into Turn 2 I hit a false neutral and went off the track. From that point you’re not in the race.

“What did I learn from the race? I learnt that Wayne’s not the man to beat. When you’re one-second faster than anyone and then you can’t drop anyone in the race, that’s not winning. It looked like he had to really work for that race, and what I saw of Wayne was a really conservative rider.

“I don’t compare myself to the Ducati V4 R, I compare myself to myself and in general, I feel really good on the bike. The intensity I can ride at, I know, is good enough to win.”


2020 mi-bike Australian Superbike Championship
Round One – Phillip Island
Superbike Race One Results
Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap Speed
1 Wayne MAXWELL V4R 18m40.847 305
2 Cru HALLIDAY YZF-R1 +0.848 308
3 Josh WATERS GSXRR +2.889 304
4 Bryan STARING  ZX10R +7.547 303
5 Troy HERFOSS CBR RR +17.010 300
6 Arthur SISSIS GSXRR +17.263 305
7 Daniel FALZON YZF-R1 +17.397 309
8 Aiden WAGNER YZF-R1 +17.485 308
9 Jed METCHER GSXRR +25.268 303
10 Josh HAYES YZF-R1 +27.142 300
11 Linden MAGEE S1K RR +39.697 298
12 Max CROKE GSXR +39.736 301
13 Sloan FROST GSXR +46.159 302
14 Beau BEATON V4R +49.072 300
15 Brendan McINTYRE GSXR +52.902 289
16 Glenn ALLERTON S1K RR +56.395 314
17 Glenn SCOTT ZX10R +56.894 300
18 Giuseppe SCARCELLA 1199 +57.679 293
19 Dean HASLER S1K RR +1m04.432 289
20 Matthew TOOLEY YZF-R1 +1m10.792 287
21 Nathan SPITER GSXRR +1m11.358 287
22 Dominic DE LEON ZX10R +1m12.224 290
23 Evan BYLES ZX10R +1m12.994 289
24 Adam SENIOR YZF-R1 +1m26.253 276
25 Michael EDWARDS YZF-R1M +1 Lap 286
DNF Matt WALTERS ZX10RR 3 Laps 317
DNF Hamish McMURRAY ZX10RR 4 Laps 265

Source: MCNews.com.au