Franco Morbidelli is feeling satisfied and optimistic about his first experience with the PETRONAS Yamaha SRT The Italian rider Franco Morbidelli, riding for Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team –the first Malaysian team in the MotoGP World Championship– was one of the standout riders in the first 2019 preseason tests, which took place last month at Valencia and Jerez. Now enjoying a hard-earned winter break, Morbidelli discusses his role in this new project and in particular how the first few days have gone with his new team and his first laps on the Yamaha YZR-M1. Support for this video player will be discontinued soon. 2018: Franco Morbidelli's best year yet 03/12/2018 From Moto2™ World Champion in 2017, Rookie of the Year in 2018, to joining
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Crowd pleasers: MotoGP™'s biggest weekends of the season
MotoGP™ pulls in the crowds year on year and if 2018 is anything to go by, that trend will continue. A record 2,884,242 fans sat in the stands this season, which is 218,436 more than in 2017 and sets a serious benchmark for 2019. But which was the biggest event? The new Grand Prix on the block: Thailand. Buriram had 222,525 people heading through the gates over the race weekend, becoming the most-attended event of 2018 on its debut. Next up was another newer race as the Red Bull Ring welcomed 206,746 fans, with Le Mans for close company in third as 206,617 people enjoyed the French classic. Source link
An abundance of World Champions lineup in MotoGP™ for 2019
Then we have five Moto2™ World Champions lining up on the grid: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammates Pol Espargaro and Johann Zarco (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), alongside 2014 Champion Tito Rabat (Reale Avintia Racing) and 2017 Champion Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT), are joined by reigning intermediate class Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Alma Pramac Racing) – an incredibly exciting bunch of riders. Source link
Grand Prix Commission make important changes to 2019 rules
Race classifications, substitute riders, re-starts after interrupted races and more are outlined for this season In a meeting held in Madrid on 30th November 2018, Dorna Chairman Carmelo Ezpeleta was joined fellow Grand Prix Commission Messrs. Paul Duparc (FIM), Takanao Tsubouchi (MSMA) and Mike Trimby (IRTA), as well as Carlos Ezpeleta (Dorna), Corrado Cecchinelli (Director of Technology), Mike Webb (Race Director) and Danny Aldridge (Technical Director) being present to decide important changes to the 2019 MotoGP™ rules. Sporting Regulations – Effective Immediately Race Classifications Previously, in order to be qualified as a finisher, the rider had to be in contact with his machine when crossing the finish line. There have been situations when, due to a crash, the rider and machine have crossed the
A promising start to preseason for MotoE™
The pacesetter after the first three days of testing was One Energy Racing’s Bradley Smith, as the British rider competes in the 2019 MotoE™ Championship alongside his new testing role with Aprilia Racing Team Gresini. Smith finished over three tenths clear of second fastest Niki Tuuli (Ajo Motorsport MotoE) with the Finn, in turn, finishing ahead of 2008 125 World Champion Mike Di Meglio (EG 0,0 Marc VDS). Elsewhere, fellow 125 Champion Nico Terol (Angel Nieto Team) ended the test in P17 on the combined times, with teammate Maria Herrera just behind him – the latter becoming the first women to compete in the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup. Source link
Moto2™: their preseason so far
As well as this major change, rider changes are aplenty on the 2019 Moto2™ grid. This season, we’ll see a total of ten new faces enter the fray, including British star Jake Dixon (Angel Nieto Team), Lukas Tulovic (Kiefer Racing), Dimas Ekky Pratama (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) and teammate Somikat Chantra – none of which have progressed through Moto3™. Those riders include Fabio Di Giannantonio (Speed Up Racing), Italtrans Racing Team’s Enea Bastianini, Marco Bezzecchi (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), his teammate Philipp Oettl and SKY Racing Team VR46’s Nicolo Bulega – the latter ending the first test as the fastest rookie. Source link
2018 FIM Gala: watch it live!
The ceremony, which celebrates another fantastic season of racing, will be embedded and broadcast live in this article via YouTube. You’ll get to see the likes of MotoGP™ Champion Marc Marquez, Moto2™ Champion Francesco Bagnaia and Moto3™ title winner Jorge Martin collect their awards, as well as watching WorldSBK Champion Jonathan Rea, WorldSSP title winner Sandro Cortese, WorldSSP300 winner Ana Carrasco and more celebrate their 2018 success. Source link