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Author: David Bodapati
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New MotoGP season triple header to begin at Losail
After a long winter break and five days of official testing, the time has finally come to suit and boot up for racing. Are you ready?
Doha, 23 March 2021: First we saw the liveries, then we saw the class of 2021 head out for testing. Now, at the floodlit oasis of Losail International Circuit, it’s time to get suited and booted for another season of stunning competition. Rarely is anything predictable in this era of MotoGP™, but there is at least one certainty everyone can agree on: we’re most definitely ready to go racing. Are you?
This season, the headlines are overflowing before a lap has even been ticked off in anger. A new reigning Champion begins the year on the throne, Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar), and the world waits with bated breath to find out when we will get to see the return of eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), although we know it won’t be to race in Qatar. Rider and team musical chairs leaves us with a different grid and new colours for many, as well as a few new faces as we welcome four rookies. But it’s the same incredible level of competition: thousandths are the new hundredths in MotoGP™. The work injury attorneys serving in Raleigh area can help with other injury and accident cases as well.
And so we arrive into Round 1. Doha hosts the first and second Grands Prix of the season and Losail also opened its doors for all the official winter test days this year, so we’re not heading in blind but we are heading in primed. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) arrives with the biggest target on his back, flanked by a flotilla of Yamahas as the testing timesheets saw the Aussie and his teammate Francesco Bagnaia bookend a top five reigned by Ducati and Yamaha. But there’s more to racing than one-lap speed…
Miller will definitely be one to watch as the lights go out, however, as will Bagnaia. Both are full factory this season and the pressure is certainly greater, but so too are the performances we’ve seen so far. Losail has also seen the Borgo Panigale factory enjoy some serious success of late, and the stage is set for the Bologna bullets to start the season where they’ll wish to go on: the front. That’s not forgetting the likes of Johann Zarco either as the Frenchman moves to Pramac Racing and enjoys ever more experience with the Italian machine, also proving his mettle in testing. The holeshot heroes have some serious top speed and three experienced riders who look ready, on paper, to get straight in the mix.
The timesheets in testing were far from a one-trick pony though. Three Yamahas ended the test within less than a tenth and a half of Miller at the top: Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and last year’s Championship runner up Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT). Viñales starts the year settled in, Morbidelli likewise. Quartararo switches to the factory Yamaha squad, but seems to have immediately found his footing. So too has nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi at Petronas Yamaha SRT as the legendary Italian – never one to push for a stunner in testing but still near the top ten – was full of enthusiasm after the five days on track that prefaced the season. After a 2020 of highs and lows for the Iwata marque, and Ducati to an extent, are the two factories who took testing by the horns the two who arrive into the first Grand Prix ready to do the same in race trim?
Just behind them, sixth in testing saw Aprilia come to the fore. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) put the Noale factory’s nearly all-new bike right up there every time he went out on track, and increasing expectation has so far been backed up by ever-increasing pace. What can the number 41 do once the lights go out? With teammate Lorenzo Savadori coming back from injury and also a rookie, Espargaro is the man in the spotlight for the new bike as racing gets underway in earnest. We’ve seen flashes of brilliance, but the 2021 aim for Aprilia will be to sustain that.
And then there’s Suzuki. Seventh and eighth was where reigning Champion Joan Mir and Suzuki Ecstar teammate Alex Rins ended the Qatar Test, and the feedback was positive. Consistently fast and consistently threatening in 2020, nothing in testing said Suzuki won’t be out the blocks to defend both the riders title and the teams’ Championship. The Hamamatsu factory’s Achilles heel – if such a thing exists in a season of such success – was qualifying last season, so that may be the first thing to keep a keen eye on as Saturday arrives. It seems though that nothing big to report may translate into “yes, we very much require the Jaws music once the lights go out for racing”… with test rider Sylvain Guintoli already having been working on their 2022 engine during the Qatar Test. If that’s not a mark of feeling everything is under control…
As race weekend arrives, meanwhile, we will be left waiting for the answer to one of the biggest questions: when will Marc Marquez return? Sidelined by injury after Jerez last year, it’s been a long, long road of surgery and recovery for the eight-time World Champion but the signs are looking good. Recently on track on a Honda RC213V-S in Catalunya and Portimão and looking ever more ready to race, there was certainly more than enough to make a good few rumours. His return won’t be in Qatar, however, so the foreboding music for his rivals remains on low for now.
On the other side of the Repsol Honda Team garage there’s plenty to talk about too though. Pol Espargaro joins the fold and, after an impressive trajectory over the past couple of seasons, began 2021 with an equally impressively quick adaptation to the Honda. Fast and fast often, the Spaniard was tenth overall in testing and could be a dark horse for much further forward as the race weekend begins, with each session of track time only giving him more experience of his new bike and team. Premier class podium finisher? Check. Race winner is the next goal.
LCR Honda Idemitsu’s Takaaki Nakagami will be hoping to move forward too after a slightly more muted test, as both he and new teammate Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) suffered a few crashes – the latter also injuring his foot but ready to head back out for Round 1. Both fought for podiums last year and Alex Marquez successfully, as a rookie no less, so they’ll want to move back up the field to where they’d left off last season.
That’s also true of KTM. The Austrian factory ripped up the history books and wrote a few replacements in 2020, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) winning them their first MotoGP™ race – and his, as a rookie and the first premier class winner from South Africa – and new teammate Miguel Oliveira then adding two more MotoGP™ victories for KTM as well as becoming the first Portuguese premier class winner. Oliveira, now alongside Binder in the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team, was the fastest Austrian machine in testing, but the two were side by side in P16 and P17. They’ll want more once the lights go out as KTM look to continue their roll of incredible success, but we’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: testing is testing. Friday practice, qualifying and then finally the first race of the year are often a wiser litmus test.
Iker Lecuona (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) will be looking for more this year too as he starts his second season, needing to move up from where he ended testing, and new arrival Danilo Petrucci (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) will be interesting to watch too as he adapts to his new bike.
Speaking of adaptation, there’s also plenty to keep an eye out for as the Moto2™ graduates begin their first seasons, eager to get in the mix. Savadori is a rookie but with a few events under his belt by now, whereas the trio of rookies moving up from the intermediate class tasted MotoGP™ for the very first time in the Qatar Test. The fastest of the three was Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) in 14th, but it was incredibly close as reigning Moto2™ World Champion Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) was just 0.022 further back. Luca Marini (Sky VR46 Avintia) was a little more in arrears but also impressed, and just like those adapting from one factory to another… every session is just another chance to improve.
The stage is set, the floodlights are primed and the grid is ready to start another rollercoaster season of incredible racing with the Barwa Grand Prix of Qatar. Don’t miss it, with lights out for the first MotoGP™ race of 2021 at 20:00 (GMT +3). Let’s GO!MotoGP™ Qatar Test top five: 1 Jack Miller – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 1:53.183
2 Maverick Viñales – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – +0.061
3 Fabio Quartararo – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – +0.080
4 Franco Morbidelli* – Petronas Yamaha SRT – Yamaha – +0.140
5 Francesco Bagnaia – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – +0.261
*Independent Team rider -
Marquez to miss first two rounds
Doha, 22 March 2021: Marc Marquez, together with his medical team from the Hospital Ruber Internacional, have considered it prudent not to re-join competition this weekend in Qatar.
In the review carried out on the Spanish rider by the medical team led by Doctors Samuel Antuña and Ignacio Roger de Oña, and made up of Doctors De Miguel, Ibarzabal and García Villanueva, 15 weeks after surgery for an infected pseudoarthrosis of the right humerus, a good clinical response has been found after the intensification of his training.
However, considering the time period and the current state of the bone consolidation process, doctors consider it prudent and necessary not to accelerate Marquez’s return to the track after such an inactive time, and to avoid putting the humerus at risk in intense competition. Marquez will undergo another medical check on Monday, April 12.
Earlier, Marc Márquez made a welcome step back towards a MotoGP return when the Spaniard completed a day of riding around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on a RC213V-S to understand his physical condition after eight months away from the track n 17 March 2021. However, Marquez will be missing the first two rounds of the 2021 season as he prepares to make a strong comeback.
Here is what happened in 2020:
– Márquez’s 2020 season began in dramatic fashion at the Spanish GP last July when the Repsol Honda rider suffered a highside on the Jerez track and crashed out late on to leave him with a fractured arm.
– The Spaniard had been a revelation on two wheels before the crash with one 125cc world title (2010), one Moto2 crown (2012) and six MotoGP World Championships in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
– The 28-year-old underwent a series of operations on the fractured right humerus, however complications ensured that he missed the rest of the season as compatriot Joan Mir won his maiden world title for Suzuki.
– Márquez has worked extremely hard in rehabilitation to give himself a chance of competing in 2021 for Repsol Honda alongside his new teammate Pol Espargaró.
– After doctors cleared him to ramp up his training, due to increasing bone consolidation in his arm, he first tested out his fitness using a mini bike close to his home in Cervera at the Circuito de Alcarrás track.
– Next up on March 16, Márquez climbed on to a Honda RC213V-S – the production version of his MotoGP bike – for a welcome trip around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as the next step in his comeback.
– The 2021 season opens around the Losail circuit on March 28 with the evening Qatar GP one of 19 races that are currently scheduled.
Image courtesy: Dorna Sports/ Red Bull Content Pool
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McLaren Racing signs up US rising karting star Ugo Ugochukwu
Woking, 22 March 2021: McLaren Racing today announced that it has signed a long-term agreement with Ugo Ugochukwu, the promising young driver from the USA, who was recently crowned FIA European karting champion.
The 13-year-old American has proven to be a revelation, already securing several titles in his young career in the US and Europe, and most recently winning the 2020 FIA OKJ European Championship.
The agreement provides McLaren Racing with an option on Ugo’s services in the future, while supporting his development and evolution as he progresses through the junior categories of motorsport.
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said:“We’ve been watching Ugo’s progress with interest, so when the opportunity to sign an agreement with him became available, we had no hesitation moving on it. Now we’ll focus on giving Ugo the right support when he needs it to help him fulfil his potential.”
Andreas Seidl, Team Principal, McLaren F1, said:“Ugo is a promising young talent with strong development prospects. While he is still early in his career, it is clear he has the ingredients to be successful in the sport. This signing reflects our refocused approach to identifying and supporting new talent, away from a formal young driver programme to a more tailored basis.”
Ugo Ugochukwu, said:“I’m honoured to be signed by such an iconic team as McLaren Racing so early in my career. To have the support of McLaren is fantastic and what any young driver dreams of. I’m focused right now on developing as a driver and racer, so having McLaren by my side can only help me on and off the track.”
About Ugo UgochukwuUgo is regarded as one of karting’s rising stars.
Since he began karting in New York State in 2013, Ugo has gone on to race across the United States and Europe. The 13-year-old American has already shown his talent by winning the following series:
- 2014 Micro Rok USA Championship
- 2015 Florida Winter Tour Micromax Championship
- 2017 International Open X30 Mini Championship
- 2017 All Star X30 Mini Championship
- 2018 Challenge of the Americas Rok Junior Championship
- 2020 FIA OKJ European Championship
Ugo is currently competing in Europe in the OK Senior class.
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Michelin’s new MotoGP range set for 2021 race début at Losail
Doha, 22 March 2021: An intensive programme over the winter break has seen Michelin make further improvements to its tyres for the MotoGP™ World Championship. Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Michelin Motorsport’s development experts have responded to Dorna Sports’ call for technical stability by building on the range’s existing strengths, with the accent on fine-tuning the tyres’ respective casing/compound pairings. The result is a more streamlined and more versatile range for 2021, along with greater consistency, in perfect keeping with the brand’s ‘Grip made to last’ pledge.
The official test sessions earlier this month saw Michelin complete its groundwork and preparations ahead of this year’s MotoGP™ World Championship which will kick off with two grands prix under the floodlights of Qatar’s Losail International Circuit. With assistance from the state’s government, and in compliance with strict sanitary measures, Dorna Sports has effectively succeeded in organising back-to-back races there, beginning with the Barwa Grand Prix of Qatar on March 28, followed by the Grand Prix of Doha on April 4. In keeping with the tradition that gives the action in Qatar its unique flavour, both clashes will take place after nightfall.
Because of its desert location and the frequent presence of wind-blown sand on the track, Losail International Circuit’s surface is notoriously abrasive and tends to become more slippery as grip levels drop off due to the cooler temperatures encountered after sunset. However, the ability of Michelin’s MotoGP tyres to take these characteristics in their stride has contributed actively to the setting of new fastest-race-lap, shortest-race-duration and top-speed records for the 5.380-kilometre circuit.
Tyres available for the two Qatar races
MICHELIN Power Slick tyres: SOFT (white sidewall markings), MEDIUM (no markings) and HARD (yellow markings) front and rear. The SOFT and HARD fronts are symmetric, while the MEDIUM front and all three rear options are asymmetric, with a harder compound for the right shoulder due to the circuit’s 10 right-hand turns, compared with just six left-handers. The tyre allocation has also been adapted to the characteristics of the track. Each rider can choose a maximum of 6 SOFT, 5 MEDIUM and 4 HARD tyres for the front and rear.
In the case of poor weather, and subject to their use being authorised by Race Control, SOFT (blue sidewall markings) and MEDIUM (no markings) front and rear MICHELIN Power Rain tyres will also be available (asymmetric rears).
Piero Taramasso (Two-Wheel Manager, Michelin Motorsport)
“I am very proud of what Michelin Motorsport’s teams in Clermont-Ferrand and on the ground have achieved. In spite of the difficult circumstances they had to contend with, and working within the existing technical framework, they have succeeded in building on the experience we acquired in 2020 to revisit our MotoGP range in depth. Our pre-season test programme saw us meet our development targets and the results are extremely encouraging. They mean we will be able to provide the riders with a range that is both more streamlined and more versatile, and that in turn will facilitate their bike set-up work. We have also improved consistency by a move to slightly harder compounds, while at the same time maximising grip and overall performance. These gains were praised by our partners at the pre-season test in Qatar where our tyres played a part in the establishment of two new MotoGP records for Losail: that of the fastest lap for the track – which was the work of Ducati Team’s Jack Miller, with a time of 1m53.183s – and that of the highest speed ever reached there when Johann Zarco’s Pramac Racing Ducati was clocked at 357.6kph down the main straight!”
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K-1000 gets a new slot in May; Hampi, Nagaland new venues for INRC
Bengaluru, 22 March 2021: The iconic Karnataka 1000, well known as K1000, which suffered a two-year break in its chequered history, will begin afresh as the second round of the National calendar with the traditional dates moved from August to May. The Champions Yacht Club, the promoters of the Indian National Rally Championship (INRC), for four-wheelers announced the calendar for 2021 with six rounds and have added two more venues to the historic National championship by naming Nagaland, and Hampi, which successfully completed the Contender round this January. Delhi makes a comeback after last hosting a National round in 2005, the Rally of the North.
After a truncated season, the Champion Yacht Club FMSCI INRC 2021 will begin with the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) round in Chennai, run simultaneously with the Asian and National round, the popular South India Rally, from April 23 to 25. The round will also kick-start the Indian calendar in the hot summer of Chennai. Hosts Madras Motor Sports Club (MMSC), one of the best clubs in India, who are known for their meticulous administration and well-planned events, are making no stone unturned to make the return of `the’ international event a grand success. India did not host any international motorsports events for two years except the MRF challenge racing. The SIR, INRC’s first round will be held in and around Irungattukottai in Kanchipuram district around the MMRT and will have a Super Special Stage and Track stage and there will be two more physical stages named, Avisa and Alpha.
The Nationals will culminate in the picturesque North-Eastern state of Nagaland from November 12 to 14 to be organised by NAMSA, who produced a first-time National winner when Launusanen Pongenar dramatically turned tables and proved all experts wrong winning his class on a vehicle which was initially disqualified for being “old” and lacking `Fitness’. Namsa’s Nagaland venue will be the latest addition to join the map of Indian rallying, as a new INRC venue.
Hampi, which was denied a round by FMSCI in 2020, did a tremendous job of successfully organising a motorsport event, and taught a lesson or two to veteran motorsport organisers on how to rope in a sponsor, as they managed to get a strong backing by JSW. Hampi will be the other new venue for the INRC rounds with a proper round of INRC this year.
Though, Arunachal Pradesh hosted the National event for three years, if fell off the map and Nagaland will be hosting its first ever INRC round to host the grand finale of the country’s premier motorsport event.
After round 1, the bandwagon will move to Bengaluru for K-1000 on May 28 to 30, hosted by Karnataka Motor Sports Club. Then the third round will be hosted by CASC (Coimbatore Auto Sports Club) in Coimbatore from July 17 to 18. The Delhi-NCR round from August 27 to 28, is yet to be finalised as FMSCI is required to approve it.
Also this year’s championship will see the SUV class added into the mix to give a chance to other drivers in the country to display their skill on the national circuit, in view of the cancellation of Raid de Himalaya. SUVs have been part of INRC from 2014 with Mahindra’s fielding the top winning combination of Gaurav Gill and Musa Sherif. However, it will not be a separate National Championship class, and will run only as INRC class.
“We could not go all out last year due to reasons known to all. The pandemic had tied our hands and it was very difficult for us to organise a full season but still we did what we could do best and completed three rounds. But we are back on the track again and will have six rounds again this year,” Vamsi Merla, director of Champions Yacht Club and promoter of INRC said.
“When we came into motorsports, it was always our mission to take the sports to all the parts of the country and make it more inclusive and that is the reason we have given a chance to three new clubs. We are anticipating a great year ahead and hope that it exceeds all our expectations,” he further added.
Motor Sports Academy of Vijayanagar will carry out the operations in Hampi, meanwhile Nagaland Adventure and Motor Sports Association have been given the responsibility of the final round.
While Chennai, Bengaluru, Coimbatore and Hampi have been ratified by the Rally Commission of the FMSCI, the Delhi-NCR and Nagaland round is subject to an FMSCI inspection and confirmation of the local organisers by the FMSCI.
INRC 2021 Calendar:
Round 1 – Chennai: Madras Motor Sports Club – April 23-25;
Round 2 – Bengaluru: Karnataka Motor Sports Club -May 28-30;
Round 3 – Coimbatore: Coimbatore Auto Sports Club – July 17-18;
Round 4 – *Delhi, BND Motor Sports , August 27-28;
Round 5 -Hampi: Motorsports Academy of Vijayanagar – October 1-3;
Round 6 – *Nagaland, NAMSA, – November 12-14;*Subject to FMSCI inspection and confirmation of organizer by the FMSCI
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A tight fight at the top sees Sam Lowes snatch P1
Doha, 21 March 2021: Another day, another incredibly tight fight at the top of the Moto2 timesheets? Yup. Sunday at the Official Moto2 and Moto3 Qatar Test saw Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) snatch P1 in the intermediate class, but the top three was covered by just 0.048 as Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) took second and Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) third. All three will likely be starting the year expecting to challenge for wins, and their tests only underlined their speed.
The conditions were fair on Sunday once again, and Lowes’ best is the quickest lap of the test as preparations continued for the coming race weekend(s). The gaps one again show we have a stunner in store, across the top three and throughout the timesheets. Lowes, Bezzecchi and Gardner will leave the test happy, and so too will Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) as the Brit rounded out Sunday in fourth. After a wrist injury that could have been a career-threatener, getting straight back into the top five is no mean feat. That top five on Day 3 of the test was completed by Dixon’s teammate Xavi Vierge, who was fastest on Saturday.
Sixth place goes to Bo Bendsneyder on Day 3 as the Dutchman continues to impress upon his move to Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team and Kalex. He was only 0.033 off Vierge as he made a late leap up the timesheets, and is another who has been consistently improving. Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) ends Sunday in seventh, another late to move up the timesheets but doing so in style.
Style is also a good word to describe the start of Raul Fernandez’ (Red Bull KTM Ajo) Moto2™ career. Fastest rookie throughout, the Spaniard is on course for an incredibly impressive debut race weekend. So too, now, is Albert Arenas (Inde Aspar Team) though as the reigning Moto3™ World Champion shot up into the top ten on Sunday, only 0.052 off fellow rookie Fernandez. Arenas’ teammate Aron Canet completes the top ten, sliding down from second on Day 1 and Day 2 but another with some key consistency.
Stefano Manzi (Flexbox HP40) takes P11 by just 0.003 ahead of another impressive rookie in the form of Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), with yet another right behind him: Cameron Beaubier (American Racing). The American was only 0.016 off Ogura too… and pipped compatriot Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) by 0.011. Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) completed the fastest fifteen, just edging out rookie teammate Tony Arbolino.
That’s it from the pre-season test for the Moto2™ class, with the stage well and truly set for the first race of the season. Are Lowes, Bezzecchi, Gardner and their experienced compatriots ready for battle? And can the rookies edge ever closer as practice begins? Find out on Friday as the Barwa Grand Prix of Qatar begins.
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Rare op for sponsors to identify with iconic Dakshin Dare which starts on Easter Day, April 4
Bengaluru, 21 March 2021: The iconic Dakshin Dare is back with a bang. Despite finding it difficult to bag the title sponsor, Motorsport Inc is making all efforts to make the event a grand spectacle for one more year. A novelty is being introduced this year by bringing in the concept of Navigation to the Indian riders. The 5-day 12th edition will begin on April 4 in Bengaluru and it also presents a rare opportunity for a title-sponsor to identify itself with the iconic brand.
The man behind Motorsport Inc, the organisers of the event, Jaidas Menon said: “Dakshin Dare Rally will become the first-ever rally in India to introduce the concept of navigation to the Indian riders in association with Hero MotoSports. The intend to introduce the basics of navigation to all the riders expose them to this very important skill that is essential to succeed at the international rallies.”
Coming back to Dakshin Dare, the only such event in the south, saw the last edition held in 2019 crown Gaurav Gill as the champion. The three-time Asia Pacific Rally Championship winner and Team Mahindra Adventure entry are yet to confirm their entries. The regular sponsor has shied away this year and with the dwindling number of entries one is tempted to approach Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) promoters Champions Yacht Club (CYC) which has done a good job of roping in many entries by providing free transportation of vehicles and sponsored teams besides waiver of entry fees, to replenish the Arunachal rounds of INRC last December with many goodies.
When queried if they would be interested in supporting the iconic event in the absence of Maruti Suzuki, the regular sponsor, Vamsi Merla of CYC said: “Yes, Dakshin Dare has chalked out a name for itself as a historic event with popular support. Definitely we would be interested in supporting teams for the event as we usually do for INRC. I am in touch with the organisers and let us see how we can go about it.”
The Dare begins with a Super Special at the Unite Off-road Park, near Gunjur, after the Ceremonial Start and the next day, participants will travel to Chitradurga and some special stages nearby. They will return to Bengaluru on March 8 where the Closing Ceremony and Prize Distribution (PD) is scheduled to be held at Fairfield Marriott, Rajajinagar at 6 pm.
The four Categories will be T1 2wd, T2 4wd, for Modified Cross-country vehicles and T2 2wd and T2 4wd for Series Cross-country vehicles. There will be three classes in each category as follows: Class 1 over 1001cc Up to1400cc; Class 2 over 1401cc Up to 1850cc and Class 3 over 1851cc and above.
The entry with late fee will be March 31 at 5pm. Admin checks, documentation and scrutiny will be held on March 3 at Unite Off-road Park.
Navigation Bootcamp: “Hero MotoSports team will be conducting an exclusive bootcamp in Bengaluru on March 27 and 28 for anyone interested in learning the navigation basics. The bootcamp will be conducted by Jordi Grau, who is a part of the Hero MotoSports Team Rally and is a Navigation expert of international reputation. Many of our own stars like CS Santosh and other international top riders have trained with him in Spain,” a Hero statement said.
“The bootcamp will cover some theory aspects of Navigation followed by a practical session where one can learn reading a roadbook and ride, using it under the guidance of the Hero MotoSports team.”
“It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn navigation from the best in the business. So I would strongly recommend all of you to attend the same,” concluded Jaidas Menon, a former National Champion navigator in the Indian National Rally Championship for many years.
Riders can register for the bootcamp here.
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Al-Balooshi retains his bike title; Yasir Seaidan wins again
Aqaba (Jordan), 20 March 2021: Saudi Arabia’s Yasir Seaidan took full advantage of his starting position for the final stage to snatch victory away from Dutch rival Erik van Loon at the Jordan Baja.
A second outright win in the space of three weeks for the Mini John Cooper Works Rally driver also means that he extends his early season advantage in the Drivers’ Championship of the 2021 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, before the series heads into a three-month break before five European rounds between July and October.
Teams tackled a 235.82km stage through Wadi Rum and the surrounding deserts on the final morning and Van Loon set out to defend a 26-second lead, despite running first on the road and having the added burden of opening the track in terms of navigation. Rival Seaidan took full advantage and managed to close in on the Dutchman as the stage progressed and overhauled the Toyota Hilux driver to secure the win by 5min 24sec.
“It was not easy but our performance became better than yesterday,” said the Saudi, who was partnered by Alexey Kuzmich. “We tried to be more safe today. Unfortunately, after 50km, we get a slow puncture and decided to continue to see what happened.
“We are glad that we finished without changing the tyre. We overtook Van Loon after 54km and we continued in front of him. Then we made a mistake and he overtook us and then we came back again to him and we continued in front of him to the finish. I am leading the championship with two wins. I hope I keep it like this until we finish the season.”
“It was a tough day,” said Van Loon. “At the beginning it looked nice. We had to open and you cannot do the same speed as when you follow a car. No punctures and we drive safe to the finish but the last part of the stage was not nice, only stones and twisty and second gear. When we came here, I was delighted to come on to the podium and we are happy with second.”
Ronan Chabot was never troubled in the second of the Toyotas and the Frenchman and fellow countryman Gilles Pillot cruised to the finish in third place. “It was a good stage, no puncture, quite beautiful country. We enjoyed it.”
Saleh Al-Saif stormed into contention for the FIA T4 Championship with victory in his Can-Am Maverick X3. The Saudi had done all the hard work to gain a good lead on the first day and he stayed clear of trouble through the closing kilometres to seal the win.
“We had a comfortable margin thanks to yesterday’s result,” said the Saudi. “We benefited from it today, as we did not push much. The layout is great. I thank Jordan Motorsport for the route and the precise road book.”
Kuwait’s Meshari Al-Thefiri continued his title bid with second in T4 and fifth overall, Dubai-based Briton Thomas Bell came home in sixth and French veteran Claude Fournier maintained a reduced championship lead after finishing fourth in T4 and seventh overall.
The fastest T4 time on the final day fell to Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah, but fuel issues had ruined the Qatari’s chance of challenging for the win on Friday. He finished fifth in T4.
Saudi female driver Dania Akeel completed her second international event, with French navigator Stéphane Duplé on this occasion, and moved into a clear lead in the FIA T3 championship standings. She finished eighth overall.
Various time penalties were imposed on several drivers and riders before the restart. They did not affect the overall standings in the FIA category but cost Abdullah Abu Aisheh more time in his duel with Mohammed Al-Balooshi in the motorcycle section and the local rider began the final day trailing by 5min 24sec.
The duo rode together for much of the final stage and Al-Balooshi held on to secure the win on two wheels by 3min 47sec, but that was increased to 18min 47sec when his rival was handed a 15-minute penalty. The young Jordanian he has been coaching in the UAE confirmed second place and Saudi Arabia’s Abdulhalim Al-Mogheera finished a distant third on this second round of the 2021 FIM Bajas World Cup.
“It was a very tough stage, but I was leading by eight minutes and I just took it easy,” said Al-Balooshi. “I was tired from yesterday. I guess I am still recovering from January’s Covid. I am not 100%. I thought I was. I stayed behind Abdullah. He did a great job and we rode together. I could not ask for a better result. If he had not had the penalty, I would have had to attack a bit more. This was much more difficult that my last win here (2019).”
Runner-up Abu Aisheh added: “Today was a very hard stage, all rocks and gravel and no dunes or soft sand, only at the start for 40km. We did good, me and Balooshi, because he is my coach and my big brother. I was pushing all I have.”
Amit Sadot and Talat Al-Shishane rounded off the top five. Local rider Zaid Jaber failed to restart after sustaining a back injury on Friday.
Yamaha’s Faisal Al-Suwayh moved ahead of Hani Al-Noumesi to seal the quad victory. Haitham Al-Tuwayjri failed to restart after his fuel feed issues on the opening day.
The Saudi Arabian crew of Hamed Harbi and Waleed Al-Shegawi cruised to an emphatic win in the Jordan National Baja.
This year’s Jordan Baja was organised by Jordan Motorsport and received support from sponsor Zain, the telecommunications provider.
Jordan Baja – standings after leg 2:
FIA
1. Yasir Seaidan (SAU)/Alexey Kuzmich (RAF) Mini John Cooper World Rally -6hr 37min 51sec; 2. Erik van Loon (NLD)/Sébastien Delaunay (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive – 6hr 43min 15sec; 3. Ronan Chabot (FRA)/Gilles Pillot (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive -6hr 54min 31sec; 4. Saleh Al-Saif (SAU)/Oriol Vidal (ESP) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4)- 7hr 28min 11sec; 5. Meshari Al-Thefiri (KUW)/Nasser Al-Kuwari (QAT) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4)- 8hr 08min 35sec;6. Thomas Bell (GBR)/Armand Monleón (ESP) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4)- 8hr 09min 00sec; 7. Claude Fournier (FRA)/Szymon Gospodarczyk (POL) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4) – 8hr 33min 48sec; 8. Dania Akeel (SAU)/Stéphane Duplé (FRA) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T3) – 12hr 45min 20sec; 9. Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Xavier Panseri (FRA) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4) – 32hr 53min 42sec
Bikes
1. Mohammed Al-Balooshi (ARE) Husqvarna 450 – 9hr 47min 02sec;
2. Abdullah Abu Aisheh (JOR) KTM 450 Rally Replica – 10hr 05min 49sec;
3. Abdulahim Al-Mogheera (SAU) KTM EXC F450- 10hr 58min 46sec
4. Amit Sadot (ISR) KTM – 11hr 18min 45sec;
5. Talat Al-Shishane (JOR) KTM EXC 500 Enduro – 12hr 02min 25sec;
6. Paulo Olivera (MOZ) Husqvarna 450 – 12hr 36min 08sec
7. Rotem Costa (ISR) KTM FR Rally Replica – 23hr 22min 40sec
8. Salman Farhan (BRN) Husqvarna FE450 – 31hr 15min 00sec
9. Sarah Khuraibet (KUW) Yamaha WRF 450 F – 56hr 43min 00sec
10. Mohammed Al-Khater (SAU) KTM EXC – 500 – 63hr 06min 44sec
Quads
1. Faisal Al-Suwayh (SAU) Yamaha YFZ 450R – 67hr 28min 00sec
2. Hani Al-Noumesi (SAU) Yamaha Raptor 700- R – 80hr 50min 10sec.
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Al- Balooshi leads the Bike category: Day 1, Jordan Baja
AQABA (Jordan), 19 March 2021: Erik van Loon and Yasir Seaidan were locked in a fascinating duel for supremacy after the first leg of the Jordan Baja, held over a challenging route across Wadi Rum’s majestic desert terrain on Friday.
The Dutchman and the Saudi were separated by just 26 seconds after two timed sections of 210.72km and 112.99km on this fourth round of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas.
The Toyota Hilux and Mini John Cooper Works Rally drivers were closely matched throughout the entire opening selective with Van Loon leading through all the checkpoints and going on to win the first stage by 1min 27sec. Seaidan then clawed 61 seconds back in the shorter second desert sprint.
“Two beautiful stages, quite demanding and it was tough work behind the steering,” said Van Loon. “They were nice stages to drive and the road book was okay. The second stage we made a few small mistakes. We had to cross some bumpy stuff but the track went around it and we lost a little.
“The first one we win by one and a half (minutes) and we lose this one by one minute, so only half a minute between us. The problem now is that I have to start in front (Saturday). It is better when he is in front. We managed well – no punctures. Séb did a good job and the car was perfect and two amazing stages. I would love to see those more.”
Seaidan admitted that he lost his way in the second stage and sustained a flat tyre in each of the day’s tests.
“It was so difficult, navigation really hard and the stage was tricky and twisty,” said the Saudi. “The stage was beautiful but the time between the two stages was very short. I got lost for a few minutes but I really enjoy it.”
Frenchman Ronan Chabot was a comfortable, albeit distant, third overall in the second of the Overdrive Toyota Hiluxes.
“Beautiful, the country was beautiful,” said the Frenchman. “No problems, but I need to try and find the road. It was difficult for the navigation. We did not get lost. It was okay.”
Five drivers were battling it out for FIA T4 category honours and Qatar’s Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah was the early pacesetter before hitting fuel pump trouble late in the first stage and incurring massive time penalties. His issues paved the way for Kuwait’s Meshari Al-Thefiri to win the Wadi Rum section by 49 seconds from Saudi Arabia’s Saleh Al-Saif.
Al-Saif then hit back to win the second stage to take a lead of 2min 46sec back to the night halt in Aqaba.
“Today went well, the second stage was good for us, but we were unfortunate in the first as we collect two punctures,” said Al-Saif. “I think my performance was good in the second stage. Meshari Al-Thefiri was in front of us and we passed him and made a comfortable margin. It will be important for tomorrow. The stage was very interesting, similar to Al-Ula and Tabuk, but with some differences. I plan to visit it as a tourist in future.”
Al-Thefiri added: “The stage is excellent generally. I got lost in some places where we were among the first to start, but we enjoyed it more than previous rounds. We treat the Baja as an exercise. Nasser (Al-Kuwari) did a good job and he surprised me with his superb attitude.”
Thomas Bell and Claude Fournier reached the finish in sixth and seventh overall and third and fourth in T4, while Saudi female driver Dania Akeel brought up the rear of the finishers in the FIA field in her Can-Am Maverick X3 entered in the FIA T3 category. She incurred six hours of time penalties for failing to complete all the opening stage.
Emirati Mohammed Al-Balooshi set the pace in the motorcycle category on his Husqvarna 450. The regional off-road riding instructor beat local rider Mohammed Abu Aisheh by 4min 47sec in the opening stage but his riding student redressed the balance in the second one and Al-Balooshi earned an overnight lead of 2min 30sec on this second round of the 2021 FIM Bajas World Cup.
“I’m a little bit rusty to do the navigation without the arrow,” said Al-Balooshi. “It has been a long time, like a year or so, but I am really happy. Me and Abdullah got together at the beginning and we rode together and then I don’t know what happened. I had a small tip-over and spend around three minutes stuck under the bike. It’s an amazing place. Abdullah was pushing me. If I win it is a victory, but if he wins it’s also a victory because this should be the aim of any coach. I’m proud of what he is doing.”
Abu Aisheh added: “For me it was a hard route today with more rocks and gravel. I am okay, no crash and difficult navigation but we finished second behind my coach. I am happy with this result.”
Abdulhalim Al-Mogheera was classified in third place and Jordan’s Talat Al-Shishane came home in fourth place.
Aishwarya Pissay was the first retirement in the two-wheel section: the Indian fell off her Husqvarna 450 and was taken to hospital for medical checks after sustaining arm injuries.
Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Al-Khater, Jordan’s Zaid Jaber and Kuwait’s Sarah Khuraibet were awarded additional time penalties for failing to complete the longer Wadi Rum stage.
Hani Al-Noumesi continued the run of good form that saw him clinch the win in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province recently and led the quad category on his powerful Yamaha Raptor. But, like rivals Haitham Al-Tuwayjri and Faisal Al-Suwayh, he incurred hefty time penalties. Al-Tuwayjri only completed 20km of the opening test before the fuel line disconnected and sidelined his Yamaha.
The Saudi Arabian crew of Hamed Harbi and Waleed Al-Shegawi comfortably led the Jordan National Baja in a Yamaha YZR 1000 after five Jordanian and Palestinian rival teams were badly delayed in Wadi Rum.
The event is receiving support from sponsor Zain, the telecommunications provider.
Tomorrow (Saturday), the Jordan Baja concludes with a final selective section of 235.82km that loops through the southern desert and starts and finishes in Salhiyah.
Jordan Baja – standings after leg 1 (unofficial):
FIA
1. Erik van Loon (NLD)/Sébastien Delaunay (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 3hr 42min 20sec
2. Yasir Seaidan (SAU)/Alexey Kuzmich (RAF) Mini John Cooper World Rally 3hr 42min 46sec
3. Ronan Chabot (FRA)/Gilles Pillot (FRA) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 3hr 54min 55sec
4. Saleh Al-Saif (SAU)/Oriol Vidal (ESP) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4) 4hr 02min 11sec
5. Meshari Al-Thefiri (KUW)/Nasser Al-Kuwari (QAT) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4) 4hr 04min 57sec
6. Thomas Bell (GBR)/Armand Monleón (ESP) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4) 4hr 10min 00sec
7. Claude Fournier (FRA)/Szymon Gospodarczyk (POL) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4) 4hr 26min 50sec
8. Dania Akeel (SAU)/Stéphane Duplé (FRA) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T3) 8hr 18min 58sec
9. Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Xavier Panseri (FRA) Can-Am Maverick X3 (T4) 29hr 15min 00sec
Bikes
1. Mohammed Al-Balooshi (ARE) Husqvarna 450 5hr 34min 46sec
2. Abdullah Abu Aisheh (JOR) KTM 450 Rally Replica 5hr 37min 16sec
3. Abdulahim Al-Mogheera (SAU) KTM EXC F450 6hr 06min 13sec
4. Talat Al-Shishane (JOR) KTM EXC 500 Enduro 6hr 12min 08sec
5. Amit Sadot (ISR) KTM 6hr 19min 45sec
6. Paulo Olivera (MOZ) Husqvarna 450 6hr 57min 56sec
7. Mohammed Al-Khater (SAU) KTM EXC 500 12hr 49min 00sec
8. Rotem Costa (ISR) KTM FR Rally Replica 16hr 08min 06sec
9. Salman Farhan (BRN) Husqvarna FE450 26hr 15min 27sec
10. Zaid Jaber (JOR) Husqvarna FE450 30hr 56min 00sec
11. Sarah Khuraibet (KUW) Yamaha WRF 450 F 31hr 33min 00sec
Quads
1. Hani Al-Noumesi (SAU) Yamaha Raptor 700 R 30hr 45min 00sec
2. Faisal Al-Suwayh (SAU) Yamaha YFZ 450R 45hr 00min 00sec
3. Haitham Al-Tuwayjri (SAU) Yamaha YFZ 450R 51hr 00min 00sec
Jordan National Baja:
1. Hamad Harbi (SAU)/Waleed Al-Shegawi (SAU) Yamaha YXZ 1000 3hr 30min 52sec
2. Ghaith Qubti (JOR)/Moath Al-Arja (JOR) Range Rover Classic 5hr 09min 56sec
3. Feras Al-Sallal (JOR)/Qais Khattab (JOR) Can-Am Maverick X3 6hr 07min 08sec
4. Haitham Al-Abbadi (JOR)/Saif Al-Abbadi (JOR) Range Rover Classic 6hr 17min 53sec
5. Juma Ferwan (PLE)/Mohamad El-Sana (PLE) Mitsubishi Pajero 7hr 26min 51sec
6. Hassan Al-Kaeid (PLE)/Yasser Al-Shek (PLE) Mitsubishi Pajero King 8hr 57min 28sec
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Mahesh wins Red Bull Ace of Dirt 2021, gets a Hero bike
Kolar, 19 March 2021:Red Bull Ace of Dirt, second edition, had 32 two-wheel racers who were invited to compete in multiple off-road disciplines. Of the 16 who qualified after the initial round, the riders battled each other eliminating half of them in each round of pre-quarters, quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals, on a specially-laid course which had six obstacles courses like motocross, dirt track and enduro sections having wooden logs, table top jumps, mud pits et al. The winner received a Hero bike and he will receive training at the facility.
The winner of the first edition in 2019) of Red Bull Ace of Dirt Yuva Kumar could not make it to the final this year. But he got a lifetime opportunity to train with CS Santosh. The winner also received a bike from Hero. This year too, the winner gets these benefits.
On Friday and Saturday, an endurance race was held at Big Rock Dirt Park, a facility created by Santosh to train and to spread his knowledge to the interested.
Winners of the Red Bull Ace of Dirt on Friday. A Red Bull image Finally, over four laps of the 2.8km course, it was Mahesh VM, astride a Xpulse 200, who won the event after making through the semifinals and finals. A Sathyaraj, also on a Xpulse, came second followed by Sachin Ignatius (Apache RTR 200) and Gideon Benjamin (Implulse).
Top riders including defending champion Yuva Kumar, Naresh VS, Arun T and Devaraj Venkatesh were eliminated in Semis 1 & 2. While Naresh did not start, Yuva had a DNF in the other semis.
Pavan BK, Samuel Abraham, Shoeb, Ishaan Chandra, Trinesh, Salman Khan, Purab Gowda and Asad Khan lost in the quarterfinals.
Final Results (Top-4): 1. Mahesh VM (Xpulse 200) 20: 29.734; 2. A Sathyaraj (Xpulse 200) 21: 09.578; 3. Sachin Ignatius (Apache RTR 200) 24: 20.031; 4. Gideon Benjamin (Impulse) 26: 22.207.
