MotoGP Rnd 9 Monster Energy British GP 03 AUG - 05 AUG

David Emmett
Alex Marquez saying the track was dirty, there was grass on the track from crashes which made it dangerous. "I didn't know if it was a regional championship or a world championship".

might do better if he did

SofaRacer
Reports of Drunken and Loutish behaviour in Towcester this evening.

Two gangs of males chanting “You’re SHIT, and you know you are! You’re SHIT, and you’ve fallen so far!” at each other.

Police have intervened, and escorted the Factory Honda & Yamaha Teams back to Silverstone.

A. Espargaro snatches victory from Bagnaia in last-lap British GP barnstormer


The Aprilia "Captain" timed it to perfection to pip Pecco on the final lap with Marco Bezzecchi crashing out.

MotoGP™ came back with a bang as the Monster Energy British Grand Prix delivered enthralling and unpredictable racing action that left fans unable to look away. With spots of rain falling towards the end of the race, Aleix Espagaro (Aprilia Racing) mastered the changing conditions to put himself in the perfect position for a last-lap attack on Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). The Italian led the majority of the race with Espargaro able to get a good look at the factory Ducati ahead. The reigning Champion will be happy to take 20 points as his title rival Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) crashed out whilst following Bagnaia in 2nd place. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had his hands full with the Aprilia's of Maverick Viñales and Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team ) as the South African fought hard to bring home 3rd place.

MotoGP™ springs back into life at Silverstone
The grid settled at Silverstone as the 2023 MotoGP™ rollercoaster of a season was set to return to action after a long summer break. The Monster Energy British Grand Prix marks the start of the second half of the season as the title trio prepared to resume battle. The track was bone-dry but a chance of rain added to tension on the grid.

Marco Bezzecchi started on pole position, but as the revs rose and the grid flew off the line it was a lightning start from Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) from the middle of the front row with Bezzecchi eyeing up a way through on the Aussie. Meanwhile, Francesco Bagnaia shot up to P3 from 4th on the grid as he had Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Maverick Vinales in his wheel-tracks.

Bagnaia did not hesitate in getting past his title rivals as he took his first opportunity to pass Bezzecchi, with his sights set on Jack Miller in the lead. Bezzecchi wasn't letting Bagnaia have it easy though as he fired it back up the inside. This ignited the fire in the Championship leader's belly as Bagnaia pulled off an incredible move around the outside of Bezzecchi and used his momentum to take the lead away from Miller at the next corner.

Bezzecchi followed pursuit and pushed the Aussie back to P3 into the clutches of Alex Marquez. Bagnaia and Bezzecchi began to break away as the title rivals were locked together at the front.

Aleix Espargaro was a man on a mission with 16 laps remaining as the Aprilia rider pushed his way through on Marquez into 3rd place and was the fastest man on circuit.

A small error with big consequences…
Bezzecchi had rushed into turn Stowe corner with 15 laps remaining, running himself slightly wide. The Italian should've acknowledged this warning sign as it happened, as one lap later the VR46 man made the same mistake, but this time the Silverstone Circuit wasn't as kind to the title contender as he tucked the front and went down and out of the British Grand Prix. With Bagnaia in the lead, this was proving to be a big dent in Bezzecchi's Championship charge.

The Italian's crash promoted Espargaro to 2nd place and Brad Binder up into 3rd, with the Spaniard putting the hammer down to reel in the number one plated Ducati out the front. Bagnaia did respond and upped the pace at the front with the Aprilia hanging onto his coattails, initiating an intense battle of attrition for the victory.

White flags and several plot twists…
Meanwhile, Viñales had made his way through on Brad Binder with 11 laps to go, making it two Aprilias inside the top 3. Viñales then proceeded to catch the leading group with Binder latched onto his rear wheel.

It became a group of 4 at the front with seven laps remaining, and the white flags were displayed with light spots of rain dropping onto the Silverstone Circuit. The rain picked up at turn 15 and the Aprilias backed off slightly allowing Binder to fly his way through as the South African was as committed as ever on KTM.

Espargaro made his way through on Binder with 4 laps remaining as Bagnaia was putting down a strong pace out the front. Espargaro latched onto the Italian as Binder began to drop back with Miguel Oliveira now throwing his name into the mix as he came out of nowhere to catch the leading group.

Oliveira wasted no time in getting past Binder and Viñales as the Portuguese rider pulled off an incredible two-in-one move to make his way into P3.

Last lap time and Binder had gotten the better of Oliveira to slot himself into P3 as Bagnaia stretched out the group in the first sector. Espargaro made an incredible move on the power at the exit of Copse Corner to blast past the Italian. The Spaniard went defensive down the hangar straight with Bagnaia desperate to get past the Aprilia, but there was no way through as Espargaro left no room for the reigning Champion, leaving him forced to settle for 2nd place as he extended his Championship lead.

Brad Binder also put on an impressive defensive display as he fended off Oliveira for the final podium spot. Viñales came home in 5th place, making it three Aprilia's inside the top five with Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) taking P6 as he gained significant ground on Bezzecchi for P2 in the standings.

It was an important weekend for Aprilia Racing as the Noale manufacturer returned to victory at a Silverstone Circuit that has been both cruel and kind to Aleix Espargaro. MotoGP™ now turns its attention to the Red Bull Ring in Austria for the CryptoDATA Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich set to take place from the 18th to the 20th of August.

David Emmett
Whatever KTM_Racing are paying Polarity Photo, it's not enough. He has been capturing some breathtaking photos recently. Here's Brad Binder getting the rear snaking in the wet, caught with astonishing clarity.

Moto2 Race
1 25 54 Fermín ALDEGUER SPA Beta Tools SpeedUp BOSCOSCURO 35'37.758 168.9
2 20 40 Aron CANET SPA Pons Wegow Los40 KALEX 35'40.304 168.7 2.546
3 16 37 Pedro ACOSTA SPA Red Bull KTM Ajo KALEX 35'41.641 168.5 3.883
4 13 16 Joe ROBERTS USA Italtrans Racing Team KALEX 35'44.218 168.3 6.460
5 11 18 Manuel GONZALEZ SPA Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 M KALEX 35'44.920 168.3 7.162
6 10 7 Barry BALTUS BEL Fieten Olie Racing GP KALEX 35'45.332 168.3 7.574
7 9 22 Sam LOWES GBR Elf Marc VDS Racing Team KALEX 35'45.381 168.3 7.623
8 8 79 Ai OGURA JPN IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia KALEX 35'46.896 168.1 9.138
9 7 35 Somkiat CHANTRA THA IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia KALEX 35'50.038 167.9 12.280
10 6 14 Tony ARBOLINO ITA Elf Marc VDS Racing Team KALEX 35'50.852 167.8 13.094
11 5 52 Jeremy ALCOBA SPA QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2 KALEX 35'54.329 167.6 16.571
12 4 13 Celestino VIETTI ITA Fantic Racing KALEX 35'54.466 167.5 16.708
13 3 12 Filip SALAC CZE QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2 KALEX 35'54.586 167.5 16.828
14 2 75 Albert ARENAS SPA Red Bull KTM Ajo KALEX 35'56.593 167.4 18.835
15 1 15 Darryn BINDER RSA Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP KALEX 36'06.819 166.6 29.061
16 3 Lukas TULOVIC GER Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP KALEX 36'07.314 166.6 29.556
17 64 Bo BENDSNEYDER NED Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team KALEX 36'16.195 165.9 38.437
18 17 Alex ESCRIG SPA Forward Team FORWARD 36'18.596 165.7 40.838
19 24 Marcos RAMIREZ SPA Forward Team FORWARD 36'20.611 165.5 42.853
20 84 Zonta VD GOORBERGH NED Fieten Olie Racing GP KALEX 36'22.897 165.4 45.139
21 28 Izan GUEVARA SPA Tensite GASGAS Aspar Team KALEX 36'43.508 163.8 1'05.750
22 5 Kohta NOZANE JPN Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 M KALEX 36'48.446 163.4 1'10.688
Not classified
21 Alonso LOPEZ SPA Beta Tools SpeedUp BOSCOSCURO 14'45.581 167.8 10 laps
11 Sergio GARCIA SPA Pons Wegow Los40 KALEX 6'22.811 166.4 14 laps
Not finished first lap
96 Jake DIXON GBR Tensite GASGAS Aspar Team KALEX
33 Rory SKINNER GBR OnlyFans American Racing KALEX
23 Taiga HADA JPN Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team KALEX
72 Borja GOMEZ SPA Fantic Racing KALEX
71 Dennis FOGGIA ITA Italtrans Racing Team KALEX

Alonso takes historic first Grand Prix victory for Colombia in Moto3™


The rookie took his debut victory from the back of the grid, Holgado extended his Championship lead with Masia crashing out and Sasaki moving into second.

The Grand Prix paddock heard the Colombian anthem for the first time as David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) not only took his first Grand Prix victory but the very first for his nation. The rookie put in a stellar last-lap performance after climbing up from last on the grid to snatch victory ahead of the Moto3™ big-hitters, with Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) taking P2. Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) strengthened his title campaign as the Championship leader took an important podium with his title rival Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) crashing out of the lead and failing to recover points.

It was heartbreak for the British fans before the lights even went out as Scott Ogden (VisionTrack Racing Team) was unable to get off the line on the Warm Up lap. By the time the Brit had gotten his bike restarted he was behind the safety car and was forced to start his home Grand Prix from the back of the grid.

The lights went out and it was a good start for Holgado, who snatched the holeshot from Masia into turn 1. Masia, who started from pole, bit straight back though as Holgado who was then pushed back to 4th place with Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Sasaki getting themselves stuck in on lap one.

Öncü led as they came across the line for the first time ahead of Masia and Holgado. The typical Moto3™ freight train then began to form as Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) joined the battle at the front.

With 13 laps still remaining it was a disaster for Masia as the Spaniard crashed out at Village corner, remounting straight away and firing himself back into the race, but with a mountain to climb to the top 15, he was unable to score a point.

Meanwhile at the front, Diogo Moreira (MT Helemts MSI) and Alonso had joined the party whilst Masia's title rival Holgado was leading the freight train, with 20 riders locked together in victory contention.

It was blink-and-miss-it stuff as the laps ticked away with the Moto3™ riders banging bars, swapping paintwork, and bashing elbows in a hard but fair battle for victory.

Alonso was looking racey with eight laps remaining as the youngster wasn't shy of battling with the big names at the front. Romano Fenati (Rivacold Snipers Team) also threw his name into the mix with six laps to go, utilising his unique wide-swooping style to take the lead with an incredible round-the-outside move, but only to battered back down the order.

The lead continued to change as moves were being made at every corner of the 5.891km Silverstone circuit. The teams watched on through their fingers as any of the top 20 could've put themselves in victory contention on the final lap.

Last lap time came around and it was Holgado that led Alonso and Öncü with Ortola, Sasaki, and Moreira eager to break into the top 3. Alonso took the lead halfway around but it didn’t last long as Sasaki pushed his way to the front ahead of the final sector.

Alonso snatched the lead back on the hangar straight as Öncü jumped into P2 to then be pushed wide creating a gap in the group, this allowed the Colombian to hold onto the lead until the line as the youngster took his debut win in his rookie season at Grand Prix level, ahead of Sasaki who fended off Holgado to the line.

Ortola narrowly missed out on the podium in P4 as he fended off the menacing David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) who rounded out the top 5.

Ogden was a rider on a mission as he pushed his way into the top 20 with 12 laps remaining, tagging himself onto the back of the leading group. The Brit pushed his way into the points with 4 laps to go but dropped back to P16 in the closing stages, then classified one further back due to track limits on the last lap.