With concern over the coronavirus flu epidemic around the world, MotoGP opens their season in Qatar at the Losail circuit, without the top class riders here. Moto2 and Moto3, the junior categories, will race, and we have coming up now, the Moto2 event. Joe Roberts, the young American racer, starts from pole here in Qatar, a place he's never been. This is a chap we will keep our eyes on. We have Leigh Diffey and Ben Bostrom (former motorcycle racer) as commentators for this race and the whole season. As many of us know, there will be no races at Qatar or in Thailand. We will wait for April 5th, at Circuit of the Americas. Moto2 and Moto3 were already in Qatar, testing.
Marc Marquez has been dealing with a shoulder injury, correction, shoulder surgery. He will be ready to race, multi-time World Champ. Moto2 is ready to roll as Joe Roberts has his first pole for American Racing Team. Roberts is the only American in the championship. Kenny Noyes was the last Moto2 rider from the United States to go for it. Ben Bostrom has been in that position before, again, he will be calling this motorcycle race with Leigh Diffey. Now, he is not related to the Roberts family, Kenny Sr. and Kenny Jr. Those two are motorcycle racing legends. Now, Joe Roberts will be alongside Luca Marini on the front row of the grid.
In practice, Remy Gardner had a huge high side and he thankfully recovered from it. Remy Gardner is the son of 1987 500cc Grand Prix World Champion Wayne Gardner. Marc Marquez is reigning world champion and he is the bloke to beat. He's been the rider to beat. Marc Marquez is catching Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini. He surpassed Mick Doohan's win total last year and Mick Doohan congratulated him. Marc Marquez has won six MotoGP championships, and will be going for number seven. He has tenacity. He's incredible.
He suffered shoulder injuries. Last year he flew off the motorcycle several times. You are wrestling a 350 pound motorcycle and you have to really be cautious and not force the bike so you don't go down. Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso wants to win a championship. The poor bloke has been a bridesmaid for three years. The Italian on the Ducati, he wants it. We also need to watch Yamaha's Maverick Vinales. He is the next superstar. He's won races and he's coming into his own to try and beat Marc Marquz. Valentino Rossi is a legend, a veteran. Yamaha has said that he has a chance to race again, but this might be his final year, he is a legend, a seven-time champion.
Now, back to Moto2, Joe Roberts is ready to go for it. Former MotoGP racer John Hopkins is mentoring Roberts and he's ready to roll. Now, we don't know if we will see Moto3. Yours truly will write something about Moto3, but the scoop is, Moto2 is where our focus will be today in Qatar. Reigning Moto2 Champion is Alex Marquez. He and his brother will both be racing for Repsol Honda. Ben Bostrom and his brother Eric raced together and were both champions. It'll be interesting to see the Marquez brothers racing on the same team. Again, we also have to talk about Joe Roberts, beginning his third full season in Moto2. He set a new lap record in Free Practice and he is improving for 2020 right out of the box. This is the weekend of Joe Roberts' career. He is in prime position to spark his career and put it into overdrive. It'll be time to race, next!
The MotoGP race in Thailand has been postponed to fall. We will see it later. Let's join our booth commentators, Steve Day and Matt Birt. We look at the starting grid. Most riders are going with the super soft tire. The weather is cold here in Moto2. The warmup lap is underway. The wind speed has dropped as we look at a 20 lap contest. Luca Marini is one of Joe Roberts' rivals. Italian riders have won this race the last three years. Luca Marini will be another rider to look at along with Joe Roberts. It's time to race. A good number of MotoGP riders are keeping an eye on the Moto2 boys.
Here we go. the moment is now! New decade. we have the lights. Red lights on. Red lights out. Go! Luca marine starts well and Joe Roberts is OK. Enea Bastianini goes to second. Jorge Martin is moving into the top three. Luca Marini is leading and here comes Remy Gardner. Lorenzo Baldassari and Xavi Vierge are moving up on the Red Bull KTM bikes. Bo Bendsneyder, Tom Luthi, and others are moving up. Jorge Martin, 2018 Moto3 champ is up there as well. Enea Bastianini had a collision in Austria with one of his rivals last year and he was totally destroyed. No KTM involvement in Moto2 this year. They are running Kalex chassis'.
Luca Marini is back at the front. Marcos Ramirez has crashed and he was a winner in Moto3 but it is game over for him no. Tom Luthi is moving up and Aron Canet has moved up past Bo Bendsnyder. Fabrizio Di Giantonio has also gone down. End Bastianini, Jorge martin, Remy Gardner, Joe Roberts, lots of good riders up at the sharp end. Enea Bastianini gets his pocket picked by Jorge Martin. Jorge Navarro as well has been pushing hard. Lorenzo Baldassari has moved up once again as well. Jorge Martin was a rookie in Moto2 last year.
Augusto Fernandez has crashed his bike. He and his team at Marc VDS, the reigning world champs will have nil points on the board. Augusto Fernandez is moving up as Joe Roberts goes by Enea Bastianini. Former Moto3 racer Marcos Ramirez is Joe Roberts' team mate. 1:59.510 for Japan's
Jorge Martin has to gain more confidence with the new Kalex chassis. Xavi Vierge is moving up. Joe Roberts moves up as we watch in replay, Augusto Fernandez ditching his bike. That was a coming together. Good scrap between Enea Bastianini and Lorenzo Baldassari.
Luca Marini is going for it and so is Xavi Vierge. Joe Roberts is learning well how to race. Luca Marini is a favorite and Roberts has to keep the bloke honest. You cannot buy experience. Luca Marini rides for Valentino Rossi's Sky VR46 team. Xavi Vierge is running well but poor old Remy Gardner is fading. He's moving backwards. Tom Luthi is also way down and so is Marcel Schrotter. The German is down in 15th. Marini is pressing Roberts. Roberts tries to pass and runs wide. Luca Marini is surely under pressure at this stage.
Ben Spies, former American Superbike champ, is also giving Joe Roberts some good advice. Tetsuya Nagashima of Japan runs eighth. Baldassari and Nagashima are both trading fast laps. 1:59.285 and chasing Italian Marco Vassechi. Enea Bastianini is fifth and Xavi Vierge is following him. Jorge Martin had a good launch at the start. Working lap eight as Joe Robert sis going try to pass Luca Marini. Roberts, biding his time. Baldassari moves past Bastianini. It's the battle of the Italians. Nagashima runs in another fast lap, 1:59.218. Lorenzo Baldassari is in podium contention as Jorge Navarro and Remy Gardner battle each other, not even at halfway yet.
Game over for Remy Gardner's team mate. He's down at turn seven. Luca Marini is 3/10ths ahead of Joe Roberts as we head for halfway. Marini knocks down his personal best at 1:59.949. Luca Marini has pulled the pin, running 1:59.509. Marini is booking it trying to break away from the rest of the field. Bastianini, Baldassari, Vierge, and Martin are battling for position. Remy Gardner is running the same pace as Luca Marinin while Bo Bendsneyder is 12th. Marini and Roberts separated by 8/10ths of a second. Luca Marini is whistling off into the distance.
Jorge Navarro is struggling right now with Gardner and Vassechi. Bastianini has Baldassari all over him like el cheapo suito here. It's an Italian 1-2-3 or might be, but Joe Roberts is clawing time back hand over fist. Roberts has the harder front tire and the rest have the Super Soft Dunlop front tire. Tire management is key with eight laps left. Baldassari and Bastianini made contact. All is fair in love and war. Jorge Navarro is seventh. Marini runs 1:59.9 and the Japanese rider, Nagashima, he is going even faster, looking for his first world championship podium.
Tetsuta Nagashima goes to fourth. His buddy, Takaaki Nakagami is watching, and he waits to ride in MotoGP with his Idemitsu team. Roberts wants by Marini but can't quite get there as Jorge Navarro goes by Xavi Vierge. Nagashima is flying. He is on the #45 Red Bull KTM. Here comes the kitchen sink from the Californian as Roberts is flying and so is Jorge Navarro. Roberts wants by Baldassari. You have to give the big boys a taste of their own medicine. Navarro cuts the fastest lap, 1:59.4. The finish will be bonkers. Baldassari was napping and gets passed by Nagashima. Navarro also wants it. Nagashina almost gets chopped!
Marini makes a mistake. Baldassari thought he had it. Nope. It's Roberts! You can't take your eyes off this one! Marco Vassechi is pressing as well. Has Marini gone too soon? Has he busted his tires? Baldassari won the Spanish Grand Prix last year but was nowhere for the rest of 2019. Five laps to go as Bastianini is monstering Joe Roberts. Five laps to go. Baldassari leads the motorcycle race. Baldassari, the Italian is trying to bolt. He and Roberts both go wide playing a near game of chicken. Jorge Navarro on the Speed Up is in there, and so is Remy Gardner.
Poor old Luca Marini is losing pace and grip. Nagashima passes Roberts. Bastianini is pressing Baldassari. Who will it be in Qatar? Nothing between the top five. Three laps to go. Baldassari leads and here comes Bastianaini and Nagashima! He wants it but he's trapped in the sandwich. Remy Gardner is coming back, too. Aron Canet is flying as well, the Moto2 rookie, former Moto3 racer. Get the kitchen sink and unbolt it. Turn off the water. Enea Bastianini passes Lorenzo Baldassari. ItalTrans and their team looking on. Nagashima has blasted those blokes! 1:59.3. Marcel Schrotter and Remy Gardner are pushing.
We have a lap or so to go. Can anyone reel in Tetsuya Nagashima? He leads by a second. Gardner wants by Jorge Navarro. Nagashima has pulled a 1:59.2 out of the hat. Remy Gardner wants his first Moto2 podium. Nagashima has never won a race. Shoya Tomizara, who won in 2010, and then passed away, was the last rider from Japan to win an opening race of a season, a decade ago. Remy Gardner closes on Joe Roberts and poor old Luca Marini is down in 13th. He was in the lead but then his race went pear shaped. Tetsuya Nagashima wins for the first time in Moto2. Nagashima wins Moto2 in Qatar! Poor old Luca Marini has crashed and he's holding his wrist. Could he be hurt?
Nagashima flew! He has tears in his eyes, thinking about Tomazawa who was the winner of the first Moto2 race a decade ago. Joe Roberts didn't get the jump he wanted. He started from his first pole and didn't lose too much time. Roberts has a huge level of confidence and he learned a ton. The fight towards the end, as you've seen was incredible. Nagashima was the bloke who scooted away from everyone. The late Shoya Tomizawa won his one and only Moto2 race here in Qatar a decade ago and Nagashima San has fond memories of Shoya.
John Hopkins is his mentor. No MotoGP until April 5th at Circuit of the Americas. See you on April 5th for MotoGP in Texas. So long for now.
Sunday, March 8, 2020
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
older motorcycle races
As you may have noticed, some older races have come up, archives from MotoAmerica's past seasons, on this webpage. You will see more of those, and some more archived motorcycle races, that will be written about, once yours truly might have time to make those work. Stay tuned, for more, classic 2 wheel racing.
Monday, March 2, 2020
FIM World Superbike Round 1: Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia
We're ready to get the 2020 FIM World Superbike season at the fast and challenging Phillip Island circuit in Victoria, Australia. There are of course two races in every weekend of World Superbike action and for this season opener, Down Under, we pick up the action in race two, the Sunday race for World Superbike. There was a seven thousandths of a second margin in race one, for 22 laps. There is a Super Pole race as well. Jonathan Rea won race one. In the shoer like race ge was caught behind Toprak Razgatlioglu through The Hayshed. Race two will be very exciting. You have to manage your tires. Poor old Garrett Gerloff rocketed away and then his tires faded. Tom Sykes had a similar situation.
Another newcomer in World Superbike is Scott Redding, former MotoGP rider. He knows this track from racing in MotoGP. Alex Lowes is another rider to watch out for. We've had practice and a couple races. Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark battled during the Super Pole race. Michael van der Mark needs some luck even though he has the pace and the consistency. Eugene Laverty and two other riders will not race. Garrett Gerloff, Leon Camier, and possibly Sandro Cortese, they won't be in this race.
Alvaro Bautista also wrecked in the qualifying session and in the qualifying race although in the feature race yesterday he was in a good spot. In race one we saw jONATHAN rEA GO OFF IN THE GRAVEL AND AGAIN CRASHING A SECOND TIME. it was a drag race and Toprak Razgatlioglu won the race over Alex Lowes, Scott Redding, and Michael van der Mark.
That was a sizzler of a race. Tom Sykes resets the lap record. 30 WSBK races have been run here at Phillip Island, a circuit that has been around since the 1950s. We've got at least three spots for good overtaking chances. 1:30.5 is the lap record this year so far. Jonathan ea on top in Tissot Super Pole. We are getting ready for race two. Tom Sykes and BMW want to do well and so does Leon Haslam. Toprak Razgatlioglu is second and he is leading the points standings. Redding is third. It is his WSBK debut.
Two podiums in the opening two races for Redding. Alex Lowes, Michael van der Mark and Tom Sykes are next up on row two. 22 laps scheduled today just as it was in the first event yesterday. Loris Baz, Leon Haslam, and Michael Ruben Rinaldi start on row three. Baz is using a 2019 spec motor for his bike. Michael van der Mark on the Yamaha R1 did a long run in the test and had the speed. We hope Eugene Laverty gets well soon. He is Tom Sykes' BMW team mate. Jonathan Rea has won a race in twelve straight seasons in World Superbike.
Leon Haslam for Honda on the factory HRC bike is next. Jonathan Rea had best lap in race one and scored that award. He will lead this race from pole once we get started. It won't be long now. Fans, get ready for the action in WSBK 2020 at Phillip Island. This is going to be a mega race. Michael Ruben Rinaldi, Maximilian Scheib, and Sandro Cortese are on the fourth row. Cortese got into the dust up with Garrett Gerloff. Xavi Fores is next. Maximilian Scheib was 15th and last in race one and he did better in the Super Pole race.
Tom Sykes and everyone else are all on the same rear tire. Alvaro Bautista, Chaz Davies, and Federico Caricasulo are on row five. Caricasulo finished second in World Supersport last year. Chaz Davies is going to start 15th. 18 riders ready to start. we join Alex Raby and Steve English in the commentary box. It's time to go racing. We will run just short of 100 kilometers (62.5 miles). The warmup lap is underway. Alvaro Bautista on the Honda won't have the outright pace. He is able to maintain speed though. He's going to be on a search. Chaz Davies as well, needs to get back on form after having a successful season last year, and he is a factory Ducati rider of course.
What can Davies do in the next race in Qatar? We'll hear more about that next race towards the end of this blog post. Red lights on. Red lights out! Away we go! Razgatlioglu and van der mark go for it and here comes Alex Lowes to third. Rea in front and five or six riders are up there. We funnel downhill for the first time and then back uphill. Toprak Razgatlioglu is ahead of Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark had the line to take the lead of this motorcycle race. Tom Sykes covers off of Lukey Heights. Right place right time for van der Mark, the Dutchman.
Tom Sykes flies past Loris Baz on Gardner straight. Scott Redding can't quite keep up with the rest of the riders. He's in the 1:37 range on the lap times. van der Mark is snookered by Jonathan Rea for the lead of the motorcycle race. Rea is first followed by van der Mark and Toprak Razgatlioglu. Michael Ruben Rinaldi and Leon Haslam both fall down. Poor Haslam, but he was the one who triggered that crash. Ruben Rinaldi too, was an innocent bystander. Jonathan rea still leads. The action is hot. Razgatlioglu leads the door open for Alex Lowes. But Toprak Razgatlioglu makes the position back.
It's a seven bike race. Xavi Fores is eighth and losing ground. 20 laps still to run. Rea holds the lead as Chaz Davies is ninth and Alvaro Bautista is into the tenth spot. They bob and dart for the inside line. Scott Redding is up to fourth as Leon Haslam runs wide in turn one. Not good. It has not been his race today. Loris Baz is pushing hard as Tom Sykes need to manage his tires. Alvaro Bautista goes inside Chaz Davies. The pace at the front is manageable at 1:32 or so. We've lost a Kawasaki into the gravel. Xavi Fores has crashed and now he is back on the road but he has lost time. he didn't crash. He just lost traction. The Yamaha's don't have to stress their tires like they did on Saturday.
Tom Sykes has gone off the road. The lead battle is still really hot and it's hot throughout the top ten. Alvaro Bautista is hoping to get into the game. Davies, Scheib, and Cortese are the three riders completing the top ten. Maximilian Scheib is right in this thing. Don't use too much tire. that is what happened to Garrett Gerloff in the race yesterday. Who is going to blink first? Loris Baz stays right with Toprak Razgatlioglu and Michael van der Mark wants the lead into Doohan corner but can't take it from Jonathan Rea.
Michael van der Mark and Scott Redding complete the podium and Alex Lowes loses places from Razgatlioglu and possibly Alvaro Bautista as well. Setting fast lap is the focus but everyone is getting bottled up. It is hard racing but fair racing. One group all the way down through the top ten separated by a second and a half. Working lap five if I am right. The laps click off fast here. Loris Baz dives inside Scott Redding for third place. We have a long way to go yet. Rea has van der Mark right beside him but Rea has the horsepower to fend off the Dutchman's challenge.
Leon Haslam on the Honda is recovering after we saw him fall after the argy bargy with Michael Ruben Rinaldi. He's out. Loris Baz has gone around Michael van der Mark as well. Loris Baz has to attack. He has to go for it and chase after Jonathan Rea. 1:32.450 for Tom Sykes, fastest lap for the BMW. These times are identical to the Supersport bikes, the World Supersport 600cc machines. These big Superbikes are of course 1000cc or more. Loris Baz moves past Rea. He leads with 13 laps to go. That train of riders behind him is a pack of hungry wolves chasing the rabbit. Alex Lowes is seventh in-between Alvaro Bautista and Chaz Davies. Baz will be a sitting duck down the straight. His motorcycle does not have the speed.
Nine riders still separated by only a second and a half. Wow. Hard but fair racing is the key. Alvaro Bautista has moved back to eight as we are halfway home in race two. Game over for Federico Caricasulo. He may have crashed out. Riders want to press the button to open the gap. Can they? Davies has fought his way from 15th to sixth. Baz has the advantage at the front but he is holding the pace back over the other riders in single file. Baz wants a race win and has not won a WSBK race since 2014.
Scott Redding can't get to Michael van der Mark. He wants by Alex Lowes. Baz has loads of experience on the Ten Kate Honda. Toprak Razgatlioglu has gone around Scott Redding and Redding has Chaz Davies on his rear wheel. Nine laps to go in this motorcycle race as Jonathan Rea goes by Loris Baz and Baz is blocked by the Kawasaki rider and multiple world champ. We are at 2/3rds distance, 1/3rd left. Baz ducks inside Jonathan Rea again. Rea tries again and gets the job done catching Baz by surprise. More riders want this. The sharks are in a feeding frenzy right now. Max Scheib is even still in it. Two riders are out of the race.
Alex Lowes went from third to first on Saturday and now he goes from fourth to second. Rea and Lowes run 1-2 for Kawasaki. Alex Lowes is now a Kawasaki rider. Loris Baz is fourth and Alvaro Bautista is fifth. Redding and Razgatlioglu, the two of them, are really pouring the steam on right now. Is Jonathan Rea keeping his powder dry? He could be. Alex Lowes wants a chance for the lead and he has the speed. Poor old Lowes is going to get eaten up by van der Mark, or is he? Not now. Baz is going after Lowes and goes to third. Alex Lowes makes the pass and says "no you don't, Loris."
Lowes moves by van der Mark for second. The riders behind Jonathan Rea is that he is backing up the rest of the field and Rea is whistling off into the distance. Alvaro Bautista passes Scott Redding. Rea sets fastest first sector. Maximilian Scheib has moved up to ninth place. We are on lap 18 with just five left to run. Managing tires is still critical. Vamos is the calling card for Rea. He wants to bolt and extend the lead. The top six are the six blokes who we expect to be at the front. Michael van der Mark is coming, fast.
Alex Lowes is very confident into the first turn. The Kawasaki gives riders confidence and he'll catch Michael van der Mark, snoozing a little bit. Baz, Razgatlioglu, and Redding are also in the fight. But Jonathan Rea might have everything settled, but don't count your chickens until they hatch. Lowes is pushing and her he comes to the inside of his team mate. No dice. Toprak Razgatlioglu has his hands full with Loris Baz. Baz is ogfg the road and Razgatlioglu has a technical issue with the motorcycle. He's upset, pounding the fuel tank. Toprak Razgatlioglu on the Yamaha is not having the race he wanted. Two laps to go. Lowes has followed through and rea is dropping places as Alex Lowes is the new leader.
Alex Lowes is romping away. Lowes has bolted. He's 7/10ths ahead. Redding wants three podiums in three races and Michael van der Mark will get second. Alex Lowes is going to be pressured like no tomorrow by Jonathan Rea as we head for the final lap. Scott Redding dives inside Michael van der Mark for a podium place. Does he have enough to get the job done? He just might as they go through Lukey Heights and MG corner. It will be a drag race. Alex Lowes has not won since 2018 at Brno in the Czech Republic. Lowes has the lead, and by 37 thousandths of a second, he wins his first Superbike race since 2018!
#22 Alex Lowes GBR. Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX10R
The next race for World Superbike is in two weeks at the Losail circuit in Doha, Qatar. Stay tuned for that one as it should be a scorcher, just as we saw with this one in Australia. Hooroo, for now, from Victoria in Australia, and the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit.
Another newcomer in World Superbike is Scott Redding, former MotoGP rider. He knows this track from racing in MotoGP. Alex Lowes is another rider to watch out for. We've had practice and a couple races. Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark battled during the Super Pole race. Michael van der Mark needs some luck even though he has the pace and the consistency. Eugene Laverty and two other riders will not race. Garrett Gerloff, Leon Camier, and possibly Sandro Cortese, they won't be in this race.
Alvaro Bautista also wrecked in the qualifying session and in the qualifying race although in the feature race yesterday he was in a good spot. In race one we saw jONATHAN rEA GO OFF IN THE GRAVEL AND AGAIN CRASHING A SECOND TIME. it was a drag race and Toprak Razgatlioglu won the race over Alex Lowes, Scott Redding, and Michael van der Mark.
That was a sizzler of a race. Tom Sykes resets the lap record. 30 WSBK races have been run here at Phillip Island, a circuit that has been around since the 1950s. We've got at least three spots for good overtaking chances. 1:30.5 is the lap record this year so far. Jonathan ea on top in Tissot Super Pole. We are getting ready for race two. Tom Sykes and BMW want to do well and so does Leon Haslam. Toprak Razgatlioglu is second and he is leading the points standings. Redding is third. It is his WSBK debut.
Two podiums in the opening two races for Redding. Alex Lowes, Michael van der Mark and Tom Sykes are next up on row two. 22 laps scheduled today just as it was in the first event yesterday. Loris Baz, Leon Haslam, and Michael Ruben Rinaldi start on row three. Baz is using a 2019 spec motor for his bike. Michael van der Mark on the Yamaha R1 did a long run in the test and had the speed. We hope Eugene Laverty gets well soon. He is Tom Sykes' BMW team mate. Jonathan Rea has won a race in twelve straight seasons in World Superbike.
Leon Haslam for Honda on the factory HRC bike is next. Jonathan Rea had best lap in race one and scored that award. He will lead this race from pole once we get started. It won't be long now. Fans, get ready for the action in WSBK 2020 at Phillip Island. This is going to be a mega race. Michael Ruben Rinaldi, Maximilian Scheib, and Sandro Cortese are on the fourth row. Cortese got into the dust up with Garrett Gerloff. Xavi Fores is next. Maximilian Scheib was 15th and last in race one and he did better in the Super Pole race.
Tom Sykes and everyone else are all on the same rear tire. Alvaro Bautista, Chaz Davies, and Federico Caricasulo are on row five. Caricasulo finished second in World Supersport last year. Chaz Davies is going to start 15th. 18 riders ready to start. we join Alex Raby and Steve English in the commentary box. It's time to go racing. We will run just short of 100 kilometers (62.5 miles). The warmup lap is underway. Alvaro Bautista on the Honda won't have the outright pace. He is able to maintain speed though. He's going to be on a search. Chaz Davies as well, needs to get back on form after having a successful season last year, and he is a factory Ducati rider of course.
What can Davies do in the next race in Qatar? We'll hear more about that next race towards the end of this blog post. Red lights on. Red lights out! Away we go! Razgatlioglu and van der mark go for it and here comes Alex Lowes to third. Rea in front and five or six riders are up there. We funnel downhill for the first time and then back uphill. Toprak Razgatlioglu is ahead of Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark had the line to take the lead of this motorcycle race. Tom Sykes covers off of Lukey Heights. Right place right time for van der Mark, the Dutchman.
Tom Sykes flies past Loris Baz on Gardner straight. Scott Redding can't quite keep up with the rest of the riders. He's in the 1:37 range on the lap times. van der Mark is snookered by Jonathan Rea for the lead of the motorcycle race. Rea is first followed by van der Mark and Toprak Razgatlioglu. Michael Ruben Rinaldi and Leon Haslam both fall down. Poor Haslam, but he was the one who triggered that crash. Ruben Rinaldi too, was an innocent bystander. Jonathan rea still leads. The action is hot. Razgatlioglu leads the door open for Alex Lowes. But Toprak Razgatlioglu makes the position back.
It's a seven bike race. Xavi Fores is eighth and losing ground. 20 laps still to run. Rea holds the lead as Chaz Davies is ninth and Alvaro Bautista is into the tenth spot. They bob and dart for the inside line. Scott Redding is up to fourth as Leon Haslam runs wide in turn one. Not good. It has not been his race today. Loris Baz is pushing hard as Tom Sykes need to manage his tires. Alvaro Bautista goes inside Chaz Davies. The pace at the front is manageable at 1:32 or so. We've lost a Kawasaki into the gravel. Xavi Fores has crashed and now he is back on the road but he has lost time. he didn't crash. He just lost traction. The Yamaha's don't have to stress their tires like they did on Saturday.
Tom Sykes has gone off the road. The lead battle is still really hot and it's hot throughout the top ten. Alvaro Bautista is hoping to get into the game. Davies, Scheib, and Cortese are the three riders completing the top ten. Maximilian Scheib is right in this thing. Don't use too much tire. that is what happened to Garrett Gerloff in the race yesterday. Who is going to blink first? Loris Baz stays right with Toprak Razgatlioglu and Michael van der Mark wants the lead into Doohan corner but can't take it from Jonathan Rea.
Michael van der Mark and Scott Redding complete the podium and Alex Lowes loses places from Razgatlioglu and possibly Alvaro Bautista as well. Setting fast lap is the focus but everyone is getting bottled up. It is hard racing but fair racing. One group all the way down through the top ten separated by a second and a half. Working lap five if I am right. The laps click off fast here. Loris Baz dives inside Scott Redding for third place. We have a long way to go yet. Rea has van der Mark right beside him but Rea has the horsepower to fend off the Dutchman's challenge.
Leon Haslam on the Honda is recovering after we saw him fall after the argy bargy with Michael Ruben Rinaldi. He's out. Loris Baz has gone around Michael van der Mark as well. Loris Baz has to attack. He has to go for it and chase after Jonathan Rea. 1:32.450 for Tom Sykes, fastest lap for the BMW. These times are identical to the Supersport bikes, the World Supersport 600cc machines. These big Superbikes are of course 1000cc or more. Loris Baz moves past Rea. He leads with 13 laps to go. That train of riders behind him is a pack of hungry wolves chasing the rabbit. Alex Lowes is seventh in-between Alvaro Bautista and Chaz Davies. Baz will be a sitting duck down the straight. His motorcycle does not have the speed.
Nine riders still separated by only a second and a half. Wow. Hard but fair racing is the key. Alvaro Bautista has moved back to eight as we are halfway home in race two. Game over for Federico Caricasulo. He may have crashed out. Riders want to press the button to open the gap. Can they? Davies has fought his way from 15th to sixth. Baz has the advantage at the front but he is holding the pace back over the other riders in single file. Baz wants a race win and has not won a WSBK race since 2014.
Scott Redding can't get to Michael van der Mark. He wants by Alex Lowes. Baz has loads of experience on the Ten Kate Honda. Toprak Razgatlioglu has gone around Scott Redding and Redding has Chaz Davies on his rear wheel. Nine laps to go in this motorcycle race as Jonathan Rea goes by Loris Baz and Baz is blocked by the Kawasaki rider and multiple world champ. We are at 2/3rds distance, 1/3rd left. Baz ducks inside Jonathan Rea again. Rea tries again and gets the job done catching Baz by surprise. More riders want this. The sharks are in a feeding frenzy right now. Max Scheib is even still in it. Two riders are out of the race.
Alex Lowes went from third to first on Saturday and now he goes from fourth to second. Rea and Lowes run 1-2 for Kawasaki. Alex Lowes is now a Kawasaki rider. Loris Baz is fourth and Alvaro Bautista is fifth. Redding and Razgatlioglu, the two of them, are really pouring the steam on right now. Is Jonathan Rea keeping his powder dry? He could be. Alex Lowes wants a chance for the lead and he has the speed. Poor old Lowes is going to get eaten up by van der Mark, or is he? Not now. Baz is going after Lowes and goes to third. Alex Lowes makes the pass and says "no you don't, Loris."
Lowes moves by van der Mark for second. The riders behind Jonathan Rea is that he is backing up the rest of the field and Rea is whistling off into the distance. Alvaro Bautista passes Scott Redding. Rea sets fastest first sector. Maximilian Scheib has moved up to ninth place. We are on lap 18 with just five left to run. Managing tires is still critical. Vamos is the calling card for Rea. He wants to bolt and extend the lead. The top six are the six blokes who we expect to be at the front. Michael van der Mark is coming, fast.
Alex Lowes is very confident into the first turn. The Kawasaki gives riders confidence and he'll catch Michael van der Mark, snoozing a little bit. Baz, Razgatlioglu, and Redding are also in the fight. But Jonathan Rea might have everything settled, but don't count your chickens until they hatch. Lowes is pushing and her he comes to the inside of his team mate. No dice. Toprak Razgatlioglu has his hands full with Loris Baz. Baz is ogfg the road and Razgatlioglu has a technical issue with the motorcycle. He's upset, pounding the fuel tank. Toprak Razgatlioglu on the Yamaha is not having the race he wanted. Two laps to go. Lowes has followed through and rea is dropping places as Alex Lowes is the new leader.
Alex Lowes is romping away. Lowes has bolted. He's 7/10ths ahead. Redding wants three podiums in three races and Michael van der Mark will get second. Alex Lowes is going to be pressured like no tomorrow by Jonathan Rea as we head for the final lap. Scott Redding dives inside Michael van der Mark for a podium place. Does he have enough to get the job done? He just might as they go through Lukey Heights and MG corner. It will be a drag race. Alex Lowes has not won since 2018 at Brno in the Czech Republic. Lowes has the lead, and by 37 thousandths of a second, he wins his first Superbike race since 2018!
#22 Alex Lowes GBR. Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki ZX10R
The next race for World Superbike is in two weeks at the Losail circuit in Doha, Qatar. Stay tuned for that one as it should be a scorcher, just as we saw with this one in Australia. Hooroo, for now, from Victoria in Australia, and the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit.
Sunday, March 1, 2020
MotoGP races
The opening two races of the 2020 MotoGP season, have been cancelled. These events were to have taken place in Qatar and in Thailand, have been cancelled due to the severe Coronavirus outbreak that has gripped much of the world. Moto2 and Moto3 will race in Qatar. So, it may be possible to report on those events, but yours truly is not sure just yet how that will work out.
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