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As we had reported in the last few days, only the signature was missing and now it has arrived. Ducati Corse has announced that Jack Miller will be one of the two official riders for the Ducati team in the 2021 MotoGP World Championship. The company Borgo Panigale and the 25-year-old Australian have reached an agreement for the next season with an option to extend the contract also in 2022.
Miller, who made his MotoGP debut in 2015 at the age of just 20, joined Ducati in 2018 for Pramac Racing Team, the factory-supported team of the Bologna-based company, and finished last season in eighth place overall. Five podium places all year round.
Jack Miller explained: “First of all, I would like to thank Paolo Campinoti, Francesco Guidotti and the entire Pramac Racing Team for the great support I have received from them over the two and a half years together. It is an honor for me to continue my MotoGP career with the manufacturer Borgo Panigale and I would like to thank the entire Ducati management, Claudio, Gigi, Paolo and Davide, for trusting me and giving me this incredible opportunity . I look forward to starting again this year and I am ready to take on the responsibility to be an official Ducati rider in 2021. “
Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding, added: “Since joining the Pramac Racing Team, Jack has grown steadily and has proven to be one of the fastest and most talented drivers in the championship. We are therefore pleased that he has agreed to ride the Ducati Team’s official Desmosedici GP bike next year. We are convinced that Jack has the right skills to continuously fight for the important positions in every race, starting already this season with the Desmosedici GP20 of the Pramac Racing Team and thanks to the support of. the Ducati team are taking another step forward. “
Johann Zarco led the combined times of the free MotoGP practice in Catalunya on Friday after swapping the top position with Franco Morbidelli late.
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As in the first FP1, Morbidelli led most of the session after the initial laps, but with the ever faster time attacks, Zarco was able to work his way up from seventh to first place.
Morbidelli finished second in both sessions on a much better weekend for the Italian.
The championship leader and winner of the Mugello race, Fabio Quartararo, was third fastest for Monster Energy Yamaha.
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Fourth was Brad Binder, who jumped up the order with ardent style, driving three-tenths faster than everyone else with two minutes left.
The South African was eleventh at the time of his lap while the factory Ducati duo brought Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller into the top ten with their late efforts.
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Bagnaia and Miller were in 13th and 14th place before the time attacks began and appeared to be fighting. Bagnaia finished fifth while Miller finished seventh overall.
The two Ducati riders are separated from Yamaha and Maverick Vinales. The impressive rookie Enea Bastianini came in eighth for Esponsorama Avintia Ducati.
The top ten were rounded off by local riders Aleix Espargaro and top Honda rider Pol Espargaro.
The younger of the two brothers experienced an eventful session on board his factory Honda, as he was one of the drivers who was twice surprised by the new turn ten.
In contrast to his former KTM teammate Miguel Oliveira, Espargaro avoided the gravel on both occasions. However, the Portuguese was able to stay on board his RC16, which cannot be said of Luca Marini, who fell while trying to stay upright through the gravel of corner four.
Marc Marquez and Joan Mir have to find improvements during FP3 as they could only finish 15th and 16th respectively.
Jorge Martin has tested positive for Covid-19 again
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Jorge Martin was banned from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Misano after his last Covid-19 test was positive.
Martin missed the San Marino GP last weekend on the same track after testing positive for the condition. It was a heavy blow for Martin, who was just eight points behind championship leader Luca Marini before the race weekend.
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After Marini won last weekend in Misano, Martin is now 33 points behind the Italian. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider is currently fourth in the overall standings and another win for Marini this weekend will almost ruin Martin’s hopes for the title.
The team is hiring an experienced replacement for this weekend’s race, with Mattia Pasini taking Martins’ place. The Italian has a wealth of experience in 125cc and Moto2, including intermediate class wins at the 2018 Italian GP and the 2019 Argentina GP.
Pasini won the 2007 125cc race in Misano and finished second behind Hector Barbera at the 2009 250cc San Marino GP.
“I’m very happy to be back on track, especially at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, my home race,” said Pasini. “I’m very sorry about what Jorge Martin is going through. I hope he can come back soon and in the meantime I’ll take good care of his bike. I would like to thank Red Bull KTM Ajo for giving me this opportunity. I am sure it will be a nice weekend.
“I want to enjoy this round, do a professional job and try to take progressive steps forward. I will work hard to bring home a good result.”
Meanwhile, rumors of Martin’s possible move to Pramac Ducati in 2021 are likely to continue in the coming days after Red Bull KTM Ajo announced Remy Gardner’s signing for 2021.
MotoGP: Jorge Martin misses the San Marino GP after a positive Covid-19 test
First published: September 15, 2020 by Josh Close
Moto2 World Championship contender Jorge Martin won’t be able to compete in the San Marino Grand Prix this weekend after testing positive for Covid-19.
The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider is one of two positive tests ahead of the action this weekend in Misano, which also affects a mechanic from another team. Both cases are asymptomatic and they are now safely isolated. Martin and the other person concerned did not enter the paddock for the event.
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It’s a real blow for Martin, who is in the middle of the fight for the title with Luca Marini and Enea Bastianini. Eight points cover the top three of the standings, but Martin, who won the Austrian GP, is likely to lose ground this weekend.
“Jorge Martin was unable to travel to San Marino due to a positive test for COVID-19,” confirmed a team statement. “The Spaniard is comfortable and will be quarantined at home, observing the safety protocols of the health authorities. The Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto2 team is hoping to get back to the paddock quickly to continue the great work of the final laps.” “
Martin becomes the first GP rider to test positive for coronavirus after Dorna put in place strict and thorough safety measures to prevent the disease from spreading. Access was restricted throughout the season, with regular testing and social bubbles. Everyone in the paddock must also wear a protective mask.
There was only one positive COVID-19 test before this race meeting, with a TV employee testing positive in Brno. The affected person and those who had close contact were placed in self-isolation.
MotoGP has carried out more than 14,000 tests for Covid-19 since before the Spanish Grand Prix and safely identified and isolated every positively diagnosed case.
Raul Fernandez is reportedly about to be confirmed as part of a new Tech 3 KTM lineup for a move to the MotoGP World Championship in 2022.
The Spaniard turned out to be a revelation in the Moto2 World Championship this year. The rookie scored three wins and seven podium places during the summer break, finishing second in the overall standings behind Red Bull Ajo KTM team-mate Remy Gardner.
Since Gardner has already been confirmed at Tech 3 KTM for 2022, the Austrian company had originally expected to promote Fernandez by its side in 2023.
His impressive results, coupled with Yamaha’s growing interest in poaching him for a Petronas SRT ride, however, have led KTM to stave off attention with their own MotoGP deal.
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According to numerous sources, Fernandez – who would have cost Yamaha 500,000 euros to win him from his KTM deal – will be one of three Moto2 graduates next season with Gardner and Gresini Ducati’s Fabio di Giannantonio in MotoGP.
The deal is expected to be announced at the upcoming Styrian MotoGP, KTM’s home race at the Red Bull Ring.
What’s next with Danilo Petrucci?
The deal means bad news for two-time MotoGP race winner Danilo Petrucci, who has to give way after only one year with manufacturer Fernandez.
The Italian joined KTM after being banned from Ducati’s MotoGP roster due to a slump that occurred after his first win during Italy’s 2019 MotoGP. Despite increasing his win record in 2020 during an upside-down MotoGP in France, Petrucci’s form has not recovered after joining KTM.
Still, he was expected to get the nod over teammate Iker Lecuona for 2022 before Fernandez becomes a candidate for his seat.
Jake Gagne says this has been his toughest race of the season so far, but he still ended up quickest in Q1 at Brainerd International Raceway on Friday. Photo by Brian J. Nelson
Based on Friday’s Q1 from Brainerd International Raceway on Friday, we may just have a battle or two on our hands come race time on Saturday and Sunday in the MotoAmerica HONOS Superbike class.
Again, the field was led by runaway championship leader Jake Gagne on his Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha, but for the second round in a row he’s got Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati New York’s Loris Baz nipping at his heels.
When all was said and done on Friday, it was Gagne atop the timesheets but by just .128 of a second over Baz, the two turning laps of 1:30.572 and 1:30.700, respectively. And those two were the only two riders in the 1:30s, though M4 ECSTAR Suzuki teamsters Cameron Petersen and Bobby Fong were both less than a second off Gagne’s pace.
Petersen ended the session third with his 1:31.22, just ahead of teammate Fong’s 1:31.433 and the last rider in the 1:31s, Westby Racing’s Mathew Scholtz and his 1:31.614.
Scheibe Racing’s Hector Barbera and Fresh N’ Lean Attack Performance Yamaha’s JD Beach were sixth and seventh fastest with FLY Racing/ADR Motorsports’ Bradley Ward, Thrashed Bike Racing’s Max Flinders and FLY Racing/ADR Motorsports’ David Anthony rounding out the top 10.
Beach is filling in for Josh Herrin on the Attack team with Herrin testing positive for COVID-19, which forced him out of racing at BIR. Another non-starter in this weekend’s two HONOS Superbike races is Panera Bread Ducati’s Kyle Wyman who has opted out due to lingering issues with the elbow he broke at Road America in June.
Gagne knows this one has the potential to be a battle as AMA Superbikes returned to Brainerd International Raceway for the first time since 2004.
“This has been the biggest struggle all season long, for sure,” Gagne said. “Of course, we are still right there at the front but it’s really close. “We learned a lot in this session. We did some shock changes and we kinda know what shock we want to run tomorrow. I was having some weird issues in the middle of the turn and getting the rear to feel like I want it to. This track is different than anything else that we go to. Again, we did a little testing but it’s still new and the track changes every weekend, so we have to still do a little homework and make this bike a little easier to ride. We’re just struggling in a couple of sections.”
M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Sean Dylan Kelly led Supersport Q1, the Floridian just .196 of a second ahead of class rookie Rocco Landers on the Landers Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 with HONOS HVMC Racing’s Richie Escalante just a tick over a second off the pace. Escalante also suffered a lowside crash in Q1. Kelly’s best lap was a 1:32.999 on the 2.5-mile racetrack in Minnesota’s popular resort town.
Veloce Racing’s David Kohlstaedt, who has finished third in the last four SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup races, shot to the top of Q1, .245 of a second faster than Rodio Racing’s Gus Rodio with Veloce Racing’s Maxwell Toth third.
Landers Racing’s Benjamin Gloddy, who is second in the title chase, ended Q1 in fourth – one spot better than championship leader Tyler Scott and his Scott Powersports KTM.
Altus Motorsports’ Jake Lewis was the fastest of the fast in Stock 1000, the Kentuckian .166 of a second faster than Chuckwalla Valley Raceway/Octane Lending’s Michael Gilbert with MESA37’s Stefano Mesa third, just .282 off Lewis’ best.
Twins Cup ended Friday with Jody Barry on top of Q1 with a 1:37.030 on his Righteous Racing Aprilia RS 660. Teagg Hobbs was second best on his Innovative Motorsports/Mike’s Imports Suzuki SV650 with Jackson Blackmon Racing’s Jackson Blackmon third on his new Yamaha YZF-R7, putting three different manufacturers on the provisional front row.
The Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. series kicked off with its first practice session at BIR, with the all-female class led by CJ Lukacs over Trisha Dahl and Alyssa Bridges.
This weekend’s results are brought to you by 6D Helmets.
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More, from a press release issued by MotoAmerica:
Lewis, Gloddy, De Keyrel, Kelly Victorious In MotoAmerica’s Return To BIR
Close MotoAmerica Support Class Racing Rules The Day In Minnesota
BRAINERD, MN (July 31, 2021) – Jake Lewis and Richie Escalante both came to Brainerd International Raceway needing race wins in order to pull back the points disadvantage they faced heading into Minnesota. Lewis did just that while Escalante was thwarted in his attempt on a sunny, yet smoky, Saturday in the resort town of Brainerd.
With Lewis winning the Stock 1000 race, he was able to re-take the championship points lead over series rival Corey Alexander. Escalante, however, came up just short – .075 of a second short! – in his attempt to stop the runaway train that is Sean Dylan Kelly in the Supersport class.
In the SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup class, meanwhile, Benjamin Gloddy was able to turn the tables on Tyler Scott and now trails the championship leader by seven points.
The Twins Cup race was also close with hometown hero Kaleb De Keyrel topping race-long leader Anthony Mazziotto by just .244 of a second with a last-lap pass.
Stock 1000: Lewis Takes Over
Stock 1000 Race One winner Jake Lewis. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
In the only Stock 1000 race of the weekend, Altus Motorsports Suzuki rider Jake Lewis started from pole and got the holeshot, but Chuckwalla Valley Raceway/Octane Lending Kawasaki rider Michael Gilbert chased Lewis down and took the lead temporarily until Lewis re-established himself at the front on lap three and maintained his advantage all the way to the checkered flag.
While Gilbert finished second, it looked like the third-place finisher was going to be Ashton Yates, but on the final go-around of the 13-lap race, MESA37 Racing Kawasaki’s Stefano Mesa was able to pass Yates to take third.
Lewis’ win, his third of the year, combined with Corey Alexander’s fifth-place finish, gives Lewis the points lead by two points, 157-155.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect to be this fast this weekend,” Lewis said. “The bike has just been feeling really good this weekend. The crew has been working flawlessly. No issues at all throughout the whole weekend, which has been nice. Last week like I said on the podium, I was down in Georgia on vacation with my girlfriend and her brother is a big workout guy and we went running every day. I even lost some weight. Just getting in better shape. It does a lot for my confidence. I just feel really good physically and mentally. I know the only way I can kind of win the championship is to get race wins. I was kind of in a deficit. Coming into this round, 12 points is quite a bit. Especially after that DNF, we gave up a lot of points. Just got to be smooth the rest of the year and keep trying for wins.”
Supersport: Kelly Again!
Sean Dylan Kelly (40) leads Richie Escalante (1), Rocco Landers (97), and the rest of the Supersport pack early in Saturday’s Supersport final at Brainerd International Raceway. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
HONOS HVMC Racing Kawasaki’s Richie Escalante came into Brainerd International Raceway with a plan to stem the tide. The defending Supersport Champion knew he had to stop points leader Sean Dylan Kelly’s winning streak and start a winning streak of his own. In Saturday’s race one, despite being pressured by Escalante for virtually the entire 16-lap event, Kelly was never headed and raced his M4 ECSTAR Suzuki to his eighth win of the season and fifth victory in a row. Meanwhile, third place went to Kelly’s teammate Sam Lochoff, who passed Benjamin Smith on lap 13, and completed the podium.
“It was definitely a tough race,” said Kelly. “Not super happy with how my pace was. I was definitely expecting more of myself, but that’s how us racers are. We win a race, and we still aren’t too happy about it. Happy with the race win, with the consistency and being able to fight up there, not letting Richie by. We need to do some homework and make a proper step for tomorrow. Honestly, everything has felt good up to this point. I just went out onto the track today and had a lot of moments. We saw some weird crashes. There was clearly some stuff on the track. Just definitely bothered me. Didn’t have the best confidence out there once we had some moments. But we’re going to do our homework tomorrow and come back just a little bit better. Looking forward to making a good race.”
Twins Cup: Homeboy Wins
Kaleb De Keyrel (51) beat race-long leader Anthony Mazziotto (516) to the checkered flag in Saturday’s Twins Cup race at BIR. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Saturday’s Twins Cup race was one of best events of the day as former Minnesotan Kaleb De Keyrel returned to the track on which he learned to race and got the win aboard his Robem Engineering Aprilia. But it wasn’t easy. Veloce Racing Aprilia rider Anthony Mazziotto came from the second row of the starting grid and led most of the 12-lap race until De Keyrel overtook Mazziotto in the final turn before the finish line. While Mazziotto settled for second, Innovative Motorsports/Mike’s Imports Suzuki rider Teagg Hobbs rose from his second-row, fifth-place starting position to third and the final spot on the podium.
In the beginning of the race, Jackson (Blackmon) and Hayden (Schultz) were all riding really good,” said De Keyrel. Mazziotto got away. I’m sitting back there kind of battling with these three and I’m like, ‘Oh man. He’s getting away, getting away, getting away.’ By the time I got by, he had a pretty big lead. I just was like, all right, I need to keep chipping away a little bit, a little bit, a little bit. But I kind of wasted a lot of tire catching back up to him. I could tell he was struggling, and I also knew I was struggling quite a bit, so on that last lap I knew I needed to try and plan an attack somewhere. But, like he said, going through turn one, he was sliding the rear and I was right here. So, his rear is sliding and I’m right next to him. It was just a fun race. It was pretty sketchy towards the end and we both had to just ride smart. You had to be super easy on the throttle because we didn’t have very much grip towards the end. So, I’m going to have to go back with the crew and try to figure out a better game plan as far as longevity of the tire for race two.
“I really wanted to win, just because I have a ton of friends and family out here supporting me, cheering me on. So, I really wanted to win for them. Honestly, the last lap, me and him are both sliding around so much, I wasn’t even focused on the win. I was just focused on keeping it upright, to be honest with you. It was really fun.”
SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup: Gloddy Turns The Tables
Tyler Scott (70) leads eventual winner Ben Gloddy (72) and the rest of the SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup class at BIR. Photo by Brian J. Nelson
Landers Racing Kawasaki rider Benjamin Gloddy won two SportbikeTrackGear.com Junior Cup races earlier this season, but he has finished second to Scott Powersports KTM rider Tyler Scott a lot more times than he would like. On Saturday at Brainerd International Raceway, Gloddy and Scott engaged in another of their frequent battles for the win, and on the final lap of the race, it was Gloddy who overtook Scott in the final turn to get the win. The victory moved Gloddy to within seven points of Championship leader Scott. Third place went to Veloce Racing Kawasaki rider Max Toth, who made his return to the class after suffering a hand injury in a crash at Ridge Motorsports Park at the end of June.
“This feels pretty good being back here,” Gloddy said about his race win. “I was struggling with grip a lot through the race. Just tried to keep the tire underneath me. I was kind of having to ride it more like a bigger bike to get on the contact patch and drive off the corner. Great race with Tyler. We’ll make some changes. Hopefully, we can have a better race tomorrow.”
