Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup to return to racing in 2021

In 2020, the focus for the riders will now move from on-track battles to virtual workshops aimed at improving some important skills off the bike. These CHAMPS Virtual Workshops focus on communication and social media, as well the importance of the English language for those who are not native speakers. The first two workshops took place mid-July, with more organised for the coming weeks as the grid gear up for 2021. The ATC will also continue to have a vibrant presence on social media, and the homepage of the Cup will continue to publish updates on current events, as well as showcase the best of the ATC and some of the closest racing on two wheels.

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Succeed at Silverstone with the help of Williams_Adrian

This tutorial is provided by Williams_Adrian, the double winner in the first round of the 2020 Global Series, and a gamer hoping to take Red Bull KTM to eSport success this summer and autumn! The 23-year old Spaniard showed his class in this year’s Pro Draft, and here his demo lap shows off the best racing lines and gear changes around this 18-corner track.

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Where to watch Grand Prix of the Czech Republic!

All three categories of the World Championship face a new grand Prix which kicks off on Thursday, August the 6th with the pre-event press conference. The MotoGP™ riders summoned to speak at 17:00 (GMT + 2) are Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT), Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) , Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda Team).

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Final remaining MotoGP flyaway rounds cancelled

News 31 Jul 2020

Final remaining MotoGP flyaway rounds cancelled

Additional round in Europe to be confirmed as season finale.

Image: Supplied.

This year’s MotoGP World Championship will remain in Europe for the entire season after confirmation arrived that the flyaway rounds in Argentina, Thailand and Malaysia have now been cancelled.

Previously postponed, the ongoing coronavirus outbreak and resulting complications have resulted in the cancellation of the events to be confirmed.

However, it has instead been revealed that an additional grand prix is to be added to the 2020 calendar in Europe, becoming the season finale. The venue – rumoured to be Portimao – will be announced on 10 August.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the cancellation of the Argentina, Thailand and Malaysian grands prix this season and they will be very much missed on the 2020 calendar,” stated Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta.

“The passion of the fans who often travel across continents to enjoy MotoGP with us in Termas de Rio Hondo, Buriram and Sepang is incredible, creating as they do such an incredible atmosphere and welcome for the sport.

“However, we are delighted to add another Grand Prix in Europe to the 2020 calendar and reveal our new agreement that will see MotoGP racing in Thailand and Buriram until at least 2026.”

It was previously announced in May that Phillip Island’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix wouldn’t be going ahead this year, nor would the Japanese GP at Motegi or Grand Prix of the Americas flyaways.

The MotoGP championship commenced this month with consecutive race weekends at Jerez, now set to travel to Brno in the Czech Republic for round three between 7-9 August.

It was also recently announced that the British, Dutch and Qatar rounds of the Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) have been cancelled, also due to complications from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

2020 MotoGP Calendar update.

After being postponed, the Argentinian, Thailand and Malaysian MotoGP rounds have now been cancelled. However an additional Grand Prix is to be added to the 2020 MotoGP World Championship calendar and will take place  after the Valencia MotoGP round from 20th to the 22nd of November.  Further details of which track will that will host the 15th and final round of the MotoGP 2020 season will be confirmed on Monday the 10th of August.


FIM President Jorge Viegas:

“I would like to thank Dorna, all the teams, the national federations and local organisers for enabling us to get back on track. In doing so, we adapt every day and we will have a very complete and competitive FIM MotoGP World Championship in 2020. The location of the 15th Grand Prix will be announced soon, and we will be back – stronger than ever!”

Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta:

“It is with great sadness that we announce the cancellation of the Argentina, Thailand and Malaysian Grands Prix this season, and they will be very much missed on the 2020 calendar. The passion of the fans who often travel across continents to enjoy MotoGP with us in Termas de Rio Hondo, Buriram and Sepang is incredible, creating as they do such an incredible atmosphere and welcome for the sport. However, we are delighted to add another Grand Prix in Europe to the 2020 calendar, and reveal our new agreement that will see MotoGP racing in Thailand and Buriram until at least 2026. We are very much looking forward to returning to Thailand, Argentina and Malaysia next year and as always, I would like to thank the fans for their patience and understanding.”

Updated 2020 Calendar

Rnd Date Circuit
1 08 March (Moto2/Moto3 Losail International Circuit
2 19 July Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto
3 26 July Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto
4 09 August Automotodrom Brno
5 16 August Red Bull Ring-Spielberg
6 23 August Red Bull Ring-Spielberg
7 13 September Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
8 20 September Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
9 27 September Barcelona – Catalunya
10 11 October Le Mans
11 18 October MotorLand Aragón
12 25 October MotorLand Aragón
13 08 November Comunitat Valenciana-Ricardo Tormo
14 15 November Comunitat Valenciana-Ricardo Tormo
15 22 November TBC

Source: MCNews.com.au

UPDATED 2020 MotoGP™ Calendar with a total of 15 Grands Prix

Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta: “It is with great sadness that we announce the cancellation of the Argentina, Thailand and Malaysian Grands Prix this season, and they will be very much missed on the 2020 calendar. The passion of the fans who often travel across continents to enjoy MotoGP with us in Termas de Rio Hondo, Buriram and Sepang is incredible, creating as they do such an incredible atmosphere and welcome for the sport. However, we are delighted to add another Grand Prix in Europe to the 2020 calendar, and reveal our new agreement that will see MotoGP racing in Thailand and Buriram until at least 2026. We are very much looking forward to returning to Thailand, Argentina and Malaysia next year and as always, I would like to thank the fans for their patience and understanding.”

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

What do Yamaha look for in a rider?

“What I look for, we tend to look at the stage just before MotoGP™, so Moto2™ level and early MotoGP™ career. Talented riders, fast riders, motivated and passionate riders. There are many but the number that become World Champions are very few. Jorge was one of the good ones in that sense. Because he was, when he was in 250s, we signed him early because we could see it. He had that burning passion, desire to win. That’s, a lot of riders are very talented but few have that plus alpha, that extra touch that you’re really looking for. How do you identify it? It’s difficult to say but you can feel it, you can sense it.”

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies set for 2020 preseason test

August 3-4: Preseason Test in Spielberg, Austria
August 15-16: Race 1 & Race 2 in Spielberg, Austria
August 22-23: Race 3 & Race 4 in Spielberg, Austria
October 17-18: Race 5 & 6 in Aragón, Spain
October 24-25: Race 7 & 8 in Aragón, Spain
November 7-8: Race 9 & 10 in Valencia, Spain
November 14-15: Race 11 & 12 in Valencia, Spain

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Hub-style Australian motocross schedule being proposed

News 31 Jul 2020

Hub-style Australian motocross schedule being proposed

Five rounds over a two-week period the target of selected teams.

Image: Foremost Media.

Options are being assessed that could see a season-saving hub created to conduct the 2020 Australian Motocross Championship over a two-week period as select series stakeholders work to overcome complications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A questionnaire has been distributed this month to monitor interest from a broad range of national competitors on the bold effort that remains in its infancy, understood to have been met with relative positivity from a majority of privateers who have submitted the survey.

The second wave of coronavirus currently affecting Victoria and New South Wales in particular has made for tighter government restrictions and state border closures, impacting plans for Motorcycling Australia (MA) to get a new-look series off the ground as soon as initially intended following the recent departure of former promoter Williams Event Management (WEM).

However, leading teams reliant upon going racing at the national level are now considering as many as five rounds across three weekends between 27 September to 11 October, including multiple mid-week races. It’s been proposed to race on three Sundays and two Wednesdays in succession under flexible circumstances during the unprecedented times.

Such a move would likely require a quarantine period on arrival into the hosting state, potentially as well as those returning to their home states, and the hub would need to meet specific protocols in order to be completed successfully. There are already a number of mainstream sports operating under strict operational guidelines, including certain travel exemptions.

The economic environment and logistical challenges will prove a determining factor in the bid being well-received by the wider racing community, as will employment commitments because of the extended stay required. Those pitching the idea suggest the aim would be for it to be at least as cost effective as the traditional calendar that’s previously spanned multiple states.

Queensland had been a favoured location prior to increased measures put in place by the state government to reduce the chances of a widespread COVID-19 outbreak, with New South Wales now becoming the primary topic of conversation. There could be as many as three venues included on a compromised schedule to get the series done.

With a rapid structure poised to take place behind closed doors, a free-to-air and pay television package has been proposed to take the sport to the fans and additionally provide vital sponsorship exposure for competitors. Entry fees could be raised to $400 (from $295 in MX1 and $285 in MX2) per round to off-set production costs if TV is in fact introduced.

While the hub-style arrangement is primarily being facilitated by Penrite Honda Racing’s Yarrive Konsky in collecting data before presenting it to MA, the national governing body is currently moving forward in planning a more conventional multi-state calendar in the final quarter, which would also be subject to further changes.

WEM revealed late last month that it would be exiting the MX Nationals a season sooner than originally announced, resulting in MA electing to manage the series internally for 2020. Most recent communications indicated that a east coast-based series was still in the works, those details expected to be released as soon as next week unless the outside proposal of a hub gains momentum beforehand.

Source: MotoOnline.com.au