Latvian talent makes premier class debut at season-opener.
Image: Supplied.
Former MX2 world champion Pauls Jonass has expressed satisfaction in the decision to line-up for yesterday’s opening round of the 2019 MXGP World Championship, marking his debut in the premier class.
The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider experienced a shortened pre-season after undergoing knee surgery at the conclusion of his 2018 campaign, casting doubt over his entry for last weekend’s opener.
Transitioning both to 450 machinery and the Husqvarna brand for 2019, Jonass pieced together a respectable 10-9 scorecard for 10th overall at the Neuquen circuit in Argentina, forming a strong base to build from this year.
“Considering the limited time I had on the bike during the off-season, I am really happy with my results here in Argentina,” Jonass commented. “I had two decent motos, made no mistakes and learnt a lot. This was my first race in the MXGP class on the FC 450 and everything was new for me.
“I have to take this experience and continue working to become a better 450 rider. The races in this class are a lot more intense and also the starts are massively important for each moto. I’m happy we took the decision to come here in Argentina and I’m motivated to get back to work as soon as we return to Europe.”
Nine-time world champion Antonio Cairoli (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) took out both motos for the overall, joined on the podium by Tim Gajser (Honda HRC) and Jeremy van Horebeek (Honda SR Motoblouz).
Youthful talent consistently quick during testing at Losail International Circuit.
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Winding up P3 on the timesheets on the final day of Moto2 World Championship testing at Losail International Circuit in Qatar has injected confidence into Remy Gardner ahead of the season-opener at the venue this weekend.
Quickly adapting to the new Triumph powerplant along with new surroundings in ONEXOX TKKR SAG Racing Team, the Australian was consistently quick during testing, falling just 0.055s shy of pace-setter Alex Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) on day two before being 0.316s off the British talent on Sunday’s final outing.
“It was a good test, we ended up being fast although we did not have the best time but I felt really comfortable.” Gardner explained. “We have made many changes over the weekend and we have greatly improved the configuration of the bike.
“We made the race simulation with a good steady pace at the time of the fastest lap and I feel very confident for the next weekend. I am really happy with the equipment and the work done.”
Landing inside the top 10 at the Jerez test, and now being on pace in Qatar, it’s evident Gardner’s transition the SAG Racing squad is a promising one in just the early stages.
Gardner enters the 2019 season coming off one of the best campaigns of his career, where he earned his maiden front row start – which he was later denied of due to Silverstone’s cancellation – while also recording a career-best result of fifth at Valencia’s finale.
Factory Yamaha rider fifth at Atlanta’s ninth round of supercross.
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A suspension adjustment made prior to the night show at Atlanta’s ninth round of the 2019 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship has led to Aaron Plessinger’s best finish since entering the premier class this season.
The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing rider admits he struggled in the initial practice sessions, however a change of setting to his rear shock offer him the comfort needed to experience a strong evening out on-track, winding up a respectable fifth in the main event despite a late-race mishap.
“Atlanta supercross was pretty awesome,” Plessinger stated. “I was struggling in the first practices a little bit, but we made a little shock change and it was definitely for the better. I qualified thirteenth and went into the heat race with a pretty good gate pick.
“I came out pretty bad on the start, but I made it work and was able to come back to fifth. Then the main event, I lined up in a pretty good spot and yanked a really good start. I was running fourth for a while and crashed right in the sand, then got up in fifth and stayed there.
“We made a lot of steps in the right direction. I’m really, really excited about tonight and looking forward to Daytona next weekend!”
Jim Perry, Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing’s team manager, added: “It was a great night for Aaron Plessinger. He started the day off in a good place and made improvements throughout the day in practice. He built on that with a solid heat race and got off to a great start in the main event and rode with the lead pack for half the race.
“Unfortunately, he had a small tip-over in the deep sand, but got up and continued to charge on and rounded out the top five. He’s been working really hard and with a good start tonight it showed and paid off.”
The main event was won by points leader Cooper Webb (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) ahead of Blake Baggett (Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM) and Marvin Musquin (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).
New penalty on offer for MotoGP stewards this year.
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A long lap penalty will be introduced to the 2019 MotoGP World Championship, the Grand Prix Commission has confirmed.
When the FIM MotoGP stewards impose a change of position penalty on a rider, for track limits or any other reason, there is a possibility of it being unfair, and it’s also difficult to monitor when there are multiple infractions.
To make a more fair and verifiable penalty, the Grand Prix Commission, after consultation with the Safety Commission, have agreed to introduce a new long lap penalty.
At every circuit a route will be defined and marked at a safe point around the track, usually an asphalt runoff area outside of a turn, which is some seconds slower than the normal racing line. The penalised rider must ride through the defined area within three laps of being notified, thereby suffering a penalty equivalent to several seconds on that lap.
Procedures will be in place to enable the stewards to use an equivalent time penalty in case the rider is unable to complete the long lap, such as in the case of a red flagged race.
This penalty will be added to the list of sanctions available to the FIM MotoGP stewards, and whilst it is primarily intended for track limits violations, it may be used in any circumstances deemed appropriate by the stewards. The drop position penalty will continue being available to the stewards.
The opening round of MotoGP World Championship is scheduled for this weekend at Losail International Circuit in Qatar.
Youthful Australian highly-impressive at Argentina’s opening round.
Image: Supplied.
Queenslander Mitch Evans has landed on the podium while making his debut in the 2019 MX2 World Championship yesterday at Neuquen in Patagonia Argentina, marking an incredible start to his full-time international career.
The Team Honda 114 Motorsports rider demonstrated strong form in Saturday’s qualifying race, charging to an inspiring sixth place result to kick-start the year.
He returned to the circuit on Sunday in supreme form, placing fifth in the opening encounter before racing to an impressive third in the final outing, granting him the final position on the podium.
“I couldn’t be any happier, I didn’t really know what to expect being my first GP,” Evans explained. “I enjoyed every moment of it, it was awesome being here, the fans were awesome so I really enjoyed it. I knew the work that we put in during the off-season and the pre-season races, that we had if I got good starts, I could run with these boys.”
Calvin Vlaanderen (Honda HRC) and Henri Jacobi (F&H Racing Team) were fourth and fifth respectively – both tied on points with Evans for third, with the Australian being credited the higher place on countback.
The overall win was taken out by reigning world champion Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) ahead of Thomas Kjer Olsen (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing).
Former world champion Romain Febvre was hospitalised during yesterday’s opening round of the 2019 MXGP World Championship in Neuquen, Patagonia Argentina.
The Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing rider looked primed for a strong start to his 2019 campaign, taking out victory in Saturday’s qualification race before finishing third in the opening moto.
Leading portions of race two, the Frenchman relinquished positions one and two, however while maintaining third, a critical mistake throughout the roller section resulted in a heavy fall.
Landing heavily on his right leg, Febvre was transported to hospital for further evaluation, with his injuries still to be confirmed.
The overall win was ultimately captured by nine-time world champion Antonio Cairoli (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), followed by Tim Gajser (Honda HRC) and Jeremy van Horebeek (Honda SR Motoblouz).
Superstition is the way for motorcycle riders probably because we are so vulnerable to the weather, road conditions, wildlife and livestock and other motorists. We need all the help we can get!
Even multiple world champion racer Valentino Rossi (image above from MotoGP.com) is superstitious.
He goes through a set routine before every race squatting next to his bike’s footpegs and plucking his leathers out of his undies as he exits the pits. Or is that just a matter of comfort!
Scientific studies have shown that adhering to a superstition creates a placebo effect that luck is on your side, giving you the illusion of control.
They found that those who adhere to a superstitious ritual or object generally exhibit more confidence. In turn, this affects performance.
However, we would suggest an advanced riding course is better than resorting to superstitions.
Motorcycle superstition
There are many motorcycle superstitions. We have looked at just a few here:
Guardian bells
The mediaeval legend of the guardian bell says that the bell attracts evil spirits who get trapped inside.
The evil spirits or gremlins are driven insane by the constant ringing of the bell as you are riding and lose their grip, falling to the ground.
That stops them causing you to crash or your bike from developing mechanical problems.
Some say the guardian bell doesn’t work if you buy it yourself.
They say it only works or has twice the power if bought by a friend.
It also helps build camaraderie among riders.
St Christopher
Catholics would say it is not superstitious to carry a St Christopher statue, prayer card or medal, but simple religious belief or faith.
St Christopher is the patron saint of travellers, protecting them from the elements.
However, Catholics might also carry a statue, card or medal of St Frances of Rome who was declared the patron saint of motorists in 1952 by Pope Pius XI.
Obviously a dropped helmet may be damaged and fail to provide adequate protection in a crash.
But that is not why it is considered bad luck by riders.
It has more to do with the possibility that if you are that clumsy or uncaring about your helmet, you may be more likely to crash through similar inattention while riding.
Dropping your helmet may not damage the helmet, depending on how far the drop is, but it’s considered unlucky not to replace it if you do.
Never ride with the rear footpegs down … unless you have a pillion, of course.
It is believed that having them down invites evil spirits to hitch a ride, causing you to crash.
If there is any real correlation between crashing and rear pegs it could be that a rider who forgets to put the pegs up after their pillion gets off is more likely to also forget other things such as vital bike maintenance.
However, if you ever ride in a funeral cortege, the reverse is true. It is considered reverential to put the rear pegs down as you are inviting your departed friend for a last ride.
Green motorcycles
Pragmatists might say green bikes are harder to see against a backdrop of green countryside.
However, the superstition is believed to come from medieval times when green was considered evil.
It has roots in the automotive world thanks to several notable racing car crashes.
In 1910, a race car crashed and rocketed into a grandstand killing several spectators. A decade later, Gaston Chevrolet, younger brother of Chevrolet founder Louis, crashed his green car in a Beverly Hills race.
The most notable death was that of Formula 1 driver Jim Clark who crashed his green Lotus in 1968 at Hockenheim circuit.
Unlucky green motorcycles have their roots in crashes involving riders who bought damaged army-surplus motorcycles after World War II.
But just try telling a devoted Kawasaki rider that green is unlucky!
What superstitions do you have when riding?Leave your comments below.
Australia’s Gardner third as Fenati tops Moto3 category.
Image: Supplied.
Federal Oil Gresini Moto2’s Sam Lowes has thrown down the gauntlet ahead of the opening race weekend of the season after ending the Moto2 and Moto3 Qatar test quickest, his 1m58.439s on the final day enough to beat second place Tom Luthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) by 0.224s.
The entire top 10 on the combined standings set their quickest laps on day three at Losail International Circuit, with Lowes’ time quick enough to put him on pole for the MotoGP race that took place at the venue in 2004!
The aforementioned Luthi was the British rider’s closest rival, with Australian Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) continuing his impressive preseason speed with third, 0.316s off P1. Fourth went the way of Augusto Fernandez (Flexbox HP 40), his 1m58.775s leaving him just 0.002s two from Gardner, with Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) just another 0.030s back in fifth.
EG 0,0 Marc VDS’ Xavi Vierge ends the three-day test just ahead of Jorge Navarro (+Ego Speed Up) and Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) as the three Spaniards occupy sixth, seventh and eighth respectively. Ninth goes to Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46), his 1m58.980s putting him 0.541s off Lowes, with day one’s fastest rider Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completing the top 10.
In Moto3, Romano Fenati (Snipers Team) ended the test at the top of the timesheets after going quickest on the final day, setting a best time of 2m05.285s to head teammate Tony Arbolino by 0.230s. With many focusing on a fast lap – and some on trying to get a tow – it was a frantic final day of action.
All of the lightweight class riders, except the injured Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3), went quicker on the third and final day of testing at Losail International Circuit. But it was the Snipers Team duo who locked out the top two positions at the end of play, just like they have done on the previous two days. Their closest challenger was Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team), with 0.368s splitting him from Fenati in third.
Fourth fastest was Leopard Racing’s Lorenzo Dalla Porta, the only other rider within half a second of Fenati, with Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) completing a top five covered by 0.507s.
John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing) ended the test in sixth place with a best time of 2m05.899a, the British rider sitting 0.131a ahead of seventh-placed Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing). Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) was eighth, just ahead of Sky Racing Team VR46 duo Dennis Foggia and rookie Celestino Vietti – it was ninth and 10th on the timesheets for the Italians respectively.
Reigning champion Prado tops MX2 category at season-opener.
Image: Supplied.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli has opened the 2019 MXGP World Championship with a dominant overall victory in Neuquen, Patagonia Argentina, as Australia’s Mitch Evans (Team Honda 114 Motorsports) featured on the MX2 podium while making his debut.
Nine-time world champion Cairoli proved to be unstoppable in the opening round, defeating former world number one Tim Gajser (Honda HRC) in both outings – the Slovenian ultimately finishing second overall.
Jeremy van Horebeek (Honda SR Motoblouz) rounded out the podium with 6-3 moto scores, followed by Clement Desalle (Monster Energy Kawasaki Factory Racing) and Gautier Paulin (Monster Energy Wilvo Yamaha). Roman Febvre (Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing), who was third in race one, crashed heavily in motor two and was transported to hospital with a suspected foot injury.
In the MX2 category, reigning world champion Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) mastered both motos, taking out two rewarding race victories to earn the overall.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Kjer Olsen was second with a pair of runner-up results, while Evans, making his first world championship appearance, wound up an incredible third after a lodging 5-3 scorecard.
Calvin Vlaanderen (Honda HRC) and Henri Jacobi (F&H Racing Team) were fourth and fifth respectively – both tied on points with Evans for third. The next stop on the MXGP World Championship calendar is scheduled for 24 March at Matterley Basin in the United Kingdom.
A Brisbane magistrate has found a rider guilty of speeding, despite video evidence seeming to show he was the only one of four riders travelling together who was not speeding.
Steve, whose surname has been withheld, says the Pine Rivers Magistrate took more than three hours to view the video evidence, but declared he could not see the second rider, thinking he was just a bunch of leaves.
The Magistrate also said he could not discern the differences between the bikes, despite them being substantially different styles.
“No matter how many times we zoomed in and screened it, he said ‘I don’t see any evidence of a bike there’,” Steve says.
“My legal team was prepared for every argument, but not for the judge not seeing my bike. He thought I was a bunch of leaves.”
Police video
Steve sent us the police video which seems to show that he was the second rider travelling about 60km/h in a 60km/h zone.
The video was also referenced in our article last week about how police fine riders speeding in groups. Click here for our article.
The four friends were riding on Mt Glorious Rd heading east toward Samford village when police officer Senior Constable John Wilkins passed them in the opposite direction in a patrol car.
The video was subpoenaed from a police body camera.
It shows the varying speeds of each rider.
The officer then does a u-turn over solid double white lines and chases them down at speeds up to 130km/h, stopping only the first three riders. The fourth rider continues past.
Police pass rider 4 who was not stopped
The video shows the first rider at about 76km/h, then Steve at about 60 and rider three at 80km/h. The fourth rider is only seen after the u-turn.
However, it is difficult to know at what point the radar picks up the rider’s speed.
After the first rider goes past, the speed quickly drops to about 60km/h, but as Steve (rider 2) passes the car, the speed jumps up to 75km/h.
Steve believes that is the speed of rider 3 as it does not change even after he passes the car.
Steve claims he was booked for the third rider’s speed.
Speeding fine ‘mistakes’
He also says Wilkins made several other mistakes, apart from letting the fourth rider go.
“He wrote out all three tickets for the same speed; 76kmh in a 60kmh zone but then made a mistake with the third ticket which had a time 10 minutes later than the first two and has documented rider 2 travelling at 80km/h,” Steve says.
“The body camera is actually dated the day before at 10pm. How many mistakes are they going to allow?”
Steve says Wilkins mistakenly told the court rider 2 was doing 80km/h and the third rider was doing 79km/h. However, there is no evidence of another motorcycle after the one doing 80km/h and before the u-turn.
Also Wilkins is seen to be apparently turning off the radar antenna locking the display at 79km/h.
Steve has spent more than $5000 to reach the unsatisfying verdict.
He has now started a GoFundMe campaign to support his campaign to “expose the truth” and says he would do it again for the sake of justice.
Now you’ve seen the video, was rider 2 been correctly accused of speeding at 80km/h and is any rider guilty of speeding at 80km/h? Leave your comments below.
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