Interesting “Reds under the bed” story from al jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/17/europe-awakens-to-the-threat-of-sabotage-by-russian-agents
HRC confirm capture of former Suzuki boss Kawauchi Alberto Puig has confirmed Kawauchi will replace Takeo Yokoyama as Technical Manager to once again team up with Joan Mir and Alex Rins
I really don’t understand the mentality. What was going on in the perp’s head? Hopefully they’ll be found shot and dumped in a forest.
Mir steps up training with Honda's CBR 1000 RR Fireblade The 2020 World Champion lapped the Circuit Ricardo Tormo on his new HRC training toy ahead of the upcoming Sepang Test Ahead of continuing his adaptation to Honda’s RC213V MotoGP™ thoroughbred at the Official MotoGP™ Sepang Test in the not too distance future, new Repsol Honda Team recruit Joan Mir has been getting to grips with Honda’s CBR 1000 RR Fireblade superbike at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo. I think it'll be a tough season for both Mir & Rins.
VR46 Riders Academy hit Portimao alongside Rossi The MotoGP™ Legend joined reigning World Champion Bagnaia and co on track at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve We’re just a couple of weeks shy from the first Official MotoGP™ Test of 2023 at the Sepang International Circuit and as training schedules ramp up for the premier class grid, the VR46 Riders Academy ventured to the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve for a couple of days of laying down the rubber on Portugal’s famous rollercoaster. And a familiar number 46 decided to join in on the fun. Reigning MotoGP™ World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) was rocking his new number 1 plate on his Ducati V4S and revealed he set an impressive 1:43.286 lap time, which isn’t too far shy from Fabio Quartararo’s (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) 2022 1:39.435 Grand Prix race lap record in Portimao.
MotoE™: the new era begins! 2023 welcomes Ducati as MotoE™ gets ready for more races, more rounds and more incredible competition powered by Enel X Way Tags MotoE, 2023 It’s 2023 and that means it’s time to get excited for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Championship! No longer a Cup, the electric competition gains World Championship status this season, there’s a new manufacturer… and the calendar expands to eight rounds! In 2023, MotoE™ welcomes Ducati as the single manufacturer, with plenty to look forward to as the grid switch machinery and get ready for the most comprehensive season ever. Eight rounds in seven countries sees MotoE™ join the MotoGP™ paddock from Le Mans, kicking off competition alongside the 1000th Grand Prix, and the season runs all the way through to Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. That’s every MotoGP™ stop in Europe between May and early September, creating a 16-race, eight-round, action-packed MotoE™ season. I started watching this a few seasons back and really got into it, it's like Moto3 on GP bikes, but quieter. . Looking forward to the new Ducati's this year.
Those MotoGP bikes really are incredible... they can stay upright all on their own. I'll get me coat.
Pirro puts Ducati on top as Shakedown Test ends It was a busy final day in Sepang as the factories took profit from a dry day at the office. The Sepang Shakedown Test has drawn to a close and much to the delight of the factories and riders, the final day of action was met with dry weather conditions. This meant plenty of work was completed ahead of the Official Sepang Test, and it was Ducati Lenovo Team’s Michele Pirro who set the quickest time. DUCATI: Pirro – who set a 1:59.803 – was back doing most of his work with the updated aero package they’re trying for 2023. The biggest thing to note here is they’ve updated their ground-effect side fairings from the Valencia Test, they’re much larger and have a little bit more detail. The actual side pod and the main set of wings are the same as what we saw at the Valencia Test.
KTM: In the KTM camp, Dani Pedrosa spent plenty of time on KTM’s new aero package. As you can see below, the front fairing shape has changed slightly. The ‘shark tooth’ serrations on the edges are no longer there, while the top set of the wings have been slightly updated, but remain largely the same. The side pod wings have received the same treatment. However, the biggest change we can see is the ground-effect side fairings have grown in size.
MotoGP™ action officially returns on Friday as all 22 premier class stars take to the track for the first time in 2023. It's an incredibly important three days of action as the five factories get to work on fine-tuning and developing what they hope will be the motorcycle to win the MotoGP™ World Championship. I so looking forward to this season, there's so many talented riders on the grid and it'll be interesting to see if the improvements made by KTM & Aprilia pay off.
