Category: Superbikes

1. F.C.C. TSR Honda France ready to reclaim the FIM EWC title

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 18th Apr 2024

   Fourteen teams powered by Honda took part at the Pre-Mans test ahead of the start of the 2024 FIM Endurance World Championship
   
   F.C.C. TSR Honda France ready to reclaim the FIM EWC title
   A significant increase in Honda teams, surpassing last year's entry list by more than double, was observed at the Bugatti Circuit in Le Mans during the official testing, which lasted two days (April 2-3) ahead of the 24 Heures Motos, which marks the beginning of the 2024 FIM Endurance World Championship from April 18-21.

   This considerable increase in Endurance teams selecting the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, highlights the excellent work of the Japanese brand in delivering an extremely competitive and reliable bike tailored for the demand of this endurance championship. Proven on track during the test, with seven of the top 14 times all set on Honda machinery.

   The F.C.C. TSR Honda France team, defending winners of last year’s 24 Heures Motos, enters the 2024 EWC season with renewed confidence, thanks to the meticulous winter preparation.

   Honda’s endurance specialists Alan Techer, Mike Di Meglio and Josh Hook concluded the two-day test in sixth position overall, amidst cold and wet track conditions. Riding the #5 CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, they posted a best lap time of 1:36.636 out of the 42 teams participating in the event, less than one second shy of the quickest team.

   On the first day, F.C.C. TSR Honda France were on track only for the initial two hours, when conditions remained dry. With the return of the rain later in the day, the team opted to remain in the pit box during the afternoon session.

   On the second day, as the morning session was in damp conditions left by overnight rain, the Honda #5 team chose to wait until the track dried and conducted their tests during the afternoon session and improved their lap-time.

   F.C.C. TSR Honda France is very confident and eager to start the new season and fight for its 3rd world title.

   Honda Viltaïs Racing conclude two highly successful days of testing demonstrating their dominance as last season's leading independent team by consistently topping the timing sheets on both days and a best lap time of 1:35.679.

   The #333 Honda squad comprising Florian Alt, Steven Odendaal, Tati Mercado, and James Westmoreland, confirmed that the team is ready following several winter tests aboard the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade, with a clear objective set for each race to secure a podium finish and maintain a position in the top three by the season's end.

   In the Superstock category, National Motos Honda also demonstrated good performance. With an unchanged line up from previous seasons, Guillaume Raymond and the Suchet brothers, Sébastien and Valentin, the #55 Fireblade set the second fasted lap time in the SST category.

   The Honda teams will now look forward to the opening round of the 2024 EWC season with the prestigious 24 Heures Motos which starts at 3pm local time on Saturday 20 April and finishes at 3pm local time on Sunday 21 April.
   
   Josh Hook 5
   F.C.C. TSR Honda France
   
   ‘’We're a little disappointed with the weather conditions, as we weren't able to achieve the desired lap time when the track dried. Additional dry laps would have been beneficial for us.
   However, we know now that we have a base setting that works here and we always find something better during the race day. We always perform when we need to and the team has done an excellent job, we just need to find the setting that all three riders are comfortable and we can be consistent’’
   
   Mike Di Meglio 5
   F.C.C. TSR Honda France
   
   ‘’We tried many things despite this challenging weather forecast so we will have to test a bit more in the race week. At the end we were not so far with the pace but still things to try during the race week.’’
   
   Alan Techer 5
   F.C.C. TSR Honda France
   
   ‘’During the two days of testing at Le Mans, we have tested many things trying to find setup for the race weekend. Thanks to the team's great job, we are highly confident in starting the season with strong results.’’

2. A DRAMA WAS SCREENED IN AUSTIN TODAY

   Posted on 9:00am Monday 15th Apr 2024

   It was a spectacular Sunday the one witnessed by Team Gresini MotoGP at Austin, especially with Marc Marquez. Together with Acosta and Martin, he starred in one of the most exciting Grand Prix of the season – and beyond. Not all movies have a happy ending, however, and surely not this one: after ten laps, while leading the race, the #93 crashed under braking, losing the lead and the (virtual) second place in the standings. It was still an incredible performance for the Spaniard at his favourite track, as he secured a front-row start before finishing on the podium in the sprint race, with a big regret on the full distance. 
    
   The bad luck does not end here, however, as Alex Marquez was forced to an early retirement following a crash moments before his brother’s tumble. The #73 showed great speed at CoTA and rode well up to eighth place. But that was one of those days for him, too. The MotoGP action will resume in Europe with the hope that the local venue will bring something better. 

   DNF – MARC MARQUEZ #93 “I’m satisfied because we were among the protagonists, we were fast and gave it all. Unfortunately we had a front-end problem under braking, I wasn’t comfortable and I struggled. The crash came because of that and there was nothing I could do. We’re working well and I’m sure we’ll fix this issue as we did for the others that came up before, and we’ll try again in Jerez.”   DNF – ALEX MARQUEZ #73 “We started well and avoid any drama at turn one. I was managing the rear tyre well, as planned, but then I made a small mistake at turn one. We’re back riding as we know and we’re leaving Austin with a positive feeling: with a good qualifying, we would be talking on completely different terms today.”

3. A SATURDAY ON TOP FORM: FRONT ROW AND PODIUM FOR MARC

   Posted on 12:00pm Sunday 14th Apr 2024

   Another podium under the belt for Team Gresini MotoGP, who scored a second-place finish in Texas courtesy of an excellent Marc Márquez. Just like in Portimão three weekends ago, another rostrum finish in the sprint race, behind an uncatchable Viñales. For the second time this year, the first Ducati at the finish line is the #93, light-blue liveried one.   It was a day to forget for Alex Márquez. The #73 only shone in Q1 as he managed to make into the final qualifying session, but then he was forced to a defensive sprint race in a battle for the last top14. The 20-lap race awaits the two standard bearers of Team Gresini MotoGP, with Marc Márquez who will line up on the third spot of the grid.

    

   2^nd - MARC MARQUEZ #93
   “This is a podium that means a lot, especially as it wasn’t an easy one. The first race was very challenging: I wasn’t feeling comfortable on the bike, and it was difficult. I made a couple of important mistakes, but then I was able to keep Acosta and Martin behind and I also found a good rhythm – and from there I improved. I was feeling a lot better in the second part of the race and now we need to keep working in order to be competitive also tomorrow. I would sign for a third place, as there are so many fast riders.”
    
   14^th - ALEX MARQUEZ #73
   “A coming together with another rider at turn two has made things even more complicated, after a Q2 that already wasn’t very fortunate. It was hard to turn things around from there. Now heads down and work hard, we have a long race tomorrow and we have the pace to play our part.”

    

4. A SUNDAY TO FORGET IN PORTUGAL: A CRASH RULES OUT ALEX, A COMING TOGETHER BRINGS MARC’S EFFORT TO AN EARLY END

   Posted on 6:00pm Sunday 24th Mar 2024

   #PortugueseGP race. The ingredients for a good Sunday were all there, especially after a good start from both standard bearers of Team Gresini MotoGP. From 8^th and 12^th on the grid, respectively, Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez were able to immediately make up some positions in the very beginning before the first hurdle of the day came. 
    
   The #73 crashed – uninjured - out of the encounter at turn five with very little time spent on track, a tumble that took away any hope for points to the Spaniard, in a weekend that was already made quite complicated due to an unfortunate result in Q2. Marc’s race outcome was all in all very similar, but the dynamic was completely different…
    
   With four laps left, the #93 makes an overtaking manoeuvre on Bagnaia, but the counter-attack of the Italian at the following corner results in a coming together that send both riders on the ground. The #93 was able to jump back on the bike and finish 16^th as he crossed the line with a bitter taste in his mouth. A fourth place would have translated in the second position in the standings…

   16^th - MARC MARQUEZ #93
   “A racing incident that none of us would have wanted. We go home with no points, but after a positive weekend in which we found continuity and speed. The stewards have decided that the incident deserves no sanction and we accept the decision. Pecco tried to defend his position, maybe with a little bit of optimism. The result still is the one nobody would have wished.” 
    
   RET. ALEX MARQUEZ #73
   “Shame, because we had a good start. I pushed a lot as today’s MotoGP forces you to do a little bit more in the early laps. I gave my all and unfortunately, I ended up crashing. I got back on track simply because had it rained, everything would have changed, but after a few laps I decided to pull out of the race. A Sunday to forget, but we’ll try again at Austin.”

5. MARC: “THIS IS A DIFFERENT MOVIE"

   Posted on 6:00pm Saturday 23rd Mar 2024

   #PortugueseGP Sprint Race. We like to play with the movie theme, and today’s movie was one that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the end. It is only a sprint race, but it is also the best-ever result so far for Marc Marquez in this special Saturday format. A second place with big significance, especially as it came from a perfect start from row three. The fourth place in the championship standings is consolidated and the gap to Bagnaia at the top is only 10 points. 
    
   For Alex Marquez, this was a Saturday to forget with an unfortunate Q2 and a Sprint Race with no glory, which he still finished in 13^th place. Better to reset and think about the Sunday, full-distance race, with the top ten being the goal in order to gain fresh confidence on his Ducati #73. 

   2^nd - MARC MARQUEZ #93
   “The day didn’t start the best way with a mistake in Q2. Then we had a great start and it was a good race. To be back overtaking and having the speed is surely a good feeling. I battled with the best and despite a few mistakes I can say it was a ‘different movie’ compared to the past. Let’s keep working and think about the warm up because there’s still a very important race to tackle.”
    
   13^th - ALEX MARQUEZ #73
   “It wasn’t our best Saturday. We made it through Q2 with ease but then everything went the wrong way. A human mistake did not allow us to get a good start and it was all uphill since then. I didn’t start well and the Sprint Race is hard without a good start. We’ll try to turn the tide tomorrow: the full race can help us and the goal is to score as many points as we can.”