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Tuesday, August 31, 2021
World Superbike: Bautista Returning To Ducati
© 2021, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. From a press release issued By Aruba.it Racing Ducati:
Welcome back, Alvaro! Bautista to rejoin the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Team in the 2022 WorldSBK season
Alvaro Bautista will return to defend the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Team colours aboard the Ducati Panigale V4 R in the 2022 WorldSBK season.
After becoming World Champion in the 125cc class in 2006 with 8 wins and a total of 14 podiums, Alvaro Bautista took part in the 250cc World Championship in the following three seasons, scoring 8 wins and a total of 24 podiums.
The Spanish rider – born in Talavera de la Reina (Toledo, Spain) on November 21, 1984 – landed in MotoGP in 2010 (scoring three podiums between 2012 and 2014) before climbing aboard the Ducati Desmosedici GP in the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
In his debut season in WordSBK (2019) with the Panigale V4R of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Team, he obtained 16 victories (24 podiums in total), finishing second in the championship standings.
With Bautista replacing Scott Redding, the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati would like to thank the English rider for the results obtained since 2020 and wish him the best of luck for his future career, with the certainty of still fighting together for a remarkable goal at the end of the current season.
More, from a press release issued by Team HRC:
HRC thanks Alvaro Bautista for two years of constructive WorldSBK collaboration
After two years of intense work and constructive collaboration, in spite of the many difficulties caused by the global Covid-19 pandemic, Honda Racing Corporation will bid farewell to Alvaro Bautista at the end of the current Superbike World Championship season, thanking him for his commitment to its project.
Shinya Wakabayashi – HRC President
“At the end of 2021, our collaboration with Alvaro Bautista will draw to a close. The last two years have been intense, characterised by the unexpected and imposing challenges posed by the global pandemic and by the significant work involved in a fledgling project like ours. Two seasons in which the spirit has always been constructive and collaborative. We would therefore like to thank Alvaro and wish him the very best for the future.”
MotoGP, Guintoli: “I thought about racing in the Tourist Trophy … for 5 minutes!”
He is world champion in the SBK, tester for Suzuki in MotoGP for several years and in the last few months also a successful YouTuber. Sylvain Guintoli does not have time to get bored, and just in a monotonous moment he decided to invent something new.
“I was bored at home last winter,” he told Top Gear. “It’s too cold to do a lap and for two months you sit and watch curling and think of bikes. So I thought it would be interesting to do videos.”
The Donington Circuit is only half an hour from Sylvain’s house, and it didn’t take long between words and deeds. The first video was about what it’s like to ride a racing bike (the GSX-R) on the track.
“The original idea was to compare MotoGP to the real world,” he explained. “If you want to make a similar comparison in the world of automobiles, you need to spend at least $ 100,000 first. Bicycles, on the other hand, are very similar. Some racing bikes exceed 200 horsepower. In MotoGP you can get close to 300, but you can’t use all the power of the bike. 200 hp on each type of bike is really a lot. The main thing is the weight / performance ratio, then the tires make the difference and that’s it. It’s about details, a few seconds here and there. “
It was an idea that his fans really valued, but Guintoli is happy with his role as a tester.
“I like that,” he confirms. “We are working on all fronts, on the development of the engine, chassis, brakes and on aerodynamics. Often times these are performance tests so you can get started as soon as possible. When you race, the only fun moment is when you win. Working in a test team is more relaxed. “
Speaking of racing, Sylvain confessed that he had thought of competing in the road races which are very popular in the UK, where he lives.
“I’ve been thinking about it … for 5 minutes! “ he said. “I did a lap of honor on the Isle of Man where the roads were closed to traffic. It was just supposed to be a parade. I was on the road with other SBK riders on racing bikes. We were only there to have a good time and do some wheelies, but it turned out to be great. I was beyond my limits because I didn’t know the route at all. You cannot compare the sensations you experience while driving the Isle of Man with nothing else. The adrenaline rush is incredible. When I got back, I started saying to myself, ‘This is great, maybe I should think about it.’ But my wife immediately said no to me. “
Ubi maior … However, Guintoli has not closed the doors to another legendary race among drivers: the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
“Those who have ridden it told me it was special. The French love this race so I have to have it in my DNA,” he concluded.
Johann Zarco expects test role for MotoGP 2020, no reg …
[UPDATED: Since this article was published, KTM has confirmed it has officially parted ways with Johann Zarco – FULL STORY HERE]
Johann Zarco says his “most realistic” option for the 2020 MotoGP season will be a test position as he turns away from the prospect of returning to the Moto2 World Championship, which he has already won twice.
The Frenchman was looking for a new car in 2020 after having had a difficult start to a year he was with Pol Espargaro.
While Zarco has seen an upswing lately – he achieved his first dry Q2 at Misano and eighth place in qualifying – he slipped to 11th in the race.
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Again he criticizes his feeling on board the motorcycle and says that he is going to the “maximum”.
“It’s the same problem and the same difficult moment that I live in,” he told Crash.net. “I feel like I can’t fight. I do the maximum, but it’s only enough for eleventh or twelfth place and maybe the top ten on another day.
“If we find something pretty good and I can go fast, that’s confirmation that I can … and if I can do it on the KTM, I can do it on another bike.”
“There will be a test in Aragon and I will not do it because it will be a completely new motorcycle and I no longer have the confidence of KTM to do this.”
Where will Johann Zarco compete in MotoGP next season?
“I must think about it [now] and see the opportunities that I can take [for 2020], “he continued.” The most realistic thing is to become a test driver and show in every test – and maybe every wild card I can do – that I can come back strong in ’21.
“Perhaps I will find a motorcycle that can win, in order to find a feeling and joy on the track again that is really blocking me on the KTM at the moment.”
Despite having talked about returning to Moto2, it is unlikely that Zarco – who won his titles in racing with a focused individual team from Ajo Motorsport – will receive the same privilege when he returns. On top of that, he’s done enough in MotoGP to justify not going back to a series he’s already dominated.
Therefore, a test role with a manufacturer – with the reservation of a third driver as wildcards – seems more likely. Although the Japanese manufacturers used to err in the direction of local drivers for development tasks, recently they have entrusted this to European racing drivers with racing experience.
In terms of options, Ducati seems very pleased with Michele Pirro, Suzuki has attributed much of its success to veteran Sylvain Guintoli, and Aprilia is inferior to KTM in terms of competitiveness.
A seat at Honda could become vacant should HRC add Stefan Bradl to their new WorldSBK team, while the manufacturer will likely have the most vulnerable factory seat to win if Jorge Lorenzo continues to struggle alongside Marc Marquez.
Then there is Yamaha, where Zarco raced with impressive successes in 2017 and 2018. The manufacturer’s future beyond 2021 – specifically, whether Valentino Rossi is retiring, whether Fabio Quartararo is moving up, and whether Franco Morbidelli and Maverick Vinales are getting back to their form – makes them likely the most attractive option in terms of several possibilities. However, it has just added a European tester to its roster, Zarco’s old Tech 3 teammate Jonas Folger, even if his fitness is not guaranteed due to persistent problems with the debilitating Gilbert syndrome.
Wasted talent or unproven ability?
On paper, any team would be lucky enough to have Zarco on their roster as a test driver for his quality, but the reality of keeping him busy could be a little more complicated.
Any deal Zarco writes must almost certainly include a guarantee on a racing seat for 2021, and while that puts him in a good negotiating position since most MotoGP deals close in late 2020, it’s still pretty early on for manufacturers to think far ahead.
Indeed, since Zarco’s dismal season – and his somewhat questionable stance – at KTM will undoubtedly make some manufacturers think about his viability, signing a guaranteed contract for 2021 is also a huge amount of pressure on two existing riders in 2019, there they know that one of them is destined to lose their seat in 2021. However, maybe depending on your leadership style, this isn’t a bad thing …
In addition, will he be able to drive the development of certain machines with his smooth, progressive riding style, which has clearly not yet found his rhythm with the KTM?
On the other hand, Zarco is a two-time Moto2 world champion and has six podiums and three pole positions in just two seasons.
Ironically, one wonders as KTM is now battling obvious options to fill its seat and Zarco is still getting solid – albeit lower than expected – scores …
MotoGP, Marquez admits 2021 will be a year of transition as he works to improve the Honda
Marquez in thirteenth place, eight tenths behind the overnight leader Bagnaia and twice behind his team-mate Nakagami in seventh, is difficult to explain. Marc tried to do just that at the end of the first day of training for the Italian Grand Prix and analyzed the reasons that led to this result, both physically and technically.
“First I would like to talk about my arm: there is a plate on the humerus, but it does not have to be removed. It’s not an option, it can stay there. As for the antibiotics, if the doctors give me the OK to Barcelona I can’t take them anymore. Speaking of the shoulder, however, we need to understand the situation better. It is certainly more stable now, but today, for example here in Mugello, I noticed that I have a big limit. After FP1, I compared today’s data with 2019 and we saw that I lose two tenths of a second with each of the three quick changes of direction. A total of almost 7 tenths … I have to be patient, we will have a better situation in the future. “
Marc is as busy as ever … and on two fronts.
Marquez: “When I get back to the pits, we’re not talking about my arm, we’re talking about how we can improve the Honda”
“In Jerez and Portimao I worked on adapting the bike to the new riding position, looking for others, but then I can’t ride the way I want, especially on the right side … we have now come to a point where when i return to the garage we no longer talk about my arm but about the bike. We have to be patient. Riding is good for me, even if I am not riding at my level. I don’t lose speed or contact with the competition. Of course, my performance is not my usual at the moment, but it will be better in the future. “
He insists that he no longer thinks about a lack of physical performance …
“The biggest difference at the moment is the mentality: when I came back to the pits in Jerez, we talked about my arm, here we discuss what I need on the bike. I am aware that I have limits and where I have them, I no longer push, but otherwise I feel like 2019 and I just try to get the best out of my Honda. We will improve in the future and if the shoulder does not improve the results will never improve, but if we work differently we will never improve. ”
Marc Marquez is saying that right now The priority is to advance the RC213-V. And that he is fully convinced that nature allows him to get back in shape. To be the Marquez he was before …
Marquez: “Now the wheel is moving half as much, but only because I’m not pushing it to the limit”
“Compared to 2019 or 2020, the tires are basically the same. I always said that the Honda is a critical motorcycle and you crash and lose confidence with it. What is happening to me now is that I am not at one hundred percent. Sure, now the bike moves half as much … but because I’m not pushing it to the limit. I’m not prepared for that. It’s true: we have traction problems, but we also had them in 2019. The difference is that I can’t adjust at the moment. “
Marc recently announced that after the Jerez Grand Prix in Honda there was also talk that he no longer drives. Is that still an option? The answer of the eight-time world champion is that of an athlete who knows that only the competition gives the right stimuli to get back to his level.
Marquez: “It doesn’t matter how I end the season: I only train while I’m racing”
“It’s a fact for me The race for 5 points or a single point does not change the result at the end of the year: fourth, fifth or seventh does not change anything. I run to win. It’s a year of transition. Instead, we have to understand where I’m from and where I’m going: I have to avoid falls, but I have to act like I’m in a public… test, in the race: that’s the only way. A soccer player can train by going to a small field to kick the ball a few times, but a MotoGP rider must be racing if they want to ride a motorcycle.
Marquez: “We started with the RC213-V in 2019: I’m developing it bit by bit”
Pol Espargarò, his team-mate, spoke of general technical problems, and that he was happy that all Honda riders were finally riding the same motorcycle. Now the data can be shared. But in conversation with Marquez it becomes clear that the path that “Magic” is taking is a different one.
“To be honest, I don’t know what the others are driving: I have an RC213-V, let’s call it ‘Evolution’. When I feel good and a new component convinces me, introduce it, update the bike for 2021. I try out all the new components individually. This is the only way to really understand. “
Monday, August 30, 2021
Yamaha MotoGP riders banned after expensive breakout
Viñales from Yamaha with immediate effect
Blow hot and cold
Won one weekend, dead last the next, for no apparent reason. Persistence is not one of his strengths.
Maverick Viñales won’t be returning to the Yamaha factory team to see the rest of the season. He and Yamaha had already agreed at the end of the season to part ways and terminate his two-year deal, but his actions at the first ever Austrian MotoGP round, where he deliberately tried to blow up his bike’s engine in frustration, were important to a head.
A statement from team director Lin Jarvis indicated that the Viñales had failed to honor their commitment to professionally follow up the season following the decision to terminate the contract at the end of the year.
Five seasons, eight wins
Not a great hit rate and just too volatile for its own good
The explanation is as follows:
“In Assen, Yamaha and Viñales announced the joint decision to shorten their original program from 2021-2022 and end it at the end of 2021.
“Both the driver and the team are committed to continuing until the end of the current season, with the team guaranteeing their full support and the driver going out of their way to ensure that we can complete the project ‘in style’.
“Unfortunately, the race at the Styrian GP did not go well or ended well and so, after careful consideration by both sides, the joint decision was made that it would be better for both sides if we ended the partnership earlier.
“The early separation gives the driver the freedom to pursue his chosen future direction and also enables the team to concentrate on the remaining races of the 2021 season with a replacement driver who has yet to be determined.
“I would like to sincerely thank Yamaha Maverick. Yamaha will continue to cherish the good memories and appreciate the work that both sides have spent together in the 4.5 years that have brought us 8 race wins, 24 podiums and two third places in the 2017 and 2019 overall rider rankings. We wish Maverick all the best for the future. “
The replacement driver is likely to be Cal Crutchlow, who is currently replacing the injured Franco Morbidelli at Petronas Yamaha. Crutchlow is the contracted test rider for Yamaha.
Viñales was seventh in the championship standings so a chance for the title was unlikely, but the move could have an impact on Yamaha in the Constructors’ Championship, where they are embroiled in a fierce battle with Ducati.
Viñales already has a contract with Aprilia for 2022.
SBK, Tardozzi: “Fogarty won four SBK titles, two Carl and two Michaela”
During the interview we conducted live with Davide Tardozzi (watch the video HERE) and about the present and future of Ducati in MotoGP, we spoke to the Italian manager about World SBK, a championship in which Davide drove and worked with top drivers such as Fogarty, Corser, Bayliss and Haga to name a few.
Tardozzi gave us his opinion on Ducati’s chances of winning the title with the Panigale V4 in 2021. using the unknown factor to find out how much progress Kawasaki has made with the new motorcycle. We then discovered with Davide some interesting stories about Fogarty’s career at Ducati and how important his wife Michaela was.
“I think Jonathan is really very good. He’s fast and uses his head a lot – Tardozzi told us – Kawasaki invests a lot, but he’s also very good.” We hope Scott Redding, Michael Rinaldi and Chaz Davies can beat him this year. I think Scott in particular has a chance to fight it out. He got off to a good start in 2020, then he had some problems, but in my opinion he learned a lot in his first season and will prevail. I saw and felt that he was really convinced of his possibilities ”.
Tardozzi: “Rea could have made it to MotoGP two years ago, but it’s too late now”
Rea in MotoGP is an opportunity that has never been seen before. What do you think about it?
“In recent years, Jonathan Rea has missed this opportunity mainly because of his age. However, a few years ago his manager looked into the possibility of going to MotoGP. I think he did very well the two MotoGP races he did with Honda instead of Stoner, he achieved two top ten finishes. And the Honda guys asked him not to fall. So hats off to Jonathan, in my opinion these two races were undervalued as he was forced not to fall. He was very good on his MotoGP debut. Then he tied himself to Kawasaki for SBK, he won a lot and now I think he’s 34 years old. He’s no longer really attractive for MotoGP. “
At Ducati you have always been the man in the garage, someone who can manage the drivers even in difficult moments. How did you deal with a “bulldog” like Fogarty?
“I’ve always had incredible strengths with Carl for a very simple reason. I realized that Michaela, his wife, was in charge of the Fogarty household. When I had her by my side, I knew everything was fine. She was very smart, and in my opinion the Fogarty family won four world championships, but Carl won two and Michaela won the other two. I say this because after winning ’94 and ’95 in 1998 when he took his third title, he wanted to quit in the middle of the season.
Tardozzi: “Fogarty has won four SBK World Championships. Two Carl and two Michaela!”
You have to tell us this story!
“He had two very bad races at the Nürburgring. I remember that he ended up outside the top 15. After Race 2 we went back to the garage and it disappeared and it was July Ducati history the following week. We thought he was just pissed off by this result. Only the WDW was the next week so I called him and he didn’t answer. So I decided to call Michaela, who openly said: ‘Carl wants me to tell you that he made a decision to quit racing and not want to come to WDW ‘. At that point, after telling her what I had to say on the phone, Michaela realized that Carl should definitely come to Misano for WDW and convinced him. “
In Misano at the WDW he didn’t want to race on the track, how did you convince him?
“He arrived in Misano on Thursday and it was raining. I asked him to drive to familiarize himself with the bike in the wet because he was not comfortable in these conditions and he replied, ‘No way’. So I had to talk to Michaela again, make it clear to her … in the end Carl went out, lapped and fell on the Quercia, fortunately slowly. The scene when he returned to the pits had to be filmed on cameras, but I knew I was right. It was a struggle to get him back on track, but he absolutely didn’t want to get out. In fact, he finished the WDW and then went home. I took a flight and went to see him in England. Michaela had set up a room for me and when Carl saw me at home, he said ‘but what are you doing here?’. I just replied that I had come to see his wife. Just think that Carl was very jealous. In the end, I stayed there for a few days and was able to calm him down, so he decided to race again and you all know how it went. He won the first two world championships, Michaela won the others for me. “
You have had many great and difficult moments at Ducati. Can you tell us someone who made you laugh heartily?
“Anything that made me laugh in my Ducati career? There’s a story, it’s really a bit of a joke. MeIn 2000, after Fogarty was injured on Phillip Island, we took Bayliss to the Sugo race and then Luca Cadalora came to Donington. Troy drove for us in AMA and we spontaneously called him to a race in Japan in Sugo. He was unlucky because they knocked him out twice so he had no chance to prove anything in the end. He wasn’t even bad in qualifying as he was the best Michelin driver in 11th place, but the qualifying Dunlops at the time were exceptional. He then came back to Monza with us, but that’s another story. “
Tardozzi: “Funny moments at Ducati? Cadalora gave me one”
So it was Cadalora’s turn to ride the motorcycle in Donington …
“Yes, Cadalora came to England, also because he was always very strong on this track and in Ducati we decided to give him a try. You will remember that great battle in 500 with Rainey. To be honest, Luca made a bad impression this weekend and I remember well what he said. Cadalora was an excellent test rider but he was very experienced with the 500. On our bike he came out with a legendary phrase: ‘But where do you think you’re going with those little tubes ... ‘ obviously refers to our trellis frame. So if we had to change the frame for years, we had to change the “tubes”. Luca is a friend and a great person, but that made me laugh. “
At least that opened the doors for Bayliss to return …
“Yeah, after that Bayliss came back and we all remember how it went. In Monza he made this absurd overtaking maneuver and then at Hockenheim he won, so he became a legend. “
MotoGP: World Championship riders speak to media ahead of Australian Grand Prix – Roadracing World Magazine
Drivers ready to take on the “iconic” Phillip Island
The action down under heats up at the press conference before the event
Thursday October 24, 2019
It’s Thursday in Australia and that means only one thing: animals! But more on that later. First, it’s time to hear a little from the riders in the pre-event press conference where reigning champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) led by Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), Rookie of the Year Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT), hero Jack Miller (Pramac Racing), returnees Johann Zarco (LCR Honda Idemitsu), the newly announced 2020 MotoGP 
rider Iker Lecuona and Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), who won an incredible 400 this weekend, will be accompanied at home Grand Prix start is down.
Marquez spoke first, saying that Phillip Island is all about the feeling. “We came back from another great weekend in Japan a week ago and the goal here on Sunday is to fight for victory. It’s a track that you have to feel, you have to have the feeling that you can because there are a lot of high-speed corners, that means a lot of risk. It’s a track that if you don’t feel like you have to keep calm, try to get on the podium or finish the race. Besides, we have a summer day today, tomorrow maybe a winter day – you never know. Here we will try to work well to fight Yamaha and Suzuki. I think they have a bike that works very well here, very stable on the high speed corners. It will be hard to beat them, but we’ll try. “
Next up was Dovizioso, who was asked if he was optimistic about returning to the island after a solid event last season. Not quite, but almost. “Optimism is a little too much. Last year we drove a really fast and good race so I hope to be on the podium again. I think it’s going to be tough because of course Marc and the Yamaha riders will be strong, and so will Rins, so it’s going to be tough.
“In the last race we were pretty quick in the end and we have to understand that because it has happened too often this season, I think there is a technical reason for that. But here is a completely different track. As Marc said, the conditions are always pretty strange and it will affect everyone. The tires but also the wind, in which direction it is going. We’ll wake up tomorrow morning and look at the conditions! “
Quartararo, who has already been named Rookie of the Year, arrives and is now fighting for the honor of the top independent – against Jack Miller.
“I think the Yamaha is a very good fit for this track, but we’ll see the conditions. As Marc said, the weather today is nice, but it looks like it will be pretty tricky at the weekend.
“We don’t have to concentrate much on winning, just do the same work as at the beginning of the year, step by step, and feel the temperature of the tires. It’s a circuit that I really like, fast corners, the Yamaha looks good, so we’ll do our best and our best will be good enough. “
Next, Valentino Rossi spoke on the other side of the experience spectrum. 400 is quite a milestone and ‘The Doctor’ thinks the place is a good place to host. “It’s been a long, long time; a long way. As you said, hitting 400 here on Phillip Island is good. It’s an iconic place for MotoGP, all riders love the track because it is special compared to the others. So it’s one of the best places. We pray, everyone is praying for a weekend like this one, the blue skies and the fantastic weather, but unfortunately the good weather got too much anticipation, so we have to struggle with the weather on Phillip Island, but it’s still a joy.
Home hero Jack Miller agrees it’s a great place to drive – and says he’s lucky it’s his home race.
“We will try it! It’s a place I like to drive first of all, like everyone else. I think it’s one of the best tracks on the calendar and luckily my home Grand Prix for me. I look forward to getting out of there. As the guys said the weather won’t be ideal, but for me here at Phillip Island there is no point looking at the weather forecast. When the wind changes, we either have beautiful sunshine or freezing cold. So we wait until morning and make a plan from there. We felt really good, it was a shame about the race in Japan, but we had good pace there. I’m looking forward to my weekend at home, I’m usually pretty strong and with the shape we were in this year I think I have a chance to make it to these guys! “
One of those guys this weekend is a familiar face that is returning: Zarco. The Frenchman is making his first appearance on the island as a replacement for Takaaki Nakagami this weekend.
“The smile is there! It’s difficult to set a goal. I want to erase all the feelings I have this year. I got off to a good start in MotoGP for the first two years, but this year was really complicated so it seemed to be finished – my MotoGP story – but Lucio called me to take those three races and yes, I’ll take it because it might be mine last three races. I took a huge risk this summer and canceled my 2020 contract and now I can see that racing is what I want to do. I have a short future at the moment, but I can live it with a lot of intensity and that was what I wanted to do. “
Finally Iker Lecuona spoke. He was confirmed as a rider in the premier class in Red Bull KTM Tech 3 colors as early as the next year and that was of course the main topic of conversation.
“I am of course very happy about this opportunity. For me it’s crazy to be here with Marc or Valentino. As a child, I saw everyone on TV and wanted to ride the track with everyone, finally it’s possible. I would like to thank KTM for this opportunity and Herve Poncharal for giving me this opportunity to compete in MotoGP. “
That’s it from the press conference to find out more about the upcoming Pramac Generac Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, visit motogp.com and tune in for another great race on Sunday October 27th at 3pm (GMT +11) .
Moto2: World Championship Race Results From Silverstone
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Sunday, August 29, 2021
Austrian Grand Prix Gets Rolling At Red Bull Ring
Americans Joe Roberts and Cameron Beaubier ended the Moto2 practice sessions today in 16th and 29th, respectively, as the MotoGP series returned to the Red Bull Ring in Austria for a second week in a row, this time for the Grand Prix of Austria.
Italtrans Racing’s Roberts was one of a handful of riders to improve in the afternoon session, which was held in dry conditions but following what was mostly a wet MotoGP session. Roberts’ best lap came on the 18th of 23 laps in FP2, the 1:29.471 placing him 16th overall on the opening day. American Racing’s Beaubier had a best lap of 1:30.301, which came in FP1, despite a crash, with the five-time MotoAmerica Superbike Champion lapping at 1:30.593 in FP2.
The day was led by IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia’s Ai Ogura with the Japanese rider lapping at 1:28.887 in FP1 to best Elf Marc VDS Racing’s Augusto Fernandez by .007 of a second. Moto2 World Championship leader Remy Gardner turned in his best in FP2 and ended up third on the day with his 1:28.967.
Gardner qualified on pole position for last week’s race with a 1:28.668.
Roberts’ best lap in qualifying last week was a 1:29.531, so the Californian has already bettered that lap. Beaubier qualified 24th last week with a 1:29.747 – .554 of a second better than his best today.
MotoGP, CLAMOROSOUS – Yamaha Bänke Vinales: He won’t be racing in Austria
Yamaha has put Maverick Vinales on the bench and the Spaniard will not compete in the Austrian GP and could miss the remaining races of the year. The decision was made after analyzing data from the M1 used by Maverick last Sunday. The data says that Vinales may have caused engine damage that could endanger him and the other drivers.
This is the official statement:
“Yamaha regrets to announce that Maverick Viñales’ participation in the MotoGP event in Austria this weekend has been withdrawn by the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team.
The absence follows the ban on the rider by Yamaha due to the unexplained irregular use of the motorcycle by the rider during the Styria MotoGP race last weekend.
Yamaha’s decision follows an in-depth analysis of telemetry and data over the past few days.
Yamaha’s conclusion is that the rider’s actions could potentially have caused significant damage to the engine of his YZR-M1 motorcycle, which could have posed serious risks to the rider himself and possibly to all other riders in MotoGP racing.
The driver will not be replaced at the Austrian GP.
Decisions about the future races will be made after a more detailed analysis of the situation and further discussions between Yamaha and the rider. “
SBK, Gerloff: “Race in Donington feels like in MotoAmerica”
It’s his first time in Donington so everyone was excited to see him at work. Hats off to Garrett Gerloff’s performance in balancing the competition on the Yamaha.
The American, fresh from the Assen GP with Petronas, has shown that he is quick to familiarize himself with the track in order to control the competition.
“I didn’t do that badly on the first day,” the GRT driver began. “Yesterday I did a lap on the track and today I rode my bike on the track. I tried to learn the track quickly and the situation was a bit complicated this morning due to the bad brain. The situation definitely improved in FP2, where I became more confident with good feelings. “
Garrett then draws a comparison.
“Donington reminds me of some MotoAmerica circuits, like Virginia or Pittsburgh, as they have some similarities. I have to say the track is very smooth, even if I suffered on the last track. I actually prefer the first part of the route, but I’m thrilled. “
Finally he talked about the Assen weekend.
“This is the third track I’ve learned in ten days. I got to know the TT since last weekend, today Donington and before that Navarra. It is obvious that if you know your bike, i.e. the SBK, the situation is very different than in MotoGP. But I have to admit that jumping from one motorcycle to another gives me great motivation and the desire to do well. “
Suzuki On-Board As Official Series Partner Of MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, is pleased to announce that Suzuki Motor USA, LLC has come on-board as an official series partner for the 2021 MotoAmerica Series.
Suzuki is currently leading both the 2021 MotoAmerica Supersport and Stock 1000 Championships with M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Sean Dylan Kelly on top of the Supersport Series while Jake Lewis leads the Stock 1000 Championship on his Altus Motorsports Suzuki GSX-R1000.
“Suzuki has a long history of competing in and supporting road racing worldwide, including winning the 2020 MotoGP Championship and numerous Superbike Championships in the U.S.,” said Kerry Graeber, Vice President, Division Manager- MC/ATV Sales and Marketing. “We are thrilled to continue this legacy as a sponsor of MotoAmerica and look forward to helping them grow the sport of road racing in America.”
“Suzuki has always been a part of the MotoAmerica Series and the AMA Superbike Championship,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “Their success in AMA Superbike racing goes way back to the very beginning of the series. They have won more Superbike races than anyone else in series history and they continue to thrive in three of our current classes. We appreciate Suzuki’s support as a series partner.”
The MotoAmerica Series returns to action for round eight of the series at New Jersey Motorsports Park, September 10-12, and will conclude with round nine at Barber Motorsports Park, the following weekend, September 17-19.
N2/WERA National Endurance: More From PittRace
© 2021, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. From a press release issued By Twisted Speed Racing:
Twisted Speed Perseveres, Takes Second In N2/WERA National Endurance Series By Dunlop Race At PittRace
Twisted Speed Racing struggled through its toughest race of the year and still finished second in the N2/WERA National Endurance Series By Dunlop four-hour endurance race at PittRace, setting up a winner-takes-all finale for the 2021 season.
Dustin Dominguez took the start and battled with the eventual winners on the team’s Dunlop-shod Suzuki GSX-R1000 for several laps, then suddenly started slowing, dropping as much as four seconds a lap to the leader near the end of his stint. Fears that the machine had malfunctioned proved to be unfounded, but Dominguez, who is still dealing with the aftermath of a COVID-19 infection that left him seriously ill, was struggling badly.
“Pitt is the most technical and demanding track that we visit,” says team owner Brad Burns. “Dustin, I think, is probably the best endurance racer in the country right now, but he said halfway through his stint that he couldn’t breathe. It was like he dropped an anchor.”
Taylor Knapp was originally slated to do one stint, but stepped up and did two. Meanwhile, Burns had a small technical issue that required an extra pit stop just after his stint began. While the repair was a matter of a few seconds, at the level of competition of this season’s N2/WERA endurance series, a few seconds mattered.
After all that, Twisted Speed still managed to finish second and turned the fastest lap of the race, a 1:43.215. Overall, the bike performed flawlessly, as did the Dunlop tires – the team turned its fastest lap on the 112th circuit of the track!
Second place left Twisted Speed second in the Championship chase in the Heavyweight class with a single race to go and the title going to the team that finishes ahead of the other.
Roberts 10th In Qualifying for British GP, Beaubier 19th
Italtrans Racing’s Joe Roberts and American Racing’s Cameron Beaubier will start from the 10th and 19th qualifying positions in tomorrow’s Monster Energy British Grand Prix at Silverstone – round 12of the Moto2 World Championship.
Roberts made it straight through to Q2 on Saturday, the Californian turning in a 2:05.036 in that session to lead the fourth row of the grid. Beaubier, who just missed out on making it into Q2 by .006 of a second, lapped at 2:05.272 in Q1.
“Overall, this weekend has been really positive,” Roberts said in a team release. “We made steps forward getting back to the top 10 after some difficult weekends. I was expecting a bit more from the qualifying, but 10th is not a bad place to start and we can do a lot. I hope to have a good race tomorrow.”
Beaubier will lead the seventh row in tomorrow’s Moto2 Grand Prix, his best qualifying effort since round four – the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez.
SKY Racing Team VR46’s Marco Bezzecchi will start tomorrow’s GP from pole position with the Italian lapping at 2:03.988 to lead Lightech Speed Up’s Jorge Navarro and Elf Marc VDS Racing’s Sam Lowes. Bezzecchi’s pole lap was a new Moto2 lap record at Silverstone. World Championship points leader Remy Gardner will lead the second row off the start on his Red Bull KTM Ajo Kalex with his teammate and championship rival Raul Fernandez lining up alongside the Australian.
Michael Dunlop will have his sights set on the magic of Mondello Park
Mondello Park in Co Kildare is hosting the third round of the Dunlop Masters Superbike Championship this weekend, with Michael Dunlop among the participants.
he Ballymoney rider tore open the record books at the Armoy Road Races last month when he took five wins in five starts and hit his 2013 lap record.
In addition, he crowned a dominant weekend with a ninth record win in a row in the blue ribbon “Race of Legends” at his home game to the delight of thousands of fans.
Dunlop has accumulated miles in the domestic short circuit scene this year as well as in England, where it has participated in a number of British Superbike tests and in the National Superstock 1000 race at Oulton Park earlier this season.
The 19-time Isle of Man TT winner will compete in the Cookstown 100 next month (September 10-11) for the first time since 2018, the last Irish national road race of a season effectively wiped out for a second year due to the effects of Covid-19.
Road racing driver Michael Sweeney is the surprising leader of the Dunlop Masters Superbike Championship after the first two laps, with the Dubliner eight points ahead of his Irish road racing colleague Derek Sheils.
Sweeney took his first podium at the season opener in Mondello and a constant run of five second places has put the MJR BMW driver in the title driver’s seat with three races to go.
Sheils, a former Masters champion, and Kilkenny’s Richie Ryan – the reigning champion – will try to make up ground across the international circuit this weekend, while Ballymena’s Luke Johnston will also pose a podium hazard on his return to the series.
Kevin Keyes and Mike Browne are the main protagonists in the Supersport class, though both are wary of the threat posed by Dunlop, who was impressive on his Yamaha R6 at the Ulster Superbike races in Kirkistown and Bishopscourt this year.
In the Supertwin class, Sweeney is a clear favorite for the title as he tries to keep his winning streak of six straight wins.
A full range of support races will also be held, with the opening races for each class taking place after qualifying today. A stacked racing card closes the meeting tomorrow.
Qualifying for the British round of the MotoGP World Championship is now taking place in Silverstone.
Title leader Fabio Quartararo was yesterday on the works Yamaha with 0.5 seconds ahead of the Aussie Jack Miller (Lenovo Ducati) fastest. MotoGP debutant and home hero Jake Dixon finished 21st (Petronas Yamaha). The race will be broadcast on ITV tomorrow from 12.30 p.m.
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Saturday, August 28, 2021
MotoGP, Yokoyama, HRC: “Marquez doesn’t yet know the new Michelins well”
It’s certainly not been an easy year for Takeo Yokoyama, Honda HRC’s MotoGP project manager. Between Marc Marquez’s precarious state of health and Pol Espargarò’s difficulties in adapting, the booty of 2021 has so far only been saved thanks to Marc’s true miracle at the Sachsenring. But if we take the German track out of the equation, the scenario is really one of the most disappointing for Honda, which is currently suffering with all the drivers on the track and is obviously not experiencing the best situation from a technical point of view.
In some statements from colleagues at Speedweek, the Japanese clarified the situation and explained in detail HRC’s action plan for the return to the top from 2022. We are talking about the first motorcycle manufacturer in the world, and sailing into MotoGP outside of the top 5 is absolutely out of the question for the Japanese who have been used to being dominant over the past few seasons, especially thanks to Marquez’s incredible talent.
“The first part of the 2021 season was certainly difficult” Yokoyama has admitted. “It’s not going the way we’d like it to. As we are Honda, our goal is to always be at the top where we usually have been in the past. We started with this approach, but didn’t achieve our goal in the first half of the season. It is clear that we have problems. We stand behind the others. I think that’s more than clear. “
According to the Japanese manager, most of Honda’s problems are related to the inability to get the most out of the Michelins.
“What exactly is the problem? I still think our biggest problem is getting the most out of the rear tire that Michelin introduced last year. We’re improving, but at the same time we’re still not there compared to the others. You can also see from the outside that we are trying out new things and ideas. Much is aimed at fully or at least exploiting the potential of the rear tire. “
A problem that, according to Yokoyama, also affects Marc Marquez a lot.
“Of course Marc didn’t drive last year and especially with the new Michelin rear tire. He lacks the experience and the races. He’s back in the 2021 season and his feedback has been pretty good but at the same time I would say that he is still learning this rear tire. But he’s Marc Marquez. He contributes a lot and his feedback has given us a lot of new ideas for the second half of the season. “
For 2021, Honda has also changed its approach to delivering motorcycles to Team LCR.
“Alex, Nakagami and Pol are all top drivers. That’s definitely true. And this year we have the latest development of the bike for everyone. Not just Marc and Pol. They all have the same bike, with different riding styles, different uses and different setup preferences. In the end, however, your feedback is very important. We work with all information. Of course, all riders started with the 2021 bike. That’s what I meant by the same bike. In the past, for example, Nakagami rode the bike from last year. Because of the problems we are facing, we are introducing a lot of new components, not just the frame. Sometimes one suits a driver better, sometimes another. “
Honda also brought a new frame to Austria that Marc had to test.
“It’s true that only Marc had a different frame. But that’s the only frame that we were able to produce during the summer break. We had five weeks, but designing and manufacturing a frame in five weeks is not that easy. Well We could only bring one. We thought about which driver should have tested it first. In this case, because of the concept of the new frame, we decided to ask Marc to give it a try. It was also a risk because we only had one piece. But we all agree that we are more in a testing phase than fighting for a win. “
Jonathan Rea leads the Jerez WorldSBK test
Jonathan Rea leads the WorldSBK test
HRC MotoGP test rider Stefan Bradl by far the fastest on the track …
Images by GeeBee / 2Snap
Reigning world champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) hit the track early on a warmer second day of testing in Jerez. The four-time world champion returned to the top of the timesheet with a benchmark of 1’39.160 to top the regular WSBK runners after testing a number of small updates to the ZX-10RR pace setting.
Jonathan Rea
“That was positive, very positive. I felt a lot better on the bike today and we got some good results on tire usage. The track was really green yesterday and I struggled with it a little. Pirelli brought some other tires that we had to include in the plan today. Other than that, we just kept working on the suspension setup and found some big improvements. We keep working on the electronics, but we don’t do too much fine-tuning. We played around a bit with the wheelbase length. We had a clear direction in the last winter test and in some ways I preferred the bike. Here I only sacrificed a bit of steering effort and after that we tried today to make the bike a little more maneuverable. I enjoyed the day and started driving with a smile on my face. Finding good improvements during the day kept motivation high and the track was in much better shape. I felt like I was over a lap and we are really well positioned in terms of constant pace. “
Jonathan Rea
Also on the track was HRC MotoGP test driver Stefan Bradl, the German finished the day a little faster than the Kawasaki ZX-10RR with WorldSBK equipment from Pirelli. Bradl is only 8 thousandths of a second ahead of Rea on the production-based machine.
Stefan Bradl – HRC MotoGP test rider
There would certainly have been some effort between the two of them trying to set the pace as the top dog, and the times an interesting comparison too, pointing to the comparable performances between the Pirelli WorldSBK runners and the MotoGP Michelin …
Stefan Bradl – HRC MotoGP test rider
Alex Lowes was second best with 1: 39.372 as he made further progress with the Pata Yamaha YZF-R1 and completed 102 laps on the Andalusian circuit today.
Alex Lowes
Alex Lowes
“It was a good two days here in Jerez. I drove my best lap today on a qualifying tire. I did a 1’39.8 on the race tire, so I found half a second in qualifying, which is pretty good because I think the gap isn’t as big as it used to be. The bike felt good in qualifying trim and we did a good long run in race trim. The new track surface was pretty hard on the tires, especially the front, but it’s good to have that information now before the race. We tried a lot of things on the bike today and confirmed some of the changes we made yesterday which was positive given the changed track conditions. This afternoon we worked on the front of the bike and at the beginning we went a little in the wrong direction, but then came back and saw an improvement, so a real test day. I am now looking forward to Portimão, where we will test what we have learned here on a completely different track. Many thanks to the team and Yamaha for the work they have done over the winter; it definitely seems to have paid off. “
Alex Lowes
His teammate Michael van der Mark worked on improving his motorcycle’s acceleration and testing new parts for the YZF R1 machine. His team mate Michael van der Mark finished in seventh place with a fastest lap time of 1: 40.145.
Michael van der Mark
“It was a really positive test. For me it was important to see how my wrist was doing after the winter break and I feel very good about it. I will definitely be fully fit again when we get to Phillip Island for the first race. After the track was cleaned up yesterday afternoon we tried so many things on the bike with some big improvements that I really like and I think Alex feels the same way. Obviously a lot of hard work has been done over the winter and it is good for the people who have done their job when their efforts are rewarded at the first test of the season. I am satisfied with what we have achieved here in Jerez and am now looking forward to Portimão. “
Pata Yamaha
Focused on getting more comfortable on his new bike, Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) had a positive two-day test as he was also just 0.342 seconds behind his teammate in third place. The Briton was quick on both days and built confidence with the ZX-10RR.
Leon Haslam
“This test was really good. We took some big steps and played around with a lot of setup and adjusted my style very comfortably. From a racing tire perspective, I’m really happy. I’m a little frustrated because I made a mistake with a qualifying tire. I was less than a tenth behind until the last split and then made two mistakes in both qualifications that I used. So in qualifying I was actually slower, but the lap time with the racing tires was really positive. To finish third with a racing tire, that makes me very happy. “
Leon Haslam
Toprak Razgatlioglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) continued to impress, the Turk finishing fifth fastest.
Toprak Razgatlioglu
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) made an important step forward with his Ducati Panigale V4 R in fourth place.
Alvaro Bautista
Alvaro Bautista
“It was a positive couple of days. After the winter break, it was important to get back on track, to adjust to the speed again, but also to get used to the new bike. The new asphalt made it a little harder for us. The grip was very low and so were the temperatures, so that we couldn’t find a good feeling on the first day. However, today we managed to work better. The track improved and it was warmer outside. We’re still focused on the riding position and basic setup in general. We tried some changes that I liked and now we’re going to do more evaluations in Portimão, a route I don’t know, so it’s going to be very interesting. “
Alvaro Bautista
The Spaniard had a busy day gathering as much information as possible and designing the best basic setup for his brand new Ducati machine.
Ducati Panigale V4R
On the other side of the pit, Chaz Davies sat out during the day’s opening hours and hit the track later that afternoon, only doing a few laps and finishing the day in tenth. Davies felt some back pain after the fall on Wednesday and decided to take it slow as he wants to get back to full strength for the next pre-season test that will take place in Portimao later this month.
Ducati Panigale V4R
Chaz Davies
“Today we focused on the engine and in the end the lap time was okay given the short time we had on the track, but I think we could have made bigger improvements. Unfortunately it was a difficult day. Yesterday I only felt a few pains in my back. It had nothing to do with the crash, but it got worse overnight. I managed to get treatment twice so I could do a few more laps, which was very important. It seems that we are going in the right direction. The next stop is Portimão, a completely different route, and the top priority will be to complete our full program before heading to Australia. “
Chaz Davies
The independent team drivers Michael Rinaldi (BARNI Racing Team) and Eugene Laverty (Team Goeleven) finished ninth and twelve. The two worked together with their new teams and provided valuable feedback, which is also used by the factory team to improve their Ducati beast.
Ducati Panigale V4R
Continuing to adapt to a new team structure, GRT Yamaha WorldSBK rider Marco Melandri had a busy day doing a total of 87 laps on his Yamaha, finishing eighth overall.
Teammate Sandro Cortese was slowed down by a small fall early in the morning. The German got away from the accident on his feet, but had to wait for his bike to be recovered and repaired before returning to the track in the afternoon and setting the sixth fastest time.
Towards the end of the day, BWM Motorrad WorldSBK riders Tom Sykes and Markus Reiterberger finally equipped their new S 1000 RR machines with timing transponders. They recorded the 14th and 15th best times.
BMW S 1000 RR
At the WorldSSPriders, Federico Caricasulo (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) was in the lead on day two, while Frenchman Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was second just 0.222 s behind him.
Maria Herrera
Maria Herrera made her class debut and also tested aboard MS Racing’s Yamaha YZF R6. The Spaniard focused on familiarizing herself with the new bike and finished her second day of testing with a fastest lap time of 1: 46.957, the debutante being the slowest of the 12 World Supersport riders to hit the track.
Maria Herrera
While some of the WorldSBK and WorldSSP riders who participated in the two days have finished the Jerez test, now ahead of the first round of the 27th of the 2019 FIM Superbike World Championship in Australia.
WSBK Jerez Day 2 Unofficial times
- Stefan Bradl (HRC MotoGP test team) 1m39,152
- Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1’39.160
- Alex Lowes (Official Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) 1’39.372 +0.212
- Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1’39.502 +0.348
- Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’39.620 +0.460
- Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing) 1’39.942 +0.782
- Sandro Cortese (GRT Yamaha Team) 1’40.075 +0.915
- Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) 1’40.145 +0.985
- Marco Melandri (GRT Yamaha Team) 1,40,469 +1,309
- Michael Ruben Rinaldi (BARNI Racing Team) 1,40,540 +1,380
- Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’40,621 +1,461
- Leandro Mercado (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) 1,40,794 +1,634
- Eugene Laverty (Team Goeleven) 1,40,879 +1,719
- Jordi Torres (Team Pedercini Racing) 1’41.066 +1.906
- Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’41.206 +2.046
- Markus Reiterberger (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’41.231 +2.071
- Alessandro Delbianco (Althea MIE Racing Team) 1’42.353 +3.192
Johann Zarco is expected to move to L …
Johann Zarco has announced that he has joined LCR Honda for the final three races of the 2019 MotoGP season with the express intention of being promoted to the Repsol Honda ride instead of Jorge Lorenzo, only to be snubbed in favor of Alex Marquez will.
The Frenchman was a free agent before joining the Honda satellite team after his contract with KTM was prematurely terminated. Zarco was called up to replace the injured Takaaki Nakagami on a year old Honda RC213V.
At a time when Lorenzo was struggling with the factory Repsol Honda versus Marc Marquez, Zarco took LCR Honda’s chance after realizing there could be an opening with the factory team should the three-time world champion choose to leave early.
His prediction proved correct when Lorenzo quit at the 2019 final in Valencia and Zarco opened the door to theoretically take his place.
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His hopes would ultimately be dashed, however, when Zarco admitted the wind had changed ahead of a “strange Sunday” when it became clear that Repsol Honda would instead sign Alex Marquez alongside his brother for the 2020 MotoGP season.
“I had the opportunity to drive the Honda. I could see that Jorge was out of sync and although I didn’t know what his future would be, I set out to play that card, ”he said. “When he called the press conference in Valencia to announce his resignation, I naturally thought it looked pretty good.
“But at the weekend the wind changed and a lot was turned upside down. It was also a strange Sunday because I already knew that I had very few chances. “
Johann Zarco’s attitude will cost him the best MotoGP ride of 2020?
Although Honda has diverted the discussion of why Zarco wasn’t considered for the 2020 Repsol ride and instead focused on the positives of signing a Moto2 World Champion, other riders in the paddock have likely answered that question for them.
The Frenchman’s time at KTM was followed by constant criticism of the motorcycle, which in turn led the Austrian company to direct its own criticism of his driving performance and attitude directly against him.
Aleix Espargaro (brother of Zarco’s former KTM teammate Pol) even went so far as to say that he doesn’t deserve a good ride because of his “unprofessional” work ethic.
It didn’t help that Zarco was openly negative about Avintia Ducati at the time before deciding to join the team, saying he’d rather be in Moto2 than join an uncompetitive team. He then seemed to distance himself from the Spanish team when it was confirmed that he would actually join for 2020, saying he only sees himself as a Ducati rider.
Zarco says it was Ducati that convinced him to join Avintia based on a new “satellite” status that brings it to essentially the same status that Pramac Racing had a few years ago *.
“Ducati called me on Monday [after the race] say, “We need to talk”. We had several meetings where they explained to me what they would provide me and they convinced me. That gave me confidence!
“They told me that the Avintia team was going to completely change its status. And then, for my part, I’d have the chance to try again to compete for the top 7 or 10, stick with Ducati who then deserve it, and ride even better bikes in the near future, with podiums maybe being the i – The icing on the cake is cake. “
* Pramac Racing will host two current Ducati models for 2020 for the first time in the next season, which will essentially be an extension of the factory Ducati Corse outfit.
Bagnaia leads Quartararo in FP3, Martin in Q1
As the field saved dry tires after washing out the FP2, improvements in the combined times – still led by Johann Zarco’s record lap of 1: 22.827 minutes from FP1 – were immediately visible.
Zarco set the initial individual timesheet benchmark with 1: 23.729 minutes, while Bagnaia, Ducati’s factory counterpart, was the first big climber to move up to fourth place for five minutes.
Martin improved to third place with a combined time of 1: 23.682 minutes and took the top spot from his Pramac Ducati team-mate Zarco in FP1.
Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo improved the combined time to 1: 23.587 minutes in second after just under 10 minutes of the 45-minute session.
Quartararo would make the first real attack on Zarco’s overall best lap with just under 20 minutes remaining if the Yamaha rider put on fresh, soft rubber.
His initial effort of 1: 23.203 seconds brought him closer to Zarco’s lap record, with his second lap of 1: 22.975 minutes he was just 0.148 seconds behind the Pramac driver.
At the same time, Zarco was racing on used medium rubber, a luxury he afforded with his record lap in FP1.
The Frenchman’s best in FP1 would be unbeaten if he reached the checkered flag, Zarco himself third in the individual time table in FP3.
Bagnaia led the session with 1: 22.874 minutes, just 0.047 seconds behind Zarco’s overall best time, while Quartararo kept third place in the combined time and finished second in FP3 with 1: 22.968 minutes.
Honda’s Marc Marquez drove up to fourth place late in the combined time with 1: 23.132 minutes ahead of Aleix Espargaro’s Aprilia. Jack Miller secured a direct place in Q2 as sixth of the Ducati factory team.
Reigning world champion Joan Mir, who struggled with braking problems on Friday, is currently the only Suzuki to go into Q2 later this afternoon after Suzuki teammate Alex Rins missed 11th place by 0.001 seconds.
The last drivers straight into Q2 are Takaaki Nakagami from LCR, KTM driver Brad Binder and the second factory Honda from Pol Espargaro.
The Styrian GP poleman and race winner Martin was on course to get into Q2 on his last flying lap, but the Pramac Ducati driver crashed on the last corner.
That put him in 13th place in the combined time and Q1, while the yellow flags for the fall put an end to Q2 hopes for people like Miguel Oliveira of KTM in 14th and Alex Marquez of LCR.
They will be joined in Q1 later that afternoon by the Avintia duo Luca Marini and Enea Bastianini – who had an early accident on Turn 1 – Valentino Rossi and Cal Crutchlow from Petronas SRT and the Tech 3 KTMs from Iker Lecuona and Danilo Petrucci.
MotoGP Austria – FP3 Results:
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