Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) set the fastest lap ever around Buriram during the three-day MotoGP Thai test.
Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech3) was not too far off on board his developed Yamaha M1.
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) settled for third after having completed over 300 laps around the Buriram International Circuit.
After the concluding their first ever maiden MotoGP pre-season testing in Thailand, the entire MotoGP field are now well aware of the what the Buriram International Circuit has to offer. The rider that gained the most advantage was none other than Dani Pedrosa of Repsol Honda. (more…)
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) celebrated his 25th birthday with style yesterday after setting the fastest ever lap time in Buriram.
Dani Pedrosa was not too far behind sitting at P2 with a 1:30.127.
Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) continues to impress everyone by setting the third fastest lap of the day with his Ducati.
The second day of the MotoGP 2018 pre-season test in Buriram saw a mixture of results but the boys from Repsol Honda sealed the deal by setting the fastest times of the day. Marc Marquez celebrated his 25th birthday in style by being the first rider ever to lap the Buriram International Circuit below 1 minute 30 seconds at 1:29.969. (more…)
The first ever outing on the Yamaha M1 for Hafizh Syahrin proved to be quite a progress in the first day of the MotoGP Buriram Test 2018.
Despite finishing last, the Monster Yamaha Tech3 rider was only 0.4 seconds behind another rookie, Tom Luthi (Marc VDS).
Hafizh Syahrin is the first Malaysian ever to ride a modern day MotoGP bike.
The last minute replacement for the Monster Yamaha Tech3 team that is our very own Hafizh Syahrin seems quite happy with his performance in the first day of the Thailand pre-season testing. Held at the Buriram International Circuit, Hafizh has become the first South East Asian rider to ride a modern day MotoGP bike. (more…)
Zulfahmi Khairuddin revealed his latest Kalex Moto2 race bike yesterday at the Sepang International Circuit.
Newly appointed to race for the SIC Racing Team, the 26 year old is eager to get back into racing in the world’s most competitive intermediate class.
The SIC Racing Team has partnered up with KBS Malaysia to sponsor their Moto2 efforts for 2018.
One of Malaysia’s top motorcycle racers that is Zulfahmi Khairuddin who was recently announced as one of two Moto2 riders representing Malaysia for the 2018 season has unveiled his brand new bike and livery at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) just yesterday. The 26 year old national rider will be racing for the SIC Racing Team with KBS Malaysia as their main sponsor. (more…)
The Petronas Sprinta Racing Moto3 team has been officially launched yesterday at the Sepang International Circuit.
The whole new partnership between Petronas and SIC has led to the team’s new direction for 2018.
Both Adam Norrodin and Ayumu Sasaki are ready to bring the fight to the rest of the Moto3 field.
The Petronas Sprinta Racing team was officially launched yesterday at the Sepang International Circuit. This partnership between SIC and Petronas as the official title sponsor which will run its course for three seasons will start with Adam Norrodin and Ayumu Sasaki taking their race-bred Honda Moto3 machinery to podium contentions. (more…)
Randy Mamola is the latest person to be awarded with the title of MotoGP Legend.
The 58 year old American racer is known as one of the most successful riders who has never won a championship.
In his active years of racing in MotoGP, he managed to win 13 races and 57 other podium finishes.
Being awarded with the title of MotoGP Legend is indeed quite a big deal for anyone in the motorcycle racing industry. With only 25 riders listed, the latest figure to be enrolled in such a prestigious award is none other than Randy Mamola. (more…)
The 2019 MotoE World Cup electric race bike was officially introduced yesterday.
Enel was announced as the official title sponsor for the one-make electric motorcycle race series.
The race-bred Energica Ego electric superbike is able to produce 147hp and 200Nm of maximum torque.
Dorna has officially unveiled the electric race bike that they’ll be using in the upcoming 2019 MotoE World Cup last night. The showcase of the Energica Ego race machine was made by MotoGP safety officer and project development rider, Loris Capirossi. (more…)
A lot of folks have been asking regarding how much MotoGP riders earn especially in 2018.
According to a rough estimated guide released by www.tsmsportz.com, the figures are between RM1 million up to RM44 million per season.
The top 6 riders are unsurprisingly the factory riders from Movistar Yamaha, Ducati Team, and Repsol Honda.
We all know that MotoGP riders are living their lives filled with speed and excitement. With the advancements of modern medicine and optimised lifestyles, they’re considered as some of the world’s top athletes and the money they’re making isn’t half bad either. (more…)
Sky Sports broke the news of Hafizh Syahrin stepping up to MotoGP.
He will replace Jonas Folger in the Monster Yamaha Tech3.
Sepang Racing Team signs on Zulfahmi Kharuddin in place of Hafizh for Moto2.
In what seems like the convulated plot of twist of a Hollywood movie ã la Memento, Hafizh “Pescao” Syahrin goes into MotoGP for 2018.
Plot Twist #1
In an earlier news we reported that SIC Racing Team will run a Moto2 team with Hafizh Syahrin as the contracted rider, after the affable rider was unceremoniously dropped first by Petronas Raceline and then Petronas Sprinta.
That had almost ruled Hafizh out of the 2018 Moto2 Championship, until SIC’s Chief Executive Officer, YBhg Dato’ Ahmad Razlan Ahmad Razali threw in a lifeline by providing Hafizh a seat on the newly formed SIC Racing Team Moto2 bike.
Plot Twist #2
Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider, Jonas Folger was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called Gilbert’s syndrome, and had to be ruled out from this year’s MotoGP championship, which left the team boss, Herve Poncharal scrambling to locate a replacement.
Jonas Folger
Yonny Hernandez who was axed by the now Alma Pramac Ducati for 2018 got the tap and tested out the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 bike during the 2018 Sepang Official MotoGP Test just a few days ago.
Yonny Hernandez. Picture from MotoGP.com
That seemed like somewhat of a contradiction to what Poncharal said about being not keen to offer the seat to already contracted riders, after all, and Hernandez had already inked a deal with Pedercini Kawasaki to compete in the World Superbike Championship.
Consequently, the rumours circulated incessantly in the paddock that Monster Yamaha Tech 3 is still on the lookout for a rider during then entire duration of the Winter Test at SIC, and Hafizh’s name was mentioned.
In fact, Poncharal was sitting just a metre away from us in the Media Centre and had mentioned to his crew about his concerns regarding Hernandez. (He was speaking in French but with Hernandez’s name being mentioned amongst sighs kinda paints the picture.)
But, but, but, Hafizh Syahrin is already signed to SIC Racing Team, right? RIGHT?
Plot Twist #3
So ok, Hafizh Syahrin already has a confirmed seat in Moto2 this year.
Think again! Sky Sports MotoGP broke the news of Hafizh being signed on by Monster Yamaha Tech 3 and the internet went bananas.
SIC then announced a couple of hours ago that another Malaysian GP legend, Zulfahmi Khairuddin will ride for the team. He is already slated to start the Moto2 pre-season testing at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain beginning 6th February.
Zullfahmi had raced in the 125cc GP from 2009 to 2011, and in Moto3 afterwards from 2012 to 2015, before moving to the Supersports World Championships for 2016 and 2017, riding a Kawasaki ZX-6R. His new team feels that he has the experience on 600cc racing machinery.
While SIC Racing Team didn’t exactly shed light about Hafizh Syahrin’s future, YBhg. Dato’ Ahmad Razlan had said before that he hopes Hafizh will eventually make the jump to the premiere class.
There’s no official word from Hafizh, either. Will there be a Plot Twist #4?
The latest MotoGP rumour has pointed out to the possibility of Hafizh Syahrin moving up into the premier class to race for Monster Yamaha Tech 3.
As Jonas Folger sits out for the 2018 season, team boss Herve Poncharal has been scrambling to find his replacement.
Nothing has been confirmed just yet but Hafizh Syahrin is definitely in the possible candidate’s list to ride the Yamaha M1 this season.
The latest and probably most interesting MotoGP gossip has to be the one involving our very own national Moto2 rider, Hafizh Syahrin. Ever since MotoGP rider Jonas Folger of Monster Yamaha Tech 3 made the announcement of not racing in 2018 to recover from a rare genetic disease, a lot of rumours have pointed out to several possible candidates to fill in his seat. (more…)
The 2018 MotoGP Sepang winter test saw Jorge Lorenzo from Ducati setting the fastest lap of 1:58.830.
Dani Pedrosa of Repsol Honda was close behind on his Honda RC213V with a 1:59.009.
Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda CASTROL) completed the top three with a 1:59.052.
It has been an amazing three days of the 2018 MotoGP Sepang winter test where it started out gloomy in the pouring rain on Sunday but the weather gave way for the rest of the sessions. Riders young and old were setting some incredible lap times on their race machines but it was Ducati’s Jorge Lorenzo who stole the spotlight this time around. (more…)
Jorge Lorenzo smashes lap record in the morning session.
Dani Pedrosa also broke his old record.
Cal Crutchlow continues to do well.
The previous outright lap record of 1:59.053 set by Dani Pedrosa in 2015 has finally been broken, during this third day of the 2018 Sepang Official MotoGP Test.
While as many as eleven riders broke into the 1:59 minute time bracket just before midday, it was Jorge Lorenzo who holds the distinction as the first rider to record a time below 1:59 minutes, with an ultra-fast 1:58.830, after a superb display of riding smoothness and speed.
Picture form MotoGP.com
Former record Dani Pedrosa also broke his own record by posting a time of 1:59.009 which earned him the second fastest spot.
Picture form MotoGP.com
Cal Crutchlow continues his impressive run with a 1:59.052 lap.
Picture form MotoGP.com
Lorenzo’s Ducati Team teammate, Andrea Doviziso posted the fourth fastest time of 1:59.169.
Picture form MotoGP.com
Jack Miller is also continuing his impressive form in fifth with 1:59.346.
Picture form MotoGP.com
One rider who had been going about his business quietly is Alex Rins of Team Suzuki Ecstar. He had been posting impressive times consistently for the past two days, before posting his fastest lap yet at 1:59.348.
Picture form MotoGP.com
Marc Marquez completed the morning session in seventh after clocking 1:59.382.
Picture form MotoGP.com
Both Marquez and Crutchlow are testing the 2018 bike with the new aerodynamic package. The former remarked yesterday that the team needed to make other adjustments to bike for a better balance.
Although the second through to the thirteenth position seem far apart, the riders were separated by just 0.8 second. Those positions consisted of a good mix of bikes too. If all teams are as competitive throughout the year as what we witness now, we’re in for another exciting season ahead.
Hold on tight as we bring you the conclusion of 2018 Sepang Test later today.
