(Motorsports news) Enea Bastianini took his second win of the 2022 MotoGP season in a thrilling Americas Grand Prix and he took the championship lead in the process. The Italian rider passed the leader Jack Miller late on to take his second win of the season and his first podium in America. He subsequently became MotoGP’s first repeat winner in 2022 and took a five-point lead in the championship. Miller took the lead early on from poleman Jorge Martin off the line, but Bastianini stuck behind him and steadily chipped away at the Australian’s lead before passing him on lap 16.

Suzuki’s Alex Rins did a brilliant job on the final stint and pulled off a last-lap move on Miller into the penultimate corner to snatch second and he also moved into second in the standings. His team-mate Joan Mir was just 1.6s away from third and finished 4th as Bagnaia could only manage fifth having started from the front row. Marquez had a disastrous start but then made a brilliant recovery to sixth at the chequered flag in a sublime charge through the field from last place. In the final few laps two world champions Marquez and Quartararo were engaged in an immense battle which is reminiscent of their 2019 race fights as when Marquez had a moment rounding Turn 6 and almost touched Quartararo.

Marquez eventually won the battle and finished sixth, as the Frenchman tried to fight back when they almost touched on lap 19.  Quartararo went out wide into Turn 7, which allowed Marquez to come back through to take sixth. Martin faded to a disappointing eighth in the end ahead of Zarco, while Maverick Vinales took top Aprilia honours from team-mate Aleix Espargaro in 10th late on.

American favourite Cameron Beaubier secured his first Moto2 grand prix pole in front of his home fans, but suffered a disastrous start as others jumped him off the line at the start by several riders. Tony Arbolino won his first Moto 2 race as Ai Ouga and Jake Dixon got their first podium in Moto 2 as well. In the Moto3 battle, Ajo KTM’s Jaume Masia won his race of the season after he beat Leopard’s Dennis Foggia on the last lap as Valentino Rossi protégé Andrea Migno, finished third. Foggia leads the standings after four races from Aspar’s Sergio Garcia, who retired from the COTA race, while Migno holds a 33 points lead over Foggia.

Also read: MotoGP: Miguel Oliveira wins rain soaked Indonesian Grand Prix
 

(Motorsports news) MotoGP returned to Indonesia after 25 years and it certainly did not disappoint. KTM's Miguel Oliveira won a delayed and soaking wet 2022 Indonesian MotoGP at Mandalika, responding perfectly to a late charge by world champion Fabio Quartararo, who started on pole but really couldn’t take advantage in the tough conditions. In Moto 2 Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) became the first Thai rider to win a Grand Prix race. Chantra led from the first corner to the chequered flag and eventually beat World Championship leader Celestino Vietti by 3.2 secs and Aaron Conet. In Moto 3, Dennis Foggia put his Qatar disappointment behind and won the Indonesian Moto3 Grand Prix quite comfortably.

Starting seventh, Oliveira had a brilliant start and wasted no time in passing leaders Quartararo and Jack Miller before easing away in the distance. After struggling early on, pole starter Quartararo finally got the much needed grip in the treacherous conditions and went on the attack, climbing back up to second, even threatening to catch Oliveira. However, the Portuguese saw off the danger and kept his victory margin intact as Johann Zarco completed the podium. It was Oliveira's fourth MotoGP victory but his first podium since Assen 2021. There was plenty of drama in the run-up to the planned start as the rain delayed the start and the race distance being shortened from 27 to 20 laps due to problems with the wet track surface, then Marc Marquez was declared unfit due to a head concussion after his massive crash in the final practice before qualifying, subsequently he’s fine and fit to race in the next Grand Prix.

The riders had experienced damp track conditions on Friday practice and Saturday qualifying, but on Sunday the circuit was flooded. The race eventually started with plumes of spray as the 23 remaining riders charged for turn one, with world champion Quartararo taking an early advantage from Oliveira with Miller climbing to third after a brave start. Quartararo then touched the kerb in the final corner and was passed by both Oliveira and Miller at the start of lap 2, the Australian diving past Oliveira soon after to take the lead. 

However, he couldn’t sustain the lead as the tide soon turned in favour of Oliveira. Miller eventually had to settle for fourth ahead of Suzuki riders Alex Rins and Joan Mir, with Franco Morbidelli in seventh. Oliveira's Red Bull KTM team-mate Brad Binder put a pass on younger brother Darryn and finished in eighth but his younger brother really excelled in the tough conditions, as he settled for tenth and best rookie in the race. Yamaha team-mate Andrea Dovizioso had to because of a technical problem. Miller's factory Ducati team-mate and Qatar Grand Prix winner Francesco Bagnaia saved himself from a massive crash but ran off track on his way to 15th place.

Oliveria said "Without this good start the race could have been a bit different for me. I really couldn’t see anything behind the riders. With all the spray and the rain on the visor, it was definitely hard to see the lines and be precise. Also to judge the grip level. 

He added "I think by the end of the race I could understand more and how much I could push, but to ride 20 laps in a row in the rain or compared to a practice is quite different. You can explore a bit more the braking points in the practice, or going wide, or cool down the tyres.  Fortunately, I made a good start and after that I was following Jack [Miller] a little bit and could understand a bit more. Than it was just about building up the gap and controlling the race. If the race had seven laps more I don’t know (if a win was possible) because Fabio [Quartararo] was coming pretty strong."

Also read: Moto GP 2022 season is set to begin at the Losail International track

(Motorsports news) MotoGP 2022 season is set to kick off on 6 March in the Losail International Circuit in Qatar and this season guarantees to be one of the most interesting and most open seasons ever. 2021 saw every manufacturer take home a podium and which meant that it was the closest top-15 finish of all time. More records were broken, new winners emerged, and a few pieces of history were created when France got its first premier class World Champion. We bid adieu to the greatest bike racer of all time in Valentino Rossi but that's already a chapter in the history books and now we're about to uncover the mysteries of 2022 and welcome the new gen in MotoGP.

Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo is set out to retain his World Championship after he became the first Frenchman to win the MotoGP title last season. If Quartararo can manage to defend his crown then he will become the second-youngest rider after Marc Marquez to win consecutive World Championships but heading into the new season, the 22-year-old has voiced his displeasure with the top speed of his Yamaha bike in pre-season testing, the defending world champion is adamant he will fight and give his best to compete against his main rivals. 

His main threat will be Marc Marquez who after two injury-plagued years, will finally return to his full fitness as he bids to create history by joining the great Valentino Rossi on nine MotoGP titles. Marquez suffered a horrific fractured arm which he sustained in a 2020 Jerez crash and it had ruled him out of action for 12 months, before a training incident towards the end of 2021 saw him diagnosed with diplopia (severe double vision). After 265 days out of action due to the arm fracture, Marquez returned to race action in April 2021 and the Spaniard has since shown glimpses of his usual best, he didn’t really put serve pressure on his shoulder but still managed to win two races. An earlier indication is that he is back and back with vengeance to regain his World Championship crown. 

Pecco Bagnaia ended the 2021 season with three consecutive victories and helped his team Ducati win the constructors championship also. He will hope that he can replicate his end season form this year and hope to become the first Italian after the great Valentino Rossi to become a Premier Class Winner in MotoGP. Last year, Bagnaia finished runner up in the riders Championship in 2021 with nine podiums and four wins to his name. The Italian will be looking to carry across his incredible form from the end of 2021 into 2022 for a title charge.

Quartararo: “Well it will make life more difficult but for the show and everyone it will be nice to not have that big difference. I remember maybe 10 years ago we had a few riders and then the rest, but now basically everything is so tight and the level of riders is really high. Now I think it’s the closest ever and it will be fun.”

Bagnaia: “It’s something good for the show, but I think years ago, the way of working was different. Now you have to do the time attack. I was feeling years ago, I was doing the time attack my first year in MotoGP and with the lap time I did in 2020 I was fifth, and this year like 17th; a big difference. I think it’s the way to work on the test.”

Marc Marquez: “Of course as you say in the test it was very close but it’s not the first year that in the test it was very close. Let’s see during the first four or five races we will understand who the top guys are. Anyway it will be interesting to have equal bikes, equal level between the riders and this makes everything more interesting.”

MotoGP 2022 rider and team full line-up:

• Aprilia Racing

#12 Maverick Vinales
#41 Aleix Espargaro

• Ducati Lenovo Team

#43 Jack Miller
#63 Francesco Bagnaia

• Gresini Racing MotoGP Ducati

#23 Enea Bastianini
#49 Fabio Di Giannantonio

• Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati

#10 Luca Marini
#72 Marco Bezzecchi

• Pramac Racing Ducati

#5 Johann Zarco
#89 Jorge Martin

• LCR Honda

#30 Takaaki Nakagami
#73 Alex Marquez

• Repsol Honda Team

#44 Pol Espargaro
#93 Marc Marquez

• Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

#33 Brad Binder
#88 Miguel Oliveira

• Tech3 KTM Factory Racing

#25 Raul Fernandez
#87 Remy Gardner

• Team Suzuki Ecstar

#36 Joan Mir
#42 Alex Rins

• Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP

#20 Fabio Quartararo
#21 Franco Morbidelli

• WithU Yamaha RNF MotoGP Team

#04 Andrea Dovizioso
#40 Darryn Binder

Also read: Aston Martin on track to become title contenders by 2025: Mike Krack

Full 2022 MotoGP calendar:

6 March - Qatar, Losail
20 March – Indonesia, Mandalika
3 April – Argentina, Termas de Rio Hondo
10 April – USA, Circuit of the Americas
24 April – Portugal - Portimao
1 May – Spain, Jerez
15 May – France, Le Mans
29 May – Italy, Mugello
5 June – Catalunya, Barcelona
19 June – Germany, Sachsenring
26 June – Netherlands, Assen
10 July – Finland, KymiRing
7 August – Great Britain, Silverstone
21 August – Austria, Red Bull Ring
4 September – San Marino, Misano
18 September – Aragon
25 September – Japan, Motegi
2 October – Thailand, Buriram
16 October – Australia, Phillip Island
23 October – Malaysia, Sepang
6 November - Valencia, Ricardo Tormo
 

(Motorsports) MotoGP the world's premier motorcycling racing aims for net zero carbon emission by 2027 as they plan to shift the sport to sustainable fuel solutions from 2024. By 2024, MotoGP will switch to sustainable non-fossil origin fuel. MotoGP, Moto 2 and Moto 3  classes will use a minimum of 40% non-fossil origin fuels. The sport aims to adopt 100% sustainable fuels by 2027, these could be in the form of synthetic or bio-fuels.

MotoGP hopes to host carbon-free fuels for races by 2027. The synthetic fuels developed for MotoGP are expected to benefit the motorcycle industry as a whole. After Formula 1 announced the project of net carbon zero emission in 2030, MotoGP also jumped on the train for a sustainable future for the sport. The world of motorsports is shifting to more sustainable and greener fuel solutions for the future. These motorsports teams are trying to change and allow the teams especially to test different new technologies and methods for a more sustainable future for the sport. The decision to allow more sustainable fuel solutions in MotoGP comes as a part of that strategy.

MotoGP will serve as a platform where these new fuels will be developed and tested  by all the premier class manufacturers. The technological development of these fuels will eventually help the day to day motorcycles that we use, which promises a more sustainable future for motorbikes without relying on fossil fuels. Since every manufacturer and supplier in MotoGP will be developing their own fuels, the results on the grid are likely to be drastically different from what we see currently on the MotoGP grid. This move will also play a crucial role in the global two-wheeler industry over the next decade.

MotoGP says these sustainable fuels can be used in a standard internal combustion engine. The fuel can be made using components from a carbon capture scheme, or derived from municipal waste or non-food biomass, this in turn will help in saving greenhouse gas emissions. Fuel suppliers will progressively introduce the use of renewable energy in the production of their fuel as they will keep on improving for more sustainable fuel not only for the future but also for the betterment of the world. The Moto2 and Moto3 classes will continue to be supplied by a single fuel provider as they too will also switch to sustainable fuel in 2024. The FIM, IRTA, MSMA and Dorna are going to be with this program that promises greater engineering sustainability on the race track.

Speaking about the announcement, Jorge Viegas, FIM President, said, "I'm really proud of this announcement, after many months and even years of negotiations with petrol companies and manufacturers, we've reached an agreement. This will allow MotoGP to be the leader in this real revolution for sustainability. We want to really show the way to all the motorcycle manufacturers that it's possible to have the fun we all like but with sustainable fuels. We hope by 2027 to have completely carbon-free fuels in our competitions, leading the way and showing that, even if the racing is a small part of emissions, we must be the leaders of this change; show the way. Thank you to all the stakeholders for the negotiations. Finally, now we can announce the good news."

Also read: Formula 1 is planning to go carbon neutral by 2030

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO - Dorna Sports: "We are very proud to announce this incredible new venture and we would like to thank the FIM, MSMA, IRTA, our manufacturers and fuel suppliers for their unequivocal support in this ground-breaking step towards a more sustainable world. Racing together, MotoGP will be a driving force for global change and increased sustainability. Motorcycles are a vital asset to society, making two-wheeled vehicles a crucial part of the solution. Sustainable fuels are key to creating an attainable and viable path to a more eco-friendly world, impacting billions of people, and with a number of different fuel manufacturers committed to this endeavour, the global impact is guaranteed. Thanks to all parties involved in making this possible."

(Motorsport) The Spanish Grand Prix held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will remain in the Formula 1 calendar for the foreseeable future after a deal was agreed until 2026. The race track will also be upgraded along with the facilities in time for next year’s Grand Prix which will be held on 22nd May as a part of the deal.

F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali said: “We are delighted to announce this deal with Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. I want to thank the promoter and the authorities for their enthusiasm and commitment to keeping Formula 1 in Barcelona, with improvements that will be made to the track and facilities, and continuing our long history together. The teams and drivers always look forward to racing at the circuit and visiting Barcelona, and the Spanish fans will continue to see their national heroes, Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz up close.”

The Spanish GP will be the sixth race in the 23-Grand Prix Formula 1 calendar and the new contract contains a commitment that the track will become “a model and world benchmark of sustainability” as F1 gears towards a net-zero carbon goal by 2030. MotoGP has also renewed it’s agreement with the circuit until 2026 and at least two or more F1 events will be held at the venue between 2023-2026.  Earlier this year, the Spanish Grand Prix saw Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton finish first ahead of rival Max Verstappen 

Roger Torrent, the Catalan minister of business and labour and Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya  President said: “We welcome the renewal of this contract, which includes a mutual commitment clause to help us turn Circuit Barcelona-Catalunya into a model and world benchmark of sustainability applied to this type of facilities. We want the circuit to become an exponent of the green transformation and the adaptation of infrastructures to the demands of the climate emergency.”

The track has been a regular feature in the Formula 1 calendar since it opened in 1991 but the outdated facilities needed improving in order to ensure that it remains as a go-to venue, especially with new tracks in contention at the likes of Miami, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Apart from the sport, the circuit is also extensively used for testing and the Catalan government has previously said that hosting a race at the venue is worth €200million (£169million) to the local economy. Therefore a deal with Formula 1 would not only ensure the obligations to improve its facilities will be met but also provide a financial boost for the local economy.

Also read: Lewis Hamilton wins Qatar GP and reduces Verstappen’s lead to eight points

Mangaluru, Nov 15 (Motor Sports news) Defending champion Aishwarya Pissay claimed her third consecutive win in the third round of the FMSCI Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) 2021 for two-wheelers in Puttur.

Overall, Aishwarya finished 20 among 55 bikers that took the start and was ahead of 29 men and six women, who all competed on different bikes in various classes.

"I thank my team, TVS Racing and the mechanics for giving me another winning bike. I also thank Hyperice, the equipment that helps me to recover and maintain my fitness levels," six-time national champion Aishwarya said in a statement.

"The terrain is challenging and it is good for the National Rally because only such difficult terrain can prepare Indians for the tougher International rallies." The Bengaluru-based Aishwarya claimed a win at Hampi and registered a victory in Round 2 at Bengaluru to lead the table in the woman's category after her third win from three rounds here.

Dakar Rally prospect Aishwarya began on a ferocious note by registering a blistering pace in the short 5.2-km Karambi Special Stage, but lost crucial time in SS2, the 15.1-km Karikala stage.

However, by relying on her vast experience, she extracted the best from her bike in the next four stages to bounce back brilliantly and played safe thereon, with regulated aggression on the slippery track to emerge triumphant in 50 minutes 38.849 seconds.

The fourth round, the Rally of Chikmagalur is scheduled for next Sunday and after two more rounds in Coimbatore and Nashik, the topper with more points will be declared as the national champion.

Also Read : MotoGP: Valentino Rossi bids adieu to the sport as Bagnaia wins his second successive race to end the year on a high

News Source : PTI

(Motorsports) After 432 Grand Prix starts spanning 26 seasons, nine time World Champion brought the curtains down on his illustrious career. For Ducati, it was a historic 1-2-3 at the Valencia Grand Prix as Pecco Bagnaia claimed his fourth victory of the season, followed by Jorge Martin in second and Jack Miller in third. With the Championship confirmed, the day belonged to “the doctor” who qualified 10th and finished in the top 10 to cap off an underwhelming season but amazing career.

Poleman Jorge Martin nailed his start as he grabbed the lead into the first corner as Jack Miller and Joan Mir followed him closely. After lap 1 Miller took the lead at the first corner but Martin retaliated at turn 2 reclaiming the lead, while the battle upfront was intensifying Mir took advantage and overtook Miller at turn 4. Bagnaia and Rins were on the charge as they quickly chased down Miller who was suffering from a bit of tyre degradation at the  initial stage while Bagnaia and Rins would get ahead of Mir on lap four to give chase on Martin. The top four soon opened up a gap from the rest of the field, Rins and Bagnaia were having a intense battle for the second but Rins race ended after a crash at turn 11 in lap no 6. Finally Bagnaia overtook Martin in lap number 15, it was usual business for Pecco as he started opening a gap although Martin did his best to stay with him. Eventually Bagnaia won the race half second ahead of Martin as Jack Miller settled for the last podium place.

Although Bagnaia won the race, the day belonged to Valentino Rossi as he got a massive tribute during the final laps. After the race, Rossi said in his final debrief as a MotoGP rider, “It was a really, really special weekend. I didn’t expect it to be like this. I was a bit worried about the last weekend of my career because you always think on this moment for a long time and you don’t know how you will feel, or if you are able to stay concentrated on the race, and also if you are sad. But it was a great weekend from Thursday. I received a lot of surprises, from the bikes of the [past] championships [I won], and also my riders using my helmets. It was very emotional. Also, great support and great respect from all the people in the paddock and all the MotoGP riders. Especially since it was a great weekend already from yesterday, I rode well and today in the race I was able to arrive in the top 10. So, it means I will close my long career with the top 10 riders in the world”.

“This is so important for me, it means a lot, and I can use this result for a long time because I can say in my last race I finished in the top 10.This is very important. Also, from Saturday to Sunday we improved, also Pecco [Bagnaia] helped me to stay in the top 10 [in FP3] and go directly to the Q2 and start in the top 10. You can do really another race [starting from the top 10]. Also, today I feel the motivation and the concentration like if I had to play for the championship because the last race is the last race, it’s very important. It’s not easy because already from Monday I have a lot of pressure, a lot of things to do. But for me the most important thing was to try to be competitive in the race because I’m still a rider, and it’s a great emotion. Today I rode very well, I never made any mistakes, and I gave my maximum from the beginning to the end.”

Also read: Valentino Rossi: The man, the myth and legend who will never be forgotten

Bagnaia said, “The most important thing was to celebrate him in the best way possible, and with my favourite helmet he did in the past – and the most significant I think, because in 2004 he won with Yamaha, it was not easy and he won. So, for me it was the nicest one for the story this helmet had. So, I chose this one and today was the best way possible to celebrate him in his last race by winning. And it was nice the hug we had on track after the chequered flag. We shared a lot of emotions there, so I’m very happy. Sincerely not because [it was] a positive pressure. I was not fighting for anything because the championship positions were already decided. So, I was just doing my race and I was doing what I was doing all weekend. I’m just so happy to have won with this helmet.”

MotoGP™ of Valencia Result (Top 10)

1. Francesco Bagnaia, ITA, Ducati Team (GP21) 0:41:15.481 25pts
2. Jorge Martín, ESP, Pramac Ducati (GP21) +0.489s 20pts
3. Jack Miller, AUS, Ducati Team (GP21) +0.823s 16pts
4. Joan Mir, Suzuki, +5.214s 13pts
5. Fabio Quartararo, FRA, Yamaha Factory Racing, (YZR-M1) +5.439s 11pts
6. Johann Zarco, Ducati, 10pts
7. Brad Binder, KTM, +8.437s 9pts
8. Enea Bastianini, Ducati, +10.933s 8pts
9. Aleix Espargaro, Aprilia, +12.651s 7pts
10. Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, +13.468s 6pts

 
MotoGP™ World Championship Standings

1. Fabio Quartararo, FRA, Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 278pts
2. Francesco Bagnaia, ITA, Ducati Team (GP21) 252 pts
3. Joan Mir, ESP, Suzuki Factory Racing (GSX-RR) 208pts
4. Jack Miller, AUS, Ducati Team (GP21) 181pts
5. Johann Zarco, FRA, Pramac Ducati (GP21) 173pts
6. Brad Binder, RSA, Red Bull KTM (RC16) 151pts
7. Marc Márquez, ESP, Repsol Honda (RC213V) 142pts
8. Aleix Espargaro, ESP, Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 120 pts
9. Jorge Martín, ESP, Pramac Ducati (GP21) 111pts
10. Maverick Viñales, ESP, Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 106pts

(Motorsports news) After a heartbreaking late race crash at Misano, Ducati's Pecco Bagnaia came back in fine style at the penultimate race of the season to win the Algarve GP in Portimao. Suzuki’s Joan Mir finished in second with Pecco’s teammate Jack Miller finishing a closely fought third position. With only the last race remaining at Valencia, the Constructor Championship and the top three positions in the riders standings got sealed. The Constructors Championship was eventually won by Ducati as they managed to take top over Yamaha.

Pecco settled for his 5th consecutive pole position as his teammate Jack Miller started second on the grid followed by Joan Mir. The start was not great for Pecco, his teammate propelled his GP21 off the line very well and grabbed the holeshot into the first turn, but the Aussie was slightly wide which allowed Bagnaia through, lap 1 also saw Mir pass Miller. Pecco and Mir started showing as they opened a one second lead over Miller in third but by lap 7 Bagnaia was in a class of his own, he put the hammer down and opened a gap over the former champion. With Pecco’s lead stretching an intense battle for the podium between Mir, Miller and Alex Marquez took place, with Mir pulling away from these two in the last few laps, the place for the final podium spot between Miller and Marquez was unfolding, however the last lap didn't arrive as Lecuona and Oliveira were involved in a heavy crash at turn 13 which brought the red flags and abruptly ended the race.

With this victory Pecco Bagania and Joan Mir secured second and third place respectively in the riders standings, Ducati won the Constructors Championship with 332 points as they won their second constructors title in a row and third Constructors title in MotoGP. With World Champion Fabio Quartararo crashing it meant that Yamaha couldn’t do the double this year, next season with Morbidelli in the bike Yamaha will be hoping to win their first constructor championship since 2015.

Speaking after the race, Bagnaia said: "I’m very happy because I think it’s my best weekend in MotoGP. Also, I enjoyed every single session this weekend. "When you feel so great with your bike everything comes more easily to you. I’m very happy with the work done.Compared to April when I finished second, I was feeling more competitive this time around. This race was more difficult at the start because with the front tyre I was struggling a bit more compared to other races, so I was trying to push but every time I was leaning on the left I was feeling that the left was closing. But then everything came better and better in the next laps, so I’m very happy for this win."I sincerely think I’m the same in Misano. I was doing the same race, I was doing the same pushing like Misano and there I was more unlucky because I crashed," 

Also read: MotoGP: Fabio Quartararo wins his first MotoGP world title as Marquez win his second successive race in a row

Bagnaia added by saying, “Maybe today it's because I wasn’t with the hard front [jokes Bagnaia]; Mir cuts in and says ‘I hoped you used the hard’ [smiles], but sincerely I didn’t change it. In Misano I was just trying to open up the championship, but I already knew that it was very difficult to win if I won in Misano then for sure Quartararo would not crash today. So it’s okay like this. I was racing without pressure in the championship, so I just did the same thing today."

Top 10:

1. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team)
2. Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 2.478
3. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) + 6.402
4. Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) + 6.453
5. Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) + 7.882
6. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) + 9.573
7. Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) + 10.144
8. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 10.742
9. Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) + 13.840
10. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) + 14.487

(Motorsports news) Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo wins his first MotoGP world title at Emilia Romagna Grand Prix after Pecco Bagnaia unfortunately crashed in the closing stages. The crash meant that Marc Marquez won his third race of the season as his compatriot Pol Espargaro finished second to give Honda a historic one-two. Avintia rider and rookie Enea Bastianini moved up from 16th to finish third to round up the top three.

Pole setter Bagnaia got off to an amazing start as he along with his teammate Jack Miller set the pace up front in the beginning, Marc Marquez too had a good start as the top three broke away from the rest. Jack Miller pressed his teammate in the first few laps but the Australian made a mistake on turn 15 sliding off the track and giving up his second place to Marquez as his Repsol Honda teammate Pol Espargaro moved up into the podium. Like earlier in the season at Aragon it was again Pecco vs Marquez , this time the Ducati had a lot of speed that Marquez couldn’t keep up with as Pecco’s had a lot more pace towards lap 10 as he started opening a slight gap but with 5 laps remaining, he made a mistake in turn 15 which not only ended his race but also his World Championship hopes. This subsequently meant that Fabio Quartararo would finish on the podium but Bastianini overtook him in the last lap to get his second podium of the year.

Quartararo came into the race holding a 52 point lead over him as he just had to finish above him to win this year's World Championship. At the start of the race it looked like he had to wait for a few more races before he could celebrate his Championship as he had qualified 15th but in the end his closest rival crashed out for him to become the first rider from France to win a MotoGP World Championship. In doing so he became the first non Spanish rider since Casey Stoner when he won it in 2011 to win a MotoGP World Championship and to finally put an end to this Spanish domination. This was also a historic race for Valentino Rossi as he rode his final race at home and finished a respectable 10th place in the race. 

Fabio Quartararo after winning his first title said, “I still can't believe it! I can't even talk. It feels amazing. Maybe later I can talk a bit more. Right now, I'm living the dream! It feels good to also have my family with me, and we will enjoy this a lot tonight and until the end of the season Of course, this was not the way I wanted Pecco's weekend to end, but I'm happy he's okay. Now we are the World Champion. I have no words and I have no more liquid left in my body to cry. It feels so good, but I can't even describe what I'm feeling right now. To be on the podium with a big part of my family and my family from the circuit. I have no words.MotoGP has been going on for quite a long time. To be the first Frenchman to win it is amazing. I'm also happy for Yamaha. Since 2015 they haven't won a title, and today we won it again. It's an amazing feeling,” 

Marquez said: “This is a much more important victory than Austin. My target was to be on the podium here or in Portimao, on a ‘right’ circuit to finish the season. And we won. We won here in Misano where usually we are not strong and we had a race pace. When Pecco started to push, honestly speaking I said ok and I relaxed a bit but he crashed. Fortunately, he’s ok and we were able to take profit because he had the edge. We keep improving and this is the best way to finish the 2021 season as we prepare for 2022. When you look at the gap compared to the first race here, we’ve made a step. I also want to say a big congratulations to Fabio for his title, he has been incredible this year and he really deserves it. Today is his day but I look forward to fighting with him again next year".

Also read: MotoGP: Marc Marquez reclaims his COTA crown as he wins his seventh MotoGP race at the Circuit of Americas

Top 10:

1. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team)
2. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda Team) + 4.859
3. Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) + 12.013
4. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) + 12.775
5. Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) + 16.458
6. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) + 17.669
7. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) + 18.468
8. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) + 18.607
9. Luca Marini (SKY VR46 Avintia) + 25.417
10. Valentino Rossi (Petronas Yamaha SRT) + 27.735
 

(Motorsports news) Marc Marquez went on to win his seventh race in eight years at the Circuit of Americas in Austin Texas after finishing ahead of world championship leader Fabio Quartararo and Pecco Bagnaia. This means that Fabio would have the opportunity to wrap up the world title when they head to Misano in two weeks time.

Marquez had qualified third as Pecco Bagnaia claimed his third successive pole in as many races but heading into the first corner Marquez had snatched the holeshot from the front row and quickly took the lead of the race. In doing so, Bagnaia fell to sixth as Quartararo and Marquez set the pace up front in the early stages, Jorge Martin the rookie tried to overtake Fabio but the Yamaha rider held firm to hold his position. All the riders chose the hard front tyre as Jack Miller was the only one to go with the hard rear tyre, this move paid off for him as the riders in front of him with soft rears were struggling a lot which eventually made him move all the way to fifth. Up front the signs were ominous as Marquez slowly and steadily built a gap of four seconds ahead of Quartarao who took little risk chasing down the king of COTA.

In the end Marquez finished 4.7 seconds ahead of Fabio Quartararo, which means this is only the second victory of the season for the 6 time world champion after making an injury comeback this season. Although Marquez is not at his best form, the signs for next season are ominous as he looks to break Valentino Rossi’s record of 9 premier class world championships. As for this season Fabio Quartararo can wrap the world title with a victory at Misano as he has got 254 points, extending his lead over Pecco Bagnaia in second place who has 202 points. The battle for the constructor championship is also heating up between Ducati and Yamaha as they are separated by only 9 points with 3 races remaining.

Also read: Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia wins San Marino GP after fending off Fabio Quartararo

During the podium media conference Márquez said “I pushed hard only three or four laps, then when I saw the gap was increasing I was able to ride in [two minutes] 4.8, four-high at a constant pace, with some margin, I had the margin to be a little bit faster. This is the first race this year that I came to with the intention of fighting for victory. I said that already in the press conference on Thursday. The weekend was good – Friday was really good, Saturday so-so, but today was better. I need to keep working and keep pushing because the special feeling with the bike is still not there”. 
 

(Motorsport news) The maiden Qatar Grand Prix is set to take place on November 21st at the Losail International Circuit and the country will now have a permanent place in the Formula 1 calendar from 2023.

With the Formula 1 season heating up as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s pursuit for the Drivers Championship becomes more intense than ever before, Doha will be the venue which will fill the spot vacant after the Australian Grand Prix’s cancellation and is first of the three venues in the Middle East to finish the season. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will take place on December 3rd and 10th respectively.

Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali had this to say upon the confirmation of a 10 year agreement “We are very pleased to welcome Qatar to the Formula 1 calendar this season and for the longer term from 2023. We have shown that we can continue to adapt and there is huge interest in our sport and the hope from many locations to have a Grand Prix. The huge effort from all the teams, F1 and the FIA has made it possible to deliver a 22-race calendar, something that is very impressive during a challenging year and something we can all be proud of."

The country has a longstanding history of hosting MotoGP, being an integral part of their calendar since 2004. Qatar will also be hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022, a year before the 10 year agreement will begin with Formula 1. A statement from Formula 1 said “There was a strong will from Qatar to be helpful to F1, and in the course of this process, the vision for a longer partnership was discussed and agreed for 10 years.

"The step from the gesture to be helpful to F1 in 2021 to a long term strategy was short and simple and the vision for F1 to be the showcase for Qatar after the FIFA World Cup in 2022 was the driving force behind this long term agreement. As part of the longer-term deal, discussions will continue regarding the location for the Grand Prix from 2023 with further details to be provided at a later time."

Also read: Late heartbreak for Lando Norris as Lewis Hamilton wins Russian GP to record 100th F1 victory

(Motorsport news) Francesco Bagnaia won his second consecutive MotoGP victory at the San Marino Grand Prix on Sunday after surviving a late charge from World Championship leader Fabio Quartararo.

The Italian led the race by almost 2.7 seconds at one point until Quartararo gave a late scare and reduced the gap by two tenths of a second. Quartararo struggled to keep pace with the Ducati’s of Bagnaia and Jack Miller at the beginning of the race, but soon found his form and overtook the Australian with 14 laps to go to finish in second place.

Starting from the 12th position on the grid, Enea Bastianini of Avintia Ducati also secured his debut podium finish while Repsol’s Marc Marquez finished fourth. Ducati’s Jack Miller finished in a disappointing fifth position while former world champion Valentino Rossi finished 17th for Petronas Yamaha while reigning world champion Joan Mir finished sixth on his Suzuki.

Despite back to back victories for Francesco Bagnaia, the Italian still trails Quartararo by 48 points with four rounds to go. The Frenchman said, “There were a few moments where I closed the gap, but Pecco (Bagnaia) was on another level today... but we did the job today because we still have a good lead in the championship.”

After the race, Bagnaia spoke about his back to back race wins, “I knew that with the soft rear tyre, I was struggling a bit and I tried to push in the first few laps to open the gap. The last 10 laps when Fabio was recovering were very difficult... he was a bit better in the last part but we were incredible today.

Two victories in a row is incredible for me. I was struggling to win my first race... there was something missing. Now I'm very happy."

Also read: Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll retained by Aston Martin for the Formula 1 2022 season

(Motorsports news) Legend, Icon, GOAT, Prankster, Idol whatever you label him, Valentino Rossi will be the biggest name transcended around all of motorsports. There have been quite a few mega motorsport icons in the world but none had the astounding influence as “the doctor” on the youngsters and fans. Those who might have been captivated with his iconic number, vibrant designs on his bike or his post race theatrics, quickly became die hard followers of him. One can rarely say that a sport is defined by one man only but in Rossi’s case he created a gravitational pull of its own, sucking fans and gaining international recognition and interest from all over the world who would tune in to see him showcase his magnificent racecraft.

The most famous son from Tavullia rewrote the record books by winning 9 World Championships in all MotoGP classes in a career which spanned over 26 seasons. Pundits have been predicting his retirement ever since he won his last world championship but an unexpected return to form in 2014 where watched his rivals arrive with a gusto only to be left destroyed by his sheer talent and mental gymnastics. Time and time again Valentino is proving that age is just a number but the 42 year old has eventually decided to hang up his leather to join the paddock as a team manager.

Also read: F1 mid season review: Hamilton vs Verstappen rivalry is just getting started

His career will always be remembered for his charisma and lust for bike racing but after retirement, this season there is going to be a huge void left by him. Valentino’s impact is so much so that most of the riders in the current MotoGP grid idolised him growing up. Rossi over his career has managed 115 victories out of which 89 have come in the premier class putting him second to Giacomo Agostini with 122 victories. Rossi ranks third with 9 world championships only behind Agostini 15 and Angel Neito 12.

After retirement, Valentino Rossi will become the team manager of VR46 a team which was started in 2014 in moto3. Now VR46 team has bikes in all the premier racing classes in MotoGP, along with that he also owns the VR46 academy which is producing world championship calibre riders to compete in MotoGP from Italy. Already a legend in the sport, he wants to develop the grassroots of MotoGP by encouraging youngsters through his popularity to take up bike racing.

The retirement of such an icon will not only be felt in MotoGP but the whole of the motorsport world. He's a once in a lifetime generational talent that used to fill out stands with only his ‘number 46’ and ‘doctor’ posters, but with him gone that amazing spectacle will never be witnessed anymore, no one will ever come close to the impact he's had on MotoGP and motorsports in general. The likes of Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Marquez have all fallen to the great Valentino Rossi at some point of their career, quite an extraordinary feat to say the least. More than his amazing riding skills fans will miss out on the aura and presence he had on the grid which made them fall in love with the sport to begin with.

According to a press release by Extreme E, the pioneering electric race series has announced BT Sport as a broadcaster ahead of its inaugural race in Saudi Arabia. BT Sport will air all five X Prixs starting with Desert X Prix from AlUla, Saudi Arabia on April 4th. They will also be featuring the championship’s race highlights on demand. Viewers will also be able to access Extreme E’s regular ‘Magazine’ show to give viewers an insightful and behind the scenes look of this unique series. Extreme E will join BT Sport’s motorsport portfolio that already includes MotoGP, FIM Speedway, WRC and DTM. Simon Green, Head of BT Sport, said: “Sports broadcasting, like every industry, has a part to play in climate change and our coverage of Extreme E will be a constructive step in highlighting positive environmental messages to our customers. I know how important this is as part of BT’s ongoing efforts to become a net zero carbon business by 2045 and for BT Sport to become one of the greenest broadcasters in the UK.” Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer at Extreme E, said: “Today’s broadcast agreement with BT Sport marks another major coup for Extreme E. Apart from allowing us to bring our thrilling electric race format to even more sports fans in the UK and Ireland, BT Sport provides us with an invaluable platform to share the wider environmental and equality message behind the championship. “Although the domestic uptake of electric vehicles is increasing, there is still work to be done to showcase the potential of EV technology. By focusing on the environment through sustainable motorsport, Extreme E hopes to encourage fans to make changes to reduce carbon emissions and slow down the climate emergency.” Each team will be featuring one male and female driver and the series already features some stellar superstars such as Jenson Button, Jamie Chadwick, Molly Taylor, and Carlos Sainz Snr who will be racing in identical 550-bhp electric vehicles known as ODYSSEY 21. The cars and the championship’s freight will be transported to each location on the St. Helena. In a bid to reduce carbon emissions, the number of spectators at each venue will be kept at a minimum and the ship will feature an on board science laboratory to conduct research on marine environment throughout the voyage.