2019 Moto GP Season Opener at Qatar
won Under Protest by Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso
2019 World Superbike Australia Season Operner
Dominated by Baltista and Ducati's New Panigale V4RS
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Bautista, Rea and Lowes shared the Superbike race podium both days, with Bautista again the Sunday morning 10-lap Superpole Race which now counts half points towards the Championship.
2019 Motul SBK World Superbike Championship, Round 2 of 13 Buriram, Thailand
Bautista / Ducati V4R makes it 6 Straight in WSBK in Thiland SBK Buriram, Thailand, March 15-17th, 2019 - The second round of the Superbike World Championship, which took place this weekend at the Buriram circuit in Thailand, saw total domination by Aruba.it Racing – Ducati’s Álvaro Bautista, who won both races today: The Superpole Race, shortened by four laps following an incident, and then Race 2.
The 34-year-old Spanish rider scored his sixth successive victory by clearly getting the better of Rea and Lowes in the Superpole Race, while in Race 2 he immediately broke away from the field, leaving his two rivals to fight it out for second, and then powered to the chequered flag with a ten-second advantage.
It was not such a positive Sunday for Chaz Davies, who finished eighth in the Superpole Race, while in Race 2 he was forced to retire due to a technical problem on his Panigale V4 R. Despite this setback, the 32-year-old from Wales showed good progress, especially today, which is a real confidence booster for the upcoming races.
With six wins to his name, Bautista is now leading the championship with 124 points, 26 more than Rea, while Davies lies in eleventh place with 18 points. The next World Superbike round will take place in three weeks’ time at the MotorLand Aragón circuit in Spain, from 5 to 7 April.
Bautista takes Race One Win and Fourth Successive Victory in WorldSBK
Saturday March 16th 209 - - The opening race of the Pirelli Thai Round in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship saw Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Alvaro Bautista (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) clash on track early on, creating the rivalry everyone wanted to see unfold between the two heavyweight stars. Bautista was able to get the better of the reigning champion eventually, to take his fourth WorldSBK win. An action-packed start saw Bautista originally get a flying start but Buriram specialist Jonathan Rea got ahead of the Spaniard through Turn 1 with Alex Lowes in behind (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team).
The GRT Yamaha WorldSBK riders of Sandro Cortese and Marco Melandri ran wide at the same turn, with Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) slicing under them and into fourth. At the end of lap one, the top four were covered by 1.1s. A lightening start from Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) saw him elevate from 10th on the grid to fifth by the end of the opening lap.
On lap three, Jonathan Rea led by a narrow margin ahead of championship leader Bautista, who has topped every session so far in Thailand this year. At Turn 3, Bautista made his move, only for Rea to cut back underneath him, colliding with his rival. Bautista made a miraculous save and whilst Alex Lowes came through, Bautista shook his head in disgust at Rea’s aggressive pass.
Whilst Rea lead, towards the end of lap three, Bautista made a pass on Lowes at the final corner, only to run wide and Lowes to pass him back down the front straight. Soon enough though, on the fourth lap at Turn 1, Bautista made his way through on Lowes and then set off in his pursuit of the four-time champion.
Behind the leaders, the Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team riders started to battle to form a battle for the final podium position. Van der Mark couldn’t make a move however and Lowes would maintain a strong pace right through the race. Behind them, Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) was keeping a watching brief, whilst Marco Melandri (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK) began to reel in the battle for the podium.
With 12 laps to go, Bautista had regained the ground on Rea and set about trying to find a way ahead of the Kawasaki-mounted rider. On the run to the Turn 3, Bautista got ahead and this time, he was able to make the move stick and Jonathan Rea couldn’t fight back straight away. The two continued to romp away from the rest of the pack and whilst Rea didn’t lose too much time on Bautista initially, lap after lap, Bautista’s metronomic pace soon saw him break clear. That is how it would stay until the end of the race.
With the third place battle seemingly a stalemate between the Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team riders, Leon Haslam was starting to feel the pressure of Marco Melandri. Melandri made his way ahead on lap 11, but the battle was far from over. With just five laps to go, a rough lap from Melandri allowed Haslam to close up and make a move at the final corner. Haslam ran wide and the wily Italian cut back under him, clashing on the start and finish straight. Yet another Kawasaki in a collision, but this time, eventually, Haslam would win the fight.
Reigning Champ Jonthan Rea (1) was a match for Bautista in the corners as their different lines often crossed paths, but once on the straights the new Ducati V4RS could pull away almost 1-second per lap
At the line, Bautista took the win by 8.2s ahead of Rea, whilst Lowes held on ahead of Michael van der Mark by 0.4s to take his third Buriram podium. In fifth position, Leon Haslam clinched the place over Melandri, whilst Sandro Cortese took seventh after a late battle with Michael Ruben Rinaldi (BARNI Racing Team). Sykes was ninth after being pushed back due to his top speed deficit, with Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing) coming from 13th to 10th.
With battle between the Spaniard and the Ulsterman, Alvaro Bautista’s win makes him the first Ducati rider since Neil Hodgson in 2003 to win the opening four races of a WorldSBK season. He gives Ducati their 345th win in the World Superbike class, as well as their 587th WorldSBK podium. He also becomes the first non-British rider to win at the Chang International Circuit.
P1 - Alvaro Bautista (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati)
“For sure today has been tougher than Australia. I knew that Johnny would be fighting with me in the race because we had a similar pace during the free practices. I didn't make a good start. I went wide in the first corner and lost the first position. I kept pushing and I caught Rea, and we had a clash at Turn 3 that almost made me crash. After a few laps, I was able to recover and find back my rhythm. I pushed to the limit and passed Johnny to take the win. I am really happy because even if my feeling with the bike wasn't perfect, I was still able to win".
P2 - Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)
"I am really happy. I did my best today and the package was great. I had a good bike and especially in the middle sectors, I felt like I really could push on the limit. Unfortunately, I couldn't stay with Alvaro again. But we will keep trying and keep pushing. I enjoyed riding the bike. Maybe in the Tissot Superpole Race I can ride with that intensity for ten laps, but for Race Two we need to try to conserve more the tyres. Let's see what will happen tomorrow".
P3 - Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK)
“I am pleased with my race today. I didn't feel confident with the front of the bike. I had to keep calm because I know that I was close to the riders at the front, but with the heat, I had to save the tyres to cover the race distance. I did a good job and hopefully, we can improve a bit for tomorrow and trying to get further on the podium".
Superbike Race 1- Complete Results Here
1. Alvaro Bautista (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati)
2. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +8.217
3. Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +14.155
With Bautista already gone on the opeing lap fo Race 2, Rea (1) was let to fend off Alex Lowes(22) and Leon Haslam (91).
Bautista makes it six out of six wins in Buriram
Sunday, Day 3 - Spaniard put in a stunning performance to take another victory ahead of Rea and Lowes
In what has been a dream opening six races in Alvaro Bautista’s WorldSBK career, he took yet another race win to become the first rider since Neil Hodgson to win the opening six races of a WorldSBK season, back in 2003! Bautista completed another lights to flag victory in dominant fashion on his way to more records!
With lights turning green, the final race of the Pirelli Thai Round got underway, with Alvaro Bautista (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) able to hold onto first position from start to finish. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) couldn’t take a challenge to Bautista but had to deal with Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) in the early stages. At the end of the first lap the leading trio had a slight gap over Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Marco Melandri (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK).
Soon, the big battle came from the scrap for fifth position, with van der Mark, Melandri, Sandro Cortese (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK) and Chaz Davies (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati). Turn 3 was once again a prime overtaking area, with Melandri trying a move on van der Mark at Turn 3, with both running wide and allowing Chaz Davies to get a better drive down the straight and by Turn 4, the Welshman had got ahead of both Yamaha riders!
Melandri retook Davies at Turn 8 but the race winner from Buriram in 2018 fought back at Turn 12. Cortese and van der Mark made the exact same succession of moves; a thrilling spectacle in the early stages.
Luck wasn’t going the way of Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), who had to retire his S1000RR on lap four. Melandri and Davies had a close call on the same lap, with the Italian forcefully moving aside his former teammate at Turn 9, allowing van der Mark to go through, whilst Chaz Davies had to recover right at the back of the group. It wasn’t long however before Davies himself would suffer the same fate as Sykes. The 29-time WorldSBK race winner retired on lap eight, concluding a wretched start to the season.
Whilst the front eight remained fairly static in an intriguing battle, further down the field, Toprak Razgatliolgu (Turkish Puccetti Racing) began to reel in Jordi Torres (Team Pedercini Racing) and got ahead of him in the final part of the race to win the battle of the Independent Kawasaki riders.
Bautista dominated to take the victory by more than ten seconds, ahead of Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes. Michael van der Mark was able to hold off a late charge by Leon Haslam, whilst Marco Melandri finished in sixth position for a fifth race in a row. Van der Mark’s fourth place means he stretches his finishing run to 21.
Behind the leading six, Sandro Cortese became the first German since Max Neukirchner in 2008 to finish six consecutive races inside the top eight, with his seventh position. Eighth belonged to Michael Ruben Rinaldi (BARNI Racing Team), a great performance on his debut in Thailand. Razgatlioglu managed to hold off Jordi Torres as they completed the top ten.
With only three more finishers it was Markus Reiterberger (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in 11th, with Ryuichi Kiyonari (Moriwaki Althea HONDA Team) in 12th on his debut in Thailand, whilst Alessandro Delbianco (Althea Mie Racing Team) scored his first WorldSBK points with 13th. Eugene Laverty (Team Goeleven) failed to start, whilst Argentine, Leandro Mercado (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) retired after just one lap. Leon Camier (Moriwaki Althea HONDA Team) and Thitipong Warokorn (Kawasaki Thailand Racing Team) didn’t start due to their Tissot Superpole Race crash.
P1 - Alvaro Bautista (ARUBA.IT Racing - Ducati)
“I don’t know what to say. I think this weekend has been perfect for us because we dominate in all of the practices and all of the races. I want to say thanks to Ducati and to my team, we are working with a completely new bike, arriving at completely new tracks and we have to work for a set-up to make a good base. Here, we knew it would be difficult because in the last eight races, seven have been won by Kawasaki. At the end, we manage to have the same feeling that we have in Australia and we can be competitive. I am very, very happy!””.
P2 - Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team - WorldSBK)
“Second now is my normal position this season! That was our position this weekend for sure, we could do no more. Alvaro and Ducati did a very good weekend. I felt like I got the best out of the package, I tried something in the Tissot Superpole Race but that didn’t really work, so we went back to what we knew. Thank you to my team for working so hard all weekend and we have to be happy with these results now that we go to Europe. We just have to try and close the gap to the front!”.
P3 - Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team)
“Three podiums is fantastic for us, I am really happy with the weekend, we did a strong job. I want to say a ‘thank you’ to all the Yamaha Thailand fans, they’ve been fantastic and really supporting me. It is really nice to be part of the Yamaha family and hopefully, we can get a bit closer to the green and the red bike at the Aragon Round! Cheers guys!”.
Superbike Race 2- Complete Results Here
1. Alvaro Bautista (ARUBA.IT Racing Ducati)
2. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +10.053
3. Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +12.368
Alvara Bautista's Race Winning Ducati Corse V4RS19 SBK World Superbike
Details and Screen Saver Size Photos in Pit Lane New BIkes/ Ducati
2019 MotoGP World Championship, Round 1 of 16 Qatar
Grandstand Finish at Quatar MotoGP for Dovizioso / Ducati Dovizioso, Marquez, Crutchlow, Rins and Rossi within six tenths in a stunner of a season opener and post-race protests are denied with an appeals process ongoing
Sunday, 10 March 2019, Qatar - High expectations and a million questions: that's what lay before the grid as the lights went out for the VisitQatar Grand Prix and it didn't disappointment. The closest top fifteen of all time and another duel to the finish – with another trio right behind – made it a stunner of a season opener...with a familiar name on top: Andrea Dovizioso (Mission Winnow Ducati Team). It was a familiar name diving down the inside at the final corner too, as Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) rolled the dice once again – just 0.023 off 'DesmoDovi' over the line. Behind that classic duel that defines a rivalry came another battle but this time of three, with Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) pulling out all the stops to complete the podium and fend off Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and a late-charging Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP).
It was Dovizioso who got the holeshot from pole, he and Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing) grabbing P1 and P2 into Turn 1 as Marquez held position just behind. Polesitter Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) didn't get the start he would have been aiming for as he dropped to sixth on Lap 1, with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) and teammate Crutchlow catapulting through to the top five.
The race then began to settle into a rhythm, with a train of riders at the front led by Dovizioso keeping a steady pace at the front. Rins was the man on the move on Lap 4 as the Spaniard made more progress after a sharp start from P10 on the grid, the Suzuki man coming through to take the lead by Lap 5 before the Spaniard duelled Dovizioso for the pleasure. It remained a lead group of nine following each other line astern, however, with no one breaking rank just yet.
On Lap 12 the number 04 was back at the front, and the pace then turned up a notch as he and Marquez started to create a gap back to third place Danilo Petrucci (Mission Winnow Ducati), who'd made his way through the group. The pace then slowed again, however, as Dovizioso went from a 1:55.3 to a 1:56.1 to bring the top eight back to within just over a second...
Rossi (46) charges past Petrucci (9), Viñales and Mir.
With seven to go, the top eight were covered 1.2 seconds and that's when Rossi really started to make up ground, picking off his teammate first and then Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) to go up to P6. With three laps to go the fight for the win became a five-way scrap, with Petrucci, Viñales and Mir fading off the pacesetters.
Marquez took the lead twice on the final lap of the Qatar thriller, but Doviziosokept passinh him back to scores at the opener.
Reigning World Champion Marquez had got the better of Dovizioso on the penultimate lap, but the Ducati struck back down the straight. Crutchlow held P3, Rins P4 and Rossi P5, menacing behind and waiting for the fireworks to begin in the lead. Pushing hard, Marquez had a slight moment with the front at Turn 3, before making a lunge up the inside of Dovi at Turn 10. He couldn't keep it though as the Desmosedici was able to cut back up the inside on the exit, setting up another classic grandstand finish.
Marquez tried it again...and was a few hundredths closer. Crutchlow, Rins and Rossi were within a second of them at the finish.
It looked like a carbon copy of 12 months ago at the final corner, but it was the same edge-of-the-seat heart-in-your-mouth moment as Marquez dove through on the inside, sitting up Dovi but running wide as he couldn't quite get it stopped in time. From there it was another classic point and shoot contest to the line as both gunned it on the exit, but Dovizioso couldn't be caught and made it out ahead. It was closer than before though, with an infinitesimal 0.023 separating the two as the flag waved. Behind, Crutchlow kept his cool to take a remarkable podium on his first race back since his huge Australian GP crash, with Rins a valiant P4 and Rossi again proving you should never count ‘The Doctor’ out. P5 from P14 on the grid was another impressive race day showing from the nine-time World Champion.
Petrucci would have to settle for P6 on his maiden factory Ducati ride, 2.320 behind his teammate in the end, with polesitter Viñales crossing the line 0.161 back from ‘Petrux’, in P7. Mir produced a fantastic rookie ride to finish just over five seconds off the race win in P8, with the Spaniard beating ninth place Nakagami and tenth place Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) – and just 9.636 covering the top 10 in Qatar.
Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) was just 0.011 behind Espargaro in P11 on his debut ride for Yamaha, with Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Jorge Lorenzo (Repsol Honda Team), Andrea Iannone (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) and Johann Zarco (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) completing the point scoring positions.
So who was the ride of the day? Far from the podium in the end and not scoring any points on his debut, an argument could be made for Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) regardless. The rookie was forced into a pitlane start after issues on the grid ahead of the Warm Up lap, and set about unleashing some almighty pace and nerves of steel for a first ever premier class appearance. Fastest laps flowed from the Frenchman and he was soon into point-scoring contention...although sadly, it wouldn't last. Too much too early in a bid to catch the group ahead saw Quartararo fade back to P16 by the flag – but only eight tenths off Zarco. Fellow debutant Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) also impressed and, for some time, was top KTM, before fading slightly, a fate that also befell Mir further forward as they all aim to gain more full-length race experience. Final rookie Francesco Bagnaia (Alma Pramac Racing) suffered a DNF, with more to come from him in Argentina for sure, and his more veteran teammate Jack Miller also suffered some bad luck. The Australian fell victim to some problem with his machine that saw him drop from podium contention to suddenly outside the top ten, then retiring before the end of the race.
That's all she wrote from Qatar but what a story it was. Records broken and history made, five riders in six tenths makes for an awesome opener...even before looking at the winning margin of 0.023. But then, past the stats, it's much more than a numbers game and always has been. Dedication, precision, passion, talent, confidence, pressure, potential, evolution, rivalry...and respect. This is MotoGP™ and we're back in business. Tune in for the Gran Premio Motul de la Republica Argentina on March 31st for more, because we've only just begun.
Ducati's Unfair Advantage at Qatar?
At the VisitQatar Grand Prix, the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel received various protests concerning aerodynamic devices on the rear swing arm of Ducati machinery ridden by Andrea Dovizioso (Mission Winnow Ducati Team), Danilo Petrucci (Mission Winnow Ducati Team) and Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing). The aero device which bolts to the underside of the rear wheel swingarm in front of the tire, wasn't shown in the press season press launch or in theopening race weeknd's Practice Sessions - but was installed just on a race day to keep it hidden from the other teams.
In guessing its real function, it probably does a better job cooling the rear tire, like a brake duct on a race car, so it can last the full 21-lap race. As for aero downforce, it probably creates more top speed aero drag than any air flow down force advantage which is hindered significantly by the rear tire blocking the air.
In evauating any speed performance advantave add by
the Ducati Swingarm Scoup, the quickest lap of the race was turned by Petronas Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo who finshed back in 16th position.
The protests were made by Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Repsol Honda Team and Team Suzuki Ecstar, who presented their concerns to the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel. Based on guidelines and regulations currently in force, the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel rejected their protests.
The result of the VisitQatar Grand Prix remains in standing. An appeals process is ongoing.
Newly signed Ducati Corse rider
Álvaro Bautista, a 7 year MotoGP vetern who replace 3 yearDucati team rider Marco Melandri, was turning quickest lap times on the new Panigale V4RS at Phillip Island the week before the Season Opening race. Team mate Chaz Davies was struggling with his setup on the new bike and hovered around 10th quickest.
2019 Motul SBK World Superbike Championship, Round 1 of 13 Phillip Island. Australia
Bautista / Ducati V4R the man to beat at Australia SBK Season Opener! Spaniard cuts nearly half a second off his Monday lap time to command final SBK World Superbike Pre-Season Practice Sessions before next weekend's 2019 Season Opening Round. Sykes 2nd quickest on new BMW.
Pre Season Practice Phillip Island, Australia, Tuesday, 19 February 2019 - Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) stormed to the top of the timesheets again on Tuesday at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit with a best lap of 1’30.303, a whole 0.440 seconds faster than his best from the previous day and nearly half a second quicker than four-time world champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), fourth fastest at the Aussie racetrack.
Tuesday morning saw kinder winds and warmer conditions than the opening day of testing. Despite this, the bar that Ducati’s Spaniard had set on Monday remained unsurpassed by all but three riders. Bautista has emerged as the early and clear frontrunner for the opening race of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, and it will be interesting to see who, if anyone, can match the hairsplitting pace he’s put on display here.
Nonetheless, six more men did manage to set sub 1’31 laps, with second-placed Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and fifth-placed Marco Melandri (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK) split by two tenths of a second.
In between them in fourth sat Jonathan Rea, who had previously topped nearly every pre-season testing session in 2018 and 2019. No one will be disregarding the reigning World Champion any time soon however. It bears repeating that Rea is still on an 11-race winning streak and when he is on his game there are few, if any riders capable of going the distance with the four-time champion. But for now, the gap between the two men has been striking: just in the first Tuesday session, Bautista recorded seven laps faster than Rea’s then best of 1’30.761.
Testing is much more than setting fast lap times however, and there was again much work to be done on Tuesday in Australia. Rea’s teammate Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) made great strides on the ZX-10RR, putting in more laps (74) than anyone out on track. The Englishman’s base setup is very similar to the reigning champion’s, with Haslam’s crew now focused on tweaking it to his own style. It seems to be working well, as a late flurry of times pushed the 35-year-old above Rea on the timesheets.
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) meanwhile managed to cut down his best lap time from Monday by a full second, as he continues to find his feet on the Panigale V4 R, although the Welshman was still nearly 1.5s behind his teammate’s pace.
2018 double Aussie winner Marco Melandri closed Tuesday as fifth best after hard work was put in to the front of his Yamaha YZF R1. With an optimal setup now in place, attention veered towards finetuning in the afternoon. Ditto for the rookie Sandro Cortese (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK), eighth at Phillip Island.
Phillip Island Official Test WorldSBK Day Two
1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) 1'30.303
2. Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.236
3. Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.365
Rea takes pole position in record-breaking Tissot Superpole Session! Saturday Feb 23rd - The first Tissot Superpole of the 2019 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship went to Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), who stormed to pole position at the iconic Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. The all-new 25-minute single-session proved exciting, with all 19 riders taking to the track, all with the chance of pole position! The session sets the grid for Race 1 and the Tissot Superpole race on Sunday.
Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was the first rider to push the boundaries, sitting on top of the pile for most of the session. However, Alvaro Bautista (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) soon toppled him with 13 minutes to go, throwing down the gauntlet to the rest of the field. Setting a lap time of 1’30.054. 10 minutes to go and he ventured out on the circuit with a new SC0 tyre. Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) then toppled the Spaniard, with a blistering sub-90 second lap. Bautista responded but couldn’t beat Haslam, placing a close second with less than five minutes to go.
However, it was reigning WorldSBK champion Jonathan Rea who fired in a lap with less than three minutes to go that shattered his own existing pole-lap record. A 1’29.413 placed Rea at the forefront of the grid, despite teammate Haslam and arch-rival Bautista and their hard efforts. Leon Haslam returned to WorldSBK with second position and gave Kawasaki their first one-two on the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit grid since 2017. Completing the front row was Alvaro Bautista, who puts himself right in contention for the top positions.
Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) made a vast improvement throughout the session and finished in fourth position, announcing BMW Motorrad’s return to the WorldSBK championship in a stylish manner. Also, on the second row of the grid, a further mixture of experience and youthful exuberance. Alex Lowes continued his run of top five grid positions in Australia, dating back to his full-time debut in 2014, qualifying no lower than fifth in each year. Rounding out the second row was impressive German Rookie, Sandro Cortese (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK).
Both World Superbike feature races would be a fight for 2nd place behind Alvaro bautista, long gone on both opening laps. Here (1) Jonthan Rea leada newKawasaki team mate (91) Ron Haslam, followed by (54) Toprak Razgatlioglu and Yamaha's (22) Sam Lowes.
Bautista Takes Ducati's New V4R to Triple Race Victory in dominant style Spaniard becomes the first rider to win both WorldSBK races on his debut weekend Saturday, 23 February 2019 - The opening race of the 2019 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship was a classic and went the way of Rookie, Alvaro Bautista (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati), who set a scintillating pace and was able to clear off at the front of the pack from lap one. Bautista took the win in a convincing manner, winning by more than 15 seconds to become the first Rookie to win a WorldSBK race on his debut since Max Biaggi in 2007.
Off the line for the first time in 2019, Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) got a good start before being sandwiched into Turn 1 by Alvaro Bautista and early race leader and pole-sitter, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). However, Bautista soon blasted into the lead at Turn 3 and from there, built a gap, setting back-to-back fastest laps and before half race distance, the 34-year-old had a gap of over eight seconds.
The battle was then firmly on for second position, with Rea, Haslam and Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team). Tom Sykes also had a good start to the race, with fifth place secured and chasing the leaders down hard. Marco Melandri (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK) was in sixth and made a rampant start, despite opting for a harder compound tyre choice. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing) was a big mover and shaker after one lap, up to seventh from 14th on the grid.
The race evolved and began to take shape, with the KRT WorldSBK pairing of Rea and Haslam exchanging position frequently, whilst Tom Sykes and Alex Lowes also battled. Razgatlioglu made massive progress through the field and was soon into fourth place with an exciting move into Turn 1. It wasn’t long until the first race crasher of the year occurred, with Leon Camier at Turn 2 (Moriwaki Althea HONDA Team). With Leon Haslam managing to get ahead of Jonathan Rea and pull clear, disaster struck for the former WorldSBK runner-up, as he crashed out of second at Turn 4. ‘Pocket Rocket’ Haslam eventually finishing 15th. This left Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes at the front of the battle for second position, whilst Toprak Razgatlioglu and Tom Sykes battled hard. The BMW of Sykes struggling to keep Toprak’s Kawasaki behind it on the front straight but then managing to get back ahead at the hairpins.
Later in the race, Marco Melandri started to make big in-roads to Dutchman, Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team). It wasn’t long before the Italian made his move into sixth place and then chased down the riders ahead of him. Soon, he got ahead of Tom Sykes and then Razgatlioglu at Turn 2 with six laps left, releasing him into clear air to hunt Alex Lowes and the final spot on the podium.
At the flag and Alvaro Bautista romped home with 14.9s to spare, a remarkable achievement; one that echoed Anthony Gobert’s dominant victory at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in 2000. Jonathan Rea took second position and conceded the first race of the season for a second consecutive year. The battle for third saw a remarkable effort from Marco Melandri flourish, able to get ahead of Alex Lowes to take the final position on the podium. Michael van der Mark took fifth place to make it three Yamaha riders inside the top five, whilst Toprak Razgatlioglu completed the top six ahead of Tom Sykes. Sandro Cortese (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK) was top German in eighth place ahead of Michael Ruben Rinaldi (BARNI Racing Team) and a disconsolate Chaz Davies (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) in tenth, some 27 seconds behind his victorious teammate.
With the first race complete for 2019, Alvaro Bautista breaks many records. He is the first Spanish Rookie to set a fastest lap at Phillip Island on a Ducati since Ruben Xaus in 2001, whilst also becoming the first Spanish rider to win a WorldSBK race since Jordi Torres in 2015 at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar.
SBK Race 1 - Full Race Results HERE
1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati)
2. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +14.983
3. Marco Melandri (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK) +16.934
P1 - Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati)
“I am so happy to start my WorldSBK career this way. I missed the Superpole because I am still not used to work with the Superpole tyres but I was quite confident for the race. I tried to find my rhythm immediately and I found my pace from the beginning. The gap was increasing every lap, so I tried to manage the tyres and save them for the final part of the race. I am really happy and I want to thank Ducati and my team because they did an absolutely amazing job over the winter.”
P2 - Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) "It was a tough race, Bautista did a really good job and my congratulation goes to him. I had some issue with the rear tyre and my target was just to finish the race. It wasn’t really one of the most beautiful races because I was riding half gas the whole time but anyway, we finished second, we did the Superpole so I am really happy, and it is the best result we could have got today.”
P3 - Marco Melandri (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK)
“I was struggling a bit with the new tyres at the beginning but after a few laps, the bike started working well. Yamaha and the team did an awesome job and I was riding very comfortable and just tried to keep my rhythm. Then I saw Lowes in front of me and I started to push hard. We passed each other many times on the final lap. Lowes didn’t give up but I wanted this podium so much! Thanks to all the team and the guys who have been working so hard for me”.
Bautista leads
Jonthan Rea and Ron Haslam on the opening lap before checking out at nearly a second a lap quicker, being 24 seconds ahead of the race on the final lap, only dropping back for a parade lap at the finish line.
Bautista Secures Race Two and Three? Race victories in dominant style Spaniard becomes the first rider to win both WorldSBK races on his debut weekend Sunday, 24 February 2019 - On Sunday morning World SBK's new10- Lap Qualifying Sprint Race was to determine the top 10 starting positions for later in the afternoon's second 25-lap Main Feature race of the Weekend. The remainder of the field would be lined in the Final behind the, according to the remaining riders' Saturday Superpole Results. The Qualifying Sprint Race also paid half the norml WSBK race points, so it was important to do well. And as it turned out, this would be the hardest, closeat fanght race of the weekend. Jonthan Rea got the beat atart with is Kawaaki and Bautista had to work up from 4th the first 2 lapa to cth him, then he and rae had a heated 3 lap fight for the lead before Bautista was finally able to maintain a hold on the lead and take it to the finish. Interesting though, the first 3 riders would be placed in a staggered 3-2-1 positioning on the front row for the start of the afternoon's Final.
After a four hour break with other support races, then came the Final 25-Lap SBK race of the Yamaha Finance Australian Round in the opening meeting of the 2019 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship which went the way of Alvaro Bautista (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati), who completed a dream WorldSBK debut. The Spaniard becomes the first rider to win both WorldSBK races on his debut weekend since John Kocinski – also for Ducati – at Misano in 1996.
Bautista had a lonley weekend power drifting the Ducati V4RS around Phillip Island.
Initially taking the lead at Turn 1, Bautista started putting time into Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK), who managed to pass teammate Jonathan Rea at Turn 4. Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) made a fast start and was fourth whilst Michael Ruben Rinaldi escalated from eighth on the grid into fifth, with Marco Melandri (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK) remaining sixth.
At Turn 1 on lap two, Eugene Laverty (Team Goeleven) made a brief appearance into sixth, passing Melandri, only for the Italian to repay the compliment to his former WorldSBK teammate. Back in the fight for second position, Haslam began to pull away from Rea, the reigning Champion not having things his own way.
Marco Melandri got his way ahead of van der Mark and immediately set about closing down the KRT pairing of Haslam and Rea. Further up the road, Alvaro Bautista was building his own gap, setting the fastest lap to confirm his relentless pace. The gap between the two Kawasakis was now at 0.5s, with Haslam seemingly able to put distance between Rea. Behind Melandri and van der Mark, Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was back into sixth. Further down the order, Chaz Davies (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) was making good progress from 16th on the grid and was now ninth, almost passing Laverty at Turn 10 but deciding to wait for another time.
Whilst throughout most of the weekend the rivalry between Bautista and Rea was headlining, Haslam and Rea started to get close on circuit too. From lap seven, the reigning World Champ started to close his new teammate down and with just eight laps to go, the Northern Irishman made his move at Turn 1, only for Haslam to take him back at Turn 4 with a traditional block pass. This started a succession of nine passes between the pair. Haslam put an audacious Jonathan Rea-style pass on the four-time champion at Turn 1, with Rea responding immediately almost every time.
Behind the squabbling Kawasaki riders, the Yamaha riders of Melandri and van der Mark decided to have their own fight, passing and re-passing, hindering their chances of taking the fight to Rea and Haslam, less than half-a-second up the road at times. Van der Mark was up to fourth at Turn 4 with four laps to go, although Melandri got back ahead at Turn 10.
However, despite all of the fighting with the Kawasaki Racing Team and Yamaha riders, Alvaro Bautista was oblivious to the squabbling left in his wake. The 2006 World Champion crossed the line to become a WorldSBK winner for a second time, with the Tissot Superpole Race win also going to the Spanish sensation.
Rea eventually took second place ahead of Haslam, whilst van der Mark finished fourth ahead of teammate Alex Lowes, who put in a stunning late charge to demote Marco Melandri to sixth. Chaz Davies finished a fine seventh place and ended a poor weekend with his best result, with reigning WorldSSP Champion Sandro Cortese completing the top eight once more. Eugene Laverty took ninth place and his joint-best finish of the weekend, whilst rounding out the top ten was Leon Camier.
SBK Race 2 - Complete Results HERE
1. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati)
2. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +12.195
3. Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +12.454
P1 - Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) “Before coming to Australia, I couldn’t expect a weekend like this. During the two-day of official test, we worked hard, and we arrived at the race weekend ready for the battle. This morning during the Tissot Superpole Race, Rea and I fought hard, and I really enjoyed it, but in the afternoon track conditions were a little bit worse. My pace was still good, but after the 10-lap race, I expected Jonny to stay with me in Race Two. I pushed hard from the beginning and the gap increased and I was able to win again. I want to thank Ducati and all the guys for their incredible job! It has been an amazing weekend for us”.
P2 - Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)“I am happy about the race weekend. Phillip Island is not one of the stronger tracks for me and my bike but to come away with a lap record, a pole position and two second places, I couldn’t have asked for more. My congratulation goes to Alvaro. It takes a lot of work to come here as a rookie and win three races in a row, so a big congrats to him”.
P3 - Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)
“With this podium, it was able to make up after the silly crash I had yesterday. It was a good Race Two, with a lot of passing and I had so much fun. With two laps left, I thought it was made and that I was going to finish in second, but Jonathan is not a four-time world champion for no reason and he beat me. Third on the podium is a good result and it’s perfect for the team as we finished second and third. Now we can move on to Thailand and try to progress”.
Good Bye to the Fast Dates Superbike Calendar after 27 Years After World SBK ends its beneficial relationship with
photographer / publisher Jim Gianatsis and the FastDates.com Calendars.
Dear World Superbike Friends,
Los Angeles, December 2018 - It makes me very sad to tell you the FAST DATES World Superbike Calendar after a incredible run, featuring the world's top racing motorcycles togwther with beautiful centerfold models and offical World SBK podium umbrella girls, will end with the 2018 edition this December 2018.
Last year 2017 was the first time in 23 years (and 37 years attending and working the annual AMA Superbike Races at Laguna Seca), I was not allowed as a Offical Media or WSBK partner, to attend the Laguna Seca USA World Superbike round this July 6-8th 2017 weekend to photograph the Fast Dates World Superbike Calendar, to cover the race weekend for FastDates.com Pit Lane News, nor to provide, at what has been always at considerable cost to me, the beautiful FastDates.com Calendar Models to serve as the official SBK Podium and Grid Girls, or to serve as Umbrella Girls for some of the Factory Race Teams.
The SBK Dorna Media Department has denied my Media Credential Request for the first time ever, and they would not provide me any reply or explanation.
However, I had heard that new SBK Dorna Media Officer Benjamin Cobb has rationalized the FAST DATES Calendar is not a current Media Media News Source. Even though it is and does remains the only historical reference of all the factory race teams, riders and their sponsor competing in the SBK World Superbike Championship from year to year beginning back in 1991 with Doug Pollen’s Fast by Ferracci 1991 World Championship winning Ducati 888. And for WSB Race Fans and Collectors the Fast Dates Calendar is the only regularly published news source which has documented the top race teams and riders for 27 years since the Championship began.
While the very production schedule of a season Calendar, even the official SBK Yearbook for that matter, which is photographed at last year’s races, means it can not have the current season’s race bikes or sponsors when it is released on July 1st for the coming season.
And not withstanding that the FastDates.com Pit Lane News website has covered every round of the SBK and MotoGP World Championship since the year 2000, making it a regular published current news source as well. And also worthy of SBK media access on its own merit.
Mr. Cobb also seems feel my inclusion of Nicky Hayden's Ten Kate Honda CBR1000 bike in the new 2018 Calendarwas not appropriate, dispite the fact the 2018 Calendar had already gone to print when Nicky had the unfortunate accident that ended his life. Having Nicky and his bike in the new 2018 Calendar is a tribute to Nicky and what he gave back to our sport. To leave Nicky out of the 2018 Calendar would be dis service to our sport and everyone who knew Nicky, and shameful for the WSBK Media Department to think as much. The 2017 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Race Program pays tribute to its own American Nicky Hayden, so why shouldn’t the now released 2018 Fast Dates World Superbike Calendar do the same?
Mr. Cobb’s 3rd justification, I heard, in denying me SBK media access is that I cc: / copy too many people in my Email correspondence leading up to the race to secure Credentials for the Models and Myself. In past year’s my SBK Credentials were provided through the SBK Marketing Department as part of a trade sponsorship where under Flammini management Fast Dates was the official Calendar of the SBK World Superbike Championship. I was required to co-ordinate in advance the shooting of the Calendar with the Race Track Manager and Media Department, the SBK Race Teams and their Press Officers, and the SBK Marketing and Credential Departments who approve of, and provide the Credentials for my Models and who would be working for the Marketing Department on the race days. Mr Cobb feels this is all his domainnow, and I should not have contact anyone else but him. But if i don’t, the Calendar could not be photographed and the Models would not have access to the track or be working the Podium and Grid for SBK.
Mr. Cobb has seemingly made this all a Catch 22, where I am damned if i do, and damned if i don’t, in his rational to remove me and my passion to help, support, provide regular and historical medias coverage and promote the SBK World Superbike Championship after having done so 27 years, essentially the entire history of the SBK Championship.
The failure to be allowed by WSBK to shoot the Fast Dates Calendar at an SBK round was the final nail in the coffin to my deciding to no longer publish the Fast Dates Calednar. To be honest, the Calendar has not been profitable the past few years amid the declining demographics of motorcycle racing fans, the decline in attendance at AMA / World Superbike races, the lack of intererest by the new i-Genegration in book print and wall calendars, and the move to the inteenet, cell phones and social media. But I love Superbikes, working with the race teams and models at the race track, and i was willing to eat the financial lossto try and support the sport I love. But now, without WSBK's support, I just don't see the need or desire to continue the Fast Dates Calendar without the world's top racebikes.
In looking back over 27 years of the Fast Dates Calendars, there's been so many incredible bikes and models feaured to make it a truly iconic tribute to our beloved sport of motorccyle racing. The first 1991 FatsDates Calendar featured fyoung new Playboy Playmate and actress Pamela Anderson with Miguel duHammel's Yoshimura "Big Papa" 1100cc Formula Extreame Superbike. To American World Superbike Champion Colin Edwrds factory Honda RC51 World Superbike with Miss Great Britian Nicky Llane. To beautiful Czech WSBK podium Girl Petra Ruzickova with Eurene Lavertys, Cresent Suzuki on the cover of the 2016 calendar. Along the way I got to shot and feature teh MotoFP World Championship winning bikes of Doug Polen, Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwantz, Carly Fogarty, Troy Corser, Troy Bayliss, Jonthan Rea, Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and others with beautiful movie actresses and TV stars like Jamie Pressly and Leaan Tweeden, Supermodels, Playboy Cover Girls and Centerfolds than even I can count.
In closing I would like to thank you all for your support with working with me over the many years, allowing me to photograph your team bikes and support your sponsors, and in providing complimentary Umbrella Girls for some of your team on the grid. I love World Superbike and the time you have allowed me to share the sport with you....
I know some of you out there have complete colletions of the Fast Dates Calendars going back to 1991. Many of the Past Edition Calendars are still available to order from our website at - http://www.FastDates.com/COLLECTORS.HTM
Thank you for your friendship, it was great getting to know and work with you at the races!
P.S. If you have the time, I hope you might talk or write to SBK World Superbike / Dorna Director Daniel Carrera, and ask if he might intervene in the SBK Media and Marketing Departments to help me return to World Superbike in the coming years to document your race bikes in the Fast Dates World Superbike Calendar. His Email contact is: WorldSBK@Dorna.com
Best regards, Jim Gianatsis, Producer & Photographer
Gianatsis Design Associates FastDates.com Calendars, Books, Website
Los Angeles, CA 91364 USA
CONFUSING NEW 2019 WSBK RACE FORMAT WSBK Press Release Dec 12, 2018 - WorldSBK set to welcome new weekend format Updates confirmed for 2019:
As thoughts are turning to the 2019 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship battle, during the FIM and SBK Commission, held on the 30th November, in Madrid composed of Gregorio LAVILLA (WorldSBK Sporting Director, Chairman), Takanao TSUBOUCHI (MSMA) and Paul DUPARC (Deputizing for Rezsö BULCSU & secretary of the meeting), also present Charles HENNEKAM (FIM CTI Coordinator), Scott SMART (FIM WorldSBK Technical Director) and Daniel CARRERA (WorldSBK Executive Director), the CET Standard Time Schedule was confirmed, providing the final shape to the weekends format.
2019 will see World Superbike Championship change from four to three free practice sessions, meaning Friday will revert back to two WorldSBK Free Practices. WorldSSP on track action will remain the same, whilst WorldSSP300 will be split into two groups with two free practice sessions for each group. The final times from Friday’s sessions won’t affect qualifying positions.
Saturday offers a big change in the format as the Tissot Superpole will now become one single Qualifying session for all classes. The final results of the WorldSBK Tissot Superpole will decide the grid for WorldSBK Race One and Sunday ́s Sprint Race, now branded as the Tissot Superpole Race. For the World Supersport 300 Championship, the riders not qualifying for their first race will also have a ‘Last Chance’ race to follow on from Qualifying. The top six finishers of this race will secure the final six places on Sunday’s grid.
Four races will be the treat on offer on Sunday, with two WorldSBK Races. The first SBK® race of the day will be an all new Sprint Race format of 10 laps (throughout duration of the season) where points will be added to the overall championship standings* and awarded in the Tissot Superpole Race as follows: 12/9/7/6/5/4/3/2/1. There will be no change for Race One and Two where point system remains unchanged and awarded to the first fifteen riders as followed: 25/20/16/13/11/10/9/8/7/6/5/4/3/2/1.
The second race on Sunday for WorldSBK will be the traditional format. The grid for this race will be determined from the first nine positions in the Tissot Superpole Race, and the grid from 10th onwards will be the positions from Tissot Superpole. Offering three races with different formats will give the teams opportunities to work on different strategies for each race throughout the weekend and will offer even more exciting races for fans and riders to enjoy. On top of this, the weekend will finish with the WorldSSP300 race, which is always a sensational fight to the finish line.
Keep up with all the new regulations and updates, and see how the new 2019 season plays out, all with the WorldSBK VideoPass on WorldSBK.com.
The 2019 Pirelli Calendar
2019 DUCATI PANIGALE V4R SUPERBIKE / Generation 6
Bologna, Italy, Oct 4th 2018 - The Panigale V4 R is, to all intents and purposes, a road-legal WSBK category competition bike and constitutes the technical foundation for the official Ducati Superbikes that will compete in the World Championship as from the 2019 season.
Compared to previous R versions, the Panigale V4 R is now even more specialised and bristles with technology taken directly from MotoGP. The modifications extend far beyond the engine and suspension set-up: they also include the fairing, designed and developed by Ducati Corse in close collaboration with the Ducati Style Centre to improve aerodynamic efficiency. The new fairing also incorporates the aerofoil appendages developed for the MotoGP prototypes. Made of carbon fibre, they increase stability throughout the ride, to allow for reduced reliance on electronic controls, boosting confidence for the pinnacle of rider performance.
Ducati premiered at EICMA 2018, both the 2019 production V4R (above), and the V4RS Corse (below) factory race bike for World Superbike, and for various National Championships were eligible. The RS race versions sell to qualiferd race teams for around $80,000.
Differences on the V4RS seen in this picture include higher spec Ohlins MotoGP forks, higher spec Brembo front calipers and brake rotors, full carbon fibre bodywork, different Marchesini race wheels, a larger capacity furl tank extending down below the seat, a different rear aluminum rear sub frame with carbon fibre heat shields, and billet adjustable foot controls.It certainly has the WSBK spec ECU electronics aa well. The only question is, will WSBK let the V4R/RS run at fullproduction bike 234hp horsepower to beat the al dominate Jothan Re Kawasaki ZX10R, or will they restrick it down to the 220hp limit of the other bikes?
Keep in mind that the Stradaleengine with its MotoGP derived design, coud easiy be tuned up to 280hp if allowed.
2018-19 Progressive Insurance
International Motorcycle Shows
Long Beach, CA - Nov 16-20th 2018 -The annual UBM AMERICAS Progressive Insurance sponsored (IMS) International Motorcycle Show makes its way across America every winter, with 3-day weekend stops in every major city. It's the perfect time for motorcycle enthusiasts to come in from the cold and see the latest new 2017 bike offerings from all the major motorcycle manufacturers and fill out your Christmas wish list.
With much of the the motorcycle industry and media based in Southern California, we like to think the Los Angeles stop at the Long Beach Convention Center, is the best IMS weekend to get together with our motor head industry friends, celebrity builders and racers, and even some of the FastDates.com Calendar Kittens working the bike displays for the top manufacturers.
Motorcycles and bad boys, look out girls, it's a road paved to hell....
Fast Dates goes to World Ducati Week 2018!! By Jim Gianatsis and Elia Mirashi
photos by Jim Gianatsis, Ducati Communications Dept. - Click on any Photo to Enlarge it
The Adriatic Coast and Misano World Circuit, Italy, July 20-22nd 2018 - What better way for a hard core Ducatista to spend their summer vacation than attending the 10th edition of World Ducati week for 2018 at Misano Adriatico on the north east coast of Italy at the famous race circuit Marco Simoncelli. This was my 3rd visit to a World Ducati event weekend which normally takes place every 2 years, having last attended when the event was less well known back in 2004 and then in 2012 when it had really grown. Needless to say, this year's 2018 event was even bigger and offered up more activities and sights than you could handle during the expanded 3 day weekend. Making it even more enjoyable, i always fly in a few days early from my home in Los Angeles to Ducati's home in nearby Bologna, Italy, to tour the factory, its museum, its factory retail store for bikes and official apparel, and now a cool American 1960's diner restaurant named Cafe America with a full menu of American burgers, diner food classics and drinks.
Troy Bayliss' Battle of the Champions Ducati Panigae V4S sold after WDW2018 on eBay for $144,000!
Ducati invoted a few of it closest friends which this year included MotoGP race winners Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso, superbike riders Chaz Davies and Marco Melandri, along with legendary retired riders included Casey Stoner and Troy Bayliss, to meet with fans and put on display races. On Friday the riders took to the track for a few exhibition laps on their race bikes. Then on Saturday they returned to the Misano track for a 12 lap race on the new production Panigale V4S Superbikes in the "Race of Champions".
We have the Winners! The 2018 Rider RoundUp at the Ranch
& Calendar Bike Building Championship Sunday Oct 7th 2018
The 2018 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show continues its now 28-year tradition as one of the premier outdoor custom street motorcycle events in America now in partnership with the Rider RoundUp at the Ranch & Calendar Bike Building Championship taking place on Sunday October 7th 2018 in the Western Town movie set at Paramount State Park, Agoura, CA, produced by Calendar Bike Builder Russell Mitchell / Exile Cycles and Jim Gianatsis / FastDates.com. Featuring top Celebrity Custom Bikes & Builders, selected Vendors and Exhibitors, Live Music performances. And the world premier of next year's new 2019 FastDates.com Motorcycle PinUp Calendars featuring the world's top Sport and Custom Motorcycles with the beautiful Calendar Kittens in attendance at the Show. Select Builders and their Bikes will be invited to be photographed by producer Jim Gianatsis for the next FastDates.com Calendars. More Information on our Bike Show Page
2017 Calendar Bike Show Winner
Now in the FastDates.com Calendar Bike Garage!
Mike LaFountain's 2016 LA Calendar Bike Show class winning 1967 Kawasaki W1 Cafe Racer with SBK Fast Dates World Superbike Calendar Kitten Jessica Harbour in Big Screen Saver Size Pictures and bike details - http://www.FastDates.com/IronLaceGarage.HTM
Now in the Calendar Bike Garage!
Winston Yeh's exciting new MV Agusta "Ballastic" Custom with Calendar Kitten Jillian Janson with complete Build Details and a Large Screen Size Photo Gallery. - http://www.FastDates.com/IronLaceGarage.HTM
We're Back! Riding Edelweiss Motorcycle Tour - From Paris to Omaha, France
Versailles, France, August 2016 - How we spent our summer vacation! On the exciting Edelweiss Bike Travel 2016 Paris to Omaha Beach 10-day motorcycle tour across western France visiting the histroric battle sites of World War II where editor Jim Ginatsis father, B26 bomber pilot Capt. James Gianatsi played a pivital role in te D-say invasion and liberating France. We rode 2-up two-up with awesome FastDates.com SBK World Superbike Calendar Kitten Kaustin "Kaussie" Rose in a story for the FastDates.com Website. Our bike of choice would be the newly introduced BMW R 1000 XR Sport Tourer, based on the potent BMW R 1000 RR Superbike. For the Complete Story Click on the Photos or Check Out the Complete Story Here
Fast Dates Calendar Celebrates 22 years of SBK World Superbike in America
with 2018 Fast Dates Calendar SBK Umbrella Kittens Kaustin & Alissa at
Laguna Seca World Superbike and the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show
By Jim Gianatsis Photos by Jim Gianatsis • Clink on any Photo to Enlarge It
California, USA, July 17-20th 2016 - For the 22nd year since SBK World Superbike first came to America at Laguna Seca Raceway in 1995, the FastDates.com Calendars and myself, producer / photographer Jim Gianatsis were excited to continue
our ongoing association with SBK World Superbike and the UmbrellaGirlsUSA.com to bring 2 more beautiful FastDates.com Calendar Kittens; Kaustin Lanae and Alissa Bourne to shoot with me at the 2016 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca United States SBK World Superbike and AMA National race weekend July 8-10th. There they served as the official SBK Podium Girls and helped me shoot the next Fast Dates World & AMA Superbike Calendar. Then, two weekends later the Kittens would work the
26th annual LA Calendar Motorcycle Show and Calendar shoot in Los Angeles on July 23-24th. CONTINUED HERE
Now in the Calendar Bike Garage... The World's Coolest Naked Ducati!
Beauitful FastDates.com Calendar Kitten Sara takes us for a ride on the world's most exotic and expensive Ducati streetbike
ever - a $110,000 Vyrus NCR 983 Superleggera in the Calendar Bike Garage and in Members Corner.
Now in the FastDates.com Calendar Bike Garage!
David Beckham's Amazon Triumph Scrambler build by legenday Calendar Bike Builder Rickard Pollock / Mule Motorcycles, photographed with Calendar Kitten and Penthouse Pet Aleska in BIG full screen saver size photos.
Now in the Calendar Bike Garage... Samuel Kao's Calendar Bike Show class winning BMW R 90T Bar Hopper with beauitful FastDates.com SBK World Superbike Calendar Kitten Sara featured in the Calendar Bike Garage / Members Corner and in the new 2016 Iron & Lace Calendar
MEMBERS CORNER! Calendar
Kittens, Paddock Garage, Iron & Lace Garage
Amazon Motorcycle Products & Apparel Store
Hot Bikes, Sexy Kittens Your Excusive Grid Pass
also includes....
FAST 2019
Calendars Yearbook
OnLine Digital Edition
in Members Corner
Order the New
2019 Calendars!
with the FastDates.com Calendar Kittens and Top Custom Bikes
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Motorccyle & PinUp Model Calendars!
Sara Horvath
Meet the offical SBK
Fast Dates World Superbike Calendar Kittens!
Kaustin Rose
Petra Ruzickova
Alena Savostikova
An Unfair Advantage?
Álvaro Bautista and the new Ducati V4RS
In previous years the Ducati V-twin always enjoyed somewhat of an advantage over the 4-cylinder bikes with 200cc more displacement and a broader power band to accelerate better out of the turns without destroying the rear tire. Plus Ducati always had great riders.
But remember with the outgoing Generation 5 V2 Panigale 1199 and the bike's first year 2014 in World Superbike, Ducati choose to concentrated all their budget on MotoGP with Rossi and turned the SBK team over to Althea that year with an undeveloped race bike and no factory race parts available (cams, pistons, etc). And everyone was up against the new 1000cc V4 Aprilia which won the Championship that year in the hands of Sylvain Guintoli, foreshadowing the advantage of a V4 engine.
The Italian Flammini brothers still ran the Championship that year an even invited Althea to upgrade the new 1199 Panigale with non homologated parts to try and keep up with Aprilias and Kawasakis, but there just were not any performance parts available from Ducati. And it would be another year after Ducati brought their SBK race team back in-house before they had the performance parts to compete against then then dominate factory Kawasaki and Jonathan Rae and Tom Sykes. The Paniagle V-twin's final 2018 season showed the Panigale V2 and Marco Melandri Chaz Davies had the ability to run with the Kawasaki ZX10R, but Chaz just couldn't match Rea's robotic consistency.
The new 2018 retail price cap for of USD $40,000 for the street version of a homologation Superbike, sounds like a good idea, but the allowable modification rules in SBK with complete changes in suspension, brakes, swingarm, modified gas tanks, bodywork, internal engine parts, electronics, means a competitive Superbike still costs close to USD $100,000 like the factory Ducati V4RS. If the price cap is to be realistic, WSBK class needs adopt the more production based Supersport rule book.
Homologation production numbers for Supersport spec Superbikes are fine at 500 examples, if only because all motorcycle manufacturers have seen their superbike sales drop significantly since the 2008 recession, and many manufacturers would struggle to meet any higher number.
Ducati has the potential to enjoy WSBK domination with their new V4RS because their engine is based on their MotoGP bike which is the most powerful motor in the GP paddock and has the potential to reach 18,000rpm and 280hp quite easily with its production desmodromic valve system. Where as the other Manufacturers are limited to about 16,000rpm and 240hp with our going to pneumatic valves like in their MotoGP bikes, not practical for a street based bike.
Now that all the manufacturers in WSK are running the save 1000cc displacement with 4-cylinder engines, the best way to balance the power between different manufacturers bikes is with varying RPM limits based on race finishes. However, this equalization formula will remain flawed as long as both WSBK and MotoGP do not factor and equalize the rider's body weight with their bike's weight. Just as Formula 1 factors their drivers and cars together, where the weight difference is far less significant with a 4-times heavier car.
In WSBK where we have a winning rider like Alvara Bautista probably weighing 30-40 pounds less than Chaz Davies on the same Ducati V4RS bike who can't get it to work, and a taller rider like Leon Camier on the Honda, both of whom have a hard time qualifying into top 10, the rider's weight is more a factor than anything else. Until the FIM imposes weight balances for the riders and their bikes, any type of performance balance between the different brands of bikes with varying RPM limits is an unfair factor.
- Jim Gianatsis, Editor
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Indonesia to host WorldSBK in 2021
Lombok prepares to welcome the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship and MotoGP™
Feb 21st, 2019 - ITDC, Indonesia’s largest integrated tourism developer and operator, and Dorna Sports SL are delighted to announce that the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship and the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship will be racing in Indonesia in 2021.
The signing of the agreement was conducted by Mr Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of DORNA and Mr Abdulbar M. Mansoer, CEO of ITDC at DORNA’s headquarter in Madrid, Spain on the 28th January 2019, in front of Senior Management team of both parties and witnessed by Indonesian's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary for Spain, Drs. Hermono M.A.
The agreement confirms that Indonesia will welcome the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship and MotoGP™ in 2021 to the island of Lombok, more specifically within the Mandalika, which is a large-scale integrated Tourism Estate.
Delighted to welcome the most famous production-based motorcycle series and MotoGP™ in Indonesia, CEO of ITDC, Mr. Abdulbar M. Mansoer said: “We are very excited to have partnered up with DORNA and are delighted to be able to bring world-class motorsport events to Indonesia and the Mandalika in Lombok together.”
Dorna Sports SL CEO, Carmelo Ezpeleta commented: “What a unique project this will be, having an urban, world class circuit in a country where MotoGP™ has such a huge following. Indonesia is a key market for us with a considerable percentage of motorsport fans living here and the MotoGP™ atmosphere will be even stronger once the circuit is complete. Also, by including Lombok to the WorldSBK calendar makes this offer more attractive for local fans having two World Class events in the area during the year.”
Is Kawasaki's Dominace hurting World Superbike?
Definelty so. Spectator attendace and TV viewer numbers numbers anr definetly in a freefall decline, especially compared to MotoGP which is still holding its own.
Of course a brand dominace in WSBK was no problem when underdog Ducati was dominating back in the early years and WSBK was Italian owned.
But Kawasaki and Jonthan Rea are the perfect storm right now and pretty much an unbeatable combo. No other teams and riders have had their winning consistency the last decade. And Kawasaki doesn't blow their racing budget on MotoGP like the other manufacturers. Dorna SBK tried to handicap the Kawasaki ZX10R this past year with an RPM restriction and failed.
The new MotoGP based Ducati V4RS for 2019 will have a serious power advantage its first year to beat the Kawasaki ZX10R, but it will still be up to their riders Davies and Bautistas to match the consistncy of Johnthan Rea.
Leon Haslam to Replace Tom Sykes at Ream Kawasaki WSK for 2109
July 19th - Currently leading the British Superbike Championship on his JG Speedfit Kawasaki Leon is set to join Rea and Kazuma Watanabe next week to compete in the 41st Coca-Cola Suzuka 8-Hour race as part of the official Team Green effort. Haslam has been Rea’s WorldSBK team-mate before, shortly before Rea first joined Kawasaki.
Leon is an experienced WorldSBK campaigner, with five race wins and 39 podiums to his credit. He has recently competed as a wild card for Kawasaki at selected WorldSBK events, in between his regular commitments in BSB for Kawasaki Motors UK. Haslam has won six races from twelve in the British championship so far and enjoys a lead of 80 points.
A rider of vast experience in almost all forms of racing, Haslam’s best WorldSBK season to date was 2010, when he finished championship runner-up. Leon will begin his working relationship with KRT during this year’s winter test programme.
Guim Roda, KRT Team Manager, stated: “It’s understandably tough to replace a rider of Tom’s quality and the final decision to sign Leon for 2019 was made after considering many factors, some obvious and others to answer internal team factors. There’s a complex sporting strategy behind this decision, and to satisfy our team goals we felt that Leon was the best possible rider for the job. Rumours and speculation have filled many of the last weeks and we are happy to finally confirm Leon as the KRT choice.
KHI knows, I know, he knows, and crew chief Marcel Duinker knows that he takes onto his shoulders a big responsibility and, at 35 years of age, to get this opportunity is his best chance to prove he still has something extra to contribute. We have a clear idea where to find this contribution and I’m personally motivated to use his experience matched to ours to try to make a stronger package that nobody has yet witnessed from Leon. As we say in KRT… "Results are the greatest evidence of endeavour”.
Steve Guttridge, KME Racing Manager, stated: "Bringing Leon into the KRT WorldSBK team is a great way to show that within the Kawasaki racing structure there is a pathway to the top! Since he joined Kawasaki UK’s BSB team, we've enjoyed a very fruitful relationship that included Leon assisting KHI inside our Team Green squad at Suzuka and with additional rides and good feedback in WorldSBK for the Puccetti and Pedercini teams. Most important to us is his enthusiasm to work hard, his boundless energy, proving age is just a number. I have no doubt that his personal motivation will be to push Jonathan at every round next season for podium places. From the upcoming winter test onwards I'm excited to support the very best potential from Leon, back inside the World Superbike arena but now on our Championship winning KRT machinery.
Ken Ondo, Senior Manager Kawasaki Heavy Industries Racing Department, stated: “It is a great pleasure for all at Kawasaki to have Leon as a KRT rider. He is on the top of current BSB ranking and put Team Green on the Suzuka podium twice as well as helping development in KHI Japan through his wild card entry in the JSB series. The upcoming Suzuka 8 hour race will be a very good preview for the 2019 KRT duo. Leon, together with Kazuma Watanabe, has spent a lot of time in Suzuka to develop the 8-Hour machine. Now is harvest time!”
Leon Haslam, stated: “I have to say a big thanks to Kawasaki for this opportunity. Returning to the World Superbike Championship is something I’m really looking forward to. After scoring race wins, lap records, pole positions and a championship runner-up position in my seven years there it’s going to be great to get back to WorldSBK. The support of Kawasaki throughout my three years in the British Superbike Championship and via KHI at the Suzuka 8-Hour race has been exceptional. The like-minded approach from Kawasaki UK and KHI in Japan has been really appreciated and I’m now hoping to repay them with the 2018 British Superbike title and then to challenge for next year’s WorldSBK Championship. The 2019 season will throw up some new challenges as the competitiveness between the manufacturers continues to be at the highest level but I’m confident that with the professional and successful team behind me we can enjoy plenty of success.”
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2018 MotoGP
Season Preview Click Date for Race Report
DATE/REPORT TRACK LINK Mar 8 Qatar, Losail Apr 8 Argentina, Rio Apr 22 America, Austin TX May 6 Spain, Jerez May 20 France, Le Mans Jun 3 Italy, Mugello Jun 17 Spain, Catalunya July 1 Netherlands, Assen July 15 Germany Sachenring Aug 5 Czech Rep, Brno Aug 12 Austrian, Red Bull Aug 26 UK, Silverstone Sept 9 San Marino, Misano Sept 23 Aragon Motorland Oct 7 Thailand, Chang Oct 21Japan, Motegi Oct 28 Australia, Phillip Is Nov 4 Malaysia, Sepang Nov 18 Spain, Ricardo
2018 British Superbike DATE/REPORT TRACK LINK
Apr 31-2 Donnington
April 13-15 Brands Hatch
May 5-7 Oulton Park
June 15-17 Snetterton
July 6-8 Knockhill
July 20-22 Brands Hatch
Aug 3-5 Thruxton
Aug 17-19 Cadwell Park
Sept 7-9 Silverstone GP
Sept 14-16 Oulton Park
Sept 28-30 Assen NL
Oct 12-14 Brands Hatch
2019 MotoAmerica DATE/REPORT TRACK LINK
April 5-7 Road Atlanta GA
April 12-14 Circuit Am TX
May 4-5 VIR VA
June 1-2 Road Am, WI
June 15-16
Utah Motor UT
July 12-14 LagunaSeca CA
Aug 10-11 Sanoma CA
Aug 23-25 Pittsburg PA
Sept 7-8 Jersey MotorSp
Sept 20-22 Barber, AL
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MotoAmerica 2019:
10 Rounds On Tap
For New Season Season Five Of MotoAmerica In Place For Next Year
COSTA MESA, CA (November 8, 2018) – MotoAmerica has announced its provisional calendar for the 2019 MotoAmerica Series with the 10-round championship set to continue its trend of building the race series through consistency of both location and dates while also tweaking a few things along the way, including the introduction of four two-day events in place of the traditional three-day events.
“We’re happy with our schedule as we enter the fifth year of the MotoAmerica Series,” said MotoAmerica President Wayne Rainey. “I think having the same events return on dates that are the same or very similar to years past brings more stability to the series. Our fans can start to really plan for our events, year to year, based on the consistency of our dates and our racetracks. We are also introducing four two-day events to the schedule in an effort to tighten things up a bit and I’m looking forward to seeing how those evolve. We believe some of our racetracks might do better with a two-day program while others obviously work well for a three-day program because of the number of our fans who go to those events to camp. We only just finished year four and we’re already looking forward to getting to Road Atlanta in April.”
As previously announced, the MotoAmerica Series, which features the Motul Superbike Championship as its headline class, will begin again at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, April 5-7, before heading to Austin, Texas, and the Circuit of The Americas for round two, April 12-14. As has been the case since the series made its debut in 2015, the COTA round will be held in conjunction with the Grand Prix of The Americas. The COTA round is also a Motul Superbike-only round.
From Texas the series will head east to VIRginia International Raceway, May 4-5, for the Championship of Virginia and the first of four two-day events on the schedule. Road America will play host to round four on its traditional date of the first weekend in June, May 31-June 2, followed a few weeks later by the two-day Utah Motorsports Campus round on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, June 15-16. The big change for the UMC round is that MotoAmerica will use the shorter East Course (2.2 miles) rather than the Outer Course (3.048 miles) the series has used in previous years.
“We believe the shorter East Course will provide better viewing for spectators at the Club House and in the paddock area because you can see the entire track,” MotoAmerica Partner Chuck Aksland said. “This will definitely enhance the spectator experience.”
MotoAmerica will venture to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, July 12-14, for what promises to be a weekend to remember with the Monterey Motorcycle Festival featuring MotoAmerica. For the first time in its five-year history of racing on the Monterey Peninsula, MotoAmerica will be a standalone event at the historic racetrack with the weekend to include racing legends, celebrities, vintage racing exhibitions, and a classic motorcycle auction.
“We are pleased to be heading to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for a fifth year,” said Rainey. “Since I make my home here, it’s obviously one of my favorites but it is also one of the most popular events on the calendar. We have big plans to make this year’s event a memorable one with a weekend chock-full of activities for our fans.”
The series then takes a one-month summer break before setting up camp at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California, for a two-day event, August 10-11.
The premier motorcycle road racing championship in the country then heads back east for the final three rounds, beginning at Pittsburgh International Raceway Complex, August 23-25, followed by the two-day New Jersey Motorsports Park round, September 7-8.
The series finale, meanwhile, will again take place at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, September 20-22.
2019 MotoAmerica Series (Provisional)
April 5-7 – Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia
April 12-14 – Circuit of The Americas, Austin, Texas
May 4-5 – VIRginia International Raceway, Alton, Virginia
May 31-June 2 – Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
June 15-16 – Utah Motosports Campus, Grantsville, Utah
July 12-14 – WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, California
August 10-11 – Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, California
August 23-25 – Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, Pennsylvania
September 7-8 – New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, New Jersey
September 20-22 – Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Alabama
