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TVS Eurogrip MMSC Motorcycle Endurance Race on Sunday
Chennai, 26 March 2021: Excitement and high expectations pervade the iconic MMRT circuit which is scheduled to host the TVS Eurogrip MMSC Motorcycle Endurance Race on Sunday, March 28.
The Enduro event, to be run over two hours, with a record 48 team entries and a clutch of country’s top riders in the fray.
The two-hour Endurance race which will have a Le Mans (running) start, a unique feature of this format, will be contested in three categories – Pro-stock 301-400cc, Stock 165cc (restricted to under-25 riders) and Girls (TVS Apache RTR 200). Each team will have two riders. All the bikes will be run on TVS Eurogrip tyres.
As per the format, each team comprising two riders will race for two hours with a minimum of one compulsory fuel stop. Further, each rider is allowed a maximum of 45 minutes per outing with a mandatory 20-minute rest between sessions. Thus, the format puts as much premium on team strategy as race pace. The final positions are decided by the number of laps completed in the specified period.
MMSC vice-president Vicky Chandhok said: “We are absolutely delighted that TVS Eurogrip have made an entry into racing, and the MMSC is truly grateful for their involvement. We are also overwhelmed by the response from the riders despite the challenging conditions dictated by the pandemic. Back in 2019, we had received 32 entries, but this time, the number has exceeded our expectations.
Endurance action file photo by Anand Philar “In our constant endeavour to provide a platform for young riders to exhibit their racing skills, one of the three categories, the Stock 165cc, is restricted to those below 25 years of age while we also have an exclusive class for Girls.
“We at the MMSC always put a premium on safety and in view of the current situation, there will be strict Covid-19 protocols in place.”
Commenting on the association, Mr. P Madhavan, EVP – Sales & Marketing, TVS Srichakra Limited, said: “We are proud to partner with MMSC Motorcycle Endurance Race, and equip the bikes with our tyres. The Endurance Race will be the perfect opportunity for both aspiring and seasoned bikers. Given the challenging nature of the circuit, it will be an unique platform to showcase our products and demonstrate performance. TVS EUROGRIP tyres are built for high performance biking and are an ideal fit for this championship. By associating with Indian Motorsports, we reaffirm our promise of offering world-class products with cutting-edge technology for today’s new age bikers.”
The Pro-Stock category, largely populated by KTM 390 and Yamaha R3 machines, will be headlined by the team of veteran international riders, Rajini Krishan and Sarath Kumar who will be up against skilled pairings like Karthik Mateti-Yashas RL and Abhimanyu Gautam-Anand R.
The 2020 National champion in the Novice class, Mohan Babu along with Uday Prakash, will be the pair to watch in the Stock 165cc category while the talented Lani Zena Fernandez, runner-up in the 2020 National championship, and her team-mate Arpitha Bhat are expected to dominate the Girls category.
About Madras Motor Sports Club
Since its humble beginnings in 1953, the Madras Motor Sports Club has grown in stature as the hub of motorsport activity in India. Having moved from Sholavaram to its present location in Sriperumbudur in 1979, MMSC has kept pace with changing times by upgrading facilities. At a cost of about Rs 20 Crore, the MMSC built a pit complex comprising 20 garages, VIP hospitality suites and a viewing gallery, on the eastern side, apart from a second Paddock on the western side with its own short circuit. The Control Room too was upgraded with state-of-the-art hardware while the track itself was improved to meet the exacting FIA standards for Grade-2 certification. The facilities are also extensively used by various vehicle manufacturers for testing their products, displays and corporate days.
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It was a dream to achieve the Championship: Joan Mir
2021 starts now! The Barwa Grand Prix of Qatar has officially got us underway at Losail International Circuit, with the pre-event Press Conference welcoming reigning MotoGP™ World Champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) at the helm. Joining him were new Repsol Honda Team rider Pol Espargaro, Ducati Lenovo Team’s Jack Miller fresh from going fastest in testing, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo as he settles in, nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi; now in Petronas Yamaha SRT colours, and Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Aleix Espargaro after impressing for the Noale factory in pre-season.
Joan Mir: “So happy to be here again. Last year we did a really good season, a dream to achieve the Championship. We are here in Qatar, everyone starts from zero and it will be important to feel great here. The test was not bad but we have work to do. Looking forward to this season, we have a great challenge ahead of us defending the title and we’ll do as good as we can so let’s see.
“The engine is the same and the bike also. There’s not a big change on the bike, it will be really important to keep the consistency but improve the speed to win more races, this will be the main goal.”
The number 36 was also asked about the departure of former Suzuki Ecstar Team Manager Davide Brivio:
“I think Davide did a great job putting every piece in the correct place in this team. We showed that we are able to win. Mainly, Suzuki aren’t moving anybody and not trying to replace Davide. We don’t miss him and I hope he will have a lot of luck in F1.”
Pol Espargaro: “It was a difficult beginning to the season because we just had four days of testing. For the rookies it was even worse but also for the guys who changed bikes, it was not the best preseason. Anyways even with those four days, the final day I felt comfortable and I could do something interesting with race pace, at least to start to think about where to be on the race. On one lap we weren’t far from Jack Miller, we know he is very fast, also Fabio and Maverick but still I think we have a lot to learn and it will be a little bit difficult, but we will enjoy the first race of the season.
“In the past when I heard someone saying this bike is very difficult, I was always thinking the same thing, for me, one bike with one manufacturer can be very difficult and for one rider with a riding style better to this one it can be easier. So, for me, the Honda for sure is not the easiest but I don’t agree it is the most difficult bike on the grid. You just need to match the riding style of the bike and it feels like I did that a little in the test. I don’t know how much I matched because it is difficult to evaluate after four days how much I’m connected to the bike. I would take out this idea the bike is difficult, and I want to start to be positive, to be proactive and try to make things happen. Starting here in Qatar it is not the best place for Honda or even me, but the test was quite positive, but we are going to go for it and see what we can do in the first races even if we are still rookies with this bike.”
Class of 2021, a MotoGP image Jack Miller: “I feel ready as I’ll be, we didn’t get that big of a break, I went back to Australia for a bit but not as much as I’d like. The pre-season went good, I didn’t have a massive move it was just one garage over, I already knew a lot of the guys so we got on straight away. The times were good in testing but we can’t look into it too much, the conditions were perfect. We’ll start again from zero here, it will be a bit different with Dunlop rubber on the track from Moto2 and Moto3 so we’ll come in with an open mind.
“For sure I think there is a lot more hype than if I topped the times last year with Pramac. For sure there is extra pressure there, we haven’t had much time to feel it, everything has been relatively good so far, it hasn’t been difficult so we’ll see when it gets difficult how the pressure sinks in but apart from that, everything feels a step up. Having more stuff is nice to have, you don’t feel the full benefit of it coming to a test with four days at the same track. Just in the first couple of exits I noticed, with the people around me, we were able to adapt and overcome other problems that took more time in the past.”
Fabio Quartararo: “I think that last year and the end of the season was difficult, but I think I have learned many things that can bring me a lot of experience for the future and this year. It feels like it has been high and low, but I feel ready for 2021 and I think that is the most important thing.
“Your first year you think about winning but your goals are to fight for the top five, but when you are with the factory your goals cannot be to fight for the top five, it’s clear that everyone here wants to fight for the Championship. Last year I had a factory bike, but you see a little bit more people in the team and more responsibility to develop the bike, but in general I’m feeling good. The test was great, we tested many things and everything went well. More than feeling pressure now I’m just super excited to start the weekend!”
Valentino Rossi: “The atmosphere on Thursday of the first race is always the same, like the first day of school. It’s always exciting, also for the pictures together on the grid, you have the feeling that in some hours we start. I changed team after a long, long time, but I feel good. The atmosphere is good and the test was not so bad, now we have to see in a real race weekend.
The Hero still wants to continue racing… Valentino Rossi “In the factory team but also in the Petronas team everyone gives the maximum, so you have the pressure. The difference is the amount of people around the bike, but for me the atmosphere was also good in the factory team, it’s not a big change. I’m very happy to have Franco as my teammate because we’re good friends, we stay a lot of time together in Tavullia for training but also free time, and he is one of the best riders in MotoGP at the moment like he demonstrated last year. So for me, it’s good, it’s great motivation to fight with him.”
Aleix Espargaro: “I hope it is like this, but you never know, a test is a test. Races are completely different, and after Moto2 and Moto3 the track will change. We will not start from zero but somewhere we will have to change some things. The test was good, the RS-GP 21 looks sincerely promising, but we have to race and compare with the others. I’m sure everyone will improve for the race. It’s not going to be easy but I’m very motivated and feel I have the chance to fight with the best and it gives me positive energy and I can’t wait for FP1.
“I’m very happy. In these last years we’re making steps to get closer to the top bikes and Aprilia have made an important step which will be very helpful for the future. And Dovizioso, apart from being a talented and a fast rider, he can be a very good test rider. He did a great job with the Ducati. The last seasons he was winning races and fighting for the title so he will be able to give us good feedback and help us a lot. I can’t wait for him to try the bike in Jerez and to see his reaction and how he likes the bike and sees the weak points, because I will be six years with this bike, and he will be fresh and new and give a new point of view.”
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Pirelli celebrates its 400th F1 Grand Prix F1 in Bahrain
Pirelli Celebrating 400 F1 Grands Prix. A Pirelli video! Pirelli will celebrate its 400th Formula 1 grand prix in Bahrain: the opening race of the 2021 season.
Pirelli’s first grand prix was the inaugural F1 race at Silverstone in 1950, won by Giuseppe Farina in an Alfa Romeo – who went on to claim the debut title at the end of the year. A replica of the Pirelli Stella Bianca tyre that Farina used to win that British Grand Prix is currently on display in the newly-opened museum at Silverstone in England.
Since then, there have been 240 wins, 243 pole positions, 247 fastest laps, and 727 podium places in Formula 1 for the Italian tyre firm. Bahrain constitutes another important milestone for Pirelli, which has been an integral part of motorsport for more than 110 years after winning the 1907 Peking to Paris race. Over the course of this year, a number of different celebrations are planned on Pirelli’s social media channels to mark the occasion, including a video and the attached infographic that sets out Pirelli’s Formula 1 story up to now in numbers.
Mario Isola, Head of F1 and Car Racing: “At Pirelli, we’re very proud of our history, so it’s fantastic to celebrate 400 grands prix. We commemorate this landmark on the verge of a new era: at the start of the final season of 13-inch tyres, before we adopt 18-inch tyres in F1 along with wide-ranging new technical regulations from next year onwards. So as we look back at the past, we’re excited to be writing the next chapter in our story as well.”
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Arjun Maini signs up for Mercedes team GetSpeed for DTM season
Bengaluru, 25 March 2021: Ace Indian racer Arjun Maini, who is announced as a Mercedes-AMG Driver, will race for the Mercedes-AMG Performance Team GetSpeed in the upcoming 2021 DTM season at the wheel of the Mercedes-AMG GT3, which will consist of 8 Rounds with 16 races across Germany and rest of Europe.
The 23-year, a former Haas F1 Team Development Driver who is currently backed by JK Racing will compete in the series and will become the first Indian to compete in DTM full-time, adding to his burgeoning list of firsts for Indians in motorsport.
“I am absolutely delighted to be driving for Mercedes-AMG with Getspeed in DTM. My first real experience of the championship came in 2015 when I was competing in Formula 3 and we drove on the same weekend as DTM. The Atmosphere was something I had never experienced before. I feel privileged to finally live out one of my dreams. The series enjoys a fine reputation around the world and is the perfect opportunity for me to test myself against rapid GT3 drivers. The icing on the cake is obviously the fact that I will be racing in the championship with one of the best Car brands on the planet. Mercedes-AMG needs no introduction and I’m looking forward to what I hope will be a long and successful partnership,” Maini said.
Martin Schwenk, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India:
The Car Arjun Maini will be racing this season! “It’s a moment of immense pride and excitement for us at Mercedes-Benz India, that Arjun Maini is participating in the upcoming 2021 DTM season, driving the thrilling Mercedes-AMG GT3 for Mercedes-AMG Performance Team GetSpeed. He will be the first Indian to compete in the DTM and it is highly satisfying to see Indian racers making their impressive mark by competing against the very best of motorsports talents across the world. At the highest levels of internationally acclaimed motorsports events like the DTM, this accomplishment by Arjun is indeed inspiring for aspiring and budding motorsports talents in the country.”
GetSpeed Performance operates from the business park at the Nürburgring and will line up in the DTM in the 2021 season.
The venture into the DTM heralds a new chapter for GetSpeed. “This is the first time we have been able to focus exclusively on one driver in the car in a performance-oriented series,” says team Principal Adam Osieka. “This is a very pleasant situation, as we have previously always had to juggle the drivers’ different preferences in one car at endurance races. In the DTM, there is no need to make compromises. I am expecting exciting races and top-class motorsport.”
Maini started his racing career on the karting scene in 2006. He won the Indian junior championship in 2011 and took part in the ‘One from a Billion ‘Hunt, which was run by former Formula 1 team Force India. As the winner, he was given the opportunity to race karts in Europe. In 2013, he switched to single-seater racing, in which he enjoyed success in the F4 British Championship. He ended the season in second place, just three points behind teammate and current Formula 1 driver George Russell. 23-year-old Maini’s career took him, via the Formula 3 European Championship and the GP3 Series, into the FIA Formula 2 Championship, in which he drove in 2018 and 2019. In 2019/2020, he raced in the European Lemans Series and in the 24 Hours of lemans. In the Asian Le Mans Series, the team won the LMP2-at the 4-hour race in Shanghai, in Class.
GetSpeed Performance has been a permanent fixture on the international GT3 scene since 2019. The racing outfit from Meuspath, near the Nürburgring, has its roots firmly in the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. Since 2013, the team has enjoyed success in the Nürburgring Endurance Series and at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. Two years ago, the team switched to Mercedes-AMG and GetSpeed became an official Performance Team after just one year. As well as outings on the Nordschleife, the team has also contested races in the GT World Challenge Europe, International GT Open and the German GT4 Championship over the past two years.
The DTM will feature GT3 cars for the first time in 2021. A race weekend comprises two free practice sessions on the Friday, followed by a qualifying and a one-hour race – including a pit stop – on both the Saturday and the Sunday. The opening round of the season takes place from 18th to 20th June 2021 in Monza, Italy. The series then visits the Norisring (2nd to 4th July), Lausitzring (23rd to 25th July), Zolder (6th to 8th August), Nürburgring (20th to 22nd August), Red Bull Ring (3rd to 5th September) and Assen (17th to 19th September), before the Hockenheimring hosts the grand finale from 1st to 3rd October.
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My main goal is to defend my MotoGP title, says Joan Mir
Joan Mir Mayrata, having won his maiden World title in MotoGP last season, hopes to ride on the newly-gained confidence and successfully defend his crown. The 23-year old Spaniard, astride the Team Suzuki Ecstar machine, shrugged off a rather wayward start in the pandemic-marred 2020 championship, and performed with stunning consistency to top the leaderboard on the back of one win in Valencia apart from a string of podium finishes that underlined his undoubted class and talent. “My main goal in the 2021 season is to defend my title,” he asserted during a one-on-one interview with INDIAinF1.com (Courtesy EuroSport India) ahead of the season-opener in Qatar this weekend. EuroSport India will broadcast MotoGP races in India this season.
The excerpts:
Anand Philar: Congratulations Mir, on winning the 2020 World Championship.
Joan Mir: Thank you very much.
AP:Before the season, you had to go through the pandemic and the lockdown, and when the season started, you had a couple of hiccups in the first three races.How did you get through all these challenges?
JM: Well, it (the pandemic) is something that we are not able to control, no? It is important not to think too much about it, just focus and train everyday, and be well-prepared for the first race. At this time last year, we did not know where and when will be the first race. But we have to train, it is our work.
AP: When the season started, you did not have a very good first three races. What went into your mind at that stage?
JM: It was a difficult situation. I was strong and I was fast, but I was not able to show my potential. And it was so frustrating. But we did a great job from then onwards and I was able to fight for the podium later for the entire season. I was confident from then on.
AP: Can you please talk us through your first win in Valencia, and what it meant to you?
JM: In Valencia, the victory was the key to win the Championship. Because I was able to win in the moment of huge pressure and I was not scared of the pressure. I handled it well and was able to make a win out of the pressure. So, it was a super special moment because the season was coming to an end, and I was not able to win a race despite leading the championship. So I thought, how is it that I am not able to win? For some reason I was not able to win. So in the end, it came. I made it possible. Yea!
AP: Was there a lot of pressure at that point to win?
JM: Yes, yes. There was a lot of pressure. But I managed to be myself. I was not scared of the pressure. It did not scare me, but it inspired me.
AP: From your Red Bull rookie days to the present, how much have you evolved as a rider?
JM: A lot! I always used to take the opportunity even in the days of Red Bull… I was listed and it was difficult for me to manage big Moto3 bike and every year, I was able to improve and go up… and go up. This means that we all adopted so quickly to the new categories (Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP).
AP: So did you make changes in your riding style and technique?
JM: Yeah, yeah. In the end, the style is always the same, but you improve the positions, sitting on the bike, you sit more in the front or in the back, how you position yourself, the hands, these changes you can see… in these I try to improve.
AP: Is there any one difference that helped you in 2020 season to win the Championship? What is it, one factor that made the difference?
JM: It is the consistency. It is the one factor that made all the difference for me to win the Championship.
AP: What is your target for 2021 season?
JM: My target is to defend the title. To win the Championship again!
AP: And you have the bike for that? Did you make any major changes in the bike for this season?
JM: I think yes. I feel great with the bike and it is not a big difference from the bike of the last season. It is the same. There are small things that we changed and we will be able to do it. Let us see…
AP: So you feel this new season (2021), the bike is much more quicker, much more improved?Did you make a lot of improvements?
JM: My bike is the same. It is not much more quicker because the engine is the same, but we made improvements in small areas. But I am a little more comfortable on the bike. But we know that the Ducatis are stronger and also Yamahas, Hondas… Let us see.
AP: Now the new season starting this week-end, do you feel a lot of pressure? You are World champion and there are a lot of expectations from fans, from the team?
JM: No. Somehow, I am comfortable and I feel no pressure for some reason. But yes, as last year’s winner, some pressure will be there, but I am happy and ready to go because it is the pressure that made me give something more. So I am happy.
AP: Do you go through any special routine to deal with this kind of expectations in terms of your mental preparation and approach?
JM: I have something that I always follow. I will always be focussed…When I change, when I put the leather on, there are some things that I always follow. I always start with the right. Right boot with the right leg, then with the right hand, that is right arm, and the right glove…This is something that helps me to go with less pressure, to focus and concentrate and puts me in race mode. Apart from that, at home, I try not to think of too many things and I try to focus.
AP: What is your target for this season?
JM: To fight for the title. My target is to defend the title, to win the Championship.
AP: And how confident are you?
JM: I am fully confident. I think the title last year gave me extra confidence and will fight for it this year.
Telecast: The MotoGP 2020 season will start with a triple-header beginning with the Barwa Grand Prix of Qatar this weekend at the Losail International Circuit, which will also host the Tissot Grand Prix of Doha, on Easter Sunday. EuroSport India, will telecast all the rounds this season in India. Dish TV Channel 630 (SD) and 639 (HD); D2h (India) Channel 410 (SD); Tata Sky Channel 496 (SD) 495 (HD); Sun Direct 517 (SD) 989 (HD); Airtel Digital TV 304 (SD) 305 (HD);
Disclosure: EuroSport India facilitated the interview with World Champion Joan Mir.
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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
