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Post by truenorth on Oct 29, 2023 6:27:31 GMT -8
Aldeguer denies Acosta victory as Chantra takes home podium The Spaniard had all the gear to convert his pole position into victory ahead of Acosta and Chantra Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) was simply unstoppable at the OR Thailand Grand Prix as he hit the front, hit the gas and didn’t look back – leaving Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) waiting for another shot at the crown in Malaysia as the number 37 was forced to settle for second in Buriram. Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) took the final spot on the podium as he put in a stunner on home turf, delighting the home crowd. Polesitter Aldeguer took the holeshot, with Acosta holding second. Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing) had his elbows out as the lights went out, the Spaniard initially flew up to third from the second row. Aldeguer put the hammer down right from the off, asking big questions of the Championship leader. Acosta did all he could to stick with the Boscoscuro, but Aldeguer began to sail away and from there, only one small mistake at the final corner denied the number 54 true perfection on his way to an incredible win. Behind the top two, the home fans were enthralled as a tantalising battle for the podium began to emerge with the home hero Chantra putting Ramirez under pressure. The move came from Chantra with 17 laps remaining as a perfectly executed Turn 2 overtake ignited the home crowd. There was drama elsewhere though, with Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) crashing out after making big contact with Celestino Vietti (Fantic Racing). Meanwhile, Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) was a rider on a mission as the Italian was slowly picking his way through the pack, determined not to let his title rival seal the deal in Thailand. Ai Ogura (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) was also on a charge after a tough qualifying, slicing up through the order. At the front though, Aldeguer couldn't be stopped and took a stunning second GP win, with Acosta using his "head not heart" to settle for those very valuable 20 points for second. Chantra, meanwhile, had his own breathing space to control and the home hero did just that, bringing home a podium to a rapturous reception. Arbolino fought his way through to fourth, and Ogura's charge saw him get into the top five as Ramirez faded to a still notable sixth place finish. The attention now turns to the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia as the next challenge on the GP calendar awaits the Moto2™ grid. If Acosta finishes in the top four, he is the World Champion. Join us there and keep up to date with all the action from the Sepang International Circuit from the 10th to the 12th of November on motogp.com!
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Post by truenorth on Oct 29, 2023 6:31:10 GMT -8
Alonso enters title battle after Buriram barnstormer The Colombian took victory with misfortune for Sasaki and Holgado seeing 25 points cover the top four It's game on in the 2023 Moto3™ World Championship battle! David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) is now a four-time Grand Prix winner, the Moto3™ Rookie of the Year AND a serious contender for the 2023 Championship after the Colombian came out on top in an awesome showdown at the OR Thailand Grand Prix. The number 80 was able to just stay ahead of a three-way drag to the line to decide the podium positions behind him, with Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) taking second and third, respectively – awesome maiden podiums for both. Championship leader Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) may not have taken a podium but he did increase his lead as disaster struck for Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) through no fault of his own, unable to avoid contact with David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) after an apparent mechanical for the Spaniard – and Sasaki rejoining before later retiring and taking home nil points. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) started the Thai GP from pole position and held onto the holeshot as the riders barrelled through Turn 1 for the first time. The Turk had title contender Sasaki glued to his rear wheel, before the Japanese rider snatched the lead into Turn 2. Even so, Masia was the early big mover as he grabbed a handful of places off the line to take over in second. It was early doors though, with a huge group at the front – and big drama right around the corner. What seemed to be a mechanical issue for Muñoz saw the BOE machine drop like a stone round Turn 4, and right on the racing line… with Sasaki the first rider who couldn’t avoid contact, along with Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) as the Spaniard was forced wide. Riders all ok, but Holgado rejoined in P27 and set off on an almighty charge, Muñoz later headed back out but was forced in, and Sasaki first carried on before being forced to retire in a huge title twist. That left the battle to rage on at the front of the race as Masia scrapped it out with the riders around him. The scrap for victory continued all race long as the riders all wanted to be in the perfect position on the final lap. Back at the front, the gloves were off in a classic big leading group. But lap by lap it became a battle of five by the final five laps – until the elbows came out again, allowing those behind to close back in. Meanwhile on Holgado watch, the Spaniard was on an absolute charge up into P8 by two to go, as at the very front Veijer led Masia, Alonso and Furusato. Onto the final lap, a bobble between Öncü and Holgado at the final corner created a small gap behind the leading four of Veijer, Alonso, Masia and Furusato, but soon they had closed back in. Most of the front quartet headed a little wide with few moves, only Masia able to move through. Then it suddenly looked like Veijer was out of the fight for the win after a huge moment out the seat at the exit of Turn 4, leaving Alonso leading Furusato – with Masia shadowing the Japanese rider. But it wasn’t over. By the braking zone into the final corner, the Dutchman was right back into it. Alonso retained the lead into that final corner, with Masia attacking Furusato just behind. The Championship leader got it done but then found Alonso on the apex and overcooked it, and that allowed Furusato to cut back up the inside – as did Veijer. As Alonso took that magical fourth win of the year and confirmed himself the 2023 Rookie of the Year as well as a serious title threat, the fight for second became a drag to the line. And Furusato won it, taking his first Grand Prix podium in incredible style – the exact same phrase that can be said of Veijer as both hit a milestone. Masia was forced to settle for fourth but with the disaster for Sasaki still increases his lead – now 17 points ahead of the Japanese rider. Alonso is now third, 25 points back and equal on points with Holgado in fourth after the Tech3 rider’s incredible comeback charge. Öncü took fifth in the race and is fifth in the Championship, now 39 off the top. The Moto3™ title battle remains wide open with any of the top four able to take it. Masia holds firm for now but with three GPs remaining it's game on!
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Post by truenorth on Oct 29, 2023 6:46:56 GMT -8
13 points. Three rounds remaining… Jorge Martin is closing in once again on the Championship leader! TThe Pramac Racing rider took victory in both the Tissot Sprint and the main event at the OR Thailand Grand Prix, this saw the Spaniard rack up a total of 37 points at a circuit where Ducati has never won before! Bagnaia's 2nd place finish coupled with his 7th place Sprint result means the Italian walked away from the Chang International Circuit with just 23 extra points. The gap has now been reduced from 27 to just 13, and with three rounds remaining, it really could go either way! Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) still sits 3rd in the Championship after a damage limitation weekend for the young Italian. The #72 scored 17 points in Thailand after a 4th-place finish in the Grand Prix and 6th in the Tissot Sprint. The VR46 rider is now a further 20 points back from the 2nd placed Martin with a 66-point gap to the Spaniard 79 to the leader. Bezzecchi does retain a healthy gap back to 4th placed rider Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory) however, despite losing 8 points to the South African this weekend. Binder walked away with 25 points following a 2nd place in the Sprint and a 3rd in the Grand Prix. He remains in a lonely 4th place with 61 points to Bezzecchi in 3rd and a 51-point buffer between him and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) who's starting to come under real pressure from Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) who is now just four points behind the Catalan in 6th. he title fight continues to run its rollercoaster course throughout the 2023 MotoGP™ season. Whilst Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) still leads, an impeccable wave of form for Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) is keeping the title race as alive as it's ever been.
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Post by truenorth on Oct 29, 2023 7:00:23 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Oct 29, 2023 7:02:49 GMT -8
Niki Kovács Aleix Espargaró is the first one to get a 3 sec penalty for running with lower tyre pressure, as this was his second offence. This makes him to lose three postions and leave Buriram with a P8 instead of P5.
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Post by truenorth on Oct 29, 2023 7:05:21 GMT -8
Interesting part here is Jorge got a warning, next one is a 3 sec penalty and could decide the championship
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Post by truenorth on Oct 29, 2023 10:01:17 GMT -8
Mat Oxley Such a tricky race to get front pressure right, so 4 riders were below the 1.88 bar limit for more than 1/2 the race
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Post by truenorth on Oct 30, 2023 8:37:45 GMT -8
Martín once again has options to go to the official Ducati team The house of Borgo Panigale will open the doors of its box wide to him if he wins the title and he also has some option even if he is runner-up. Officially they are not going to say it and it will hardly be heard right now in that sense from the outside, but AS can guarantee from the paddock of the Chang International Circuit that the doors of the official Ducati box are being opened again for Jorge Martín. Yes, the one with the Lenovo Ducati, the one dressed in red from top to bottom just as he had dreamed of for a long time and which they denied him last year. The extraordinary season that the Prima Pramac Ducati rider is having has those responsible for the official team on alert, as a rival due to the tremendous opposition he is showing to Francesco Bagnaia in his attempt to renew his title, but also as an interesting alternative to improve his team in 2024. W hile it is true that last year it was fair, based on results, that the Borgo Panigale house opted for Enea Bastianini, who had a season with four victories, it is also true that at this time changes are being reconsidered despite the fact that The Beast had initially secured that place for two seasons. Injuries have plagued the Italian driver this year since the first test, in the Portimao sprint, where Marini threw him so badly that he broke his scapula. This made him miss several appointments and, when he was beginning to gain some rhythm, in the Montmeló pile-up that he himself organized he broke his foot. Bastianini has not had any luck this year while Martín is in the best moment of his career and at a level that has not been seen in a long time on the grid. Without putting it beyond the anecdotal, and highlighting the category of the gesture, it was shocking when Davide Tardozzi, team manager of the official Ducati team, entered the Prima Pramac box, approached Martín, hugged him and without caring that he was in full In an interview for Cadena SER, he said excitedly: “We want to beat him, but he has been 'bravo' (strong).” When commenting on the possibility to Fonsi Nieto, who had the honor of accompanying his driver on the Thai podium, his face changed somewhat when asked by this newspaper about whether he is worried about being taken from the box to take him to the official if he becomes champion. . From his response it seems that he is beginning to resign himself: “I could give you many answers. It makes me sad and it makes me happy. It makes me very sad on the one hand and I am one hundred percent happy on the other, but if it is for that reason, because we are world champions, the team would be very happy to see that. And if he doesn't win, too. Right now Jorge is a rider who deserves the bike he wants from the paddock. Right now I think he is the driver that the factories want the most.” And Gino Borsoi, team manager of the current Martinator team, faced with the same question: “I don't know what will happen, but if it happens it will be because he deserves it.” Well, he deserves it, whatever it is this year. It is the best guarantee to face what will come in 2024, Márquez with another Ducati, the phenomenon Acosta with a KTM painted GASGAS and what already existed. The next season is in sight, but before continuing to enjoy what remains of the current one, with Martín only 12+1 points behind Pecco with 111 still in play.
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Post by truenorth on Oct 30, 2023 9:40:09 GMT -8
Simon Patterson According to Aleix Espargaro, he 'felt like he was dying' thanks to the same Aprilia issue that saw Maverick Vinales retire and Raul Fernandez almost do the same.
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Post by truenorth on Oct 30, 2023 9:54:05 GMT -8
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Post by truenorth on Oct 31, 2023 7:58:24 GMT -8
2024 Provisional MotoGP Race & Test Calendar Date Grand Prix Race/Test Circuit 1-3 February Sepang Shakedown Test Test Sepang 6-8 February Sepang MotoGP Test Test Sepang 19-20 February Qatar MotoGP Test Test Lusail 22-23 February Private Moto3 Test Test Portimão 24-25 February Private Moto2 Test Test Portimão 28 February-1 March Official Moto2 & Moto3 Test Test Jerez 8-10 March Qatar Race Lusail 22-24 March Portugal* Race Portimão 5-7 April Republica Argentina Race Termas de Rio Hondo 12-14 April Americas Race Austin 26-28 April Spain Race Jerez 29 April Jerez MotoGP Test Test Jerez 10-12 May France Race Le Mans 24-26 May Catalunya Race Barcelona 31 May-2 June Italy Race Mugello 3 June Mugello MotoGP Test Test Mugello 14-16 June Kazakhstan** Race Sokol 28-30 June Netherlands Race Assen 5-7 July Germany Race Sachsenring 2-4 August Great Britain Race Silverstone 16-18 August Austria Race Spielberg 30 August-1 September Aragon Race Aragon 6-8 September San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini Race Misano 9 September Misano MotoGP Test Test Misano 20-22 September India* Race Buddh 27-29 September Indonesia Race Mandalika 04-6 October Japan Race Motegi 18-20 October Australia Race Phillip Island 25-27 October Thailand Race Buriram 1-3 November Malaysia Race Sepang 15-17 November Comunitat Valenciana Race Valencia 19 November*** Valencia MotoGP Test Test Valencia Notes: Reserve Event: Hungary - Balaton Park Circuit** *Subject to contract ** Subject to contract and homologation *** Date TBC
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