On Rins’ tail was the fastest Ducati on Day 2 and once again it was an Independent Team rider – this time Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing). The Australian was a late mover like those above him and was only a tenth off Rins by the end of play, putting in 49 laps. Just behind him came Andrea Dovizioso, who was the fastest Mission Winnow Ducati and looked set to top the day’s action until the late flurry of fast laps saw him pushed down to fourth. Initially, the number 04 was working on frames and Team Manager Davide Tardozzi confirmed that teammate Danilo Petrucci was focused on finding a better connection between the throttle and the rear tyre – working on the electronics and engine. Roles were then reversed, and Tardozzi also confirmed the Borgo Panigale factory also had some work on aero planned. That’s expected tomorrow. Today, it was two red machines in tandem as the two were on track together on some longer runs in the afternoon, with Petrucci saying he has “more to learn” than his teammate and ending the day in ninth. Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) pipped him on his GP18 to end Thursday in P7, with Francesco Bagnaia fastest rookie in P12 for Alma Pramac Racing.
Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar), second fastest on Day 1, is currently eight quickest and the last rider to dip below the 2:00 barrier. Then comes Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) in ninth, the Australian crashing unhurt before lunch, with Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Aleix Espargaro completing a top ten that is split by just 0.539 seconds.
After sustaining a left scaphoid fracture while training in Italy at the end of January, Jorge Lorenzo (Repsol Honda Team) has sat out this week’s Sepang Test in order to be as fit as possible for the Qatar Test at the end of this month, and the Qatar GP on the 10th March.
So, to keep up with everything that is going on in Malaysia, why not tune in to our live After the Flag show? Starting at 09:30 GMT and finishing at 11:00 GMT, Matt Birt and Neil Morrison will offer their expert analysis, with Simon Crafar joining them live from the Sepang International Circuit.
It’s almost time for the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup to get in gear for 2019 and the first port of call before competition begins is testing, with riders ready for two days of track action at Sepang International Circuit. That’s on the 9th and 10th of February as the returners come face to face with their 14 new rookie rivals, with reserve rider Shota Kiuchi and Malaysian Harith Zamri also in attendance. Danial Sharil, injured in a crash at the end of last season, won’t be back on track just yet, but the Malaysian is expected to return to the IATC mid-season.
Teenage motorcycle racing star Tom Toparis has left no stone unturned in his preparation for the opening round of the 2019 Supersport World Championship at Phillip Island’s Yamaha Finance round from February 22-24.
After a “warm-up” wildcard in the 2018 Phillip Island WorldSSP round when he finished in 15th position, the 18-year-old from Goulburn (NSW) believes he now has all the key elements in place to “give it a red-hot go” in 2019.
“I didn’t really have a major goal ahead of the 2018 event,” said Toparis, who’s the current Aussie supersport No.2. “In 2019, armed with my new Yamaha, I am certainly aiming at scoring at least a point, or even points, and I want to get my lap times down into the 1:34 bracket.”
Tom Toparis – ASBK 2019 – Official Phillip Island Test
Toparis has switched from Kawasaki to Yamaha machinery in 2019 and, as well as the YZF-R6 he’ll be riding in the Aussie title, a bespoke machine is being prepared for his one-off ride in the 18-lap WorldSSP race on February 24.
“I’ll be racing with the Landbridge Transport team, and they are the same outfit that ran Aiden Wagner and Mitch Levy in WorldSSP,” said Toparis, who’s an apprentice builder.
“Sam Costanzo is putting together the R6, and I’m confident that with the work we’re putting in with the suspension, engine and data logging, we won’t be at too much of a disadvantage compared to the internationals.
“We’ve also got a great data technician, Adrian Monti, joining us so that’s going to be a great help. That all said, I also want some familiarity with the WorldSSP machine: I don’t want it to feel much different to my local bike, which I am already very comfortable on.”
Tom Toparis – ASBK 2019 – Official Phillip Island Test
Toparis will ride his WorldSSP Yamaha at the official two-day test at Phillip Island on February 18-19. There he’ll be joined by the championship top brass such as 2018 Phillip Island winner Lucas Mahias, Jules Cluzel, Randy Krummenacher, Federico Caricasulo and Raffaele de Rosa, as well as new faces such as Hector Barbera and Isaac Vinales.
“I really love the thrill and challenge of world championship competition,” continued Toparis, who also has Moto3 wildcards to his name. “It helps me to become more race-hardened, and Phillip Island is also one of my best circuits – so why not try and take advantage of that.”
Tom Toparis – ASBK 2019 – Official Phillip Island Test
Like fellow Goulburn native Troy Herfoss in WorldSBK, Toparis will be the only Aussie competing in WorldSSP – and he’ll also start his 2019 domestic supersport campaign at Phillip Island as well.
With 13 races across the race weekend including the Australian supports, the schedule launches a new and expanded WorldSBK formula: two 22-lap races at 3:00pm on Saturday and Sunday, and a 10-lap no-holds-barred sprint at midday on Sunday. World Supersport races Sunday in an 18-lap showdown, with Australian Superbike, Supersport and Production 300 completing the bill with races across Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets now on sale A three-day general admission pass with FREE Paddock access for World Superbikes is just $120*, secured in advance, or $230* when you add on-circuit camping to your purchase.
For all ticket and racing information, visit www.worldsbk.com.au or Ticketek.
Factory Ducati rider forms strong base on day one of testing.
Image: Supplied.
Andrea Dovizioso has praised Mission Winnow Ducati Team’s Michele Pirro for his assistance in developing the Desmosedici GP19 throughout the off-season, which saw the regular test pilot sample a number of new components.
The Italian put Pirro’s work to use yesterday on day one of Sepang’s official three-day MotoGP test, forming a strong base that shows signs of promise.
Dovizioso was eighth fastest in the mixed weather conditions, laying down a best-lap of 2m0.197s, positioning himself 0.576s off pace-setter and reigning world champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team).
“Today has been really positive because we found the track in good conditions already and the weather stayed dry,” said Dovizioso. “We made some comparisons but we haven’t found substantial differences yet so we need to make more evaluations in the following days.
“We have a really good base, and the work done by Michele Pirro is always helpful to this end, because he can try some components beforehand, saving us precious time. Also, I felt great physically, so I’m pretty happy overall.”
Testing resumes today at the Malaysian circuit, where the MotoGP World Championship contingent will continue to finalise its latest developments for the season ahead.
Victorian round to serve as qualifier for junior world championship team.
Image: Foremost Media.
Williams Event Management, the promoter of the Pirelli MX Nationals, will launch the bLU cRU 2-Stroke Amateur Nationals this weekend at Traralgon in Victoria.
The amateur series is set to play out over three rounds, consisting of junior and senior two-stroke categories designed to boost and showcase the next generation of Australian motocross racers.
Traralgon’s opener will also serve as a qualifier for Team Australia’s 2019 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship squad, attracting over 500 riders and crew for Sunday’s outing.
“It’s a great feeling to be heading back to the Latrobe Valley where 23 years ago we started our event management business,” said WEM director Kevin Williams.
“The Latrobe City Council has played a huge part in helping this significant sporting event come together smoothly, and we are also excited to be working with a great local club in the Traralgon Motorcycle Club. Their support and assistance in delivering this event has been tremendous.”
Round two will take place at the popular Coolum circuit in Queensland on 3 March before finishing up at Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory on 27 April.
Frenchman still progressing in transition to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.
Image: Supplied.
Johann Zarco has discovered a direction with the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing RC16 following the opening day of the MotoGP testing at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.
The Frenchman was able to put two days of private testing at the venue to do good use earlier this week, confirming the set-up that he wants to pursue in the next two days of the official grand prix test.
Zarco, still in the early stages of his transition to the Austrian manufacturer, completed the opening day 20th on the timesheets, mentioning his feeling on the RC16 had dramatically improved.
“This morning I had a nice feeling and things were coming easy because we’d had two days of private testing,” Zarco explained. “We confirmed things on the bike and confirmed feelings instead of making big changes.
“It is a ‘long’ work and that’s why there is not big improvements all the time but compared to November when I started I had much more control and I can give clearer information. I’m positive because I know where we want to go. I trust the bike more and more.”
The number five returns to the circuit today for day two of three in the Malaysian test. The opening day was topped by reigning world champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), followed by Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP).
Australian contender 11th on the timesheets in Malaysia.
Image: Supplied.
Jack Miller has overcome a crash on the opening day of the 2019 MotoGP World Championship test at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.
The Pramac Racing rider wound up 11th on the timesheets aboard his Ducati Desmosedici GP19, completing 51 laps to finish seven tenths behind pace-setter Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team).
While the crash was minor, it forced the Australian contender to switch motorcycles for the remainder of the day, although he’s relatively satisfied with the progress made.
“I trained a lot during the winter break but riding a MotoGP bike in conditions like the ones we found today is something else,” Miller explained. “The feeling is good and I think the first day of testing was positive. It’s a shame about the small crash – without any particular consequences – that forced me to change bike. All things considered, I’m satisfied.”
The Queenslander will return to the Malaysian circuit today for day two of the three-day test, where he’ll endeavour to climb up in the times while developing the GP19 machine.
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