Tim Gajser, Ruben Fernandez and Ferruccio Zanchi had another impressive day at the second Internazionali d’Italia, held at the sandy Mantova track in typically-winter conditions.

MX1 Class
Gajser continued his strong start to 2024 by going one-two for first overall, winning the first moto after leading from start to finish. Then in race two, he had a difficult first lap, but came all the way up to second, almost reaching the leader by the time the chequered flag came out. It was still good enough for the victory though and further proved that the #243 is ready to tackle the best riders of the world at the first round down in Patagonia-Argentina on March 9-10.

Spaniard Fernandez improved upon his results from last weekend’s race in Riola, by going two-four for third overall. The second in race one was especially impressive as he was able to withstand pressure for the duration of the moto and for that strong finish, and while he wasn’t able to quite repeat that in race two, it was still a good progression from Riola.

MX1 Results
1. Tim Gajser – Team HRC – 1-2 – 47pts
2. Romain Febvre – Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP – 3-1 – 45pts
3. Ruben Fernandez – Team HRC – 2-4 – 40pts
4. Jeremy Seewer – Kawasaki Racing Team MXGP – 4-3 – 38pts
5. Alvin Ostlund – Honda – 10-5 – 27pts

Covers off and sights narrowed: 2024 will represent KTM’s eighth year on the MotoGP grid and there have been plenty of milestones among the mileage. Brad Binder, Jack Miller, the full Red Bull KTM Factory Racing squad, the testing crew and engineering operation back in Austria are primed for another stellar campaign in which the sporting targets lie in the stats.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing show off 2024 liveries on the eve of a season in which they aim to better 4th in the Riders Championship, 2nd in the Constructors standings and 4th in the Teams rankings, all achieved in 2023

• KTM have seven MotoGP Grand Prix wins and two Sprint victories since 2017, obtained with two different riders. The factory has significant Grand Prix presence throughout the categories with the MotoGP squad at the top of the pyramid consisting of: Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, Moto3™ and Moto2™
• 2024 is 28-year-old Brad Binder’s fifth year in the MotoGP mix and with the KTM RC16 and his tenth with Red Bull KTM through the classes. The South African has two wins (Czech Republic and Austria) and two Sprint victories (Argentina and Spain) and notched eight podiums in 2023
• 2024 is 29-year-old Jack Miller’s tenth MotoGP season, and his third Grand Prix year in Red Bull KTM colors. The Australian has three career wins and grabbed a podium result in his maiden KTM term during 2023
• The first of 21 rounds begins with the trip to the Lusail International Circuit for the Grand Prix of Qatar from March 8-10

The distinctive Red Bull KTM RC16s will be rattling lap records in the hands of Brad Binder and Jack Miller for the second year in a row. The fastest official motorcycle in the prestigious FIM World Championship - now 75 years in existence and watched by almost three million fans at the circuits in 2023 - will carry the latest engineering hardware, software and concepts from KTM Motorsports HQ and the rest of the factory structure.

Binder has worked his way from 11th to 6th to 4th in almost half a decade and is now poised for even bigger prizes as one of the most highly rated riders on the 22-man grid. Miller also has his own personal goals and wants a top three championship slot and more after adapting rapidly to the RC16 at the outset of 2023.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing have already completed the opening test of the short pre-season period and will now head to Qatar and the Lusail International Circuit this week for the final two-day preparation sessions ahead of round one. Around this time and throughout 2024 the comprehensive testing outfit of Dani Pedrosa, Pol Espargaro, Jonas Folger and Mika Kallio and their respective staff will be making significant and key contributions to the MotoGP effort.

The race calendar will consist of 21 Grands Prix and 42 races as MotoGP will again engage the popular Saturday Sprint format at every round.

Brad Binder: “The trajectory is on its way up. 11th, 6th, 6th and 4th so, yeah, I have no doubt we are going to do better than 4th. Last season was great at times and difficult at other moments. I felt like we had more in the pocket. We were much more competitive each weekend and always around the podium battle. This season is where we can make the difference. It’s awesome to be starting 2024 for real. It’s going to be my tenth season racing for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and it’s been an amazing journey. we have always stuck together and always had the same goal in mind. I think that we have always fit really well together, and I am really happy where I am. The only thing left is to try and finish off the job in MotoGP.”

Jack Miller: “2023 was a year of learning and of growth for me as a person and as a rider. Towards the back half of the season we really got comfortable with the bike and were able to start challenging for positions where we needed to be. In KTM, and my dealings especially in the racing department, when they find something or find a pathway - new ideas, better ideas and strategies - then they go all -in on to have them on the track as soon as possible. Having that power and that motivation and that backing from the company is awesome as a rider. I didn’t get to achieve all the wishes I wanted in 2023. I have a whole new list of wishes for 2024.”

Francesco Guidotti, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team Manager: “2023 was a good year. Very satisfying and where we grew quite a lot. We are pretty happy with how the riders and the bike improved. The approach for 2024 is easy: we have to move ahead with the growth we started last season. There will be areas where we still have plenty of room to increase our performance but in general the project is very balanced, so we just need to push when we know it is time to do it. I can’t wait to start the season and get to the first race because that is where we deliver. It’s when the speaking stops and the real action starts. No excuses. No matter what we have said or done during the winter, it is time to race.”

Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director: “I feel that the package is very complete now and we have all the right people in the right positions and also the rider line-up makes me very happy. Everybody could grow over these last years. We’ve had these MotoGP wins and reached a lot last season: 4th in the championship, 2nd in the Constructors but, of course, our big target, our big dream, is pushing for the world championship and I feel in 2024 we are ready to do so. In general, we have now a great calendar and logistics-wise it is quite demanding for everybody; mechanics, riders, staff, team, everybody but we love racing so if you give us one more race then we will enjoy it every time. We know when it is time to ‘go’ and when it is time to shine. Racing is what drives us every morning to give our best; to be on the racetrack, be with the public, and that’s what the riders like and that’s why I think we are really prepared for ’24.”

The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and Yamaha Motor Europe are pleased to announce a change of status and a new name for the FIM Superbike World Championship’s feeder class, the FIM Yamaha R3 bLU cRU World Cup. The series, previously known as the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU European Championship, has been upgraded to World Cup status thanks to its increasing success and large numbers of international participants.

After many years of support from FIM Europe, the FIM Yamaha R3 bLU cRU World Cup will now come under the global FIM umbrella. The R3 bLU cRU initiative was launched in 2021 by Yamaha Racing and is designed to provide a structured and direct path into world championship racing for riders aged between 14 and 20 years old.

Managed by Japan Italy Racing (JiR) and supported by the FIM and Dorna WSBK Organization (DWO), the series forms an integral part of DWO’s SBK Roadway program. This partnership between all parties has proven to be an effective and successful one, with a large percentage of the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship grid now made up of former bLU cRU riders.

The FIM Yamaha R3 bLU cRU World Cup will be contested across 12 races at six European rounds of the 2024 FIM Superbike World Championship, and the overall champion will earn a supported ride in the 2025 FIM Supersport 300 World Championship provided by Yamaha Motor Europe.

The series gives young riders the perfect platform to benefit from professional coaching, technical support, and mentoring designed to encourage, develop, and nurture the next generation of superbike riders.

The change of status also reflects the fact that the entry list has become increasingly international in recent years, with almost half the riders registered so far in 2024 hailing from outside Europe.

The season gets underway with the opening round on the 22nd-24th of March at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, and updates can be found across the FIM, WorldSBK and Yamaha Racing websites.

Gianluca Montiron: Japan Italy Racing

“Work has begun on the new season, and it has given everybody a real boost to have the new name and status change. It reflects the importance of this championship as it continues to provide a platform for riders as young as 14. These future champions gain a wealth of experience during the six world championship events, and thanks to our continued collaboration with the FIM, Yamaha Motor Europe and DWO we are seeing the popularity of the championship increase.”

Paolo Pavesio: Marketing & Motorsport Director, Yamaha Motor Europe

“The upgrade to World Cup status for 2024 represents for the R3 bLU cRU Cup more than a symbolic milestone. In 2021, the inaugural season of the R3 series, the grid was predominantly European. However, over the past two seasons we’ve seen more overseas riders joining the R3 series, with the result that the grid is now split evenly between European riders and those from other continents, primarily Asia, South America, and Australasia. With a fixed participation fee and a turnkey package, the series is both cost effective and the ideal stepping-stone onto the world stage for young riders. It has also proved an effective feeder class for the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship, in which nine former bLU cRU riders will race this season. The 2024 season will also be the first in which the FIM Yamaha R3 bLU cRU World Cup races will be streamed live, increasing both the reach and visibility of the series worldwide, and promises to be an exciting one on numerous levels for our bLU cRU youngsters, starting with the opening round in Barcelona. With all this in mind, I’d like to conclude by thanking Jorge Viegas and the FIM, firstly for their support since we started this project but also for recognising the increasingly global reach of the Yamaha R3 bLU cRU series with the upgrade to World Cup status.”

The three days of work in Malaysia ended with Fabio Di Giannantonio in P8 and Marco Bezzecchi in P15

Sepang (Malaysia), February 8th 2024 – First track event of the 2024 season on file for the newly formed Pertamina VR46 Racing Team at Sepang where the first official MotoGP testing session has ended today. Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marco Bezzecchi, riding the Ducati Fluo Stream, close in the slip stream of the strongest guys, respectively in P8 and P15 in the three-day combined standings. 

55 laps today for Fabio who further improves his lap time. In the morning, he sets a good 1'57.343 and then dedicates himself to a more than positive and convincing Sprint race simulation in the afternoon. A small crash at turn 9 before lunch, without consequences, and then his thoughts to  the next test in Qatar in less then two weeks (19-20 February next).Fair result for Marco, who is unable to go beyond yesterday's 1'57.867. He completed 56 laps and gave up the flying lap attempt to concentrate himself on the setting of the bike. He also suffered a small crash at the end of the day at turn 5.

MARCO BEZZECCHI - 72

We close this first testing session with a complicated day. We had a small problem with the bike and we opted not to attempt the time attack. I preferred to work further on the riding style, I'm struggling a bit. The bike is very fast, but I'm not comfortable yet, I have to adapt myself and this still takes some time. When braking and accelerating, the sensations are different compared to the GP22. I haven't yet managed to take the package to the limit, which is the reason that pushed us to continue step by step and wait for the flying lap and the simulation. 

FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO - 49

I return to Italy with a smile, if I had to give a grade to this test, I would say 9 out of 10. The feeling was good, even the time attack wasn't bad. It was really fun this morning, but the thing that energizes me the most is the result and the sensations during this afternoon's simulation, when it was really hot. We were fast, all the signs are positive. The GP23 is much more powerful, also in terms of traction and has a different confidence on the front. I'm tired, physically I need to recover a bit, but I can't wait to get back on track in Qatar. 

The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team have today launched its Yamaha R1 machines ahead of the 2024 FIM Superbike World Championship campaign alongside the grand opening of the new GRT GRT Pro Shop at the Misano World circuit. 

Riders Remy Gardner and Dominique Aegerter enjoyed a positive WorldSBK debut in 2023, finishing the season on a high. Aegerter clinched two podiums in the final round, adding three front row qualifying performances to his tally in the meantime, including a stunning qualifier in his first race in Phillip Island.

The same can be said for Gardner, who progressed a lot throughout the year reaching also a remarkable first row in Most; in the season finale, he was really close to a career-first WorldSBK podium by crossing the line in fourth just a few tenths off the rostrum places.

Therefore, the GYTR GRT Yamaha duo is eager to pick up where they left off, with their target to keep improving at each round to allow them to fight at the front regularly during the season.

The team is delighted to welcome back several key partners, as well as introducing new ones for the 2024 campaign, who will be significant in the squad's successes.

DETROIT, Mich. – A second-place result for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team rider Chase Sexton saw him reclaim the 450SX Class points lead at Round 5 of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship inside Detroit’s Ford Field tonight, as teammate Aaron Plessinger pieced together a consistent ride in technical conditions to earn a P6 finish.

Defending champion Sexton found comfort immediately in practice and qualifying, posting the third fastest laptime as he took his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION into the night show. The momentum would continue for Sexton as he raced to P4 in his Heat Race.

A top-three start in the Main Event for Sexton saw the number 1 in the fight from the beginning, and he would maintain pressure throughout the duration of the race on the deteriorating track to earn a convincing second position. He now takes the 450SX points lead back from teammate Plessinger heading into Glendale next weekend.

Chase Sexton: “It’s nice to reclaim the red plate! Tonight was one of my better rides… we’ve had a lot of ups and downs this year with the mud races, then last week was a Triple Crown, which meant this weekend was one of our first real Main Events and I felt pretty solid in the conditions. I didn’t have a great Heat Race, then seeing the 250 start I was a little bit nervous starting so far outside. I was fortunate to get a good start, then had some good speed, although a few little mistakes cost me. All in all, it was a good Main Event, and now I’m looking forward to Arizona."

Holding the 450SX series lead entering Detroit, Plessinger powered his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to P10 in qualifying as he adjusted to the softer, East Coast surface, before charging to a popular opening Heat Race victory of the night.

A mid-field start in the Main Event saw The Cowboy's work cut out for him, as he steadily climbed through the pack throughout the race, before crossing the finish line in sixth place. He now sits third in the standings, only two points back from Sexton and the red plates.Aaron Plessinger: “Detroit, I had a good night overall. We got a Heat Race win and in the Main I just messed up the start – came from around 15th place and ended up sixth, so not too mad with that! We’ll go back, do some homework and stay in this championship fight. Onto Glendale, I like that stadium, so we’ll go get back to the warmth and look forward to it.”

The Detroit round marked a shift in contenders for the 250SX division, with the Eastern Regional series commencing as dual MX2 World Champion Tom Vialle enters his second season of AMA Supercross competition.

The day began well for the Frenchman, who recorded P4 in qualifying on his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION, before notching a strong third-place score in his Heat Race. A first turn pile-up that claimed a sizable portion of the 250SX East field unfortunately saw Vialle caught up in the chaos, with the number 16 eventually remounting to be credited with P18 on the night.

Results 450SX Class – Detroit
1. Jett Lawrence (AUS), Honda
2. Chase Sexton (USA), KTM
3. Ken Roczen (GER), SUZ

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Manuel Lettenbichler has placed fifth overall at round five of the 2024 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship in Hungary. With improving race results of 5-4-3 in front of a 17,000-strong crowd at Budapest’s MVM Dome, Mani grew stronger as the evening progressed to maintain third overall in the championship standings with just two rounds now remaining.

Kicking off the evening’s racing in the Hungarian capital with the Prestige Superpole, Mani posted the third-fastest time to secure a valuable championship point. Making the most of his favorable start position for race one, the German initially started in second before holding third for the first half of the race. However, a series of small errors during the final few minutes proved costly for Lettenbichler, causing him to cross the line in fifth place.Determined to bounce back after a difficult opening race, Mani benefited from a strong start in race two, despite starting on the back row due to the reversed grid. However, the tricky uphill rock section that proved to be a pinch-point of the track for many riders caught Mani out early on. Slipping to 10th place by the end of lap one, the German regrouped with an impressive comeback ride to place fourth on his KTM 300 EXC.

The third and final race of the evening saw Lettenbichler go from strength-to-strength. Slotting into third on lap one, Mani enjoyed the battle for second place for the majority of the race. Despite his best efforts, he ended up settling for a close third.

Just missing the overall podium by two points to finish fifth at round five, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider remains third in the championship standings as they head to the penultimate round in Bulgaria in three weeks’ time.

Manuel Lettenbichler: “I’m pretty happy with how tonight has gone! Speed-wise, my riding was good, but I just made a few mistakes with line choices, especially in the first race. I had good pace, but when someone crashed in front of me, it was tough to settle back into a good rhythm. In the second moto I fought back from pretty much last to fourth, which was good. I feel like we could see the speed was there in the last race and that the changes we made to the bike are helping. For my championship position, today has helped me strengthen third overall.”

Results – 2024 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship – Round 5, Hungary

Prestige Overall

1. Billy Bolt (GBR), Husqvarna, 62 points

2. Jonny Walker (GBR), Beta, 48 pts

3. Diogo Vieira (POR), GASGAS, 42 pts

4. Mitchell Brightmore (GBR), GASGAS, 41 pts

5. Manuel Lettenbichler (GER), KTM, 40 pts

Prestige Race 1

1. Billy Bolt (GBR), Husqvarna, 12 laps, 7:17.091

2. Jonny Walker (GBR), Beta, 12 laps, 7:29.898

3. Diogo Vieira (POR), GASGAS, 12 laps, 7:43.224

4. Mitchell Brightmore (GBR), GASGAS, 12 laps, 7:55.692

5. Manuel Lettenbichler (GER), KTM, 11 laps, 7:20.187

Prestige Race 2

1. Billy Bolt (GBR), Husqvarna, 11 laps, 6:35.545

2. Diogo Vieira (POR), GASGAS, 11 laps, 6:55.507

3. Mitchell Brightmore (GBR), GASGAS, 11 laps, 6:58.254

4. Manuel Lettenbichler (GER), KTM, 10 laps, 6:39.761

5. Jonny Walker (GBR), Beta, 10 laps, 6:47.852

Prestige Race 3

1. Billy Bolt (GBR), Husqvarna, 12 laps, 6:55.701

2. Jonny Walker (GBR), Beta, 12 laps, 7:08.635

3. Manuel Lettenbichler (GER), KTM, 12 laps, 7:12.845

4. Mitchell Brightmore (GBR), GASGAS, 11 laps, 6:52.802

5. Eddie Karlsson (SWE), Husqvarna, 11 laps, 6:58.692

Team HRC are entering into the new motocross world championships with three riders on-board their Honda machinery as Tim Gajser and Ruben Fernandez are joined by young Italian, Ferruccio Zanchi, for what is a return to the MX2 class for this prestigious manufacturer.

Five-time world champion Gajser needs no introduction, as the Slovenian looks to add to his trophy-haul after an injury-hit 2023 campaign. The #243 did return later in the year and ended up winning two of the final three rounds, but his eyes have been firmly set on this year for some time and he will be looking to continue his winning ways, on what is a brand-new Honda CRF450R.

Both him, and teammate Fernandez have been strenuously testing the new machine over this winter period, making sure it is ready for all the challenges that a 20-round MXGP season can throw at it, and after considerable riding time, both are extremely happy with the results and are excited for the first gate-drop on March 9-10.

Fernandez is especially looking forward to heading down to Argentina again, and the fabulous facility in Villa La Angostura, as the #70 was victorious there last year, in what was his first-ever MXGP win. It was an important moment and one that really boosted the Spaniard’s confidence for the rest of the season, and now he’s once again feeling good as this season looks to get underway in the South American country.

It was a big step for Team HRC to be re-joining the MX2 class, but also a crucial one for the brand to be racing competitively on the smaller 250cc machines, and Zanchi was seen as the perfect prospect to lead this new venture for 2024. The Italian already has a couple of wildcard MX2 rounds under his belt, and was successful in the EMX250 class last year, and will now step-up full time in what is a completely blank slate for him and the bike. Both parties know that it won’t be easy to come in and challenge straight away, but both have put in a lot of work over this off-season to be ready for what awaits. This is seen as a long-term project to try and get back to the level that saw Gajser win the MX2 title in 2015, but everyone involved knows there is a lot of potential, and with the expertise and winning-mentality that Team HRC possesses, it will only be a matter of time before they are back where they belong.

So with two new bikes and one new rider, 2024 is shaping-up to be a very exciting season for everyone involved, but before the world championships get underway, there are two warm-up races in Riola Sardo and Mantova for trio to put their respective machines through their first competitive paces and make sure everything is ready for Argentina in just over one month’s time.

Team HRC, Honda’s works racing outfit, will enter the FIM E-Xplorer World Cup from the 2024 season, which starts with the team’s home round in Osaka, Japan, 16-17 February.

The FIM E-Xplorer World Cup is an endurocross discipline featuring exclusively electric motocross bikes. The series therefore becomes the battleground for Honda’s CR ELECTRIC PROTO, which made an impressive competitive debut at Round 8 of the All Japan Motocross Championship at the end of last year against its established 450cc internal combustion counterparts.

Competing for Team HRC aboard the CR ELECTRIC PROTO will be four-time Italian MX Champion and three-time Italian Enduro Champion Francesca Nocera, who will ride alongside her duties for the Honda Racing RedMoto World Enduro Team in the Enduro World Championship, and Tosha Schareina. Having been signed to the Monster Energy Honda Team only last year, his Dakar Rally debut as a works rider got off to a flying start with a victory on the Prologue. The Spaniard is well versed in both motocross and enduro, so alongside Nocera the pair are strongly positioned to mount a championship assault.

Nocera and Schareina will pair up against nine other teams, each comprising a male and a female rider under the series’ regulations. New for 2024, there are two categories of competition, with the larger Hyperbikes (prototype 7kwh-max machines using a standard MX wheelbase) joined by a lighter-weight GT class, based upon regular production models and weighing below 112kg.

Team HRC’s duo will campaign the CR ELECTRIC PROTO in the premier Hyperbike class across a series of 10min qualifying rounds, three intense 10-minute races and a play-off series of sprint relays for the best four teams each weekend.

A technical collection alongside fanwear reinforcing the brand's presence in motorsport

Tavullia (Italia), 31st January 2024 - Kappa® is pleased to announce the sponsorship with Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team for the next three sports seasons. Until 2026, the iconic Omini brand will stand alongside the Team supporting Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio on Ducati. Starting from the 2024 season, Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team will wear garments designed by the Kappa® R&D Center.

This collaboration, born thanks to the VR46 Agency, strengthens the brand's presence in the motorsport world. Riders, mechanics, and every member of the VR46 Racing Team will wear Kappa® technical apparel both during races, test days and team events. The team's collection includes a range of casual clothing, also available in fanwear versions. The main colors of the gear will be black and the iconic VR46 fluo yellow and a replica collection of the team's equipment will be released, available this spring.