Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) has undergone surgery on his right forearm for arm pump following the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship double header at Donington and Most. The #97 travelled back to Barcelona from the Czech Republic and sought medical advice, where the decision was made to have the surgery which was a success on Thursday morning.
Vierge secured a best result of 11th across the last two rounds, taking P11 in both the Tissot Superpole Race and Race 2 at the Autodrom Most. He was 14th in Race 1 in the Czech Republic, while at Donington Park, he was 15th in Sunday’s two races but retired from Race 1. 2024 as a whole has proven tricky for Honda, with Vierge only scoring three top-ten finishes this season and a best result of tenth, last achieved in Race 2 at Assen.
A statement from Team HRC said: “Xavi Vierge has undergone successful surgery on his right forearm to relieve ‘arm pump’ (compartment syndrome), which caused him problems during the last two WorldSBK Championship rounds in Donington (UK) and Most (Czech Republic). Back in Barcelona after the race weekend, the Team HRC rider sought medical advice at the Dexeus University Hospital and the decision was taken to proceed with surgery. The operation was successfully performed by Dr. Xavier Mir on Thursday morning. Vierge now has two weeks in which to recover and is expected to be back in action at the next WorldSBK round in Portimao, Portugal, on 9-11 August 2024.”
Watch more action from WorldSBK throughout 2024 using the WorldSBK VideoPass!
The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is halfway through an enthralling 2024 season so far, with six rounds down and six action-packed rounds to come. From Portimao in August to Jerez in October, there’s plenty to come from World Superbike this year. And now, you can watch it on the WorldSBK VideoPass with a huge discount. A season pass is now just €34.99, coming with an impressive 50% price drop. Get your VideoPass right HERE.
With five different winners this season – Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Nicholas Spinelli (Barni Spark Racing Team) – the 2024 season has delivered excitement in abundance with plenty of dicing between riders while there’s history being made too.
10 different riders have also been on the podium with the five above plus Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven), Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha), Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team), Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) all standing on the rostrum. With six thrilling rounds to come, you won’t want to miss any of the action so make sure you get your half price WorldSBK VideoPass subscription now!
The second half of the season is made up of a mix of known and unknown circuits, with Portimao in August, with a unique evening schedule, followed by Magny-Cours a few weeks later. Then, two double headers in five weeks will conclude the season. A new venue at Cremona is first up before a return to MotorLand Aragon, before the second double header at Estoril, returning to the calendar for the first time since 2022, and then the season finale in southern Spain at Jerez.
Not only will you have access to the second half of the season LIVE – with no adverts and every session from WorldSBK, WorldSSP and WorldSSP300 available at your fingertips, plus WorldWCR’s Tissot Superpole and races – you can use it to catch up on any action you might have missed or just want to re-watch a particular moment from the 2024 season. And it’s not just from 2024, in fact, with a large archive of classic races waiting for you when you subscribe to the WorldSBK VideoPass!
Having not won in the 2024 FIM Supersport 300 World Championship prior to the Czech Round, it was a memorable weekend for Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) as the 17-year-old Dutchman stormed to a double. Taking victory in two last lap thrillers against Championship leader Inigo Iglesias (Fusport-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki), he moves into the top three overall in the Championship and to within a race win’s worth of points of the Championship lead.
Both races were well timed and well measured from Veneman, demonstrating his excellent race craft throughout the weekend. In Race 1, he left enough of a gap to build into on the final lap with clear air ahead of him, timing his attack for the final sector. After a big moment at Turn 16 disrupted Iglesias and bunched up Mirko Gennai (MTM Kawasaki) behind him, Veneman swept through at Turn 18 in an unconventional pass, grabbing the advantage and holding on until the chequered flag.
In Race 2, he was in a head-to-head with Iglesias once more and it was a same Turn 16 moment that caught out the Spaniard. However, Veneman couldn’t make the pass and it was all about a slipstream to the line; contact coming down the straight resulted in an initial 0.001s winning margin for the #58 of Iglesias, what would have been the closest-ever World Championship finishing margin in the WorldSBK paddock. However, for irresponsible riding, he was demoted a position, resulting in a double win for Veneman.
Speaking after the race about his weekend and in particular Race 2, Veneman said: “It’s been really perfect, I couldn’t have imagined it better. I’m really happy and don’t know what to say! It was a hard battle in Race 2; with four laps to go, there was a big crash in front of me and I had to slow down and go around it. I lost about 1.5s to Inigo but with two laps to go, I caught up and in the end, I got the win on the slipstream to the line and I got it.”
Talking about his target to win the Championship in 2024 and the upcoming rollercoaster ride of Portimao, he continued: “Of course, it’s always the goal and now I’m even closer than I was in Race 1, so I’ll try my best to do the same at Portimao. Last year, I was really fast there so I guess I’ll try and do the same as this weekend.”
Underneath that techy styling is a supercharged H2 engine that burns hydrogen.
As the motoring world is gradually shifting toward electric propulsion, Kawasaki is putting a new spin on internal combustion with its hydrogen-fueled motorcycle based on the supercharged Ninja H2 – yep, an H2 powered by H2!
Most hydrogen-fueled cars on the market or in development use the compressed gas in a fuel cell that produces electricity, which then feeds an electric motor for propulsion. But this new Kawi internally combusts hydrogen like gasoline-fueled engines.
This groundbreaking machine was paraded a few days ago in front of the audience at the Suzuka 8 Hours FIM World Endurance race. It marked the world’s first public demonstration run of a hydrogen ICE (internal combustion engine) motorcycle, at least one created by a mass-production manufacturer.
Kawasaki is boldly looking ahead to a future that includes burning hydrogen.
“Hydrogen engines produce power like conventional gasoline engines,” said the bike’s project leader, Satoaki Ichi. “Hydrogen burns more quickly and under a wider range of conditions than gasoline, making it possible to create a more responsive feeling than ever.”
Kawasaki began development of this bike in March 2023, using the supercharged 998cc inline-Four found in Kawasaki’s Ninja H2 but with modifications to allow direct injection of hydrogen fuel into the cylinders. It operates on hydrogen combustion, so it retains familiar internal-combustion sensations when twisting the throttle, as you’ll hear when viewing the video above.
Baby’s got back! The enormous saddlebags contain hydrogen fuel canisters.
The results of hydrogen’s combustion are water vapor and virtually no carbon dioxide, making this system largely carbon-neutral. Kawasaki Motors Ltd., a member of the Kawasaki Heavy Industries Group, is conducting R&D with the aim of producing a hydrogen ICE motorcycle in the early 2030s.
Kawasaki is a member of HySE (Hydrogen Small-mobility & Engine technology), an association focused on researching hydrogen-combustion technology, from engines to filling and fuel-supply systems. The membership includes the Japanese Big Four motorcycle companies and Toyota.
The hydrogen-powered Kawasaki boasts futuristic edgy styling.
Using hydrogen for fuel has clear advantages in terms of exhaust emissions, but its widespread adoption will be hindered by the extremely limited infrastructure for its delivery into motor vehicles. Hydrogen’s transportation and storage require special facilities that are expensive to set up.
“Timing and availability,” notes Kawasaki, “may vary depending on the hydrogen fuel supply infrastructure and the status of legal regulations in each country.”
The dawn of a new era of internal-combustion motorcycles.
Kawasaki is clearly committed to alternatives to traditional gas-powered internal-combustion engines. In 2023, Kawasaki announced two all-electric motorcycles, the Ninja e-1 ABS and Z e-1 ABS. And in January, Kawasaki unveiled two hybrid motorcycles, the Ninja 7 Hybrid ABS and Z7 Hybrid ABS, which combine an internal-combustion engine with an electric motor, and they can run on either power source independently or on both at the same time.
Now in its fourth generation in 10 years, the 2024 Yamaha MT-09 has received a long list of updates and is better than ever. (Photos by Joseph Agustin)
The traditional gift for a 10th anniversary is tin or aluminum, neither of which is particularly fancy, but the latter certainly makes sense for the 2024 Yamaha MT-09. The 890cc inline-Triple-powered naked bike is built around a controlled-fill die-cast aluminum frame, its subframe and swingarm are likewise made from aluminum, and so are its lightweight spinforged wheels and other components.
A decade ago, I attended the U.S. press launch for the all-new Yamaha FZ-09 (as it was originally called) in San Francisco. Blasting around the steep, obstacle-course streets of the Golden Gate City on the fast and frisky FZ was a rollicking good time. The bike was fresh, exciting, and unique, and it felt like Yamaha had a hit on its hands.
The 2014 Yamaha FZ-09 was a bold, unique entry into the middleweight naked segment. (Photo by Tom Riles)
The FZ-09 was the first model powered by Yamaha’s new “Crossplane Concept” inline-Triple, which was inspired by the YZF-R1’s distinctive crossplane inline-Four. The R1’s engine offsets each crankpin 90 degrees from the next, which creates a cross rather than the flat plane of a 180-degree crank, and it uses an uneven firing interval for smoother throttle response, better rear-wheel traction, and unique character. With one less cylinder, the FZ-09’s CP3 has each crankpin offset 120 degrees from the next, and they fire sequentially (1-2-3) in even 240-degree intervals, and the result is much the same as with the R1’s engine.
The original 847cc CP3 inline-Triple that powered the first-generation Yamaha FZ-09.
The lively motor cranked out about 110 hp, and it was bolted into a compact bike that weighed just 414 lb soaking wet. Duly impressed, in my review I claimed that “the FZ-09 looks, sounds, and feels different from any other bike on the road. It’s part sportbike, part supermoto, and part streetfighter.” That first iteration had some teething issues, including abrupt throttle response and a brick-like seat, but it was a blast on two wheels and a steal at just $7,990. So many deposits were put down before bikes started arriving at dealerships that Yamaha doubled production.
The 2024 Yamaha MT-09 has fresh styling, revised ergonomics, updated electronics, and upgrades to its chassis and suspension. This colorway is called Midnight Cyan. Other color options are Matte Raven Black and Team Yamaha Blue.
Ten years later, we’re now on the fourth generation of the platform known in America since 2018 as the MT-09 to match its global nomenclature. Updates every few years have been fueled by the bike’s popularity – more than 30,000 have been sold in the U.S. and nearly 200,000 have been sold worldwide.
The 2024 Yamaha MT-09 has sportier ergonomics, but comfort isn’t compromised and the new riding position makes sense for the bike’s intended purpose.
As the MT-09 has grown up, it has become more refined and more sophisticated. But, unlike most teen rebels who become tax-paying adults, the MT hasn’t lost its edgy side. The biggest overhaul was in 2021, when it got a larger 890cc (up from 847cc) engine, an updated chassis, and an IMU-supported electronics package adapted from the R1.
The 2024 Yamaha MT-09 has new LED headlights and position lights, plus a whole lot more.
2024 Yamaha MT-09 Review | What’s New
Updates for 2024 are mostly enhancements. Starting with the drivetrain, the transmission has new drive dogs and gears that improve shifting engagement and reduce backlash. Yamaha’s third-generation quickshifter now works at speeds as low as 9 mph and allows downshifts during acceleration as well as upshifts during deceleration. To improve intake sound, there are now two tuned intake ducts instead of three, a new intake opening in the airbox, and, like those introduced on the 2022 Yamaha MT-10, Acoustic Amplifier Grilles atop the fuel tank that project intake sound directly into the cockpit.
Atop the redesigned fuel tank are Acoutic Amplifier Grilles, which project intake sound into the cockpit.
The MT-09’s updated styling and revised ergonomics begin at the front, with new LED headlights and position lights fitted into a stubby, Predator-esque facemask. The fuel tank was reshaped and repositioned for a more aggressive look and sportier ergonomics. Compared to the previous model, the tank is wider, lower, and has deeper knee cut-outs. The handlebar is now 1.4 inches lower, is a tad closer to the rider, and has more sweep and a sharper rise, but it also has two position settings and an additional four degrees of steering sweep on either side (32 degrees, up from 28). The net result of these changes is more weight on the front tire and a smaller turning radius, both of which make the bike easier to maneuver.
The 2024 Yamaha MT-09’s new Predator-eqsue facemask includes high/low beams in the center and postion lights that look like menacing squinted eyes.
Ergonomic changes also extend to the saddle, with the former single-piece seat replaced by separate rider and passenger saddles. Seat height for the rider remains 32.5 inches, but the seat is flatter and 0.5 inch narrower near the front to make it easier to reach the ground. The rider’s footpegs have been moved rearward and like the handlebar are adjustable with two positions. Yamaha further sweated the details by making the clutch lever adjustable over 14 positions spanning a 0.4-inch range, making the mirrors larger, and replacing the cast brake pedal with a stronger forged unit.
The 2024 Yamaha MT-09 has a new two-piece seat, and the rider’s portion is flatter and narrower in front.
Having altered the front/rear weight distribution and always on the hunt for better handling, Yamaha also made changes to the MT-09’s chassis and suspension. The CP3 Triple is a stressed member of the chassis, and the right and left side engine brackets were made thicker for more rigidity in the middle. The headstock bracket, on the other hand, was changed to allow more compliance up front.
Engine internals are unchanged, but the transmission has been updated and the engine mounts have been revised.
The MT-09 still uses a fully adjustable 41mm inverted fork made by KYB, but it has a higher spring rate and firmer damping. The KYB shock, which is adjustable for preload and rebound, uses a new linkage ratio with a flatter curve as well as firmer damping. The main brake components – dual 298mm floating front discs with 4-piston radial calipers, a single 245mm rear disc with a 1-piston caliper – are unchanged, but the front master cylinder has been upgraded to a premium Brembo radial setup.
2024 Yamaha MT-09 Review | Riding Impressions
Yamaha returned to the Bay Area for the U.S. press launch of the 2024 MT-09, but this time around we were farther south in the heart of Silicon Valley. That’s fitting since the latest MT is the most tech heavy yet. It has a larger, 5-inch (up from 3.5) TFT instrument panel with four display modes. Using the Yamaha Y-Connect app, a smartphone can be paired with the bike, allowing use of the free Garmin StreetCross app for on-screen turn-by-turn navigation.
A larger 5-inch TFT instrument panel has four display modes and rich graphics that show how different Yamaha Ride Control electronics alter riding characteristics.
Connecting the Garmin StreetCross app enables on-screen navigation.
The Yamaha Ride Control electronics suite has been simplified into three standard ride modes (Sport, Street, and Rain) as well as two customizable modes that allow all rider aids to be tailored to the rider’s preferences via the TFT menu or Y-Connect app. Parameters can be adjusted for throttle response, lean-sensitive traction control, cornering ABS, slide control, wheelie control, back-slip regulation, and the quickshifter. The handlebar switches have been redesigned to be more user-friendly and intuitive, and cruise control is now standard.
Cruising around town, the 2024 Yamaha MT-09 is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
The MT-09’s engine alights with a familiar growl. Following the model-year 2021 update, there has been no typical exhaust pipe to speak of, just a metal box under the bike with an exit hole on the bottom. With the engines warmed up, we began our test ride on the city streets of Cupertino, where Apple is headquartered. It was a Thursday morning, and folks were driving their Teslas to Starbucks, driving their Teslas to work, or driving their Teslas to drop kids off at school. Our gang of gas-powered motorcycles might as well have been a group of Hell’s Angels.
As a slender, light, compact machine, the 2024 Yamaha MT-09 would make an ideal commuter.
At modest around-town speeds, the MT-09 is well-mannered. It’s easy to maneuver, its controls and functions make sense, and its exhaust burbles politely. As a lightweight, compact machine, it would be an ideal commuter, even more so when fitted with one of Yamaha’s accessory top trunks, available in 34-liter and 45-liter sizes.
The MT-09’s happy place.
But a sporty naked bike lives its best life in the curves. Leaving the flat suburban grid behind, we climbed into the rugged Santa Cruz Mountains, which are covered with towering redwoods and crisscrossed with fantastic roads, such as Skyline Boulevard and Big Basin Way. With its wheels wearing the latest Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S23 tires, the MT-09 clung to the road like a cat climbing a tree, and it handled the dozens of tight transitions with confident ease.
The MT-09’s spinforged wheels are shod with new Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport 23 radials.
When riding at speed while leaned over, whether giving it throttle or applying the brakes, the changes to the MT-09’s ergonomics, weight distribution, and chassis clicked. The more committed riding position improves the rider’s sense of control, providing a more reassuring connection to the bike. Grippier tires with more weight on the front and firmer suspension damping help the MT-09 feel more planted. The bike does more of what it is supposed to do – what you want it to do – freeing up brain space for scanning ahead, judging corner speed, or admiring the blurred view out of the corner of your eye.
The Yamaha MT-09 keeps a cool head under the pressure of aggressive sport riding.
While the Acoustic Amplifier Grilles might sound like a gimmick, they actually work. They aren’t electronic; they’re not like tiny guitar amplifiers with a knob that goes up to 11. They are simply tunnels that allow intake sound to be projected directly toward the rider, kind of like those ear trumpets old folks used a long time ago, and the effect is greatest at mid to high rpm. The auditory boost adds to the visceral, spine-tingling feelings that make sport riding so addictive.
2024 Yamaha MT-09 Review | The Long Ride Home
The 2024 Yamaha MT-09 accessorized with a 34-liter top trunk, comfort seats, and a radiator guard. (Photo by the author)
Wanting to spend more time with the new MT-09 than our one-day test ride would allow, I opted to ride one home from the launch. Yamaha set me up with several accessories, including a 34-liter top case, comfort seats, and a radiator guard (see accessory pricing below spec chart). With gear stuffed into the top case and more in a duffel bag Rok-strapped to the passenger seat, I headed south for a greatest-hits tour of Central California roads.
The accessory radiator guard keeps rocks and other debris from damaging the radiator. It’s also one heckuva bug catcher!
The accessory rider and passenger comfort seats (sold separately) use special foam for additional support and they feature unique styling and white stitching.
First I had to slog through 50 miles of traffic-clogged freeway, which required a lot of lane changes. One of the upgrades on the new MT-09 is self-cancelling turnsignals. Once activated, they turn off after 15 seconds if the bike has moved more than 150 meters (492 feet). Also new is a dual-function turnsignal rocker switch. A short tap on either the left or right side of the rocker gives a short three-pulse signal for a quick lane change, while a full press gives a continuous pulse (another full press turns off the signal, or you can wait until it auto-cancels). All well and good, except that with my big gorilla thumbs I didn’t have enough finesse to do the short tap. And rather than the more common central button that you push to cancel, I’d often hit the wrong side of the rocker and mistakenly activate the other turnsignal, which meant I was giving mixed signals – literally – to those behind me. While I’m all for self-cancelling turnsignals, the dual-function rocker switch complicates what has long been a no-look, second-nature operation.
The 2024 Yamaha MT-09 has new switchgear that includes a joystick and for navigating menus and a rocker switch for the dual-function, self-cancelling turnsignals. Cruise control is a new standard feature too.
Now that I’ve covered that nitpick, let me get back to praising the MT-09, because there isn’t much else to complain about. South of Hollister is a 60-mile stretch of California Route 25 that runs parallel to the San Andreas Fault and hugs the western side of a valley between the Diablo and Gabilan mountain ranges. It was early May, and thanks to above-average winter rainfall, my ride on SR-25 was between green hillsides, lush pastures, and fields covered in wildflowers. SR-25 passes by the eastern entrance to Pinnacles National Park, and from there until its end at State Route 198, it is a playground of curves, dips, and dales. It was a Friday morning, and the road was all but empty. Bliss.
One of the wide-open curves on California’s Hudson Ranch Road. (Photo by the author)
Crossing SR-198, I continued south on Indian Valley Road, a 40-mile roughly paved farm road that’s little more than a lane wide. Farther south, I wound through wine country on State Route 41, sliced my way through the tightly banked curves of the short but sweet State Route 229 (aka Rossi’s Driveway), and then enjoyed 65 gloriously curved and fast-paced miles on State Route 58 to the edge of the Central Valley. South of Maricopa, I climbed back into the mountains on State Route 166, rode around grassland hills and along ridgelines on Hudson Ranch Road, carved through canyons on Lockwood Valley Road, and snaked over mountains and through valleys on State Route 33.
California Route 33 emerges from the fog as it climbs the mountains in Los Padres National Forest. (Photo by the author)
It was a fantastic, 425-mile day in perfect conditions with sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s. The only downside was being a human bug catcher, splattering hundreds of flying insects as I hit them at speed. After returning home, I logged another 600-plus miles on the MT-09 over the next few weeks.
Got bugs? My helmet was even worse, as you can see in the video review above. (Photo by the author)
What did I learn? The MT-09 still has the untamed spirit of the original FZ-09, but it now feels less like an unbroken bronco and more like a hot-blooded thoroughbred. It’s a more self-assured machine, ready to give the rider what he or she wants when they want it. It’s more versatile too, better equipped to perform over a wider range of uses, from trackdays to sport-touring to weekend canyon carving to daily commuting. The riding position is more committed than before, but it makes sense for the MT-09’s core mission of sport performance.
All grown up but still ready to party.
Yes, the base price of the MT-09 seems much higher than it was in 2014, but not when you take inflation into account. The $7,990 MSRP from a decade ago would be $10,532 in today’s dollars. The 2024 Yamaha MT-09 is priced at $10,599 – just $67 more, yet the current model is a much better motorcycle with many more standard features, particularly its state-of-the-art electronics package. The original FZ-09 was a steal, but the new MT-09 is an even better deal.
Even though the 2024 Yamaha MT-09 is more powerful, is more feature-packed, and performs better in every way, it costs only $67 more than the original 2014 FZ-09 when adjusted for inflation. Few bikes offer as much bang for the hard-earned buck.
2024 Yamaha MT-09 Specs
Base Price: $10,599
Price as Tested: $11,634 (see accessory pricing below)
With the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship visiting Donington Park a couple of weeks ago, the British venue not only hosted thrilling on-track action but a massive fundraiser for the Two Wheels For Life charity via auctions and concerts. In total, more than £22,000 (approx. €26,000) was raised by people bidding for special memorabilia and witnessing ‘WorldSBK’s Got Talent’ as personnel from the paddock entertained the onlooking crowd.
The auction allowed fans to bid on items that would not normally be available. The top item was a fairing from the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing outfit, which sold for £2,050. Next up was a Team#109 Retro Traffic Kawasaki VIP experience in 2025, which went for £2,000. An experience with KRT received a highest bid of £1,800 while, sticking with KRT, £1,200 was spent on Alex Lowes’ (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) leathers. Boots from Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) sold for £1,000, while many other items raised a huge amount of money.
Not only did the auction raise a substantial amount for charity, but so did the concert featuring riders, team managers and more perform in front of the fans. This year, people could vote for their favourite with Mario Salles – from the FIM Yamaha R3 bLU cRU World Cup – claiming the win with his rendition of ‘Perfect’ by Ed Sheeran ahead of Mallory Dobbs (Sekhmet Motorcycle Racing Team) from WorldWCR, who performed ‘That Don’t Impress Me Much’ by Shania Twain and Luke Power (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) from WorldSSP, who wowed the crowds with his interpretation of the Fast Food Song.
Aside from the top three, the WorldSBK Super Troupers performed with special guest Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) joining in on the action to end the show, while Bautista, Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) and Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) teamed up, as did Yamaha Thailand Racing Team duo Anupab Sarmoon and Krittapat Keankum. Piotr Biesiekirski (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) also performed in the show.
You can read more about the work Two Wheels For Life do HERE.
The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s first back-to-back has been completed and what a set of races it was. After the sixth round at the Autodrom Most in the Czech Republic, half the season has been completed and with 18 races still to go, there’s still plenty of stories to be had. We put all the hot stats in one place with some alarming records being – and about to be – broken.
4334 – After 4334 days, BMW lead the WorldSBK Manufacturers’ Championship – the last time was after Nurburgring’s Race 1 of 2012.
1835 – After 1835 days, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) failed to achieve a podium during a whole weekend whilst with Ducati. The last time this happened was Laguna Seca, 2019, when he didn’t score a point.
303 – Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) scores more than 300 points after 18 races of a WorldSBK season for the first time with 303. It’s the third-highest amount since the three-race format was introduced after 357 of Bautista last year and 316 of Bautista in 2019.
130 – Toprak also equalled Troy Corser’s tally of podiums with 130 – that’s joint second overall, behind Jonathan Rea’s 264.
54 – Race 2 marked the 54th race led by a BMW, coincidentally by the #54 of Razgatlioglu.
51 – Having taken a 50th win in the Tissot Superpole Race, Razgatlioglu instantly moved onto 51 with Race 2 victory at Most.
41 – Following his Tissot Superpole Race P3, Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) equals his personal manager’s podium tally of 41 rostrums – that rider is 2003 World Champion Neil Hodgson.
25 – Toprak’s win in Race 2 was likewise BMW’s 25th in WorldSBK.
18 – 18 consecutive points finishes for rookie Nicolo Buleha (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), in his first 18 WorldSBK races, a new record in the Championship, passing the 17 of Iker lecuona (Team HRC) in 2022.
17 – A 17th career podium for Andrea Locatelli, all of which have come with Yamaha. He now has the same amount of Yamaha podiums as 2009 World Champion Ben Spies and 2018 race winner, Alex Lowes.
11 – An 11th podium for the #11 of Bulega in his rookie season after Race 2 at Most.
10 – For the first time in his career and for the first time since they joined WorldSBK, Razgatlioglu and BMW record ten consecutive race wins.
8 – Eight top ten finishes in a row for Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha), his best run since joining Yamaha.
7 – Toprak set a new record, to win from pole and with the fastest race lap for the 7th race in succession, a new record streak in WorldSBK history.
6 – For the first time since Portimao’s Superpole Race in 2021 – which he won – Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) set the fastest lap of a race, with Race 2 at Most leading to P5 at the flag.
3 – A third career podium for Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven), who likewise made it three top eight finishes in one weekend for the first time in 2024.
1 – For the first time since WorldSBK began visiting Most, a rider completes a hat-trick of wins in one weekend.
Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) had a rollercoaster weekend at the Autodrom Most, with a crash in Tissot Superpole putting him on the back foot but able to salvage three top tens, including sixth place in Sunday’s Race 2 for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. The six-time Champion showed strong race pace throughout the Czech Round as he continued to build momentum from his podium at Donington.
Rea’s Turn 16 tumble in Superpole meant he only got a couple of flying laps in and the best he could manage was 15th. In Race 1, he fought his way into tenth place before going two places better in Sunday morning’s Tissot Superpole Race. With a third row start for Race 2 in the bag, Rea got a good launch but lost ground on the exit of Turn 2. This dropped him down to tenth by the end of Lap 1, and he was as low as 13th at the end of the second lap.
His comeback soon started though, getting ahead of fellow Yamaha rider Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) on Lap 3 before passing former teammate Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) a couple of laps after. On Lap 10, he gained two places to move into the top nine before setting his sights on the Honda of Xavi Vierge (Team HRC) ahead; he passed the #97 on Lap 12 to claim P8. It was Vierge’s teammate, Iker Lecuona, next up for the #65 and he got by on Lap 17 for seventh place despite the Spaniard putting up a huge fight, before Rea’s final overtake on Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) with two laps to go.
Reviewing the weekend and specifically his Race 2 comeback, Rea said: “It wasn’t a super high, but the trajectory of our weekend was a positive one. From qualifying P15 to going 10-8-6 is somewhat positive. It really highlighted the importance of Superpole again, track position was everything. I guess you could make a case in all races that my pace was a little bit better than the guys around me, and even the group in front could’ve been achievable this weekend, but trying to get through on traffic was really difficult. I made a good start in Race 2. I gave myself half a chance from that front row. Somebody came over the top of me at T2, I need to watch it back. I came out of there and the rpms were so low. I was in first gear, but I thought I must’ve been in second or even third. I got done by the guys who carried speed. Unfortunately, someone came over the top and killed all my drive. Anything positive I did on the run to Turn 1 was ruined. At one point, the group in front, was a bit faster but once I settled into my rhythm, I was able to dispose of the Hondas pretty quickly and then Rinaldi was the next guy on target. I got my head down lap after lap and caught him. We had a little bit of tyre left at the end. I could see the pace from the front guys was dropping a little bit, but they were just too far ahead. It ended on a positive note.”
With not much time between getting clear of the Hondas and having to chase down, and pass, Rinaldi, Rea explained what his strategy was to gain another place. The 37-year-old also revealed how fights with Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in the past helped him to work his way through the field.
Discussing the latter stages of the race and how battling with Razgatlioglu helped, the Northern Irishman said: “I think with seven laps to go, I thought he was just there. Once I got through on the Hondas, I thought ‘don’t give up’. He might come back, he might not. In clean air, the Yamaha can make the lap time; at one point, I feel like I was one of the fastest on tracks. I checked the last few laps. While we have some areas we need to work on, the bike was working good in other areas. I knew if I could put my bike in clean air and ride my lines, I could potentially catch him. When I caught him, it was about where I was going to pass! It had to be, not an aggressive one, but a block pass. You don’t have to go through. I sort of learnt that one on Toprak, racing him in the past. He’d always just level me. Where I always tended to go through on people and put myself wide, I just levelled a few guys today in a few of the corners and that seemed to work. I learnt a bit more about the Yamaha R1 in traffic and how to exploit all its strengths.”
Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) completed a remarkable recovery in Sunday’s Race 2 at the Autodrom Most to claim a top-ten finish in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. After starting from the third row, the #29 had to take to the Turn 1 escape road which dropped him down to 18th at the end of Lap 1 before he battled his way back up the field to claim a strong eighth place finish during the Czech Round, with Iannone declaring he had the pace for a rostrum when looking back on his comeback.
Iannone headed into Sunday’s two races full of confidence after a Race 1 podium when he finished third, and he backed that up with seventh in the Tissot Superpole Race, handing him his starting position for Race 2. The Italian looked to climb up the order when the lights went out but found himself on the Turn 1 escape road after taking avoiding action following the coming together between Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) at the opening corner.
This dropped Iannone to 18th at the end of the opening lap, but he soon started making progress through the field. By the end of Lap 7, the MotoGP™ race winner had climbed to 12th, and he was 11th when the 22-lap race hit the halfway mark. Progress slowed for Iannone, but he was still able to climb into the top ten a lap later when he got ahead of Axel Bassani (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) before getting ahead of Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) on Lap 18 for P9, where he would cross the line. However, a three-second penalty for Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) in lieu of a Long Lap Penalty for shortcutting Turn 1 promoted ‘The Maniac’ into P8.
Discussing his impressive fightback through the field, Iannone said: “I’m the king of recoveries! At Donington, I started all three races in 19th place because I had yellow flags during Superpole. On Sunday morning, I had a problem with the clutch. I started really badly. In Race 2, at the first corner, there was a big crash, and I was in the middle. I went straight on and lost everything. I recovered a lot. I’m happy for the results from the weekend but it was possible to achieve much more because we had the pace for the podium today. Now, we’re halfway through the season, we’ll try to improve a little bit for Portimao, make a step race by race. Without the incident, we would’ve fought for the top three.”
Most marked the halfway point of the season, with Iannone on hand to give a brief overview of the first half of his maiden WorldSBK campaign. He’s scored three podiums in 18 races and sits sixth in the Championship standings, 30 points behind Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) in fifth and three points clear of Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in seventh.
Reviewing his season so far, Iannone stated: “Sometimes I’m a little bit surprised, because the races are like Saturday. After a long time, it’s not easy. Everybody here wants to win. In the end, we’re a small team, we always do our best. I’m quite happy. It’s possible to improve in many areas. This is our target. We try to improve for the second part of the season. Portimao is a good track. I did a test because I’d never ridden there. It’s not easy.”
Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) is closing in on FIM Supersport World Championship history after he made it six wins in a row following his double at the Autodrom Most. It means the #99 has extended his Championship lead over Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) as he tightens his grip on P1 in the standings at the halfway point of the 2024 campaign.
Montella beat the Championship leader to pole position in Friday’s Tissot Superpole session, with 0.155s separating the pair. However, in Race 1 and Race 2, it was Huertas who came out victorious. In Saturday’s race, the #99 finished ahead of Stefano Manzi (Pata Prometeon Ten Kate Racing) and Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) to claim the 25 points, with Montella having to settle for fourth.
Speaking about Race 1, Huertas said: “It was a positive race for me. At the beginning, I needed to battle. I knew my points for taking advantage and then pushing. It was important to make a gap and then start to increase it step by step, but without making mistakes. We got really important information for Race 2 about the long distance. I think we can make more steps to improve. At the beginning of the season, not me nor the team, nobody, was expecting this. It was my first year on this brand, so the bike is new. It was important for me to win today.”
In Sunday’s race, it was a similar story, with Huertas finishing almost three seconds clear of Manzi in second while the battle for third was between Montella and Debise. French rider Debise had crossed the line ahead of the #55, but a one-place penalty for cutting the Turn 1-2 chicane dropped him to fourth and promoted Montella to the podium. Huertas’ win made it six-in-a-row, putting him only three off the all-time record held jointly by Andrea Locatelli and Dominique Aegerter.
Discussing the Race 2 victory, Huertas said: “It was incredible. We had an amazing pace. The temperatures were really high and even with this, we managed to be fighting at the front. We managed the tyres really well and I was able to push until the end. I made a consistent pace until the end, while pushing, because like this I kept my concentration, and I had less problems. I’m really happy about that and how we’re growing. The limit will be when I don’t win again! I’m really happy and want to continue like this. This is a good way, and we were able to recover a lot of points from Australia. This is good because in Australia, we were quite unhappy about how it went.”
The results from Most mean Huertas leads the Championship standings by almost a round’s worth of points. He’s 46 points clear of Montella in second, while the Barni Ducati rider is only seven points ahead of Manzi in third. Debise’s strong form in recent rounds has helped move him into fourth place, ahead of Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) in fifth.
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