Category: Moto GP

1. ENEA MAKES HISTORY WITH MAIDEN MOTOGP POLE AT SPIELBERG

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 22nd Aug 2022

   #AustrianGP qualifying. 
   1525 days later, Enea Bastianini is back on top on a Saturday, albeit this time in the MotoGP class. In other words, he took his first-ever pole position in the premier class after putting together a near perfect lap – which was good enough to edge the factory Ducati duo of Pecco Bagnaia and Jack Miller.
    
   The new outright record lap of the track (1’28.772) will allow ‘Bestia’ to line up at the very front of the grid, with the explicit goal to score his fourth race win of the season. With today’s result, Bastianini’s pole position tally reaches number 10 (seven of which under the Team Gresini banner).
    
   It was a very positive day also for Fabio Di Giannantonio, who made it into Q2 at the very last moment (and tackled his fifth Qualifying 2 session of the season) before securing a more than respectable top ten result on a track he seems to enjoy a bit more aboard Ducati machinery – as opposed to when he raced in the lower classes.

    

   POLE POSITION – ENEA BASTIANINI #23 (1’28.772)
   “It surely was an incredible day. I did a great lap, not a perfect one, but it was enough for pole position. I had missed this feeling for a few years and it’s great to be back in this situation. I’m beginning to perform at my best also on Saturday, even though I’m still more of a race animal. We’re working the same way we did at the beginning of the year; the atmosphere in the team is great and that surely helps. We will start ahead of everyone else tomorrow and we will aim at the top.”
    
   10^th - FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49 (1’29.336)
   “It wasn’t easy, because we encountered a lot of traffic in Q1, but in the end we made it through with also a bit of luck. We needed it, and to be starting in the top ten tomorrow is surely a confidence boost. We’re working well and we improved compared to yesterday so I don’t see the reason why we cannot continue this way and make another step tomorrow, too.”

2. FIRST MOTOGP PRACTICE SESSIONS IN AUSTRIA

   Posted on 12:00pm Saturday 20th Aug 2022

   TOP TEN FOR MAVERICK, ALEIX IMPROVES BETWEEN THE TWO SESSIONS, LORENZO IS FAST AND CONTINUES THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RS-GP

   The Austrian MotoGP weekend didn’t start off on the best foot weather-wise. The overnight rainfall did not let the asphalt dry off in time for the first timed practice session, forcing the riders to go out in wet configuration. The conditions improved slowly, until all were able to ride on slicks, albeit with rather indicative times.

   It was almost completely dry for the second session in the afternoon, on the other hand, with a clear improvement in performance and extremely compact final standings. Maverick Viñales’ performance was good, ninth in the combined standings and a positive feeling in the saddle of his Aprilia. Aleix was just 34 thousandths behind, barely enough to be out of the provisional top 10. The Spaniard, lying second in the Championship, struggled to find the right feelings, but improved significantly in the finale. This makes him optimistic for qualifying tomorrow. 

   Good performance for Lorenzo Savadori who, continuing his development work on the RS-GP, kept the gap down to just over a second, finishing ahead of five regular riders.

   ALEIX ESPARGARÓ
   “I struggled a bit today, especially interpreting this track. Not just in terms of the chicanes, but this is a very particular circuit that demands a riding style that is just as specific. In any case, toward the end of FP2, I began to feel more competitive. We’re still lacking just a bit on the more hard braking sections but I think we’ll be able to improve tomorrow. I don’t particularly like the new chicane as a rider but I must say that they did an outstanding job in terms of safety and that’s the most important thing”.

   MAVERICK VIÑALES
   "I’m satisfied in general, even if it wasn’t an easy day. In the morning, the conditions were a bit complicated with the track drying out, whereas in the afternoon we struggled to find the right grip. I also made a few mistakes braking, but nothing too worrisome. I’m working on braking to be as incisive as possible in the race, because it will be extremely important for overtaking. In the finale of the FP2 session, I was able to repeat my best time, albeit without progressing, but it was enough to stay in the top ten, which provisionally puts me straight through to Q2. I really like the new chicane and we know that we still have plenty of margin for improvement, so we’ll keep working hard tomorrow to try and start from the front rows”.

   LORENZO SAVADORI
   "A good day. We moved forward with our work both to help Aleix and Maverick and also in view of 2023, also managing to be fast. My shoulder isn’t bothering me too much, but it obviously penalises me a bit. I’m pleased because we were able to test everything we had scheduled. The new layout isn’t bad. The chicane is rather slow, but it seems like an acceptable solution."

3. BOLD RIDERS CONFIRMS MOTOGP PARTNERSHIP WITH GRESINI RACING

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 12th Aug 2022

   The preparation of the Gresini Racing’s 2023 MotoGP project continues with another and extremely important confirmation: BOLD RIDERS, one of the leading motorcycle communities in Indonesia, will once again be a protagonist of the protagonists alongside the team ran by Nadia Padovani Gresini.
    
   Starting from next season – the sixth consecutive of this collaboration – BOLD RIDERS will be present on the bikes and leathers of the Gresini riders Fabio Di Giannantonio and Alex Marquez, the exciting new line up for 2023.

    

   MULYADI SUGIONO – BOLD RIDERS ACTIVATION MANAGER
   “Next season would be our 6^th year partnering with Gresini Racing. It has been one heck of a ride, and we are definitely hungry for more. We believe that this partnership will surely help us enhance and enrich our values as one of the biggest motorcycle communities in Indonesia and help us to grow even bigger. Looking forward to have another BLAST season, with Diggia and Alex on board”.
    
   CARLO MERLINI – GRESINI RACING COMMERCIAL AND MARKETING DIRECTOR
   “I’m very pleased to announce that our partnership with BOLD RIDERS will continue in 2023. BOLD RIDERS is the largest biker community in Indonesia, and we like to think that having the BOLD RIDERS logo displayed on the Gresini MotoGP Team’s riders and bikes is a way for thousands and thousands of bikers to enhance their spirit of brotherhood and their sense of belonging to the community.  Many thanks for their renewed trust in our project and for the long-lasting partnership”.

4. UPDATE ON ALEIX ESPARGARÓ

   Posted on 12:00pm Tuesday 9th Aug 2022

   Following medical checks carried out today at the Dexeus Hospital in Barcelona, Aleix Espargaró has been diagnosed with a heel fracture in his right foot. The Spanish rider, the victim of a frightening high-side during the last free practice session at Silverstone, then stoically took to the track for both qualifying and Sunday's race. 

   The injury does not require surgical treatment, and Aleix has been prescribed seven days of absolute rest during which he will have to use crutches in order not to strain his injured foot. The aim is to arrive at the next race weekend (19-21 August, Austria) in the best physical condition.

5. Qualy Day - Team Gresini

   Posted on 5:00pm Saturday 6th Aug 2022

   BritishQP: ENEA FROM THIRD ROW, DIGGIA 15^TH
    

   It was not the shiniest of Saturdays for Team Gresini MotoGP, who still scores a couple of solid results with both Enea Bastianini and Fabio Di Giannantonio. Both forced to partake in Q1 after the three, deciding free practice sessions, they finished qualifying in eighth and 15^th place, respectively. 
    
   Fabio Di Giananntonio made a small mistake in the last sector of his penultimate attempt, which also heavily affected his last try. If there is still work to be done race-pace wise, he may have secured a very different type of result today had he not thrown away his last chance. The rider #49 will line up on row five, with the goal to score some more important points. 
    
   Enea Bastianini did a very good job as he finished eighth but only 0.339 seconds away from Zarco’s pole position – something that left a bitter taste in his mouth. The Italian rider will try and battle for the top positions tomorrow from 13:00 local time (GMT +1)

    

   8^th - ENEA BASTIANINI #23 (1’58.106s)

   
   “We struggled this morning, both pace and time attack wise. We came close to making it directly into Q2, but it did not happen. During the afternoon, we made quite the step forward in all areas and we were quick again. We are getting our confidence back aboard the bike and I’m very comfortable and happy with the soft tyre choice. I struggle a bit more with the harder option so making the right decision will be key.”
    
   15^th - FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49 (1’58.948s)
   “We haven’t been really quick during the weekend, but today we may have scored a better result and probably get into Q2. I made a mistake in the last sector, which didn’t allow me to launch myself the best way into the last attempt and that leaves a little doubt on our real potential. We need to work on the race pace: we’re improving, and we can really make a step forward in the warmup. Tyre choice, on the other hand, is still a big question mark.”