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Category: Superbikes
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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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- Tommy Bridewell scores three second place finishes at Brands Hatch
- Tommy Bridewell finishes second in the BSB Championship
- Christian Iddon and Josh Brookes finish fourth and sixth in the BSB Championship respectively
Race 1
Tommy Bridewell and Christian Iddon both needed strong results to keep their title hopes alive going into race 1 of the final round at Brands Hatch.
VisionTrack Ducati’s Iddon took the early lead passing Mackenzie in Druids on the opening lap. By Lap 4 Bridewell was into third on his Oxford Products Racing Ducati behind Iddon and Mackenzie, only for the safety car to come out later that lap following a crash by Josh Owens (Rapid CDH Racing Kawasaki).
The safety car came in on Lap 7, but Iddon was not able to keep the same pace and Mackenzie took the lead a couple of laps later. Bridewell then got past Iddon on Lap 12 on the run up to Druids, with the riders briefly making contact.
The Title Fighter trio went on to take the chequered flag in those same positions, with Mackenzie extending his championship lead.
Race 2
Oxford Products Racing Ducati Racing’s Tommy Bridewell ran another fantastic race at Brands Hatch in Race 2 taking a second-place finish behind Tarran Mackenzie.
Bridewell had put in a great move on the opening lap to overtake both Mackenzie and Christian Iddon along the Cooper Straight to take the lead into Surtees, starting his second lap with a 0.597s advantage.
But by half race distance the gap between Bridewell and Mackenzie was reduced to 0.171s with Mackenzie taking the lead back on Lap 12. Bridewell made another move on Lap 15 to retake the lead at Stirlings, setting up a thrilling final as he needed to beat Mackenzie if he was to keep any title hopes alive. But Mackenzie got great drive out the last corner on the last lap to take the chequered flag, and the 2021 crown, by 0.087s.
Iddon crossed the line in fourth, his own title hopes also coming to an end, with his VisionTrack Ducati teammate Josh Brookes taking sixth.
Race 3
Tommy Bridewell completed his final race of the season with another podium position, finishing second at Brands Hatch for the third time this weekend.
In a repeat of Race 2 Bridewell led for most of the race but was unable to provide an answer to newly-crowned Mackenzie on the McAMS Yamaha.
Bridewell’s final second place ensured that he also secured second in the championship, going one better than the third place he secured with his Ducati team back in 2019.
Iddon was on for another strong finish on the VisionTrack Ducati but a late incident with SYNETIQ BMW’s Danny Buchan saw them both crash out of the race.
Josh Brookes had a much better end to his season on his VisionTrack Ducati after getting his best result of the weekend finishing just off the podium in fourth.
Championship positions
1. Tarran MACKENZIE (Yamaha) 1202
2. Tommy BRIDEWELL (Ducati) 1166
3. Jason O'HALLORAN (Yamaha) 1162
4. Christian IDDON (Ducati) 1141
5. Peter HICKMAN (BMW) 1092
6. Josh BROOOKES (Ducati) 1079
Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati #46) – 2nd
“Brands Hatch, phenomenal weekend. To come away with second in the British Superbike championship is a credit to the Oxford Products Racing Ducati team. The team’s done a phenomenal job, the bike was working flawlessly all weekend. We’ve got a bit of work to do for 2022, already thinking about that, but to come away fighting for the race wins, every single race, and to come away second in the championship is a thumbs up from me. Thanks for all the support, I really appreciate it. We’ll see you back in 2022.”
Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati #25) – 4th
“The weekend’s been a reflection of our year in that we’ve been aware of what the problems have been, but we’ve been unable to fully resolve them. We’ve made the best of it and seen progress in the last few rounds with some better results which was how this weekend went. It’s been a constant battle between front and rear end grip and when one’s better, the other’s worse. But we’ve got to the end of the season and I can guarantee everyone, I’ll be back. This year hasn’t been a reflection of myself in terms of my motivation or my desire to win and that’s as strong as I’ve ever so I’m looking forward to the time off and coming back even stronger in 2022.”
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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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