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Post by truenorth on May 18, 2022 6:38:06 GMT -8
Mugello, Italy The first time that Mugello hosted a Grand Prix event was in the year 1976, and the layout of the stunning Tuscan circuit, which undulates naturally within a beautiful tree lined valley, has remained practically the same ever since. The track was purchased by Ferrari in 1988 and renovated to their high standards shortly after - with excellent facilities and world class safety features. It became a permanent MotoGP™ venue from 1991 onwards Italy’s love affair with bike racing is long and enduring. Manufacturers such as Mondial, Moto Guzzi, Gilera, MV Agusta, Morbidelli, Garelli, Cagiva and now Aprilia and Ducati all playing a role, in addition to great riders such as Giacomo Agostini and Valentino Rossi. Located 30km north-east of Florence in the beautiful countryside of Tuscany, Mugello is a modern circuit with excellent facilities. Bought by Ferrari back in 1988, the 5.245km track has been renovated to a high standard and has a growing reputation as one of the world’s most up-to-date, scenic and safest race circuits. A blend of slow and fast turns with sweeping curves, long straights and off-camber corners make Mugello one of the most challenging circuits for the riders and engineers. Having hosted its first MotoGP event back in 1976 the venue became a permanent fixture in 1991 after extensive refurbishment. Set within a beautiful tree lined Tuscan valley, Mugello also offers ample viewing areas for a particularly boisterous and partisan Italian crowd.
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Post by truenorth on May 18, 2022 6:41:26 GMT -8
Underdogs to top dogs: Aprilia and Aleix are title threats A dream start to 2022 rolls on for the Noale factory as they sit four points behind the World Championship lead and lead the Teams' title Aleix Espargaro is in the form of his life right now. Third place at Sunday's French Grand Prix was his third podium in succession and his fourth of the season, closing the gap to Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) at the top of the World Championship to only four points in the process. Furthermore, the Aprilia Racing squad now leads the Teams' Championship - a sentence you wouldn't have dared dream of saying a little more than twelve months ago. For context, in Espargaro's time at the Noale factory, they have never scored more than fifty points in the Team's Championship after seven rounds. Now, they sit atop of the standings with a remarkable 131 points; that's 83 points more than their previous best. For the past four seasons, the Constructors' table has seen Aprilia sat at the bottom after seven rounds. Now, they sit third and just two points adrift of Yamaha in second. As every round ticks by, the Spaniard's title credentials grow stronger and stronger. The RS-GP has proven it's competitive at every style of circuit, in every conditions, in every session pretty much. Espargaro is the only man to stand on a MotoGP™ podium four times this year and, as a result, should be taken very seriously as a contender for the 2022 MotoGP™ crown. But, even he's at a loss to explain what's going on: "I don't know really what to say. It's crazy what's happening. I have no explanation. I'm extremely happy with the level that I’ve reached, how I'm riding, the stability, how I feel with this team, with this group of people. They have given me the bike that I’ve dreamed about, the bike that I asked for. All of the changes that I wanted in pre-season last year, I have this year. I just hope to keep the momentum going and keep enjoying it. "I'm completely sure that we can fight for this title this year but I'm not really thinking about it. I'm just trying to enjoy the moment, trying to finish on the podium at every single race up to Valencia, trying to win more races and trying to have fun after a difficult career. Now we are just four points behind Fabio, 100 points after seven races, leading the teams’ championship. It’s insane. "The market is crazy, the championship is crazy, the level of every rider is unbelievable. It looks like every rider is fast and it's true. I read an interview last week with Gigi Dall’Igna and it was very interesting, saying that everybody is fast in this championship but to know the bike at the limit, knowing every single detail of the bike, is what makes the difference." Despite his incredible success at the start of the season, a new deal with Aprilia is rumoured to be stalling. The Noale factory have not yet managed to reach the demands of the 32-year-old, with him admitting in Austin that Aprilia's initial offer had left him "sad". However, as the podium visits continue to rack up, surely Espargaro is forcing Aprilia's hand: "I don't know what's happening there. I don't know what to say, honestly. It's not affecting me, I'm very happy and I'm enjoying the moment. "It will really help to know as soon as possible what my future is because it will give me some tranquility. But there is nothing more that I can do. I can win every race, yeah, but this is very difficult. I’ve finished nearly every race on the podium, so that's all I can do."
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Post by truenorth on May 18, 2022 6:45:29 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on May 19, 2022 8:07:46 GMT -8
Forbes magazine has published the list of the 50 highest paid sportsmen: Messi beats everyone, motorsport gets in with Hamilton (17th) and Verstappen (27th) www.gpone.com/en/2022/05/19/motogp/poor-but-nice-no-motogp-rider-among-the-uncle-scrooges-of-sport.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitterMat Oxley: Strewth - a record 9 Ducatis on the grid at Mugello next week! Bagnaia, Miller, Bastianini, Zarco, Martin, Bezzecchi, Di Giannantonio, Marini & factory test rider Michele Pirro. Will make for a fascinating race - remember last year's Italian GP was won by the slowest motorcycle Pit Beirer, sports boss at KTM: "you have to get rid of the fins in MotoGP. They destroy the show by making overtaking very complicated." We 100% agree with him.
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Post by truenorth on May 23, 2022 5:41:19 GMT -8
MotoGP is heading the wrong way, riders warn Manuel Pecino
May 23, 2022
“With the advent of aerodynamics overtaking has become more complicated.”
This is a phrase we have heard from virtually every MotoGP rider since 2016, when Gigi Dall’Igna opened the path of aerodynamic development. A discourse that has been in crescendo taking the “it has become more complicated to overtake” to “it is impossible to overtake” which at this moment the riders repeat like a mantra…All the riders except those of Ducati.
The aerodynamics of the current MotoGP have completely changed the overtaking maneuver under braking. It has affected it especially in three ways.
On the one hand because it generates a vacuum in the slipstream of the bike, which generates a suction effect on the braking of the bike behind.
“It’s beastly,” explains Aleix Espargaró.
“You have to take it into account when you’re behind another rider. If you brake where you would brake when you ride alone, you are not able to stop the bike. As simple as that. You have to take into account the suction effect and brake earlier…”
The best example of this kind of incident happened to Pol Espargaró at the Qatar GP, when in his attempt with the brakes to challenge Enea Bastianini, who had just overtaken him, Espargaro went wide and ran off circuit.
The second effect of aerodynamics on the overtaking maneuver is a consequence of the drag it exerts on the front end that allows the riders to brake harder and later.
“When I came to MotoGP in2015 the bikes didn’t have wings and had to be ridden differently,” Maverick Viñales.
“Now you brake much later because the wheels have more contact with the ground due to the load generated by aerodynamics.”
Put effect 1 and effect 2 together, and we have a picture that explains “it has become increasingly complicated to overtake”. … And there is still the third aerodynamic effect that influences the fact that we are seeing less and less overtaking in MotoGP: front tire pressure management.
“Star topic” in recent weeks, the difficulties in the management of the front tire pressure, are generated precisely by the two previous effects. The aerodynamic vacuum generated by riding behind a motorcycle means that no fresh air reaches the front tire, which becomes a problem when, due to the difficulty of overtaking, a rider is forced to stay for a long time behind another rider. The pressure goes up and the behavior of the front end changes dramatically.
“First you notice that the bike stops braking like it did with the right pressure,” Luca Marini recounted at Le Mans.
“And if the pressure keeps going up, the front starts to close in fast corners. And no, it’s not a nice sensation.”
“I was riding behind ‘Digia’ and I couldn’t see how to overtake him,” this time it’s Marco Bezzechi.
“I noticed how the tire pressure started to go up, so I had to let him go for a few meters to get fresh air to the wheel. Once I noticed that the pressure had dropped I went back on the attack knowing that I would have only one chance to overtake him… I passed him on the inside in turn number 1!”
At the last French GP the overtaking crisis entered a new phase. Only the Ducati were able to overtake other bikes. Bagnaia made it over Miller, Bastianini overtook Miller and Bagnaia, Zarco made it with Marquez, Bezzecchi overtook Di Giananntonio… I imagine there were others, but after the race the outcry among the non-Ducati riders was general.
Quartararo and Pol Espargaró complained bitterly about the impossibility of being able to even attempt an overtake, while Marc Márquez took the discourse to another level, pointing to the poor show gien to the spectators under the current situation.
“I have commented on it at the Safety Commission,” he said.
“The fans don’t realize if we go half a second faster or slower. The racing followers like to see overtakings and fights, and with the actual bikes this is not possible.”
Pay attention to the new message. There is a clear difference between complaining about the difficulty in overtaking and warning of the deterioration of the show. The first one is for internal consumption, the second is a message to the organizer of the show… And Márquez’s voice isn’t just anyone’s voice.
That the riders want a “downward” revision of the technology applied in the current MotoGP is crystal clear. We are talking about aerodynamics, systems for lowering the bikes on corner exit, and so on.
“It’s paradoxical,” says Viñales.
“The current bikes are easier to ride. On corner exit, you open the throttle to full throttle and that’s it; the electronics do the work that we riders used to have to do. The bikes are safer now, but that greater safety makes you go faster and this makes the circuits seem smaller and smaller.”
The rider’s will to retrace part of the road MotoGP has traveled is a fact, but in their crusade they are sure to come up against… the engineers. Because asking an engineer to give up a technological advance is like trying to mix oil and water: if it depends on them, it won’t happen.
For an engineer, racing is development and evolution, and in that concept, which many fans probably share, giving up something that allows riders to go faster is anathema. Especially if we talk about Gigi Dall’Igna, whom we could point to as the culprit of the current situation.
It was the Italian engineer who started the aerodynamic race, who thought of the device to lower the front suspension at the starting grid, who came up with the “lowering” of the rear at corner exit, who at the beginning of this year applied the same principle to the front axle, etc.
In “riders versus engineers,” I have no doubt that Dall’Igna will defend tooth and nail the technological progress of MotoGP. But considering the preferential role that Carmelo Ezpeleta always gives to his riders, I would bet much more on them… It won’t be long before we see it.
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Post by truenorth on May 24, 2022 6:41:04 GMT -8
Mattia Pasini has a Moto2 wild card with Aspar at Mugello, his first GP since 2020. An arm injury means his front brake is on the left handlebar. When Neil Morrison87 asked him how he can be so fast with the injury, he answered "You ride the bike with the balls, not the arms."
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Post by truenorth on May 25, 2022 7:09:00 GMT -8
Grand Prix of Finland postponed to 2023
Homologation works, together with the risks caused by the ongoing geopolitical situation in the region, means the Finnish GP is postponed
The FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports are obliged to announce changes to the 2022 FIM MotoGP™ World Championship calendar.
Homologation works at the KymiRing, together with the risks caused by the ongoing geopolitical situation in the region, have sadly obliged the cancellation of the Finnish Grand Prix in 2022. The current circumstances have created delays and put the ongoing work at the new circuit at risk. All parties have therefore agreed that the track’s debut must be postponed to 2023, when MotoGP™ looks forward to returning to Finland for the first time in four decades.
The final 2022 FIM MotoGP™ World Championship calendar is therefore expected to comprise 20 rounds.
Yes, it's finished. (Someone had to say it)
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Post by truenorth on May 26, 2022 6:46:45 GMT -8
No contract for Jack Miller at Ducati next year at Ducati.
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Post by truenorth on May 26, 2022 6:52:32 GMT -8
Minimum wage for World Championship riders? Manuel Pecino May 24, 2022
“I think there are riders in Moto3 and Moto2 who earn little,” said Alex Rins at Le Mans when asked about the discussion by the Safety Commission on the suitability of implementing a minimum salary for riders participating in the World Championship. An idea that did not result in anything concrete, but which shows a certain corporatism on the part of the MotoGP riders towards their colleagues in the lower categories.
Alex Rins is not only right in his comment, but it is also an understatement. Yes, there are many riders in the two lower categories of the World Championship who are paid very little, but there are also those who race at their own expense, and even those who pay for being able to ride in GPs. By the way, something that was happening until not so long ago also happened in MotoGP.
At the Le Mans Safety Commission meeting, the dismissal after Jerez of Romano Fenati was also brought up, as it was a unilateral decision of the team manager. Without being aware of the clauses that the rider had with the team, some riders dared to question this decision. And it was because of this issue that the minimum salary issue was brought up, as was the idea of introducing an indemnity clause in the contracts in case of a unilateral break by the team owner.
In Le Mans Rins said he understood that the formula used in F1 to solve contractual differences between riders and teams could also be a solution in MotoGP. In F1, when a case of this type arises, an independent panel is used to arbitrate the resolution of the problem.
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Post by truenorth on May 26, 2022 7:02:53 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on May 26, 2022 7:09:34 GMT -8
Maverick Viñales would help Aleix Espargaró for the MotoGP title: «If the time comes I will do it». The Catalan faces the Italian GP with the news of his renewal with Aprilia. Viñales would help Aleix Espargaró for the MotoGP title: "If the time comes I will do it" by Ana Puerto 26 May. 22 Maverick Viñales faces the Italian GP with the news of his renewal with Aprilia. The rider from Roses has had a conversation with Diario AS after hearing this news, where he has discussed various topics. On the occasion of the Italian Grand Prix, in this usual press Thursday they have made it known that Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Viñales renew with the Noale brand until 2024. Of course it is great news for the Roses after a complicated 2021 and a start from 2022 where he has been consistently hovering around the top 10 in career. In addition, he comments that everything has been very easy with Aprilia. The good relationship with Aprilia makes the renewal easy. “Everything has been very fluid. From the first day I entered Aprilia I felt like part of a family. From the first minute I felt like one of the team, which is very important. And the evolution is being fantastic. Everything went smooth and easy. The most important thing is that every member of the team knows what the goal is, which is to win, and we work hard for it." «From the first minute I felt like one of the team» His renewal has been something of a surprise compared to that of Aleix Espargaró. “We have a lot of confidence in the team and in the project. I know that I am in a great team, which is Aprilia, and it will always be a factory that can succeed, because it has shown it in the past and in the present. We are very excited. It is a very beautiful project that makes us very excited. The way to focus when things don't go your way. “I have a lot of trust in Aprilia and in each member of the group. I know that they are exceptional workers, with a high level. I see the potential in Aprilia from day one and that is something that keeps me alert and calm. I know that if it's not today, it will be tomorrow, but we'll get there." Those who were teammates at Suzuki have a good relationship, and Viñales is willing to help him if he fights for the title. "He's already doing it and if the time comes that I have to lend him a hand, of course I will."
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Post by truenorth on May 26, 2022 7:24:37 GMT -8
I wasn't always a fan of Maverick. I think now that some of the attitudes and comments from him that I disliked were the result of the way he was treated at Yamahammer. ^This article shows him to be in a much happier space and a realistic and positive frame of mind. I now think it's not just Ducati that can ruin a rider's career, but that Yamahahaha can do that too. I like the story that shows that being respected can bring the biggest prizes.
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Post by truenorth on May 26, 2022 7:36:42 GMT -8
Aprilia Extend Contracts With Aleix Espargaro And Maverick Viñales Through 2024 Submitted by David Emmett on Thu, 2022-05-26 12:07
Aprilia have decided on their MotoGP line up for the next two seasons. At Mugello, they announced that they will be keeping Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales for 2023 and 2024.
The announcement does not come as a huge surprise. Despite rumors that Aleix Espargaro had been displeased with the initial offer Aprilia made, the two sides have agreed terms for the next two years. The decision to extend with Maverick Viñales is a decision based more on expectation than current results, as the Spaniard continues to make progress toward being competitive. How much more progress is possible remains to be seen.
The signing of Espargaro and Viñales brings the total number of riders with a contract for next year to six. Marc Marquez, Brad Binder, and Pecco Bagnaia are signed through 2024, while Franco Morbidelli has a contract with Yamaha for 2023.
The next domino to fall will be either Fabio Quartararo, who is expected to renew his contract with Yamaha, or an announcement from Ducati. Ducati are currently n the middle of deciding which of their riders to place where for 2023, with Enea Bastianini, Jorge Martin, Johann Zarco, and Jack Miller vying for one spot in the factory squad and two seats at Pramac Ducati.
Aleix Espargaró
"This confirmation was just what the doctor ordered. We’ve worked hard together and grown together. We were a hope, now we are reality. In 2021 we had already seen clear signs of our steps forward and now we are able to battle consistently with the best in the world. Continuing to do so with Aprilia is a source of pride for me. We can grow even more and we want to demonstrate that on the track.”
Maverick Viñales
"I'm extremely happy to continue my work with Aprilia Racing. Now our horizons are expanding and we’ll be able to work with continuity to achieve ambitious goals. I believe in this project and I'm happy to be part of it. I’ve found a fantastic environment in Aprilia and this confirmation gives me the peace of mind to grow the way this team and I deserve to."
Massimo Rivola
"All the good we are doing this season is the fruit of many components, certainly the value of our designers and our technicians led by Romano Albesiano, the overall growth of our racing department and, in large part, the synergy that our Captain Aleix has skilfully built with the bike and with the team. So, we set the goal of continuing along these lines, both with Aleix and with Maverick, and I am pleased with these confirmations today. We still need to grow a lot and now we have the peace of mind to do so."
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Post by truenorth on May 26, 2022 7:41:07 GMT -8
Mugello this morning May 26, 22
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Post by truenorth on May 26, 2022 7:59:25 GMT -8
Marc Marquez: “We risk going in a direction where the bike matters more than the rider. In Japan they are already working on the 2023 bike "
Bastianini: "Yesterday I watched the Le Mans race and got excited. I feel in contention for the title, but I know I've won three times and I've also done other races like this, I need consistency"
Quartararo: "The next two circuits will not be easy for Yamaha. In Italy it will all depend on how qualifying goes"
Bagnaia: "I made a mistake and paid for it, at Mugello I just want to have fun. Valentino is on the circuit with his motorhome, it will seem like a more normal weekend"
Joan Mir: «I hope to have a factory bike next year, I think I deserve it». The Mallorcan arrives at Mugello with good feelings for the race, although there is still no news about his future.
Simon Crafar: Something I didn't expect: The wings and electronics have taken all the work (fun) out of the hump on the main straight. It's no longer - standing on the pegs fighting the wheelie- most exhilarating section of Motogp track on the planet (for me, on a stock 1000)
Rins42: about his future: «My manager was in talks at Le Mans, but nothing will be known until Montmeló». The Catalan hopes to take advantage of the potential of his Suzuki to remove the bad taste of Le Mans.
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Post by truenorth on May 26, 2022 8:50:24 GMT -8
Mat Oxley: Pramac Ducati’s new livery - they’ve picked up some cash from Italian insurance company Prima. I think this is for the rest of the season. Lenovo was dropped. They are a Chinese computer firm.
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Post by truenorth on May 26, 2022 9:23:45 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on May 26, 2022 9:54:20 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on May 26, 2022 12:41:33 GMT -8
Marin Raines: At the first GP at Mugello in 1976 Agostini set the fastest lap of the 500cc race averaging 91.6 mph. Last year Tatsuki Suzuki set fastest lap of Moto3 race, averaging 101.1 mph. Layout of circuit has not changed drastically.
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Post by truenorth on May 27, 2022 4:13:57 GMT -8
Moto3 FP1 1 7 Dennis FOGGIA ITA Leopard Racing HONDA 1'56.916 15 17 242.1 2 17 John MCPHEE GBR Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max HUSQVARNA 1'57.283 12 14 0.367 0.367 242.6 3 71 Ayumu SASAKI JPN Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max HUSQVARNA 1'57.394 13 14 0.478 0.111 243.2 4 10 Diogo MOREIRA BRA MT Helmets - MSI KTM 1'57.850 14 15 0.934 0.456 246.0 5 24 Tatsuki SUZUKI JPN Leopard Racing HONDA 1'57.905 11 14 0.989 0.055 240.5 6 54 Riccardo ROSSI ITA SIC58 Squadra Corse HONDA 1'58.059 14 16 1.143 0.154 243.2 7 28 Izan GUEVARA SPA Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team GASGAS 1'58.111 13 15 1.195 0.052 240.0 8 64 Mario AJI INA Honda Team Asia HONDA 1'58.153 16 16 1.237 0.042 234.2 9 96 Daniel HOLGADO SPA Red Bull KTM Ajo KTM 1'58.285 15 16 1.369 0.132 241.0 10 16 Andrea MIGNO ITA Rivacold Snipers Team HONDA 1'58.305 14 16 1.389 0.020 239.4 11 5 Jaume MASIA SPA Red Bull KTM Ajo KTM 1'58.307 15 15 1.391 0.002 236.8 12 23 Elia BARTOLINI ITA QJMotor Avintia Racing Team KTM 1'58.440 15 15 1.524 0.133 237.8 13 99 Carlos TATAY SPA CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP CFMOTO 1'58.445 15 16 1.529 0.005 237.8 14 11 Sergio GARCIA SPA Valresa GASGAS Aspar Team GASGAS 1'58.624 17 17 1.708 0.179 241.0 15 66 Joel KELSO AUS CIP Green Power KTM 1'58.631 14 14 1.715 0.007 238.9 16 18 Matteo BERTELLE ITA QJMotor Avintia Racing Team KTM 1'58.641 17 17 1.725 0.010 238.4 17 53 Deniz ÖNCÜ TUR Red Bull KTM Tech3 KTM 1'58.737 17 17 1.821 0.096 239.4 18 6 Ryusei YAMANAKA JPN MT Helmets - MSI KTM 1'58.782 13 15 1.866 0.045 244.3 19 67 Alberto SURRA ITA Rivacold Snipers Team HONDA 1'58.805 12 14 1.889 0.023 238.9 20 82 Stefano NEPA ITA Angeluss MTA Team KTM 1'58.816 14 15 1.900 0.011 238.9 21 31 Adrian FERNANDEZ SPA Red Bull KTM Tech3 KTM 1'58.857 15 16 1.941 0.041 238.4 22 19 Scott OGDEN GBR VisionTrack Racing Team HONDA 1'58.901 14 15 1.985 0.044 241.0 23 27 Kaito TOBA JPN CIP Green Power KTM 1'59.025 11 14 2.109 0.124 236.8 24 20 Lorenzo FELLON FRA SIC58 Squadra Corse HONDA 1'59.800 4 14 2.884 0.775 240.5 25 43 Xavier ARTIGAS SPA CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP CFMOTO 2'00.205 16 16 3.289 0.405 235.2 26 72 Taiyo FURUSATO JPN Honda Team Asia HONDA 2'00.230 13 16 3.314 0.025 240.5 27 44 David MUÑOZ SPA BOE Motorsports KTM 2'00.444 5 13 3.528 0.214 243.7 28 48 Ivan ORTOLÁ SPA Angeluss MTA Team KTM 2'00.704 17 17 3.788 0.260 238.4 29 70 Joshua WHATLEY GBR VisionTrack Racing Team HONDA 2'01.444 13 15 4.528 0.740 235.2 30 22 Ana CARRASCO SPA BOE Motorsports KTM 2'02.606 14 15 5.690 1.162 237.3
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