Tag: Kiko Giles

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Oulton Park puts on incredible BSB Showdown Decider

The British Superbike meeting at Oulton Park was about as dramatic as you get in a Superbike series. The top six are now all locked in, with Haslam leading Byrne, O’Halloran, Ellison, Mossey and Linfoot to Donington Park where the final 7 races will explode into life. The question is: Who will take the championship?

The first race of the triple header was as fast and furious as every other race this year! James Ellison made the best start of everyone, erupting through into 2nd position before taking the lead from teammate Haslam, Byrne, Bridewell and Hickman.

However, Tommy Bridewell would be the one who stole all the headlines for all the wrong reasons. A horrendous accident saw the Wiltshireman tuck the front just before turn 6. The bike cartwheeled through the air and into the crowd, leading to 2 spectators falling over as they made a run for the flying Suzuki.

With just two laps to go, Shane Byrne made a mistake on the exit to Hizzy’s chicane and went off track, leaving Hickman to take third.

Haslam also got passed Ellison at Lodge with a lap to go and that was how it remained. Race one saw Haslam beat both his teammates – Ellison then Hickman – which was the first time in BSB history that one team has packed out the podium.

Race two was less dramatic, but the first two were the same. Haslam once again took the win ahead of Ellison, but this time it was Dan Linfoot who took third position ahead of his Honda racing teammate Jason O’Halloran. There was drama for Shane Byrne who crashed out early doors and also Michael Laverty who crashed out on the last lap, which turned out to be a very costly mistake. John Hopkins had a big crash down at the Shell Oil’s Hairpin.

Race Three was next up and once again, it was the all-conquering JG Speedfit Kawasakis of Haslam and Ellison who hit the front. Byrne was picking his way through from well down the grid, as was Laverty, who needed to beat Mossey, Hickman and Cooper to remain in the showdown.

The safety car was deployed after a horrific accident involving Jake Dixon. The Briggs Equipment BMW rider suffered what looked like to be either a stuck throttle or brake failure. The BMW smashed into the tyre wall before mounting the fence and leaving people running for cover for the 2nd time this weekend. Dixon is in hospital with serious hip injuries.

The race restarted but this time, without James Ellison who suffered mechanical gremlins during the pace car period. Haslam went on to win the race from Luke Mossey and Tommy Bridewell. Michael Laverty managed a heroic 4th but that wasn’t enough, meaning it would be Luke Mossey who got through to the Showdown for Pete Extance’s team. Neither Tyco BMW rider made it into the top six.

The good news is that this coming weekend we have a massive bumper edition of BSB as the crew heads track side! We will have exclusive news, interviews and pictures every hour and on top of that, we may even have a competition for you to enter after the event! Follow me @MotoGPKiko and @PitCrew_Online for more! Once more, thanks to Gareth Davies for continuing to supply us with great images from the BSB paddock!

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

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Binder and Oliveira Spearhead new Moto2 KTM Project

Red Bull KTM Ajo will increase their presence at Grand Prix level in 2017 with a new team in Moto2 and a new KTM bike. KTM will thus become the first manufacturer to have a presence in all three classes: Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP. Alongside them as they take this important step, Red Bull KTM Ajo will run riders Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira in the project.

Red Bull, KTM and Ajo Motorsport join forces once again in 2017, building on their success in Moto3 with an expansion to the intermediate class. In their five years of collaboration to date, the team have taken a World Championship (2012), two runner-up spots (2014 and 2015) and a current lead of 106 points in the overall standings in Moto3. Red Bull KTM Ajo will also be the only team using the new KTM Moto2 bike, which debuts in the category. For Ajo Motorsport, this will be their third season in Moto2; last year they achieved the title, while this year they lead the standings with three points in the overall rankings.

The rider lineup will consist of familiar faces, who have come up through the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and Red Bull KTM Ajo Moto3 team. Binder, currently the Moto3 leader with 106 points, stays with the team and accompanies them on their exciting new venture. The South African, who came into the team last year, has a total of five wins and 11 podiums in five full seasons at Grand Prix level.

Miguel Oliveira returns to the structure with which he was proclaimed World Championship runner-up in 2015. The Portuguese, who this year debuted in Moto2, has six wins and seven podiums to his name, all in Moto3.

This new project, which has already enjoyed positive tests over the past year, will begin in earnest from November 16th, when the riders will get onboard the new KTM for the first time.

Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsport Director: “We’ve now enjoyed five years of successful collaboration with Aki Ajo in Moto3. We are very happy that he and our main sponsor Red Bull are offering us the perfect structure to move into Moto2 so we can have a presence in all classes of Grand Prix Racing in 2017. We see the intermediate class mainly as a platform for keeping riders in the KTM Family, which begins with the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and will run right through to MotoGP. The WP motorsports department has been fully integrated into KTM, and just as it is in Moto3 and MotoGP, the new Moto2 bike is being developed and built completely in-house. Brad Binder has had a very successful season this year and hopefully he will wrap up the championship. Now we’re happy that he can step up into the new Moto2 team. Also, we’re very pleased to welcome Miguel Oliveira back into the Orange Family after one year in Moto2.”

Aki Ajo, Team Manager: “Firstly, I am very happy to continue the cooperation with Red Bull and KTM and make this move together in Moto2. Now we will all be much closer to each other, working together in two classes and with the whole Red Bull KTM family in all three classes, which is something historic. We are very grateful to be part of this great project with KTM and Red Bull. It is also nice to start out with a pair of riders who we already know well. Brad (Binder) has spent two seasons with us and Miguel (Oliveira) had an incredible season last year in the team. Both have won races with us, so I cannot be more expectant than this. We have two riders who we know, who are young, eager, and with a positive attitude for this project.”

Binder: I learned a lot from Ajo in 2015 and this year

“First of all I want to say I am very grateful for this new opportunity given to me by the team in Moto2. I want to thank Aki Ajo and all the people and partners who have been helping so I could take this step up. After how this year has been, there is nothing that could excite me more than staying at Red Bull KTM Ajo and competing in Moto2. I really like this team; I like the respect between all the members and I know that the decisions they make are always the best to keep the team and riders on top. I know it will be very difficult, but I’m very motivated for this and I am already looking forward to it. It will be nice to start in a new class, with everything new and a lot to learn. My goal is to go out each day and give 110% to learn as quickly as possible. I am very happy to be back sharing a garage with Miguel (Oliveira), I learned a lot from him in 2015 and sure we will push each other; we will have fun. Everyone knows that if Red Bull KTM Ajo make a motorcycle, it will be good.”

Oliveira: I believe in this project

“I’m very happy to be returning to the Red Bull KTM Ajo family, and to a very professional team that brought me a lot of success. In fact, my most successful season to date came with them. I’m very happy and grateful to Aki (Ajo) and KTM for choosing me and for trusting in me to start this ambitious project with the KTM Moto2. I believe a lot in this new project, that I will have a very strong team alongside me, and that we will be able to get the best results possible. I will give my all in this new venture. I will be back sharing a garage with Brad (Binder), a very good person and rider, and I am sure that we will work very well together to gather the best data possible and take the KTM to the top.”

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

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Bridewell makes podium despite Horror Crash at BSB Oulton Park meeting

Bennetts Suzuki’s Tommy Bridewell bounced back from the disappointment of crashing-out of yesterday’s opening race at the Oulton Park MCE British Superbike Championship by racing his GSX-R1000 to third place in today’s second race.

Bridewell, who arrived at round nine of the series still harbouring ambitions of a place in the series Showdown, was unlucky to fall from fourth place in the first of the weekend’s three races after qualifying on the front row.

However, after a strong sixth-place finish in race two – despite suffering the after effects of yesterday’s crash – the Wiltshire rider took an impressive third place in the final race of the meeting, ending a frustrating weekend on a high note and further underlining the potential of the Bennetts Suzuki team and the GSX-R1000 package.

Tommy Bridewell: I want a win before the year is out
“We’ve had a bike capable of finishing on the podium in all three races this weekend to be honest, and it’s a credit to the team who have put so much effort in and built a brand new bike for today after yesterday’s crash. It’s been a real struggle for me on the bike today as I’ve been really sore and stiff. It was difficult to move around and difficult to get the bike to turn. I really struggled in the first race today but I was a little better in race two and a bit more relaxed, and it was good to give the team a podium after the effort they’ve put in. We’re not in the Showdown, and now we can just enjoy riding our bike in every session before the end of the season, but I want to put the bike on the top-step of the podium before the year’s out.”

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKikos

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Buildbase BMW suffer disappointing weekend at Oulton Park


Richard Cooper had his sights set on the podium looking to match his successful debut win at the Cheshire circuit earlier on in the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship season. As the triple-header weekend played out Coopers Showdown position hopes were dashed.

Race one saw the Buildbase BMW duo both finish within the top ten, onto race two, the grid line up saw the red and white BMW team-mates line up together on the fifth row, Cooper had a lot of work to do on a challenging circuit after a bad start which saw him drop back into 16th. He worked hard to fight through the pack, making several passes early on, a run off the track lost both time and places in the race forcing the no.47 rider to cross the line in 12th. Jackson had great race pace, setting the fastest time on lap three, however his chances were hindered after an incident left him crashing out.

Race three, the Showdown decider, was a tough battle for Cooper, who started the from 14th on the grid. The fight to stay in contention was clear as the intensity turned up on the final race of the weekend. Following a serious crash for Jake Dixon at Hizzys early on in the race the safety car was deployed. Once the race resumed it looked like Cooper had what it takes, making a move on Laverty into fourth. However, it didn’t stick to the end as the other contenders also upped the ante in the final push to the finish line. Richard came in sixth, taking him out of the Showdown and Lee crossed the chequered flag in eighth.

Current Pirelli National Superstock 1000 championship leader Taylor Mackenzie took his sixth pole position of the season so far. A scorching start from the grid set the scene for an action packed race between Mackenzie and rival Tyco BWM riders Josh Elliot and Ian Hutchinson. An incident on the final corner took both Taylor and Ian out of the race. Mackenzie still stands on top of the championship standings 23 points clear of Hutchy.

Taylor Mackenzie: I was disappointed to end the weekend with a crash

“After taking pole position and feeling comfortable all weekend I was really disappointed to end the weekend with a crash. However I’m really excited going into my home round with a 23 point lead in the championship and I’ll be doing everything I can to bring home a win at my favourite circuit of the year.”

Steve Hicken, Team Manager: Taylor was unfortunate

“It is disappointing that we didn’t make the Showdown with Richard, but we will concentrate now on winning the Riders Cup and being the top BMW. Taylor was very unfortunate not to take the victory, but we look forward to the next round at Donington Park this coming weekend.”

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

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Pata Yamaha prepare for demanding EuroSpeedway Lausitz


Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team will be back to full strength and its original line-up as the 2016 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship restarts at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz in Germany later this week. Sylvain Guintoli returns to action alongside Alex Lowes at the 4,265m circuit, after the championship took a two-month-long break from racing over the summer.

While WorldSBK has not witnessed wheels turned in anger since Laguna Seca, Lowes has been far from resting. Competing, and winning the Suzuka 8Hours with the Yamaha Factory Racing Team in late-July, he then went on to re-join his victorious endurance teammate Pol Espargaro in the Monster Energy Tech3 Team, substituting for injured countryman Bradley Smith in two consecutive MotoGP races at Silverstone and Misano. Lausitzring will herald his third race in as many weeks but the British rider, who turns 26 on Wednesday, remains as determined as ever to get back to the day job, utilising the experience and skills honed aboard the multiple machines to deliver on the WorldSBK-spec YZF-R1.

Germany will provide Guintoli with his first race weekend since the qualifying accident at Imola forced him out of competition. Having spent the past four months concentrating on his rehabilitation and fitness, the Frenchman has been back on track aboard his road and race YZF-R1’s as he prepares for his return. His most recent outings have seen the 34-year-old reacquaint himself with the Pata Yamaha team at two private tests, allowing the opportunity to both learn the Lausitz layout and test his fitness against his familiar Magny-Cours circuit. Guintoli is confident that he can return to the sharp end for the final four events in the 2016 calendar, starting with the Brandenburg track this weekend.

The Lausitzring EuroSpeedway is located in eastern Germany, close to the Czech and Polish borders, lying approximately 65kms north of Dresden and 135kms south of Berlin. The anticlockwise layout houses 13 corners, 7 left and 6 right-handers and while the overall landscape is flat, the twisty circuit provides a unique experience for the riders. WorldSBK last visited the circuit in 2007, with Noriyuka Haga taking a race win, a further podium and setting the lap record of 1’38.622 on his Yamaha YZF-R1. Lights out for 2016’s two 21-lap races is scheduled for 13:00 local time on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th September.

Lowes: We had a good test in Germany last month

“Lausitz is a new track for me and most people in WorldSBK but I’m looking forward to this weekend and getting back on the YZF-R1. I think it’s going to be a difficult race for everyone, as it’s a technical track with some tricky sections but we had a good test there last month. My goal for the final four rounds is to up our game a bit and finish the season well so I’m looking forward to getting started.”

Guintoli: It is not the most exciting track

“Obviously I have been out of competition for a few months now so I’m really looking forward to getting back into the mix and getting stuck in. You can’t replace racing – there is nothing that gets anywhere near the feeling it gives you to compete and to race so I am very much looking forward to this weekend. Hopefully I can rebuild my speed quickly, find the feeling with the YZF-R1 and enjoy the end of the season. I think everyone agrees that Lausitz is not the most exciting track and is very bumpy but we have to do the best we can there to get a strong result.”

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

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Parc Fermé

In my latest weekly column Parc Fermé, I cast my mind back to a weekend of phenomenal bike racing and look ahead at what is to come. Let’s just hope it’s not a #93 world championship.

A weekend of Grand Prix motorcycle racing at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli and the British Superbike ‘Showdown Decider’ at Oulton Park.

Just that opening paragraph is enough to have you bouncing your knees in excitement and feeling the goosebumps develop all over your skin.

As soon as Jorge Navarro crashed out at Misano the commentators should just have declared there and then that Brad Binder is the 2016 Moto3 champion. He is now 106 points in front of second place Enea Bastianini. I don’t care what sort of rider you are, unless Binder is going to throw his bike at the scenery for the next five races (and I can’t see that happening) South Africa will be crowning itself a world champion. It is shame though. I really thought that Binder and Navarro were going to go at it hammer and tongs to the very last race. I even thought riders like Bastianini, Bulega, Antonelli and Fenati were going to mount a serious challenge. It wasn’t to be.

I know there are a few people out there who have said they find Brad a bit boring during interviews, but I like him. I like how he conducts himself and the way he keeps a cool, calm and collected manner about him. He is a worthy champion, of that I have no doubt.

After the furore of Silverstone (mostly from British fans) regarding Zarco and Lowes, it was time to see what would happen at Misano. Well, not much between them to be honest. Sam was unfortunately down again and I hate to say it, but I think that’s his championship hopes gone with his bike into the gravel.

Alex Rins. Well. Broke both collar bones and rode his bloody socks off, yet it was the hustling, determined and downright dogged Lorenzo Baldassarri who took the spoils. His performance, the way he hunted down Rins was exceptional. I won’t hide the fact that I was quite pleased to see Zarco drop like a stone, or as Julian Ryder quite eloquently put it “Zarco has been taken outside and beaten up.” Oh well, never mind. I was really pleased to see Rins and Baldassarri battling at the front for the win.

What I wasn’t expecting was a Dani Pedrosa victory in MotoGP. In fact I don’t think most people were expecting a Pedrosa win. Where the hell did that come from? I watched with interest as Rossi closed the gap down on Lorenzo, inch by inch the tarmac shortened and the sea of yellow in the stands erupted as the GOAT went into the lead. But hold on….wait a minute. What’s that in the background creeping up?

It was a Repsol Honda bike but not the bully boy #93 of Marquez, no it wasn’t. It was the #26 of Pedrosa.

I was ever so happy to see Pedrosa burst like a bullet underneath Marquez sitting him up as he went by. That’s the second time today I’ve been happy. Although I wasn’t expecting a Pedrosa victory it was a win that I don’t think anybody would deny him. He rode an absolutely phenomenal race.

The gap in the world championship is down to 43 points and if I am being honest I don’t mind who of the chasing pack wins the title this year, as long as it’s not the #93. I think that Marc Marquez is one of the most talented riders there has ever been. What he can do with a motorcycle is just unbelievable and he is without doubt a true great. I just don’t like his riding ethics and his smarmy, arrogant nature off the track. That’s the only reason I don’t want him to win the world championship. Nothing else.

The setting for the British Superbike ‘Showdown Decider’ was Oulton Park. Now, unlike the above, there is no superbike rider who I have glee in seeing dropping down the order. It was a real topsy turvy, roller coaster affair this one but I have to say the highlight of the weekend for me was witnessing racing history.

Three JG Speedfit Kawasaki riders locking out the podium positions, the first time in British Superbike history and this coming from a fan of another bike racing team as well. It is always a special moment watching racing history being made.

I did manage two rather large shots when I witnessed both Tommy Bridewell and Jake Dixon go down hard, their bikes catapulting across the grass to the fencing. Bridewell’s bike actually went over the fencing and on both occasions the fans were running for cover.

So, we have our final six riders for the Championship Showdown. Leon Haslam, Shakey Byrne, Jason O’Halloran, James Ellison, Dan Linfoot and Luke Mossey. Three Kawasaki’s, two Honda’s and a Ducati. It’s going to be some run-in to the end of the season, but where do I think the title will go.

As a fan, my heart says Shakey Byrne, as a Byrne fan and lifelong Ducati fan. My head says Leon Haslam, I just think he has hit a rich vein of form and looks the business at the moment. If I was going to pick a rider outside of those two I’d want Luke Mossey to win it. I like him, I like the way he conducts himself.

Whether it was Moto3, Moto2, MotoGP, British Superbikes or British Supersport, at the weekend I still managed to witness more excitement in one weekend than a certain racing series all season that I can’t be bothered to mention again.

The Grand Prix racers move to Aragon and the British Superbike riders go to Donington. In all of the series it’s just going to be one hell of an end to the season.

Until the next time. See you at the chequered flag.

Neil Simmons

Twitter: @world_racing

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Mixed race for AGR Moto2 Team

In the race, Marcel started from 13th and Áxel 16th. And there was a disaster. Pons crashed in the first lap, not by his fault, and Marcel had an off-track excursion in the second. The Argiñano & Ginés Racing Team was literally out and there was still a lot of the race left to go. Áxel returned to the garage and had pain in one hand, while Marcel took started a great recovery. The German rider of the AGR went from the 23rd to the 11th position, finishing just outside the top 10 that he wanted so much.

Schrötter showed that he had a better pace than many other riders. Some of them he passed easily, with others he had to work harder. He also benefited from some crash ahead. He crossed the Finish line less than two seconds.

Marcel Schrotter: I didn’t have much grip

“I must ask the team to forgive me. I did a good lap, but in turn 4 of the second lap I felt someone push me, I tried to hold the ground but I was hit and went off track. Under those conditions it was difficult to fight, but I tried to push in all laps until the end. During the warm-up we had tried something that went well, but during the race the conditions had changed a lot and I didn’t feel I had much grip. I think I fought well in the end, but I’m not happy with the times. We were able to gather some points”.

Áxel Pons: We had good pace

“No luck, I was hit in the second corner and the work of the whole weekend went away. We had good pace. It’s a pity. I’m already thinking about Aragon. We are competing at home, so we have to get a good result”.

Kiko Giles

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MotoGP’s fight against Tragedy

Lorenzo Baldassarri’s victory in Sunday’s Moto2 race was a timely reminder that the MotoGP paddock goes beyond the world of sport, as the Italian was fully decked out in his Stars and Stripes livery.

The Forward Racing rider has been due a win for a long time, but the main reason for this feature is because of the sheer meaning and significance that the win had. On a day that 15 years ago would never be forgotten, nor could it have ever been predicted, it almost seems strange that we celebrate a tribute just like this.

It was almost scripted. Baldassarri’s home race. His first race win. And on a day that is so often associated with negative events, a breath of fresh air was hovering over to finally cheer something on. Good times were much needed too, after controversy in the Moto2 paddock last time out, it took the sting and all the bad thoughts from Silverstone.

But it was a much needed win for other reasons. Considering he was riding with the American Flag livery, and for the reason he was riding with it, it makes sense to link this to terrorism. The 9/11 attacks were sadly not the last atrocities on Earth, and that makes the win very fitting. This shows that no matter how much terrorism happens or what the political situation is in certain countries, it will always be the people on the side of the victims that show us just how to deal with it.

The victory for Balda today shows that MotoGP is standing up to terrorism around the world. That it isn’t going to let savages win and let innocent victims be forgotten. It shows that the best way to remember the lost and the families affected, is to do your best and win at what you’re good at. Try your best and if you don’t succeed then you keep trying because you don’t know what may happen tomorrow.

It was an emotionally draining event for everyone at Misano too. 6 years ago we lost Shoya Tomizawa and on Thursday, the late great Marco Simoncelli had his number 58 retired at the circuit that is named after the 250cc champion. Wayne Rainey’s career was cut short at this very circuit and on top of all that, Italy was still grieving after last month’s tragic earthquake. Which brings me on to the win from Lorenzo. It has reunited a country; remembered those we have lost to terrorism on a day that connotes tragedy; remembered Simoncelli in a way that he would have wanted and on top of all, highlighted that despite however many difficult periods this track has been through, and how many names are remembered at Misano, success is inevitable and that you have two extremes at each end of a scale. Travesty and terror at one, yet supremacy and delight at the other. A weekend that will be remembered for so many good reasons, a day that finally has something to celebrate. Lorenzo Baldassarri has really done the world proud.

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

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Baldassarri Wins Moto2 Thriller at Home

Lorenzo Baldassarri (Forward Racing) took a stunning win at Misano World Circuit in his first appearance on the top step, after a game of cat-and-mouse with Paginas Amarillas HP 40 title contender Alex Rins kept Misano on their feet. After some chaotic early laps, Takaaki Nakagami (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) completed the podium for his third rostrum in a row at the venue, as championship leader Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) found himself knocked down to P4.

After a Moto3 race more tactical than the usual on-track dynamite, the baton was passed to Moto2 to switch things up a gear and the intermediate class did not disappoint. With fantastic Adriatic weather beaming down from the powder blue skies, Moto2 set up a thriller at Misano. Zarco and Nakagami got the best starts from the front row, before the Japanese rider took Turn 1 too hot and then pushed Garage Plus Interwetten rider Tom Luthi wide over the run off area. With the Swiss rider rejoining easily, Nakagami then had a moment and found himself down in P8 by the end of the first lap.

Alex Rins (Paginas Amarillas HP 40) had an aggressive first lap to tag onto the back of the leaders, with Luthi just ahead of him on track and Baldassari and Franco Morbidelli (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS) shadowing championship leader Zarco. After a lap full of drama, the reigning champion then found himself wrestled down to P5 – with title rival Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Racing Moto2) right behind him on track. Lowes got past the Frenchman as the Ajo rider’s tough start of the race continued, with Zarco then finding himself down in P6 with Friday’s fastest Nakagami glued to his rear wheel – and soon past him.

With Rins able to break clear and Baldassarri following on the chase, the podium battle behind got brutal as Lowes, Morbidelli and Nakagami battled it out ahead of Luthi and Zarco. Pushing just a bit too hard with 13 laps to go, Lowes then lost it and found himself sliding out of the race – and possibly the title fight.

Nakagami broke free to chase the leaders down, with Rins out at the front but the pace starting to waiver for the Moto2 title contender. With a healing collarbone after a training accident ahead of the British GP, the Spaniard pushed to retain his advantage – one that would have seen him lead the championship on the way to his home track MotorLand Aragon – and tried to hold on in a superhuman effort.

In front of the home fans however, a healthy Baldassari gradually reeled in the Paginas Amarillas HP 40 rider ahead of him. Rins’s defense was incredible as the Spaniard pushed to keep up the pace despite the injury, but on the penultimate lap the Italian pounced. Rins, who was left with the choice of play safe or fight back, still wouldn’t let him go and stuck to the Italian’s back wheel before trying a move on the final lap. With Baldassarri defensive and nearing the line for his impressive maiden win, Rins ran wide and settled for the P2 after his superhuman display.

Morbidelli crossed the line in P5, ahead of Silverstone winner Luthi. Petronas Raceline Malaysia rider Hafizh Syahrin had a solid ride to P7, just ahead of Intact Dynavolt GP duo Jonas Folger and Sandro Cortese. Alex Marquez (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS) gained some more confidence back with another solid finish to round out the top ten.

With Lowes down, Zarco off the podium and Rins taking home a haul of 20 points, the championship gap at the top is now 3 points between the Frenchman and the Spaniard. Next up? Rins’ home turf as MotorLand Aragon beckons its local hero home.

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

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Top 10 for Aprilia at Home

Alvaro Bautista’s tenth place and Stefan Bradl’s twelfth in the race demonstrate the progress that the Aprilia RS-GP machines showed throughout the weekend. The many changes tested in recent weeks and brought to the race at Misano gave the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini riders a positive approach from the very first sessions. Bautista going through to Q2 – the first time for the fledgling RS-GP – and Bradl’s excellent fifth row spot on the grid were the prelude to an extremely solid race for the two.

Alvaro started well from the fourth row, but contact with another rider in the second lap cost him a few positions, precluding any chance of an even better final result. After closing the gap behind the rider ahead of him, he battled with teammate Stefan and Petrucci to then pull away with a consistent pace that allowed him to easily defend a significant tenth place finish. Bradl also rode a very solid race, finishing twelfth.

Alvaro Bautista: I was able to pull away after I passed them

“I am happy because we rode a good race and had a good weekend. We knew that, despite going through to Q2, it would be a hard battle to get into the top ten and that is our goal. I started well, but in the second lap I lost a few positions because of contact with another rider, so I had to push hard to come back. Then, in the first laps, I had a strange feeling with the rear tyre. We don’t know why, but the bike slid around a lot. Then the situation went back to normal and I was able to maintain a good pace. I battled with Stefan and Petrucci, but once I overtook them I was able to pull away without any problems and I held my pace until the end. This was a decidedly positive weekend. We did a lot of good work finding new solutions for the bike and we improved, so I would like to thank Aprilia and the entire team for that. Now we want to continue moving in this direction to improve even more in the next portion of the season”.

Stefan Bradl: The result is not bad

“The weekend had started off well, but then a few problems kept me from using the evolution frame consistently. So for the race it was hard to choose which configuration to use and in the end I preferred the standard chassis. Unfortunately, it did not prove to be the best solution. I struggled with braking, the area where the new frame could have provided more advantages. In any case, the race result is not bad, considering the circumstances. I am back to finishing in the points. We showed some good signs during the weekend and we definitely learned a lot for the season finale”.
Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

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