A steady start to proceedings at the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley for the Repsol Honda Team as Pol Espargaro and Marc Marquez begin their preparations for Sunday.
It was a classic day in Tuscany as a strong sun beat down on the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello throughout the day. Reaching 33°C ambient temperature during Free Practice 2, the conditions were a test for rider and machine.
Friday in Mugello saw Pol Espargaro immediately in the mix as he took eighth place in Free Practice 1, 0.705s shy of LCR Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami who topped the session. Working hard to maintain his speed as the temperatures increased in the afternoon, Espargaro cut 0.7s off his best lap time from FP1 to FP2. This improvement was enough to hold his position in the top ten, ending the day as the tenth fastest rider. Despite being top Honda, Espargaro is not content with the day’s work and is determined to extract the maximum performance possible on Saturday to secure a top grid position.
Marc Marquez’s Italian GP weekend began with a muted Free Practice 1 session, the eight-time World Champion following his trend of a calm start to preserve himself for Sunday. 19th and 1,213 seconds behind Nakagami’s fastest time, there was room to build at the end of the session. Finding an impressive 1.2 seconds from the morning to the afternoon, Marquez saw some of the biggest improvements to one-lap speed on the grid in practice. Just 0.040s slower than his teammate, the #93 was just outside the cut off for the top ten as he ended the day 12th fastest.
Now it’s time to check the forecasts and see if the rain will arrive tomorrow. Free Practice 3 stats at 09:55 local time, a last chance to be in the mix for Q2 – if it’s dry.
After a lot of speculation, the rumors that Fabio Quartararo is ready to quit Yamaha at the end of the season are ready to be denied. According to reports from our Speedweek colleague Guenther Wiesinger, a two-year agreement has been reached between the Frenchman and the Iwata manufacturer that will keep Fabio on the M1 until the end of 2024.
In an interview with Lin Jarvis, the manager actually confirmed the Frenchman’s permanence in Yamaha, thus leaving unchanged a seat in the riders’ market which in the event of changes would have set off a cascade effect in the paddock. Quartararo is in fact undoubtedly the prized piece of the riders’ market and seeing him confirmed in Yamaha puts an end to a series of possibilities raised in recent months, which concerned his potential passage to Suzuki or to Honda alongside Marc Marquez.
These are the words of Jarvis, who has envisaged a greater commitment by Yamaha to provide Fabio with a more competitive bike, capable of bridging the horsepower gap that currently sees it far too often at the bottom of the top speed rankings.
“Nobody can guarantee next year’s results. No one knows what level we might be able to reach. But I think we definitely fell short of expectations this year. Especially in the areas where progress was most clearly required, ie top speed, engine performance and acceleration. We are now working on certain improvements throughout the season. We had something new in Portimão, we have more stuff for Jerez, we have more for the Monday test. We have a plan for this year to make up for our disadvantage as much as possible. But Fabio will not sign with us on the basis of this year’s package. It will be about whether he has confidence in our package for 2023 and 2024.
“We were very open and honest with him. We apologized to him for the difficulties we have caused him this year and which are still there. We have explained what our plan for the future is. We have explained this at various management levels. At the management level, at the project manager level, at the general manager level and with us from the team leadership. We cannot speed up the decision-making process. We can’t expect to convince the rider within a week. You have to understand it, you have to feel it. But I can feel: Fabio understands that we will come back with the strongest possible package and with an investment that will make all the difference next year.”
Jarvis also confirmed that Fabio’s salary will probably be revised upwards and that at the moment the two sides are not yet close to signing the contract.
“There is no doubt: Fabio has that special something. He is capable of squeezing the maximum out of the package. And you always pay a rider for his potential. You’re not paying him for past performance. You pay him for possible results in the future. And it’s all about the question: What part can the rider add to the technology package with his skills? Our proposal for next year differs from the current package. But we also have powerful material now, because Fabio won the world championship in 2021. I think we will come to an agreement with Fabio, also on the financial aspect. I believe that. I’m confident about that now. I expect the collaboration with Fabio Quartararo to continue for the next two years. At the same time, I would like to emphasize that we are not yet close to signing a contract. There are still some details to be discussed. But I am confident that we can go public with good news in June.
VAULT is an NFT space created by creators for creators, your go-to place for high-quality, curated, digital art from top creators around the globe. The VAULT highlight series focuses on the creators that are part of our NFT Community.
This week we are excited to introduce you to, Iryna iSky.
Iryna iSky is one of the first creators to be featured on VAULT. The first set of creators is an all-female crew that is redefining the NFT space. In the interview, we chat with the photographer about how she got started in the NFT world and any tips she’d have for other creators now starting out.
Iryna Kovalchuk works as a photo artist under the pseudonym ISky. Her work often reflects upon loneliness. In 2021 her work was displayed in the National Ukrainian Museum of History and Art to help people see loneliness as a source of energy. Her second exhibition in 2022 called “Raw” gets creative around the concept of source energy.
Complementing her exhibitions Iryna has worked with a wide range of Ukrainian artists and is the co-owner of the creative team VonyRazom which helps companies create content. Although her practice has been impacted by the current world events she continues to create and support other Ukrainians through these difficult times.
Get to Know the Artist and the NFT Space
As a photographer what do you think is the most important tool in your professional practice? I think the most important tool in my professional practice is my way of thinking, having empathy, and lack of fear. For me, photography is meditation. When I take a camera I forget about everything. I really felt it during the war. When the war started in Ukraine and the government said us to pack our backpacks, I took 3 big books about photo legends, firstly, then I put medicine, food and my clothes had no place. But it’s not a problem… these books are more important for me than the clothes. From the first day of the war, my family and I moved in with my friends, and from that moment we lives in a basement. On the 3rd day, I started to read these books again when the bombs were exploding very close and it helped me not get too scared…I understood that I couldn’t work in Kyiv because of war but I can’t leave my family and my country so we started to volunteer. And when all money ran out I decided to sell my photo tools and forget about photography. However, an editor at 500px proposed the opportunity to become an NFT artist on VAULT. She reminded me that photography is my meditation. So the next day I started to shoot a new series about feelings of war under the sounds and vibrations of bombs. It has now transformed into an exhibition called “333” which at this moment is presented all over the world. Money from this I give to mobile military hospitals on front. So, the main tool for me definitely is confronting my fear.
How do you think the NFT space can uplevel your creative practice? I’m certain that NFTs are the future. It’s the best way to show your opinion about the world. It gives me an opportunity to create during the war and get money for a living.
How do you prepare your art to be made into an NFT and do you have any tips for people setting up their profiles on VAULT? To be an individual and show my way of thinking and perceiving the world is the most important thing to me. Not to copy- but to be original. I don’t like talking so I “talk” through my images. The main advice is that your photos should “tell” the story that you show in your images.
Are there any people in the NFT space that you suggest newcomers follow for insight? Yes. @Vaultby500px – it’s new but gives a lot of opportunities and it’s simple to use and understand. @nft_x10 tells about NFT news. @bernabephoto is a great example of an NFT photographer.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given by others in the NFT art world? “Action until you reach the goal”- my husband.
What excites you about NFTs? For me, the NFT world is the flight of imagination. Nothing is impossible here. I can immerse myself in different realities and worlds.
How do you plan to keep your collectors informed of new releases and develop hype? I trust in VAULT. It may sound trite, but I really believe in this platform and I am sure that it gives a big impetus to development. I can’t plan now because of the war but I can dream thanks to VAULT.
What was the biggest challenge for you to get into the NFT space and how do you think others can avoid this barrier? It was hard for me to find the right information, make you noticed, and find your audience. The main advice is just to work every day. Try, try and try to create, to study, to show your images, and get ready to wait until it works.
Are you interested in collecting art as well? If you are, why do you think collecting digital art is a good investment? Definitely yes. Firstly, it’s because when you buy someone’s pictures, you may sell it more expensive when the author becomes famous. It’s a great return on investment. Secondly, it helps you to sell your own NFTs.
Any upcoming NFT projects? Yes. I’m living in a war zone in Ukraine and I do charitable contributions to help the Ukrainian people to rehabilitate the health of the wounded. I create new collections about feelings and humanity called “333” and “Ukrainian defenders”.
Follow Iryna:
VAULT
Twitter
Instagram
Explore NFTs and more on VAULT
The post VAULT Creator Highlight with Iryna iSky appeared first on 500px.
Danilo Petrucci suffered injuries when he crashed at 174 mph after taking the checkered flag at the end of MotoAmerica Medallia Superbike Race Two May 22 at VIRginia International Raceway.
Petrucci was attempting to overtake Westby Racing Yamaha’s Mathew Scholtz for second place in the final run to the checkered flag but came up 0.020 second short and crossed the finish line in third.
It wasn’t caught on camera, but an instant after crossing the finish line at 174 mph, Petrucci tucked the front end of his Warhorse HSBK Racing Ducati NYC Panigale V4 R and went for a long slide and tumble alongside the front straightaway toward Turn One.
Petrucci was seen on video coverage — 56 seconds after he crossed the finish line — walking away from the crash scene, but he skipped the podium ceremony and instead went to the track’s medical center seeking aid.
The official post-race press release issued by Ducati North America made no mention of Petrucci’s crash or injuries, but Sunday night the Italian rider posted the following on his Instagram feed.
“Just to inform you, I crashed at 280 km/h under the finish line that’s on a sixth gear corner for avoid touching another rider. I hit three sponsors signs with my body, multiple burns, multiple hematomas and a deep cut on the ankle with five stitches. I rolled for over 100 meters, maybe one of the worst crash of my entire career. And I lying down for over two minutes with no assistance, hearing the bikes passes next to me, till I stand up by myself and went alone to the medical center.”
A screenshot of Danilo Petrucci’s Instagram post showing some of his injuries.
Attempts by Roadracingworld.com to contact Petrucci were not successful.
Fresh N Lean Progressive Yamaha’s Cameron Petersen, who crossed the finish line 1.5 seconds after Petrucci, caught a glimpse of the incident.
“I kind of caught it right at the top of my vision,” Petersen told Roadracingworld.com. “I think what happened was I think Petrucci being so close to Matty [Scholtz] on the outside going at that speed, I think the outside of the track came up way faster than what he was expecting. We’re going 175-180 mph at that point, and I think the outside of the track just came up way faster than he expected.
“Honestly, Matty didn’t do anything wrong. He held his line. It’s not like he swerved, ran wide, or anything. I think just Petrucci being on the outside there just the outside of the track came up so fast and he tried to give it a little more lean angle and ended up pushing the front. There’s the little drop away there [change in track elevation] and there was a breeze coming from the side. I think a combination of all those things didn’t help him.”
DOUBLE-PODIUM WEEKEND FOR TYLER SCOTT AND VISION WHEEL M4 ECSTAR SUZUKI IN VIRGINIA
New to Class Suzuki GSX-R750s Immediately Competitive in Supersport
BREA, Calif., May 23, 2022 — Suzuki Motor USA and Team Hammer enjoyed another trophy-winning performance as Round 3 of the 2022 MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship concluded on Sunday at Virginia International Raceway.
For the second consecutive day, that podium was delivered by 16-year-old MotoAmerica Supersport rookie Tyler Scott. The fast-rising Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki star again battled for the win deep into the contest with a pair of premier-class champions before ultimately guiding his GSX-R750 to a third-place finish.
“The bike felt great all race,” Scott said. “We made some changes overnight and they helped, but the pace was faster today. Overall, it was a great weekend. The team has been amazing. The GSX-R750 was outstanding, and I’ll just keep working on my riding.”
Scott’s Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki teammate, Sam Lochoff, rebounded from a chaotic Saturday to come home one spot further back in fourth. The South African did so despite suffering from a lower leg injury and the intense heat to keep his title hopes very much alive.
After a tough Race 1, Sam Lochoff (44) bounced back and takes fourth in Race 2. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Lochoff said, “I’m extremely happy about the work my crew has put in on this GSX-R750. I think we’re nearly there, and we just need to do a bit of fine-tuning now. I’m sure we’re going to win some races on it this year.
“I was hurting from yesterday’s crash today, but we’re coming out swinging at Road America,” continued Lochoff.
While third Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Supersport pilot Liam Grant crashed out of contention early, Altus Motorsports Suzuki’s Justin Jones made sure three Team Hammer-built GSX-Rs finished inside the top ten with a tenth-place performance.
Liam Grant (90) looks to the next round after a fall in Race 2.. Photo courtesy Team Suzuki Press Office.
Meanwhile, Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki Superbike teammates Richie Escalante and Jake Lewis spent the bulk of the contest embroiled in an intra-team fight for sixth position. Their battle nearly carried them to the top five, as together they, mounted on their Suzuki GSX-R1000R race bikes, drew in on the position late before running out of laps to challenge for the spot.
In the end, rookie Escalante finished in sixth with reigning Stock 1000 champion Jake Lewis close behind in seventh.
Richie Escalante (54) with another top ten finish aboard his GSX-R1000R. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Escalante said, “Today was much better. I started both races very well, which is important to stay close with the front group. I didn’t have the pace to go for the podium, but I raced for fifth the whole race.
“I continue to work to adjust my riding style to help the bike work a little better, especially on corner exit. I’m really happy with the process. I’m getting closer over one lap and race distance. I’m pretty happy with that and I’ll keep working to find the next step.”
A pair of top-ten finishes from Jake Lewis (85) looks to carry the momentum into the next round. Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Suzuki Motor USA, LLC.
Team Hammer will be back in action at the high-speed Road America at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, on June 3-5.
Suzuki Motor USA would also like to recognize Hayden Gillim aboard his GSX-R1000R for taking double wins in the Stock 1000 class.
ABOUT TEAM HAMMER
The 2022 season marks Team Hammer’s 42nd consecutive year of operating as a professional road racing team. Racebikes built and fielded by Team Hammer have won 128 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National races, have finished on AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National podiums 332 times, and have won 11 AMA Pro and MotoAmerica National Championships, as well as two FIM South American Championships (in Superbike and Supersport.) The team has also won 137 endurance races overall (including seven 24-hour races) and 13 Overall WERA National Endurance Championships with Suzuki motorcycles and holds the U.S. record for mileage covered in a 24-hour race. The team also competed in the televised 1990s Formula USA National Championship, famously running “Methanol Monster” GSX-R1100 Superbikes fueled by methanol, and won four F-USA Championships.
ABOUT VISION WHEEL
Founded in 1976, Vision Wheel is one of the nation’s leading providers of custom wheels for cars and trucks, and one of the first manufacturers of custom wheels and tires for ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts. Vision Wheel looks beyond the current trends and to the future in developing, manufacturing, and distributing its wheels. Vision’s lines of street, race, off-road, American Muscle, and Milanni wheels are distributed nationally and internationally through a trusted network of distributors. Vision Wheel also produces the Vision It AR app to allow users to see how their wheel of choice will look on their vehicle before purchase and installation. For more information on Vision Wheel, visit www.visionwheel.com.
ABOUT SUZUKI
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC. (SMO) distributes Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automotive Parts, Accessories, and ECSTAR Oils & Chemicals via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of Motorcycles, ATVs, Scooters, Automobiles, Outboard Motors, and related products. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has business relations with 201 countries/regions. For more information, visit www.suzuki.com.
More, from a press release issued by Tytlers Cycle Racing:
PJ Jacobsen, Hector Barbera and Travis Wyman bag multiple top ten finishes at VIR
Tytlers Cycle Racing raced to multiple top ten finishes in the latest round of the 2022 MotoAmerica Superbike championship at Virginia International Raceway with riders PJ Jacobsen and Hector Barbera achieving a best of fifth and sixth respectively across the weekend.
Their BMW M1000 RR machines once again performed superbly allowing both riders to fight for the front running positions on Saturday and Sunday.
For Jacobsen, who missed Road Atlanta through sickness, it was a positive return to the track, the #66 coming out on top of a three-way fight for P5 in the opening race on Saturday before racing to seventh on Sunday.
Spain’s Hector Barbera maintained his point scoring record with sixth and ninth, adding seventeen points to his already impressive tally for the season. He remains fifth overall in the standings.
Travis Wyman, one of the team’s Stock1000 regulars was also in action in the Superbike category. He finished tenth in both races.
PJ Jacobsen: “The opening race was difficult. I suffered with rear grip, and it was hard to manage. I did what I could, and it was pretty uncomfortable by half race distance. We knew we could lap faster and so we regrouped overnight before Race 2. Sunday was better. We were able to fix a lot of things and I was happy to bag a P5 finish. I was not happy with what happened on Saturday, but the team did a great job, and we were able to show our potential. It’s a brand-new team and a brand-new bike so the data we gathered here will certainly help us in the coming races.”
Hector Barbera: “All weekend, because of the heat, I struggled to get the feeling I wanted with the front tyre and so the races were quite difficult. When we improved the front, it made the rear worse. In Race 1 I was spinning everywhere. I tried my best, passed a few riders and was able to finish sixth. Race 2 I had problems with the tyre, and I couldn’t fight for a better position. We will continue to test and continue to work hard, and I am sure we can arrive at the front soon.”
More, from a press release issued by Tytlers Cycle/RideHVMC Racing:
Travis Wyman delivers another Stock1000 podium as Zac Schumacher makes progress and Corey Alexander avoids serious injury
Corey Alexander, Zac Schumacher, and Travis Wyman were back on track at VIR this past weekend for the Tytlers Cycle Racing powered by Ride HVMC squad in the latest round of the MotoAmerica Stock1000 championship with Wyman delivering another podium for the squad in Saturday’s opening race.
Qualifying fifth, Wyman ensured he was in the mix from the off taking a well-earned P3 at the end of the nine-lap encounter. He finished eleventh on Sunday.
Zac Schumacher was racing at another new circuit. He progressed well throughout the weekend finishing nineteenth and eighteenth respectively to ensure another double top twenty finish.
Round 1 winner Alexander had a nasty looking spill early in the weekend after running strongly in practice. Crashing hard he thankfully escaped serious injury but missed both races. He will be back on track at Road America.
Travis Wyman: “After missing most of practice and qualifying we ended P5 on the grid which I was super happy about. I made a great start in Race 1 and after a race long battle was able to bring it home in third for another podium. I was in the lead group off the start again in Race 2 but unfortunately with about four laps to go I crashed after making a pass for second place. I tucked the front but was able to get going again and finish eleventh, salvaging some points which may make all the difference at the end of the season. See you all at Road America.”
Zac Schumacher (90). Photo courtesy Tytlers Cycle Ride HMVC Racing.
Zac Schumacher: “It was my first time at VIR. I crashed in FP1 and missed the entire session which meant I was still learning the track in qualifying. I qualified twenty-ninth and was able to finish P19. Race 2 was a little better. We a couple of changes overnight and found the feeling I had been searching for. I started twenty-seventh and was able to pass several riders, eventually finishing P18. I want to say a huge thanks to the Tytlers Cycle guys. Without them my weekend would have been over.”
Corey Alexander (23) in action at VIR before his crash. Photo by Brian J. Nelson.
Corey Alexander: “I am bummed to have missed both races this weekend but am very thankful to have walked away as well as I did. I’m just recovering with some road rash and a couple bruises as well as some fog from the concussion I suffered but otherwise my Arai Helmet, Alpinestars suit with Tech-Air bag and the Road Racing World Action Fund Air Fence surely saved my life. I am hopeful to return to Road America and pick up where we left off prior to the crash. Thanks to everyone for the messages and support.”
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia:
MOTOAMERICA TWINS CUP CHAMPIONSHIP CONCLUDES AT VIR WITH A PAIR OF LAST LAP WINS FOR JODY BARRY AND HIS VELOCE RACING APRILIA RS 660
BARRY EXTENDS HIS CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD LEAVING VIRGINIA AND BREAKS HIS OWN LAP RECORD SET AGAIN ON THE RS 660
ALTON, VA – 23 MAY 2022 – MotoAmerica Twins Cup arrived at Virginia International Raceway this weekend for the third round of the championship. 35 riders lined up to grid for race one, as the participation and competition of the Twins Cup class continues to grow in the series.
Leaving the second round in Atlanta, a single race weekend for the Twins Cup, the stakes were high upon arrival in Virginia for the teams, knowing there was a potential 50 points up for grab in the weekend’s two races. When Qualifying 2 had completed, the story was reminiscent of 2021, with Jody Barry, besting his best time and lap record set last year on his RS 660 of 1:30:823, with a pole position secured with a time of 1:30:082 on his Veloce Racing RS 660 on Saturday morning.
In race one of the weekend, after 13 complete laps, it came down to the line with a photo finish victory that showing Jody Barry across the line just inches ahead of the next rider.
Race 2 had an early red flag which forced a restart, but with a similar battle to Saturday’s race, Sunday proved to be another last lap dash to the line, where Jody Barry locked up his second win of the weekend, and third of season.
Jody Barry. Photo by Sara Chappell Photos, courtesy Aprilia.
Jody Barry, Veloce Racing
“I’ve always loved this track. I had confidence coming out of Road Atlanta, and we started the weekend quick, getting the setup dialled in. By the end of both races, it was a chess game, working with grip, pushing the front end and working with track conditions.
I have a lot of confidence working with the Veloce team, which makes it easy for me to relax and focus on my riding. I feel comfortable with the RS 660 and finding any solutions with the team to keep it up front. I have to thank the whole Veloce team, and all the sponsors and partners that support putting a bike under me, including CycleTune, LiquiMoly, Vesrah, Arai, Bison, and Aprilia which help us compete and get these wins.
I am excited for Road America, my home track. Last year didn’t go how we wanted, with a flight to the hospital, but we won’t repeat that this year. My family will be there, the vibes will be cool, and we’re looking forward to it.”
MotoAmerica heads to Road America, June 3-5. Championship Schedule, Competitor information, and Class Rules can be found at https://motoamerica.com/
More, from a press release issued by Robem Engineering:
Robem Engineering Aprilia riders score three top-10 finishes at MotoAmerica round at VIR
Hobbs, Gloddy finish May 20-22 round second, eighth in Twins Cup points standings
ALTON, Va. — The 2022 MotoAmerica Superbikes at Virginia round turned out to be a struggle for Robem Engineering Aprilia riders Teagg Hobbs and Ben Gloddy. Yet, the duo limited the damage to their championship aspirations at the May 20-22 event by scoring a total of three top-10s in two Twins Cup races at VIRginia International Raceway.
Despite a challenging weekend on track, both remain in the hunt to claim Robem Engineering’s second Twins Cup title in two years. Hobbs did enough to hold onto second place in the standings with 63 points. Gloddy is in eighth place with 40 points.
The VIR round started well for both riders. Hobbs topped the time sheets and Gloddy was sixth in Friday practice. The first of two qualifying sessions took place Friday afternoon, and Hobbs and Gloddy finished that session third and eighth, respectively. Saturday’s Qualifying 2 session didn’t go as well, as both riders lost some pace to the other Twins Cup front runners and ended up qualifying eighth and 10th.
In Saturday’s Race 1, both Hobbs and Gloddy got good starts and had advanced one position in the running order by the end of Lap 1. Hobbs was running as high as sixth before he dropped to 12th on Lap 8, but continued to push hard to make up the positions he lost and finished the race in 10th. Gloddy’s pace improved relative to the riders around him as the race went on. Though he dropped as low as 11th on Laps 3-5, Gloddy steadily worked his way up the running order to secure a seventh-place finish.
Sunday’s Race 2 proved to be a struggle. The pair got off the line well, with Hobbs finishing the first lap in seventh and Gloddy in eighth. The race was stopped at the beginning of Lap 3 due to a crash at Turn 1, and Hobbs made an error while slowing down for the race stoppage and crashed at Turn 1. He was able to get his Aprilia RS 660 running again and had to slowly make his way around the 2.25-mile course to pit lane. Hobbs’ delayed arrival in the pits caused him to miss the sighting lap for the race restart, and he had to take the restart from the back of the grid.
When racing resumed, Gloddy tried to work his way up the running order quickly and was running in fifth place during the first lap. Hobbs did his best to make up track position on the opening lap and advanced past 13 riders on the first lap of the restarted race. Though Gloddy was pushing his RS 660 hard, he lost several positions as the nine-lap race went on and had to settle for a 10th-place finish. Hobbs’ charge up the running order slowed as the race progressed, though he managed to work his way up to 12th place aboard his damaged bike by the end of the race.
The Robem Engineering Aprilia team will be back in action at the next MotoAmerica round, which takes place June 3-5 at the Road America circuit in Elkhart Lake, Wis.
Ben Gloddy (72). Photo by Sara Chappell Photos, courtesy Robem Engineering.
Ben Gloddy / No. 72
“I had an amazing weekend overall and can’t thank the Robem Engineering team enough for everything they did to help me this weekend. We struggled a little bit on Friday and Saturday, but had a better race on Sunday. We just couldn’t quite hang with the leaders this round. We did get some things figured out with our Aprilia RS 660s, and I can’t wait to do it all again in a few weeks at Road America.”
Teagg Hobbs (79). Photo by Sara Chappell Photos, courtesy Robem Engineering.
Teagg Hobbs / No. 79
“This weekend had the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. We led a few sessions and found a good setup for our Aprilia RS 660. Unfortunately, both races were pretty rough. All we can do is move on to the next round, and I can’t think Robem Engineering enough for working tirelessly through the whole weekend. Now it’s on to Wisconsin in a few weeks!”
Robem Engineering’s technical partners for 2022 include Aprilia Racing, Piaggio Group Americas, The Center for Plastic Surgery, Synchrony, Velocity Calibrations, Bitubo Suspension, Dunlop, Woodcraft Technologies, Dymag, Vesrah, Sprint Filter, DID, Magura USA, Sara Chappell Photos, NGK/NTK, Blud Lubricants, Millennium Technologies, Motovation USA and SC-Project.
More, from a press release issued by Pure Attitude Racing:
Chase Black delivers Junior Cup front row start and top six finish. Liam MacDonald bags Twins Cup points at VIR as Trevor Standish bounces back on Sunday
Virginia International Raceway was the setting for the latest round of the 2022
MotoAmerica Championship and Pure Attitude Racing was once again on the grid in both the Twins Cup and Junior Cup classes.
Teenager Chase Black, in only his second race weekend for the team performed superbly throughout the weekend. Running strongly on the opening day before qualifying on the front row of the grid in third in Junior Cup, for the first time in his career. He finished 8th in Saturday’s opening race before taking a brilliant fifth on Sunday.
Twins Cup continues to be one of the most competitive categories in MotoAmerica this year. Armed with the latest Yamaha R7 machines and Liam MacDonald and Trevor Standish were once again in the mix for points in both races. A DNF on Saturday for Trevor was a little disappointing, the #16 bouncing back on Sunday to finish seventeenth at the flag. Macdonald raced hard, understanding how to ride the Yamaha, which is a new challenge for him, with every lap completed. He added three more points to his championship tally with a thirteenth-place finish in the Race 1 before narrowly missing a second points scoring finish on Sunday. He crossed the line P16 after a race long battle with several riders including his team mate. With more data gathered the pair look forward to another strong showing next time out at Road America.
Chase Black (14). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Chase Black: “I qualified on the front row for the first time in my MotoAmerica career after a great run in qualifying. I made a good start in Saturday’s first race but after a few laps I started to lose touch with the group and ended P8. Sunday’s second race was awesome, and I had so much fun. I was much closer to the front, and I was able to make some nice moves. I saved a possible high side and that cost me a shot at the podium but when I look back at the weekend, to leave with a front row and a top six in only my second race with the team is pretty good.”
Liam MacDonald (37). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Liam MacDonald: “It was great to ride at VIR this weekend and satisfying to come away with more points in Race 1. We made a few changes especially with the geometry of the bike and it gave me much more feel. I had a big moment early on, but I managed to stay on board and bring it home in thirteenth. Sunday was a bit more difficult but nevertheless I had a great race with Trevor and a couple of other guys and whilst I just missed out on other points finish it was a good race and to beat my team mate for the first time since I came to MotoAmerica is a nice little bonus.”
Trevor Standish (16). Photo by Brian J. Nelson, courtesy Pure Attitude Racing.
Trevor Standish: “We found an issue between Q2, and the first race related to the fueling, but we were able to resolve it. However, the problem came back on the warm up lap, and it turned out to be an issue with the clutch. I started at the back of the grid, but the problem got worse and that was the end of the race for me, so I decided to call it a day for safety reasons. On Sunday I was running well in the first start but then the red flag was thrown. In the restart I struggled with grip and fought hard with Liam and a couple of other guys, but I made a few mistakes and wasn’t able to stay with them. I closed the gap but just ran out of time. I am really bummed to leave VIR with no points, but we will go again at Road America where hopefully we will be able to further improve the bikes as we are still not at 100% yet.”
More, from a press release issued by Levi Badie Racing:
First MotoAmerica points for Levi as he makes history by becoming the Belgian to score points in the US national series
Levi Badie made history at VIR this past weekend by becoming the first Belgian rider to score points in the MotoAmerica series.
Racing for Bartcon Racing in a Kawasaki in Junior Cup, Levi qualified eleventh on his debut at the circuit. Learning the circuit with every lap the talented teen was in the mix throughout Saturday’s opening race, claiming seventh at the flag – a mere 0.9s from the win.
Sunday saw another spirited effort from the #31 but his race was cut short after he was unable to avoid a rider that fell in front of him.
Despite his third DNF of the season Levi continues to be one of the most talked about riders – bringing his European flair to the US national series.
Levi Badie (71). Photo courtesy Levi Badie Racing.
Levi Badie: “It wasn’t a bad first race given the circumstances. I made a bad start, but I was able to close the gap to the leading group, I even set the fastest lap at one point. It was hot conditions, and the race was reduced to five laps after a red flag. I had been told by the team that there’s always crazy riding in VIR and people getting taken out and so I wanted to stay calm and get some decent points which I did. I was not so far from the podium – only 0.9s from the win. I made some steps in Sunday’s warm-up session and then I was running quite strong in Race 2 on Sunday until one of the other riders fell and I had nowhere to go. I need to work on my starts, but I have shown I am fast, and the team is working well so hopefully at Road America I can show our real potential. The circuit is the most dangerous I have ever raced – very different to Europe and so when I took to the grass, I was happy to not be hurt. I want to thank everyone who is supporting me and look forward to riding at Road America. It looks like an amazing track and one that I think I can be fast at.”
An absolutely sublime performance from the Frenchman sees him take his first win of 2022 ahead of compatriot Zarco and Aleix Espargaro
It was Portimao perfection for Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo as he eased to a first win of 2022 and the World Championship lead at the Tissot Grand Prix of Portugal. In a day to remember for France, he was joined on the podium by Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) in second, whilst Aprilia Racing’s Aleix Espargaro benefitted from late drama involving Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) to take third. Quartararo is now the Championship leader, although he is tied at the top on points with Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins, who put in arguably the ride of the day by recovering from 23rd on the grid to finish fourth.
Off the line it was Mir with the perfect launch, firing clear of the rest of the grid to take the holeshot. Another strong start came from Quartararo who quickly moved through on his compatriot Zarco to take second halfway around the opening lap. Meanwhile, further back, Alex Rins had somehow launched his factory Suzuki up an incredible 13 places on the first lap to go from 23rd to inside the top ten.
At the front, it didn’t take long for Quartararo to get into his rhythm. The Frenchman was flying and had quickly reduced Mir’s early advantage down to nothing before then, at the start of Lap 4, he made his move on the 2020 World Champion at Turn 1. Mir had no response and Quartararo was leading a race for the first time this year.
Nobody could match the metronomic pace of the reigning World Champion and he edged further and further into the lead. He set a new fastest lap of the race and Portimao lap record, a 1:39.435, on Lap 10 by which point Mir had thrown in the towel and was looking over his shoulder in the fight for second. Quartararo would eventually cruise across the line over five seconds clear of second place for his first victory since the British Grand Prix in August of last year and, as a result, he jumped to the top of the MotoGP World Championship.
DRAMA IN THE PODIUM FIGHT
It was much closer in the fight for the final podium places with Mir defending hard as Zarco applied more and more pressure. The Frenchman took advantage of a tiny error by the Spaniard out of the final corner to power past him down the start-finish straight and take second. However, he ran wide at the opening corner allowing Me to swoop back through. A lap later Zarco got the job done, again capitalizing on a small wheelie by Mir out of the final corner to dive through on the brakes into Turn 1.
Six laps remained, with Jack Miller now challenging Mir for third, when the moment of the race took place between the usual sparring partners. The Australian pulled alongside the Suzuki man down the start-finish straight and they side-by-side on the brakes into the opening corner when the front-end of Miller’s Ducati let go. Down went Miller and he took an innocent and unsuspecting Mir with him. The pair, thankfully, are both OK despite the frightening collision.
Huge drama as Miller crash takes out Mir in podium fight 24/04/2022
The Suzuki rider was left helpless after the Aussie’s move up the inside saw him lose the front at Turn 1 and their top 3 hopes up in smoke
That elevated Aleix Espargaro to third as he eyed only the third MotoGP podium for Aprilia. The Argentine Grand Prix winner closed onto the rear wheel of Zarco on the final lap but couldn’t find a way through. Zarco took second, the thirteenth of his premier class career, and Espargaro had to settle for third.
COMEBACKS AND FRUSTRATIONS
Fourth across the line was arguably the man of the day: Alex Rins. A quite incredible performance from the Suzuki factory man saw him come through 23rd and, in doing so, lifted himself to equal points with Quartararo in the Championship chase. Another strong comeback rider came courtesy of the home hero Miguel Oliveira. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing man clinched a top five to bounce back from two crashes on home soil in 2021.
For the first time in MotoGP we were treated to a Marquez vs Marquez battle on the final lap of the race. LCR Castrol Honda’s Alex Marquez was holding off elder brother Marc quite brilliantly as the laps ticked by, before then, on the last lap, the Repsol Honda man squeezed his way through to take sixth place by only 0.020 ahead of Alex. Half a second back, Ducati Lenovo Team’s Francesco Bagnaia was gritting his teeth to salvage eighth place thanks to a last lap move on Repsol Honda’s Pol Espargaro. Aprilia’s Maverick Viñales took the final place inside the top ten.
There were crashes for Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing), Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing), Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Idemitsu Honda), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), bringing to an end a run of 18 straight point-scoring finishes , and, most notably, the former World Championship leader Enea Bastianini.
“We could go hammer time!” – MotoGP podium reaction 24/04/2022
Hear the immediate reaction to the premier class race from Portimao where Fabio Quartararo took victory and the Championship lead
Suzuki Celebrates 20 Years of ATV Manufacturing in the United States
Rome, GA – Suzuki Motor USA, LLC is proud to celebrate 20 years of manufacturing KingQuad ATVs at the Suzuki Manufacturing of America Corporation (SMAC) facility. KingQuad ATVs rolled off the assembly line in Rome, Georgia in May of 2002, and have continued to be built exclusively in the United States ever since.
Suzuki, the inventor of the 4-wheel ATV, has been building the award-winning KingQuad ATVs in this multi-million dollar, 35-acre manufacturing facility since 2002. The SMAC facility is located in the center of the biggest ATV market in the world, allowing access to real-world rider feedback for product refinement and timely delivery of KingQuad ATVs to Suzuki dealers worldwide.
First on Four Wheels – Suzuki has been an innovator in engineering since the company’s founding in 1909. This commitment to engineering excellence in the early 1980s saw Suzuki lead the industry with the creation of the first ever four-wheel ATV in 1983. Always committed to innovation, and attentive to the needs and desires of riders, Suzuki was literally First on Four Wheels.
“This is an extremely important milestone for Suzuki,” said Kerry Graeber, Vice President, Division Manager MC/ATV Sales and Marketing. “Suzuki is very proud to have built KingQuad ATVs in America for the past 20 years. The performance, toughness, and durability of Suzuki ATVs represent the commitment, hard work, and dedication of the people who build them in our Rome, Georgia facility.”
The SMAC facility is one key to the continued success of Suzuki’s global ATV business and Suzuki KingQuad ATVs built there are shipped to U.S. Suzuki dealers and nearly 30 countries worldwide.
Learn more about the complete line of Suzuki KingQuad ATVs at SuzukiCycles.com.
World Championship. 
