Cycle News Staff | October 21, 2023
2023 Australian MotoGP Results—MotoGP Sprint
The 2023 Australian MotoGP Sprint Race was canceled due to deteriorating weather conditions.
2023 Australian MotoGP Results—Moto2 Race
Tony Arbolino (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team) went 15 seconds clear in a rain-soaked Moto2™ race at the MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. The red flags came out with 14 laps remaining as conditions worsened and half-points were awarded, but the drama had already hit for Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) as the number 37 crashed on the sighting lap and had to start the race from the back of the grid. Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) and Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) took 2nd and 3rd, the former aiming for a top three overall in 2023 and the latter taking back to back podiums for the first time.
The race got underway and it was Aron Canet that led the charge into Turn 1 as first-lap chaos awaited. Canet quickly dropped down to P4 after the two Boscoscuro riders of Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) and Aldeguer pushed their way through, with Arbolino also on an early charge.
It was a short-lived story for Lopez however, who crashed out of the race lead not long after, rider ok but out of the race at the venue he’d reigned in 2022 in the dry.
That gave the race lead to rookie Sergio Garcia (Pons Wegow Los40), with Arbolino and Filip Salač (QJMOTOR Gresini Racing Moto2™) rounding out the top three early doors.
The order quickly changed once again though, and this time it was Garcia who crashed out of the race lead, with Salač going down nearly simultaneously from third.
The laps ticked away as the riders braved the tricky conditions, but Arbolino had checked out already as he stretched out a 15-second lead. That was ahead of Canet and Aldeguer after crashes for Sam Lowes (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team) and Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) reshuffled the order in the chasing pack once more.
With 14 laps to go, however, the conditions were worsening and the Red Flag came out. The race was initially set to be restarted as a six-lap dash but with the conditions failing to improve, the result was declared and half points awarded. Arbolino, Canet and Aldeguer took the rostrum, with Jeremy Alcoba (QJMOTOR Gresini Racing Moto2™) and Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) completing the top five ahead of rookie Izan Guevara (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team).
Acosta made a fair charge from the back, but with ninth position and half points the advantage is down to 56 points. Still, that’s enough for the number 37 to have his first shot at the crown in Buriram.
2023 Australian MotoGP Results—Moto2 Race
1 |
Tony Arbolino |
(Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) |
|
2 |
Aron Canet |
(Pons Wegow Los40) |
+15.088 |
3 |
Fermin Aldeguer |
(Beta Tools SpeedUp) |
+15.614 |
4 |
Jeremy Alcoba |
(QJMOTOR Gresini Racing Moto2™) |
+15.714 |
5 |
Joe Roberts |
(Italtrans Racing Team) |
+16.435 |
6 |
Izan Guevara |
(Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) |
+16.437 |
7 |
Somkiat Chantra |
(IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) |
+17.221 |
8 |
Bo Bendsneyder |
(Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) |
+20.972 |
9 |
Pedro Acosta |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+25.380 |
10 |
Marcos Ramirez |
(American Racing) |
+26.423 |
2023 Australian MotoGP Results—Moto3 Race
Just four points now split the top two in the 2023 Moto3™ World Standings after an awesome wet weather duel in Phillip Island gave the standings another shake up. It was Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) who came out victorious after snatching the win from Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) on the final lap, and with Championship leader Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) finishing down in 8th, Sasaki’s 2nd place finish keeps the pressure firmly on in the title fight. History was also made for the hosting nation as Joel Kelso (CFMoto Racing PruestelGP) not only took his debut Grand Prix podium but broke a nine-year podium drought for Australia in the lightweight class – and did it in front of his home crowd!
There was drama before the lights even went out in Australia as a number of riders crashed on the sighting lap, including Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI). Both riders were able to get their bikes repaired and back into the race, but Moreira had to start from pitlane.
The lights then went out and it was Sasaki who took the hole shot through Turn 1, with home hero Kelso glued to his rear wheel. But Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) was soon on the scene as he carved his way through to take the lead at the start of Lap 2.
The Spaniard – whi is permanently replacing Tatsuki Suzuki – found his groove at the front of the race and began to settle into a rhythm with the chasing pack struggling to keep with the pace of the Leopard rider.
Öncü, Kelso, Sasaki, and Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) all kept themselves in the mix, however, not too far off Fernandez as that group really began to escape away at the head of the field.
Disaster then struck for the race leader as the tiniest of mistakes decided Fernandez’s fate. The Spaniard crashed out of the lead, handing the baton to Sasaki… but such was the advantage for the top quintet that Fernandez still managed to rejoin in fifth.
It then became game on between Sasaki and Öncü as the pair had broken away from Kelso and Veijer, and the duo were locked together in an intense battle for victory.
Sasaki led the way as they started the final lap but nothing was going to stop a determined Öncü from stepping on the top step on Sunday. The Turk came out victorious in a last-lap scrap with a brutal but clean lunge at Turn 10, denying Sasaki but both banking some big points on Masia.
Kelso rewarded the Aussie fans for sticking around to watch in the rain. It’s a day the local rider will never forget as he got to taste the Prosecco for the first time at Grand Prix level.
Veijer, after going with the leaders early on, ended the race with a lonely ride to fourth but took another top finish, with Fernandez completing the top five and, incredibly, equalling his best ever GP finish despite that tumble.
2023 Australian MotoGP Results—Moto3 Race Results
1 |
Deniz Öncü |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
|
2 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+0.407 |
3 |
Joel Kelso |
(CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP) |
+4.392 |
4 |
Collin Veijer |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+23.062 |
5 |
Adrian Fernandez |
(Leopard Racing) |
+31.661 |
6 |
Ricardo Rossi |
(SIC58 Squadra Corse) |
+31.702 |
7 |
Taiyo Furusato |
(Honda Team Asia) |
+32.236 |
8 |
Jaume Masia |
(Leopard Racing) |
+32.923 |
9 |
Matteo Bertelle |
(Rivacold Snipers Team) |
+33.379 |
10 |
Lorenzo Fellon |
(CIP Green Power) |
+35.575 |
2023 Australian MotoGP News—Saturday
Further schedule changes
As Sunday’s forecast doesn’t look too promising, with rain and high winds expected, the schedule has been adjusted further to try and fit in all three races – Moto3, Moto2 and the MotoGP Sprint.
For the first time this year both Moto2 and Moto3 will have a 10-minute warm up session apiece, starting at 8:20 local time. The Moto3 race will then get underway at 10.00, Moto2 at 11.15 and the MotoGP Sprint scheduled to get underway at 13.00.
Zarco’s success
Johann Zarco was finally able to reflect on a debut MotoGP win in his 120th premier class start after a brilliantly timed last lap win. This was the Frenchman’s first Grand Prix success since the end of 2016, 2,533 days ago.
“It feels good,” said Zarco. “Sometimes you always push and try to catch [this feeling] but sometimes there are other riders that have the pace and have this feeling. As long as you don’t catch it, it seems like you cannot win. Like Pecco did three years ago, he has been fighting with the Ducati and won so many races.
“Jorge… it is his time now. Also, in qualifying he is doing amazing and can control the races, but this one was a special one. Choosing the medium rear tyre was important. I had been thinking when I saw Jorge pull away to at least fight for the podium and this second place. I knew it wouldn’t be easy but it was possible.”
Martin’s gamble
Jorge Martin admitted he was wrong to gamble on Michelin’s soft rear tire after he was caught and cruelly passed for the lead on the last lap. Many riders expressed exasperation at the Spaniard’s choice, especially as he was so strong on the medium compound in practice as well. “A completely crazy decision, completely unbelievable,” according to Luca Marini.
“Actually, I just was strong 7 laps with the medium because I didn’t try a lot. This was the problem. I worked a lot with the soft so I thought this was going to make the race. But for sure it wasn’t the best choice. I thought with the medium I wouldn’t be able to make that difference so I preferred to pull away. This was my strategy. But maybe I was able also with the medium.
“I was really convinced the S was the tire to choose. For sure from now on I won’t take any gamble. From now on I think we need to go with the same tyre as our opponents. I will stick to that for the rest of the season at least.”
2023 Australian MotoGP Results—Grand Prix
The backflip is back! Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) took a stunning maiden MotoGP™ win at the MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, stalking his way onto the rear wheel of teammate and title contender Jorge Martin before making a brutal, clean and perfectly-judged move to take the lead on the very last lap. He also opened the door for a perfectly-judged lunge from Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) too, with Pecco picking Martin’s pocket and the Pramac on the soft rear tyre then finding himself mobbed by both Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) late on.
As the dust settles and some more history is made, Zarco gives away his record as the rider with the most MotoGP™ podiums without a win, Martin licks his wounds as he faces down a 27-point deficit in the Championship, Bagnaia celebrates another stylish bounce back from Q1 to the podium… and ‘Diggia’ enjoys that sweet Prosecco of a first ever premier class podium.
Before all that, Binder threatened the holeshot with a great start but Martin held firm from pole, immediately getting the hammer down as the two shot off into the lead and the shuffle began just behind. And that was that. Except this time, it wasn’t.
Martin’s strategy was clear: the number 89, an incredible four tenths clear on pole, had gambled on the soft rear hanging on as he escaped at the front and nursed it home. And the strategy was absolutely perfect until the very last handful of laps, when the Jaws music really began and Martin’s odds dropped off a cliff as the chasing group closed in.
The gap was over three seconds when it was Binder trying to keep tabs, and after an impressive start from an impressive qualifying, next came Diggia, and then Bagnaia at the head of a serious battle for fourth. The reigning Champion led Zarco, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), with elbows out all over the shop in the first third of the race.
Bit by bit as Martin edged clear in the lead, however, Binder held onto second but Diggia homed in on the KTM – and Bagnaia and Zarco started to create their own daylight to the duels behind them.
By 16 laps to go, Di Giannantonio had Binder well within a second and was only continuing to close in, but Bagnaia and Zarco had been able to go with the number 49. The gap kept see-sawing, however, with the Gresini machine homing in on the KTM and Bagnaia losing ground before another few laps would see it close back up. By nine laps to go, Di Giannantonio then made his move and pulled alongside the KTM on the Gardner straight, taking over in second.
The chase was on and the gap to Martin started to come down, but the number 49 wasn’t making the charge alone. Binder, Bagnaia AND Zarco were all locked together on the simple but difficult mission of catching the race leader, and that they started to do. But was it enough? When Binder attacked back with five laps to go, the group ran the risk of losing time in the battle but the gap was still coming down – just over two seconds across the start-finish line.
On the third to last lap, Martin’s advantage started to really tumble in tenths, with Binder still on the chase and Zarco now next in line as he’d taken over in third. Over the line with two to go it was 1.2 seconds, but Turn 4 saw another huge shuffle and another risk of losing time. But it was Zarco who went for a dress rehearsal and equally well-judged attack, snatching second place and quickly setting off after Martin.
Over the line for the last lap the number 89 had just four tenths left in hand ahead of his teammate, Bagnaia was now the bike behind Zarco and Binder had dropped to fifth. And again, it came at Turn 4. The number 5 slammed up the inside of Martin to take the lead, Bagnaia cut back in in a flash to also demote the number 89, and suddenly everything had changed: Zarco was just corners from a maiden MotoGP™ win, Bagnaia was on the verge of a huge change in momentum, and Martin was left trying to fend off Di Giannantonio and Binder.
That he could not. As Zarco crossed the finish line to take that first-ever premier class win, Bagnaia took second and Di Giannantonio was more than able to grab third and his first MotoGP™ podium, with Binder ultimately also demoting Martin right on the finish line.
The battle behind was no slouch either. After elbows earlier in the race there were plenty more, with Bezzecchi slicing through to take sixth from Miller. Aleix Espargaro was even closer behind in eighth, ahead of a seriously impressive charge from the still-recovering Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™). Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) completed the top ten ahead of Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) after Top Gun was shuffled down the order in a Turn 1 shuffle, and Marc Marquez, another gambler on the soft rear tire, ultimately finished P15.
2023 Australian MotoGP Results—Grand Prix
1 |
Johann Zarco |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
|
2 |
Francesco Bagnaia |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
+0.201 |
3 |
Fabio Di Giannantonio |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+0.477 |
4 |
Brad Binder |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
+0.816 |
5 |
Jorge Martin |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+1.008 |
6 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Mooney VR46 Racing Team) |
+8.827 |
7 |
Jack Miller |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
+9.283 |
8 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+9.387 |
9 |
Alex Marquez |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP™) |
+9.696 |
10 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
+12.523 |
2023 Australian Moto2 Results—Saturday
Following his incredible form in Practice, Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) did not disappoint in qualifying Down Under. The Spaniard set a new record to take pole position in the intermediate category with a scintillating 1:31.888, and joining him on the front row will be Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) after the Valencian put in a stellar performance to take P2. The polesitter’s teammate Alonso Lopez, winner last year at Phillip Island, made it two Boscoscuros in the top three as Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is set to start fifth.
Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) just missed out on a front-row start by only 0.012s as he took P4, just ahead of Acosta. The pair will be joined by Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) on the outside of Row 2 after he bagged 6th place. The third row of the grid went to rookie Sergio Garcia (Pons Wegow Los40), second in the Championship Tony Arbolino (Elf MarcVDS Racing Team), and Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husqvarna IntactGP) in that order, with Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Master Camp) rounding out the top ten.
2023 Australian Moto2 Results—Saturday times
1 |
Fermin Aldeguer |
(Speed Up Racing) |
1:31.888 |
2 |
Aron Canet |
(Pons Wegow Los40) |
+0.342 |
3 |
Alonso Lopez |
(Beta Tools SpeedUp) |
+0.684 |
4 |
Joe Roberts |
(Italtrans Racing Team) |
+0.696 |
5 |
Pedro Acosta |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+0.745 |
6 |
Jake Dixon |
(Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team) |
+0.791 |
7 |
Sergio Garcia |
(Pons Wegow Los40) |
+0.881 |
8 |
Tony Arbolino |
(ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) |
+1.000 |
9 |
Darryn Binder |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+1.058 |
10 |
Manuel Gonzalez |
(Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Team) |
+1.066 |
2023 Australian Moto3 Results—Saturday
Qualifying at the MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix went the way of Championship hopeful Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) as the Japanese rider grabbed the honors from home hero Joel Kelso (CFMoto Racing PruestelGP). The home hero made it onto the front row with his home crowd cheering him on, ahead of Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team) in third. Championship leader Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) will start from down in P13, with challenger Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3) only two places further ahead on the grid.
Winner last time out, Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) missed out on the front row by 0.105s as he’s set to head Row 2 ahead of Matteo Bertelle (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP). Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) fronts Row 3 in seventh place as he’s joined by David Alonso (Gaviota GASGAS Aspar Team), who also crashed in Q2, rider ok, and Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing). Replacement rider Vicente Perez (BOE Motorsports) rounds out the top 10 ahead of Holgado, with Masia in P13.
2023 Australian Moto3 Results—Saturday times
1 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
1:36.539 |
2 |
Joel Kelso |
(CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP) |
+0.136 |
3 |
Stefano Nepa |
(Angeluss MTA Team) |
+0.216 |
4 |
Diogo Moreira |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+0.321 |
5 |
Matteo Bertelle |
(Rivacold Snipers Team) |
+0.439 |
6 |
Collin Veijer |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+0.469 |
7 |
Deniz Öncü |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+0.491 |
8 |
David Alonso |
(GASGAS Aspar Team) |
+0.607 |
9 |
Adrian Fernandez |
(Leopard Racing) |
+0.747 |
10 |
Vicente Perez |
(BOE Motorsports) |
+0.754 |
2023 Australian MotoGP News—Friday
MotoGP schedule rework
Despite the near-perfect conditions on Friday, MotoGP organizers are anticipating the worst on Sunday. In anticipation of the rain and winds of up to 30mph, they made a decision to put the main race on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m., with the Sprint moved to Sunday.
The experience of 2019, when qualifying had to be canceled due to high winds, and Miguel Oliveira was an unsuspecting victim, served as a warning of the perils of riding in high winds. “We have a very good reference of our tolerance in this circuit for wind after having to red flag the qualifying session in 2019,” said Carlos Ezpeleta, Chief Sporting Officer.
“It looks like our forecast for Sunday this year is very similar to the one that we had four years ago. And, as we always say, safety is the most important factor. The safety of the riders and of course as well as the fans and all the people involved in the events.
“So after meeting with the teams it’s been a unanimous decision to basically switch the Sprint from Saturday to Sunday and then the main race from Sunday to Saturday, on more or less the same times.”
Zarco to stay at LCR
A week on from adding his name to the list of interested riders in Repsol Honda’s spare seat for 2024, Johann Zarco stepped back and accepted he will honor his two-year deal with LCR, starting next year.
“I will finally really do my two years with Lucio (Cecchinello – Team Owner),” said Zarco. “The opportunity of the factory team, I wanted to catch it, but if I can only catch it for one year and then change again the team at the end of ‘24, there is no sense. So I prefer do a strong work for two years and develop as well as possible the bike and really asking Honda to invest in energy as Ducati is investing energy in the Pramac team.”
Miguel Oliveira and Fabio Di Giannantonio remain in the running to replace the outgoing Marc Marquez.
2023 Australian MotoGP Results—Friday
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing enjoyed a perfect start to their weekend at the MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix as Brad Binder topped the Practice timesheets with a 1:27.943 to lead second place and home hero Jack Miller on a Friday that saw more title drama unfold. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) claimed a solid P3 as Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) – the chaser – safely negotiated his way into Q2, but Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – the leader – faces Q1 for the second weekend in a row.
The importance of Friday afternoon’s hour-long session was as evident as ever and as usual, the soft-rear tire time attacks began to flood in with around 15 minutes of play left of the clock.
The Aprilia Racing duo of Viñales and Aleix Espargaro sprung to the summit but that would change quickly with the likes of Martin and his teammate Johann Zarco leading the Ducati charge.
However, it was soon KTM’s turn to lead the pack as Binder set a glorious sub-1:28 lap – the only one of the day – to lead Australia’s Miller in P1 and P2. Attention then turned to Bagnaia – who had Martin and the Repsol Honda Team machines of Marc Marquez and Joan Mir for company – in the closing seconds as the Italian needed to find a decent chunk of time. He found some, but not enough to propel the #1 into the all-important top 10.
Martin may have suffered a devastating blow to his title chances last weekend, but he’s bounced back well so far at Phillip Island – the #89 sits P4 at the end of Day 1, one place ahead of an upbeat Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) in P5.
A tired but fast Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) heads into qualifying in P6 and keeping the Italian company inside the top 10 are Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team), Aleix Espargaro and Zarco.
As mentioned, Bagnaia finds himself in Q1 again. The Italian finished 0.182s adrift of the top 10 in P11, as we get set for another fascinating first qualifying session to take place at the phenomenal Phillip Island circuit.
2023 Australian MotoGP Results—Friday Times
1 |
Brad Binder |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
1:27.943 |
2 |
Jack Miller |
(Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) |
+0.148 |
3 |
Maverick Viñales |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+0.269 |
4 |
Jorge Martin |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+0.279 |
5 |
Pol Espargaro |
(GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) |
+0.420 |
6 |
Marco Bezzecchi |
(Mooney VR46 Racing Team) |
+0.425 |
7 |
Fabio Di Giannantonio |
(Gresini Racing MotoGP) |
+0.509 |
8 |
Enea Bastianini |
(Ducati Lenovo Team) |
+0.510 |
9 |
Aleix Espargaro |
(Aprilia Racing) |
+0.513 |
10 |
Johann Zarco |
(Prima Pramac Racing) |
+0.513 |
2023 Australian Moto2 Results—Friday
Fridays don’t get much better than that for Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) as the Spaniard dominated Moto2™’s Day 1 proceedings at the MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. The #54 set an impressive 1:32.548 to finish 0.138s clear of second place Aron Canet (Pons Wegow Los40) on the combined timesheets, as both the latter and Championship leader Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Ajo), third overall, suffered late crashes at Turn 4.
After a fearless pair of geese put a brief halt to Moto2™ Practice 2 on a fine Phillip Island afternoon, most of the fast lap action came towards the end of the second session. Acosta’s small tumble came inside the final five minutes at Miller Corner as the title-hunting Spaniard went in search of a personal best time, and a couple of minutes later, Canet suffered the same fate. Both riders were perfectly okay.
In the end though, Aldeguer remained unchallenged as the top three head into Saturday’s action 0.455s apart. Jake Dixon (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) is P4 after the opening day in Australia, the Briton just over half a second shy of Aldeguer’s pace, with Manuel Gonzalez (Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Team) fifth.
Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team), Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), Sergio Garcia (Pons Wegow Los40), Alonso Lopez (Beta Tools SpeedUp) and Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) are inside the top 10, while Izan Guevara (Inde GASGAS Aspar Team), Tony Arbolino (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team), Marcos Ramirez (American Racing) and Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team’s Bo Bendsneyder currently occupy provisional Q2 spots in the top 14.
2023 Australian Moto2 Results—Friday Times
1 |
Fermin Aldeguer |
(Beta Tools Speedup) |
1:32.548 |
2 |
Aron Canet |
(Pons Wegow Los40) |
+ 0.138 |
3 |
Pedro Acosta |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+ 0.455 |
4 |
Jake Dixon |
(Inde GASGAS Aspar Team) |
+ 0.550 |
5 |
Manuel Gonzalez |
(Correos Prepago Yamaha VR46 Team) |
+0.632 |
6 |
Joe Roberts |
(Italtrans Racing Team) |
+0.787 |
7 |
Somkiat Chantra |
(Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) |
+0.902 |
8 |
Sergio Garcia |
(Pons Wegow Los40) |
+0.924 |
9 |
Alonso Lopez |
(Beta Tools SpeedUp) |
+1.005 |
10 |
Sam Lowes |
(Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) |
+1.026 |
2023 Australian Moto3 Results—Friday
David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) dominated Day 1 of Moto3 action at the MotoGP Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. The Spaniard looked strong from start to finish but it was his 1:36.791, set in the closing stages of Practice 2, that saw him finish on top. However, the number 44 was also found to have caused a crash in the same session… gaining him a double Long Lap as it’s his second offense of the season.
Stefano Nepa (Angeluss MTA Team) was looking very strong as he took P2, and was the only other rider in the 1:36 club. Diogo Moreira (MT Helmets – MSI) comes into the Australian GP gleaming with confidence following his debut win last time out, and the Brazilian was another who looked strong from the off, finishing the day in P3.
Ayumu Sasaki (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) had another strong showing as he slotted into P4 on Friday, ahead of Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) who rounded out the top five. Championship leader Jaume Masia (Leopard Racing) suffered from some technical gremlins during the second Practice session which saw him lose valuable track time, but he still managed to get a lap time on the board as he took P6.
Ivan Ortola (Angeluss MTA Team) recovered from an early crash to take P7 ahead of home hero Joel Kelso (CFMoto Racing PrüstelGP) who led the way for a lot of the P2 session but dropped down to P8 after the late time attacks came in. Joshua Whatley (VisionTrack Racing Team) took well to the Australian circuit as he bagged an impressive ninth place ahead of Championship challenger Daniel Holgado (Red Bull KTM Tech3), who rounded out the top 10.
2023 Australian Moto3 Results—Friday Times
1 |
David Muñoz |
(Boe Motorsports) |
1:36.791 |
2 |
Stefano Nepa |
(Angeluss MTA Team) |
+0.073 |
3 |
Diogo Moreira |
(MT Helmets – MSI) |
+0.320 |
4 |
Ayumu Sasaki |
(Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) |
+0.234 |
5 |
Deniz Öncü |
(Red Bull KTM Ajo) |
+0.355 |
6 |
Jaume Masia |
(Leopard Racing) |
+0.546 |
7 |
Ivan Ortolá |
(Angeluss MTA Team) |
+0.620 |
8 |
Joel Kelso |
(CFMOTO Racing PruestelGP) |
+0.632 |
9 |
Joshua Whatley |
(VisionTrack Racing Team) |
+0.763 |
10 |
Daniel Holgado |
(Red Bull KTM Tech3) |
+0.832 |
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