Summer is knocking and Honda have a whole host of EOY deals on a range of road motorcycles, from the LAMS legal CBR500R and CRF250 Rally, all the way up to the CBR1000RR SP2 and Africa Twin Adventure Sports DCT, just to name a few.
Honda’s CBR1000RR SP
Inject more excitement and thrill into your daily life with the ultimate Supersport machine – the famous Fireblade! You can pick up a free Snap-On Tool kit** valued at $1529 RRP with the purchase of either the CBR1000RR, CBR1000RR SP or CBR1000RR SP2 Fireblade models.
New riders after something with Honda’s renowned sporting heritage and performance features packaged with real-world considerations of comfort, affordability and power will love the CBR500R. Another exciting Sportsbike to be seen on and now available for $7,999 Ride Away* and 0% finance+.
2018 Honda CBR500R in Grand Prix Red
LAMs approved, the CBR500R packs no nonsense punch with a large 16.7 litre fuel tank, perfect for extended travel range when needed. 41mm adjustable pre-load front forks have external preload adjusters to allow for adaptation to different riding situations and results in controlled ride. Sophisticated Pro-Link single-shock rear suspension offers nine-stage spring preload adjustability. The CBR500R also has LED lighting, ABS as standard and the front brake lever features a five-step adjustment mechanism to suit rider preference.
The CMX street bobber is also now available for only $8,499 Ride Away. LAMs friendly, powered by a 471cc parallel twin-cylinder engine with a smooth, linear power delivery. The CMX is slim, with a low seat height designed for easy manoeuvrability at low speeds.
Honda’s CMX ‘street bobber’
Rolling on fat tyres its low and lean ‘bobber’ silhouette – crowned by the steeply raked 11.2L fuel tank and fat handlebars – sits the rider firmly ‘in’ the machine. From every angle of its stripped form, it expresses an offbeat individuality.
Riders looking for something with a completely new style tone should make the most of the special 3% introductory finance offer^ available on the brand new, 2019 CB300R. A lightweight machine, tipping the scales at only 143kgs, this machine truly stands out on its own with its minimalist, bare-boned looks.
Honda new CB300R features stripped back styling
There is also something for adventure riders, with a very enticing deal if purchasing an Africa Twin Adventure Sports manual model, you can upgrade to the DCT version for free.
The Africa Twin ‘Adventure Sports’ DCT with ABS offers long-distance riders an elevated adventure touring experience. A worthy successor to the original and very much ‘Go Anywhere’ machine it promises to be, with Throttle By Wire (TBW) with three ride modes to tailor engine character and traction.
The Honda Africa Twin DCT model
It also has Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) which has seven levels and OFF, as well as a new intake design and exhaust to aid mid-range response and lithium-ion battery which saves 2.3 kg and enhances durability.
The CRF250 Rally also has $500 Honda Dollars available – an ideal choice for riders who want the option of a machine with on/off road capabilities in a compact package, which brings the spirit of Rally-raid racing to every day.
Honda CRF250 Rally
The deals don’t stop there, with $500 HondaDollar* on the stylish SH150, its lightweight and a joy to ride while offering optimum fuel economy thanks to PGM-FI fuel injection and Idle Stop.
*Ride away offers available on all year models for CBR500R, and all year models for the CMX. Price includes GST. *Credit provided by BOQ Credit Pty Limited ABN 92 080 151 266 (BOQC) (Australian Credit Licence Number 393331) trading as Honda MPE Financial Services. BOQC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of Queensland Limited ABN 32 009 656 740 (BOQ). BOQ does not guarantee or otherwise support the obligations or performance of BOQC or the products it offers. BOQC’s standard credit assessment criteria apply and fees and charges are payable. The interest rate is 0.00%pa and applicable on a 36 month term secured consumer loan agreement.The comparison rate of 0.00%pa and is calculated on a loan amount of $10,000 for a term of 36 months. These rates are for secured loans only. WARNING: This comparison rate is true only for the examples given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate.This offer is subject to approved applicants who finance new All YM CBR500RA models during 1st October 2018 and 31st December 2018. Full terms and conditions available at authorized, participating Honda MPE dealerships.+Ride away offer available on the CBR500R (17 year models and older). Price includes GST. Available between 1 October and 31 December 2018. Only at participating Honda Dealers. Overseas models shown. ^HondaDollars may be used instore to purchase accessories, servicing or reduce purchase price. $500 HondaDollars when purchasing an SH150 Scooter, 2017 year model and older. **DCT Upgrade available only when purchasing an Africa Twin Adventure Sports Manual model, customer gets the option to upgrade to the DCT variant for free. Available between 1 Oct and 31st Dec 2018. Only at participating Honda Motorcycle Dealers. Whilst stocks last. For full terms and conditions see in store. Overseas models shown, accessories not included and subject to availability, 1.44 volt polisher (tool only), 14.4 volt 2.0 Ah (Amp hour) lithium battery (2) Charger and Tote bag.
NMOTO, a Florida based motorcycle manufacturing company has unveiled its Nostalgia project: a beautiful design inspired by the 1934 BMW R7.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
Combining vintage aesthetics with modern technology, NMOTO’s Nostalgia Project allows consumers to own a piece of history that rolls on a BMW R nineT chassis complete with up to date electronics and a current spec’ air-oil cooled 110 horsepower R nineT boxer engine.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
With comfortable suspension and unique steering mechanisms encased in a canonical design inspired by the BMW R7 pre-war prototype, the Nostalgia motorcycle gives enthusiasts a slice of the past without sacrificing performance or rider experience.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
In just 9 months from concept and final product, the Nostalgia project’s streamlined profile mimics the dimensions of the 1934 prototype despite it’s modern R nineT base.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
Primarily constructed of aluminium, the final product is lighter than both stock BMW R nineT and the prototype from which it gets its design inspiration.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
In total, 74 custom parts were created in-house by NMOTO’s expert engineers and fabricators. This includes a new 12-litre fuel tank and custom exhaust system.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
NMOTO designers didn’t stop with a beautiful exterior. The entire electrical system was also re-designed to accommodate this unprecedented project. NMOTO is the first company to successfully integrate the BMW R nineT electrical system with non-standard, aftermarket control panels in the bars.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
The Nostalgia project imitates vintage design by reincorporating the ignition lock and speedometer into the headlamp housing, though both parts are modernized.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
LED indicator lights and a keyless ignition system were both worked into the redesign of the R nineT electrical system, which is mostly concealed within the framework itself.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
NMOTO also takes special pride in the exhaust system on the Nostalgia project, which is completely handcrafted from stainless steel.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
The 1937 BMW R7
The BMW R7 was one of the most innovative motorcycles of its time. It introduced the telescopic front fork, had a concealed gas tank, and also featured an 800 cc boxer M208 engine with a solid cast crankshaft. Despite this, many of the technical advancements found in the R7 weren’t seen again until 1969. Unfortunate timing and high manufacturing cost also buried the unique art deco design of the R7 for decades until it was rediscovered in 2005. Thankfully for motorcycle enthusiasts, the BMW R7’s original prototype was completely restored and reintroduced to the world at Pebble Beach in 2012.
Jay Leno on the R7
The primary objective of the Nostalgia project was more than simply creating a scale accurate look of the R7; NMOTO aimed to adapt the design to a modern chassis, taking into account the features of the serial BMW R nineT so as not to lose any modern performance dynamic.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
In particular, NMOTO engineers and designers worked together to design, develop, and fabricate completely new aluminum body parts. This also required them to narrow the rear subframe to better match the original prototype’s build. By concealing all the wiring into the framework of the motorcycle, NMOTO was able to maintain the sleek and streamlined appeal of the R7.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
Collectors know that vintage motorcycles require constant maintenance and attention, which is why they are more often kept as collectibles than for utility. NMOTO believes that the primary pleasure in motorcycle ownership is in riding and this project is aim to marry nostalgia with modern day comfort and reliability to provide a motorcycle that can be ridden every day.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
The serial BMW R nineT is modern, fast, and comfortable, with the latest generation of the legendary air-cooled Bavarian boxer engine. The 1170 cc and 110 hp engine, six speed gearbox, traction control and anti-lock braking system all help to propel the Nostalgia project into the modern motorcycle arena.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
While working on the Nostalgia project, NMOTO designers paid special attention not to disturb the balanced chassis or engine of the original BMW R nineT, as it closely resembled pre-war hardtail motorcycles which lacked rear suspension. Instead, they crafted a special bracket for the original wing mounting system and added the new mufflers to enhance the vintage style.
NMOTO Nostalgia Project
With 11 colour combinations, adjustable steering and seat trim finish, NMOTO offers customers the broadest customization options. The rear of the motorcycle can be equipped with a luggage trunk or passenger seat, or customers can opt for a manual gear shift mount on the tank in the style of pre-war motorcycles. NMOTO also plans to have its own line of accessories for the BMW R nineT.
It was a fairly limited supports program at this year’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix with only two classes present, Superbike and 300 Supersport.
Supersport 300 was manic as usual – Image by Colin Rosewarne
While there were 26 Superbike entrants, a lot of Australia’s fastest Superbike teams had decided to forego the non-championship event in the face of budget constraints. Thus Yamaha Racing Team’s Wayne Maxwell and Daniel Falzon were not in the field, nor was Team Suzuki’s Josh Waters. BCperformance Kawasaki were also not attending the event.
There were, however, a lot of riders in the field that do not regularly compete in ASBK Superbike events so some of the speed differences were very large indeed. A massive 14-seconds separated the fastest and slowest competitors.
Troy Bayliss – Glenn Allerton – TBG Image
It is fair to say, that Australian Superbike did not have its best feet forward in front of the MotoGP circus and the strong crowds that were present across the Phillip Island Grand Prix weekend. Albeit that the support class action was largely held at times when most of the crowd were yet to arrive, or had already left. That notwithstanding, the racing was tight and action packed across both classes.
The weekend also clearly underlined yet again why ASBK should not, and do not, schedule championship races at the MotoGP event. We are nothing more than card fillers, and as such there are never any guarantees of our events going ahead. We can generally get away with it at WorldSBK events, as they are generally at the beginning of the season, thus the championship connotations are not quite so important, but at MotoGP it would be madness to have championship points on the line.
Troy Bayliss – Glenn Allerton – TBG Image
A three-hour delay after a hefty oil spill early on in Moto3 first practice saw most of the day’s domestic schedule postponed. Luckily, ASBK Superbike competitors had got out on the circuit for FP1 at the ridiculously early time of 0755. An hour later they then got out for their single 20-minute qualifying session on a track registering a cool 16.7-degrees celsius, and an ambient of 13-degrees.
Glenn Allerton – TBG Image
It was the NextGen BMW of Glenn Allerton that set the pace by lapping fractionally faster than the DesmoSport Ducati Panigale of Troy Bayliss.
2018 Australian Superbike Champion Troy Herfoss was around half-a-second slower while young Mark Chiodo was the fastest Suzuki. Chiodo was riding his private machine due to the non-appearance of the Ecstar Suzuki squad.
Mark Chiodo – TBG Image
We were scheduled to have two Superbike races on Friday, a ten-lap race followed by another eight-lapper. Instead competitors only got to race a single eight-lap bout on Friday which got underway at 1720. Superbike then got a second race at 0855 on Saturday morning and a third and final race from an originally scheduled four then took place at 0935 on Sunday morning.
Few people were at the track early enough to witness the support class action – Supersport 300 Race One – TBG Image
Predictably, it was the three men with multiple high-level road race championships under their belts that ran away with the show up front in Superbike.
Glenn Allerton, Troy Bayliss and Troy Herfoss in close formation at Phillip Island – Image by Colin Rosewarne
Troy Bayliss, Glenn Allerton and Troy Herfoss all shared a win apiece. It was however the elder statesman that won the meeting with Bayliss scoring two more points than Allerton, who in turn scored two more than Herfoss.
Troy Bayliss won the first bout in what was a ripper duel between the Ducati legend and NextGen BMW’s Glenn Allerton, a quarter-of-a-second separating them at the line.
Troy Bayliss – TBG Image
It was an important indication that Allerton is really back from injury, up for a fight, and keen to re-establish his place in the top echelons of Australian Superbike’s pecking order come season 2019. The BMW has quite often been found a little wanting at Phillip Island, but clearly the NextGen squad had the S 1000 RR working well last weekend.
Troy Herfoss had an early off-track excursion that took him out of the battle but he still easily took third place, seven-seconds ahead of Mark Chiodo who just managed to hold off Alex Phillis to claim fourth.
Superbike Race Two – Image by Colin Rosewarne
The second race was staged in drizzly conditions early on Saturday morning. This time around Herfoss was back in the hunt for the win and fighting up front with Bayliss and Allerton.
A wet Saturday morning at Phillip Island – Image by TBG
17-thousandths of a second separated Allerton and Bayliss at the flag but it was the nose of the BMW that was in front and Allerton was credited with the win.
Superbike Race Two – Image by Colin Rosewarne
Herfoss was only a bike length or so further behind at the flag in third place, but a huge 25-seconds ahead of fourth-placed Yannis Shaw.
Yannis Shaw – TBG Image
Shaw beat Superbike debutante Max Croker to the line by a single thousandth of a second to claim that fourth place in a photo finish.
Max Croker made his Superbike debut at Phillip Island – TBG Image
The third race was another cracker and staged in completely dry conditions at 0935 on Sunday morning in front of what was already quite an impressive crowd. Herfoss, Bayliss and Allerton were at it hammer and tong throughout the entire eight-laps, and looked set for a fierce final lap battle to the line.
Troy Herfoss – TBG Image
Alas, lapped riders pretty much decided the outcome as Herfoss threaded his Fireblade through the backmarkers at the most opportune parts of the circuit, while Bayliss and Allerton were baulked at Southern Loop, Honda and Siberia.
Troy Herfoss put himself in to the lead on the final lap and it worked out in regards to the 2018 ASBK Champ navigating the backmarkers the best to take the win – Image by Colin Rosewarne
That gave Herfoss the breathing space he needed to remain unchallenged through Hayshed, Lukey Heights, MG and the final high-speed turns to take the win by three-tenths. Luck played its part for sure, but Herfoss had made his own luck by being brave enough to lead at the start of that last lap and it paid dividends.
Troy Herfoss celebrates winnin the final race – TBG Image
The battle for second was still on in earnest though with Bayliss pipping Allerton by a single thousandth of a second in a photo finish at the line to claim second place. That second place was enough for Bayliss to take the overall event victory from Allerton.
All three champions recorded laps in the high 1m32s in that final race. The next quickest competitor was Mark Chiodo, with a fastest lap of 1m34.172 on his way to a lonely fourth place.
Alex Phillis – TBG Image
Alex Phillis also got into the 1m34s with a best of 1m34.969 on his way to fifth place in the final bout while Max Croker showed that he is adapting to the big-bore Superbikes with a best lap of 1m35.454 on his way to sixth. Croker will step up to the Superbike category full-time for season 2019 with the Mat Mladin Motorsports squad.
ASBK Superbike support races at MotoGP 2018 – TBG Image
Phil Cjaz got in the 36s, Shaw the 37s, while the rest of the field from ninth place back were in the 39s or slower. In contrast, at the ASBK finale a fortnight earlier the top 20 were all lapping 37s or better, with the top ten all in the 34s or better.
Supersport 300
Seth Crump and Oli Bayliss – Sons of two Australian motorcycling legends battled fiercely in Supersport 300 – TBG Image
It was a great finish to the Superbike season for Troy Bayliss, made all that much sweeter when 15-year-old son Oli took out overall honours in the Supersport 300 category after some titanic battles with Seth Crump, Hunter Ford, Lachy Taylor and Dylan Whiteside.
Seth Curmp #57 – Oli Bayliss #86 – Hunter Ford #20 – Dylan Whiteside #32 – Image by TBG
It was certainly somewhat surreal witnessing the sons of two of Australia’s most successful ever motorcycle racers going at it hammer and tong around Phillip Island.
Oli Bayliss leads Supersport 300 Race Two – TBG Image
Troy Bayliss is of course a three-time World Superbike Champion, while Seth’s dad Jason Crump took three solo Speedway World Championships, along with a very long list of other Speedway honours both at home and abroad.
Graham ‘Checkers’ Stewart flags the finish of the opening Supersport 300 race with Seth Crump taking the victory – TBG Image
The sons of Aussie motorcycle royalty shared a win apiece at Phillip Island while Hunter Ford took second in both races.
Australian Supersport 300 MotoGP Supports 2018 Overall Oli Bayliss – Kawasaki 18-25/ 43 Seth Crump – KTM 25-16 / 41 Hunter Ford – Yamaha 20-20 / 40 Image by TBG
Australian Superbike MotoGP Supports 2018 Overall
Troy Bayliss – Ducati 25-20-20 / 65
Glenn Allerton – BMW 20-25-18 / 63
Troy Herfoss – Honda 18-18-25 / 61
Mark Chiodo – Suzuki 17-14-17 / 48
Alex Phillis – Suzuki 16-15-16 / 47
Max Croker – Suzuki 15-16-15 / 46
Yannis Shaw – Kawasaki 13-17-13 / 43
Phil Czaj – Aprilia 14-12-14 / 40
Corey Forde – Honda 11-11-12 / 34
Jake Drew – Yamaha 12-10-11 / 33
Oli Bayliss #86 – TBG Image
Australian Supersport 300 MotoGP Supports 2018 Overall
So often in the lower ranks of road racing riders present in questionable leathers in various states of disrepair. This deal with Ricondi should help ensure this new junior road racing venture portrays a professional appearance at every outing.
Ricondi, an Australian company which design, develop and test their products right here in Australia, will be the exclusive supplier of gear used by riders in the 2019 bLU cRU Oceania Rookies Cup.
bLU cRU Oceania Rookies Cup
Ricondi will provide all riders of the Junior Road Racing Academy with custom designed leathers, as well as providing repair services to ensure all participants are at their safest and looking their best.
Andrew Smart – Director of Ricondi
“It’s a big step in recognition for Ricondi as a manufacturer to be chosen for such a big venture as the Oceania Rookies Cup. It’s also great to see junior motorcycle sport recognised and supported in such a substantial way. Ricondi will provide all finalists of the bLU cRU Oceania Rookies Cup with custom designed leathers which are designed to keep the kids as safe as possible, whilst also allowing the sponsors to get as much exposure as they can. Ricondi will also provide a repair service to keep kids protected regardless of any incident. We recognise that these suits are going to get a few scuffs. In partnering with the Rookies Cup, we are delivering this service to ensure the kids remain safe and look good at all times.
The bLU cRU Oceania Rookies Cup will be exclusively supplied leathers and gloves by Ricondi in 2019
“Our race suits have evolved over the last eight years to become a truly world class and trusted product, as is evident by the number of riders racing in Ricondi suits. We’re always updating and perfecting our suits to make sure they are the best they can be and the extent which the brand has been embraced is humbling.”
Martin Port – MA Operations Director
“In collaborating with Ricondi this partnership is an exciting move forward for Australian Junior Road Racing. Ricondi’s commitment to producing quality suits is second to none, but their additional focus on developing junior race suits made this partnership a perfect solution to fitting our junior competitors in safe and stylish suits.”
Fly Racing and McLeod Accessories have announced the 2019 Maverick Boot, which as a limited introductory deal is available for $199.95 RRP and is available in both Adult and Youth sizes.
The 2019 Maverick Boots are CE Approved to EN13634:2015 and feature a three-buckle system on Adult sizes and two-buckle system on Youth sizes, with adjustable quick-lock buckles of open design to ensure dirt doesn’t clog the buckle.
2019 Fly Racing Maverik Boots – $199.95 RRP
A 3D moulded shift-panel includes added grooves and a texture which helps reduce premature wear, while pre-shaped molded plastic shin protection ensures impact resistance and comfort.
The inner anke panels are durable and flexible plastic construction, with articulated rear ankle for the flexibility to bend your foot, while also remaining supportive.
2019 Fly Racing Maverik Boots – $199.95 RRP
A molded outsole is light weight and stylish, alongside a injected fish-tail midsole, and the rubber outsole is designed for grip and durability. The rubber heat sheilding is heat resistant to ensure it won’t melt, while an elastic gaiter makes sure comfort around the calf is strong, while preventing the ingress of debris.
2019 Fly Racing Maverik Boots – $199.95 RRP
2019 Fly Racing Maverik Boot features
3D molded plastic shift panel
Articulated rear ankle
Pre-shaped molded plastic 3D shin
Plastic inner ankle panel
CE Approved to EN13634:2015
Molded outsole
Rubber heat shield
Elastic gaiter for comfort and sealing
One-piece plastic injected ‘fish tail’ midsole
Adjustable quick-lock buckles
Adult (3-buckle)
Youth (three-buckle, 2 inches shorter than adult)
Available Now at special introductory price of $199.95
Honda’s value packed touring machine, the NC750X is available with the addition of the Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) system, as well as an all new LED headlight for $9,599 MLP.
2018 Honda NC750X – Matte Pearl Glare White
The NC750X is one of the top selling models in Europe and Japan and features a liquid-cooled, SOHC eight-valve parallel twin.
The relatively long-stroke and specially shaped combustion chambers combine with a high mass crankshaft to produce plenty of torque from low rpm.
2018 Honda NC750X
The HSTC features two levels; Level 1 allows some rear wheel spin – on gravel or dirt for instance – while Level 2 provides confidence-inspiring traction on slippery roads and is ideal for tricky commuting and touring conditions.
Level 2 is the default from ‘ignition on’, and a push of the button on the left handlebar changes the setting to Level 1. Pushing and holding the button turns HSTC off for those confident in their own abilities.
2018 Honda NC750X
The rear shock features spring preload adjustment, while Showa Dual Bending Valves (SDBV) forks are fitted up front.
The NC750X’s rugged steel diamond frame is designed for high levels of rigidity while the riding position is upright and neutral, with a higher viewpoint for good vision and comfort.
2018 Honda NC750X – Candy Chromosphere Red
An adventure-style riding position offers low-speed control – combined with a low centre of gravity and generous steering lock.
A large windscreen gives plentiful wind protection and there is generous storage, 22-litres to be exact, in the storage compartment positioned where the fuel tank is normally situated.
2018 Honda NC750X
On the exterior of the storage compartment there are external rails built onto its lid which are useful for mounting a tank bag. The lid’s interior has four hooks to allow rubber straps to assist in organising luggage and make best use of all of the space.
A lightweight two-channel ABS is standard and offers confident braking even on slippery or wet road surfaces, with single wavy disc brakes front and rear, featuring a 320mm front rotor with two-piston caliper and 240mm rear with single-piston caliper.
2018 Honda NC750X
The NC750X will be available in Candy Chromosphere Red and Matte Pearl Glare White and is available for an MLP of $9,599.
For more information on the updated NC750X or on the entire Honda range, visit your nearest Honda Dealer, ring 1 300 1 HONDA or go to www.hondamotorcycles.com.au (link).
The FIM Supersport 300 World Championship is set for an overhaul in 2019, the exceedingly popular feeder class will be split into two groups next season, with a grid of 30 of the most competitive to make up the race grid on Sunday.
World Supersport 300
With the WorldSSP300 entry list increasing for 2019, participants will be separated into two groups of riders for both Free Practice and Qualifying. At the end of Qualifying, the top 30 on the combined timesheets will make up Sunday’s grid.
For all riders who qualify outside of the top 30, there will be one final opportunity to line up on the grid. Saturday afternoon will welcome a ‘last chance’ race, and the top six over the line will compete in Sunday’s main race.
WorldSBK Supersport 300
These changes are aimed at providing close racing, with only the fastest and toughest riders battling their way through the entire weekend. The additional benefit is offering an even greater opportunity to young riders, who will get even more chance to gain experience out on track.
On top of the changes, 2019 will see WorldSSP300 fly out to Qatar to compete around the Losail International Circuit in the final round of the season. Adding the third category to the Qatar Round, WorldSSP300 will light up the end of the season.
World Supersport 300
Fabio Muner, FIM Sports Director
“We consider WorldSSP300 a very successful springboard to the WorldSBK series for our young athletes. The 2019 changes will provide even closer races than before, with only the fastest and toughest riders battling their way through the entire weekend. Offering an even greater opportunity to young riders, increasing the racing experiences and adding new international locations, there will be even more chance to gain experience out on track and will make for exciting viewing for the fans.”
World Supersport 300
Gregorio Lavilla, WorldSBK Sporting Director
“We have been delighted by the success of the WorldSSP300 series since the inaugural season back in 2017, and we are always looking for ways to offer greater experience for riders out on track. By bringing in this new format, we are giving young riders more track time, more opportunities to impress, and plenty more chances to entertain the fans. WorldSSP300 will be racing outside of the European Rounds in 2019, which we feel is a natural step in the expansion. Our long term goal is to see young talents grow, and to make this a true feeder class into WorldSSP and ultimately, WorldSBK.”
Smarty’s Weekly Moto News Wrap proudly brought to you by Dunlop Geomax
Proudly brought to you by Dunlop Geomax
What Went Down Last Weekend?
World Enduro Super Series (WESS) – Gotland Grand National – Sweden
GNCC – Ironman, Indianapolis
AMA EnduroCross Series – Everett, WA
French Beach Racing Championship – Loon-Plage
FIM Oceania Trial Championship – Christchurch, NZ
Dean Wilson Confirmed for AUS-X Open
Pauls Jonass Signs with Husqvarna
Seewer Second at Sugo
Young Returns for Wildwood Rock
S-X Open Auckland to host KTM Junior Supercross Challenge
What Racing is Left for 2018?
World Enduro Super Series (WESS) – Gotland Grand National – Sweden
The wild and muddy Gotland Grand National saw Swedish riders fill the podium at round seven of the World Enduro Super Series but it was Albin Elowson (Husqvarna) who ultimately claimed victory while Billy Bolt recovered well to finish 13th overall and maintain his overall lead in the WESS championship standings with one round remaining.
2018 Gotland Grand National – WESS Round 7
With torrential rain on the Friday night coupled with over 3000 competitors the conditions turning incredibly muddy for the 35th edition of the iconic event so it was the local riders who faired best in the deteriorating conditions with Elowson securing his maiden GGN win over Robert Kvarnstrom and Ken Bengtson while Taddy Blazusiak, who was by far the best of the WESS stars, worked hard in the final stages of the race to claim fourth ahead of another local in Sebastian Martensson.
For WESS the title contenders, Spain’s Josep Garcia crossed the finish line in 12th to slightly close the gap to series leader Bolt, who finished 13th. Although holding 25th with one lap remaining, a crash in the closing stages of the race pushed Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM – Germany) back to 43rd overall.
2018 Gotland Grand National – WESS Round 7
With just the final round of the championship remaining, Bolt extends his advantage over Lettenbichler to 275 points. Garcia, in third, closes to within 445 points of the second placed Lettenbichler. Blazusiak’s fourth place result at GGN sees him move up to fourth overall, but more importantly he now sits just 25 points behind Garcia as the race to become this year’s ULTIMATE ENDURO CHAMPION soon moves to The Netherlands for Red Bull Knock Out.
The World Enduro Super Series concludes with the eighth and final round with the iconic Red Bull Knockout on November the 10th.
Albin Elowson
“I’m so happy to take the win here in Gotland. I knew I had the speed before the race, but you never know what can happen around here, especially in these conditions. I got a decent start and tried to make some passes in the early chaos. I had a good fight with Robert Kvarnstrom but after the first pit stop I was able to open up a small gap and managed to maintain that lead for the whole race. Overall, I felt good and was happy with my pace. I went through a lot of goggles – that’s one of the main things at this race, you have to keep your eyes clear in order to ride properly. Also, a big thanks to the team. They were great and both pit stops were excellent. Finally, it’s good to be able to show what I am capable of – especially with the GGN now part of WESS. I know I have the speed, I just have to build my confidence a little and hopefully I can get some more good results in the future.”
Albin Olowson – 2018 Gotland Grand National – WESS Round 7
Robert Kvarnstrom
“That was a really tough race. It was so wet and so muddy. I think it was one of the toughest editions of GGN that we’ve ever done. I got a good start and was running with Albin Elowson early on, but a few mistakes and some issues with the traffic cost me time and he gapped me. After that I just rode my own race. I found some more speed towards the end, but it wasn’t quite enough to pressure Albin for the lead. Congratulations to him for the win – I’ll have to come back next year and fight for the victory again.”
Robert Kvarnstrom – 2018 Gotland Grand National – WESS Round 7
Taddy Blazusiak
“To finish fourth for my first time riding this race and in these conditions is a result I’m pleased with. GGN is a unique race and one the Swedish riders clearly excel at. With the weather turning bad, it was always going to be difficult to match their experience in this type of mud. But I feel we did a good job – we worked well as a team to adapt to the changes and challenges we faced, as they happened. In total I only had two small crashes, but I did struggle with keeping clear vision especially in traffic and that cost me some time. But like I said, fourth is a good day and I’m happy with that.”
2018 Gotland Grand National – WESS Round 7
Billy Bolt
“I had a tough first lap. Another rider crashed in front of me and I managed to stop, but then someone else crashed into me from behind and we were all stuck in a mud puddle. I got going again but got mixed up in another crash and went down again – that’s when I broke the throttle tube. I made the mistake of stopping to try and fix it and lost so many places as a result. After the first pit stop I was able to push on a bit more and regain some places. I’m a little bit disappointed not to have finished higher – I think without the problems I could have – but importantly I have stretched my lead at the top of the standings as we now look towards the final round in Holland.”
Billy Bolt – 2018 Gotland Grand National – WESS Round 7
Graham Jarvis
“That was really tough, it was hard to learn the terrain and hard to get into it early on. It was difficult to know how much grip there was because there were a few slippery places but in other places it wasn’t too bad, just very muddy. It took a while to get a bit more confident but when I did I was faster on the last few laps. It was hard to get warmed up and get going early on, but that was the same for everybody.”
Alfredo Gomez
“It was so cold out there today – I don’t think any of us expected it to be so tough. The first half of the race went well, but after that my brake pads wore out and everything got a lot more challenging. I think my riding was good but as the race went on I started to get very cold and it was tricky to keep to a good pace.”
Alfredo Gomez – 2018 Gotland Grand National – WESS Round 7
Results – Gotland Grand National, WESS Round 7
Albin Elowson (Husqvarna) 6 laps, 2:59:02;
Robert Kvarnstrom (Yamaha) 3:01:52;
Ken Bengston (Husqvarna) 3:03:38;
Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) 3:06:59;
Sebastian Martensson (Husqvarna) 3:08:33;
Johan Carlsson (Husqvarna) 3:08:42;
Calle Bjerkert (Husqvarna) 3:10:10;
Joakim Ljunggren (KTM) 3:10:44;
Oskar Ljunstrom (Husqvarna) 3:11:08;
Marcus Gothenberg (Husqvarna) 3:11:16 …13. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 3:14:24 …27. Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 3:22.54 …32. Alfredo Gomez (Husqvarna) 3:26:05
World Enduro Super Series Standings (After Round 7)
Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 4420pts;
Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 4145pts;
Josep Garcia (KTM) 3700pts;
Taddy Blazusiak (KTM) 3675pts;
Wade Young 3220pts;
Nathan Watson (KTM) 3103pts;
Paul Bolton (KTM) 3092pts;
Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna) 3010pts;
Jonny Walker (KTM) 2900pts;
Lars Enockl (Gas Gas) 2272pts
GNCC – Ironman, Indianapolis
Last weekend’s AMSOIL Ironman GNCC signified the end of the 2018 season with well over 1000 competitors taking to the woods in Crawfordsville, Indiana for the 24th annual event and it was Steward Baylor Jr. came away with his first overall win of the season while Ben Kelly wrapped up the XC2 championship.
XC1: As the race began it was Ryan Sipes grabbing the early lead however, after a crash on the first lap Sipes would come through timing and scoring in eleventh place. Ultimately Sipes would end his day early after pulling off during the second lap.
Steward Baylor Jr. – Image by Ken Hill
Trevor Bollinger held the lead early in the race, battling with Baylor Jr. throughout the duration of the race, while Josh Strang made his way through the pack after starting in the sixth place position so as the white flag came out, Strang had his sights set on Bollinger and would make the pass stick before the chequered flag flew.
Baylor Jr. took the win and wrapped up third place in the series while Strang and Bollinger rounded out the podium with Ricky Russell, Grant Baylor, Layne Michael, Pascal Rauchenecker, Jordan Ashburn and Andrew Delong rounded out the top ten.
Josh Strang – Image by Ken Hill
XC1 Open Pro Event Results
Steward Baylor (KTM)
Josh Strang (HQV)
Trevor Bollinger (HON)
Ricky Russell (YAM)
Grant Baylor (KTM)
Layne Michael (HQV)
Pascal Rauchenecker (HQV)
Jordan Ashburn (BET)
Andrew Delong (GAS)
Jesse Groemm (KTM)
Overall National Championship Standings
Kailub Russell (297)
Thad Duvall (262)
Steward Baylor Jr. (219)
Trevor Bollinger (208)
Ben Kelley (192)
Josh Strang (189)
Josh Toth (177)
Ricky Russell (142)
Grant Baylor (115)
Craig Delong (104)
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XC2: As the XC2 250 Pro class took off it was Josh Toth grabbing the holeshot and early lead but Ben Kelley was soon leading the way and the overall on adjusted time. Toth would come through in second and the battle for the XC2 National Championship was on. The two would swap positions multiple times before Kelley was forced to pit where the KTM crew performed a tire change. Kelley would return to the race in second-place, with Toth reclaiming the lead.
Ken Belly XC2 – Image by Ken Hill
Toth would continue his charge, finishing ahead of Kelley for his sixth win of the season and also earning the second overall position against the XC1 Open Pro competitors. Kelley was able to put his head down and push on the final lap to bring home his first-career XC2 250 Pro Championship.
Beta USA’s Mike Witkowski has been steadily improving throughout the season, and after finishing fourth two weeks ago in Ohio he made the move into third this weekend. This marks Witkowski’s first XC2 podium appearance of the season, and his best finish on his Beta motorcycle while Craig Delong finished in the fourth place position, while Husqvarna-backed rider Evan Smith rounded out the top five.
XC2 Podium, Kelly, Toth, Witkowski – Image by Ken Hill
XC2 250 Pro Event Results
Josh Toth (KTM)
Ben Kelley (KTM)
Mike Witkowski (BET)
Craig Delong (HQV)
Evan Smith (HQV)
Austin Lee (HON)
Jonathan Johnson (YAM)
Brendan Riordan (YAM)
Alex Teagarden (HQV)
Hunter Neuwirth (YAM)
XC2 250 Pro Series Standings
Ben Kelley (323)
Josh Toth (305)
Craig Delong (199)
Austin Lee (170)
Evan Smith (158)
Mike Witkowski (147)
Pascal Rauchenecker (145)
Jonathan Johnson (141)
Liam Draper (131)
Zack Hayes (99)
XC3: When the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am class took off it was the Sherco rider, Daniel Mundell taking the holeshot but it was Jesse Ansley taking the last win of the season. Chris Bach and Jake Froman would round of the FMF XC3 125 Pro-Am podium.
Jesse Ansley XC3 – Image by Ken Hill
WXC: With the 10 a.m. race consisting of 893 riders, it was Aussie hard charger Tayla Jones who came through in second overall and first in WXC class followed by Becca Sheets, Rachel Gutish and Mackenzie Tricker.
WXC Podium – Becca Sheets, Tayla Jones, Rachel Gutish – Image by Ken Hill
AMA EnduroCross Series – Everett, WA
The Wind Arena in Everett hosted the penultimate round of the AMA EnduroCross Series and it was Colton Haaker who came away with the main event win after a race long battle with championship rival Cody Webb while Kyle Redmond rode a strong race to take the final podium spot.
Colton Haaker – AMA EnduroCross – Image by Tanner Yeager
Behind the top three the racing was just as intense and it was Ty Cullins, Noah Kepple, Geoff Aaron, Cooper Abbott, Max Gerston, Keith Sweeten and Mason Ottersberg who rounded out the top ten.
With just the Boise, Idaho race next weekend remaining, Haaker holds a six-point advantage over Webb. Redmond holds third with Tremaine fourth and Aaron fifth. Ty Cullins is sixth and leading the Junior Championship for riders twenty-one and under.
Colton Haaker
“I finally won Everett. I have never won here, and I felt that tonight was critical for the championship because I didn’t want next week to be a game seven win or lose in Boise. The championship is not done but it is a little easier now. I knew it was getting close to the finish and Cody made a mistake coming out of the rocks. It was now or never so I committed to the double and he came over on me a little, but he backed out and, from there, I just needed one more clean lap. I am bummed about Ty (Tremaine) getting hurt but, as we came to lap them, our lines just came together.”
Colton Haaker – AMA EnduroCross – Image by Tanner Yeager
Cody Webb
“That was tough for me to battle back and forth with Colton like that and this EnduroCross is tough. It was a great race and a great show for the crowd. We got really close when he passed me on that double. I had to pull out of that and I pushed to the end but ended up crashing in the rocks. I am happy that I rode better than I did in Denver but, of course, I am not happy about giving up the win.”
Kyle Redmond
“It was a great race. The track was super technical and tough, which suited my style. Me and Ty were battling for third in the championship and the race. Unfortunately, I think he got landed on. We were in a tight battle and they (Haaker and Webb) were in a tight battle and there was not enough room. I have worked really hard this year and I’m happy to get a good result.”
Colton Haaker topped the podium from Cody Webb and Kyle Redmond – AMA EnduroCross – Image by Tanner Yeager
Main Event Results
Colton Haaker, Husqvarna
Cody Webb, KTM
Kyle Redmond, Husqvarna
Ty Cullins, Beta
Noah Kepple, GasGas
Geoff Aaron, GasGas
Cooper Abbott, KTM
Max Gerston, Beta
Keith Sweeten, KTM
Mason Ottersberg, Beta
Cory Graffunder, Husqvarna
Kevin Dupuis, Husqvarna
Quinn Wentzel, Husqvarna
Ty Tremaine, Beta
Super EnduroCross Championship Points
Colton Haaker – 126 points
Cody Webb – 120 points
Kyle Redmond – 81 points
Ty Tremaine – 80 points
Geoff Aaron – 75 points
Ty Cullins – 73 points
Noah Kepple – 71 points
Cooper Abbott – 65 points
Mason Ottersberg – 45 points
Dustin McCarthy – 44 points
French Beach Racing Championship – Loon-Plage
The second round of the 2018/19 French Beach Race Series was hosted by the Moto Club du Littoral at Loon-Plage in northern France and it was Yamaha’s Milko Potisek who took the win after 24 gruelling laps ahead of Jeffrey Dewulf (KTM) and Yentel Martens (Husqvarna).
Yentel Martens
Series leader entering the Loon-Plage event following his winning performance at the opening round of the championship, Martens was forced to push hard during the opening laps of the race following a disappointing start. Completing the first lap down in 14th position he made up five places during the second lap to break inside the top 10.
Quickly up to sixth, he moved to third by the end of the fourth lap before hitting the front on lap five but on lap 11 he dropped to third which is where he finished.
Yentel Martens
“That was a tough race. I didn’t get a great start, so I had to work hard to get back to the front. I felt good during the early stages of the race – I was able to push hard and had a good rhythm going. After my pit stop I had some problems with my stomach. It was tough after that, but I’m happy. Apart from my stomach things were good – I’m pleased with third and look forward to the next round of the series.”
Yentel Martens
Digging deep during the final laps of the race, KTM’s Camille Chapeliere moved into fifth with two laps remaining and held the position to the finish. He ended the race as the fifth and final rider to complete 24 laps.
Camille Chapeliere
“Today was a good day, but I had a little crash in the second lap and dropped back to 18th. It was difficult to get back and pass the riders ahead of me. But I had a good rhythm and after my first refuelling I was ninth. My team told me that I was riding well and push hard. I kept pushing and I was fifth at my second fuel stop. I was riding kind of alone during the final stages of the race. The track was good, very physical but I feel like I am working in a good direction and I’m looking forward to the next round of the series.”
Camille Chapeliere
The series continues with round three in St Léger de Balson on December 1/2.
Results – French Beach Racing Championship, Loon-Plage
Milko Potisek (Yamaha) 24 laps 2:30:42.7;
Jeffrey Dewulf (KTM) 2:31:32.2;
Yentel Martens (Husqvarna) 2:33:44.7;
Daymond Martens (Yamaha) 2:35:11.8;
Camille Chapeliere (KTM) 2:37:49.6
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FIM Oceania Trial Championship – Christchurch, NZ
Christchurch hosted the FIM Oceania Trial Championship last weekend and despite the tough conditions and strong competition, it was the Australian team of Kevin Zarczynski, Sarah Chivers and Tom Woodhouse who proudly returned the Championship Cup and Shield to its rightful home. Made up of three members;, Team Australia displayed true grit and perseverance as they faced tough conditions and competition right to the end.
Team Australia
Day one saw Zarczynski dominate to win the solo class while Junior class rider, Tom Woodhouse earned second place overall before Sarah Chivers, who tackled challenges throughout the day that impacted her overall score, landing her in third position.
Kevin Zarczynski
“We overcame many challenges over the weekend, the first being that it was a three-day competition, which is unusual for Tom and Sarah who have never ridden a three-day trial before. Second, the event was held at three different locations which is very different for Trial, because normally the entire event is held at one location. Third, we were in streams all day. Everything was wet and a totally foreign environment for our team who are well practiced in drier conditions.”
Regardless of these difficulties, the team continued to bring the fire in Day two, with Woodhouse maintaining his position in second place overall. But eyes were on Chivers who overcame the terrain to move on up to second place in the Women’s class.
Coming into the third and final day of the Championship, Australia and New Zealand went toe to toe in a fight right to the finish for the Championship Cup and Shield. Zarczynski maintained a dominant lead throughout the day to score first place, but it was the perseverance of his two team mates, Woodhouse and Chivers that saw Team Australia bring the glory back home. Woodhouse claimed third position for the day in the Junior’s class, whilst Chivers fought her way right to the top to dominate her rivals and take out first place in the Women’s class.
It was a Cinderella story moment for Chivers and her team as she scored that top position and helped restore the confidence she may have lost on Day One!
Sarah Chivers
“I was a little bit worried coming into the Championship, because I haven’t been able to compete as much this year. And the first day was such a shock! But by the last day I was really pleased with my riding and it ended up helping us make it over the line.”
Zarczynski could not be happier with the team’s end result.
Kevin Zarczynski
“It was a chance to have a new group of young riders that were competing in their first International Trial. Each member contributed to our overall win thanks to their focus and perseverance. It was all to play for on the last day. Our team improved throughout the weekend, especially in the streams, and eventually progressed to be on par with the local New Zealand riders. This was in particular for Sarah, who lost the first two days, but progressed enough to succeed in winning the last day.”
Coming into the Championship with a long family history of motorcycle sport, Woodhouse was thrilled with their efforts throughout the weekend.
Tom Woodhouse
“I was really excited coming in the event but having to adapt to a different bike hindered my initial efforts. I also found the streams slippery and difficult to handle but eventually I found the right grip and the rest is history.”
2018 FIM Oceania Trial Championship – Christchurch, NZ
In what ended up being an epic International showdown, the comradery and hospitality displayed by our New Zealand counterparts was nothing short of excellent.
Dean Wilson Confirmed for AUS-X Open
The Monster Energy AUS-X Open Sydney is shaping up to be a grand slam of the world’s best superstars this year, with the flying Scotsman – Dean Wilson confirmed for the November 9 and 10 blockbuster inside Qudos Bank Arena.
Aus-X Open 2017 – Dean Wilson
Wilson raced to a career-best seventh overall during this year’s Monster Energy FIM World Supercross Championship despite missing rounds due to injury and included his first ever 450cc SX1 Supercross podium coming at the Indianapolis round inside Lucas Oil Stadium.
Wilson won the Saturday Main-Event SX1 Final at the 2017 AUS-X Open and believes the event provides a perfect platform to bounce back into the international spotlight, as he looks to secure a factory ride for the 2019 World Supercross Championship.
Dean Wilson
“I’m super excited to be returning to the AUS-X Open again in 2018, It’s perfect timing for me to come down and really put in a good performance; with the high calibre names that are competing this year, if I can beat them, then I’m back on the international radar, which is what I’m aiming for.”
Dean Wilson
During last year’s event, the 26-year-old took top honours during the Saturday night final, backing that up with a strong second place on Sunday.
Dean Wilson
“Obviously last year went really well – I won the first night and then backed it up with a second on the second night, which was awesome. But just the overall atmosphere and vibe – to come and see Australia and Sydney during the summer time was incredible, and I can’t wait to head back down under.”
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Pauls Jonass Signs with Husqvarna
Husqvarna Motorcycles have signed Pauls Jonass to the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MXGP team, where the 21-year-old Latvian will compete on Husqvarna’s FC 450 machine throughout the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
Pauls was crowned the 2011 85cc Junior World Champion, winning the 125cc Junior Motocross World Championship two years later the the World MX2 Championship in 2017 so at just 21 years of age, Jonass is one of the most promising young riders on the circuit.
Pauls Jonass – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
“I’m really excited to be part of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team. The switch to the MXGP category is a big move for me but I can’t wait to get started. Joining such an acclaimed team gives me a huge amount of motivation to continue working hard in order to achieve my goals. I’m looking ahead to a great future with the team. I’ve known Antti [Pyrhönen] and the rest of the team members for some years already and it feels good to start working with them. Following my knee surgery last month, my goal right now is to start riding my Husqvarna at the earliest possible time. I want to maximise my time on the bike, so I can be fully-fit and ready to enter this exciting new season in the MXGP category.”
Pauls Jonass
Diego Clement – Head of Motorsport at Husqvarna Motorcycles
“We are extremely happy to have former MX2 World Champion Pauls Jonass join our team. We truly believe Pauls has the potential to become a frontrunner in the extremely competitive MXGP category. Pauls is one of the most experienced motocross racers of his generation and already a three-time World Champion. His speed is never in doubt, and he has impressed us, as he has the wider motocross community, with his ability to perform on varying track conditions. It’s going to be an exciting new season and we are all looking forward to seeing Pauls do battle against the MXGP class elite aboard our FC 450 machine.”
Kimi Räikkönen – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing (IceOne) Team Owner
“With Pauls joining our team the goal is to continue our success. The Motocross World Championship is the most competitive global motocross series and we’re pleased to be strengthening our team with a former World Champion. I am confident all members of our team will give their best to help Pauls achieve his goals in the MXGP class.”
Pauls Jonass & Antti Pyrhönen
Antti Pyrhönen – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing MXGP Team Manager
“We are all looking forward to working with Pauls Jonass as he starts an exciting new chapter in his professional motocross career. Everyone knows Pauls is an extremely hard working rider, which we know will help him fit in perfectly with our team. Already being a world champion speaks volumes about his capabilities. He is both physically and mentally strong and has demonstrated time and again that he is able to excel even under the toughest conditions. We all can’t wait to start working with this young and extremely talented rider.”
Seewer Second at Sugo
Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s debutant Jeremy Seewer got the next chapter in his MXGP career off to a positive start in Sugo, Japan, with a silver medal performance at the final round of the 2018 All Japan Motocross Championship.
Jeremy Seewer
“It was a very special weekend from many points of view. It’s been different but a really nice experience, it was a nice track, very technical. I was second two times, but the result was not so important today, it was just about having fun and I had a lot of fun out there today. Now, I look forward to a few days of testing.”
Jeremy Seewer
Saturdays’ rainfall made for challenging conditions. Seewer’s versatility was highlighted as he took to the track for the first time on board his Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP YZ450F in the early hours of Sunday morning and after a few minor suspension adjustments, managed to set the second fastest lap time in the Qualifying Practice session.
The sun beat down on the Sugo circuit ahead of race one where Seewer chased Japan’s defending champion Kei Yamamoto and the former two-time World Champion Tim Gajser around the first corner before following Gajser past Yamamoto a few turns later. As the terrain improved, so did his lap times and after moving into second-place the 24 year-old focused on adapting to the track conditions but suffered from arm-pump almost instantly and had to ease off the pace and settle for second.
After making some more suspension changes ahead of race two, changes that would reduce the chance of arm-pump on the tight, compact, rough and rugged Sugo circuit, Seewer felt more comfortable in the final race where he pulled an outstanding holeshot on board the standard YZ450F that he was riding. Despite being on a standard bike, Seewer still looked fast and ‘at home’ for the full 17-Laps as he charged hard to another second place finish, and second overall for the weekend.
Following his first podium appearance with the Monster Energy Factory Yamaha MXGP Team, Seewer will remain in Japan for three days of testing before he returns home to Switzerland where he plans to rest for a few weeks before resuming his off-season preparation in December.
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Young Returns for Wildwood Rock
South African Wade Young has raced his Factory Sherco to victory at the 2018 running of the infamous Red Bull Romanics then backed that up with emphatic victories at the 111 Megawatt in Poland and again at the Sea to Sky event in Turkey and he is now focused on winning this weekend’s Wildwood Rock Extreme on the outskirts of Melbourne.
The 22 year-old Red Bull athlete arrived in Australia just in time for the Moto GP at Phillip Island last weekend where he was able to see the elite of road racing up close and personal for the very first time.
Wade Young
“I really enjoy Australia, it’s so different to everywhere else I race around the world yet it’s so similar to back home in South Africa. It was so cool to bet at the Moto GP. It was the first time I have seen Moto GP live and it was great to cheer on my countrymen Brad Binder and Darryn Binder. It was a cool way to start off this visit to Australia before I race Wildwood this weekend.”
Wade Young
Young and his Sherco Factory mechanic Franck Boulisset are now preparing for the Wildwood Rock Extreme at the Motul Pirelli Sherco Team workshop in Melbourne with Boulisset fine tuning a Sherco 300 SE-R supplied by Sherco Australia.
Despite winning the 2017 Wildwood Rock Extreme by a comfortable margin and currently enjoying career-best form, Young remains focused on the task ahead of him this Sunday.
Wade Young
“2018 has definitely seen some of my biggest results but I have also had some bad luck and not achieved all the results I was after, so I’m looking forward to Wildwood. It’s not super-hot and not a super long race but the rock garden section is tough going. It’s really hard and quite physical and high intensity and I expect the track to be a bit harder than last year.”
Wade Young
The four-hour race will test rider and machine but with Young in peak physical condition, it’s hard to look past the defending champion as a possible winner.
Stephen Tuff
“Wade is a beast of a competitor, he’s confident in what he does yet remains humble and never gets too far ahead of himself. It’s a pleasure to watch him in action because he can do things on a motorcycle most of will never be able to do. Watching him navigate seemingly impossible obstacles leaves me with pure admiration for his dedication to becoming the best extreme enduro rider in the world.”
The 2018 Wildwood Rock Extreme is on this Sunday at 227 Feehans Road, Wildwood, just 15-minutes-drive from Melbourne airport. On-track actions begins at 9.00am with the main race starting at 11.00am.
S-X Open Auckland to host KTM Junior Supercross Challenge
The KTM Junior Supercross Challenge will make its highly-anticipated New Zealand debut during the 2018 Monster Energy S-X Open Auckland next month, set to take centre-stage at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday, 24 November.
Just two weeks following its second AUS-X Open Sydney appearance alongside the S-X Open International Supercross FIM Oceania Championship series opener, there will be a total of 10 aspiring supercross stars aged between seven and eight years old who will take to the track on supplied KTM 50 SX machinery at round two.
Patrick Stafford – Manager, KTM New Zealand
“We’re very excited to introduce the KTM Junior Supercross Challenge (KJSC) in New Zealand. It’s been a long time coming, to have an international supercross event here in New Zealand, and it’s awesome to be a part of it. The KJSC has been extremely successful in the United States, as well as Australia, so we are looking forward to seeing the successful applicants take part in S-X Open Auckland at Mt Smart Stadium. This will be an incredible experience for KJSC riders and we are certain they will remember it for a lifetime to come!”
What Racing is Left for 2018?
There is still plenty of motocross, supercross and enduro events between now and the New Year with the most prominent being the AUS-X Open this coming weekend then the 2018 ISDE in Chile – see the list of the remaining events for 2018 below:
Australasia
Australian Supercross Championships – Nov. 9-10 – AUS-X Open – Sydney
New Zealand Supercross Championships
Nov. 24 – SX Open – Auckland
Dec. 1 – South Waikato
Dec. 15 – Southland
America
2018 AMA EnduroCross Series – Nov. 3 – Boise, ID
2018 World Vet Championships – Nov. 3-4 – Glen Helen, CA
THOR Mini Olympics – Gainesville, Florida – Nov. 18-24
2018 Day In The Dirt – Nov. 24-26 – Glen Helen, CA
2018 AMA World Off-Road Championships (WORCS) – Nov. 9-11 – Primm, NV
Canadian Triple Crown Supercross
Nov. 3 – Quebec
Nov. 17 – Hamilton
Europe
Stuttgart Supercross – Nov 10. Stuttgart, Germany
World Enduro Super Series (WESS) – Nov. 10 – Red Bull Knock Out Beach Race – The Netherlands
ISDE – Nov. 12-17 – Chile
2018 Paris Supercross – Nov. 17-18 – Paris, France
French Sand Championship
Dec. 2 – Rd3 – Saint Leger de Balson
Dec. 9 – Rd4 – Hossegor
Jan. 6 – Rd5 – Grayan-et-L’Hopital
Jan. 27 – Rd6 – Le Touquet
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Yamaha resurgent as Vinales from Iannone, Dovi wins
Riders and Team managers talk the Phillip Island GP
Maverick Vinales – P1
“This is the best feeling ever, honestly! We‘ve been in the dark all year, and suddenly we came into the light! I couldn‘t show my potential in the previous races, but today I could. Being first in Australia is always amazing! It‘s the best track ever, and I like to be at the front there. To win here and break this long none winning period of Yamaha is unbelievable! I was riding on the bike like I was in FP4. I got a really good feeling from the bike, so I knew I could maintain 1‘29s. That‘s what I did for most of the middle of the race. I tried to escape as far as I could, because I knew my tyre wasn‘t going to last until the end. I knew opening that gap would be difficult, I had some moments with some riders, and some shaking on the bike – I was struggling, but I still made it through anyway. It was amazing! I have to say ‘thank you’ to the team, because this weekend they worked for the win. We will try to be the best and we‘ll try to work in a good way. We don‘t want to lose the concentration, because we don‘t know what will happen in Malaysia, but for sure the level of motivation will be high after this weekend.”
Maverick Vinales
Andrea Iannone – P2
“I’m really happy, especially as we were at the top almost all weekend long, and this gives us a lot of positivity. We worked together on improving my feeling with the bike and it meant I was able to finish really close to the top. I felt able to win but it was a hard fight with the others and I was losing ground with them. When I managed to overtake them and keep them behind I realised I couldn’t catch Viñales, so I just tried to defend and manage the tyres. At the end I pushed at 100% to make sure I could get 2nd place.”
Andrea Iannone
Andrea Dovizioso – P3
“I’m really satisfied with the way the race went. Even though we knew we had good speed, managing to get a podium here is another thing. I’m pleased I got myself immediately into an ideal position in the race, because if you start from the third row here at Phillip Island anything can happen, as we saw. Instead with a bit of luck I immediately managed to make up some positions and after a few laps I was first: I never expected that! Then I had a chance to manage the tyres and reach the end of the race in a good state, even though we were all in trouble a bit. I’m very pleased with the work we’ve done here: Phillip Island was a fundamental test to understand our level of competitiveness and now we know we have made a good step forward over last year.”
Andrea Dovizioso
Álvaro Bautista – P4
“At the end of a difficult weekend in which I crashed three times, this fourth place is a great reward for me. To come into a new team and step onto a new bike at a circuit like this was for sure not going to be easy, but I think we’ve worked well together, making steps forward in every session. I started the race really focussed and relaxed because I had no real targets to aim for, except for enjoying riding the Desmosedici GP18. After quite a complicated start, I was able to soon catch up with the leading group and fight for the front positions. In the last few laps I made a few small mistakes and lost contact with Dovizioso and Iannone, but in any case I’m very happy with my overall result, especially for the team and for Ducati, whom I would like to thank once again for the trust they have shown in me.”
Álvaro Bautista
Alex Rins – P5
“It was an interesting race and I was able to learn a lot. During the first part, when I was inside the group, I was feeling good but then when I got the contact from Maverick I lost a lot of ground and it cost me a lot because the group got away, but this is racing. I also lost further time trying to overtake Miller. But we want to focus on the positive points, and there were many, for instance the way I was able to battle with Rossi and defend my 5th place. We’re going to Malaysia with good feelings and we are prepared, so we hope for another nice result there.”
Alex Rins chases down Vinales and Rossi
Valentino Rossi – P6
“Unfortunately from the first lap I already started to slide a bit too much on acceleration. I lost some grip compared to yesterday and this morning. It’s a shame because for sure we wanted to try to do better. I tried to ride smoothly and manage the tyres, but unfortunately after 15 laps I was in trouble, because when exiting left corners I had too much spin. We need to understand why this happened and then try to improve, but having Maverick win a race is good news for the team and Yamaha, because it gives great motivation.”
Valentino Rossi
Jack Miller – P7
“If I have to be honest I was expecting a little more but I am still happy with this result and being the first Independent rider. I got off to a good start even though I honestly didn’t think I would be in the lead so early. In the middle of the race I tried to save my tyres but in the end I didn’t have any room to attack the podium group.”
Jack Miller
Franco Morbidelli – P8
“I am very happy with this result, my personal best result in MotoGP. We did a god job to exported the situation with riders going out of the race. Our tyre choice was the right one and I had good pace especially from half-race and I was able to get into the tope ten. I want to thank my crew for a great job this weekend to sort out the set-up of the bike for the race.”
Franco Morbidelli
Aleix Espargaro’ – P9
“On the straight, I was in the slipstream of a lot of riders and at a certain point, a piece of Marc’s bike struck my left hand. I began to feel pain, but fortunately in MotoGP we only use the clutch for the start, so I was able to finish the race. We’ll assess the situation in view of Malaysia. After a less-than-easy weekend, in warm up we made a big step forward and in the race I was able to ride very incisively. This is demonstrated by the fact that we lapped faster than in qualifying, but unfortunately on the final laps, the soft rear tyre began to suffer and I was unable to hold onto eighth place. In any case, the result is good, considering the hard work done this weekend with two different bikes.”
Aleix Espargaro – AJRN Image
Bradley Smith – P10
“We did a good job. We saw Phillip Island as an important weekend for KTM because we knew the bike would work quite well here. The team did a fantastically because the main aim of the weekend was to try and set up the bike as best as we could to look after the rear tyre. It meant we had to sacrifice qualification a little bit yesterday but it paid off today. I had a great first lap to come from sixteenth to eighth and then tried to hold the position for as long as possible. Unfortunately towards the end I just didn’t have anything left for Morbidelli or Aleix. Sepang now and it is a difficult track but I think we have some good confidence and the bike has a good setting and it working well for me. I’m optimistic we can keep the same level and take some good points.”
Bradley Smith
Karel Abraham – P11
“We have to be happy with this race, we have doubled our points score for the season in just round. I am happy to have had the chance to ride the Ducati GP17, I could see how much potential the bike has but you also have to consider that it is difficult for any rider or chief mechanic to find the perfect set-up for a new bike in just one weekend. In any case we have done a good job and you could see that at the start of the race, when I felt really good. After that the bike started to slide and pump, I changed the mapping and it helped for a couple of laps but then it started again. I didn’t want to use the last two maps because they are for emergency use and we still had a lot of laps to go. The riders behind me were closing in and I wanted to push harder but I couldn’t get any more out of the bike. In the end, luckily, I managed to stay ahead of them.”
Karel Abraham
Danilo Petrucci – P12
“It’s really a shame. I felt like I had a great feeling right from the warm-up. I went on track very focused and made my best start in my career. Unfortunately at turn two I had a problem with the clutch. I am really sorry but these are the races: once it is the rider who makes a mistake, another time it is the bike that betrays you. We’ll try again in Sepang.”
Danilo Petrucci
Scott Redding – P13
“I am happy with the way the race went. To be honest, I didn’t expect it. Even in warm up, I didn’t have any particularly good feeling. Apparently, staying in the slipstream of the other riders helped me warm up the front tyre better. Maybe in terms of pace I could have done a bit better too, but when I found myself leading the group, I began to have some difficulties. In any case, I battled, overtaking Nakagami on the final lap and bringing home important points. A few crashes helped, but we did a good job anyway turning a complicated situation around.”
Scott Redding
Takaaki Nakagami – P14
“It was a difficult weekend. The weather conditions were a little bit better than yesterday, they were less windy and the track temperature was getting higher and higher. We decided to go with a soft compound on the rear and I think that was the correct choice, but I really struggled in the last ten laps. The lap times were quite strong and I couldn’t find the race pace I wanted. In the end I got into the points which is very good, but I was expecting a better result here so now we have to think about the next one in Sepang and try to be more consistent over the weekend.”
Takaaki Nakagami
Xavier Simeon – P15
“I have a lot of problems with the clutch and once again, my start was horrible. I was last again, but this time at least I was able to recover some positions on the first lap. The bike was very good and I had the pace to fight between eleventh and fifteenth position. Ten laps from the end though, the left flank of the rear tyre was destroyed and I had to slow down. Therefore I’m a little bit disappointed. The weekend has been very good and I always felt strong, but we depend too much on tyre wear. Apart from this, I’m super happy about achieving my first MotoGP point and I want to thank my team because they helped me a lot since I got on this bike. In Malaysia we have to improve the start and work more with the tyres for the race. I hope to have fun again like here and score more points.”
Xavier Simeon
Tom Luthi – P16
“I had a good rhythm for the first ten laps and could stay with the group I was in so I’m little disappointed for this result. But then I lost a lot of edge grip and could not keep corner speed in the fast left-hand corners and I was struggling with understeer and that’s where I lost too much time. I’m disappointed to be 16th again and just miss some championship points.”
Tom Luthi
Jordi Torres – P17
“The race has left me with a bad taste in my mouth. This morning in the warm-up I felt pretty strong and we had a very promising pace. But it was more windy in the race and tyres maybe did not reach the right working temperature on the first laps because twice I was close to a crash when I tried to push. This affected my confidence and I wasn’t riding comfortably throughout the race. I know what I have to do to go fast, but I lacked the confidence to do it. At least I’m gaining experience in every race and I hope things will go better in Malaysia. Sepang is a very long circuit and I’ll have to learn many things in a short time, because the other riders have done lot of kilometres over there. The heat will also be a new challenge for me. I hope to my level of fitness is high enough.”
Jordi Torres
Mike Jones – P18
“I just wanted to give my best and finish the race, and we achieved our objective. I am very happy and grateful to the Ángel Nieto Team for the opportunity to race in MotoGP in front of the Australian fans. It has been an incredible experience, the power of the bike is crazy and the braking force is unreal. It has been a physically demanding weekend because this is such a different bike to anything I have ridden before.”
Mike Jones
Marc Marquez – DNF
“At first I didn’t understand exactly what had happened, but I was angry because I felt the contact from the rear. I couldn’t continue the race because my seat was broken and moving around. It was impossible to ride. When I arrived in the garage and saw the video, I understood. It was just a race incident because at that point of the track, we arrive really fast, over 300 km/h. I was behind Jack Miller when I braked even a bit later than usual, and then I felt the impact. Zarco had taken the slipstreams from the two of us. You may think he could have considered that, but for me it’s just a race incident and I already spoke with him. What I can say is that today I feel really lucky, and the most important thing for me is that both me and Johann are okay. Today I was really focused, and the race was going as expected. I led for a couple of laps, and then I decided to stay in the group and wait a bit. I had the pace and I felt I was able to fight for the win. It’s unlucky that we got a zero here at Phillip Island, but if next year I can win the title in Japan again and have another DNF here, I’ll sign up for that! Now let’s focus on the next race.”
Damage to Marc Marquez’s Honda
Dani Pedrosa – DNF
“It has been a difficult weekend. We never had a good feeling over the three days, and unfortunately I crashed out of the race. I wasn’t in a good position, and then I lost the front in the braking point after the straight—quite a big crash, as it’s a fast point. Anyway, we just have to move forward, hoping to have a better race next Sunday.”
Dani Pedrosa
Hafizh Syahrin – DNF
“Until lap 19 I had a good race. I just lost the front because I tried to close again on Miller. In the straight it is just impossible, as the Ducati just passes very easily. The guys and myself, we are already working very hard with our package, which is a bit different to the rest of the Yamahas. I was fighting with the faster group in the front, but it was just technically impossible to keep up with them, although I was pushing very hard. It’s a great pity to crash on the 19th lap. Anyway, we keep pushing, working hard and believing in ourselves because my team and me work very hard to be strong in the race. We tried to use our speed for a good result, but in the end we didn’t have a chance to fight with the rest of the riders in front.”
Hafizh Syahrin
Johann Zarco – DNF
“It was a bit cold today, but the sunshine made it a nice day. Starting from third position was a good advantage. I got a good start, but in the second corner I slide with the rear and a few guys had the same, I lost a few positions, but then I was really feeling quite ok to attack and try to overtake. I’m happy about the feeling that I was strong and did some good passes. After a few laps, I was still feeling pretty good, I got the slipstream of Jack Miller and Marc Marquez was also there. We were going so fast and when we were braking for corner one, I touched the rear wheel of Marc and totally flew away. I had a big crash, but I’m okay, which is the most important thing, as that crash was really fast It’s a shame about the race, because finish the race would have been important for the independent riders’ championship, but I didn’t. The crash was big and I am sorry that Marc could not finish the race. Thank you to my team, because the bike was competitive today! I did a mistake and I need to make up for it on the next two rounds.”
Johann Zarco
Pol Espargaro – DNF
“I was super-angry because I think we worked well this weekend and did a lot of laps with the tyres front and rear and we put the Soft options for the race thinking it would be OK. For some reason after six-seven laps it started to drop and I couldn’t open the throttle. After a few more laps it was dangerous to ride the bike so I had to stop. I don’t know what else to say. We made all the processes and procedures to know the tyre 100% but it looks like it can be a lottery. We’ll talk to Michelin and try to learn from this.”
Pol Espargaro
Davide Brivio – Suzuki ECSTAR Team Manager
“This has been another very good day for our team, we took another podium, the second in a row and the third in 4 races. Andrea had a great battle with many riders and was able to finish 2nd. Because of this big battle it was hard to catch the leader, but anyway, it was a good race and we scored our 7th podium of the season. Alex finishing 5th was also very positive, Top 5 is really important to us. I really hope we can continue like this for the last two rounds of the season and thanks again to everybody involved for always working hard, especially on difficult times.”
Andrea Iannone
Massimo Meregalli – Yamaha MotoGP Team Director
“What a thrilling and dramatic race! Maverick is always strong at the Phillip Island circuit, and he once again outdid himself in Australia today. He really deserved the victory, because he had been strong the entire weekend. It‘s a great feeling for the team to secure a win again – we have all been working so hard for this. It‘s not just us who have been waiting, but also our fans, so this is as much for them as it is for us. It was a pity that Vale wasn‘t able to join the podium, because he was showing great potential for the majority of the race. It would have been great to have him up there too. He and his crew have also been pushing to the maximum, but sixth place was really the best he could do today due to tyre wear at the end of the race. Overall this weekend has been a great moral boost, because both riders were competitive, so we‘re all looking forward to the next round, the Grand Prix of Malaysia, in just a week‘s time.”
Maverick Vinales with crew chief Roman Forcada
Hervé Poncharal – Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team Manager
“There are some days you wish what you see is a dream – or rather a nightmare. But unfortunately, what we saw today was reality. We had high hopes with a great Qualifying from both of our riders, Johann on the front row and Hafizh with his best ever Qualifying in 10th. The start was difficult as usual, it was a big pack as we saw in the other two classes and clearly, Johann was trying to find his way through the field after a bit hectic lap one. We could see that he was really fast and I think he wanted to use the advantage of the soft-soft choice he had made for front and rear and that was quite intense until that incident, which was unbelievable. When you see a rider going down at such a high speed – I think he touched the ground at 280 km/h – for the few seconds following the incident, you just hope nothing bad will happen. Johann had a really good reflex and although his bottom is quite sore, he was strong to walk back to the garage and be still fully fit and ready to race the next round. That was a big thing. Unfortunate for the fans and the racing overall, Marc and Johann were out of the race, which made it less exciting. So, our focus went on Hafizh, who was behind the leading group until he slowly los the contact. But he was still holding on a good eighth position and we were quite happy because although he was loosing ground he was still keeping a good pace and he crashed without any warning, without really understanding why. That was the end of our weekend. Both of our riders could have been really strong and both of them get no points, which is a big disappointment. I know you always have to keep up the ‘never-give-up-attitude’, but today it is hard, also with Remy in the Moto2 class. The only good thing is, our riders are fit, ok and we have a race next week.”
Remy Gardner
Mike Leitner – KTM Team Manager MotoGP
“Race conditions can be difficult here and so can tyre choice. It went quite well for Bradley and he ran where he we think we can be – between 8-10. We lost ninth position by four hundredths of a second: it was very close. A shame for Pol. He had a different tyre choice but then other riders also had that selection. In the middle of the race he had a very big drop which is not usual and he had to stop. So we need to analyse what happened. He should have also been able to fight for the top ten. We’ll go to Malaysia now and try to make it happen.”
“Phillip Island is always a big challenge and this year was certainly no different. The strong gusting winds and cold temperatures made it difficult for everyone, but the whole Michelin team worked in a very professional and methodical way with the riders to make sure the tyres which were best suited to the conditions and riding styles were used today. Despite the challenges, the race was very exciting and it is good for Michelin to have another winner, both rider and manufacturer, and it is also pleasing to see all six manufacturers in the top-ten and three different ones on the podium. We are constantly striving to give tyres to all that they can use to the best of their abilities, so having results such as this are very rewarding. The Michelin Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix is a very big occasion on the company’s calendar and this has been another great event. We have again learned a lot about the toughest track of the year and this will enable us to come back even stronger next year.”
Billy Bolt retains overall WESS lead heading to final
Images by Future7Media
It was local Swedish riders who dominated the 2018 Gotland Grand National, comprising Round 7 of the World Enduro Super Series, with Albin Elowson topping the podium ahead of Robert Kvarnstrom and Ken Bengtson in the muddy conditions.
The 2018 Gotland Grand National proved one to remember as conditions deteriorated with heavy rain
Renowned as the world’s largest Enduro race, over 3000 riders competed in this year’s event, with Friday kickstarting the proceedings where up to 600 Hobby riders enjoyed near-perfect conditions. From Friday evening onwards however, the rain fell hard on the Scandinavian circuit, ensuring that the 35th GGN would be remembered as one of the wettest in history.
Albin Elowson – 2018 Gotland Grand National – WESS Round 7
As the Elite, Senior and Junior class riders blasted off the start line on Saturday, thousands of riders jostled for position in the mud. Clearing the early carnage safely, Elowson moved into the race lead on lap one followed by Kvarnstrom.
2018 Gotland Grand National – WESS Round 7
The duo then went head-to-head, pushing a pace that quickly saw them distance themselves from the ensuing pack. By midway, Elowson showed no signs of slowing down and pulled clear of Kvarnstrom to claim a convincing win at the end of the sixth and final lap.
Despite a late push by Kvarnstrom, the Yamaha rider had to settle for the runner-up position, while Bengtson rounded out the podium in third. Apart from the local top three, Taddy Blazusiak worked hard in the final stages of the race to claim fourth, while Sebastian Martensson rounded out the top five.
Manuel Lettenbichler – 2018 Gotland Grand National – WESS Round 7
When it came to WESS the title contenders, Spain’s Josep Garcia crossed the finish line in 12th to slightly close the gap to series leader Bolt, who finished 13th. Although holding 25th with one lap remaining, a crash in the closing stages of the race pushed Manuel Lettenbichler back to 43rd overall.
With just the final round of the championship remaining, Bolt extended his advantage over Lettenbichler to 275 points. Garcia, in third, closes to within 445 points of the second placed Lettenbichler. Blazusiak’s fourth place result at GGN sees him move up to fourth overall, but more importantly he now sits just 25 points behind Garcia as the race to become this year’s ‘Ultimate Enduro Champion’ moves to The Netherlands for Red Bull Knock Out.
Billy Bolt – 2018 Gotland Grand National – WESS Round 7
Albin Elowson – P1
“I’m so happy to take the win here in Gotland. I knew I had the speed before the race, but you never know what can happen around here, especially in these conditions. I got a decent start and tried to make some passes in the early chaos. I had a good fight with Robert Kvarnstrom but after the first pit stop I was able to open up a small gap and managed to maintain that lead for the whole race. Overall, I felt good and was happy with my pace. I went through a lot of goggles – that’s one of the main things at this race, you have to keep your eyes clear in order to ride properly. Also, a big thanks to the team. They were great and both pit stops were excellent. Finally, it’s good to be able to show what I am capable of – especially with the GGN now part of WESS. I know I have the speed, I just have to build my confidence a little and hopefully I can get some more good results in the future.”
Albin Elowson – 2018 Gotland Grand National – WESS Round 7
Robert Kvarnstrom – P2
“That was a really tough race. It was so wet and so muddy. I think it was one of the toughest editions of GGN that we’ve ever done. I got a good start and was running with Albin Elowson early on, but a few mistakes and some issues with the traffic cost me time and he gapped me. After that I just rode my own race. I found some more speed towards the end, but it wasn’t quite enough to pressure Albin for the lead. Congratulations to him for the win – I’ll have to come back next year and fight for the victory again.”
Robert Kvarnstrom – 2018 Gotland Grand National – WESS Round 7
Taddy Blazusiak – P4
“I am happy with fourth place, especially as it’s my first time racing here and we had very little preparation for such a tough race. To finish as the top international rider feels really good, too. This is such a special event – you need the right set-up and without experience, it’s difficult to find that. We expected it to be wet and a little muddy, but nothing like what we had – it was next level out there. I had two small get-offs, which cost me some time and so it’s a little disappointing not to have finished on the podium. Fourth place has given me some good points for the championship though, especially as I finished a fair bit higher than the rest of the regulars.”
Taddy Blazusiak – 2018 Gotland Grand National – WESS Round 7
Billy Bolt – P13
“It’s been a really hard race, much harder than we initially expected when we first arrived in Gotland. The consistent rain from Friday onwards turned the entire track into a mud pit and from the very beginning it was a real tough battle. I had an ok start but then a really bad opening lap. A rider crashed in front of me and as I stopped to avoid him someone else crashed into me from behind and we all were stuck in a puddle. I got going again but got mixed up in another crash and went down again – that’s when I broke the throttle tube. I tried to fix it at the side of the track but lost so many places as a result and had to pit on lap one to repair the damage. When I got going again I had to push to recover. Although 13th is not the result I wanted, considering the issues it was a good result. With my championship rivals also not having the best of days I still managed to stretch my lead at the top of the standings as we now look towards to the final round of the championship at Knock Out.”
Billy Bolt – 2018 Gotland Grand National – WESS Round 7
Josep Garcia – P12
“Overall, I am happy with how I rode but it would have been nicer to finish a little higher in the standings. I got a good start but crashed with another rider and a lot of the other competitors got past me – after that I had to overtake a lot of riders. Nathan and I rode together for a while and that was good, we were able to push and made up a lot of time. Unfortunately, I had another crash that damaged the bike a little so after that I just tried to make it safely to the finish. It was a tricky race for me – very cold and physically challenging racing in those conditions for three hours – but I earned some good points for the championship and now look forward to the last round in The Netherlands.”
The World Enduro Super Series concludes with the eighth and final round – Red Bull Knockout –on November 10.
Albin Elowson claimed top honours from Robert Kvarnstrom and Ken Bengston
WESS Round 7 – 2018 Gotland Grand National
Albin Elowson (Husqvarna – SWE) 6 laps, 2:59:02
Robert Kvarnstrom (Yamaha – SWE) 3:01:52
Ken Bengston (Husqvarna – SWE) 3:03:38
Taddy Blazusiak (KTM – POL) 3:06:59
Sebastian Martensson (Husqvarna – SWE) 3:08:33
Johan Carlsson (Husqvarna – SWE) 3:08:42
Calle Bjerkert (Husqvarna – SWE) 3:10:10
Joakim Ljunggren (KTM – SWE) 3:10:44
Oskar Ljunstrom (Husqvarna – SWE) 3:11:08
Marcus Gothenberg (Husqvarna – SWE) 3:11:16
Oskar Olsson (KTM – SWE) 3:11:17
Josep Garcia (KTM – ESP) 3:12:54
Billy Bolt (Husqvarna – GB) 3:14:24
Paul Bolton (KTM – GB) 3:15:42
Nathan Watson (KTM – GB) 3:16:16
2018 WESS Standings – After Round 7
Billy Bolt (Husqvarna – GB) 4420pts
Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM – GER) 4145pts
Josep Garcia (KTM – ESP) 3700pts
Taddy Blazusiak (KTM – POL) 3675pts
Wade Young 3220pts
Nathan Watson (KTM – GB) 3103pts
Paul Bolton (KTM – GB) 3092pts
Graham Jarvis (Husqvarna – GB) 3010pts
Jonny Walker (KTM – GB) 2900pts
Lars Enockl (Gas Gas – AUT) 2272pts
World Enduro Super Series – 2018 remaining rounds
Rnd 8. Red Bull Knock Out (The Netherlands) November 10
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