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Category: Moto GP
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ALEIX IN THE TOP TEN YET AGAIN, FINISHING OUT A GOOD SEASON WITH 120 POINTS (MORE THAN DOUBLE COMPARED WITH 2020) AND EIGHTH PLACE OVERALL
UPHILL RACE FOR MAVERICK WHO DIDN'T FIND HIS PACE UNTIL THE FINALE. HOWEVER, THE EXPERIENCE GAINED ON THE RS-GP IN 2021 IS A FOUNDATION TO BUILD ON FOR NEXT SEASON
On a weekend that will be remembered as Valentino Rossi’s last one in MotoGP, Aprilia Racing also pays tribute to a great champion, happy and proud to have played a part in his story. Rossi took his first and unforgettable world titles astride the RS 125 and RS 250, paving the way for an inimitable career. Two pearls in Aprilia’s extensive trophy case.
For the brand from Noale, this was also the race that marked the end of collaboration with Team Gresini. These have been seven years of growth, culminating in the results of this great season. Goals, milestones, difficulties, joy and a lot of hard work done together characterised these seasons. Now that we are parting ways, all of us at Aprilia Racing extend our thanks and most heartfelt thoughts, in memory of Fausto, to the entire team that has accompanied us to this point.
In the race, after a good start and first half battling for fifth and sixth place, Aleix had to reckon with a drop in tyre grip, but he defended ninth position to the end. This umpteenth top-ten finish means that Espargaró ends the championship season in eighth place. The 120 points earned, an impressive 78 more than last season, are a clear testament to his growth and that of the RS-GP in a season that peaked with the first podium, taken in Silverstone.
Until the final part of the race, Viñales was unable to find the good pace he had demonstrated that he was able to maintain yesterday. It proved to be too late to move up any positions, despite closing the gap with the riders ahead of him, but the Valencia weekend also added to his experience on the RS-GP. This knowledge will now serve as the foundation on which to build his 2022 season, starting with the upcoming tests where Aprilia Racing will be busy on the Jerez track this Thursday and Friday.
ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"At the beginning, when the tyre had grip, I felt good and made up quite a few positions. However, doing that took its toll on the tyres and they paid the price in the finale. "The RS-GP gets harder to ride with low trip, so in the end I had to settle for a result which still gives me a good season finish. This is my best season with Aprilia. We finished ahead of riders who are extremely worthy adversaries and we know that we can do even better. This is our mindset as we prepare for 2022."
MAVERICK VIÑALES
"The race today was in line with what we have demonstrated during this final part of the season. I'm able to be fast with Aprilia, doing good lap times, but I'm lacking the right feeling to be consistent throughout an entire weekend. We still achieved our goal, which was to get ready for 2022, identifying the areas we need to work on. We have an extremely clear idea as to what they are and that is what I'm most pleased about, because during the winter, the engineers will be able to use this data and the experience accumulated to make the new RS-GP more suited to my needs."
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ESPARGARÓ CRASHES DURING HIS COMEBACK ATTEMPT
VIÑALES RACKS UP MILES AND EXPERIENCE BUT FINISHES OUTSIDE THE POINTS ZONE
Aleix Espargaró started well when the lights went out at the GP of Algarve in Portimao, which hosted its second MotoGP round of the season.
From the fourteenth spot on the grid, Aleix had moved up through the ranks to tenth place when he ran into trouble, first when he went wide in an attempt to move up a few more positions and then when a crash on turn 1 took him out of action.
Maverick paid the price for starting rather far back on the grid. Like all his races with Aprilia this season, the Algarve GP was once again, first and foremost, an opportunity to get to know the bike and its characteristics better. With a good pace, in the finale Maverick got close to the points zone, but the interruption to the race following the accident involving Oliveira relegated him to sixteenth place.
ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"I had managed to start rather well, making up a few positions. Then, Lecuona and Pol re-entered the track after running long, forcing me wide. Ending up at the back of the group, I began rebuilding my race, but after overtaking Morbidelli I was too aggressive on the brakes. It was my fault, but in the last few races, something hasn’t been working right and we need to figure it out. Maybe the RS-GP struggles with the low temperatures, but everyone is in the same situation, so knowing how to adapt to the various conditions is important."
MAVERICK VIÑALES
"This weekend demonstrates once again how much we are lacking, especially in terms of confidence. Rather than in pure performance, I’m lacking in consistency. In the race today, I managed to do one sector well and then lose ground in another, but at the end of the day, it’s all part of the learning curve. The race is still important because you see how you measure up with the other riders and you understand what aspects you need to work on."
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The partnership between Deltomed and Gresini Racing continues to grow, with the leading Indonesian company in the “herbal medicine” sector to make its premier class debut with Team Gresini MotoGP.
After four years together in the middleweight class, Deltomed and Gresini Racing have reached a two-year agreement as one of the official sponsors of the team in MotoGP.
The logo of the Indonesian giant’s top-tier brand – Antangin – will be present on the fairings of Bastianini and Di Giannantonio’s Ducati machines as well as on their leathersuits.
MULYO RAHARDJO – CEO DELTOMED
"We are very pleased that Antangin will continue to be part of Gresini family for the fifth year, which will also bring Deltomed with its brand Antangin to the next level of such a successful collaboration. In fact, Antangin will now begin a new exciting journey in the premier class of the MotoGP championship with Gresini Racing, which obviously makes us very proud and happy. I would like to send my best wishes to Enea and Diggia, can’t wait to watch their exciting race action."
CARLO MERLINI – GRESINI RACING COMMERCIAL & MARKETING DIRECTOR
“I’m truly delighted to announce the continuation of our partnership with Deltomed. We started back in 2018 and throughout the years, it became stronger and stronger. Now, the opportunity to take it to the premier class is the natural step of a mutually trusted relationship. Team spirit and passion are just two of many values that we share with pak Mulyo and his team…can’t wait to start this new chapter together.”
#CiaoFaustoâ¤ï¸
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There was heartbreak in the Autodrome of Most today for the F.C.C. TSR Honda France as the team was forced to retire from the 6 Hours of Most in the last part of the race.
Disappointment for F.C.C. TSR Honda France at the 6 Hours of Most
However, the Japanese team showed another time an outstanding display of teamwork, spirit and determination during the last round of the 2021 FIM World Endurance Championship in the Czech Republic.
F.C.C. TSR Honda France started from fourth place on the starting grid, based on the accumulative times achieved during the two qualifying sessions held on Thursday.
An excellent start by French rider Mike Di Meglio immediately put the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP in front of the race, and during the first two hours of the race, the Japanese team was placed in second place.
The Fireblade was doing a very solid race with constant and good lap timings with 1.35 but just entering the third hour of the race, the Japanese rider Yuki Takahashi had a crash that forced the rider to enter the pits.
Although an excellent work from the team to fix the bike, an extended pit stop of almost 17 minutes made the Honda #5 rejoin the race in 23rd position but unfortunately, the team was forced to retired after a technical issue resulting from the crash in the fourth hour when was in 21st position.
Despite the result, Honda’s endurance specialists Josh Hook, Mike Di Meglio, and Yuki Takahashi and the entire team end the 2021 FIM EWC season with their heads high and showing superb teamwork throughout all the season.
After a season of highs and lows for the F.C.C. TSR Honda France team, they finished the championship fifth with 91 points in total and are determined to come back stronger for the 2022 season.
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- Christian Iddon on the podium in all three races at Donington Park
- Josh Brookes no longer in the fight for the 2021 British Superbike title
- Tommy Bridewell re-signs with the Oxford Products Racing Ducati team for 2022
Race 1
Christian Iddon rode a great race at Donington Park on Saturday in cold, wet, and windy conditions. He had a poor grid position back in 17th after crashing his VisionTrack Ducati during qualifying. But a brave ride saw him climb though the field, and aided by fallers, he was up to second place by Lap 12 behind race leader Gino Rea (Buildbase Suzuki), with Kyle Ryde (Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW) battling him and Lee Jackson (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) just behind and ready to pounce.
Meanwhile the treacherous conditions had ended in disaster for both Josh Brookes and Tommy Bridewell, after they both crashed out in separate incidents on Lap 5.
Brookes, who was running in second, ended up on the grass after saving a moment on his bike, but was unable to keep his VisionTrack Ducati upright. And just seconds later Bridewell, who was behind Brookes on track and momentarily promoted to up to second, crashed his Oxford Products Racing Ducati under braking in the poor conditions.
The Ducati duo of Brookes and Bridewell were just a couple of many riders that fell victim to the atrocious conditions, with Title Fighters Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing), Danny Buchan (SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad) and Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW) all crashing out.
Rea went on to win the race, with Ryde second and Iddon, the sole Ducati rider, finishing the race as the top Championship contender in third.
Read more here
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