Oettl on top in opening session of the weekend

Philipp Oettl (Sudmetal Schedl GP Racing) hit the ground running at the GoPro British Grand Prix to end the opening session of the weekend at the top of the timesheets, setting a 2:15.489 to be the only rider in the 2:15 bracket. Aron Canet (Estrella Galicia 0,0) was second in FP1, 0.558 behind the German with Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi (Redox PrustelGP) in third – 0.009 splitting the two. Source link

Vierge joins EG 0,0 Marc VDS in Moto2™ for 2019

“Xavi Vierge’s progression in his relatively brief stint in Moto2 has shown his talent and competitiveness, as well as giving us a glimpse of his future,” adds team owner Marc Van der Straten. “Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS has always had riders capable of getting to the top in the Moto2 World Championship, and we think that, alongside Alex Marquez, we have a fantastic line up of riders for next year.” Source link

18 corners, one winner: gentlemen, start your engines!

Team Suzuki Ecstar, meanwhile, want to get back near the front after a spate of podiums earlier in the season – and Silverstone was the scene of their first win since 2007 when they were on top in 2016. That may have been with a different rider, but Alex Rins is a former winner at the venue too, in Moto3™. Scott Redding (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) is another former winner and one with a stunning record on home soil, and he’ll want to try and get in the fight with fellow Brit Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). KTM, after a run of bad luck, are also looking for a bit more in the UK. Will Pol Espargaro be

At the crunch, it's the actual racing that counts

Hopefully he enjoyed the racing and I’m sure did not need reminding that when it comes to the real crunch, it’s the actual racing out on the track that is the key to success. You can introduce brilliant technical innovations, clever rule changes to try and ensure closer racing and have every well-known celebrity in the world filmed on the starting grid but it’s the action on the tarmac that gets the adrenalin flowing through the veins of both the crowds and commercially probably more important, the television audiences. ™ Source link

Bagnaia wins clash of the Championship titans

This left Oliveira with a 0.8 gap at the front, with Jorge Navarro (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) second and Bagnaia recovering to third. It was only a matter of time before the Italian would make his move past Navarro, and that’s exactly what he did on lap six to set his sights on the Portuguese rider out in front. The gap hovered just below the one second barrier, before Bagnaia gained nearly half a second on the KTM rider at the mid stage of the race, with it soon becoming clear the Kalex machine had the better front grip. Source link

Dovi leads Ducati 1-2-3 in vital FP1

Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) picked up where he left off in Brno as he shot to the top of the timesheets, setting a 1:23.830 to be the only rider under the 1:24 bracket at the eyetime Motorrad Grand Prix von Österrich. Teammate Jorge Lorenzo was second quickest in the session, 0.215 back, with fellow Ducati rider Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) rounding out the top three as the Desmosedici machines dominated the opening premier class session. Source link

Battle lines drawn: Reload for the Red Bull Ring

Meanwhile Team Suzuki Ecstar want more from Austria and Andrea Iannone is a former winner at the venue, but for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, despite good progress cutting the gap to the front, it’s not quite the fairytale return to their home venue in the hills they were planning. Test rider and oft-racing wildcard Mika Kallio is out after a crash in the German GP and the bad luck kept rolling in Brno: Pol Espargaro will now also be sidelined after his crash there. So for KTM, home hopes are pinned on Bradley Smith. The Brit was on good form in Czechia as he qualified P15, before he was involved in a multi-rider crash and wasn’t able to race