Category: Superbikes

1. THAILAND TO FORGET

   Posted on 12:00pm Sunday 1st Mar 2026

   ALEX MÁRQUEZ
   “Starting from the third row didn’t help us, but it was still a race of management until the crash. The others have definitely improved, but we need to keep working and stay calm. My race was about staying behind Mir at a distance so as not to overheat the front tire, with no real chance to overtake. The crash came when I tried to push a bit more; I didn’t have any feeling with the front end and I lost it with a small mistake.”

   MICHELE PIRRO
   “I’m a bit disappointed, I thought I could do better by putting together all the pieces of the puzzle from these past few days. Instead, from the start of the race I immediately felt uncomfortable with the tires, a feeling I hadn’t had all weekend. I tried to manage the tire, but it was quite strange. I’m sorry because I wanted a bit more consistency. I gave it my all, and I want to thank Nadia and the whole group for the trust they’ve shown me over these days.”

    

2. ALEX OUT OF THE TOP 10 AFTER A TOUGH START

   Posted on 12:00pm Saturday 28th Feb 2026

   ALEX MARQUEZ 
   “It’s a shame because I had a very good start today. Unfortunately, under braking there was contact with Diggia, who tried to attack from the outside, and I had no options. From that moment on, I focused on my riding and overtaking, and I found a good rhythm. We definitely made a nice step forward in the sprint, and tomorrow we have a good chance to be among the protagonists. Today we could have been in the top four or five, and that will be the goal for tomorrow.”

   MICHELE PIRRO
   “We completed the sprint, even though I was hoping for more consistency in the lap times. I wasn’t that far from the group ahead of me, but I made a few small mistakes. We need to — and we can — make another step forward tomorrow as well, and thanks to the team who are doing a great job. Of course, the heat isn’t helping us perform at our best.”

    

3. ALEX SECURES Q2 SPOT ON SEASON-OPENING FRIDAY

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 27th Feb 2026

   ALEX MARQUEZ 
   “This morning I wasn’t happy at all, then in the afternoon we found a way to improve a bit. I wasn’t calm and relaxed enough, partly because of the weather conditions. We need to keep working on the setup and I have to find something more in terms of traction, which was one of my strong points last year.”

   MICHELE PIRRO 
   “I’m not satisfied because we did take a step forward compared to the test, but the track conditions and a few issues with the bike didn’t allow me to lap in the 1’30s, which was the goal. We’ll try again tomorrow. Thanks to the team, who are working incredibly hard and showing great patience with a 40-year-old.”

    

   PRACTICE ALEX MARQUEZ 6º - 1’29.376s (+0.850s) – Q2 MICHELE PIRRO 22º - 1’31.437s - (+2.911s) – Q1   FREE PRACTICE ALEX MARQUEZ 9º - 1’30.012s (+0.666s)  MICHELE PIRRO 22º - 1’31.808s - (+2.462s)

4. ALEX MARQUEZ, FASTEST OVER THE THREE DAYS IN SEPANG

   Posted on 12:00pm Saturday 7th Feb 2026

   ALEX MARQUEZ (1’56.404s – 121 laps) “It’s always good to finish the tests with the fastest time. The feeling is positive, and we also did some good things in the sprint simulation. We tried a lot and worked well, but it’s still just a test. The important thing was to finish these three days in good physical shape, and we managed to do that. Now we’ll have the Buriram tests to try other solutions and fine-tune everything ahead of the start of the Championship.” DAY1 FP1 – 1’57.487 – 31 laps FP2 – 1’58.169 – 18 laps -- DAY2 FP3 – 1’57.664 – 22 laps FP4 – 1’58.094 –  5 laps  -- DAY3 FP5 – 1’56.404 – 31 Laps FP6 – 1’57.295 – 14 Laps

5. THE FUTURE IS SWEET: BK8 GRESINI RACING MOTOGP AND CHOCOLATOS SIGN A MULTI-YEAR SPONSORSHIP DEAL

   Posted on 12:00pm Tuesday 3rd Feb 2026

   Team BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP is pleased to announce a new agreement with Chocolatos, a leading Indonesian chocolate-based brand in wafer sticks, wafer cream and ready-to-serve categories, owned by Garudafood, one of Indonesia’s leading fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies. 
   
   The agreement is a multi-year partnership, with the Chocolatos brand featured on the bike liveries and on the chest area of the BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP riders’ leathers, as well as on pit-box panels, transportation vehicles and the hospitality structure.
   
   This sponsorship, which marks the brand’s first entry into the MotoGP World Championship, is based on a dedicated communication strategy with clearly defined long-term objectives.
   
   Chocolatos is a brand inspired by the Italian chocolate-making tradition, a concept also highlighted by the payoff integrated into its logo. This strong connection with Italian excellence makes the partnership with Team BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP a natural and strategic fit for the brand’s positioning.
   
   The prestige and global popularity of MotoGP will strongly support the growth of Chocolatos’ brand awareness, while reinforcing the values that unite the brand with the sport: excellence, passion and international reach.

   CARLO MERLINI – COMMERCIAL & MARKETING DIRECTOR, GRESINI RACING
   “I’m excited to welcome Chocolatos and Garudafood as new official sponsors of Team BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP. This is a brand inspired by the ‘Italian Chocolate Taste’ that has chosen Gresini Racing, and our Italian identity in particular, to strengthen this positioning. With the arrival of Chocolatos, we add another important partner to our constantly growing pool of Indonesian sponsors, while confirming our strong presence in a key market for MotoGP. I’d like to thank Garudafood for the enthusiasm shown towards this project. We can’t wait to take this partnership to the track and to share with Chocolatos the emotions of a MotoGP season that promises to be full of adrenaline.”
   
   HARDIANTO ATMADJA – PRESIDENT DIRECTOR OF PT GARUDAFOOD PUTRA PUTRI JAYA TBK
   “Garudafood, through its Chocolatos brand, is proud to partner with Team BK8 Gresini Racing as part of the prestigious global sporting event, MotoGP. Gresini Racing’s success in MotoGP is rooted in technical excellence, relentless innovation, and seamless collaboration across the team. Chocolatos, distinguished by its signature Italian chocolate taste, mirrors these principles through its leadership in Indonesia’s food and beverage categories, continuously innovating while maintaining uncompromising quality standards. Together, Chocolatos and Team BK8 Gresini Racing are accelerating toward new heights of excellence on the track, in taste, and beyond.”